y if I
can; take me a drive, Ellen--I want air and change--my head
aches horribly."

Before I could answer he had made a sign to the servant to let
down the step, and had seated himself by my side. We had often
driven alone together; and though after what Edward had said
to me the night before, I should very much have wished to
avoid this display of intimacy, I knew it would have the
appearance of caprice if I refused so simple a request, and
Henry did not seem in a humour to be trifled with. I said,
however, in a whisper, and glancing at the windows, "Do you
think this judicious?"

"She is out," he answered, in the same way; "and when we come
back, you can put me down at the comer of the street."

I could not repress a sigh, but desired the coachman to drive
towards the King'-road. "If I had known that she was out I
should have gone up-stairs to see your child."

"Poor little thing," answered Henry; "I am more pleased with
it than I should have thought possible. It is quite pretty, as
white as wax, and has Alice's small regular features. It was
pleasant to see her smile again as she used to do, when she
kissed it this morning, and held it to her heart. Do you know,
Ellen, that this child will be a great blessing to her and to
me too. He will fill up her thoughts, occupy her time, and
engross her affections."

"He will be a link between you," I said; "it is impossible
that with such a wife as Alice, and a child to love and
educate together, you should not end by finding happiness in
your home. Do not deny it, Henry; do not tell me I am wrong."

"You only talk for effect, that is all. You know perfectly
well that happiness, in the sense in which you mean it, can
never be mine."

"Well, then, the less is said on that subject the better," I
interrupted impatiently. "And now, may I know why there is
nothing to fear from Mr. Escourt, except his general
ill-nature?"

"I must tell you that I had an explanation with Mrs. Tracy
this morning. She was in tolerable good humour with me; I
suppose because she had not found me quite such a brute as she
expected. I mean that I showed some natural anxiety about
Alice, and some joy at her safety, which was indeed what I
felt. When she is not angry, I have a great deal of power over
her; and I got her to tell me everything about Harding. She
confessed he knew a great deal of what concerns us, partly
from his father, and partly from herself, for one day that he
brought her