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Rh remember I begged you to write from Scotland, asking her to propose herself any time after we got back."

"I know. I did so. And she has proposed herself for next week. It really is rather awkward; the whole world will be here. Had I not better telegraph and put her off?"

"But on what pretext?" asked Edgar. "And for what reason?"

Lucia laughed. She wanted to get her way about this, and she always tried good-natured means first. It was such a pity to be cross and tiresome unless it was necessary.

"I see the distinction," she said. "But can't we find a pretext that would also be a reason? The house will be very full; you will be shooting all day with the men, and I shall have my hands full with the women. I shall simply not be able to look after her at all. She will know none of the others; she will feel so out of it. Oh, I know it is my fault for not remembering the party and asking her to come any time during September after we got back. It is quite my fault; I will say so!"

A certain look cqme into Edgar's face that Lucia had long learned to dislike, and in a manner to fear. It included a little compression of his mouth, a slight raising of his eyebrows. It implied displeasure, and it implied the sort of firmness which she was accustomed to think of as obstinacy.

"That, no doubt, is an admirable pretext," he said, "and I am sure you would put it delightfully. But it is not your reason."

Lucia glanced at the letter again.

"Ah, then here is a reason," she said. "Poor Aunt Elizabeth is not well, and Aunt Cathie says she is a little anxious about her—at least, no, she doesn't say it, but I feel sure she is. If we put it off, they can come together. That would be much better."

"Pretext again, my dear," said he a shade pedantically.

Lucia was used to resenting the shadows of implied rebukes which he occasionally cast across her path. The shadow was there now. But she still remained outwardly genial.

"Then tell me the reason, since you are so quick at these distinctions," she observed.

The pedant, the schoolmaster, became a little more marked in Edgar's face.

"I am not sure that you will like it," he said, "when stated. You will see it is not worthy of you."

"Ah, let us hear it," she remarked. "We can discuss it afterwards if necessary."