The little old lady did not talk to Lucy of her niece, nor of the adventure of the afternoon, though she had heard all from Eleanor.

Her family pride, as secret as it was intense, could hardly endure this revelation of the family trouble and difficulty to a comparative stranger, much as she liked the stranger.

Nevertheless her compunctions on the subject showed visibly.

No cares and attentions could be too much for the girl in her charge, who had suffered annoyance at the hands of a Manisty, while her own natural protectors were far away.
'Benson, my dear, will come and look after you the last thing,' said the old lady, not without a certain stateliness.

'You will lock your door--and I hope you will have a very good night.' Half an hour later came Mrs.Burgoyne.