oubtedly this,--that Frank was not to pay visits to Lucy
Morris at Fawn Court. Now he had come to see his cousin Lizzie
Eustace.

On this occasion Lady Fawn, with Amelia and two of the other girls,
were out in the carriage. The unfortunate Augusta had been left at
home with her bosom friend;--while Cecilia and Nina were supposed to
be talking French with Lucy Morris. They were all out in the grounds,
sitting upon the benches, and rambling among the shrubberies, when
of a sudden Frank Greystock was in the midst of them. Lizzie's
expression of joy at seeing her cousin was almost as great as though
he had been in fact a brother. She ran up to him and grasped his
hand, and hung on his arm, and looked up into his face, and then
burst into tears. But the tears were not violent tears. There were
just three sobs, and two bright eyes full of water, and a lace
handkerchief,--and then a smile. "Oh, Frank," she said, "it does make
one think so of old times!" Augusta had by this time been almost
persuaded to believe in her,--though the belief by no means made the
poor young woman happy. Frank thought that his cousin looked very
well, and said something as to Lord Fawn being "the happiest fellow
going." "I hope I shall make him happy," said Lizzie, clasping her
hands together.

Lucy meanwhile was standing in the circle with the others. It never
occurred to her that it was her duty to run away from the man she
loved. She had shaken hands with him, and felt something of affection
in his pressure. She did believe that his visit was made entirely to
his cousin, and had no idea at the moment of disobeying Lady Fawn.
During the last few days she had been thrown very much with her old
friend Lizzie, and had been treated by the future peeress with many
signs of almost sisterly affection. "Dear Lucy," Lizzie had said,
"you can understand me. These people,--oh, they are so good, but
they can't understand me." Lucy had expressed a hope that Lord
Fawn understood her. "Oh, Lord Fawn,--well; yes; perhaps;--I don't
know. It so often happens that one's husband is the last person to
understand one."

"If I thought so, I wouldn't marry him," said Lucy.

"Frank Greystock will understand you," said Lizzie. It was indeed
true that Lucy did understand something of her wealthy friend's
character, and was almost ashamed of the friendship. With Lizzie
Greystock she had never sympathised, and Lizzie Eustace had always
been distasteful to her. She alread