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60 Lucia turned to him with enthusiasm.

"Ah! thank you, thank you," she said. "Praise of a friend is like a gift to one, is it not? Of course, I knew what Maud's atmosphere was; I wanted to know if it struck you, too. But those are qualities of character, are they not? I think prc vincialism affects the intellect more than the soul. Sometimes I wonder whether if Maud was stuck down here No, even that is a disloyalty. And here is my la France. Is it not superb?"

Lucia had let it be understood that she was going to see the cricket later on, but when Lord Brayton took his departure, she refused with perfectly spontaneous laughter his offer to take her down to the field in his car.

"Why, Brixham would turn faint and pale," she said, "and my aunts would have a fit each. But it was kind of you to suggest it."

"You must introduce me to them," he said. "Will you be so kind?"

"But charmed," said Lucia. "Good-bye, Lord Brayton: au revoir, rather."

She saw him off at the door, professing an interest, not feigned, in the motor, and turned back into the house again.

"As it is, Brixham will turn green," she observed to herself.