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"You wish me
somewhere, I dare say, getting you up before your time."
"By how much--a few minutes?" she answered, laughing. "It wants twenty
minutes to nine. What would they have said to me at the rectory, had I
come down so late as that?"
"Ah, well, you won't have me here to torment you to-morrow. I have been
a trouble to you, Lucy, take it altogether. You will be glad to see my
back turned."
Lucy shook her head. She looked shyly up at him in her timidity; but she
answered truthfully still.
"I shall be sorry; not glad."
"Sorry! Why should you be sorry, Lucy?" and his voice insensibly assumed
a tone of gentleness. "You cannot have cared for me; for the
companionship of a half-dead fellow, like myself!"
Lucy rallied her courage. "Perhaps it was because you were half dead
that I cared for you," she answered.
"I suppose it was," mused Lionel, aloud, his thoughts cast back to the
past. "I will bid you good-bye now, Lucy, while we are alone. Believe me
that I part from you with regret; that I do heartily thank you for all
you have been to me.


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