something. The house is half stripped now and I fully expect that before
to-morrow night it will be emptied of everything movable in it."

"You are surely getting up something more elaborate than usual; do you
expect to have so much pleasure?"

"Oh, I suppose the young people do. Of course, staid matrons like you
and me," with a gay laugh, "cannot be quite so sanguine; but, however,
they do expect great fun, and I came to _implore_ you to let Lucia
come. I assure you I won't answer for the consequences if she does not."

"Lucia shall go if she wishes it." Mrs. Costello spoke gravely, and
stopped abruptly. She resumed, "You know I never leave home; and it may
be excused to a mother who sees nothing of the world, to fear it a
little for her only child."

"_Such_ a child, too! She is growing perfectly lovely. But, then, dear
Mrs. Costello, the very idea of calling our tiny backwood's society,
'the world;' and as for Lucia, if you _will_ not come with her, I
promise, at any rate, to take the same care of her as I will of my Flo
when she is big enough to face our great world."

She spoke laughing, but with some earnestness under the sparkle of her
bright eyes; and immediately afterwards rose, saying, "I suppose Bella
cannot leave Bob, and Lucia will not leave Bella, so I must go to them;
and if Lucia pleases, she may come to-morrow?"

"Yes, yes; I am foolish. She shall come, I promise you for her. And,
indeed, I ought to thank you also."