Finish your story, and then describe this man if you can." Her voice was forced and husky, but Lucia dared not disobey.

She had only a few words to add, but her description had nothing characteristic in it, except the utterly degraded and brutal expression of the countenance, which had so vividly impressed her.
When she ceased speaking, both remained for some minutes silent and without moving.

Then Mrs.Costello rose, and began to walk slowly up and down the room.

She felt that she had made a mistake in the affair nearest to her heart.

She knew that Lucia had a girl's fancy for Mr.
Percy; he had done all he could to awaken it, and it was not likely that the poor child would have been entirely untouched by his efforts; but she had believed that it was only for the amusement of his leisure that he had been so perseveringly blind to her own coldness, and that he was too thoroughly selfish to be guilty of such an imprudence as she now saw had been committed.