PAULA ARRIVES

For nearly a week I couldn't think of another thing but the coming of
Paula.

My father had gone to Paris. He would be there some days to arrange certain
important matters of business in connection with his factory, and also to
wait for the little orphan to be placed in his care by a lady who was
journeying from Villar to Paris. In school I talked of nothing else. In
fact, I talked about her all day and every day. I learned nothing, nor
could I seem to do anything around the house.

One night, while dreaming, I jumped from the bed, crying, "Paula! Paula!"
This awakened Teresa, and she made me take some nasty medicine thinking I
had fever. I made promises of reform. I wanted to be good, studious and
patient, in order to be an example to Paula who would see my good qualities
and would thus endeavor to imitate me. Nevertheless I became absolutely
insufferable! My older sisters without being quite so enthusiastic as I
was, nevertheless spoke often of Paula. Catalina began to worry that Paula
might suffer in our house, but she soon consoled herself by remembering
that my father had promised to put her out to board, if it turned out that
she could not get along amicably with us. As to Louis, he soon showed us
that he was not at all interested in the arrival of his young cousin. If it
had been a boy, it would have been different--but a girl!

Teresa spoke very little as to Paula, but I am persuaded that long before
the arrival of our little orphan cousin, she had been given a large place
in our old servant's heart. She found a little white bed up in the attic
which was placed in my room beside my own cot.