esence.
There was no treachery. He had been all along, he thought to himself, a
man somewhat sinned against in the matter. To be sure it was
wrong--according to all rules of morals, it was necessary to admit this;
but not more wrong, not so much wrong, as most other men had been. And,
granting the impropriety of that first step, he had nothing to reproach
himself with afterwards. In that respect he knew he had behaved both
liberally and honourably, though he had been deceived. But
how--how--good heavens!--explain this to Lucy? In the silence of her
room, where she was not, he actually laughed out to himself at the
thought; laughed with a sense of all impossibility beyond all laws or
power of reasoning. What miracle would make her understand? It would be
easier to move the solid earth than to make her understand.

But it was altogether a very strange night--such a night as never had
been passed in that house before; and fearful things were about in the
darkness, ill dreams, strange shadows of trouble. When Sir Tom woke in
the morning and found no sign that his wife had been in the room or any
trace of her, there arose once more a painful apprehension in his mind.
He hurried half-dressed to the nursery to ask for news of the child, but
was met by the nurse with the most cheerful countenance, with little Tom
holding by her skirts, in high spirits, and fun of babble and glee.

"He has had a good night, then?" the father said aloud, lifting the
little fellow to his shoulder.

"An excellent night, Sir Thomas," the woman said, "and not a bit tired
with his journey, and so pleased to see all the carriages and the folks
passing."

Sir Tom put the boy down with a cloud upon his face.

"What was the cause, then, of Lady Randolph's anxiety last night?"

"Anxiety, Sir Thomas! Oh no; her ladyship was quite pleased. She do
always say he is a regular little town-bird, and always better in
London. And so she said when I was putting of him to sleep. And he never
stirred, not from the moment he went off till six o'clock this morning,
the darling. I do think now, Sir Thomas, as we may hope he's taken hold
of his strength."

Sir Tom turned away with a blank countenance. What did it mean, then? He
went back to his dressing-room, and completed his toilette without
seeing anything of Lucy. The nurse seemed quite unconscious of her
mistress's vigil by the baby's side. Where, then, had Lucy passed the
night, and why taken refuge in that