'What do you mean by that?'
Lady Mottisfont hesitated. However, it was only too plain that she
did not now jump at a restitution of one for whom some months before
she had been breaking her heart.
The explanation of this change of mood became apparent some little
time farther on. Lady Mottisfont, after five years of wedded life,
was expecting to become a mother, and the aspect of many things was
greatly altered in her view. Among the more important changes was
that of no longer feeling Dorothy to be absolutely indispensable to
her existence.
Meanwhile, in view of her coming marriage, the Countess decided to
abandon the remainder of her term at Fernell Hall, and return to her
pretty little house in town. But she could not do this quite so
quickly as she had expected, and half a year or more elapsed before
she finally quitted the neighbourhood, the interval being passed in
alternations between the country and London. Prior to her last
departure she had an interview with Sir Ashley Mottisfont, and it
occurred three days after his wife had presented him with a son and
heir.
'I wanted to speak to you,' said the Countess, looking him
luminously in the face, 'about the dear foundling I have adopted
temporarily, and thought to have adopted permanently. But my
marriage makes it too risky!'
'I thought it might be that,' he answered, regarding her steadfastly
back again, and observing two tears come slowly into her eyes as she
heard her own voice describe Dorothy in those words.
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