'Best so, Millicent,' said Eustace, and as he spoke she lifted her
eyes to his face and I saw a look of consternation pass over her
features at sight of his wasted looks; but I only saw it for a
moment, for he put an arm round her, and kissed her brow, as she hid
her face against him.
The child, not contented with my embrace, ran and pulled his coat,
crying, 'My lord, my lord, I can speak English now;' and he stooped
to kiss her, while her mother turned to me with swimming eyes of mute
inquiry, as of one who saw her long-cherished hope fulfilled only for
her sorrow. She was less altered than had been feared. That smooth
delicacy of her skin was indeed lost which had made her a
distinguished beauty; but she still had a pair of eyes that made her
far from insignificant, and there was an innocence, candour, and
pleading sweetness in her countenance that--together, perhaps, with
my pity--made even me, who had hitherto never liked her, lover her
heartily.
I heard little or nothing of what they said to one another, being
employed in keeping the child from them. She prattled freely in
English, and was pleased to show me her baby-house, a marvel of Dutch
neatness of handiwork, like that one which Madame van Hunker brought
you, my daughter Peggy, when you were a little one. The doll we had
given her had, however, the place of honour. Her sister, little
Emilia told me, was married a month ago, and she was proceeding to
make the little Dutch puppets in her baby-house enact the wedding,
one being dressed in a black gown and stiff ruff, like a Genevan
minister, when she caught a tone that made her cry out that mother
was weeping, and stump across the floor in her stout little shoes to
comfort her, before I could hinder her.
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