That these misgivings were equally shared by each entertainer in prospective, might be adduced from the fact that the same afternoon Mrs. Burnham and Miss Pilcher appeared upon the scene, to consult with Mrs. Egerton upon the subject. Miss Lydia and Miss Violet being dismissed up-stairs to their practising, the three ladies sat in the darkened parlor, and talked the matter over in solemn conclave. "I have consulted Miss Pilcher, and mentioned the affair to Mrs. Gibson," announced Mrs. Burnham. "And, really, we have not yet been able to arrive at any conclusion." Mrs. Egerton shook her head tearfully. "Pray don't come to me, my dears," she said,--"don't, I beg of you! I have thought about it until my circulation has all gone wrong, and Lydia has been applying hot-water bottles to my feet all the morning. I gave it up at half-past two, and set Violet to writing invitations to one and all, let the consequences be what they may." Miss Pilcher glanced at Mrs. Burnham, and Mrs. Burnham glanced at Miss Pilcher. "Perhaps," Miss Pilcher suggested to her companion, "it would be as well for you to mention your impressions." Mrs. Burnham's manner became additionally cautious. She bent forward slightly. "My dear," she said, "has it struck you that Lady Theobald has any--intentions, so to speak?" "Intentions?" repeated Mrs. Egerton. "Yes," with deep significance,--"so to speak. With regard to Lucia." Mrs. Egerton looked utterly helpless. "Dear me!" she ejaculated plaintively. "I have never had time to think of it. Dear me! With regard to Lucia!" Mrs. Burnham became more significant still. "_And_" she added, "Mr. Francis Barold." Mrs. Egerton turned to Miss Pilcher, and saw confirmation of the fact in her countenance. "Dear, dear!" she said. "That makes it worse than ever." "It is certain," put in Miss Pilcher, "that the union would be a desirable one; and we have reason to remark that a deep interest in Mr. Francis Barold has been shown by Lady Theobald. He has been invited to make her house his home during his stay in Slowbridge; and, though he has not done so, the fact that he has not is due only to some inexplicable reluctance upon his own part. And we all remember that Lady Theobald once plainly intimated that she anticipated Lucia forming, in the future, a matrimonial alliance." "Oh!" commented Mrs. Egerton, with some slight impatience, "it is all very well for Lady Theobald to have intentions for Lucia; but, if the young man has none, I really don't see that her intentions will be likely to result in any thing particular. And I am sure Mr. Francis Barold is not in the mood to be influenced in that way now. He is more likely to entertain himself with Miss Octavia Bassett, who will take him out in the moonlight, and make herself agreeable to him in her American style." Miss Pilcher and Mrs. Burnham exchanged glances again.