Lady Lufton, however, thought it a very serious matter; and
as, in her opinion, Mrs. Robarts did not go about it with sufficient
energy, she took the matter mainly into her own hands, striking Lucy
dumb by her frowns and nods, deciding on everything herself, down to
the very tags of the boot-ties.
"My dear, you really must allow me to know what I am about;" and
Lady Lufton patted her on the arm as she spoke. "I did it all for
Justinia, and she never had reason to regret a single thing that I
bought. If you'll ask her, she'll tell you so." Lucy did not ask
her future sister-in-law, seeing that she had no doubt whatever
as to her future mother-in-law's judgement on the articles in
question. Only the money! And what could she want with six dozen
pocket-handkerchiefs all at once? There was no question of Lord
Lufton's going out as Governor-General to India! But twelve
dozen pocket-handkerchiefs had not been too many for Griselda's
imagination. And Lucy would sit alone in the drawing-room at Framley
Court, filling her heart with thoughts of that evening when she had
first sat there. She had then resolved, painfully, with inward tears,
with groanings of her spirit, that she was wrongly placed in being
in that company. Griselda Grantly had been there, quite at her ease,
petted by Lady Lufton, admired by Lord Lufton; while she had retired
out of sight, sore at heart, because she felt herself to be no fit
companion to those around her.
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