That this child did not come fairly by his death I have strong reasons for suspecting, from various conversations which I overheard when a child, pass between Robert Moncton, Dinah North, and my mother.
"The news of their son's death, as may well be imagined, was received by Sir Alexander and Lady Moncton with the most poignant grief; and six years elapsed before she and her husband revisited Moncton Park.
"My mother was just recovering from her confinement with a lovely little girl--the Alice, to whom you have often heard me allude--when Sir Alexander and Lady Moncton arrived at the Hall.

They brought with them a delicate and beautiful infant of three months old.
"I can well remember Lady Moncton's first visit to the Lodge, to learn from my mother's own lips the nature of the disease which had consigned her son to his early grave.

I recollect my mother telling her that the little George went to bed in perfect health, and died in a fit during the night, before medical aid could be procured.

She shed some tears while she said this, and assured Lady Moncton that the baby's death had occasioned her as much grief as if he had been her own--that she would much rather that I had died than her dear nurse-child.
"I remember, as I leant against Dinah North's knees, thinking this very hard of my mother, and wondering why she should prefer Lady Moncton's son to me.

But, from whatever cause her aversion sprang, she certainly never had any maternal regard for me.
"Lady Moncton drew me to her, and with her sweet, fair face bathed in tears, told my mother that I was a beautiful boy--that her darling would have been just my age and size, and that she could not help envying her her child.