“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 in—­Wilson.  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.