k about the 26th, and I have done all I could to make Doctor Morton
go with them, but he says if he does, the house will not be ready, so, I
suppose, he must stay. They start by this evening's boat, and as the
dearly beloved cousin is sure to go to see you first, I shall ask him to
take my note. Entre nous, I don't believe he is particularly anxious to
go. And you? I expect every time I come near the Cottage, I shall hear
you singing your mother's favourite song:

'Alas! I scarce can go or creep,
Now Lubin is away.'

Lubin! What a name! Mind you come, whatever else you do. Think of the
importance of the subject. Dresses, my dear, wedding-dresses!

"Ever yours,
"BELLA."

Lucia read Bella's effusion hastily through, and gave it to her mother.
Mrs. Costello laughed as she finished it.

"When will you go on this important errand?" she asked.

"Oh! not to-day, mamma, I am tired, and they don't really want me. I
shall stay with you this afternoon."

"I have been writing to Mr. Strafford," Mrs. Costello said after a
pause. "Some time ago I asked him to come up and see us; he could not do
so then, but I hope now to be able to persuade him. I think, too, that
the squaw who was here yesterday may be one of his people. Formerly I
knew something of many of them; that might account for her coming. I
have told him of it, and will do nothing until I receive his answer."

Lucia was silent; she longed to say something, but the conviction that
her mother was quite decided in her reticence on the subject of the
mystery, which was clearly so painful a one, restrained her. They dined,
and spent the afternoon together without any further allusion to the
subject; and Lucia was thankful to perceive that her mother's
tranquillity seemed to have been far less disturbed by this second alarm
than it had been by the first.

In the evening, quite late, Maurice came in. He said his father was much
better. Lucia's long visit had cheered him and done him good, and he
hoped in a day or two to be able to get out a little. Lucia was very
quiet during Maurice's stay; it would not have been easy to say whether
she was happy or sorrowful. She sat in her low chair and thought of
yesterday, of the night and her dream, of old Mr. Leigh sitting alone in
his dreary house so many hours each day, of his pleasure at seeing her,
of Mr. Percy's absence; finally, of the comfort and