CHAPTER II. PAULINA.

gon. Indisputably,Mr.Homeownedmanlyself-control,howeverhemightsecretlyfeelonsomematters.“Polly,”hesaid,lookingdownonhislittlegirl,“gointothehallyouwillseepapa’sgreat-coatlyingonachairputyourhandintothepockets,youwillfindapocket-handkerchieftherebringittome.” Sheobeyedwentandreturneddeftlyandnimbly.HewastalkingtoMrs.Brettonwhenshecameback,andshewaitedwiththehandkerchiefinherhand.Itwasapicture,initsway,toseeher,withhertinystature,andtrim,neatshape,standingathisknee.Seeingthathecontinuedtotalk,apparentlyunconsciousofherreturn,shetookhishand,openedtheunresistingfingers,insinuatedintothemthehandkerchief,andclosedthemuponitonebyone.Hestillseemednottoseeortofeelherbutby-and-by,heliftedhertohiskneeshenestledagainsthim,andthoughneitherlookedatnorspoketotheotherforanhourfollowing,Isupposebothweresatisfied. Duringtea,theminutething’smovementsandbehaviourgave,asusual,fulloccupationtotheeye.FirstshedirectedWarren,asheplacedthechairs. “Putpapa’schairhere,andminenearit,betweenpapaandMrs.Bretton:Imusthandhistea.” Shetookherownseat,andbeckonedwithherhandtoherfather. “Benearme,asifwewereathome,papa.” Andagain,assheinterceptedhiscupinpassing,andwouldstirthesugar,andputinthecreamherself,“Ialwaysdiditforyouathomepapa:nobodycoulddoitaswell,notevenyourownself.” Throughoutthemealshecontinuedherattentions:ratherabsurdtheywere.Thesugar-tongsweretoowideforoneofherhands,andshehadtousebothinwieldingthemtheweightofthesilvercream-ewer,thebread-and-butterplates,theverycupandsaucer,taskedherinsufficientstrengthanddexteritybutshewouldliftthis,handthat,andluckilycontrivedthroughitalltobreaknothing.Candidlyspeaking,Ithoughtheralittlebusy-bodybutherfather,blindlikeotherparents,seemedperfectlycontenttoletherwaitonhim,andevenwonderfullysoothedbyheroffices. “Sheismycomfort!”hecouldnothelpsayingtoMrs.Bretton.Thatladyhadherown“comfort”andnonpareilonamuchlargerscale,and,forthemoment,absentsoshesympathisedwithhisfoible. Thissecond“comfort”cameonthestageinthecourseoftheevening.Iknewthisdayhadbeenfixedforhisreturn,andwasawarethatMrs.Brettonhadbeenexpectinghimthroughallitshours.Wewereseatedroundthefire,aftertea,whenGrahamjoinedourcircle:Ishouldrathersay,brokeitup—for,ofcourse,hisarrivalmadeabustleandthen,asMr.Grahamwasfasting,therewasrefreshmenttobeprovide