"I am not afraid, father; Louisa has already proved herself a kind and affectionate wife."
He longed to add, "and a mother to my children," but at this moment a summons to dinner made any further remark unnecessary.
When they returned to the little breakfast parlour, in which the old gentleman had dined alone, Kate Marston said—
"Arthur, if you and Mrs. Franklyn are going househunting, suppose you leave the children here for a few days, they would like it, I suppose."
"Oh yes, indeed we should," exclaimed Clara, answering for the rest, whose bright faces confirmed what she said; "and I can take care of Albert, and dress and wash him if I may."
"If you stay longer than another day I will send nurse with your clothes," said Arthur.
"Oh, have you the same nurse here in England, of whom poor Fanny spoke so highly in her letter to me?" said Henry.
"Did she speak of a nurse?" exclaimed Arthur, concealing his surprise that his brother-in-law should have had a letter about the boy; "then it must be the same, for she has been with us more than fourteen years."
"Then send her down here as soon as you like, for if you can spare the children for a week we shall be glad to have them."
To this Arthur readily acceded, and then, as the carriage was announced, he said to Dr. Halford: "This has been such a hurried visit, Doctor, and I have so much to hear and so much to tell; but we must come again as soon as we have fixed upon a house and spend a long day with you all. You have taken your degree at Oxford, Henry," he continued, turning to the window where the uncle was amusing the little nephew who had been left to his care by his dying sister; "and I suppose you are soon going up for ordination?"