After this, Captain Culpepper troubled her no further.
When the ladies had taken themselves to the drawing-room Lucy found herself hardly better off than she had been at the dinner-table.

Lady Lufton and Mrs.Grantly got themselves on to a sofa together, and there chatted confidentially into each other's ears.

Her ladyship had introduced Lucy and Miss Grantly, and then she naturally thought that the young people might do very well together.

Mrs.Robarts did attempt to bring about a joint conversation, which should include the three, and for ten minutes or so she worked hard at it.

But it did not thrive.