'The day before I went, I saw papa,' she said. 'I had gone home for
some things that I was to take, and his room door was open, so he saw
me on the stairs, and called me, for there was no fear of infection
then. Oh, he was so changed! his hair all cut off, and his cheeks
hollow, and he was quite trembling, as he lay back on pillows in the
great arm-chair. You can't think what a shock it was to me to see
him in such a state. He held out his arms, and I flung mine round
his neck, and sobbed and cried. And he just said, so faintly, "Take
her away, Maria, I cannot bear it." I assure you I was quite
hysterical.'

'You must have wished for more self-command,' said Albinia, disturbed
by Lucy's evident pleasure in having made a scene.

'Oh, but it was such a shock, and such a thing to see the house all
empty and forlorn, with the windows open, and everything so still!
Miss Belmarche cried too, and said she did not wonder my feelings
overcame me, and _she_ did not see papa.'

'Ah! Lucy,' said Albinia, fervently, 'how we must try to make him
happy after all that he has gone through!'

'That is what grandmamma said when she got his letter. "I would be
glad of anything," she said, "that would bring back a smile to him."
And Aunt Maria said she had done her best for him, but he must
consult his own happiness; and so I say. When people talk to me, I
say that papa is quite at liberty to consult his own happiness.'

'Thank you.'