."

"It was awfully silly," said Montjoie. "I couldn't have believed you
were so soft, Bee, with your training, don't you know? And how did you
come over _her_ to let you go? She was in a dead funk all the time. It
was awfully silly; you might have caught it, or given it to me, or a
hundred things, and lost all your fun; but it was awfully plucky," cried
Montjoie, "by Jove! I knew you were a plucky one;" and he added, after a
moment's reflection, in a softened tone, "a good little girl too."

It was thus that Bice's fate was sealed.

That afternoon Lucy received a note from Lady Randolph in the following
words:--

"DEAREST LUCY--I am more glad than I can tell you to hear the good
news of the dear boy. Probably he will be stronger now than he has
ever been, having got over this so well.

"I want to tell you not to think any more of what I said _that_
day. I hope it has not vexed you. I find that my informant was
entirely mistaken, and acted upon a misconception all the time. I
can't tell how sorry I am ever to have mentioned such a thing; but
it seemed to be on the very best authority. I do hope it has not
made any coolness between Tom and you.

"Don't take the trouble to answer this. There is nothing that
carries infection like letters, and I inquire after the boy every
day.--Your loving

M. RANDOLPH."

"It was not her fault," said Lucy, sobbing upon her husband's shoulder.
"I should have known you better, Tom."

"I think so, my dear," he said quietly, "though I have been more foolish
than a man of my age ought to be; but there is no harm in the Contessa,
Lucy."

"No," Lucy said, yet with a grave face. "But Bice will be made a
sacrifice: Bice, and----" she added with a guilty look, "I shall have
thrown away that money, for it has not saved her."

"Here is a great deal of money," said Sir Tom, drawing a letter from his
pocket, "which seems also in a fair way of being thrown away."

He took out the list which Lucy had given to her trustee, which Mr.
Chervil had returned to her husband, and held it out before her. It was
a very curious document, an experiment in the way of making poor people
rich. The names were of people of whom Lucy knew very little personally;
and yet it had not been done without thought. There was nobody there to
whom such a gift might not mean deliverance from many cares