bear the trial without injury—a circumstance greatly to the relief of the mother, so far as she comprehended it; but, as temporary delirium occurred, though she was incessantly speaking of the child, she could not always be made to understand why it was withheld from her.
Happily letters arrived a fortnight after Mrs. Glentworth's seizure, announcing the speedy return of her husband, and the great improvement of his health, which he doubted not would be effected completely by his voyage to Pisa, or, at least, to the much longer one he had decided on taking, if it would not be prejudicial to their child—to herself he knew it would not. His letter was kind but short, and he added, jokingly, "If Mary wishes to appear irresistible in the eyes of my companion, I would advise her to make her coup d'œil with little Frank in her arms, for I have observed, throughout our journey, that Allerton gives all his spare cash to the mothers, leaving the girls (so much the better) to "shift as they may."
It did so happen that, on the arrival of the strangers, Mary was playing with the child (who would scarcely leave her since she had become so essential to his comfort), and had perhaps seldom looked better at any moment of her existence, though the combs in her hair, plucked out by little fingers, had left it beautifully dishevelled, to the boy's evident delight.
