"The law would surely punish a deed so detestable. But I have little fear of anyone coming forward. I feel that the child belongs to me, and to me alone."
"Have I, then, no share in her?" asked Gerald, with a smile.
"It was agreed that you should give your share over to me," answered Eleanor.
"I may at least be allowed to feel a little interest in the child's future fortunes?"
"As deep an interest as you like. You are her preserver, and yours shall be the first name that she shall be taught to speak. But for all that, you must let me claim her as altogether my own."
"Oh, with all my heart. I should make a very poor guardian, I am afraid, for such a wee morsel of humanity."
"I have regular accounts from Mrs. Nixon every two or three days, and next week I am going down to Stammars to see her."
"I wish she only thought half as much of me as she does of that young customer down at Stammars!" said Gerald, rather disconsolately, to himself, when he had parted from Eleanor.
"What has come over you, child?" said Lady Dudgeon to Eleanor, two or three days afterwards. "This is the third time this morning that I have caught you in a day-dream. Anyone who did not know better, would certainly say that you were in love."
"Then they would certainly say what was not true," said Eleanor, with a blush and a smile.