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The statesman received these acknowledgments at first with well-feigned surprise, and then with an affectation of frank cordiality. The tears began already to start from Lucy's blue eyes at viewing this unexpected and moving scene.
"You are very kind," dropped almost involuntarily from Lucy's lips, as, with a graceful inclination of her body, she drew her veil over her face, and, turning from the merchant, walked quickly away. When Paul went home at dinner-time, he said to his wife, "I am sure you couldn't guess who I had for a visitor this morning."
He sat next to her without ceremony, removing another man's name-card for the purpose, and after a few short, snapped phrases about anything or nothing, they drifted into easy talk. Lucy's simplicity made her a delightful companion, when she was sure of her footing. She told him that she had been saving up Lancelot's letter to show him. "Good," he said. "I want it."
Merriman herself, laid her hand on Lucy's arm. Lucy shuddered, but submitted. "The person who has got the greatest character among us is Rosamund Cunliffe. She will rule us all." "She won't rule me," interrupted Lucy angrily. "You can't help it, my dear. She has always ruled every one with whom she comes in contact; and she does it quite nicely, too, for she isn't unamiable.
It's all her fault, I know. Oh! the play! Yes, Dudley is making love. Ridiculous! There, the curtain's down at last, and what ! Dick is getting up: he looks as if he were saying good-bye. There's Lucy's uncle: he sits down beside her he must have brought her. Oh, what a relief! After all, it was very natural for Dick to take the vacant seat, he is so thoughtful always.
Lucy's twenty-first birthday dawned, but it was not to her the gay exulting day it is to some. Last night her uncle and aunt had gone a step further, and, instead of kissing her ceremoniously, had evaded her. They were drawing matters to a climax: once of age, each day would make her more independent in spirit as in circumstances.
Amy felt sorry for her; she thought she would give her some from her own basket, but she did so wish to take it home full, and she did not like Kitty to have more than herself. But then the words breathed into her heart, "By love serve one another," and she resolved to seize the opportunity; and without another word, she poured out a third of her own little store, and nearly filled Lucy's basket.
After a few stray remarks, and an affable salute to Miss Thompson, he hobbled away, and then the three sealed volcanoes breathed, and Lucy's arm ceased to be squeezed quite so much up to the heroic pitch. This incident quickened their steps homeward to the sheltering wings of Mrs. Berry.
If he never learned them and this was most to be dreaded what would Lucy's misery be all her life if she still kept the secret close?
Then, he bethought himself how selfish a feeling he had been allowing himself to indulge; how utterly he had forgotten that the matter was one with which Lucy's happiness must be inseparably connected; and that fate or Providence, rather, as he reverently corrected himself had in a very great measure confided that happiness to his keeping, by delivering into his care the man upon whom she had bestowed the priceless treasure of her heart's best love.
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