The child was soon taken from Lady Wetheral's arms, and consigned to the distant apartment which constituted the nursery. Sir John also rose to depart, but his lady's languid voice detained him. "Sir John!" "Yes, dear." "I think I shall require change of air after all this." "Certainly; where would you like to move? Shall we go to the sea-side?" "No, love, the sea air is too keen; but I half promised the Tyndals to pay them a visit after my confinement." "The infant will inconvenience them in their present house, Gertrude." "I do not mean to take the infant, Sir John, on that account; besides, my nights would be dreadfully disturbed; no, I shall leave Christobel with you, love, and only take Anna Maria with me for a fortnight." "I am not included in your 'arrangements', then?" "My love, you know I require great quiet, and at the Tyndals every thing is so agreeably methodical and peaceful, I shall recover my strength quickly; then, you know, dear, the Pynsents live within a short drive; I shall, perhaps, see a great deal of the Pynsents." "That will be a nuisance, certainly, as you do not like Mrs. Pynsent, but you will not be disturbed by her frequent visits, for the disinclination is mutual." "You are so obtuse, love. I am going to the Tyndals on purpose to renew my acquaintance with Mrs. Pynsent, and I trust we shall be very intimate." "What, with the woman you denounce as vulgar, and contradictory?" "I have argued these things with you, Sir John, till my patience is nearly exhausted, and you are still benighted on a subject so closely interwoven with my happiness. I tell you I am going on purpose to effect a scheme, and I take Anna Maria with me, to prepossess Mrs. Pynsent in her favour." "And what the deuce, Gertrude, makes you wish to prepossess a woman so disagreeable as you describe Mrs. Pynsent to be? Why can't you keep away?" "My love, I tell you Anna Maria is destined for Tom." "And what has Tom to do with his mother? He is at Eton. You had better take lodgings near Eton, if you want to catch Tom." "I can argue with you no more, Sir John. Your ideas are so very limited, it is impossible to graft a plan upon them. It is well your daughters have a mother who is anxious to establish them in life, since their father would effect nothing. If I was on my death-bed, my last hours would be horrified by visions of my daughters' pairing off with curates or lieutenants." "And pray, where do you look for future bishops and Wellingtons, but among curates and lieutenants?" cried Sir John, warmly.