Of real companionship there was none.

Lizzie was biding her time, and at the end of the three months Miss Greystock thankfully, and, indeed, of necessity, returned to Bobsborough.

"I've done no good," she said to her mother, "and have been very uncomfortable." "My dear," said her mother, "we have disposed of three months out of a two years' period of danger.

In two years from Sir Florian's death she will be married again." When this was said Lizzie had been a widow nearly a year, and had bided her time upon the whole discreetly.

Some foolish letters she had written,--chiefly to the lawyer about her money and property; and some foolish things she had said,--as when she told Ellinor Greystock that the Portray property was her own for ever, to do what she liked with it.