that was not easy to do. Whatever
suspicions she might have in her own heart, it was a mortifying thing to
be told plainly that her love for Percy was a mistake--a mere
counterfeit--instead of the enduring devotion which it ought to have
been. But she was very much humbled now, and patiently waited for what
her mother might say next.

"Well!" Mrs. Costello began again, "it is no use now to go on talking of
the past. The question is rather whether anything can be done for the
future. What do you say?"

"What can I say, mamma? What can I do?"

"I don't know. Maurice used to tell me of his plans, but he is not
likely to do that now. I would write and ask him to come over, but it is
more than doubtful whether he would come."

"He promised that if ever I wanted him he would come," Lucia said,
hesitating.

"If you were in need of him I am sure he would, but it would be a kind
of impertinence to send for him on that plea when it was not really for
that."

"But it _is_. Mamma, don't be angry with me again! Don't be disgusted
with me; but I want, so badly, to see him and tell him I behaved
wrongly. I was so cross, so ungrateful, so _horrid_, mamma, that it was
enough to make him think all girls bad. I should _like_ to tell him how
sorry I am; I feel as if I should never be happy till I did."

When, after this outbreak, Lucia's face went down upon her hands, Mrs.
Costello could not resist a little self-gratulatory smile. 'All may come
right yet,' she thought to herself, 'if that wilful boy will only come
over.'

"I think you are right," she said aloud. "Possibly he may come over, and
then you will have an opportunity of speaking to him, perhaps."

"Yes," Lucia said, very slowly, thinking of her note, and of the comfort
it would have been if she _could_ but have sent it. "Oh, mamma, if we
were but in England!"

"Useless wishes, dear. Give me your advice about writing to Mr. Leigh."

"You will write, will you not?"

"I suppose I must. Yet it is a difficult letter for me to answer."

"Could not you just say 'I will do what I can?'"

"Which is absolutely nothing--unless Maurice should really pay us a
visit here, a thing not likely at present."

So the conversation ended without any satisfaction to Lucia. Nay, all
her previous days had been happy compared to this one. She was devoured
now, by a restless, jealous curiosity about that Miss Landor whom Mr.
Leigh feared--she constantly found her thoughts reverting to t