Mrs. Meadows was suddenly stricken with paralysis, and was thought to be dying.  She recovered partial consciousness in the course of the next day, but was constantly moaning the name of her eldest and favourite granddaughter, and when telegraph and express train brought home the startled and trembling Lucy, she was led at once to the sick bed—­where at her name there was the first gleam of anything like pleasure.

‘And where have you been, my dear, this long time?’

‘I’ve been at—­at Brighton, dear grandmamma,’ said Lucy, so much agitated as scarcely to be able to recall the name, or utter the words.

‘And—­I say, my dear love,’ said Mrs. Meadows, earnestly and mysteriously, ‘have you seen him?’

Poor Lucy turned scarlet with distress and confusion, but she was held fast, and grandmamma pursued, ’I’m sure he has not his equal for handsomeness and stateliness, and there must have been a pair of you.’

’Dear grandmamma, we must let Lucy go and take off her things; she shall come back presently, but she has had a long journey,’ interposed Albinia, seeing her ready to sink into the earth.

But Mrs. Meadows had roused into eagerness, and would not let her go.  ‘I hope you danced with him, dear,’ she went on; ’and it’s all nonsense about his being high and silent.  Your papa is bent on it, and you’ll live like a princess in India.’

’She takes you for your mother—­she means papa, whispered Albinia, not without a secret flash at once of indignation at perceiving how his first love had been wasted, yet of exultation in finding that no one but herself had known how to love him; but poor Lucy, completely and helplessly overcome, could only exclaim in a faltering voice:  ‘Oh, grandmamma, don’t—­’ and Albinia was forced to disengage her, support her out of the room, and leaving her to her sister, hasten back to soothe the old lady, who had been terrified by her emotion.  It had been a great mistake to bring her in abruptly, when tired with her journey, and not fully aware what awaited her.  But there was at that time reason to think all would soon be over, and Albinia was startled and confused.

Albinia had hitherto been the only efficient nurse of the family.  Sophy’s presence seemed to stir up instincts of the old wrangling habits, and the invalid was always fretful when left to her, so that to her own exceeding distress she was kept almost entirely out of the sick room.

Lucy, on the other hand, was extremely valuable there, her bright manner and unfailing chatter always amused if needful, and her light step and tender hand made her useful, and highly appreciated by the regular nurse.