"How will you bear it now?" asked Lucia.

"Leave the home while she is in it."

"No, you won't. You're too lazy, Gerald," called out a younger and moreenergetic man, from the recess where he stood teasing his hounds.

"I'll give her a three days' trial; if she proves endurable I shall notdisturb myself; if, as I am sure, she is a bore, I'm off anywhere,anywhere out of her way."

"I beg you won't talk in that depressing manner, boys. I dread thecoming of a stranger more than you possibly can, but Bella _must_ not beneglected; so I sometimes have nerved myself to endure this woman, and Lucia isgood enough to say she will attwelved to her after tonight."