"Is my wife home-sick already? Would she not find it dull after Brampton?"
"I could not find it dull. Should I not have you--" she would have said all to myself, but checked herself and added--"you and Bertie."
"Why not have left out, Bertie?" he replied, "I shall grow jealous of that boy, Amy, if you always class us together. Can you not forget him sometimes?"
"Forget him? Oh! no, never!" said Amy, catching up the child, who immediately climbed from his mother's arms on to Robert's knee and remained there; while his father, notwithstanding his jealousy, glanced proudly at his boy, and caressed both him and his mother.
"Ah! you are just as fond of Bertie as I am," she said, as her husband drew her to his side.
But even as she spoke she became conscious of a shadow between her and the light which streamed in through the large bay window of the dining-room; while Vavasour rose and held out his hand saying apologetically, "We did not hear the carriage drive up."
"No, I could hardly expect you would, with so much to interest you within doors."
Amy arose quickly as the voice struck her ear.
"Yes, the same. You look surprised. Did you not expect me?"
"It is quite an unexpected pleasure, and has surprised us both," returned Robert, as he noticed his wife's unusual manner.
"It is my fault. I told Isabella not to mention I was coming," returned she. "Perhaps I wanted to see if you would be pleased, or recognise me; every one says I am so very much altered."
"I see no difference," replied Amy, as Frances glanced straight at her.
"There is none," she answered, and the tone went to Amy's heart with a nervous thrill. "And so this is your boy. What is he called?"
"Robert," answered Amy, feeling for the first time a strange dislike at saying his pet name. But her husband was not so scrupulous.
"And so will I. Come and make friends, Bertie. What lovely hair he has, so soft and curly. I suppose,--indeed I can see,--you are quite proud of the boy, Mr. Vavasour."
"Of course. All mothers are of their first-born. Do not go so near the fire, Bertie. You make me tremble lest anything should befall you."
What could happen to the child? Amy drew him further away still, then took him in her arms as if only there he was safe and shielded from all harm.