he gate is fastened;
I must go and open it."

She darted into the house on her errand--for the principal entrance was
in the gable end of the building--but before she had had time to cross
the parlour and hall to the outer door, the little garden-gate opened,
and a very pretty woman in a grey cloak and straw hat came through, and
up the verandah steps with the air of a person perfectly at home.

Mrs. Costello rose to meet her with an exclamation.

"Mrs. Bellairs! We never thought of it being you. Lucia is gone to open
the gate."

"I found the little one open; so I left Bella to take care of Bob, and
came round. In fact, I ought not to be here at all, but as I wanted to
persuade you about to-morrow, I ran away the moment dinner was over, and
must run back again instantly."

"Sit down, at any rate, while you _are_ here."

She sat down, and taking off her hat, threw it on the floor.

"How delicious this is! I believe you don't know what heat means. I have
been half dead all day, and not a moment's rest, I assure you, with the
people continually coming to ask some stupid question or to borrow
something. The house is half stripped now and I fully expect that before
to-morrow night it will be emptied of everything movable in it."

"You are surely getting up something more elaborate than usual; do you
expect to have so much pleasure?"

"Oh, I suppose the young people do. Of course, staid matrons like you
and me," with a gay laugh, "cannot be quite so sanguine; but, however,
they do expect great fun, and I came to _implore_ you to let Lucia
come. I assure you I won't answer for the consequences if she does not."

"Lucia shall go if she wishes it." Mrs. Costello spoke gravely, and
stopped abruptly. She resumed, "You know I never leave home; and it may
be excused to a mother who sees nothing of the world, to fear it a
little for her only child."

"_Such_ a child, too! She is growing perfectly lovely. But, then, dear
Mrs. Costello, the very idea of calling our tiny backwood's society,
'the world;' and as for Lucia, if you _will_ not come with her, I
promise, at any rate, to take the same care of her as I will of my Flo
when she is big enough to face our great world."

She spoke laughing, but with some earnestness under the sparkle of her
bright eyes; and immediately afterwards rose, saying, "I suppose Bella
cannot leave Bob, and Lucia will not leave Bella, so I must go to them;
and if Lucia pleases, she may come to-m