CHAPTER XVI. AULD LANG SYNE.

clittleschool-girlmightalmosthaveloveditinitsframe.Thoseeyeslookedasifwhensomewhatoldertheywouldflashalightning-responsetolove:Icannottellwhethertheykeptinstorethesteady-beamingshineoffaith.Forwhateversentimentmethiminformtoofacile,hislipsmenaced,beautifullybutsurely,capriceandlightesteem. StrivingtotakeeachnewdiscoveryasquietlyasIcould,Iwhisperedtomyself— “Ah!thatportraitusedtohanginthebreakfast-room,overthemantel-piece:somewhattoohigh,asIthought.IwellrememberhowIusedtomountamusic-stoolforthepurposeofunhookingit,holdingitinmyhand,andsearchingintothosebonnywellsofeyes,whoseglanceundertheirhazellashesseemedlikeapencilledlaughandwellIlikedtonotethecolouringofthecheek,andtheexpressionofthemouth.”Ihardlybelievedfancycouldimproveonthecurveofthatmouth,orofthechinevenmyignoranceknewthatbothwerebeautiful,andponderedperplexedoverthisdoubt:“Howitwasthatwhatcharmedsomuch,couldatthesametimesokeenlypain?”Once,bywayoftest,ItooklittleMissyHome,and,liftingherinmyarms,toldhertolookatthepicture. “Doyoulikeit,Polly?”Iasked.Sheneveranswered,butgazedlong,andatlastadarknesswenttremblingthroughhersensitiveeye,asshesaid,“Putmedown.”SoIputherdown,sayingtomyself:“Thechildfeelsittoo.” AllthesethingsdoInowthinkover,adding,“Hehadhisfaults,yetscarceeverwasafinernatureliberal,suave,impressible.”Myreflectionsclosedinanaudiblypronouncedword,“Graham!” “Graham!”echoedasuddenvoiceatthebedside.“DoyouwantGraham?” Ilooked.Theplotwasbutthickeningthewonderbutculminating.Ifitwasstrangetoseethatwell-rememberedpicturedformonthewall,stillstrangerwasittoturnandbeholdtheequallywell-rememberedlivingformopposite—awoman,alady,mostrealandsubstantial,tall,well-attired,wearingwidow’ssilk,andsuchacapasbestbecamehermatronandmotherlybraidsofhair.Hers,too,wasagoodfacetoomarked,perhaps,nowforbeauty,butnotforsenseorcharacter.Shewaslittlechangedsomethingsterner,somethingmorerobust—butshewasmygodmother:stillthedistinctvisionofMrs.Bretton. Ikeptquiet,yetinternallyIwasmuchagitated:mypulsefluttered,andthebloodleftmycheek,whichturnedcold. “Madam,whereamI?”Iinquired. “Inaverysafeasylumwellprotectedforthepresentmakeyourmindquiteeasytillyougetalittlebetteryoulookillthismorning.” “Iamsoentirelybewildered,IdonotknowwhetherIcantrustmysensesatall,orwhethertheyaremisleadingmeineveryparticular:butyouspeakEnglish,doyounot,madam?” “Ishouldthinkyoumighthearthat:itwouldpuzzlemetoholdalongdiscourseinFrench.” “YoudonotcomefromEngland?” “Iamlatelyarrivedthence.Haveyoubeenlonginthiscountry?Youseemtoknowmyson?” “Do,I,madam?PerhapsIdo.Yourson—thepicturethere?” “Thatishisportraitasayouth.Whilelookingatit,youpronouncedhisname.” “GrahamBretton?” Shenodded. “IspeaktoMrs.Bretton,formerlyofBretton,——shire?” “Quiterightandyou,Iamtold,areanEnglishteacherinaforeignschoolhere:mysonrecognisedyouassuch.” “HowwasIfound,madam,andbywhom?” “Mysonshalltellyouthatby-and-by,”saidshe“butatpresentyouaretooconfusedandweakforconversation:trytoeatsomebreakfast,andthensleep.” NotwithstandingallIhadundergone—thebodilyfatigue,theperturbationofspirits,theexposuretoweather—itseemedthatIwasbetter:thefever,therealmaladywhichhadoppressedmyframe,wasabatingfor,whereasduringthelastninedaysIhadtakennosolidfood,andsufferedfromcontinualthirst,thismorning,onbreakfastbeingoffered,Iexperiencedacravingfornourishment:aninwardfaintnesswhichcausedmeeagerlytotastetheteathisladyoffered,andtoeatthemorselofdrytoastsheallowedinaccompaniment.Itwasonlyamorsel,butitsufficedkeepingupmystrengthtillsometwoorthreehoursafterwards,whenthebonnebroughtmealittlecupofbrothandabiscuit. Aseveningbegantodarken,andtheceaselessblaststillblewwildandcold,andtherainstreamedon,deluge-like,Igrewweary—verywearyofmybed.Theroom,thoughpretty,wassmall:Ifeltitconfining:Ilongedforachange.Theincreasingchillandgatheringgloom,too,depressedmeIwantedtosee—tofeelfirelight.Besides,Ikeptthinkingofthesonofthattallmatron:whenshouldIseehim?CertainlynottillIleftmyroom. Atlastthebonnecametomakemybedforthenight.Shepreparedtowrapmeinablanketandplacemeinthelittlechintzchairbut,decliningtheseattentions,Iproceededtodressmyself: Thebusinesswasjustachieved,andIwassittingdowntotakebreath,whenMrs.Brettononcemoreappeared. “Dressed!”sheexclaimed,smilingwiththatsmileIsowellknew—apleasantsmile,thoughnotsoft.“Youarequitebetterthen?Quitestrong—eh?” ShespoketomesomuchasofoldsheusedtospeakthatIalmostfanciedshewasbeginningtoknowme.Therewasthesamesortofpatronageinhervoiceandmannerthat,asagirl,Ihadalwaysexperiencedfromher—apatronageIyieldedtoandevenlikeditwasnotfoundedonconventionalgroundsofsuperiorwealthorstation(inthelastparticulartherehadneverbeenanyinequalityherdegreewasmine)butonnaturalreasonsofphysicaladvantage:itwastheshelterthetreegivestheherb.Iputarequestwithoutfurtherceremony. “Doletmegodown-stairs,madamIamsocoldanddullhere.” “Idesirenothingbetter,ifyouarestrongenoughtobearthechange,”washerreply.“Comethenhereisanarm.”Andsheofferedmehers:Itookit,andwedescendedoneflightofcarpetedstepstoalandingwhereatalldoor,standingopen,gaveadmissionintotheblue-damaskroom.Howpleasantitwasinitsairofperfectdomesticcomfort!Howwarminitsamberlamp-lightandvermilionfire-flush!Torenderthepictureperfect,teastoodreadyonthetable—anEnglishtea,whereofthewholeshiningserviceglancedatmefamiliarlyfromthesolidsilverurn,ofanti