It was from Maurice; and though it only described his journey to New York, his stay there, and the steamer in which he had taken his passage for England, it seemed for the moment almost to bring him back home.

They lingered over it, as people do over the first letter, and amused themselves by guessing how far he could yet be on his voyage; whether the weather, which at Cacouna had been fair and calm, would have been good or bad for those far out on the Atlantic.
That day neither Lucia nor Mr.Leigh cared for newspaper or book.

They had plenty to talk about, for when the subject of the letter was completely finished, there still remained the wedding, of which Mr.
Leigh said Maurice would be sure to demand a full account.

So they talked hour after hour, and forgot how time was going, until Mrs.
Costello, growing uneasy, came to look for her daughter, and found them still absorbed in their gossip.
But when the afternoon began to be almost over, and there had been no other interruptions to their quiet, Lucia found the interest of yesterday worn out, and felt a vague want of something beyond her mother's or Mr.Leigh's companionship.

Mr.Percy's usual visit had not been paid, and she could not help wondering whether he stayed away because he was offended with her last night; whether he would come yet, whether he had heard what Mrs.Bellairs had said, or what she answered; and while she wondered, her attention grew so engrossed that she did not hear when her mother spoke to her, until the words had been twice repeated.
Mrs.Costello, at last, touched her arm.
"Are you asleep, Lucia ?" she said.