The girl felt almost as though she had been struck.

She moved hurriedly, appealingly towards Miss Manisty, who took her arm kindly as they left the room.
'Don't let my nephew frighten you, my dear'-- she said--'He never thinks like anybody else.' 'I read so much at Florence--and on the journey'-- said Lucy, while her hand trembled in Miss Manisty's--'Mrs.Browning--Mazzini--many things.

I could not put that time out of my head!'.