第1章
加入书架 A- A+
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  Herethestoryisbrokenoff,anditcanneverbefinished。Whatpromisedtobe

  thecrowningworkofalifeisamemorialofdeath。Afewdayslonger,anditwouldhavebeenatriumphalcolumn,crownedwithacapitaloffestalleavesandflowers:nowitisanothersortofcolumn—oneofthosesadwhitepillarswhichstandbrokeninthechurchyard。

  Butiftheworkisnotquitecomplete,littleremainstobeaddedtoit,andthatlittlehasbeendistinctlyreflectedintoourminds。WeknowthatRogerHamleywillmarryMolly,andthatiswhatwearemostconcernedabout。Indeed,therewaslittleelsetotell。Hadthewriterlived,shewouldhavesentherherobacktoAfricaforthwith;andthosescientificpartsofAfricaarealongwayfromHamley;andthereisnotmuchtochoosebetweenalongdistanceandalongtime。Howmanyhoursarethereintwenty—fourwhenyouareallaloneinadesertplace,athousandmilesfromthehappinesswhichmightbeyourstotake—ifyouweretheretotakeit?Howmany,whenfromthesourcesoftheTopinamboyourheartfliesbacktentimesaday,likeacarrier—pigeon,totheoneonlysourceoffuturegoodforyou,andtentimesadayreturnswithitsmessageundelivered?Manymorethanarecountedonthecalendar。SoRogerfound。ThedayswereweeksthatseparatedhimfromthetimewhenMollygavehimacertainlittleflower,andmonthsfromthetimewhichdivorcedhimfromCynthia,whomhehadbeguntodoubtbeforeheknewforcertainthatshewasnevermuchworthhopingfor。Andifsuchwerehisdays,whatwastheslowprocessionofactualweeksandmonthsinthoseremoteandsolitaryplaces?Theywerelikeyearsofastay—at—homelife,withlibertyandleisuretoseethatnobodywascourtingMollymeanwhile。Theeffectofthiswas,thatlongbeforethetermofhisengagementwasendedallthatCynthiahadbeentohimwasdepartedfromRoger’smind,andallthatMollywasandmightbetohimfilleditfull。

  Hereturned;butwhenhesawMollyagainherememberedthattoherthetimeofhisabsencemightnothaveseemedsolong,andwasoppressedwiththeolddreadthatshewouldthinkhimfickle。Thereforethisyounggentleman,soself—reliantandsolucidinscientificmatters,founditdifficultafteralltotellMollyhowmuchhehopedshelovedhim;andmighthaveblunderedifhehadnotthoughtofbeginningbyshowinghertheflowerthatwaspluckedfromthenosegay。Howcharminglythatscenewouldhavebeendrawn,hadMrsGaskelllivedtodepictit,wecanonlyimagine:thatitwouldhavebeencharming—especiallyinwhatMollydid,andlooked,andsaid—weknow。

  RogerandMollyaremarried;andifoneofthemishappierthantheother,itisMolly。HerhusbandhasnoneedtodrawuponthelittlefortunewhichistogotopoorOsborne’sboy,forhebecomesprofessoratsomegreyscientificinstitution,andwinshiswayintheworldhandsomely。

  Thesquireisalmostashappyinthismarriageashisson。Ifanyonesuffersforit,itisMrGibson。Buthetakesapartner,soastogetachanceofrunninguptoLondontostaywithMollyforafewdaysnowandthen,and’togetalittlerestfromMrsGibson。’OfwhatwastohappentoCynthiaafterhermarriagetheauthorwasnotheardtosaymuch,and,indeed,itdoesnotseemthatanythingneedstobeadded。Onelittleanecdote,however,wastoldofherbyMrsGaskell,whichisverycharacteristic。Oneday,whenCynthiaandherhusbandwereonavisittoHollingford,MrHendersonlearnedforthefirsttime,throughaninnocentcasualremarkofMrGibson’s,thatthefamoustraveller,RogerHamley,wasknowntothefamily。Cynthiahadneverhappenedtomentionit。Howwellthatlittleincident,too,wouldhavebeendescribed!

