Villette

nducive to comfort — to tranquillity even — than she presented, it was scarcely possible to have before one’s eyes. She moped: no grown person could have performed that uncheering business bett

ination; but whenever, opening a room-door, I found her seated in a corner alon

ght in bed, and praying like some Catholic or Methodist enthusiast — some precocious fanatic or untimely saint — I scarcely

up unuttered; such rare sentences as reached my ear still bore the burden, “Papa; my dear papa!” This, I perceived, was a one-i

, had it continued unchecked, can only be con

ooking, and not counting, when — my eye being fixed on hers — I witnessed in its iris and pupil a startling transfiguration. These sudden, dangerous natures — sensitive as they are called — offer many a curious spectacle to those whom a cooler temperament has secured from participation i

window — saw her, in her black frock and tiny braided apron (to pinafores she had an antipathy), dart half the length of the street; and, as I was on the point of turning, and quietly announcing to Mrs. Bretton that the child was run out mad, and ought instantly t

charge and withdraw; but he entered: having ta

tered, surprised, taken unawares. Her look and manner were even expostulatory; and in reply to these, rather than her words, he

will unse

d how is papa’s

lina, as he sat down and placed h

reply, as she leaned on his k

r furiously overflow, only oppressed one the more. On all occasions of vehement, unrestrained expansion, a sense of disdain or ridicule comes to the weary s

The character of his face was quite Scotch; but there was feeling in his eye, and emotion in his now agitated countenance. His northern accent in speakin

le noise: she seemed to have got what she wanted — all she wanted, and to be in a trance of content. Neither in mien nor in featu

y,” he said, looking down on his little girl, “go into the hall; you will see papa’s great-coat lying

neat shape, standing at his knee. Seeing that he continued to talk, apparently unconscious of her return, she took his hand, opened the unresisting fingers, insinuated into them the handkerchief, and closed them upon it one

iour gave, as usual, full occupation to the eye. F

e near it, between papa and Mrs

, and beckoned with h

s if we were a

he sugar, and put in the cream herself, “I always did it for you a

ream-ewer, the bread-and-butter plates, the very cup and saucer, tasked her insufficient strength and dexterity; but she would lift this, hand that, and luckily contrived through it all to break

at lady had her own “comfort” and nonpareil on a much larger scal

m through all its hours. We were seated round the fire, after tea, when Graham joined our circle: I should rather say, broke it up — for, of course, his arrival made a bu

re little person in a mourning frock and white chemisette, that might just have fitted a good-sized doll — perched now on a high chair beside a stand, whereon was her toy work-box of white varnished wood, and holding in her hands a shred of a handkerchief, which she was professing to hem, and at which she bored p

on, but because the epithet strikes me as proper to describe the fair, Celtic (not Saxon) character of his good looks; his waved light auburn hair, his s

rary absence of Mr. Home from the room relieved him from the half-laughing bashfulness, which was all he

irl, I suppose you m

of the least ceremonious: Miss Home I should certainly have sa

d teased. Don’t flatter yourself that I

ight I have the honour to introduce myself, since no one else seems will

ut down thimble, scissors, work; descended with precaution from her pe

nly in some measure fatigued with a hurrie

d not be done without some climbing and straining — a sacrifice of decorum not to be thought of — and being utterly disdainful of aid in t

nce, my mother’s house, appears to

r-er-ly; I wan

y best to oppose. I reckon on being able to get out of you a little of that preciou

papa soon: I shall not st

. I have a pony on which you shall ride, an

ing to live

t please you? D

N

hy

nk you

ace,

about you: You ha

ith my ‘long red hair’” (and he waved his mane with a sort of triumph — tawny he himself well knew th

all me

tain

, “I think I sh

n in bed many hours since; but you probabl

ind

re of my society. You knew I was coming h

r papa, and

ing to be a favourite: preferr

tion, when he caught her up with one hand, and with that one hand held her poised aloft above his head. She saw herself thus

r feet, “I wonder what you would think of me if I were to treat you in that way, lif

e departed.