The Emperor Read Online Free PDF Page B

her than ever he did when she was there.'
    ‘ Oh, no, Mary,' Jemima said, quite shocked. 'You didn't see them together as I did. He adored her, and she would have fixed him for ever. She was so strong and energetic, and she would have guided him into proper habits of thought and behaviour; so that even if he did fall out of love with her later, the lessons would have been learned.’
    Mary shrugged. 'Well, it makes no difference now, anyway. He is married to Mary Ann, and about to become a father, and we'll all have to make the best of it. At least he doesn't get drunk quite so often – not falling-down drunk, at all events.'
    ‘Mary!'
    ‘ And he does help Ned, in a half-hearted sort of way. But you notice he still visits Scarborough.’
    Jemima grew a little pale. 'You surely can't mean – '
    ‘ I mean that I think it would have taken a love-match to make him give up those trips, even temporarily.'
    ‘ But who – no, don't tell me, even if you can guess. I had much rather not know. I hope you are mistaken.'
    ‘ I hope so, too,' Mary said. She was growing bored with talk of Jamie. 'Lord, my back does ache! How you can stayin the saddle all day long I can't think.'
    ‘ It's because I do, that my back doesn't ache,' Jemima said, deflected. 'You should be more regular in your exercise, my love. As soon as Hippolyta is old enough, I hope you will encourage her to be out of doors a good deal. Your Papa was very firm about the value of fresh air, especially for growing children, and regular outdoor exercise is the best way to guard your health. I don't like to see young women sitting indoors all day.'
    ‘Yes, Mama,' Mary said meekly.

    *
    It was in the early hours of the following morning that Mary Ann went into labour. Jemima and Mary remained in the house all day suffering vicarious pains, and Edward found things to occupy him within earshot of the house; but James, without even waiting for breakfast, went out at ten in the morning, and did not return until five o' clock, the usual dining hour. To judge by his eyes and his breath, he had consumed a great deal of brandy, but on learning that his wife was still in labour and dinner was not ready, he rang for more, and sat himself in the farthest corner of the drawing room, hunched over his glass.
    It was not until six o' clock that day, the third of October, that the ringing of the house-bell proclaimed to the village that the heir to Morland Place was born. Those gathered in the drawing-room heard a baby's wail from the great bed chamber above, and after what seemed like an endless delay, the sound of quick footsteps crossing the hall outside. Then the door opened, and Farleigh appeared, followed by the nursery-maid, Jenny, carrying a white bundle.
    ‘ A girl, ma'am,' Farleigh announced to Jemima, and Jenny, her face wreathed with smiles, gave her the child, saying, 'A lovely little girl, my lady, a companion for dear Miss Hippolyta. And the mother's doing very well, the midwife said to say.’
    Jemima heard her son's quick sigh at the first words, and glanced at him, wondering if it were a sigh of disappoint ment, but his face was inscrutable. She held out her hand for him to come to her, and turned back the edge of the wrapper to look at her second grandchild. James crossed the room reluctantly, and as Jemima said, 'Look, Jamie,' she thought the expression in his eyes was one of apprehension.
    James looked. Within the white folds he saw a tiny head, fragile as a robin's egg, despite its covering of draggled black hair, and below, the small face, still a stranger's, composed in a sleep of the most unutterable innocence. Her half- hour's acquaintance with the world, he thought, had not yet been able to tarnish that. Around him he heard people talking and exclaiming, but their voices were distant and muffled, as if they were beyond a curtain, and he seemed alone with his strange fear as he reached out his hands in dread to take hold of his daughter.
    She was so small, so