CHAPTER II. PAULINA.

hapsWarrenwasinthewayandobeyedherbehest,whichwouldbeimpetuousenough.I—watchingcalmlyfromthewindow—sawher,inherblackfrockandtinybraidedapron(topinaforesshehadanantipathy),darthalfthelengthofthestreetand,asIwasonthepointofturning,andquietlyannouncingtoMrs.Brettonthatthechildwasrunoutmad,andoughtinstantlytobepursued,Isawhercaughtup,andraptatoncefrommycoolobservation,andfromthewonderingstareofthepassengers.Agentlemanhaddonethisgoodturn,andnow,coveringherwithhiscloak,advancedtorestorehertothehousewhencehehadseenherissue. Iconcludedhewouldleaveherinaservant’schargeandwithdrawbutheentered:havingtarriedalittlewhilebelow,hecameup-stairs. HisreceptionimmediatelyexplainedthathewasknowntoMrs.Bretton.Sherecognisedhimshegreetedhim,andyetshewasfluttered,surprised,takenunawares.Herlookandmannerwereevenexpostulatoryandinreplytothese,ratherthanherwords,hesaid,—“Icouldnothelpit,madam:Ifounditimpossibletoleavethecountrywithoutseeingwithmyowneyeshowshesettled.” “Butyouwillunsettleher.” “Ihopenot.Andhowispapa’slittlePolly?” ThisquestionheaddressedtoPaulina,ashesatdownandplacedhergentlyonthegroundbeforehim. “HowisPolly’spapa?”wasthereply,assheleanedonhisknee,andgazedupintohisface. Itwasnotanoisy,notawordyscene:forthatIwasthankfulbutitwasasceneoffeelingtoobrimful,andwhich,becausethecupdidnotfoamuphighorfuriouslyoverflow,onlyoppressedonethemore.Onalloccasionsofvehement,unrestrainedexpansion,asenseofdisdainorridiculecomestothewearyspectator’sreliefwhereasIhaveeverfeltmostburdensomethatsortofsensibilitywhichbendsofitsownwill,agiantslaveundertheswayofgoodsense. Mr.Homewasastern-featured—perhapsIshouldrathersay,ahard-featuredman:hisforeheadwasknotty,andhischeekbonesweremarkedandprominent.ThecharacterofhisfacewasquiteScotchbuttherewasfeelinginhiseye,andemotioninhisnowagitatedcountenance.Hisnorthernaccentinspeakingharmonisedwithhisphysiognomy.Hewasatonceproud-lookingandhomely-looking.Helaidhishandonthechild’supliftedhead.Shesaid—“KissPolly.” Hekissedher.Iwishedshewoulduttersomehystericalcry,sothatImightgetreliefandbeatease.Shemadewonderfullylittlenoise:sheseemedtohavegotwhatshewanted—allshewanted,andtobeinatranceofcontent.Neitherinmiennorinfeatureswasthiscreaturelikehersire,andyetshewasofhisstrain:hermindhadbeenfilledfromhis,asthecupfromthefla