Mrs.Costello kept her secret still, and pondered over the question whether there might yet possibly be hope, since Maurice had said he had only deferred his wishes, not relinquished them.

Lucia was aware that her trouble was still her own exclusively--not shared by any one, even her mother.

She thought of Percy--she longed to know how long he had thought of her--how, and why he had changed; and deep down in her heart there was a little disturbed wondering at Maurice's tenderness--that very tenderness which Mrs.Costello marvelled she did not see.
Maurice did not see his cousin that night.

He went straight to his room, and without thinking, locked the door, put out the candles except one, and sat down in the gloom.

His eyes and head ached--he felt weary and utterly dispirited.