At length she rose softly, and stealing, with the shy step of a child who knows it has been naughty, to her own chair, she slipped into it.

A half smile came to Maurice's lips, but he knew his old playfellow's moods too well to take the least notice of her movement, and even when she asked him a question, he simply answered it, and did not even look at her in doing so.
An hour passed.

Lucia had entirely recovered from her little fit of sulkiness, and, to the great content of Maurice, was, if possible, even more sweet and winning than usual; but nothing had been said of the next day's plans.

When the young man rose to leave, however, Lucia followed him out to the verandah to look at the moonlight.
"We shall have a fine day to-morrow" he said.
"Oh, Maurice," she answered, quickly, as if she had been waiting for the opportunity of speaking, "I am sure mamma does not want me to go, and I would so much rather stay at home.

Will you go and tell Mrs.Bellairs in the morning for me ?" "Impossible! Why Lucia, this is a mere fancy of yours." "Indeed it is not.