extrusion from their family affections would be like the cutting off
of a limb,--that was simply impossible. "I suppose I had better go
and see her," said Lady Fawn,--"and I have got such a headache."

"Do not see her on my account," said Lord Fawn. The duty, however,
was obligatory, and Lady Fawn with slow steps sought Lucy in the
school-room.

"Lucy," she said, seating herself, "what is to be the end of all
this?"

Lucy came up to her and knelt at her feet. "If you knew how unhappy I
am because I have vexed you!"

"I am unhappy, my dear, because I think you have been betrayed by
warm temper into misbehaviour."

"I know I have."

"Then why do you not control your temper?"

"If anybody were to come to you, Lady Fawn, and make horrible
accusations against Lord Fawn, or against Augusta, would not you be
angry? Would you be able to stand it?"

Lady Fawn was not clear-headed; she was not clever; nor was she even
always rational. But she was essentially honest. She knew that she
would fly at anybody who should in her presence say such bitter
things of any of her children as Lord Fawn had said of Mr. Greystock
in Lucy's hearing;--and she knew also that Lucy was entitled to hold
Mr. Greystock as dearly as she held her own sons and daughters. Lord
Fawn, at Fawn Court, could not do wrong. That was a tenet by which
she was obliged to hold fast. And yet Lucy had been subjected to
great cruelty. She thought awhile for a valid argument. "My dear,"
she said, "your youth should make a difference."

"Of course it should."

"And though to me and to the girls you are as dear as any friend can
be, and may say just what you please-- Indeed, we all live here in
such a way that we all do say just what we please,--young and old
together. But you ought to know that Lord Fawn is different."

"Ought he to say that Mr. Greystock is not a gentleman to me?"

"We are, of course, very sorry that there should be any quarrel. It
is all the fault of that--nasty, false young woman."

"So it is, Lady Fawn. Lady Fawn, I have been thinking about it all
the day, and I am quite sure that I had better not stay here while
you and the girls think badly of Mr. Greystock. It is not only about
Lord Fawn, but because of the whole thing. I am always wanting to
say something good about Mr. Greystock, and you are always thinking
something bad about him. You have been to me,--oh, the very best
friend that a girl ever had. Why you should have treated me