window in which she had placed her chair. From this she whispered in a tone of voice, which, though soft and sweet, had something in it of admonition, if not command,—"Lucy, my dear, remember—have you heard what Bucklaw has been saying?"
The idea of her mother's presence seemed to have slipped from the unhappy girl's recollection. She started, dropped her needle, and repeated hastily, and almost in the same breath, the contradictory answers, "Yes, madam—no, my lady—I beg pardon—I did not hear."
"You need not blush, my love, and still less need you look so pale and frightened," said Lady Ashton, coming forward; "we know that maidens' ears must be slow in receiving a gentleman's language; but you must remember Mr Haystone speaks on a subject on which you have long since agreed to give him a favourable hearing. You know how much your father and I have our hearts set upon an event so desirable."
