There she found Mr. Crawley
also, to her great joy, for she knew that while he was there no
questions would be asked of her. He was always very gentle to her,
treating her with an old-fashioned, polished respect--except when
compelled on that one occasion by his sense of duty to accuse her of
mendacity respecting the purveying of victuals--, but he had never
become absolutely familiar with her as his wife had done; and it
was well for her now that he had not done so, for she could not
have talked about Lady Lufton. In the evening, when the three were
present, she did manage to say that she expected Mrs. Robarts would
come over on the following day. "We shall part with you, Miss
Robarts, with the deepest regret," said Mr. Crawley; "but we would
not on any account keep you longer. Mrs. Crawley can do without you
now. What she would have done, had you not come to us, I am at a loss
to think."
"I did not say that I should go," said Lucy.
"But you will," said Mrs. Crawley. "Yes, dear, you will. I know that
it is proper now that you should return. Nay, but we will not have
you any longer. And the poor dear children, too,--they may return.
How am I to thank Mrs. Robarts for what she has done for us?" It was
settled that if Mrs. Robarts came on the following day Lucy should go
back with her; and then, during the long watches of the night--for on
this last night Lucy would not leave the bedside of her new friend
till long after the dawn had broken, she did tell Mrs.
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