"I had downright love and affection. They were just so many dear
friends. I don't suppose any governess was ever so treated before. It
was just like being at home. The more I laughed, the better every one
liked it."

"You won't find anything to laugh at here; at least, I don't. If you
want to laugh, you can laugh up-stairs, or down in the parlour."

"I can do without laughing for a while."

"That's lucky, Miss Morris. If they were all so good to you, what
made you come away? They sent you away, didn't they?"

"Well;--I don't know that I can explain it just all. There were a
great many things together. No;--they didn't send me away. I came
away because it suited."

"It was something to do with your having a lover, I suppose." To this
Lucy thought it best to make no answer, and the conversation for a
while was dropped.

Lucy had arrived at about half-past three, and Lady Linlithgow was
then sitting in the drawing-room. After the first series of questions
and answers, Lucy was allowed to go up to her room, and on her return
to the drawing-room, found the countess still sitting upright in her
chair. She was now busy with accounts, and at first took no notice of
Lucy's return. What were to be the companion's duties? What tasks in
the house were to be assigned to her? What hours were to be her own;
and what was to be done in those of which the countess would demand
the use? Up to the present moment nothing had been said of all
this. She had simply been told that she was to be Lady Linlithgow's
companion,--without salary, indeed,--but receiving shelter,
guardianship, and bread and meat in return for her services. She took
up a book from the table and sat with it for ten minutes. It was
Tupper's great poem, and she attempted to read it. Lady Linlithgow
sat, totting up her figures, but said nothing. She had not spoken a
word since Lucy's return to the room; and as the great poem did not
at first fascinate the new companion,--whose mind not unnaturally
was somewhat disturbed,--Lucy ventured upon a question. "Is there
anything I can do for you, Lady Linlithgow?"

"Do you know about figures?"

"Oh, yes. I consider myself quite a ready-reckoner."

"Can you make two and two come to five on one side of the sheet, and
only come to three on the other?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, and prove it afterwards."

"Then you ain't worth anything to me." Having so declared, Lady
Linlithgow went on with her accounts and Lucy rel