CHAPTER XXV. THE LITTLE COUNTESS.

ordislocatemyshoulder.Isitwine?” “Nonordew.” “Idon’twantdewIdon’tlikedew:butwhatisit?” “Ale—strongale—oldOctoberbrewed,perhaps,whenIwasborn.” “Itmustbecurious:isitgood?” “Excessivelygood.” Andhetookitdown,administeredtohimselfaseconddoseofthismightyelixir,expressedinhismischievouseyesextremecontentmentwiththesame,andsolemnlyreplacedthecupontheshelf. “Ishouldlikealittle,”saidPaulina,lookingup“Ineverhadany‘oldOctober:’isitsweet?” “Perilouslysweet,”saidGraham. Shecontinuedtolookupexactlywiththecountenanceofachildthatlongsforsomeprohibiteddainty.AtlasttheDoctorrelented,tookitdown,andindulgedhimselfinthegratificationoflettinghertastefromhishandhiseyes,alwaysexpressiveintherevelationofpleasurablefeelings,luminouslyandsmilinglyavowedthatitwasagratificationandheprolongeditbysoregulatingthepositionofthecupthatonlyadropatatimecouldreachtherosy,sippinglipsbywhichitsbrimwascourted. “Alittlemore—alittlemore,”saidshe,petulantlytouchinghishandwiththeforefinger,tomakehiminclinethecupmoregenerouslyandyieldingly.“Itsmellsofspiceandsugar,butIcan’ttasteityourwristissostiff,andyouaresostingy.” Heindulgedher,whispering,however,withgravity:“Don’ttellmymotherorLucytheywouldn’tapprove.” “NordoI,”saidshe,passingintoanothertoneandmannerassoonasshehadfairlyassayedthebeverage,justasifithadacteduponherlikesomedisenchantingdraught,undoingtheworkofawizard:“Ifinditanythingbutsweetitisbitterandhot,andtakesawaymybreath.YouroldOctoberwasonlydesirablewhileforbidden.Thankyou,nomore.” And,withaslightbend—careless,butasgracefulasherdance—sheglidedfromhimandrejoinedherfather. Ithinkshehadspokentruth:thechildofsevenwasinthegirlofseventeen. Grahamlookedafterheralittlebaffled,alittlepuzzledhiseyewasonheragooddealduringtherestoftheevening,butshedidnotseemtonoticehim. Asweascendedtothedrawing-roomfortea,shetookherfather’sarm:hernaturalplaceseemedtobeathissidehereyesandherearswerededicatedtohim.HeandMrs.Brettonwerethechieftalkersofourlittleparty,andPaulinawastheirbestlistener,attendingcloselytoallthatwassaid,promptingtherepetitionofthisorthattraitoradventure. “Andwherewereyouatsuchatime,papa?Andwhatdidyousaythen?AndtellMrs.Brettonwhathappenedonthatoccasion.”Thusshedrewhimout. Shedidnotagainyieldtoanyeffervescenceofgleetheinfantinesparklewasexhaledforthenight:shewassoft,thoughtful,anddocile.Itwasprettytoseeherbidgood-nighthermannertoGrahamwastouchedwithdignity:inherveryslightsmileandquietbowspoketheCountess,andGrahamcouldnotbutlookgrave,andbendresponsive.Isawhehardlyknewhowtoblendtogetherinhisideasthedancingfairyanddelicatedame. Nextday,whenwewereallassembledroundthebreakfast-table,shiveringandfreshfromthemorning’schillablutions,Mrs.Brettonpronouncedadecreethatnobody,whowasnotforcedbydirenecessity,shouldquitherhousethatday. Indeed,egressseemednexttoimpossiblethedriftdarkenedthelowerpanesofthecasement,and,onlookingout,onesawtheskyandairvexedanddim,thewindandsnowinangryconflict.Therewasnofallnow,butwhathadalreadydescendedwastornupfromtheearth,whirledroundbybriefshriekinggusts,andcastintoahundredfantasticforms. TheCountesssecondedMrs.Bretton. “Papashallnotgoout,”saidshe,placingaseatforherselfbesideherfather’sarm-chair.“Iwilllookafterhim.Youwon’tgointotown,willyou,papa?” “Ay,andNo,”wastheanswer.“IfyouandMrs.Brettonareverygoodtome,Polly—kind,youknow,andattentiveifyoupetmeinaverynicemanner,andmakemuchofme,Imaypossiblybeinducedtowaitanhourafterbreakfastandseewhetherthisrazor-edgedwindsettles.But,yousee,yougivemenobreakfastyouoffermenothing:youletmestarve.” “Quick!please,Mrs.Bretton,andpouroutthecoffee,”entreatedPaulina,“whilstItakecareoftheCountdeBassompierreinotherrespects:sincehegrewintoaCount,hehasneededsomuchattention.” Sheseparatedandpreparedaroll. “There,papa,areyour‘pistolets’charged,”saidshe.“Andthereissomemarmalade,justthesamesortofmarmaladeweusedtohaveatBretton,andwhichyousaidwasasgoodasifithadbeenconservedinScotland—” “Andwhichyourlittleladyshipusedtobegformyboy—doyourememberthat?”interposedMrs.Bretton.“Haveyouforgottenhowyouwouldcometomyelbowandtouchmysleevewiththewhisper,‘Please,ma’am,somethinggoodforGraham—alittlemarmalade,orhoney,orjam?’” “No,mamma,”brokeinDr.John,laughing,yetreddening“itsurelywasnotso:Icouldnothavecaredforthesethings.” “Didheordidhenot,Paulina?” “Helikedthem,”assertedPaulina. “Neverblushforit,John,”saidMr.Home,encouragingly.“Ilikethemmyselfyet,andalwaysdid.AndPollyshowedhersenseincateringforafriend’smaterialcomforts:itwasIwhoputherintothewayofsuchgoodmanners—nordoIletherforgetthem.Polly,offermeasmallsliceofthattongue.” “There,papa:butrememberyouareonlywaiteduponwiththisassiduityonconditionofbeingpersuadable,andreconcilingyourselftoLaTerrassefortheday.” “Mrs.Bretton,”saidtheCount,“Iwanttogetridofmydaughter—tosendhertoschool.Doyouknowof