"You are to come at once," said she.
And then Lucy, without having spoken a word, got up and left the
room. She walked downstairs, along the little passage, and out
through the small garden, with firm steps, but hardly knowing whither
she went or why. Her presence of mind and self-possession had all
deserted her. She knew that she was unable to speak as she should do;
she felt that she would have to regret her present behaviour, but yet
she could not help herself. Why should Lady Lufton have come to her
there? She went on, and the big footman stood with the carriage door
open. She stepped up almost unconsciously, and, without knowing how
she got there, she found herself seated by Lady Lufton. To tell the
truth her ladyship also was a little at a loss to know how she was to
carry through her present plan of operations. The duty of beginning,
however, was clearly with her, and therefore, having taken Lucy by
the hand, she spoke. "Miss Robarts," she said, "my son has come home.
I don't know whether you are aware of it." She spoke with a low,
gentle voice, not quite like herself, but Lucy was much too confused
to notice this.
"I was not aware of it," said Lucy. She had, however, been so
informed in Fanny's letter, but all that had gone out of her head.
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