"Why not?"
"Oh, Maurice! I am afraid of her—I am indeed. I am sure she is a grande dame, and will annihilate me."
"Silly child! She is a tiny woman, with a fair little face and not a bit of grandeur about her. You yourself will look like a queen beside her."
"She is your very good friend, is not she?"
"Indeed she is. Promise me to try to like her."
"Of course, I will try. Is she really coming here?"
"She wishes to call this afternoon."
Lucia looked round the room. It was nice enough, and pretty in its way with its mirrors, gilt ornaments, and imposing clock on the mantelpiece; but it was so small! Three people quite filled it up. But she finished her survey with a laugh.
"If they would only let us have less furniture!" she said. "It was all very well as long as we had nothing better than tables and chairs to fill up the room with; but at present—"
She finished her sentence with a little shrug, in imitation of Claudine, which made Maurice laugh also. He proceeded, however, to warn her that worse was in reserve.