reakfast half-hour of liberty. Hence they had set out instantly,
although the baby required sustenance; Albert having suggested that
Clara could feed the baby just as well at her father's as at home.

Before the Benbow story was quite finished it became entangled with the
story of Mrs Hamps, and then with Edwin's story. They were all
speaking at once, except Maggie, who was trying to soothe the baby.

Holding forth her arms, Clara, without ceasing to talk rapidly and
anxiously to Mrs Hamps, without even regarding what she did, took the
infant from her sister, held it with one hand, and with the other loosed
her tight bodice, and boldly exposed to the greedy mouth the magnificent
source of life. As the infant gurgled itself into silence, she glanced
with a fleeting ecstatic smile at Maggie, who smiled back. It was
strange how Maggie, now midway between thirty and forty, a tall,
large-boned, plump, mature woman, efficient, kindly, and full of common
sense--it was strange how she always failed to assert herself. She
listened now, not seeking notice and assuredly not receiving it.

Edwin felt again the implication, first rendered by his aunt, and now
emphasised by Clara and Albert, that the responsibility of the situation
was upon him, and that everybody would look to him to discharge it. He
was expected to act, somehow, on his own initiative, and to do
something.

"But what is there to do?" he exclaimed, in answer to a question.

"Well, hadn't he better see a doctor?" Clara asked, as if saying
ironically, "Hasn't it occurred to you even yet that a doctor ought to
be fetched?"

Edwin protested with a movement of impatience--

"What on earth for? He's walking about all right."

They had all been surreptitiously watching Darius from behind the
curtains.

"Doesn't seem to be much the matter with him now! That I must say!"
agreed Albert, turning from the window.

Edwin perceived that his brother-in-law was ready to execute one of
those changes of front which lent variety to his positiveness, and he
addressed himself particularly to Albert, with the persuasive tone and
gesture of a man to another man in a company of women--

"Of course there doesn't! No doubt he was upset last night. But he's
getting over it. You don't think there's anything in it, do you,
Maggie?"

"I don't," said Maggie calmly.

These two words had a great effect.

"Of course if we're going to listen to every tale that's flying abo