communication was made. "I don't know that she wishes me to mention
the gentleman's name, just at present; but I can assure you that he
is all that he ought to be." "I hate mysteries," said the countess.
"If Lady Linlithgow--" began Lucy. "Oh, it's nothing to me,"
continued the old woman. "It won't come off for six months, I
suppose?" Lucy gave a mute assurance that there would be no such
difficulty as that. "And he can't come here, Miss Morris." To this
Lucy said nothing. Perhaps she might win over even the countess, and
if not, she must bear her six months of prolonged exclusion from the
light of day. And so the matter was settled. Lucy was to be taken
back to Richmond, and to come again on the following Monday. "I don't
like this parting at all, Lucy," Lady Fawn said on her way home.

"It is better so, Lady Fawn."

"I hate people going away; but, somehow, you don't feel it as we do."

"You wouldn't say that if you really knew what I do feel."

"There was no reason why you should go. Frederic was getting not
to care for it at all. What's Nina to do now? I can't get another
governess after you. I hate all these sudden breaks up. And all for
such a trumpery thing. If Frederic hasn't forgotten all about it, he
ought."

"It hasn't come altogether from him, Lady Fawn."

"How has it come, then?"

"I suppose it is because of Mr. Greystock. I suppose when a girl has
engaged herself to marry a man she must think more of him than of
anything else."

"Why couldn't you think of him at Fawn Court?"

"Because--because things have been unfortunate. He isn't your
friend,--not as yet. Can't you understand, Lady Fawn, that, dear as
you all must be to me, I must live in his friendships, and take his
part when there is a part?"

"Then I suppose that you mean to hate all of us?" Lucy could only cry
at hearing this;--whereupon Lady Fawn also burst into tears.

On the Sunday before Lucy took her departure, Lord Fawn was again
at Richmond. "Of course, you'll come down,--just as if nothing had
happened," said Lydia. "We'll see," said Lucy. "Mamma will be very
angry if you don't," said Lydia.

But Lucy had a little plot in her head, and her appearance at the
dinner-table on that Sunday must depend on the manner in which her
plot was executed. After church, Lord Fawn would always hang about
the grounds for awhile before going into the house; and on this
morning Lucy also remained outside. She soon found her opportunity,
and wa