but it seems to me that they are greatly in want of
better advice."

"But, Lucy, will you not read your letter? It is astonishing to me
that you should be so indifferent about it." Lucy was anything but
indifferent, and now did proceed to tear the envelope. The note was
very short, and ran in these words--

MY DEAR MISS ROBARTS,

I am particularly anxious to see you, and shall feel much
obliged to you if you can step over to me here, at Framley
Court. I must apologize for taking this liberty with you,
but you will probably feel that an interview here would
suit us both better than one at the parsonage.

Truly yours,

M. LUFTON.

"There: I am in for it now," said Lucy, handing the note over to Mrs.
Robarts. "I shall have to be talked to as never poor girl was talked
to before: and when one thinks of what I have done, it is hard."

"Yes; and of what you have not done."

"Exactly; and of what I have not done. But I suppose I must go," and
she proceeded to re-tie the strings of her bonnet, which she had
loosened.

"Do you mean that you are going over at once?"

"Yes; immediately. Why not? it will be better to have it over, and
then I can go to the Crawleys. But, Fanny, the pity of it is that I
know it all as well as though it had been already spoken; and what
good can there be in my having to endure it? Can't you fancy the
tone in which she will explain to me the conventional inconveniences
which arose when King Cophetua would marry the beggar's daughter? how
she will explain what Griselda went through;--not the archdeacon's
daughter, but the other Griselda?"

"But it all came right with her."

"Yes; but then I am not Griselda, and she will explain how it would
certainly all go wrong with me. But what's the good when I know it
all beforehand? Have I not desired King Cophetua to take himself and
sceptre elsewhere?" And then she started, having first said another
word or two about the Crawley children, and obtained a promise of
Puck and the pony-carriage for the afternoon. It was also almost
agreed that Puck on his return to Framley should bring back the four
children with him; but on this subject it was necessary that Mark
should be consulted. The present scheme was to prepare for them a
room outside the house, once the dairy, at present occupied by the
groom and his wife; and to bring them into the house as soon as it
was manifest that there was no danger from infection. But all