of Lady Linlithgow. She would fade
and fall to the earth like a flower with an insect at its root. She
would be like a wounded branch, into which no sap would run. With
such misfortune and wretchedness possibly before her, Lady Fawn could
not endure the idea that Lucy should be turned out to encounter it
all beneath the cold shade of Lady Linlithgow's indifference. "My
dear," she said, "let bygones be bygones. Come down and meet Lord
Fawn. Nobody will say anything. After all, you were provoked very
much, and there has been quite enough about it."

This, from Lady Fawn, was almost miraculous,--from Lady Fawn, to whom
her son had ever been the highest of human beings! But Lucy had told
the tale to her lover, and her lover approved of her going. Perhaps
there was acting upon her mind some feeling, of which she was hardly
conscious, that as long as she remained at Fawn Court she would not
see her lover. She had told him that she could make herself supremely
happy in the simple knowledge that he loved her. But we all know how
far such declarations should be taken as true. Of course, she was
longing to see him. "If he would only pass by the road," she would
say to herself, "so that I might peep at him through the gate!" She
had no formed idea in her own mind that she would be able to see
him should she go to Lady Linlithgow, but still there would be the
chances of her altered life! She would tell Lady Linlithgow the
truth, and why should Lady Linlithgow refuse her so rational a
pleasure? There was, of course, a reason why Frank should not come to
Fawn Court; but the house in Bruton Street need not be closed to him.
"I hardly know how to love you enough," she said to Lady Fawn, "but
indeed I must go. I do so hope the time may come when you and Mr.
Greystock may be friends. Of course, it will come. Shall it not?"

"Who can look into the future?" said the wise Amelia.

"Of course, if he is your husband, we shall love him," said the less
wise Lady Fawn.

"He is to be my husband," said Lucy, springing up. "What do you mean?
Do you mean anything?" Lady Fawn, who was not at all wise, protested
that she meant nothing.

What were they to do? On that special day they merely stipulated
that there should be a day's delay before Lady Fawn answered Mrs.
Greystock's letter,--so that she might sleep upon it. The sleeping on
it meant that further discussion which was to take place between Lady
Fawn and her second daughter in her ladysh