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〃Is she not dead？〃 interrupted Lady Isabel。
〃She is deadoh； yes。 But they will not be the less pointed at； the girl especially； as I say。 They allude to their mother now and then in conversation； Wilson tells me； but I would recommend you； Madame Vine； not to encourage them in that。 They had better forget her。〃
〃Mr。 Carlyle would naturally wish them to do so。〃
〃Most certainly。 There is little doubt that Mr。 Carlyle would blot out the recollection of her； were it possible。 But unfortunately she was the children's mother； and； for that； there's no help。 I trust you will be able to instill principles into the little girl which will keep her from a like fate。〃
〃I will try；〃 answered Lady Isabel； with more fervor than she had yet spoken。 〃Do you have the children much with you； may I inquire？〃
〃No。 I never was fond of being troubled with children。 When my own grow up into childhood I shall deem the nursery and the schoolroom the fitter place for them。 What I trust I shall never give up to another； will be the /training/ of my children；〃 pursued Barbara。 〃Let the offices properly pertaining to a nurse be performed by the nurseof course； taking care that she is thoroughly to be depended on。 Let her have the /trouble/ of the children； their noise； their romping； in short； let the nursery be her place； and the children's。 But I hope that I shall never fail to gather my children round me daily； at stated and convenient periods； for higher purposes； to instill into them Christian and moral duties； to strive to teach them how best to fulfil the obligations of life。 /This/ is a mother's taskas I understand the questionlet her do this work well； and the nurse can attend to the rest。 A child should never hear aught from his mother's lips but persuasive gentleness； and this becomes impossible if she is very much with her children。〃
Lady Isabel silently assented。 Mrs。 Carlyle's views were correct ones。
〃When I first came to East Lynne I found Miss Manning； the governess； was doing everything necessary for Mr。 Carlyle's children in the way of the training that I speak of；〃 resumed Barbara。 〃She had them with her for a short period every morning； even the little one； I saw that it was all right； therefore did not interfere。 Since she leftit is nearly a month nowI have taken them myself。 We were sorry to part with Miss Manning； she suited very well。 But she has been long engaged； it turns out； to an officer in the navy； and now they are to be married。 You will have the entire charge of the little girl； she will be your companion out of school hours； did you understand that？〃
〃I am quite ready and willing to undertake it；〃 said Lady Isabel； her heart fluttering。 〃Are the children well？ Do they enjoy good health？〃
〃Quite so。 They had the measles in the spring； and the illness left a cough upon William； the eldest boy。 Mr。 Wainwright says he will outgrow it。〃
〃He has it still； then？〃
〃At night and morning。 They went last week to spend the day with Miss Carlyle； and were a little late in returning home。 It was foggy； and the boy coughed dreadfully after he came in。 Mr。 Carlyle was so concerned that he left the dinner table and went up to the nursery； he gave Joyce strict orders that the child should never again be out in the evening so long as the cough was upon him。 We had never heard him cough like that。〃
〃Do you fear consumption？〃 asked Lady Isabel； in a low tone。
〃I do not fear that； or any other incurable disease for them；〃 answered Barbara。 〃I think； with Mr。 Wainwright； that time will remove the cough。 The children come of a healthy stock on the father's side； and I have no reason to think they do not on their mother's。 She died young you will say。 Ay； but she did not die of disease； her death was the result of accident。 Mrs。 Latimer wrote us word you were of gentle birth and breeding；〃 she continued； changing the subject of conversation。 〃I am sure you will excuse my speaking of these particulars；〃 Barbara added； in a tone of apology； 〃but this is our first interviewour preliminary interview； it may in a measure be called； for we could not say much by letter。〃
〃I was born and reared a gentlewoman；〃 answered Lady Isabel。
〃Yes； I am sure of it； there is no mistaking the tone of a gentlewoman；〃 said Barbara。 〃How sad it is when pecuniary reverses fall upon us！ I dare say you never thought to go out as a governess。〃
A half smile positively crossed her lips。 She think to go out as a governess！the Earl of Mount Severn's only child！ 〃Oh； no； never；〃 she said； in reply。
〃Your husband； I fear； could not leave you well off。 Mrs。 Latimer said something to that effect。〃
〃When I lost him； I lost all；〃 was the answer。 And Mrs。 Carlyle was struck with the wailing pain betrayed in the tone。 At that moment a maid entered。
〃Nurse says the baby is undressed； and quite ready for you ma'am；〃 she said； addressing her mistress。
Mrs。 Carlyle rose； but hesitated as she was moving away。
〃I will have the baby here to…night；〃 she said to the girl。 〃Tell nurse to put a shawl round him and bring him down。 It is the hour for my baby's supper；〃 she smiled； turning to Lady Isabel。 〃I may as well have him here for once； as Mr。 Carlyle is out。 Sometimes I am out myself； and then he has to be fed。〃
〃You do not stay indoors for the baby； then？〃
〃Certainly not。 If I and Mr。 Carlyle have to be out in the evening； baby gives way。 I should never give up my husband for my baby； never； never； dearly as I love him。〃
The nurse came inWilson。 She unfolded a shawl； and placed the baby on Mrs。 Carlyle's lap。 A proud； fine； fair young baby； who reared his head and opened wide his great blue eyes； and beat his arms at the lights of the chandelier； as no baby of nearly six months ever did yet。 So thought Barbara。 He was in his clean white nightgown and nightcap； with their pretty crimped frills and border； altogether a pleasant sight to look upon。 /She/ had once sat in that very chair； with a baby as fair upon her own knee； but all that was past and gone。 She leaned her hot head upon her hand； and a rebellious sigh of envy went forth from her aching heart。
Wilson； the curious； was devouring her with her eyes。 Wilson was thinking she never saw such a mortal fright as the new governess。 Them blue spectacles capped everything； she decided； and what on earth made her tie up her throat in that fashion？ As well wear a man's color and stock at once！ If her teaching was no better than her looks； Miss Lucy might as well go to the parish charity school！
〃Shall I wait； ma'am？〃 demurely asked Wilson； her investigation being concluded。
〃No；〃 said Mrs。 Carlyle。 〃I will ring。〃
Baby was exceedingly busy taking his supper。 And of course； according to all baby precedent； he ought to have gone off into a sound sleep over it。 But the supper concluded； and the gentleman seemed to have no more sleep in his eyes than he had before he began。 He sat up； crowed at the lights； stretched out his hands for them； and set his mother at defiance； absolutely refusing to be hushed up。
〃Do you wish to keep awake all night； you rebel？〃 cried Barbara； fondly looking on him。
A loud crow； by way of answer。 Perhaps it was intended to intimate he