He walked a few steps, thinking over this delightful gayety and ingenuous frankness; and then burst out afresh,-- "And what a remarkable life she has had too! She actually told me, that, once in her childhood, she lived for months in a gold-diggers' camp,--the only woman there. She says the men were kind to her, and made a pet of her. She has known the most extraordinary people." In the mean time Francis Barold returned Lucia to Lady Theobald's safe keeping. Having done so, he made his adieus, and left the two to themselves. Her ladyship was, it must be confessed, a little at a loss to explain to herself what she saw, or fancied she saw, in the manner and appearance of her young relative. She was persuaded that she had never seen Lucia look as she looked this afternoon. She had a brighter color in her cheeks than usual, her pretty figure seemed more erect, her eyes had a spirit in them which was quite new. She had chatted and laughed gayly with Francis Barold, as she approached the house; and after his departure she moved to and fro with a freedom not habitual to her. "He has been making himself agreeable to her," said my lady, with grim pleasure. "He can do it if he chooses; and he is just the man to please a girl,--good-looking, and with a fine, domineering air." "How did you enjoy yourself?" she asked. "Very much," said Lucia; "never more, thank you." "Oh!" ejaculated my lady. "And which of her smart New York gowns did Miss Octavia Bassett wear?" They were at the dinner-table; and, instead of looking down at her soup, Lucia looked quietly and steadily across the table at her grandmother. "She wore a very pretty one," she said: "it was pale fawn-color, and fitted her like a glove. She made me feel very old-fashioned and badly dressed." Lady Theobald laid down her spoon. "She made you feel old-fashioned and badly dressed,--you!" "Yes," responded Lucia: "she always does. I wonder what she thinks of the things we wear in Slowbridge." And she even went to the length of smiling a little. "What _she_ thinks of what is worn in Slowbridge!" Lady Theobald ejaculated. "She! may I ask what weight the opinion of a young woman from America--from Nevada--is supposed to have in Slowbridge?" Lucia took a spoonful of soup in a leisurely manner. "I don't think it is supposed to have any; but--but I don't think she minds that. I feel as if I shouldn't if I were in her place. I have always thought her very lucky." "You have thought her lucky!" cried my lady. "You have envied a Nevada young woman, who dresses like an actress, and loads herself with jewels like a barbarian? A girl whose conduct toward men is of a character to--to chill one's blood!" "They admire her," said Lucia simply, "more than they admire Lydia Egerton, and more than they admire me." "Do _you_ admire her?" demanded my lady. "Yes, grandmamma," replied Lucia courageously. "I think I do."