y Fawn entered. "There is nothing the matter, Lucy?"
Lucy stood stock still, with her treasure still clasped, smiling,
almost laughing, while the tears ran down her cheeks. "Won't you eat
your breakfast, my dear?" said Lady Fawn.

"Oh, Lady Fawn--oh, Lady Fawn!" said Lucy, rushing into her friend's
arms.

"What is it, Lucy? I think our little wise one has lost her wits."

"Oh, Lady Fawn, he has asked me!"

"Is it Mr. Greystock?"

"Yes;--Mr. Greystock. He has asked me. He has asked me to be his
wife. I thought he loved me. I hoped he did, at least. Oh dear, I did
so hope it! And he does!"

"Has he proposed to you?"

"Yes, Lady Fawn. I told you what he said to me. And then he went and
wrote this. Is he not noble and good,--and so kind? You shall read
it,--but you'll give it me back, Lady Fawn?"

"Certainly I'll give it you back. You don't think I'd rob you of your
lover's letter?"

"Perhaps you might think it right."

"If it is really an offer of marriage--," said Lady Fawn very
seriously.

"It couldn't be more of an offer if he had sat writing it for ever,"
said Lucy as she gave up her letter with confidence. Lady Fawn read
it with leisurely attention, and smiled as she put the paper back
into the envelope. "All the men in the world couldn't say it more
plainly," said Lucy, nodding her head forward.

"I don't think they could," said Lady Fawn. "I never read anything
plainer in my life. I wish you joy with all my heart, Lucy. There is
not a word to be said against him."

"Against him!" said Lucy, who thought that this was very insufficient
praise.

"What I mean is, that when I objected to his coming here I was only
afraid that he couldn't afford,--or would think, you know, that in
his position he couldn't afford to marry a wife without a fortune."

"He may come now, Lady Fawn?"

"Well,--yes; I think so. I shall be glad just to say a word to him.
Of course you are in my hands, and I do love you so dearly, Lucy! I
could not bear that anything but good should happen to you."

"This is good," said Lucy.

"It won't be good, and Mr. Greystock won't think you good, if you
don't come and eat your breakfast." So Lucy was led back into the
parlour, and sipped her tea and crunched her toast, while Lydia came
and stood over her.

"Of course it is from him?" whispered Lydia. Lucy again nodded her
head while she was crunching her toast.

The fact that Mr. Greystock had proposed in form to Lucy Morris
was so