Page:Villette.djvu/231

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224
VILLETTE.

still, but with a changed eye; he had penetrated my thought and read my wish to shun him. The mocking but not ill-humored gaze was turned to a swarthy frown; and when I bowed with a view to conciliation, I got only the stiffest and sternest of nods in return.

"Whom have you made angry, Lucy?" whispered Dr. Bretton, smiling. "Who is that savage-looking friend of yours?"

"One of the professors at Madame Beck's; a very cross little man".

"He looks mighty cross just now; what have you done to him? What is it all about? Ah, Lucy, Lucy! tell me the meaning of this".

"No mystery, I assure you. M. Emanuel is very exigent, and because I looked at your coat sleeve, instead of curtsying and dipping to him, he thinks I have failed in respect".

"The little——" began Dr. John, I know not what more he would have added, for at that moment I was nearly thrown down amongst the feet of the crowd. M. Paul had rudely pushed past, and was elbowing his way with such utter disregard to the convenience and security of all around him, that a very uncomfortable pressure was the consequence.

"I think he is what he himself would call 'méchant'", said Dr. Bretton. I thought so, too.

Slowly and with difficulty we made our way along the passage, and at last regained our seats. The drawing of the lottery lasted nearly an hour; it was an animating and amusing scene; and as we each held tickets, we shared in the alternations of hope and fear raised by each turn of the wheel. Two little girls, of five and six years old, drew the numbers, and the prizes were duly proclaimed from the platform. These prizes were numerous, though of small value. It so fell out, that Dr. John and I each gained one: mine was a cigar-case, his a lady's head-dress—a most airy sort of blue and silver turban, with a streamer of plumage on one side, like a light snowy cloud. He was excessively anxious to make an exchange; but I could not be brought to hear reason, and to this day I keep my cigar-case; it serves, when I look at it, to remind me of old times, and one happy evening.

Dr. John, for his part, held his turban at arm's length between his finger and thumb, and looked at it with a mixture