'Don't criticize me,' she said hastily; and recovering herself, went
on. 'If Lady Mottisfont could take her back again, as I suggested,
it would be better for me, and certainly no worse for Dorothy. To
every one but ourselves she is but a child I have taken a fancy to,
and Lady Mottisfont coveted her so much, and was very reluctant to
let her go . . . I am sure she will adopt her again?' she added
anxiously.
'I will sound her afresh,' said the baronet. 'You leave Dorothy
behind for the present?'
'Yes; although I go away, I do not give up the house for another
month.'
He did not speak to his wife about the proposal till some few days
after, when Lady Mottisfont had nearly recovered, and news of the
Countess's marriage in London had just reached them. He had no
sooner mentioned Dorothy's name than Lady Mottisfont showed symptoms
of disquietude.
'I have not acquired any dislike of Dorothy,' she said, 'but I feel
that there is one nearer to me now. Dorothy chose the alternative
of going to the Countess, you must remember, when I put it to her as
between the Countess and myself.'
'But, my dear Philippa, how can you argue thus about a child, and
that child our Dorothy?'
'Not OURS,' said his wife, pointing to the cot. 'Ours is here.'
'What, then, Philippa,' he said, surprised, 'you won't have her
back, after nearly dying of grief at the loss of her?'
'I cannot argue, dear Ashley.
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