ill this moment no one had
known of how strong a will of her own Gertrude was possessed. When
Gertrude declared that she would not consent to be separated from Mr.
Houston then they were all hurried home.

CHAPTER IX.

THE EXCHANGE.

Such was the state of things when Mr. Dosett brought the three
letters home with him to Kingsbury Crescent, having been so much
disturbed by the contents of the two which were addressed to himself
as to have found himself compelled to leave his office two hours
before the proper time. The three letters were handed together by her
uncle to Lucy, and she, seeing the importance of the occasion, read
the two open ones before she broke the envelope of her own. That from
Sir Thomas came first, and was as follows;--

Lombard Street, January, 187--.

MY DEAR DOSETT,

I have had a correspondence with the ladies at Rome which
has been painful in its nature, but which I had better
perhaps communicate to you at once. Ayala has not got on
as well with Lady Tringle and the girls as might have been
wished, and they all think it will be better that she and
Lucy should change places. I chiefly write to give my
assent. Your sister will no doubt write to you. I may as
well mention to you, should you consent to take charge of
Ayala, that I have made some provision for her in my will,
and that I shall not change it. I have to add on my own
account that I have no complaint of my own to make against
Ayala.

Yours sincerely,

T. TRINGLE.

Lucy, when she had read this, proceeded at once to the letter from
her aunt. The matter to her was one of terrible importance, but the
importance was quite as great to Ayala. She had been allowed to go
up alone into her own room. The letters were of such a nature that
she could hardly have read them calmly in the presence of her Aunt
Dosett. It was thus that her Aunt Emmeline had written;--

Palazzo Ruperti, Rome, Thursday.

MY DEAR REGINALD,

I am sure you will be sorry to hear that we are in great
trouble here. This has become so bad that we are obliged
to apply to you to help us. Now you must understand that
I do not mean to say a word against dear Ayala;--only she
does not suit. It will occur sometimes that people who
are most attached to each other do not suit. So it has
been with dear Ayala. She is not happy with us. She has
not perhaps accommodated herself to her