Mrs.Costello was saying, in answer to some question-- "To France, I think.

Indeed I am sure we shall go there first." "But," said Mrs.Bellairs, "such a voyage at this time of year! Do wait till spring." "Except that it will be cold, I do not think the voyage will be worse now than at any other time," Mrs.Costello answered quietly.
"But, Lucia!" said Bella, "surely you are not going away now ?" "It seems that we are.

Mamma has said nothing to me about it to-day, and I thought she might have given up the idea." "Until to-day, then, you knew she intended it ?" "Yes." Lucia's cheeks grew rosy as she answered, for she remembered why the idea of European travel had seemed pleasant to her.

One word from her companion might have set all those fluttering thoughts and hopes at rest; but Bella guessed nothing of them, and neither saw Lucia's change of colour, nor, if she had seen it, would have understood its cause.
"Do you think you will be long away ?" she asked.
"I have no idea _now_.

I think that before, mamma did not mean to come back at all." "And you can leave Canada, and all of us so easily ?" "Oh! no, no;" and Lucia blushed more deeply than before.