a matter
of course. She had always been to him the most wonderful child ever
given to comfort an old man's life, but now as he abstractedly took
a pinch of snuff from the silver box and then forgot to put it to
his nose, he seemed suddenly to get that clearness of sight, that
perspective, from which he could see her as she really was. He took
another pinch of snuff, and again forgot to put it to his nose, but
brushed imaginary dust from his coat, as was his wont, and whispered to
himself:

"Why now, why now, I had not thought she was so much a woman. Flowers
of the sea, but what eyes, what carriage, and what an air! I had not
thought--h'm--blind old bat that I am--I had not thought she was grown
such a lady. It was only yesterday, surely but yesterday, since I rocked
her to sleep. Francois de Mauprat"--he shook his head at himself--"you
are growing old. Let me see--why, yes, she was born the day I sold the
blue enamelled timepiece to his Highness the Duc de Mauban. The Duc was
but putting the watch to his ear when a message comes to say the child
there is born. 'Good,' says the Duc de Mauban, when he hears, 'give me
the honour, de Mauprat,' says he, 'for the sake of old days in
France, to offer a name to the brave innocent--for the sake of old
associations,' says de Mauban. 'You knew my wife, de Mauprat,' says he;
'you knew the Duchesse Guida-Guidabaldine. She's been gone these ten
years, alas! You were with me when we were married, de Mauprat,' says
the Duc; 'I should care to return the compliment if you will allow me to
offer a name, eh?' 'Duc,' said I, 'there is no honour I more desire for
my grandchild.' 'Then let the name of Guidabaldine be somewhere among
others she will carry, and--and I'll not forget her, de Mauprat, I'll
not forget her.'... Eh, eh, I wonder--I wonder if he has forgotten the
little Guidabaldine there? He sent her a golden cup for the christening,
but I wonder--I wonder--if he has forgotten her since? So quick of
tongue, so bright of eye, so light of foot, so sweet a face--if one
could but be always young! When her grandmother, my wife, my Julie, when
she was young--ah, she was fair, fairer than Guida, but not so tall--not
quite so tall. Ah!..."

He was slipping away into sleep when he realised that Guida was singing

"Spin, spin, belle Mergaton!
The moon wheels full, and the tide flows high,
And your wedding-gown you must put it on
Ere the night hath no moon