ntlemen were shown into the library, while the servant went to
inform his lady of their arrival. The library had a French window
opening upon a sloping lawn, and here, chasing butterflies in high glee,
were the two children--the pale, dark-eyed baronet, and the
flaxen-tressed little East Indian.

"Look," said Dr. Gale. "Is Sir Rupert going to be your Petruchio? Who
knows what the future may bring forth--who knows that we do not behold
the future Lady Thetford?"

"She is very pretty," said the rector, thoughtfully, "and she may change
with years. Your prophecy may be fulfilled."

The present Lady Thetford entered as he spoke. She had heard the remarks
of both, and there was an unusual pallor and gravity in her face as she
advanced to receive them.

Little Sir Rupert was called in, May followed, with a butterfly crushed
to death in each fat little hand.

"She kills them as fast as she catches them," said Sir Rupert, ruefully.
"It's cruel, isn't it, mamma?"

Little May, quite abashed, displayed her dead prizes, and cut short the
doctor's conference by impatiently pulling her play-fellow away.

"Come, Rupert, come," she cried. "I want to catch the black one with the
yellow wings. Stick your tongue out and come."

Sir Rupert displayed his tongue, and submitted his pulse to the doctor,
and let himself be pulled away by May.

"The gray mare in that team is decidedly the better horse," laughed the
doctor. "What a little despot in pinafores it is."

When her visitors had left, Lady Thetford walked to the window and stood
watching the two children racing in the sunshine. It was a pretty sight,
but the lady's face was contracted with a look of pain.

"No, no," she thought. "I hope not--I pray not. Strange! but I never
thought of the possibility before. She will be poor, and Rupert must
marry a rich wife, so that if--"

She paused with a sort of shudder; then added:

"What will he think, my darling boy, of his father and mother, if that
day ever comes!"

CHAPTER IV.

MRS. WEYMORE.

Lady Thetford had settled her business satisfactorily with the rector of
St. Gosport.

"Nothing could be more opportune," he said. "I am going to London next
week on business, which will detain me upwards of a fortnight. I will
immediately advertise for such a person as you want."

"You must understand," said her ladyship, "I do not require a young
girl. I wish a middle-aged person--a widow, for instance, who has had
child