"Louisa will come alone, to-day," he said, "because I told her Mrs. Costello was an invalid, but you must expect that next time she will bring her husband, and Sir John is no small person I assure you."

"When did they arrive?"

"Last night."

"How long will they stay, do you think?"

"Two or three weeks I imagine, but I know nothing positively of their plans."

"And Maurice, tell me when you must go back to England? I do not want our pleasant life to end just as suddenly as it began."

"Nor do I. I am not going just yet."

"But have not you quantities of affairs to attend to, you important person?"

"My most serious affair at present is in Paris. Don't be afraid, I am not forgetting my duties."

"Then we cannot go out to-day?"