sister's calamity and ignorant of
Maurice's feelings, did not long delay referring to the Costellos.

"Here is Mr. Strafford's note," she said. "I wrote and begged of him to
tell me by what means a letter would be likely to reach them, and this
is his answer."

It was only a few lines, saying that Mrs. Costello had told him
expressly that she should remain for some time in France, and would
write to her Canadian friends as soon as she had any settled home, but
that in the meantime he believed her movements would be known by her
relative, Mr. Wynter, whose address he enclosed.

Maurice, whose anxiety was revived by the sight of this missive,
examined it with as much care as if he expected to extract more
information from it than in reality the writer possessed, but he was
obliged to content himself with copying the address and giving the
warmest thanks to Mrs. Bellairs for the help he thus gained.

"I suppose," she asked smiling, "that I may entrust you with a message
for Lucia?"

Maurice looked rather foolish. He certainly did mean to follow up the
clue in person, but he had not said so, and he fancied Mrs. Bellairs was
inclined to laugh at him for his romance.

"I will carry it if you do," he answered, "but I do not promise when it
will be delivered."

"You are really going to England at the time you spoke of last night?"

"Yes."

"And from England to France is not much of a journey?"

"No; and I have not seen Paris yet."

"Ah! well, you will go over and meet with them, and rejoice poor Lucia's
heart with the sight of a home face."

"Shall I? Will they be homesick, do you think?"

"_They?_ I don't know. _She_ will, I think--do not you, Bella?"

"At all events, she went away with her mind full of the idea that she
would be sure to see you before long."

Perhaps this speech was not absolutely true, but Maurice liked Bella
better than ever as she said it. He got up soon after, and went his way
with a lighter heart about those various calls which must be made, and
which were pleasant enough now that he saw his way tolerably clear
before him with regard to that other and always most important piece of
business.

When he got home he set himself to consider whether it were better to
write boldly to Mr. Wynter and ask for news of the travellers, or
whether to wait, and after taking his father to Hunsdon run over himself
to Chester, and make his request in person. There was little to be
gained by writing,