e which he
himself felt to be ill-humoured and almost petulant. And he felt also
that such ill-humour on such a subject was unkind, not to his sister,
but to Lucy. It seemed to imply that the matter of his marriage was
distasteful to him. "The truth is," he said, "that nothing can be
fixed. Lucy understands that as well as I do. I am not in a position
at once to marry a girl who has nothing. It's a pity, perhaps, that
one can't train one's self to like some girl best that has got money;
but as I haven't, there must be some delay. She is to stay where she
is,--at any rate, for a twelvemonth."

"But you mean to see her?"

"Well, yes; I hardly know how I can see her, as I have quarrelled to
the knife with Lord Fawn; and Lord Fawn is recognised by his mother
and sisters as the one living Jupiter upon earth."

"I like them for that," said Ellinor.

"Only it prevents my going to Richmond;--and poor Fawn himself is
such an indifferent Jupiter."

That was all that was said about Lucy at Bobsborough, till there
came a letter from Lucy to her lover acquainting him with the
circumstances of her unfortunate position at Richmond. She did not
tell him quite all the circumstances. She did not repeat the strong
expressions which Lord Fawn had used, nor did she clearly explain how
wrathful she had been herself. "Lord Fawn has been here," she said,
"and there has been ever so much unpleasantness. He is very angry
with you about Lady Eustace, and of course Lady Fawn takes his part.
I need not tell you whose part I take. And so there have been what
the servants call--'just a few words.' It is very dreadful, isn't
it? And, after all, Lady Fawn has been as kind as possible. But the
upshot of it is, that I am not to stay here. You mustn't suppose
that I'm to be turned out at twelve hours' notice. I am to stay till
arrangements have been made, and everybody will be kind to me. But
what had I better do? I'll try and get another situation at once if
you think it best, only I suppose I should have to explain how long I
could stay. Lady Fawn knows that I am writing to you to ask you what
you think best."

On receipt of this, Greystock was very much puzzled. What a little
fool Lucy had been, and yet what a dear little fool! Who cared for
Lord Fawn and his hard words? Of course, Lord Fawn would say all
manner of evil things of him, and would crow valiantly in his own
farm-yard; but it would have been so much wiser on Lucy's part to
have put