"I wonder how you can find it in your heart to ask such a thing of her!"

"Lucy Lugur, poor little girl, has no mother."

"You cannot expect Mrs. Stephen Hatton to mother her."

"Yes, I do. Mother has often told me she would do anything in the world
for me. I am going to ask her to go with me, then I can take Lucy."

"Harry, you must not put her love in such a hard strait. Do be
reasonable."

"I cannot be reasonable about Lucy Lugur. I love her, John; she is the
most beautiful woman in the world."

"All right, I do not contradict you; but is that any reason for
sacrificing mother's comfort to her beauty?"

"Mother likes to give up to me. If I ask her to go, she will go. I do
not forget, John, what you have promised; no indeed, and I am sure
mother will be quite as kind. I will now go and ask her."

When he arrived at the Hall gate, he had a sudden sense of the injustice
of his intention, but the thought of Lucy Lugur put it down; and he
heralded his arrival by a long, sweet whistle, whose music penetrated
the distance and informed Mrs. Hatton of her son's approach. She was
drinking her afternoon cup of tea to angry thoughts of him, telling
herself that he ought to have been home on the previous day, that at
least he ought to have sent her a few lines when delayed. So troubled