 lest, I suppose, it should appear that she had procured it as
much on her own account as his. She constantly evinced these nice perceptions
and delicate instincts.
    The league of acquaintanceship thus struck up was not hastily dissolved; on
the contrary, it appeared that time and circumstances served rather to cement
than loosen it. Ill-assimilated as the two were in age, sex, pursuits, etc.,
they somehow found a great deal to say to each other. As to Paulina, I observed
that her little character never properly came out, except with young Bretton. As
she got settled, and accustomed to the house, she proved tractable enough with
Mrs. Bretton; but she would sit on a stool at that lady's feet all day long,
learning her task, or sewing, or drawing figures with a pencil on a slate, and
never kindling once to originality, or showing a single gleam of the
peculiarities of her nature. I ceased to watch her under such circumstances: she
was not interesting. But the moment Graham's knock sounded of an evening, a
change occurred; she was instantly at the head of the staircase. Usually her
welcome was a reprimand or a threat.
    »You have not wiped your shoes properly on the mat. I shall tell your mama.«
    »Little busybody! Are you there?«
    »Yes - and you can't reach me: I am higher up than you« (peeping between the
rails of the bannister; she could not look over them).
    »Polly!«
    »My dear boy!« (such was one of her terms for him, adopted in imitation of
his mother).
    »I am fit to faint with fatigue,« declared Graham, leaning against the
passage-wall in seeming exhaustion. »Dr. Dig-by« (the head-master) »has quite
knocked me up with overwork. Just come down and help me to carry up my books.«
    »Ah! you're cunning!«
    »Not at all, Polly - it is a positive fact. I'm as weak as a rush. Come
down.«
    »Your eyes are quiet like the cat's, but you'll spring.«
    »Spring? Nothing of the kind: it is n't in me. Come down.«
    »Perhaps I may - if you'll promise not to touch - not to snatch me up, and
not to whirl me round.«
    »I? I couldn't do it!« (sinking into a chair
