CHAPTER XIII. A SNEEZE OUT OF SEASON.

eposeofmynature.However,thatturmoilsubsided:nextdayIwasagainLucySnowe. Onrevisitingmydrawers,Ifoundthemallsecurelylockedtheclosestsubsequentexaminationcouldnotdiscoverchangeorapparentdisturbanceinthepositionofoneobject.MyfewdresseswerefoldedasIhadleftthemacertainlittlebunchofwhitevioletsthathadoncebeensilentlypresentedtomebyastranger(astrangertome,forwehadneverexchangedwords),andwhichIhaddriedandkeptforitssweetperfumebetweenthefoldsofmybestdress,laythereunstirredmyblacksilkscarf,mylacechemisetteandcollars,wereunrumpled.Hadshecreasedonesolitaryarticle,IownIshouldhavefeltmuchgreaterdifficultyinforgivingherbutfindingallstraightandorderly,Isaid,“Letbygonesbebygones.Iamunharmed:whyshouldIbearmalice?” Athingtherewaswhichpuzzledmyself,andIsoughtinmybrainakeytothatriddlealmostassedulouslyasMadamehadsoughtaguidetousefulknowledgeinmytoiletdrawers.HowwasitthatDr.John,ifhehadnotbeenaccessorytothedroppingofthatcasketintothegarden,shouldhaveknownthatitwasdropped,andappearedsopromptlyonthespottoseekit?SostrongwasthewishtoclearupthispointthatIbegantoentertainthisdaringsuggestion:“WhymayInot,incaseIshouldeverhavetheopportunity,askDr.Johnhimselftoexplainthiscoincidence?” AndsolongasDr.Johnwasabsent,IreallybelievedIhadcouragetotesthimwithsuchaquestion. LittleGeorgettewasnowconvalescentandherphysicianaccordinglymadehisvisitsveryrare:indeed,hewouldhaveceasedthemaltogether,hadnotMadameinsistedonhisgivinganoccasionalcalltillthechildshouldbequitewell. ShecameintothenurseryoneeveningjustafterIhadlistenedtoGeorgette’slispedandbrokenprayer,andhadputhertobed.Takingthelittleone’shand,shesaid,“Cetteenfantatoujoursunpeudefièvre.”Andpresentlyafterwards,lookingatmewithaquickerglancethanwashabitualtoherquieteye,“LeDocteurJohnl’a-t-ilvuedernièrement?Non,n’est-cepas?” Ofcoursesheknewthisbetterthananyotherpersoninthehouse.“Well,”shecontinued,“Iamgoingout,pourfairequelquescoursesenfiacre.IshallcallonDr.John,andsendhimtothechild.Iwillthatheseesherthiseveninghercheeksareflushed,herpulseisquickyouwillreceivehim—formypart,Ishallbefromhome.” Nowthechildwaswellenough,onlywarmwiththewarmthofJulyitwasscarcelylessneedfultosendforapriesttoadministerextremeunctionthanforadoctortoprescribeadosealsoMadamerarelymade“courses,”asshecalledthem,intheevening:moreover,thiswasthefirsttimeshehadchosentoabsentherselfontheoccasionofavisitfromDr.John.ThewholearrangementindicatedsomeplanthisIsaw,butwithouttheleastanxiety.“Ha!ha!Madame,”laughedLight-hearttheBeggar,“yourcraftywitsareonthewrongtack.” Shedeparted,attiredverysmartly,inashawlofprice,andacertainchapeauverttendre—hazardous,astoitstint,foranycomplexionlessfreshthanherown,but,toher,notunbecoming.Iwonderedwhatsheintended:whethershereallywouldsendDr.Johnornotorwhetherindeedhewouldcome:hemightbeengaged. MadamehadchargedmenottoletGeorgettesleeptillthedoctorcameIhadthereforesufficientoccupationintellinghernurserytalesandpalaveringthelittlelanguageforherbenefit.IaffectedGeorgetteshewasasensitiveandalovingchild:toholdherinmylap,orcarryherinmyarms,wastomeatreat.To-nightshewouldhavemelaymyheadonthepillowofhercribsheevenputherlittlearmsroundmyneck.Herclasp,andthenestlingactionwithwhichshepressedhercheektomine,mademealmostcrywithatenderpain.Feelingofnokindaboundedinthathousethispurelittledropfromapurelittlesourcewastoosweet:itpenetrateddeep,andsubduedtheheart,andsentagushtotheeyes.HalfanhouroranhourpassedGeorgettemurmuredinhersoftlispthatshewasgrowingsleepy.“Andyoushallsleep,”thoughtI,“malgrémamanandmédecin,iftheyarenothereintenminutes.” Hark!Therewasthering,andtherethetread,astonishingthestaircasebythefleetnesswithwhichitleftthestepsbehind.RosineintroducedDr.John,and,withafreedomofmannernotaltogetherpeculiartoherself,butcharacteristicofthedomesticsofVillet