"She was thoroughly softened by that child! It was a spirited thing her
bringing him down here on the Monday when we started for Scotland, and
then coming all the way alone with her maid. I did not think Alick would
have consented, but he said she would always be the happier for having
deposited her charge in your hands."
"It was a great wrench to her. I felt it like robbery when she put the
little fellow down on my lap and knelt over him, not able to get herself
away, but saying that she was not fit to have him; she could not bear it
if she made him hate her as Conrade did! I am glad she has had his first
smile, she deserves it."
"Is Tibbie in charity with him?"
"Oh, more than in charity! She did not take the first announcement of
his coming very amiably; but when I told her she was to reign in the
nursery, and take care the poor little chief know the sound of a Scots'
tongue, she began to thaw; and when he came into the house, pity or
loyalty, or both, flamed up hotly, and have quite relieved me; for at
first she made a baby of me, and was a perfect dragon of jealousy at
poor Ailie's doing anything for me. It was a rich scene when Rachel
began giving her directions out of 'Hints for the Management of
Infants,' just in the old voice, and Tibbie swept round indignantly,
'His Lordship, Lord Keith of Gowanbrae, suld hae the best tendance she
could gie him. She did na lippen to thae English buiks, as though she
couldna rear a wean without bulk learning.' Poor Rachel nearly cried,
and was not half comforted by my promising to study the book as much as
she pleased."
"It will never do to interfere with Tibbie, and I own I am much of her
opinion, I had rather trust to her than to Rachel, or the book!"
"Well, the more Rachel talked book, the more amiable surprise passed
between her mother and Lady Temple that the poor little follow should
have lived at all, and I believe they were very angry with me for
thinking her views very sensible. Lady Temple is so happy with him. She
says it is so melancholy to have a house without a baby, that she comes
in twice or three times a day to console herself with this one."
"Did you not tell me that she and the Curtises spent the evening with
you?"
"Yes, it was rather shocking to receive them without you, but it was the
only way of being altogether on Rachel's one evening here; and it was
very amusing, Mrs. Curtis so happy with her daughter looking well and
bright, and Rachel with so much to tell about Bishopsworthy, till at
last Grace, in her sly odd way, said she thought dear Alexander had even
taught Rachel curatolatry; whereupon Rachel fired up at such an idea
being named in connexion with Mr. Clare, then came suddenly, and very
prettily, down, and added, 'Living with Alick and Mr. Clare has taught
me what nonsense I talked in those days.'"