for the infant, and should be
supplemented by a miniature eider-down quilt in a washing cover of
figured cambric edged with torchon, and, if fancied, embellished in its
turn with some pretty bows.

Another thing: though I would always have an infant kept as quiet as
possible, utterly and strenuously forbidding long railway journeys, much
changing of nurseries, much seeing of company, I yet do say that to some
noises the baby must be early accustomed. I have been in young married
people’s households where the magic words, ‘Oh, if you please, mum,
nurse says baby is asleep, have brought about a state of things that
reminds one of the Sleeping Beauty’s palace. The canary bird is hustled
under an antimacassar, the piano is closed, and conversation is carried
on in whispers, until a shrill cry sets us free fromconvenient, and as unlike the
orthodox sick-room as can be managed.

Naturally these times are looked forward to with dread by all young
wives. They are fully convinced that they must die, and in fact make
themselves perfectly wretched and miserable because of their ignorance,
and of their not unnatural dislike to speak of their dreads and fears;
and though, of course, I can only lightly touch on these matters in a
book which I trust may be widely used and read, I want to whisper a few
words to reassure all those who may be contemplating the arrival of No.
1. If girls are brought up in a proper, healthy manner, if they do not
rush about from ball to party or from one excitement to the other, if
they realise their condition, and dress and rest themselves