"Quick! please, Mrs. Bretton, and pour out the coffee", entreated Paulina, "whilst I take care of the Count de Bassompierre in other respects: since he grew into a Count, he has needed so much attention".
She separated and prepared a roll.
"There, papa, are your 'pistolets' charged", said she. "And there is some marmalade, just the same sort of marmalade we used to have at Bretton, and which you said was as good as if it had been conserved in Scotland"
"And which your little ladyship used to beg for my boy—do you remember that?" interposed Mrs. Bretton. "Have you forgotten how you would come to my elbow and touch my sleeve with the whisper, 'Please, ma'am, something good for Graham—a little marmalade, or honey, or jam?"'
"No, mamma", broke in Dr. John, laughing, yet reddening; "it surely was not so: I could not have cared for these things".
"Did he or did he not, Paulina?"
"He liked them", asserted Paulina.
"Never blush for it, John", said Mr. Home, encouragingly. "I like them myself yet, and always did. And Polly showed her sense in catering for a friend's material comforts: it was I who put her into the way of such good manners—nor do I let her forget them. Polly, offer me a small slice of that tongue".
"There, papa: but remember you are only waited upon with this assiduity, on condition of being persuadable, and reconciling yourself to La Terrasse for the day".
"Mrs. Bretton", said the Count, "I want to get rid of my daughter, to send her to school. Do you know of any good school?"
"There is Lucy's place—Madame Beck's".
"Miss Snowe is in a school?"
"I am a teacher", I said, and was rather glad of the opportunity of saying this. For a little while I had been feeling as if placed in a false position. Mrs. Bretton and son knew my circumstances; but the Count and his daughter did not. They might choose to vary by some shades their hitherto cordial manner towards me, when aware of my grade in society. I spoke then readily: but a swarm of thoughts I had not anticipated nor invoked, rose dim at the words, making me sigh
