After this operation they went home to Deansleigh Park, and made a
beginning of living happily ever after. Lady Mottisfont, true to
her promise, was always running down to the village during the
following weeks to see the baby whom her husband had so mysteriously
lighted on during his ride home--concerning which interesting
discovery she had her own opinion; but being so extremely amiable
and affectionate that she could have loved stocks and stones if
there had been no living creatures to love, she uttered none of her
thoughts. The little thing, who had been christened Dorothy, took
to Lady Mottisfont as if the baronet's young wife had been her
mother; and at length Philippa grew so fond of the child that she
ventured to ask her husband if she might have Dorothy in her own
home, and bring her up carefully, just as if she were her own. To
this he answered that, though remarks might be made thereon, he had
no objection; a fact which was obvious, Sir Ashley seeming rather
pleased than otherwise with the proposal.
After this they lived quietly and uneventfully for two or three
years at Sir Ashley Mottisfont's residence in that part of England,
with as near an approach to bliss as the climate of this country
allows. The child had been a godsend to Philippa, for there seemed
no great probability of her having one of her own: and she wisely
regarded the possession of Dorothy as a special kindness of
Providence, and did not worry her mind at all as to Dorothy's
possible origin.
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