Lucy did not understand the tone, and went on patronizing. 'And if
they say you look younger than they expected, I don't object to that
at all. I had rather you were not as old as Aunt Maria, or Miss
Belmarche.'

'Who thinks me so young?'

'Oh! Aunt Maria, and grandmamma, and Mrs. Osborn, and all; but I
don't mind that, it is only Sophy who says you look like a girl.
Aunt Maria says Sophy has an unmanageable temper.'

'Don't you think you can let me find that out for myself?'

'I thought you wanted me to tell you about everybody.'

'Ah! but tell me of the good in your brother and sister.'

'I don't know how,' said Lucy. 'Gilbert is so tiresome, and so is
Sophy. I heard Mary telling Jane, "I'm sure the new missus will have
a heavy handful of those two."'

'And what of yourself?' said Albinia.

'Oh! I don't know,' said Lucy, modestly.

Mr. Kendal came in, and as Albinia looked at his pensive brow, she
was oppressed by the thought of his sufferings in that dreary
convalescence. At night, when she looked from her window, the fog
hung white, like mildew over the pond, and she could not reason