"No. Never mind that. I will have some tea with you, please, by-and-by."
But Lucia had received a glance from her mother, and was gone already to try what Claudine's resources could produce. Mrs. Costello leaned forward, and laid her hand entreatingly on Maurice's arm,
"Tell me what all this means?" she said.
He tried to smile as he returned her look, but his eyes fell before the earnestness of hers.
"What what means?" he asked.
"Both you and Lucia know something I don't know," she answered. "I would rather question you than her. Has she troubled you?"
"Not in the way you think," he answered quickly. "I have partly changed my plans. I shall be obliged to go back to England with my cousin. Don't question Lucia, dear Mrs. Costello, let her be in peace for awhile."
"In peace? But she has been in peace—happy as the day was long, lately."
"She is disturbed now—yes, it is my fault—and I will do penance for it. You understand I do not give up my hopes—I only defer them."
"But, Maurice, I don't understand. You are neither changeable, nor likely to give Lucia any excuse for being foolish. Why should you go away? She exclaimed how sorry she was when your cousin spoke of it."