nottowardshim，buttowardsthedeadson，whomasyetshebelievedtobeherlivinghusband。Sheknewshewasactingindefianceofhisexpressedwish；buthehadneverdismayedherwithanyexpressionofhisownfearsabouthishealth；andshe，brightwithlife，hadnevercontemplateddeathcomingtofetchawayonesobeloved。Hewasill—veryill，theletterfromthestrangegirlsaidthat；butAimé；ehadnursedherparents，andknewwhatillnesswas。TheFrenchdoctorhadpraisedherskillandneat—handednessasanurse，andevenifshehadbeentheclumsiestofwomen，washenotherhusband—herall？Andwasshenothiswife，whoseplacewasbyhispillow？Sowithoutevenasmuchreasoningashasbeenheregiven，Aimé；emadeherpreparations，swallowingdownthetearsthatwouldoverflowhereyes，anddropintothelittletrunkshewaspackingsoneatly。
Andbyherside，ontheground，satethechild，nownearlytwoyearsold；
andforhimAimé；ehadalwaysasmileandacheerfulword。Herservantlovedherandtrustedher；andthewomanwasofanagetohavehadexperienceofhumankind。Aimé；ehadtoldherthatherhusbandwasill，andtheservanthadknownenoughofthehouseholdhistorytoknowthatasyetAimé；ewasnothisacknowledgedwife。Butshesympathizedwiththepromptdecisionofhermistresstogotohimdirectly，whereverhewas，Cautioncomesfromeducationofonekindoranother，andAimé；ewasnotdismayedbywarnings；onlythewomanpleadedhardforthechildtobeleft。’Hewassuchcompany，’shesaid；’andhewouldsotirehismotherinherjourneying；
andmaybehisfatherwouldbetooilltoseehim。’TowhichAimé；ereplied，’Goodcompanyforyou，butbetterforme。Awomanisnevertiredwithcarryingherownchild’（whichwasnottrue；buttherewassufficienttruthinittomakeitbebelievedbybothmistressandservant），’andifMonsieurcouldcareforanything，hewouldrejoicetohearthebabbleofhislittleson。’SoAimé；ecaughttheeveningcoachtoLondonatthenearestcross—road，Marthastandingbyaschaperonandfriendtoseeheroff，andhandingherinthelargelustychild，alreadycrowingwithdelightatthesightofthehorses。Therewasa’lingerie’
shop，keptbyaFrenchwoman，whoseacquaintanceAimé；ehadmadeinthedayswhenshewasaLondonnursemaid，andthithershebetookherself，ratherthantoanhotel，tospendthefewnight—hoursthatintervenedbeforetheBirminghamcoachstartedatearlymorning。Shesleptorwatchedonasofaintheparlour，forspare—bedtherewasnone；butMadamePaulinecameinbetimeswithagoodcupofcoffeeforthemother，andof’soupeblanche’fortheboy；andtheywentoffagainintothewideworld，onlythinkingof，onlyseekingthe’him，’whowaseverythinghumantoboth。