"Yes, indeed, and I was invited to join in it."

"Well, well. _I_ certainly would never have suspected anything of
the kind."

"Nor would anyone. The thing was well arranged, and artfully carried
out."

"I suppose they will send for _you_ now."

"Not at all. That is only a sham to get rid of your attendance. The
husband will be given to understand that you were hurriedly called in,
and that, my assistance being unneeded, they did not think it
worth-while troubling me."

After consulting with Dr. P. for a considerable time and putting the
case in different lights, we came to the conclusion that it would be
as well now to let matters take their course. Any interference on
our part would only have raised a great public scandal, and rendered
both Mr. and Mrs. Quintin miserable, without benefiting anyone, so we
allowed the poor man to believe that his prayers were answered, and
that the beautiful girl he fondled was really his own.

Time rolled on, the baby being baptized in due course and known by the
name of Edith Quintin. As she grew older, both Mr. and Mrs. Quintin
became passionately fond of her, the latter being as much attached
to the little girl as if she were her own daughter. When the child
was about twelve years old, Mrs. Quintin, who had gradually grown
more and more delicate, began to feel that she must, ere many months