Lady Jane made room for him on the sofa, and Lady Barbara
looked pleased.
"I wished to talk to you about that child," he said.
"I have been wishing it for some time," said Lady Barbara; "waiting,
in fact, to make arrangements till your return."
"What arrangements?"
"For forming an establishment for her."
"The child's natural home is with you or with me."
There was a little silence; then Lady Jane nervously caught her
brother's hand, saying, "O Giles, Giles, you must not be severe with
her, poor little thing!"
"Why should I be severe, Jane?" he said. "What has the child done to
deserve it?"
"I do not wish to enter into particulars," said Lady Barbara. "But
she is a child who has been so unfortunately brought up as to require
constant watching; and to have her in the house does so much harm to
Jane's health, that I strongly advise you not to attempt it in
Emily's state of spirits."
"It would little benefit Emily's spirits to transfer a duty to a
stranger," said the Colonel. "But I wish to know why you evidently
think so ill of this girl, Barbara!"
"Her entire behaviour since she has been with us--" began Lady
Barbara.
"Generalities only do mischief, Barbara. If I have any control over
this child, I must know facts."
"The truth is, Giles," said his sister, distressed and confused,
"that I promised the child not to tell you of her chief piece of
misconduct, unless I was compelled by some fresh fault.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232