imineverywhere.Itismostvexatious.Theothernightsheaskedifshemightincludehiminthepeopleshementionsspeciallyinherprayers.”
“Whatdidyousay?”
“OfcourseIallowedher,”sherepliedcoldly.“Shehasarighttomentionanyoneshechooses.ButIwasannoyedwithherthismorning,andIfearthatIshowedit.”
“Andwhathappenedthismorning?”
“Sheaskedifshecouldprayforher‘newfather’—fortheItalian!”
“Didyoulether?”
“Igotupwithoutsayinganything.”
“YoumusthavefeltjustasyoudidwhenIwantedtoprayforthedevil.”
“Heisthedevil,”criedHarriet.
“No,Harrietheistoovulgar.”
“Iwillthankyounottoscoffagainstreligion!”wasHarriet’sretort.“Thinkofthatpoorbaby.Irmaisrighttoprayforhim.WhatanentranceintolifeforanEnglishchild!”
“Mydearsister,Icanreassureyou.Firstly,thebeastlybabyisItalian.Secondly,itwaspromptlychristenedatSantaDeodata’s,andapowerfulcombinationofsaintswatchover—”
“Don’t,dear.And,Harriet,don’tbesoserious—ImeannotsoseriouswhenyouarewithIrma.Shewillbeworsethaneverifshethinkswehavesomethingtohide.”
Harriet’sconsciencecouldbequiteastiresomeasPhilip’sunconventionality.Mrs.HerritonsoonmadeiteasyforherdaughtertogoforsixweekstotheTirol.ThensheandPhilipbegantograpplewithIrmaalone.
Justastheyhadgotthingsalittlequietthebeastlybabysentanotherpicturepost-card—acomicone,notparticularlyproper.Irmareceiveditwhiletheywereout,andallthetroublebeganagain.
“Icannotthink,”saidMrs.Herriton,“whathismotiveisinsendingthem.”
Twoyearsbefore,Philipwouldhavesaidthatthemotivewastogivepleasure.Nowhe,likehismother,triedtothinkofsomethingsinisterandsubtle.
“Doyousupposethatheguessesthesituation—howanxiouswearetohushthescandalup?”
“Thatisquitepossible.HeknowsthatIrmawillworryusaboutthebaby.Perhapshehopesthatweshalladoptittoquiether.”
“Hopefulindeed.”
“Atthesametimehehasthechanceofcorruptingthechild’smorals.”Sheunlockedadrawer,tookoutthepost-card,andregardeditgravely.“Heentreatshertosendthebabyone,”washernextremark.
“Shemightdoittoo!”
“Itoldhernottobutwemustwatchhercarefully,without,ofcourse,appearingtobesuspicious.”
Philipwasgettingtoenjoyhismother’sdiplomacy.Hedidnotthinkofhisownmoralsandbehaviouranymore.
“Who’stowatchheratschool,though?Shemaybubbleoutanymoment.”
“Wecanbuttrusttoourinfluence,”saidMrs.Herriton.
Irmadidbubbleout,thatveryday.Shewasproofagainstasinglepost-card,notagainsttwo.Anewlittlebrotherisavaluablesentimentalassettoaschool-girl,andherschoolwasthenpassingthroughanacutephaseofbaby-worship.Happythegirlwhohadherquiverfullofthem,whokissedthemwhenshelefthomeinthemorning,whohadtherighttoextricatethemfrommail-cartsintheinterval,whodangledthematteaeretheyretiredtorest!ThatonemightsingtheunwrittensongofMiriam,blessedaboveallschool-girls,whowasallowedtohideherbabybrotherinasquashyplace,wherenonebutherselfcouldfindhim!
HowcouldIrmakeepsilentwhenpretentiousgirlsspokeofbabycousinsandbabyvisitors—shewhohadababybrother,whowroteherpost-cardsthroughhisdearpapa?Shehadpromisednottotellabouthim—sheknewnotwhy—andshetold.Andonegirltoldanother,andonegirltoldhermother,andthethingwasout.
“Yes,itisallverysad,”Mrs.Herritonkeptsaying.“Mydaughter-in-lawmadeaveryunhappymarri