Why, it might die of cold if we are not on the lookout for it. I
hope it will be a boy."
"And you have told your governess about this?"
"Yes, but she puts me off and does not help me: she says it will not
come for many years, and she hopes not then."
"Are you quite sure that you have not made any mistake in all this?"
"Oh, no; because Mrs. Burne, you know, called here a few days ago,
and I was sent for to be looked at. And mamma held me out at arm's
length and said, 'Is he Mr. Pontifex's child, Mrs. Burne, or is he
mine?' Of course, she couldn't have said this if papa had not had some
of the children himself. I did think the gentleman had all the boys
and the lady all the girls; but it can't be like this, or else mamma
would not have asked Mrs. Burne to guess; but then Mrs. Burne said,
'Oh, he's Mr. Pontifex's child of course,' and I didn't quite know
what she meant by saying 'of course': it seemed as though I was
right in thinking that the husband has all the boys and the wife all
the girls; I wish you would explain to me all about it."
This I could hardly do, so I changed the conversation, after
reassuring him as best I could.
CHAPTER XXV
THREE or four years after the birth of her daughter, Christina had
had one more child.
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