“I will tell him,” said Lucy; “one likes to hear such things sometimes, Adam, even when one is in no doubt of them--and I will tell him any other pleasant thing you know, to make amends for the sad news I must send him--for I am afraid that is certain now, Adam, which I said before was only possible--we must leave Murrayshaugh.” “Is there no way of averting this calamity?” I exclaimed. “You know my father, Adam,” said Lucy, “he does not trust me as he might do; but I have almost been acting as a spy these few days, and there is no hope I see; for one of the few trials that can really shake his iron nature is this of leaving home, and if there was any hope of averting it, he would try all means before he yielded.” “Lucy,” said I, “help me to present my petition to your father--beg him to remember how greatly I am indebted to you all, and entreat him to consider me thus far as his son. If what I have will do, why should he not take it, Lucy? I am a young man--I am ashamed of my own indolence--I will go and seek my fortune like Hew, and will be far happier so than as I am. Lucy--” “Hush, Adam,” said Lucy, stopping me, as I eagerly pleaded with her, “you must not think of this. I cannot suffer you to say another word, and you know my father with his harsh pride would not be indebted even to his own son for such assistance. No, no, he will bear his own burden alone, and so must I--that it is not easy or light is a lesser matter--we must bear our own lot; but, Adam, I am glad you have said this--I am glad,” said Lucy slowly, a gush of sudden tears coming to her eyes, which seemed to flow back again, and did not fall. “I am glad you would have _done_ it, Adam. I will mind it when I am heavy again, and sinking--and I will tell Hew.” “But, Lucy, listen to me,” I exclaimed. “May I not speak to Murrayshaugh? may I not ask your father?” “Not unless you wish to make him desperate, Adam. Nay, do not look impatient. To satisfy you, I will mention it to him myself, and even urge it if I can. I know what the issue will be, but I will do you this justice, Adam--are you content?” I was compelled to be so. I hardly could have dared myself, under any circumstances, to offer pecuniary assistance to Murrayshaugh. We parted very soon. Lucy did not make the slightest allusion to Charlie--there was not even a hint or inference which I could fancy pointed to him. She was very composed--so much so, as to make it evident to me, who knew her well, that there had indeed been some grievous troubling of those quiet waters, before so dead a stillness fell upon them--but no one who knew her or observed her less could have seen any trace of a crisis past, or a great struggle completed, in the grave composure of her manner. Whatever memorials of the storm there might be within, there were none without.