"Grace, there is really no use in troubling Lady Lyons with our private affairs," said Margaret, in a tone she trusted would check Grace's indiscretion. "Nonsense!" said Grace, coolly. "Now, Lady Lyons, here is the whole thing. I want to go and have a little peep at London" (Grace's ideas had become a little modified); "I do not expect to go to royal garden-parties, and all those very swell things, but I want to go to balls and do pleasant things. I am pining to have some fun." "I am sure it is very natural," said Lady Lyons, a little touched by these girlish sentiments. "Margaret does not agree with you," said Grace. "She is quite happy spending her time in hospitals and very gruesome places, where she looks after sick people--that is _her_ idea of happiness. It is not mine." "But, my dear Miss Rivers, a very wealthy person has every right to have _some_ whims, and dear Mrs. Drayton may perhaps come round after a bit," said Lady Lyons, nodding her head at Margaret with effusiveness. "You don't understand her," said Grace, who would not stop her confidences--because she wanted to tease her sister--"you call her rich, but she is not at all rich. She has given away all her money, Lady Lyons; she has sent thousands here, there, and everywhere. She will not touch it. I call it a horrid shame!" and Grace buried her face in her handkerchief. To say that Lady Lyons was speechless is to say very little. She had the most extraordinary feeling, as though in some way Paul had been defrauded. "It is the most extraordinary thing I ever heard in my life!" Margaret rose and held out her hand, and wished her good-bye. "There is no reason it should not be known," she said, with a heightened colour, "though I think my sister might have told the story differently." Lady Lyons shook hands with her, and the change in her manner would have been most amusing had any one been there to see it. When Margaret had left the room a sudden idea came to the excellent woman she had left sitting there. She moved a little nearer to Grace and said emphatically, "Tell me, my dear Miss Rivers, now do be frank with me. How did that dear, good Mr. Sandford take your sister's marriage? Was he angry?" "He was furious," answered Grace. "It was very ridiculous of him, as he brought the horrible man to the house in the first place, so he is the very last person who ought to find fault." "And, when Mrs. Drayton goes to Scotland, she does not mean going to stay with Mr. Sandford?" "Of course not. In that case I shall not be able to go to her eventually." "And it really was a great deal of money that she has given up." "It was thousands," said Grace, "and I must say, Lady Lyons, I think it was very selfish, she might have thought of _me_." "I think she might indeed." "Because she does not care for money that is no reason why I do not. I _hate_ poverty." "Most people do, it seems a very great pity," said Lady Lyons, feelingly, with a sigh.