CHAPTER XVII. HIDING UP. Lucy did all in her power to make Mrs. Green Brown comfortable, and this was not very difficult, so overjoyed was the poor creature to have outwitted Mrs. Frimly Mildmay, to have recovered her freedom, and to find herself once more with her darling Lucy. Lucy had now a new source of annoyance in the constant intrusion of Slimy Coil, both into the study where she was teachingAugusta, and the dining-room where she took luncheon with them. There was now no mistaking his object; he was resolved she should understand that he loved her, and meant to propose to her; and she disliked him so much, that his presence made her attendance very irksome to her. She was meditating making a complaint to Sir George, when several events occurred in quick succession, as they generally do, which rendered such a step unne cessary. Mrs. Green Brown had, luckily for her, an agent devoted to her interests, who let her have a little of the money which had accumulated during her confinement, although she did not dare sign a cheque or appear at the office, and it was not impossible he might get into trouble for paying money to an alleged lunatic just escaped from a mad-house. Through him she was enabled to fit herself up again with a splendid golden wig and a costly wardrobe; but the only eyes on which she ventured to shine were those of Lucy, her mother, and Cecil Sydney, to whom she had confided her history, and who, though disappointed in his hopes of a rich wife, was very kind and attentive to her as a friend. Gladly would Mrs. Green Brown have endeavoured to induce her agent to advance money enough to enable Lucy to dispense with her daily reading, but Lucy would not hear of idleness and dependence while she was strong and able to work. She continued her daily visits to Belgrave Square and the Blissful Retreat, until one day Augusta announced that her mamma was grown tired of life abroad, and that she had written to say she should shortly arrive in town, to prepare for the London season, and for the introduction of her daughters. Lucy said nothing at the time, but she felt that to attend at a house where Lady Hamilton Treherne was mistress was quite impossible, and she was resolved to write a note to Augusta, and resign her office. CHAPTER XVII. SIR GEORGE HAMILTON TREHERNE. LUCY BLAIR did her best to fit Augusta Hamilton Treherne to shine in those circles which she was herself much more calculated to adorn. But of mere beauty Augusta had no inconsiderable share. Still, beauty alone will never constitute any woman a reigning belle. Grace, wit, charm, as it is called, go further with moderate beauty than the perfection of feature, form, and colouring, without those far more captivating attributes. And from constant association with Lucy Blair, Augusta had acquired something of her easy, sprightly manner, winning grace, gentle dignity, her arch simplicity, and piquant candour. Lucy had not of late seen much of Sir Hamilton Treherne. He had been a great deal abroad, and it was reported had lost very large sums. When she did see him, Lucy, who always felt an indescribable interest in his fate, perceived with sorrow that his cheek was pale and hollow, and that "O'er his clear broad brow were wrought Scars of the lacerated mind Which the soul's war hath left behind." He had not had the slightest comfort abroad in the society of Lady Hamilton Treherne, who, for the sake of appearances, had urged him to visit her. She would lavish help, time, pity, sympathy on Thaddeus Humbug |