Often Mdlle. Lagrange's "Kitty Bell the Orphan" is mysterious in its allusions. As when Catherine Bell says she does not like a French lady teacher. The seed-cake incident of Chapter VIII. of Jane Eyre, which is given at length in "Lagrange's Manuscript," is herewith worked in again:—
"I don't like Madame Dubois...."
"Why so? she is a very good sort of a woman."
"That may be, but she takes snuff...."
"What is that to you or me, Catherine Bell? Surely it is no business of ours?"
"Sometimes it is, though.... I gave her a slice of my seed-cake yesterday, and she returned me half of it."
"That showed a good disposition in poor Madame Dubois; did it not?"
"Yes; but when I was going to eat it myself I was seized with a fit of sneezing, which I shall not forget in a hurry, I promise you!"
"You took snuff then, Catherine Bell, for the first time in your life?"