‘Oh! Eleanor,’ said she, ‘why do you not leave him here? We should be so rejoiced to have him.’
‘Thank you, I am afraid it is out of the question,’ answered Eleanor, quietly.
‘Why, dear Eleanor? You know how glad we should be. I should have thought,’ proceeded Emily, a little hurt, ‘that you would have wished him to live in your own home.’
Eleanor did not speak, and Emily, who had the little boy in her arms, went on talking to him: ‘Come, baby, let us persuade mamma to let you stay with Aunt Emily. Ask papa, Henry, won’t you? Seriously, Eleanor, has Frank considered how much better it would be to have him in the country?’
‘He has, Emily; he once wished much to leave him here.’
‘I am sure grandpapa would like it,’ said Emily. ‘Do you observe, Eleanor, how fond he is of baby, always calling him Harry too, as if he liked the sound of the name?’
‘It has all been talked over, Emily, and it cannot be.’
‘With papa?’ asked Emily in surprise.
‘No, with Lily.’
‘With Lily!’ exclaimed Emily. ‘Did not Aunt Lily wish to keep you, Harry? I thought she was very fond of you.’