Nora had gone, and Trevelyan had heard her as she was going and knew that Colonel Osborne was alone with his wife.
"If you can manage that it will be so nice," said Mrs.Trevelyan, continuing the conversation.
"My dear Emily," he said, "you must not talk of my managing it, or you will spoil it all." He had called them both Emily and Nora when Sir Marmaduke and Lady Rowley were with them before the marriage, and, taking the liberty of a very old family friend, had continued the practice.

Mrs.Trevelyan was quite aware that she had been so called by him in the presence of her husband,--and that her husband had not objected.

But that was now some months ago, before baby was born; and she was aware also that he had not called her so latterly in presence of her husband.

She thoroughly wished that she knew how to ask him not to do so again; but the matter was very difficult, as she could not make such a request without betraying some fear on her husband's part.

The subject which they were now discussing was too important to her to allow her to dwell upon this trouble at the moment, and so she permitted him to go on with his speech.
"If I were to manage it, as you call it,--which I can't do at all,--it would be a gross job." "That's all nonsense to us, Colonel Osborne.