You must give her back." "Do you mean altogether ?" "Ah that will be for you in a manner to arrange.

But you've had her practically these five months, and with no desire to be unreasonable we yet have our natural feelings." This interchange, to which circumstances somehow gave a high effect of suddenness and strangeness, was listened to by the others in a quick silence that was like the sense of a blast of cold air, though with the difference between the spectators that Vanderbank attached his eyes hard to Mrs.Brook and that the Duchess looked as straight at Mr.Longdon, to whom clearly she wished to convey that if he had wondered a short time before how Mrs.Brook would do it he must now be quite at his ease.

He indulged in fact, after this lady's last words, in a pause that might have signified some of the fulness of a new light.

He only said very quietly: "I thought you liked it." At this his neighbour broke in.

"The care you take of the child?
They DO!" The Duchess, as she spoke, became aware of the nearer presence of Edward Brookenham, who within a minute had come in from the other room; and her decision of character leaped forth in her quick signal to him.
"Edward will tell you." He was already before their semicircle.