Now，isitnotaqueerquipofNature，’continuedthesquire，turninghishonestfacetowardsMolly，asifhewasgoingtoimpartanewideatoher，’thatI，aHamleyofHamley，straightindescentfromnobodyknowswhen—theHeptarchy，theysay—What’sthedateoftheHeptarchy？’’Idon’tknow，’saidMolly，startledatbeingthusappealedto。’Well！itwassometimebeforeKingAlfred，becausehewastheKingofallEngland，youknow；but，asIwassaying，hereamI，ofasgoodandasoldadescentasanymaninEngland，andIdoubtifastrangertolookatme，wouldtakemeforagentleman，withmyredface，greathandsandfeet，andthickfigure，fourteenstone，andneverlessthantwelveevenwhenIwasayoungman；’andthere’sOsborne，whotakesafterhismother，whocouldnottellhergreat—grandfatherfromAdam，blessher；andOsbornehasagirl’sdelicateface，andaslightmake，andhandsandfeetassmallasalady’s。Hetakesaftermadam’sside，who，asIsaid，can’ttellwhowastheirgrandfather。Now，Rogerislikeme，aHamleyofHamley，andnoonewhoseeshiminthestreetwilleverthinkthatred—brown，big—boned，clumsychapisofgentleblood。YetallthoseCumnorpeople，youmakesuchadoofinHollingford，aremeremuckofyesterday。IwastalkingtomadamtheotherdayaboutOsborne’smarryingadaughterofLordHollingford’s—that’stosay，ifhehadadaughter—he’sonlygotboys，asithappens；
butI’mnotsureifIshouldconsenttoit。Ireallyamnotsure；foryouseeOsbornewillhavehadafirst—rateeducation，andhisfamilydatesfromtheHeptarchy，whileIshouldbegladtoknowwheretheCumnorfolkwereinthetimeofQueenAnne？’Hewalkedon，ponderingthequestionofwhetherhecouldhavegivenhisconsenttothisimpossiblemarriage；andaftersometime，andwhenMollyhadquiteforgottenthesubjecttowhichhealluded，hebrokeoutwith—’No！IamsureIshouldhavelookedhigher。
So，perhaps，it’saswellmyLordHollingfordhasonlyboys。’Afterawhile，hethankedMollyforhercompanionship，withold—fashionedcourtesy；andtoldherthathethought，bythistime，madamwouldbeupanddressed，andgladtohaveheryoungvisitorwithher。Hepointedoutthedeeppurplehouse，withitsstonefacings，asitwasseenatsomedistancebetweenthetrees，andwatchedherprotectinglyonherwayalongthefield—paths。’That’sanicegirlofGibson’s，’quothhetohimself。’Butwhatatightholdthewenchgotofthenotionofhismarryingagain！Onehadneedbeonone’sguardastowhatonesaysbeforeher。Tothinkofherneverhavingthoughtofthechanceofastep—mother。Tobesure，astep—mothertoagirlisadifferentthingtoasecondwifetoaman！’
chapter07CHAPTERVIIFORESHADOWSOFLOVEPERILSIfSquireHamleyhadbeenunabletotellMollywhohadeverbeenthoughtofasherfather’ssecondwife，fatewasallthistimepreparingananswerofaprettypositivekindtoherwonderingcuriosity。Butfateisacunninghussy，andbuildsupherplansasimperceptiblyasabirdbuildshernest；
andwithmuchthesamekindofunconsideredtrifles。’Thefirst’trifle’