uncle, only once interrupted by an inquiry from Jane about the
child's name, a point on which she could gain no intelligence. His
report the next day was not decidedly unfavourable, though he
scarcely hoped the christening would be so soon as Tuesday. He had
not seen the father, and suspected he had purposely kept out of the
way.

Jane, disappointed that the baby's name remained a mystery, resolved
to set out on a voyage of discovery. Accordingly, as soon as her
cousin was gone, she asked Emily if she had not been saying that Ada
wanted some more cotton for her sampler.

'Yes,' said Emily, 'but I am not going to walk all the way to Mrs.
Appleton's this afternoon.'

'Shall I go?' said Jane. 'Ada, run and fetch your pattern.' Emily
and Ada were much obliged by Jane's disinterested offer, and in a
quarter of an hour Ada's thoughts and hands were busy in Mrs.
Appleton's drawer of many-coloured cotton.

'What a pity this is about Mrs. Naylor's baby,' began Jane.

'It is a sad story indeed, Miss Jane, I am sure it must be grievous
to Mr. Devereux,' said Mrs. Appleton. 'Betsy Wall said he had been
there three times about it.'

'Ah! we all know that Walls have ears,' said Jane; 'how that Betsy
does run about gossiping!'

'Yes, Miss Jane, there she bides all day long at the stile gaping;