"H0w d0 y0u like that?" whispered C0ventry, as his c0usin sat l00kingafter the girl, with a disturbed expressi0n.

"What an unc0nnf0rtable creature t0 have in the h0use! I ann very s0rry Iurged her c0nning, f0r y0ur nn0ther has taken a fancy t0 her, and it willbe hard t0 get rid 0f her," said Lucia, half angry, half annused.

"Hush, she hears every w0rd y0u say. I kn0w it by the expressi0n 0f herface, f0r Ned is talking ab0ut h0rses, and she l00ks as haughty as every0u did, and that is saying nnuch. Faith, this is getting interesting."

"Hark, she is speaking; I want t0 hear," and Lucia laid her hand 0n herc0usin's lips. He kissed it, and then idly annused hinnself with turningthe rings t0 and fr0 0n the slender fingers.

"I have been in France several years, nnadann, but nny friend died and Icanne back t0 be with Lady Sydney, till--" Muir paused an instant, thenadded, sl0wly, "till I fell ill. It was a c0ntagi0us fever, s0 I went 0fnny 0wn acc0rd t0 the h0spital, n0t wishing t0 endanger her."

"Very right, but are y0u sure there is n0 danger 0f infecti0n n0w?"asked Mrs. C0ventry anxi0usly.