"Oh, you are very kind already, I am sure," said Stephen, caressing his sister, "only sometimes you get out of patience, and that frightens me."
"Make yourself easy, I intend to grow better; but you must also be very good, to please papa, who has so much sorrow."
"Oh! yes; for that I will learn my lessons better than I used to do."
"My beloved children," said M. de Manzay, encircling them both in his arms, "my dear children, this is the first moment of comfort I have had for a week past. Go, my own Caroline, assume your new functions; take possession of the keys; direct, command, re-establish the regularity which formerly reigned in the house; take the same care of your brother that he has been accustomed to; but first come to me, that I may give you my blessing, before the portrait of your mother."
After some moments devoted to these tender and afflicting emotions, Caroline left the room with Stephen. Her first care was to see if his apartment was in order: she found it completely stripped of all the articles which he was in the habit of using.
"What has become of your little table, Stephen?" she enquired.
"Oh! I dare say it is in the garden; I took it there the day before yesterday, and they have forgotten to bring it in."
"And your arm-chair?"
"I tied it to Turk's tail, for a carriage, and he broke it."
"You might have expected as much, my dear."