andheknewthat’somemustwatch，whilesomemustsleep；sorunstheworldaway。’TheillnesswhichheapprehendedcameuponMolly；notviolentlyoracutely，sothattherewasanyimmediatedangertobedreaded；butmakingalongpulluponherstrength，whichseemedtolessendaybyday，untilatlastherfatherfearedthatshemightbecomeapermanentinvalid。TherewasnothingverydecidedoralarmingtotellCynthia，andMrsGibsonkeptthedarksidefromherinherletters。’Mollywasfeelingthespringweather；’
or’MollyhadbeenagooddealoverdonewithherstayattheHall，andwasresting；’suchlittlesentencestoldnothingofMolly’srealstate。
Butthen，asMrsGibsonsaidtoherself，itwouldbeapitytodisturbCynthia’spleasurebytellinghermuchaboutMolly；indeedtherewasnotmuchtotell，onedaywassolikeanother。ButitsohappenedthatLadyHarriet，—whocamewhenevershecouldtositawhilewithMolly，atfirstagainstMrsGibson’swill，andafterwardswithherfullconsent，forreasonsofherown—LadyHarrietwrotealettertoCynthia，towhichshewasurgedbyMrsGibson。Itfelloutinthismanner：—Oneday，whenLadyHarrietwassittinginthedrawing—roomforafewminutesaftershehadbeenwithMolly，shesaid，—’Really，Clare，IspendsomuchtimeinyourhousethatIamgoingtoestablishawork—baskethere。Maryhasinfectedmewithhernotability，andIamgoingtoworkmammaafootstool。Itistobeasurprise；andsoifIdoithereshewillknownothingaboutit。OnlyIcannotmatchthegoldbeadsIwantforthepansiesinthisdearlittletown；andHollingford，whocouldsendmedownstarsandplanetsifIaskedhim，Imakenodoubt，couldnomorematchbeadsthan——’’MydearLadyHarriet！youforgetCynthia！Thinkwhatapleasureitwouldbetohertodoanythingforyou。’’Wouldit？Thensheshallhaveplentyofit；but，mind，itisyouwhohaveansweredforher。Sheshallgetmesomewooltoo；howgoodIamtoconfersomuchpleasureonafellow—creature。Butseriously，doyouthinkImightwriteandgiveherafewcommissions？NeitherAgnesnorMaryareintown——’’Iamsureshewouldbedelighted，’saidMrsGibson，whoalsotookintoconsiderationthereflectionofaristocratichonourthatwouldfalluponCynthiaifshehadaletterfromaLadyHarrietwhileatMrKirkpatrick’s。
Soshegavetheaddress，andLadyHarrietwrote。Allthefirstpartoftheletterwastakenupwithapologyandcommissions；butthen，neverdoubtingbutthatCynthiawasawareofMolly’sstate，shewentontosay，—’IsawMollythismorning。TwiceIhavebeenforbiddenadmittance，asshewastooilltoseeanyoneoutofherownfamily。Iwishwecouldbegintoperceiveachangeforthebetter；butshelooksmorefadingeverytime，andIfearMrGibsonconsidersitaveryanxiouscase。’Thedaybutoneafterthisletterwasdespatched，Cynthiawalkedintothedrawing—roomathomewithasmuchapparentcomposureasifshehadleftitnotanhourbefore。MrsGibsonwasdozing，butbelievingherselftobereading；shehadbeenwithMollythegreaterpartofthemorning，andnowafterherlunch，andtheinvalid’spretenceofearlydinner，sheconsideredherselfentitledtosomerepose。ShestartedupasCynthiacamein。’Cynthia！Dearchild，wherehaveyoucomefrom？Whyintheworldhaveyoucome？Mypoornerves！Myheartisquitefluttering；but，tobesure，it’snowonderwithallthisanxietyIhavetoundergo。Whyhaveyoucomeback？’’Becauseoftheanxietyyouspeakof，mamma。Ineverknew，—younevertoldmehowillMollywas。’’Nonsense。Ibegyourpardon，mydear，butit’sreallynonsense。Molly’sillnessisonlynervous，MrGibsonsays。Anervousfever；butyoumustremembernervesaremerefancy，andshe’sgettingbetter。Suchapityforyoutohaveleftyouruncle’s。WhotoldyouaboutMolly？’’LadyHarriet。Shewroteaboutsomewool——’’Iknow，—Iknow。Butyoumighthaveknownshealwaysexaggeratesthings，NotbutwhatIhavebeenalmostwornoutwithnursing。Perhapsafterallitisaverygoodthingyouhavecome，mydear；andnowyoushallcomedownintothedining—roomandhavesomelunch，andtellmealltheHydeParkStreetnews—intomyroom，—don’tgointoyoursyet—Mollyissosensitivetonoise！’WhileCynthiaateherlunch，MrsGibsonwentonquestioning。’Andyouraunt，howishercold？AndHelen，quitestrongagain？Margarettaasprettyasever？TheboysareatHarrow，Isuppose？Andmyoldfavourite，MrHenderson？’
Shecouldnotmanagetoslipinthislastinquirynaturally；inspiteofherselftherewasachangeoftone，anaccentofeagerness。Cynthiadidnotreplyontheinstant；shepouredherselfoutsomewaterwithgreatdeliberation，andthensaid，—’Myauntisquitewell；Helenisasstrongassheeveris，andMargarettaverypretty。TheboysareatHarrow，andIconcludethatMrHendersonisenjoyinghisusualhealth，forhewastodineatmyuncle’sto—day。’’Takecare，Cynthia。Lookhowyouarecuttingthatgooseberrytart，’saidMrsGibson，withsharpannoyance；notprovokedbyCynthia’spresentaction，althoughitgaveexcuseforalittleventoftemper。’Ican’tthinkhowyoucouldcomeoffinthissuddenkindofway；Iamsureitmusthaveannoyedyouruncleandaunt。Idaresaythey’llneveraskyouagain。’’Onthecontrary，IamtogobackthereassoonaseverIcanbeeasytoleaveMolly。’’\"EasytoleaveMolly。\"Nowthatreallyisnonsense，andratheruncomplimentarytome，Imustsay：nursingherasIhavebeendoing，daily，andalmostnightly；forIhavebeenwakenedtimesoutofnumberbyMrGibsongettingup，andgoingtoseeifshehadhadhermedicineproperly。’’Iamafraidshehasbeenveryill？’askedCynthia。’Yes，shehas，inoneway；butnotinanother。ItwaswhatIcallmoreatedious，thananinterestingillness。Therewasnoimmediatedanger，butshelaymuchinthesamestatefromdaytoday。’’IwishIhadknown！’sighedCynthia。’DoyouthinkImightgoandseehernow？’’I’llgoandprepareher。You’llfindheragooddealbetterthanshehasbeen。Ah！here’sMrGibson！’Hecameintothedining—room，hearingvoices。