Ida answered also in French.
Then the baby seemed to experience a convulsion; its whole face seemed to open into one gape of expostulation at fate.

Then its feeble, futile wail filled the whole room.
"Isn't she a little darling ?" asked Ida, of Maria.
"Yes'm," replied Maria.
There was a curious air of aloofness about Ida with regard to her baby, and something which gave the impression of wistfulness.

It is possible that she was capable of wishing that she had not that aloofness.

It did not in the least seem to Maria as if it were Ida's baby.

She had a vague impression, derived she could not tell in what manner, of a rosebud laid on a gatepost.