er rightly.

"We wished to have a party to meet you," Lucy said, "but the baby fell
ill--and I thought as you had kindly come so far to see Tom, you would
not mind if you found us alone."

The lady still made no direct reply. She said after a little pause,

"The country is very dull----" still smiling upon Lucy, and allowed a
full minute to pass without another word. Then she added, "And
Milady?--is she always with you?"--with a slight shrug of the shoulders.
She did not even lower her voice to prevent Lady Randolph from hearing,
but gave Lucy's hand a special pressure, and fixed upon her a
significant look.

"Oh! Aunt Randolph?" cried Lucy. "Oh no; she is only paying her usual
Christmas visit."

The Contessa drew a sigh of relief, and laid her other delicate hand
upon her breast. "You take a load off my heart," she said; then gliding
gracefully from the subject, "And that excellent Tom----? you met
him--in society?"

Lucy did not quite like the questioning, or those emphatic pressures of
her hand. She said quickly, "We met at Lady Randolph's. I was living
there."

"Oh--I see," the stranger said, and she gave vent to a little gentle
laugh. "I see!" Her meaning was entirely unknown to Lucy; but she felt
an indefinable offence. She made a slight effort to withdraw her hand;
but this the Contessa would not permit. She pressed the imprisoned
fingers more closely in her own. "You do not like this questioning.
Pardon! I had forgotten English ways. It is because I hope you will let
me be your friend too."

"Oh yes," cried Lucy, ashamed of her own hesitation, yet feeling every
moment more reluctant. She subdued her rising distaste with an effort.
"I hope," she said, sweetly, "that we shall be able to make you feel at
home, Madame di Forno-Populo. If there is anything you do not like, will
you tell me? Had I been at home I should have chosen other rooms for
you."

"They are so pretty, those words, 'at home!' so English," the Contessa
said, with smiles that were more and more sweet. "But it will fatigue
you to call me all that long name."

"Oh no!" cried Lucy, with a vivid blush. She did not know what to say,
whether this meant a little derision of her careful pronunciation, or
what it was. She went on, after a little pause, "But if you are not
quite comfortable the other rooms can be got ready directly. It was the
housekeeper who thought the rooms you have would be the warmest."

The Contessa gave her another gent