But it did happen, and in this manner.
One fine summer’s day Mrs. Sharpshins took Ellen for a walk in St. James’ Park, and after a little time we came to the piece of water, and saw several pretty children feeding the swans that live in that water. The children had some bread and small buns, which they broke in little pieces and threw into the water, where they floated till the swans swam up to the bread and bent their long white necks down to eat. Ellen begged her aunt to let her stay and look at the swans. ‘Look, Maria!’ said she to me, ‘what beautiful, bright, black eyes they have, and what lovely, snow-white necks, and how gracefully the breast of the swan moves upon the water, while the necks are in the shape of a beautiful arch!’
And These I Always Had On When We Went Out.
While they were looking at the swans, a very tall footman, in a green and gold livery, with a long, golden-headed cane and powdered hair came up to Mrs. Sharpshins from a carriage that was waiting near at hand, in which sat a grown-up lady with a little lady by her side. Both of them had also been observing the swans; but in doing so the little lady had at the same time fixed her eyes on me.
‘The Countess of Flowerdale wishes to speak with you,’ said the footman to Mrs. Sharpshins. Now the countess was a great lady, who sometimes employed Aunt Sharpshins to make her dresses for the country and to walk in the garden. We went with the footman, and I could see that Mrs. Sharpshins was in a great agitation.
‘Mrs. Sharpshins,’ said the countess, smiling, and with a gentle voice, ‘this young lady has been looking at your little girl’s doll more than at the swans, and she has taken a great fancy to the doll. The little girl is your niece, I believe. Will she part with her doll? I shall be glad to purchase it or send her another.’
‘Oh, anything your ladyship wishes, of course,’ said Mrs. Sharpshins, with a very low curtsey.
‘Would you like to part with your doll, my dear?’ said the lady to Ellen.
I felt Ellen give me such a close hug as much as to say, ‘Oh, no, no!’ But her aunt stooped down and looked in her face under her bonnet with such a look! The great lady did not see it, but I saw it.