her grandfather, asking a great many questions, and telling him of the
places and people she and her husband had seen during their two months'
tour. Mr. Beresford was interested and amused; the little lady possessed
one decided advantage over Maurice, for she and her grandfather belonged
entirely to the same world, though to two different generations, and
could enter into the same subjects and understand the same allusions.
While they talked, Maurice had an opportunity of looking more
deliberately at his cousin. He liked her small graceful figure, her tiny
hands, and bright sunshiny face, with its frame of almost golden hair
arranged in full soft puffs; he liked the air of daintiness and
refinement about her dress, and the musical sound of her voice as she
talked. He admired her the more, perhaps, because she was quite unlike
the type of woman which was, in his thoughts, beyond admiration. But it
did occur to him how lovely Lucia would look, with the same advantages
of wealth and station as Lady Dighton, and a delicious vision swept past
him, of the old house brightening up permanently, under the reign of a
beautiful mistress.

He had not many minutes, however, for fancies; the most important news
on both sides having been exchanged, the other two were coming to
subjects in which he could join, and went on smoothly and pleasantly
enough till luncheon. After that meal Mr. Beresford always went to
sleep; it was generally Maurice's holiday, when he could ride or walk
out without fear of being missed, but to-day he only strolled out on the
long portico in front of the house, while Lady Dighton went to have a
chat with the housekeeper.

Presently, however, a gleam of bright colour appeared at the hall door,
and Maurice went forward and met her coming out.