She had stood buried in a reverie, until the light tone of Lionel aroused her from it.

"_Which_ is real, Lionel?
This joking, or that you have lost Verner's Pride ?" "Both," he answered.

"I am disinherited from Verner's Pride; better perhaps that I should joke over it, than cry." "What will mamma do?
What will mamma do ?" breathed Decima.

"She has so counted upon it.

And what will you do, Lionel ?" "Decima!" came forth at this moment from the opposite room, in the imperative voice of Lady Verner.
Decima turned in obedience to it, her step less light than usual.