human
Such a lot of big-wigs are coming to-morrow, she said,
gpt
Of course I will, Sibyl. The fact is I have come on purpose to see you. I should not have come to the bazaar but for you. Lord Grayleigh wrote to me and said you were not well, and he thought you loved me, little Sib, and that it would cheer you up to see me.
human
Oh, you are sweet, answered the child,
gpt
Well, I am interested in the bazaar,
human
It is so inciting all about it, continued the little girl,
gpt
You must not talk too much and tire yourself, she said;
human
Stories?
gpt
Yes, I will tell you stories.
human
Thank you; I do love 'em. Did you ever tell them to Mr. Rochester?
gpt
I have not seen him lately.
human
You'll be married to him soon, I know you will.
gpt
We need not talk about that now, need we? I want to do something to amuse you.
human
It's odd how weak my voice has grown, said Sibyl, with a laugh.
gpt
Mother says I am getting better, and perhaps I am, only somehow I do feel weak. Do you know, mother wanted me to dress dolls for her, but I couldn't. Nursie did 'em. There's one big beautiful doll with wings; Nurse made the wings, but she can't put them on right; will you put them on proper, Lady Helen?
human
I should like to, replied Lady Helen;
gpt
I have a natural aptitude for dressing dolls.
human
The big doll with the wings is in that box over there. Take it out and sit down by the sofa so that I can see you, and put the wings on properly. There's plenty of white gauze and wire. I want you to make the doll as like an angel as you can.
gpt
It rests me to have you in the room, said the child,
human
What is that, Sibyl?
gpt
She calls it the Chamber of Peace--isn't it sweet of her?
human
The name is a beautiful one, and so is the room,
gpt
I do wish Mr. Rochester was here,
human
He will come to the bazaar, dear.
gpt
And then, perhaps, I'll see him. I want to see him soon, I have something I'd like to say.
human
What, darling?
gpt
Something to you and to him. I want you both to be happy. I'm tremendous anxious that you should both be happy, and I think--I wouldn't like to say it to mother, for perhaps it will hurt her, but I do fancy that, perhaps, I'm going to have wings, too, not like dolly's, but real ones, and if I have them I might----
human
What, darling?
gpt
Fly away to my beautiful Lord Jesus. You don't know how I want to be close to Him. I used to think that if I got into father's heart I should be quite satisfied, but even that, even that is not like being in the heart of Jesus. If my wings come I must go, Lady Helen. It will be lovely to fly up, won't it, for perhaps some day I might get tired of lying always flat on my back. Mother doesn't know, darling mother doesn't guess, and I wouldn't tell her for all the wide world, for she thinks I'm going to get quite well again, but one night, when she thought I was asleep, I heard Nursie say to Miss Winstead, 'Poor lamb, she'll soon want to run about again, but she never can, never.' I shouldn't like to be always lying down flat, should you, Lady Helen?
human
No, darling, I don't think I should.
gpt
Well, there it is, you see, you wouldn't like it either. Of course I want to see father again, but whatever happens he'll understand. Only if my wings come I must fly off, and I want everyone to be happy before I go.