Sister Constance saw that the question of right or wrong would be infinitely too much for Geraldine, and drew off her mind from it to tell of the good accounts of Robina from Catsacre, and Clement from Whittingtonia; but when presently Wilmet was so far free as to come in with only the boy-baby in her arms, and take the guest up to take off her bonnet, it was the time for entering on the subject.
'Cherry? do you think her looking ill? She always is poorly in the spring, you know.'
'I do not like what I hear of her appetite, or her sleep, or her spirits.'
'Oh! but Cherry is always fanciful, you know. Please, please don't put things in her head.'
'What kind of things do you mean?'
'Fancying herself worse, I mean, or wanting things. You know we must be so careful, and Mamma and the babies—'
'My dear, I know you have many to care for, and it is hard to strike the balance; but somehow your voice sounds to me as if Geraldine were the one you most willingly set aside.'
Wilmet did not like this, and said, a little bit hastily, 'I am sure Geraldine has everything we can give her. If she complains, it is very wrong of her.'
'She has not said one word of complaint. Her grief and fear is only of being a burden on you. What brought me here was, that Mr. Audley was anxious about her.'
Wilmet was silent, a little abashed.