, my dear. But I don't complain. As long as he tells me
everything, I will never really complain." Perhaps it might some
day be as she desired; perhaps as a husband he would be thoroughly
confidential and communicative; perhaps when they two were one flesh
he would tell her everything about India;--but as yet he certainly
had not told her much.

"How had they better meet?" Amelia asked her mother.

"Oh;--I don't know;--anyhow; just as they like. We can't arrange
anything for her. If she had chosen to dress herself early, she might
have seen him as he came in; but it was impossible to tell her so."
No arrangement was therefore made, and as all the other ladies were
in the drawing-room before Lizzie came down, she had to give him his
welcome in the midst of the family circle. She did it very well.
Perhaps she had thought of it, and made her arrangements. When he
came forward to greet her, she put her cheek up, just a little, so
that he might see that he was expected to kiss it;--but so little,
that should he omit to do so, there might be no visible awkwardness.
It must be acknowledged on Lizzie's behalf, that she could always
avoid awkwardness. He did touch her cheek with his lips, blushing as
he did so. She had her ungloved hand in his, and, still holding him,
returned into the circle. She said not a word; and what he said was
of no moment;--but they had met as lovers, and any of the family who
had allowed themselves to imagine that even yet the match might be
broken, now unconsciously abandoned that hope. "Was he always such a
truant, Lady Fawn?"--Lizzie asked, when it seemed to her that no one
else would speak a word.

"I don't know that there is much difference," said Lady Fawn. "Here
is dinner. Frederic, will you give--Lady Eustace your arm?" Poor Lady
Fawn! It often came to pass that she was awkward.

There were no less than ten females sitting round the board, at the
bottom of which Lord Fawn took his place. Lady Fawn had especially
asked Lucy to come in to dinner, and with Lucy had come the two
younger girls. At Lord Fawn's right hand sat Lizzie, and Augusta at
his left. Lady Fawn had Amelia on one side and Lucy on the other. "So
Mr. Greystock was here to-day," Lady Fawn whispered into Lucy's ear.

"Yes; he was here."

"Oh, Lucy!"

"I did not bid him come, Lady Fawn."

"I am sure of that, my dear;--but--but--" Then there was no more to
be said on that subject on that occasion.

During the whole of the