By that time
your daughter will be almost grown-up herself; and it wouldn't do to
let her pass you.'
'Robert, here is an idea; she and I shall come of age together. I
promise; or I shall try to keep one day in front of her, like the
school-mistresses when they are teaching boys Latin. Dearest, you
haven't been disappointed in me as a whole, have you? I haven't paid
you for all your dear kindnesses to me--in rupees, have I?'
His answer is of no consequence, for at this moment there arrives a
direct message from heaven. It comes by way of the nursery, and is a
child's cry. The heart of Alice Grey stops beating for several
seconds. Then it says, 'My Molly!' The nurse appears, starts, and is
at once on the defensive.
NURSE. 'Is it--Mrs. Grey?'
ALICE hastily, 'Yes. Is my--child in there?'
NURSE. 'Yes, ma'am.'
COLONEL, ready to catch her if she falls, 'Alice, be calm.'
ALICE, falteringly, 'May I go in, nurse?'
NURSE, cold-heartedly, 'She's sleeping, ma'am, and I have made it a
rule to let her wake up naturally. But I daresay it's a bad rule.'
ALICE, her hands on her heart, 'I'm sure it's a good rule. I shan't
wake her, nurse.'
COLONEL, showing the stuff he is made of, 'Gad, _I_ will. It's
the least she can do to let herself be wakened.'
ALICE, admiring the effrontery of the man, 'Don't interfere, Robert.
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