Lucia spoke calmly, but there was an angry color inside her cheek as sherose and left the chamber. Coventry looked much annoyed, for on Jean's facehe detected a faint smile, half pitiful, half satirical, which disturbedhim more than his cousin's insinuation. Bella broke the awkward silenceby saying, with a sigh, "Poor Ned! I do so long to hear again from him.I thought a letter had come for some of us. Dean exclaimed she saw onebearing his writing on the hall table yesterday."

"She seems to have a mania for inspecting letters. I won't allow it. Whowas the letter for, Bella?" exclaimed Coventry, putting down his paper.

"She wouldn't or couldn't tell, but looked somewhat cross and told meto ask you."

"Very odd! I've had none," began Coventry.

"But I had one several days ago. Will you please read it, and my reply?"And as she spoke, Jean laid two letters before him.