Lucia's tears were falling fast by this time in the darkness, yet she thought there was something cold and restrained in Maurice's words and tone, and she could not guess how much the restraint cost him.
"As if I should forget you!" she said rather resentfully. "I could just as soon forget my brother, if I had one."
The word did not suit Maurice. He sighed, with a kind of impatience.
"Shall we go in?" he said.
They turned towards the house, but when they reached it, instead of following Lucia in, he said "Good-night."
She turned in surprise.
"But you are coming in?"
"Not to-night; my father will be waiting for me."
"Let me call mamma, then."
"I have said good-night to her. You will not forget? I do not mean forget me, but, forget that wherever I am, or wherever you are, you have the right to ask anything of me that a friend can do for you."