  ButitisuselesstospeculateuponwhatwouldhavebeendonebythedelicatestronghandwhichcancreatenomoreMollyGibsons—nomoreRogerHamleys。Wehaverepeated,inthisbriefnote,allthatisknownofherdesignsforthestory,whichwouldhavebeencompletedinanotherchapter。

  Thereisnotsomuchtoregret,then,sofarasthisnovelisconcerned;

  indeed,theregretsofthosewhoknewherarelessforthelossofthenovelistthanofthewoman—oneofthekindestandwisestofhertime。

  Butyet,forherownsakeasanovelistalone,heruntimelydeathisamatterfordeepregret。ItisclearinthisnovelofWivesandDaughters,intheexquisitelittlestorythatprecededit,CousinPhillis,andinSylvia’sLovers,thatMrsGaskellhadwithinthesefiveyearsstarteduponanewcareerwithallthefreshnessofyouth,andwithamindwhichseemedtohaveputoffitsclayandtohavebeenbornagain。Butthat’putoffitsclay’mustbetakeninaverynarrowsense。Allmindsaretincturedmoreorlesswiththe’muddyvesture’inwhichtheyarecontained;butfewmindsevershowedlessofbaseearththanMrsGaskell’s。Itwassoatalltimes;butlatelyeventheoriginalslighttinctureseemedtodisappear。Whileyoureadanyoneofthelastthreebookswehavenamed,youfeelyourselfcaughtoutofanabominablewickedworld,crawlingwithselfishnessandreekingwithbasepassions,intoonewherethereismuchweakness,manymistakes,sufferingslongandbitter,butwhereitispossibleforpeopletolivecalmandwholesomelives。and,whatismore,youfeelthatthisisatleastasrealaworldastheother。Thekindlyspiritwhichthinksnoilllooksoutofherpagesirradiate;andwhilewereadthem,webreathethepurerintelligencewhichpreferstodealwithemotionsandpassionswhichhavealivingrootinmindswithinthepaleofsalvation,andnotwiththosewhichrotwithoutit。ThisspiritismoreespeciallydeclaredinCousinPhillisandWivesandDaughters—theirauthor’slatestworks;theyseemtoshowthatforhertheendoflifewasnotdescentamongsttheclodsofthevalley,butascentintothepurerairoftheheaven—aspiringhills。

  Wearesayingnothingnowofthemerelyintellectualqualitiesdisplayedintheselaterworks。Twentyyearstocome,thatmaybethoughtthemoreimportantquestionofthetwo;inthepresenceofhergravewecannotthinkso;butitistrue,allthesame,thatasmereworksofartandobservation,theselaternovelsofMrsGaskell’sareamongthefinestofourtime。ThereisasceneinCousinPhillis—whereHolman,makinghaywithhismen,endsthedaywithapsalm—whichisnotexcelledasapictureinallmodernfiction;andthesamemaybesaidofthatchapterofthislaststoryinwhichRogersmokesapipewiththeSquireafterthequarrelwithOsborne。Thereislittleineitherofthesescenes,orinascoreofotherswhichsucceedeachotherlikegemsinacabinet,whichtheordinarynovel—makercould’seize。’Thereisno’material’forhiminhalf—a—dozenfarmingmensinginghymnsinafield,oradiscontentedoldgentlemansmokingtobaccowithhisson。Stilllesscouldheavailhimselfofthemiseriesofalittlegirlsenttobehappyinafinehousefulloffinepeople:butitisjustinsuchthingsasthesethattruegeniusappearsbrightestandmostunapproachable。

  Itisthesamewiththepersonages。inMrsGaskell’sworks。Cynthiaisoneofthemostdifficultcharacterswhichhaveeverbeenattemptedinourtime。Perfectartalwaysobscuresthedifficultiesitovercomes;anditisnottillwetrytofollowtheprocessesbywhichsuchacharacterastheTitoofRomolaiscreated,forinstance,thatwebegintounderstandwhatamarvellouspieceofworkitis。Tobesure,Cynthiawasnotsodifficult,norisitnearlysogreatacreationasthatsplendidachievementofartandthought—oftherarestart,oftheprofoundestthought。Butshealsobelongstothekindofcharacterswhichareconceivedonlyinmindslarge,clear,harmoniousandjust,andwhichcanbeportrayedfullyandwithoutflawonlybyhandsobedienttothefinestmotionsofthemind。Viewedinthislight,CynthiaisamoreimportantpieceofworkeventhanMolly,delicatelyassheisdrawn,andtrueandharmoniousasthatpictureisalso。AndwhatwehavesaidofCynthiamaybesaidwithequaltruthofOsborneHamley。Thetruedelineationofacharacterlikethatisasfineatestofartasthepaintingofafootorahand,whichalsoseemssoeasy,andinwhichperfectionismostrare。Inthiscasetheworkisperfect。MrsGaskellhaddrawnadozencharactersmorestrikingthanOsbornesinceshewroteMaryBartonbutnotonewhichshowsmoreexquisitefinish。

