Lesbia and Mary were not by any means sympathetic; yet, after all, blood is thicker than water; and Lesbia was intelligent, and could talk of the things Mary loved, which was better than total dumbness, even if she generally took an antagonistic view of them.
'I shall miss her dreadfully,' thought Mary, as she strolled listlessly in the gardens, where the leaves where falling and the flowers fading.
'I wonder if she will see Mr.Hammond at Lady Kirkbank's ?' mused Mary.
'If he were anything like a lover he would find out all about her visit, and seize the opportunity of her being away from grandmother.

But then if he had been much of a lover he would have followed her to St.Bees.' Lady Maulevrier sorely missed her favourite grandchild.

In a life spent in such profound seclusion, so remote from the busy interests of the world, this beloved companionship had become a necessity to her.

She had concentrated her affections upon Lesbia, and the girl's absence made a fearful blank.

But her ladyship's dignity was not compromised by any outward signs of trouble or loss.
She spent her mornings in her own room, reading and writing and musing at her leisure; she drove or walked every fine afternoon, sometimes alone, sometimes attended by Mary, who hated these stately drives and walks.