Maurice, without having more than the minimum quantity of masculine vanity, had great faith in the virtues of perseverance and fidelity, and took the full benefit of Lucia's delight at seeing him; while Lucia herself was just simply glad--so glad that for an hour or two she quite forgot to think of Percy.
Maurice declared he had business which would keep him in Paris for some weeks.

He claimed permission therefore to come every day, and to take Lucia to all the places where Mrs.Costello was not able to go.
"Oh, how charming!" Lucia cried.

"I shall get some walks now.

Do you know, Maurice, mamma will not let me go anywhere by myself, and I can't bear to make her walk; but you will go, won't you ?" "Indeed I will," Maurice said; but after that he went away back to his hotel, with his first uncomfortable sensation.

Was Lucia still really such a child?
Would she always persist in thinking of him as an elder brother--a dear brother, certainly, which was something, but not at all what he wanted?
How should he make her understand the difference?
That very day, her warm frank affection had been a perfect shield to her.