CHAPTER I. BRETTON.

identlycausedMrs.Brettonsurpriseandsomeconcern.Ithoughtatfirstitwasfromhome,andtrembled,expectingIknownotwhatdisastrouscommunication:tome,however,noreferencewasmade,andthecloudseemedtopass. Thenextday,onmyreturnfromalongwalk,Ifound,asIenteredmybedroom,anunexpectedchange.In,additiontomyownFrenchbedinitsshadyrecess,appearedinacornerasmallcrib,drapedwithwhiteandinadditiontomymahoganychestofdrawers,Isawatinyrosewoodchest.Istoodstill,gazed,andconsidered. “Ofwhatarethesethingsthesignsandtokens?”Iasked.Theanswerwasobvious.“Asecondguestiscoming:Mrs.Brettonexpectsothervisitors.” Ondescendingtodinner,explanationsensued.Alittlegirl,Iwastold,wouldshortlybemycompanion:thedaughterofafriendanddistantrelationofthelateDr.Bretton’s.Thislittlegirl,itwasadded,hadrecentlylosthermotherthough,indeed,Mrs.Brettonerelongsubjoined,thelosswasnotsogreatasmightatfirstappear.Mrs.Home(Homeitseemswasthename)hadbeenaverypretty,butagiddy,carelesswoman,whohadneglectedherchild,anddisappointedanddisheartenedherhusband.Sofarfromcongenialhadtheunionproved,thatseparationatlastensued—separationbymutualconsent,notafteranylegalprocess.Soonafterthisevent,theladyhavingover-exertedherselfataball,caughtcold,tookafever,anddiedafteraverybriefillness.Herhusband,naturallyamanofverysensitivefeelings,andshockedinexpressiblybytoosuddencommunicationofthenews,couldhardly,itseems,nowbepersuadedbutthatsomeover-severityonhispart—somedeficiencyinpatienceandindulgence—hadcontributedtohastenherend.Hehadbroodedoverthisideatillhisspiritswereseriouslyaffectedthemedicalmeninsistedontravellingbeingtriedasaremedy,andmeanwhileMrs.Brettonhadofferedtotakechargeofhislittlegirl.“AndIhope,”addedmygodmotherinconclusion,“thechildwillnotbelikehermammaassillyandfrivolousalittleflirtaseversensiblemanwasweakenoughtomarry.For,”saidshe,“Mr.Homeisasensiblemaninhisway,thoughnotverypractical:heisfondofscience,andliveshalfhislifeinalaboratorytryingexperiments—athinghisbutterflywifecouldneithercomprehendnorendureandindeed”confessedmygodmother,“Ishouldnothavelikeditmyself.” Inanswertoaquestionofmine,shefurtherinformedmethatherlatehusbandusedtosay,Mr.Homehadderivedthisscientificturnfromamaternaluncle,aFrenchsavantforhecame,itseemsofmixedFrenchandScottishorigin,andhadconnectionsnowlivinginFrance,ofwhommorethanonewrotedebeforehisname,andcalledhimselfnoble. Thatsameeveningatnineo’clock,aservantwas