CHAPTER XVI.
a detection
though too confirmed in evil to be reformed by Lucy's gentle influence, Adéle, for some weeks after her conversation with Lucy, was guarded before her. She wore only her own finery, neither indulged herself nor a "cher ami" with Champagne or Burgundy, and only went out with Mrs. Hartell's knowledge. This was often enough; for Lucy was the pack-horse on whom she was allowed to cast all her burdens. She was more lavish than ever
of her hollow caresses and pretty French epithets on Eugene in his parents' presence, and the little fellow requited her as well as if he had understood them, by preferring everybody else to her. The
constraint of Lucy's presence was becoming intolerable to Adéle, and she took a new course, treating her with injustice and constant petulance, in the hope of driving her to seek a new service. But this was not easy to effect. Lucy had been early impressed with an aversion to change, as an evil in itself; and, besides, her love for Eugene would not permit her to desert him. She had no confidence in Adéle, and she considered herself pledged not to communicate her distrust till there was some further overt act on Adéle's part. There were, too, in her situation—where are there not?—some alleviating circumstances; She had the half of every
