She is so excessively childish in some things! I shall be glad now when she really does begin to understand.

Only, must I part with her?
Better that than that I should leave her alone; better even than that she should have to go among strange relatives." Maurice had asked Lucia to walk with him for the sake of having her quite to himself for an hour, and perhaps of asking that much meditated question.

He had specially bargained that they were not to "go anywhere;" but simply to choose a tolerably quiet road and go straight along it.

Accordingly they started, and went slowly up the sunny slope towards the great arch, talking of yesterday, and of the trifles which always seemed interesting when they spoke of them together.

After they had passed the barrier, they hesitated a little which road to take--they had already made several expeditions in this direction, and Lucia wanted novelty.