“Nothing can be going on better than the child,” said he; “so I told my father, just now, that I would come, and he thought me quite right.  Your sister being with you, my love, I have no scruple at all.  You would not like to leave him yourself, but you see I can be of no use.  Anne will send for me if anything is the matter.”

Husbands and wives generally understand when opposition will be vain.  Mary knew, from Charles’s manner of speaking, that he was quite determined on going, and that it would be of no use to teaze him.  She said nothing, therefore, till he was out of the room, but as soon as there was only Anne to hear—­

“So you and I are to be left to shift by ourselves, with this poor sick child; and not a creature coming near us all the evening!  I knew how it would be.  This is always my luck.  If there is anything disagreeable going on men are always sure to get out of it, and Charles is as bad as any of them.  Very unfeeling!  I must say it is very unfeeling of him to be running away from his poor little boy.  Talks of his being going on so well!  How does he know that he is going on well, or that there may not be a sudden change half an hour hence?  I did not think Charles would have been so unfeeling.  So here he is to go away and enjoy himself, and because I am the poor mother, I am not to be allowed to stir; and yet, I am sure, I am more unfit than anybody else to be about the child.  My being the mother is the very reason why my feelings should not be tried.  I am not at all equal to it.  You saw how hysterical I was yesterday.”

“But that was only the effect of the suddenness of your alarm—­ of the shock.  You will not be hysterical again.  I dare say we shall have nothing to distress us.  I perfectly understand Mr Robinson’s directions, and have no fears; and indeed, Mary, I cannot wonder at your husband.  Nursing does not belong to a man; it is not his province.  A sick child is always the mother’s property:  her own feelings generally make it so.”

“I hope I am as fond of my child as any mother, but I do not know that I am of any more use in the sick-room than Charles, for I cannot be always scolding and teazing the poor child when it is ill; and you saw, this morning, that if I told him to keep quiet, he was sure to begin kicking about.  I have not nerves for the sort of thing.”

“But, could you be comfortable yourself, to be spending the whole evening away from the poor boy?”

“Yes; you see his papa can, and why should not I?  Jemima is so careful; and she could send us word every hour how he was.  I really think Charles might as well have told his father we would all come.  I am not more alarmed about little Charles now than he is.  I was dreadfully alarmed yesterday, but the case is very different to-day.”

“Well, if you do not think it too late to give notice for yourself, suppose you were to go, as well as your husband.  Leave little Charles to my care.  Mr and Mrs Musgrove cannot think it wrong while I remain with him.”