manner not indeed wholly
disindividualized: a tone, a glance, a gesture, here and there, rather animated
and quick than measured and stately, still recalled little Polly; but yet there
was so fine and even a polish, so calm and courteous a grace, gilding and
sustaining these peculiarities, that a less sensitive man than Graham would not
have ventured to seize upon them as vantage points, leading to franker intimacy.
    Yet while Dr. Bretton continued subdued, and, for him, sedate, he was still
observant. Not one of those pretty impulses and natural breaks escaped him. He
did not miss one characteristic movement, one hesitation in language, or one
lisp in utterance. At times, in speaking fast, she still lisped; but coloured
whenever such lapse occurred, and in a painstaking, conscientious manner, quite
as amusing as the slight error, repeated the word more distinctly.
    Whenever she did this, Dr. Bretton smiled. Gradually, as they conversed, the
restraint on each side slackened: might the conference have but been prolonged,
I believe it would soon have become genial: already to Paulina's lip and cheek
returned the wreathing, dimpling smile; she lisped once, and forgot to correct
herself. And Dr. John, I know not how he changed, but change he did. He did not
grow gayer - no raillery, no levity sparkled across his aspect - but his
position seemed to become one of more pleasure to himself, and he spoke his
augmented comfort in readier language, in tones more suave. Ten years ago, this
pair had always found abundance to say to each other; the intervening decade had
not narrowed the experience or impoverished the intelligence of either: besides,
there are certain natures of which the mutual influence is such, that the more
they say, the more they have to say. For these, out of association grows
adhesion, and out of adhesion, amalgamation.
    Graham, however, must go: his was a profession, whose claims are neither to
be ignored, nor deferred. He left the room; but before he could leave the house
there was a return. I am sure he came back - not for the paper, or card in his
desk, which formed his ostensible errand - but to assure himself, by one more
glance, that Paulina's aspect was really such as memory was bearing away: that
he had not been viewing her somehow by a partial, artificial light, and making a
fond mistake. No! he found the impression true - rather, indeed, he gained, than
lost, by