nora could compose herself, or soothe the
boy, by her assurances that he was not to blame, only those who put
things in his head that he could not understand; and it was not till
after much tender fondling that she had calmed him enough for his morning
devotions. No sooner were these over than he looked up and said, while
the tears still glazed his cheeks, 'Sweet Honey, I'll tell nurse and Mr.
Jones that I'm on pilgrimage to the Eastern land, and I'll not turn into
by-ways after red coats and little kids to vex you.'

Whether Owen quite separated fact from allegory might have been doubtful
to a more prosaic mind than Honora's, but he had brought this dreamy
strain with him from his father, and she thought it one of his great
charms. She had been obliged to leave him to himself much more than
usual of late, and she fervently resolved to devote herself with double
energy to watching over him, and eradicating any weeds that might have
been sown during her temporary inattention. He clung so fast to her
hand, and was so much delighted to have her with him again, so often
repeating that she must not go away again, that the genuineness of his
affection could not be doubted, and probably he would only retain an
impression of having been led to say something very shocking, and the
alarm to his sensitive conscience would hinder him from ever even trying
to remember what it was.

She spoke, however, to nurse, telling her that the subject must never be
mentioned to the children, since it was by no means desirable for them,
and besides, she had no intention of the kind. She wished it to be
distinctly understood that Master Owen was not to be looked upon as her
heir.

'Very true, ma'am, it is too soon to be talking of such things yet, and I
must say, I was as sorry as possible to find that the child had had it
named to him. People will talk, you see, Miss Charlecote, though I am
sure so young a lady as you are . . . '

'That has nothing to do with it,' said Honora; 'I consider nothing so bad
for a child as to be brought up to expectations to which he has no right,
when he is sure to have to provide for himself. I beg that if you hear
the subject entered on again, in the children's presence, you will put a
stop to it.'

'Certainly, ma'am; their poor dear papa never would have wished them to
be occupied with earthly things of that sort. As I often said, there
never was such an unworldly gentleman; he never would have known