n
the story have been identified, more or less completely, with
people whom the writer knew. Paul Emanuel resembles M. Heger
in many ways, and Madame Beck is a severe portrait of Madame
Heger. Dr. John Graham Bretton is a reflection of George
Smith, Charlotte Bronte's friendly publisher; and Mrs. Bretton
is Mr. Smith's mother. Lucy Snowe is Jane Eyre, otherwise
Charlotte Bronte, placed amidst different surroundings; and
Ginevra Fanshawe was sketched from one of the pupils in
Heger's school. The materials used in "Villette" were taken,
in part, from an earlier work, "The Professor," which suffered
rejection nine times at the hands of publishers. Though there
was similarity of scene, and in some degree of subject, the
two books are in no way identical. "Villette" was published on
January 24, 1853, and achieved an immediate success. It was
felt to have more movement and force than "Shirley," and less
of the crudeness that accompanied the strength of "Jane Eyre."

_I.--Little Miss Caprice_

My godmother lived in a handsome house in the ancient town of Bretton--
the widow of Bretton--and there I, Lucy Snowe, visited her about twice a
year, and liked the visit well, for time flowed smoothly for me at her
side, like the gliding of a full river through a verdant plain.

During one of my visits I was told that the little daughter of a distant
relation of my godmother was coming to be my companion, and well do I
remember the rainy night when, outside the opened door, we saw the
servant Waren with a shawled bundle in his arms and a nurse-girl by his
side.

"Put me down, please," said a small voice. "Take off the shawl; give it
to Harriet, and she can put it away."

The child who gave these orders was a tiny, neat little figure, delicate
as wax, and like a mere doll, though she was six years of age.

Mrs. Bretton drew the little stranger to her when they had entered the
drawing-room, kissed her, and asked: "What is my little one's name?"

"Polly, papa calls her," was the reply.

"And will Polly be content to live with me?"

"Not always; but till papa comes home." Her eyes filled with tears, and,
drawing away from Mrs. Bretton, she added: "I can sit on a stool."

Her emotion at finding herself among strangers was, however, only
expressed by the tiniest occasional sniff, and presently the managing
little body remarked:

"Harriet, I mus