"I came home, Barbara," continued the Colonel, "resolving that--much
as I wished for Emily's sake that this little girl should need a home
with us--if you had found in her a new interest and delight, and were
in her--let me say it, Barbara--healing old sores, and giving her
your own good sense and high principle, I would not say one word to
disturb so happy a state of things. I come and find the child a
state prisoner, whom you are endeavouring by all means to alienate
from the friends to whom she owes a daughter's gratitude; I find her
not complaining of you, but answering me with the saddest account a
child can give of herself--she is always naughty. After this,
Barbara, I can be doing you no injury in asking you to concur with me
in arrangements for putting the child under my wife's care as soon as
possible."
"To-morrow, if you like," said Lady Barbara. "I took her only from a
sense of duty; and it has half killed Jane. I would not keep her
upon any consideration!"
"O Barbara, it has not hurt me.--O Giles, she will always be so
anxious about me; it is all my fault for being nervous and foolish!"
cried Lady Jane, with quivering voice, and tears in her eyes. "If it
had not been for that, we could have made her so happy, dear little
spirited thing. But dear Barbara spoils me, and I know I give way
too much."
"This will keep you awake all night!" said Barbara, as the Colonel's
tender gesture agitated Jane more.
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