Costello came to look for her. Already she thought the house looked
desolate. What should they do without Maurice? Never in her life had she
been so sorrowful, yet she had not the slightest idea how far his pain
exceeded hers, or how he had longed for a word from her which would have
encouraged him, at this last moment, to say all that was in his heart.




CHAPTER VII.


When Lucia awoke next morning, her first thought was of Maurice--what
should she do without him? She rose and dressed hastily, fancying that
at any moment he might come in, and anxious to lengthen, by every means,
the time of their nearness to each other.

Maurice, however, though he looked wishfully at the Cottage as he went
about his preparations, had too many things to think of and arrange, to
steal a moment for the indulgence of his inclinations until afternoon,
and she was obliged to wait with such patience as she could for his
coming. He had told Mrs. Costello that it would be needful for him to
spend two or three hours in Cacouna, and asked her to see his father in
the meantime. Thus, in the afternoon, Lucia was for a considerable time
quite alone.

Mrs. Costello, meanwhile, with more than friendly sympathy, heard from
Mr. Leigh his reasons for urging upon Maurice this hasty departure, and
cheered him with anticipations of his speedy return. They consulted
over, and completed together, some last preparations for his voyage; and