"Did he cry then! sweetest! What do you think of him, Mr. Gartney?" "There can be but one opinion," replied that gentleman solemnly, "he's a very beautiful child, and you may well be proud of him, Lady Errington." "Did you ever see a finer child?" demanded Alizon, insatiable for praise. "No, never," answered Eustace, which was true enough, as he hated babies and never looked at them unless forced to. "Hi, baby, chuck! chuck!" "Goo! goo! goo!" gurgled Master Errington, and stretched out his chubby arms to Gartney, intimating thereby a desire to improve his acquaintance with that gentleman. "Oh, he's quite taken to you," said Lady Errington gaily. "Just feel what a weight he is." So Eustace was forced to take the child in his arms, and looked as awkward as a man usually does when burdened with a baby. Ultimately Sammy was returned to his mother's arms, and she took him down the stairs, while the footman and Mrs. Tasker between them carried down the light wickerwork perambulator. "Wheel him up and down the terrace for a time, Nurse," said Alizon, when the child was once more replaced in his little carriage. "I'll be out soon." They were standing at the door, and Lady Errington waited there until Mrs. Tasker vanished with the baby round the corner on to the wide terrace, when she turned to Eustace with a sigh. "Does that mean that you are anxious to get to the baby?" asked Eustace, raising his eyebrows, as they walked back to the Dutch room. "Oh no, really," replied Lady Errington, with polite mendacity, "do you think I am never happy away from Sammy?" "Are you?" he asked, eyeing her keenly. Alizon flushed a bright crimson, laughed in an uneasy manner and fidgeted nervously. "What a shame to push me into a corner!" she said at length, raising her clear eyes to his face. "No!--I am never happy away from my child. I am so afraid of any accident happening! Dear me, what has become of Guy?" They had entered the Dutch room by this time and found it empty, but on the table afternoon tea was laid out, so Alizon sat down to pour out Eustace a cup. Gartney looked at her furtively as she did this, and thought he had never seen her look so charming. "Lucky Guy," he said at length, taking the cup she handed to him. "Because of Sammy?" she asked, looking at him with a bright smile. "No! because of you!" replied Eustace boldly, whereat she shook her blonde head gaily, though her lips wore a somewhat scornful look. "I'm afraid Guy doesn't think so!" Eustace judged this a good opening from which to lead up to his attempt at reconciliation, so spoke out at once. "Lady Errington, don't you think you are rather hard upon Guy?" She turned her face towards him sharply. "Why do you ask that?" she demanded coldly. "I am afraid it is a liberty," answered Eustace slowly, "but you see I am Guy's cousin, so the near relationship must excuse my apparent rudeness. But the fact is you don't seem perfectly happy."