CHAPTER I. BRETTON.

tomedtoperformherowntoiletandthebuttons,strings,hooksandeyes,offereddifficultieswhichsheencounteredwithaperseverancegoodtowitness.Shefoldedhernight-dress,shesmoothedthedraperyofhercouchquiteneatlywithdrawingintoacorner,wherethesweepofthewhitecurtainconcealedher,shebecamestill.Ihalfrose,andadvancedmyheadtoseehowshewasoccupied.Onherknees,withherforeheadbentonherhands,Iperceivedthatshewaspraying. Hernursetappedatthedoor.Shestartedup. “Iamdressed,Harriet,”saidshe“Ihavedressedmyself,butIdonotfeelneat.Makemeneat!” “Whydidyoudressyourself,Missy?” “Hush!speaklow,Harriet,forfearofwakingthegirl”(meaningme,whonowlaywithmyeyesshut).“Idressedmyselftolearn,againstthetimeyouleaveme.” “Doyouwantmetogo?” “Whenyouarecross,Ihavemanyatimewantedyoutogo,butnotnow.Tiemysashstraightmakemyhairsmooth,please.” “Yoursashisstraightenough.Whataparticularlittlebodyyouare!” “Itmustbetiedagain.Pleasetotieit.” “There,then.WhenIamgoneyoumustgetthatyoungladytodressyou.” “Onnoaccount.” “Why?Sheisaveryniceyounglady.Ihopeyoumeantobehaveprettilytoher,Missy,andnotshowyourairs.” “Sheshalldressmeonnoaccount.” “Comicallittlething!” “Youarenotpassingthecombstraightthroughmyhair,Harrietthelinewillbecrooked.” “Ay,youareilltoplease.Doesthatsuit?” “Prettywell.WhereshouldIgonowthatIamdressed?” “Iwilltakeyouintothebreakfast-room.” “Come,then.” Theyproceededtothedoor.Shestopped. “Oh!Harriet,Iwishthiswaspapa’shouse!Idon’tknowthesepeople.” “Beagoodchild,Missy.” “Iamgood,butIachehere”puttingherhandtoherheart,andmoaningwhileshereiterated,“Papa!papa!” Irousedmyselfandstartedup,tocheckthisscenewhileitwasyetwithinbounds. “Saygood-morningtotheyounglady,”dictatedHarriet.Shesaid,“Good-morning,”andthenfollowedhernursefromtheroom.Harriettemporarilyleftthatsameday,togotoherownfriends,wholivedintheneighbourhood. Ondescending,IfoundPaulina(thechildcalledherselfPolly,butherfullnamewasPaulinaMary)seatedatthebreakfast-table,byMrs.Bretton’ssideamugofmilkstoodbeforeher,amorselofbreadfilledherhand,whichlaypassiveonthetable-cloth:shewasnoteating. “Howweshallconciliatethislittlecreature,”saidMrs.Brettontome,“Idon’tknow:shetastesnothing,andbyherlooks,shehasnotslept.” Iexpressedmyconfidenceintheeffectsoftimeandkindness. “Ifsheweretotakeafancytoanybodyinthehouse,shewouldsoonsettlebutnottillthen,”repliedMrs.Bretton.