Nay, my dear" (and by a sudden blaze which sprang up from a
fall of the unstirred coals, I saw that her eyes were full of
tears--gazing intently on some vision of what might have been), "do
you know I dream sometimes that I have a little child--always the
same--a little girl of about two years old; she never grows older,
though I have dreamt about her for many years. I don't think I
ever dream of any words or sound she makes; she is very noiseless
and still, but she comes to me when she is very sorry or very glad,
and I have wakened with the clasp of her dear little arms round my
neck. Only last night--perhaps because I had gone to sleep
thinking of this ball for Phoebe--my little darling came in my
dream, and put up her mouth to be kissed, just as I have seen real
babies do to real mothers before going to bed. But all this is
nonsense, dear! only don't be frightened by Miss Pole from being
married. I can fancy it may be a very happy state, and a little
credulity helps one on through life very smoothly--better than
always doubting and doubting and seeing difficulties and
disagreeables in everything."
If I had been inclined to be daunted from matrimony, it would not
have been Miss Pole to do it; it would have been the lot of poor
Signor Brunoni and his wife.
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