Lady Laura greeted her with all the old cordiality. There was a relief in
that; and Clarissa's face, which had been very pale when she opened the
gate to admit her visitor, brightened a little as my lady kissed her.
"My dear child, I am so glad to see you again!" exclaimed Lady Laura. "I am
not supposed to stir outside the Castle in all this dreary week. Poor
papa is to be buried to-morrow; but I wanted so much to see you on a most
important business; so I ordered the brougham and drove here, with the
blinds down all the way; and I'm sure, Clary, you won't think that I feel
papa's loss any less because I come to see you just now. But I declare you
are looking as pale and wan as any of us at Hale. You have not recovered
that dreadful shock yet."
"It was indeed a dreadful shock, dear Lady Laura," said Clarissa; and then
in a less steady tone she went on: "Lady Geraldine is better, I hope?"
"Geraldine is what she always is, Clary--a marvel of calmness. And yet I
know she feels this affliction very deeply. She was papa's favourite, you
know, and had a most extraordinary influence over him. He was so proud of
her, poor dear!"
"Won't you come into the house, Lady Laura?"
"By and by, just to pay my respects to your papa. But we'll stay in the
garden for the present, please, dear. I have something most particular to
say to you."
Clarissa's heart beat a little quicker.
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