going to take to drink. He has given all that up now."

"I am very glad he has given drink up. That wouldn't do him any
good."

"He is quite different now. The poor fellow hardly takes anything. He
will sit all the afternoon smoking cigarettes and sipping tea. It is
quite sad to see him. Then he comes and talks to me, and is always
asking me to make Ayala have him."

"I don't think that anybody can ever make Ayala do anything."

"Not quite by talking to her. I dare say not. I did not mean to say a
word to her about it just now."

"We can do nothing, I fear," said Mrs. Dosett.

"I was going to suggest something. But I wanted first to say a word
or two about poor Lucy." They were just at present all "poor" to
Lady Tringle,--Ayala, Lucy, Tom, and Gertrude. Even Augusta was poor
because she was to be turned out of her bedroom.

"Is she in trouble?"

"Oh, dear, yes. But," she added, thinking well to correct herself,
so that Mrs. Dosett might not imagine that she would have to look
forward to troubles with Lucy, "she could arrange her affairs, no
doubt, if she were not with us. She is engaged to that Mr. Isadore
Hamel, the sculptor."

"So I have heard."

"He does not earn very much just at present, I fear. Sir Thomas did
offer to help him, but he was perhaps a little hoity-toity, giving
himself airs. That, however, did not come off, and there they are,
waiting. I don't mean to say a word against poor Lucy. I think it a
pity, you know; but perhaps it was natural enough. He isn't what I
should have liked for a niece who was living with me just as though
she was my daughter; but I couldn't help that."

"But what are we to do, Emmeline?"

"Let them just change places again."

"Change again! Ayala go to you and Lucy come back here!"

"Just that. If Ayala were with us she would be sure to get used to
Tom at last. And then Lucy could manage her affairs with Mr. Hamel so
much better if she were with you."

"Why should she manage her affairs better if she were with us?"

Lady Tringle was aware that this was the weak part of her case. On
the poor Ayala and poor Tom side of the question there was a good
deal which might be said. Then, though she might not convince, she
might be eloquent. But, touching Lucy, she could say nothing which
did not simply signify that she wanted to get rid of the girl. Now,
Mrs. Dosett had also wanted to get rid of Lucy when the former
exchange had been made. "What I mean is, that, if sh