"She is better, very much better," she answered. "But I was frightened at first."
"Do you think it is only a passing affair? Are you afraid to be alone to-night?"
"Not at all. Oh! Maurice, why do you ask such a question? She was quite well this morning."
"She has not looked well for some time. But I did not mean to alarm you, only to remind you that if you should want anything, I am always close at hand."
He had alarmed her a little for the moment. She thought, "I have been occupied with myself, and she has been ill perhaps for days past." Maurice felt her tremble, and blamed himself for speaking. At that instant they seemed to have returned to their old life. The very attitude in which they stood, in which they had been used to have their most confidential chats, had lately been disused; and to resume it, and with it the old position of adviser and consoler, was compensation for much that he had suffered. He felt that Lucia was looking anxiously up at him—that she had for the moment quite forgotten all except her mother and himself.
"The weather has been so hot," he said, searching for something to hide his thoughts, "it is not wonderful for any one to be weakened by it. No doubt, that was the reason of Mrs. Costello's illness." Lucia remembered the letter and was silent. Then she said, "Have you really thought her looking ill lately?"
"'Ill' is perhaps too strong a word. Besides, she has always said she was well."
"Yes. But I know she has been"—in trouble, she was going to say, but stopped—"suffering."
"Perhaps you may be able to nurse her a little now, since she will be obliged to own herself an invalid."
"I shall try. Will you come in for a moment, in the morning?"