"
"And why not come to dinner? I hope there is to be no change among
us, eh, Fanny?" and Lady Lufton as she spoke looked into the other's
face in a manner which almost made Mrs. Robarts get up and throw
herself on her old friend's neck. Where was she to find a friend
who would give her such constant love as she had received from Lady
Lufton? And who was kinder, better, more honest than she?
"Change! no, I hope not, Lady Lufton;" and as she spoke the tears
stood in her eyes.
"Ah, but I shall think there is if you will not come to me as you
used to do. You always used to come and dine with me the day I came
home, as a matter of course." What could she say, poor woman, to
this?
"We were all in confusion yesterday about poor Mrs. Crawley, and the
dean dined here; he had been over at Hogglestock to see his friend."
"I have heard of her illness, and will go over and see what ought
to be done. Don't you go, do you hear, Fanny? You with your young
children! I should never forgive you if you did." And then Mrs.
Robarts explained how Lucy had gone there, had sent the four children
back to Framley, and was herself now staying at Hogglestock with the
object of nursing Mrs. Crawley. In telling the story she abstained
from praising Lucy with all the strong language which she would have
used had not Lucy's name and character been at the present moment of
peculiar import to Lady Lufton; but nevertheless she could not tell
it without dwelling much on Lucy's kindness.
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