  Anotherthingwemaybepermittedtonotice,becauseithasagreatandgeneralsignificance。Itmaybetruethatthisisnotexactlytheplaceforcriticism,butsincewearewritingofOsborneHamley,wecannotresistpointingoutapeculiarinstanceofthesubtlerconceptionswhichunderlieallreallyconsiderableworks。HereareOsborneandRoger,twomenwho,ineveryparticularthatcanbeseizedfordescription,aretotallydifferentcreatures。Bodyandmindtheyarequiteunlike。Theyhavedifferenttastes;theytakedifferentways:theyaremenoftwosortswhich,inthesocietysense,never’know’eachother;andyet,neverdidbrotherlybloodrunmoremanifestthanintheveinsofthosetwo。Tomakethatmanifestwithoutallowingtheefforttopeepoutforasinglemoment,wouldbeatriumphofart;butitisa’touchbeyondthereachofart’tomaketheirlikenessinunlikenesssonaturalathingthatwenomorewonderaboutitthanwewonderatseeingthefruitandthebloomonthesamebramble:

  wehavealwaysseenthemtheretogetherinblackberryseason,anddonotwonderaboutitnorthinkaboutitatall。Inferiorwriters,evensomewriterswhoarehighlyaccounted,wouldhaverevelledinthe’contrast。’

  persuadedthattheyweredoingafineanatomicaldramaticthingbybringingitoutateveryopportunity。TotheauthorofWivesandDaughtersthissortofanatomywasmeredislocation。Shebeganbyhavingthepeopleofherstorybornintheusualway,andnotbuiltupliketheFrankensteinmonster;andthuswhenSquireHamleytookawife,itwasthenprovidedthathistwoboysshouldbeasnaturallyoneanddiverseasthefruitandthebloomonthebramble。’Itgoeswithoutspeaking。’ThesedifferencesarepreciselywhatmighthavebeenexpectedfromtheunionofSquireHamleywiththetown—bred,refined,delicate—mindedwomanwhomhemarried;andtheaffectionoftheyoungmen,theirkind—ness(tousethewordinitsoldandnewmeaningsatonce)isnothingbutareproductionofthoseimpalpablethreadsoflovewhichboundtheequallydiversefatherandmotherinbondsfasterthanthetiesofblood。

  Butwewillnotpermitourselvestowriteanymoreinthisvein。ItisunnecessarytodemonstratetothosewhoknowwhatisandwhatisnottrueliteraturethatMrsGaskellwasgiftedwithsomeofthechoicestfacultiesbestoweduponmankind;thatthesegrewintogreaterstrengthandripenedintogreaterbeautyinthedeclineofherdays;andthatshehasgifteduswithsomethetruest,purestworksoffictioninthelanguage。Andshewasherselfwhatherworksshowhertohavebeen—awise,goodwoman。

  —[ED。,C。M。]

  EditedbyFrederickGreenwood。

  TheEndchapter01ELIZABETHGASKELLWIVESANDDAUGHTERSPARTI(ChaptersI—X)CHAPTERITHEDAWNOFAGALADAYTobeginwiththeoldrigmaroleofchildhood。Inacountrytherewasashire,andinthatshiretherewasatown,andinthattowntherewasahouse,andinthathousetherewasaroom,andinthatroomtherewasabed,andinthatbedtherelayalittlegirl;wideawakeandlongingtogetup,butnotdaringtodosoforfearoftheunseenpowerinthenextroom—acertainBetty,whoseslumbersmustnotbedisturbeduntilsixo’clockstruck,whenshewakenedofherself’assureasclockwork’,andleftthehouseholdverylittlepeaceafterwards。ItwasaJunemorning,andearlyasitwas,theroomwasfullofsunnywarmthandlight。OnthedrawersoppositetothelittlewhitedimitybedinwhichMollyGibsonlay,wasaprimitivekindofbonnet—standonwhichwashungabonnet,carefullycoveredoverfromanychanceofdust,withalargecottonhandkerchief,ofsoheavyandserviceableatexturethatifthethingunderneathithadbeenaflimsyfabricofgauzeandlaceandflowers,itwouldhavebeenaltogether’scromfished’(againtoquotefromBetty’svocabulary)。Butthebonnetwasmadeofsolidstraw,anditsonlytrimmingwasaplainwhiteribbonputoverthecrown,andformingthestrings。Still,therewasaneatlittlequillinginside,everyplaitofwhichMollyknew,forhadshenotmadeitherselftheeveningbefore,withinfinitepains?andwastherenotalittlebluebowinthisquilling,theveryfirstbitofsuchfineryMollyhadeverhadtheprospectofwearing?Sixo’clocknow!thepleasant,briskringingofthechurchbellstoldthat;

