d under such a stigma; and
she--she could hardly be expected to look complacently at the
interlopers who had her place, and the title she had a right to.

She put us through her hard catechism about my dear father's state, and
said at last that she should like to see Lord Torwood.

Taken by surprise, we looked and signed towards him whom that name had
always meant. He smiled a little and said, "Little Alured! But,
remember, I am bound to concede nothing till judicial minds are
convinced. The parties concerned cannot judge. Can you venture to
have Baby down, Ursula?"

No, I did not venture. I thought it might have been averted; but I was
only obliged to take her up to the nurseries. On the way up she asked
which way my father's room lay. I answered, "Oh! across there;" I did
not know if she might not make a dash at it.

I think she must have heard at Shinglebay how delicate poor little
Alured was, and thence gathered hopes of the succession for her boy,
for she asked her sharp questions about his health all the way up, and
knew that he had had fits. I could not put her down as one generally
can inquisitive people. I suppose it was because she was more sensible
of the difference in our real positions than I have as yet felt.

Baby was asleep; and I think she was touched by the actual sight of
him. She said he was very like her boy; and though I supposed that a
mere assertion at the time, it was quite true. Alured and Trevor Lea
have always been remarkably alike. However, she cross-examined Nurse
about his health even more minutely, and then took her leave; but she
came again every day, walking after the first, as long as my dear
father lived.

And she must have talked, for there came a kind of feeling over
everyone, as well as ourselves, that something was hanging over us, of
which the issue would be known when my father's illness took some turn.

Mr. Decies came every day to inquire, but I could not bear a strange
eye, and Hester might have been looking on. I was steeling myself
against him. Was I right?--oh! was I right? I have wondered and
grieved! For I knew well enough what he had been thinking of for
months before; only I did not want it to come to a point. How was I to
leave little Alured to Jaquetta? or disturb my father by breaking up
his home? I liked him on the whole, and had come the length of
thinking that if I ever married at all, it would be-- But that's all
nonsense; and mine coul