Her mother knew well how it was with her now; but they who saw her frequently, and who did not know her as her mother knew her,--the Mrs.Boyces of her acquaintance,--whispered among themselves that Lily Dale was not so soft of heart as people used to think.
On the next day, Christmas Day, as the reader will remember, Grace Crawley was taken up to dine at the big house with the old squire.
Mrs.Dale's eldest daughter, with her husband, Dr.Crofts, was to be there; and also Lily's old friend, who was also especially the old friend of Johnny Eames, Lady Julia De Guest.

Grace had endeavoured to be excused from the party, pleading many pleas.

But the upshot of all her pleas was this,--that while her father's position was so painful she ought not to go out anywhere.

In answer to this, Lily Dale, corroborated by her mother, assured her that for her father's sake she ought not to exhibit any such feeling; that in doing so, she would seem to express a doubt as to her father's innocence.

Then she allowed herself to be persuaded, telling her friend, however, that she knew the day would be very miserable to her.