my dear wife?" pleaded Mr. Leslie, in tones that fully acknowledged Wilson's entire supremacy. Condescendingly gracious, she replied"As soon as hever it is possible, sir-rely upon me." During the next half-hour John paced his little apartment, by turns elated and grateful. "Dear little Adeline-softly sleeping, so unconscious-do you know you have a brother, a very beautiful brother, who, some of these days, will read with me Cicero's De Senectute, the Edipus Tyrannus of Sophocles, the Contention of Ajax and Ulysses in the 13th book of Ovid's Metamorphoses; to say nothing of Plato's Phado, Virgil, and Cicero's Tusculan Questions? Oh, God! I return Thee humble and hearty thanks for the safe deliverance of my wife. Bless my son! Grant him to be Thy child, as well as the child of earthly parents! May he walk in thy ways, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Here John broke out into Latin, or Greek, or Hebrew, neither of which being known to the writer of this history, the readers will be spared the endeavour to construe it. Probably it was nothing more than a rhapsody as above. Meantime, the half hour passed his expected summons came. Making incredible exertions to walk as softly as possible, yet his shoes creaking loudly the more he exerted himself, John mounted the staircase, all unconscious that the well-known sound of his approach was music to his Emily's ears. So bright was her face with happiness, that really it was not unreasonable the suspicion that it was all a mistake-no boy was born. 66 "Dear John, I told you it would be a boy -and he is such a fine fellow! Here he is!" Hush, darling-hush, my beloved! Of course you are always right. Thanks, my Emily; and thanks to our Almighty Father for this wonderful blessing!" As John stooped, just to touch his wife's check with a husband's softest, holiest kiss, she withdrew the bed-clothes, and discovered a little rosy, cosy morsel of humanity snugly laid by her side, his little face shining all the more ruddy contrasted with his mother's, now paling again after her flush of pleasure. "It appears to me," said John, with a slight shade of anxiety, "very like what Adeline was." Perhaps John anticipated an incipient approach to hirsute honours in his son. “Oh, John,” said Emily, with just a fraction of reproach, “and he has very dark eyes, that will be like yours." "Has he, love? Good, dear boy." "Now, sir, don't you be a-staying here, and a-tiring of missus. Go to bed, like a good sir." And obediently submissive as before, John just bent to kiss his Emily once more. At the moment he did so, a carriage swept through the lodge up to the Castle, which contained Lord and Lady Bernard, and their children, who were returning home, after their long absence abroad. CHAPTER X. "Be kind to each other, Then 'midst our dejection How sweet to have earned The blest recollection Of kindness returned!" CHARLES SWAIN. MR. ROBARTS presented himself the first thing in the morning to pay his respects to my lord. My Lord."Ah! Robarts, I am heartily glad to see you again. All going on well? " Mr. Robarts.-"As well as it is possible |