CHAPTER II. PAULINA.

y.Ihope,ma’am,Iseeyouwell?” “Tor-rer-ablywell,”wastheambitiousreplyofthelittlewomanandshenowessayedtoregainherformerelevation,butfindingthiscouldnotbedonewithoutsomeclimbingandstraining—asacrificeofdecorumnottobethoughtof—andbeingutterlydisdainfulofaidinthepresenceofastrangeyounggentleman,sherelinquishedthehighchairforalowstool:towardsthatlowstoolGrahamdrewinhischair. “Ihope,ma’am,thepresentresidence,mymother’shouse,appearstoyouaconvenientplaceofabode?” “Notpar-tic-er-er-lyIwanttogohome.” “Anaturalandlaudabledesire,ma’ambutonewhich,notwithstanding,Ishalldomybesttooppose.Ireckononbeingabletogetoutofyoualittleofthatpreciouscommoditycalledamusement,whichmammaandMistressSnowetherefailtoyieldme.” “Ishallhavetogowithpapasoon:Ishallnotstaylongatyourmother’s.” “Yes,yesyouwillstaywithme,Iamsure.Ihaveaponyonwhichyoushallride,andnoendofbookswithpicturestoshowyou.” “Areyougoingtoliveherenow?” “Iam.Doesthatpleaseyou?Doyoulikeme?” “No.” “Why?” “Ithinkyouqueer.” “Myface,ma’am?” “Yourfaceandallaboutyou:Youhavelongredhair.” “Auburnhair,ifyouplease:mamma,callsitauburn,orgolden,andsodoallherfriends.Butevenwithmy‘longredhair’”(andhewavedhismanewithasortoftriumph—tawnyhehimselfwellknewthatitwas,andhewasproudoftheleoninehue),“Icannotpossiblybequeererthanisyourladyship.” “Youcallmequeer?” “Certainly.” (Afterapause),“IthinkIshallgotobed.” “Alittlethinglikeyououghttohavebeeninbedmanyhourssincebutyouprobablysatupintheexpectationofseeingme?” “No,indeed.” “Youcertainlywishedtoenjoythepleasureofmysociety.YouknewIwascominghome,andwouldwaittohavealookatme.” “Isatupforpapa,andnotforyou.” “Verygood,MissHome.Iamgoingtobeafavourite:preferredbeforepapasoon,Idaresay.” ShewishedMrs.Brettonandmyselfgood-nightsheseemedhesitatingwhetherGraham’sdesertsentitledhimtothesameattention,whenhecaughtherupwithonehand,andwiththatonehandheldherpoisedaloftabovehishead.Shesawherselfthuslifteduponhigh,intheglassoverthefireplace.Thesuddenness,thefreedom,thedisrespectoftheactionweretoomuch. “Forshame,Mr.Graham!”washerindignantcry,“putmedown!”—andwhenagainonherfeet,“IwonderwhatyouwouldthinkofmeifIweretotreatyouinthatway,liftingyouwithmyhand“(raisingthatmightymember)“asWarrenliftsthelittlecat.” Sosaying,shedeparted.