offending this she potentate till he is weaned.
Dress for the journey, my dear, and send nurse to me."

Lady Bassett went into the next room, and after a long time Mary came
to Sir Charles with baby in her arms.

Mary had lost for a time some of her ruddy color, but her skin was
clearer, and somehow her face was softened. She looked really a
beautiful and attractive young woman.

She courtesied to Sir Charles, and then took a good look at him.

"Well, nurse," said he, cheerfully, "here we are back again, both of
us."

"That we be, sir." And she showed her white teeth in a broad smile.
"La, sir, you be a sight for sore eyes. How well you do look, to be
sure!"

"Thank you, Mary. I never was better in my life. You look pretty well
too; only a little pale; paler than Lady Bassett does."

"I give my color to the child," said Mary, simply.

She did not know she had said anything poetic; but Sir Charles was so
touched and pleased with her answer that he gave her a five-pound note
on the spot; and he said, "We'll bring your color back if beef and beer
and kindness can do it."

"I ain't afeard o' that, sir; and I'll arn it. 'Tis a lovely boy, sir,
and your very image."

Inspection followed; and something or other offended young master; he
began to cackle. But this nurse did not take him away, as Mrs. Millar
had. She just sat down with him and nursed him openly, with rustic
composure and simplicity.

Sir Charles leaned his arm on the mantel-piece, and eyed the pair; for
all this was a new world of feeling to him. His paid servant seemed to
him to be playing the mother to his child. Somehow it gave him a
strange twinge, a sort of vicarious jealousy: he felt for his Bella.
But I think his own paternal pride, in all its freshness, was hurt a
little too.

At last he shrugged his shoulders, and was going out of the room, with
a hint to Mary that she must wrap herself up, for it would be an open
carriage--

"Your own carriage, sir, and horses?"

"Certainly."

"And do all the folk know as we are coming?"

Sir Charles laughed. "Most likely. Gossip is not dead at Huntercombe, I
dare say."

Nurse's black eyes flashed. "All the village will be out. I hope _he_
will see us ride in, the black-hearted villain!"

Sir Charles was too proud to let her draw him into that topic; he went
about his business.

Lady Bassett's carriage, duly packed, came round, and Lady Bassett was
ready soon afterward; so was Mrs. Millar;