, and was so very important, that he could hardly
be expected to act at all times with truth and sincerity.

Lucy had suggested that the dean and Mrs. Greystock would dislike the
marriage, and upon that hint Lady Fawn spoke. "Nothing is settled, I
suppose, as to where you are to go when the six months are over?"

"Nothing as yet, Lady Fawn."

"They haven't asked you to go to Bobsborough?"

Lucy would have given the world not to blush as she answered, but she
did blush. "Nothing is fixed, Lady Fawn."

"Something should be fixed, Lucy. It should be settled by this
time;--shouldn't it, dear? What will you do without a home, if at the
end of the six months Lady Linlithgow should say that she doesn't
want you any more?"

Lucy certainly did not look forward to a condition in which Lady
Linlithgow should be the arbitress of her destiny. The idea of
staying with the countess was almost as bad to her as that of finding
herself altogether homeless. She was still blushing, feeling herself
to be hot and embarrassed. But Lady Fawn sat, waiting for an answer.
To Lucy there was only one answer possible. "I will ask Mr. Greystock
what I am to do." Lady Fawn shook her head. "You don't believe in Mr.
Greystock, Lady Fawn; but I do."

"My darling girl," said her ladyship, making the special speech for
the sake of making which she had travelled up from Richmond,--"it is
not exactly a question of belief, but one of common prudence. No girl
should allow herself to depend on a man before she is married to him.
By doing so she will be apt to lose even his respect."

"I didn't mean for money," said Lucy, hotter than ever, with her eyes
full of tears.

"She should not be in any respect at his disposal till he has bound
himself to her at the altar. You may believe me, Lucy, when I tell
you so. It is only because I love you so that I say so."

"I know that, Lady Fawn."

"When your time here is over, just put up your things and come back
to Richmond. You need fear nothing with us. Frederic quite liked
your way of parting with him at last, and all that little affair is
forgotten. At Fawn Court you'll be safe;--and you shall be happy,
too, if we can make you happy. It's the proper place for you."

"Of course you'll come," said Diana Fawn.

"You'll be the worst little thing in the world if you don't," said
Lydia. "We don't know what to do without you. Do we, mamma?"

"Lucy will please us all by coming back to her old home," said Lady