Mrs.Costello laid her hand on her child's head and sighed softly.
"You will have to give up this fashion of yours, darling," she said, "you must learn to be a woman now." Lucia laughed.
"I don't believe I ever shall," she answered.

"At least, not with you or with Maurice." "Would you like to go to Dighton ?" She considered for a minute.
"Yes, mamma, I think I should.

You know how things are in those great houses; but I have never seen anything but Canada, and even there, just the country.

I should not like, by-and-by, for people to laugh at Maurice, because I was only an ignorant country girl." She spoke very slowly and timidly; but Mrs.Costello began to think she was right.

It would be as well that the future mistress of Hunsdon should have some little introduction to her new world, to prepare her for "by-and-by." Next day came two letters for Mrs.Costello, as well as one for Lucia.
The first was from Lady Dighton full of congratulation, and pressing her invitation; the other, from Mr.Wynter, announced that he, his wife, and daughter, would be in London next evening.