In
the meantime Lucy still remained at Hogglestock, and had there become
absolute mistress of the house. Poor Mrs. Crawley had been at death's
door; for some days she was delirious, and afterwards remained so
weak as to be almost unconscious; but now the worst was over, and
Mr. Crawley had been informed, that as far as human judgement might
pronounce, his children would not become orphans nor would he become
a widower. During these weeks Lucy had not once been home nor had she
seen any of the Framley people. "Why should she incur the risk of
conveying infection for so small an object?" as she herself argued,
writing by letters, which were duly fumigated before they were opened
at the parsonage. So she remained at Hogglestock, and the Crawley
children, now admitted to all the honours of the nursery, were kept
at Framley. They were kept at Framley, although it was expected from
day to day that the beds on which they lay would be seized for the
payment of Mr. Sowerby's debts. Lucy, as I have said, became mistress
of the house at Hogglestock, and made herself absolutely ascendant
over Mr. Crawley. Jellies, and broth, and fruit, and even butter,
came from Lufton Court, which she displayed on the table, absolutely
on the cloth before him, and yet he bore it.
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