Paula the Waldensian - Eva Lecomte

Chapter 3
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.
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