"She was thoroughly softened by that child! It was a spirited thing her

bringing him down here on the Monday when we started for Scotland, and

then coming all the way alone with her maid. I did not think Alick would

have consented, but he said she would always be the happier for having

deposited her charge in your hands."

"It was a great wrench to her. I felt it like robbery when she put the

little fellow down on my lap and knelt over him, not able to get herself

away, but saying that she was not fit to have him; she could not bear it

if she made him hate her as Conrade did! I am glad she has had his first

smile, she deserves it."

"Is Tibbie in charity with him?"

"Oh, more than in charity! She did not take the first announcement of

his coming very amiably; but when I told her she was to reign in the

nursery, and take care the poor little chief know the sound of a Scots'

tongue, she began to thaw; and when he came into the house, pity or

loyalty, or both, flamed up hotly, and have quite relieved me; for at

first she made a baby of me, and was a perfect dragon of jealousy at

poor Ailie's doing anything for me. It was a rich scene when Rachel

began giving her directions out of 'Hints for the Management of

Infants,' just in the old voice, and Tibbie swept round indignantly,

'His Lordship, Lord Keith of Gowanbrae, suld hae the best tendance she

could gie him. She did na lippen to thae English buiks, as though she

couldna rear a wean without bulk learning.' Poor Rachel nearly cried,

and was not half comforted by my promising to study the book as much as

she pleased."

"It will never do to interfere with Tibbie, and I own I am much of her

opinion, I had rather trust to her than to Rachel, or the book!"

"Well, the more Rachel talked book, the more amiable surprise passed

between her mother and Lady Temple that the poor little follow should

have lived at all, and I believe they were very angry with me for

thinking her views very sensible. Lady Temple is so happy with him. She

says it is so melancholy to have a house without a baby, that she comes

in twice or three times a day to console herself with this one."

"Did you not tell me that she and the Curtises spent the evening with

you?"

"Yes, it was rather shocking to receive them without you, but it was the

only way of being altogether on Rachel's one evening here; and it was

very amusing, Mrs. Curtis so happy with her daughter looking well and

bright, and Rachel with so much to tell about Bishopsworthy, till at

last Grace, in her sly odd way, said she thought dear Alexander had even

taught Rachel curatolatry; whereupon Rachel fired up at such an idea

being named in connexion with Mr. Clare, then came suddenly, and very

prettily, down, and added, 'Living with Alick and Mr. Clare has taught

me what nonsense I talked in those days.'"




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