"Foxwood and its inhabitants, as I told Lucy, are tolerably strange to me," added Sir Karl. "Lucy, you were talking of Margaret Sumnor. What age is she?" He was resolute in turning the conversation from the Maze: as Miss Blake saw. What was his motive? All kinds of comical ideas were in her mind, not all of them good ones. "I'll watch," she mentally said. "In the interests of religion, to say nothing of respectability, _I'll watch_." CHAPTER XIV. Miss Blake on the Watch. "Lucy, you will come with me to the opening service?" Lady Andinnian shook her head. "I think not, Theresa." "Why, it would be quite a distraction for you," urged Miss Blake, using the word in the French sense. Sir Karl had been in London some three or four days now; and Lucy, all aweary without him, was longing and looking for his return every hour of the live-long summer's day. But she was proof against this offered temptation. "I don't think Karl would like me to go to St. Jerome's, Theresa. Thank you all the same." "Do you mean to make Sir Karl your guide and model through life, Lucy?"--and Lady Andinnian, sincere and simple herself, detected not the covert sarcasm. "I hope I shall never do, or wish to do anything that he would object to," was her answer, a sweet blush dyeing her cheeks. "Well, if you won't appear at church, will you attend the kettledrum afterwards, Lucy?" "The kettledrum?" echoed Lucy. "What kettledrum?" "We are going to hold one at Mrs. Jinks's--that is, in Mr. Cattacomb's rooms--for the purpose of introducing him to some of his friends, and to organize the parish work." Lady Andinnian looked up in surprise. "The parish work? What can you be talking of, Theresa?" "Oh, there will be district visiting, and that. It must all be arranged and organized." "Will it not be interfering with Mr. Sumnor?" Lucy ventured to ask, after a pause of silence. "Not at all," was the answer, given loftily. "Shall I come round this way and call for you as we return from the service?" "Thank you, no, Theresa; I would rather not. I do not think I should myself much care for the kettledrum." "Very well," coolly replied Miss Blake. "As you please, of course, Lady Andinnian." The service at St. Jerome's was at length about to be inaugurated: for the Reverend Guy Cattacomb had duly appeared after a few days' delay, for which he satisfactorily accounted. It was to be held in the afternoon, this afternoon, he having arrived in the morning; and Miss Blake, while talking to Lady Andinnian, was already dressed for it. She started forth alone: just as other eager young women, mostly young, some middle-aged, were starting for it, and flocking into St. Jerome's.