Claude was much pleased by being asked by Eleanor to be godfather to
his little nephew, whose name was to be Henry. Perhaps he hoped,
what Lilias was quite sure of, that Eleanor did not think him
unworthy to stand in Harry's place.
The choice of the other sponsors did not meet with universal
approbation. Emily thought it rather hard that Mr. Hawkesworth's
sister, Mrs. Ridley, should have been chosen before herself, and both
she and Ada would have greatly preferred either Lord Rotherwood, Mr.
Devereux, or William, to Mr. Ridley, while Phyllis had wanderings of
her own how Claude could be godfather without being present at the
christening.
One evening Claude was writing his answer to Eleanor, sitting at the
sofa table where a small lamp was burning. Jane, attracted by its
bright and soft radiance, came and sat down opposite to him with her
work.
'What a silence!' said Lily, after about a quarter of an hour.
'What made you start, Jane?' said William.
'Did I?' said Jane.
'My speaking, I suppose,' said Lily, 'breaking the awful spell of
silence.'
'How red you look, Jane. What is the matter?' said William.
'Do I?' asked Jane, becoming still redder.
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