When all was told, there was a silence in the room; Father Paul had wet eyes, unseen in the dusk, and he did not care to speak; Lucia, whose tears were very ready of late; was crying quietly, with her head lying against the end of the sofa, while Mrs.Costello, leaning back on her cushions, waited quietly till the painful throbbing of her heart should subside.
At last Lucia rose and stole out of the room.

She went to her own, and lay down on her bed still crying, though she could hardly tell why.

Her trouble about the letter still haunted and worried her, and her spirit was so broken that she was like a sick child, neither able nor anxious to command herself.
Meanwhile the lamp had been brought into the sitting-room, and the two elder people had recommenced their conversation.

It was of a less agitating kind now, but the subject was not very different, and both were deeply interested, so that time passed on quickly, and the evening was gone before they were aware.

When Father Paul rose to go, he said, "Madam, I thank you for all you have told me.