Villette

shocked inexpressibly by too sudden communication of the news, could hardly, it seems, now be persuaded but that some over-severity on his part – some deficiency in patience and indulgence – had contributed to hasten her end. He had brooded over this idea till his spirits were seriously affected; the medical men insisted on travelling being tried as a remedy, and meanwhile Mrs. Bretton had offered to take charge of his little girl. »And I hope,« added my godmother in conclusion, »the child will not be like her mama; as silly and frivolous a little flirt as ever sensible man was weak enough to marry. For,« said she, »Mr. Home
is
a sensible man in his way, though not very practical: he is fond of science, and lives half his life in a laboratory trying experiments – a thing his butterfly wife could neither comprehend nor endure; and indeed,« confessed my godmother, »I should not have liked it myself.«
    In answer to a question of mine, she further informed me that her late husband used to say, Mr. Home had derived this scientific turn from a maternal uncle, a French savant; for he came, it seems, of mixed French and Scottish origin, and had connections now living in France, of whom more than one wrote
de
before his name, and called himself noble.
    That same evening at nine o'clock, a servant was despatched to meet the coach by which our little visitor was expected. Mrs. Bretton and I sat alone in the drawing-room waiting her coming; John Graham Bretton being absent on a visit to one of his school-fellows who lived in the country. My godmother read the evening paper while she waited; I sewed. It was a wet night; the rain lashed the panes, and the wind sounded angry and restless.
    »Poor child!« said Mrs. Bretton from time to time. »What weather for her journey! I wish she were safe here.«
    A little before ten the door-bell announced Warren's return. No sooner was the door opened than I ran down into the hall; there lay a trunk and some band-boxes, beside them stood a person like a nurse- and at the foot of the stair-case was Warren with a shawled bundle in his arms.
    »Is that the child?« I asked.
    »Yes, miss.«
    I would have opened the shawl, and tried to get a peep at the face, but it was hastily turned from me to Warren's shoulder.
    »Put me down, please,« said a small voice when Warren opened the drawing-room door, »and take off this shawl,« continued the speaker, extracting with its minute hand the pin, and with a sort of fastidious haste doffing the clumsy wrapping. The creature which now appeared made a deft attempt to fold the shawl; but the drapery was much too heavy and large to be sustained or wielded by those hands and arms. »Give it to Harriet, please,« was then the direction, »and she can put it away.« This said, it turned and fixed its eyes on Mrs. Bretton.
    »Come here, little dear,« said that lady. »Come and let me see if you are cold and damp: come and let me warm you at the fire.«
    The child advanced promptly. Relieved of her wrapping, she appeared exceedingly tiny; but was a neat, completely-fashioned little figure, light, slight, and straight. Seated on my godmother's ample lap, she looked a mere doll; her neck, delicate as wax, her head of silky curls, increased, I thought, the resemblance.
    Mrs. Bretton talked in little fond phrases as she chafed the child's hands, arms, and feet; first she was considered with a wistful gaze, but soon a smile answered her. Mrs. Bretton was not generally a caressing woman: even with her deeply-cherished son, her manner was rarely sentimental, often the reverse; but when this small stranger smiled at her, she kissed it, asking –
    »What is my little one's name?«
    »Missy.«
    »But besides Missy?«
    »Polly, papa calls her.«
    »Will Polly be content to live with me?«
    »Not
always;
but till papa comes home. Papa is gone away.« She shook her head expressively.
    »He will return to Polly, or send for her.«
    »Will he, ma'am? Do you know he will?«
    »I think so.«
    »But Harriet thinks not: at least not for a long while. He is ill.«
    Her eyes filled. She drew her hand from Mrs. Bretton's, and made a movement to leave her lap; it was at first resisted, but she said –
    »Please, I wish to go: I can sit on a stool.«
    She was allowed to slip down from the knee, and taking a foot-stool, she carried it to a corner where the shade was deep, and there seated herself. Mrs. Bretton, though a commanding, and in grave matters even a peremptory