The rest of the way was occupied in friendly chat.
At parting Lancelot would have kissed her hand but she adroitly avoided his homage.

Not because she was averse but because she thought it discreet.
Lavinia went to bed that night content with the world and with herself.
She felt a secret pleasure that she had in a way brought Vane back to life though how she had done it she could not explain.

At any rate, there was no magic about it.

It was a very ordinary thing--no romance--and certainly no love.

So at least she argued and ended by thinking she had convinced herself.
In London Lavinia went back to her old lodgings in Little Queen Street, and revived her acquaintance with Mrs.Egleton.The latter received her with much effusion, which puzzled Lavinia not a little.