CHAPTER I. BRETTON.

stresisted,butshesaid—“Please,Iwishtogo:Icansitonastool.” Shewasallowedtoslipdownfromtheknee,andtakingafootstool,shecarriedittoacornerwheretheshadewasdeep,andthereseatedherself.Mrs.Bretton,thoughacommanding,andingravemattersevenaperemptorywoman,wasoftenpassiveintrifles:sheallowedthechildherway.Shesaidtome,“Takenonoticeatpresent.”ButIdidtakenotice:IwatchedPollyresthersmallelbowonhersmallknee,herheadonherhandIobservedherdrawasquareinchortwoofpocket-handkerchieffromthedoll-pocketofherdoll-skirt,andthenIheardherweep.Otherchildreningrieforpaincryaloud,withoutshameorrestraintbutthisbeingwept:thetiniestoccasionalsnifftestifiedtoheremotion.Mrs.Brettondidnothearit:whichwasquiteaswell.Erelong,avoice,issuingfromthecorner,demanded—“MaythebellberungforHarriet!” Irangthenursewassummonedandcame. “Harriet,Imustbeputtobed,”saidherlittlemistress.“Youmustaskwheremybedis.” Harrietsignifiedthatshehadalreadymadethatinquiry. “Askifyousleepwithme,Harriet.” “No,Missy,”saidthenurse:“youaretosharethisyounglady’sroom,”designatingme. Missydidnotleaveherseat,butIsawhereyesseekme.Aftersomeminutes’silentscrutiny,sheemergedfromhercorner. “Iwishyou,ma’am,goodnight,”saidshetoMrs.Brettonbutshepassedmemute. “Good-night,Polly,”Isaid. “Noneedtosaygood-night,sincewesleepinthesamechamber,”wasthereply,withwhichshevanishedfromthedrawing-room.WeheardHarrietproposetocarryherup-stairs.“Noneed,”wasagainheranswer—“noneed,noneed:”andhersmallsteptoiledwearilyupthestaircase. Ongoingtobedanhourafterwards,Ifoundherstillwideawake.Shehadarrangedherpillowssoastosupportherlittlepersoninasittingposture:herhands,placedonewithintheother,restedquietlyonthesheet,withanold-fashionedcalmmostunchildlike.Iabstainedfromspeakingtoherforsometime,butjustbeforeextinguishingthelight,Irecommendedhertoliedown. “Byandby,”wastheanswer. “Butyouwilltakecold,Missy.” Shetooksometinyarticleofraimentfromthechairathercribside,andwithitcoveredhershoulders.Isufferedhertodoasshepleased.Listeningawhileinthedarkness,Iwasawarethatshestillwept,—weptunderrestraint,quietlyandcautiously. Onawakingwithdaylight,atricklingofwatercaughtmyear.Behold!thereshewasrisenandmountedonastoolnearthewashstand,withpainsanddifficultyincliningtheewer(whichshecouldnotlift)soastopouritscontentsintothebasin.Itwascurioustowatchherasshewashedanddressed,sosmall,busy,andnoiseless.Evidentlyshewaslittleaccus