"Do you give us leave to make our own arrangements for the future ?" "I think you are pretty sure of my leave." "Then we all go straight on to Hunsdon together ?" "Are those your arrangements ?" "Not mine, certainly," Lucia interposed.

"I thought we were to stay in London." "But why ?" "Don't you see," Mrs.Costello asked, "that any little compact you two children may have made has nothing to do with the necessity of my finding a house for myself and my daughter--as long as she is only my daughter." Maurice had to give way a second time.
"Very well then," he said.

"At all events you can't forbid me to stay in London, too." "But I certainly shall.

You may stay and see us settled, but after that you are to go home and attend to your own affairs." They reached London by noon, and before night they found, and took possession of, a lodging which Mrs.Costello said to herself would suit them very well until Lucia should be married; after which, of course, she would want to settle near Hunsdon.

Maurice spent the evening with them, but was only allowed to do so on condition of leaving London for home next morning.
As soon as they were at all settled, Mrs.Costello wrote to her cousin.
She told him that she had had urgent reason for quitting France suddenly; that other causes had weighed with her in deciding to return to England, and that she was anxious to see and consult with him.