awn family.
Such a one, when, moved by filial duty, he condescends to come once a
week to his mother's house, is entitled to say whatever he pleases,
and should on no account be contradicted by any one. Lucy no doubt
had a lover,--an authorised lover; but perhaps that fact could not
be taken as more than a balancing weight against the inferiority
of her position as a governess. Lady Fawn was of course obliged to
take her son's part, and would scold Lucy. Lucy must be scolded very
seriously. But it would be a thing so desirable if Lucy could be
induced to accept her scolding and have done with it, and not to make
matters worse by talking of going away! "You don't mean that she came
out into the shrubbery, having made up her mind to be rude to you?"
said Lady Fawn to her son.

"No;--I do not think that. But her temper is so ungovernable, and she
has, if I may say so, been so spoilt among you here,--I mean by the
girls, of course,--that she does not know how to restrain herself."

"She is as good as gold, you know, Frederic." He shrugged his
shoulders, and declared that he had not a word more to say about
it. He could, of course, remain in London till it should suit Mr.
Greystock to take his bride. "You'll break my heart if you say that!"
exclaimed the unhappy mother. "Of course, she shall leave the house
if you wish it."

"I wish nothing," said Lord Fawn. "But I peculiarly object to be told
that I am a--liar." Then he stalked away along the corridor and went
down to breakfast, as black as a thunder-cloud.

Lady Fawn and Lucy sat opposite to each other in church, but they
did not speak till the afternoon. Lady Fawn went to church in the
carriage and Lucy walked, and as Lucy retired to her room immediately
on her return to the house, there had not been an opportunity even
for a word. After lunch Amelia came up to her, and sat down for a
long discussion. "Now, Lucy, something must be done, you know," said
Amelia.

"I suppose so."

"Of course, mamma must see you. She can't allow things to go on
in this way. Mamma is very unhappy, and didn't eat a morsel of
breakfast." By this latter assertion Amelia simply intended to imply
that her mother had refused to be helped a second time to fried
bacon, as was customary.

"Of course, I shall go to her the moment she sends for me. Oh,--I am
so unhappy!"

"I don't wonder at that, Lucy. So is my brother unhappy. These things
make people unhappy. It is what the world calls--tem