"Childless! childless! childless!"
"Hush, sir," said Mary Wells. "Don't say so. We shan't be many mouths
without one, please Heaven."
Sir Charles shook his head sadly.
"Don't you believe me?"
"No."
"What, did ever I tell you a lie?"
"No: but you are mistaken. She would have told me."
"Well, sir, my lady is young and shy, and I think she is afraid of
disappointing you after all; for you know, sir, there's many a slip
'twixt the cup and the lip. But 'tis as I tell you, sir."
Sir Charles was much agitated, and said he would give her a hundred
guineas if that was true. "Where is my darling wife? Why do I hear this
through a servant?"
Mary Wells cast a look at the door, and said, for Lady Bassett to hear,
"She is receiving company. Now, sir, I have told you good news; will
you do something to oblige me? You shouldn't speak of it direct to my
lady just yet; and if you want all to go well, you mustn't vex my lady
as you are doing now. What I mean, you mustn't be so downhearted--
there's no reason for't--and you mustn't coop yourself up on this
floor: it sets the folks talking, and worries my lady. You should give
her every chance, being the way she is."
Sir Charles said eagerly he would not vex her for the world. "I'll walk
in the garden," said he; "but as for going abroad, you know I am not in
a fit condition yet; my mind is clouded.
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