  callingeveryonetotheirdailywork,astheyhaddoneforhundredsofyears。UpjumpedMolly,andranwithherbarelittlefeetacrosstheroom,andliftedoffthehandkerchiefandsawonceagainthebonnet;thepledgeofthegaybrightdaytocome。Thentothewindow,andaftersometuggingsheopenedthecasement,andletinthesweetmorningair。Thedewwasalreadyofftheflowersinthegardenbelow,butstillrisingfromthelonghay—grassinthemeadowsdirectlybeyond。AtonesidelaythelittletownofHollingford,intoastreetofwhichMr。Gibson’sfrontdooropened;

  anddelicatecolumns,andlittlepuffsofsmokewerealreadybeginningtorisefrommanyacottagechimneywheresomehousewifewasalreadyup,andpreparingbreakfastforthebread—winnerofthefamily。MollyGibsonsawallthis,butallshethoughtaboutitwas,’Oh!itwillbeafineday!Iwasafraiditnever,neverwouldcome;orthat,ifitevercame,itwouldbearainyday!’Five—and—fortyyearsago,children’spleasuresinacountrytownwereverysimple,andMollyhadlivedfortwelvelongyearswithouttheoccurrenceofanyeventsogreatasthatwhichwasnowimpending。Poorchild!itistruethatshehadlosthermother,whichwasajartothewholetenourofherlife;butthatwashardlyaneventinthesensereferredto;andbesides,shehadbeentooyoungtobeconsciousofitatthetime。Thepleasureshewaslookingforwardtoto—daywasherfirstshareinakindofannualfestivalinHollingford。Thelittlestragglingtownfadedawayintocountryononesideclosetotheentrance—lodgeofagreatpark,wherelivedmyLordandLadyCumnor’theearl’and’thecountess’,astheywerealwayscalledbytheinhabitantsofthetown;whereaveryprettyamountoffeudalfeelingstilllingered,andshoweditselfinanumberofsimpleways,drollenoughtolookbackupon,butseriousmattersofimportanceatthetime。ItwasbeforethepassingoftheReformBill,butagooddealofliberaltalktookplaceoccasionallybetweentwoorthreeofthemoreenlightenedfreeholderslivinginHollingford;andtherewasagreatToryfamilyinthecountywho,fromtimetotime,cameforwardandcontestedtheelectionwiththerivalWhigfamilyofCumnor。Onewouldhavethoughtthattheabove—mentionedliberal—talkinginhabitantswouldhave,atleast,admittedthepossibilityoftheirvotingfortheHely—Harrison,andthustryingtovindicatetheirindependenceButnosuchthing。’Theearl’waslordofthemanor,andownerofmuchofthelandonwhichHollingfordwasbuilt;heandhishouseholdwerefed,anddoctored,and,toacertainmeasure,clothedbythegoodpeopleofthetown;theirfathers’grandfathershadalwaysvotedfortheeldestsonofCumnorTowers,andfollowingintheancestraltrackeveryman—jackintheplacegavehisvotetotheliegelord,totallyirrespectiveofsuchchimerasaspoliticalopinion。Thiswasnounusualinstanceoftheinfluenceofthegreatlandownersoverhumblerneighboursinthosedaysbeforerailways,anditwaswellforaplacewherethepowerfulfamily,whothusovershadowedit,wereofsorespectableacharacterastheCumnors。Theyexpectedtobesubmittedto,andobeyed;

  thesimpleworshipofthetownspeoplewasacceptedbytheearlandcountessasaright;andtheywouldhavestoodstillinamazement,andwithahorridmemoryoftheFrenchsansculotteswhowerethebugbearsoftheiryouth,hadanyinhabitantofHollingfordventuredtosethiswilloropinionsinoppositiontothoseoftheearl。But,yieldedallthatobeisance,theydidagooddealforthetown,andweregenerallycondescending,andoftenthoughtfulandkindintheirtreatmentoftheirvassals。LordCumnorwasaforbearinglandlord;puttinghisstewardalittleononesidesometimes,andtakingthereinsintohisownhandsnowandthen,muchtotheannoyanceoftheagent,whowas,infact,toorichandindependenttocaregreatlyforpreservingapostwherehisdecisionsmightanydaybeoverturnedbymylord’stakingafancytogo’pottering’(astheagentirreverentlyexpresseditinthesanctuaryofhisownhome),which,beinginterpreted,meantthatoccasionallytheearlaskedhisownquestionsofhisowntenants,andusedhisowneyesandearsinthemanagementofthesmallerdetailsofhisproperty。

  Buthistenantslikedmylordallthebetterforthishabitofhis。LordCumnorhadcertainlyalittletimeforgossip,whichhecontrivedtocombinewiththefailingofpersonalinterventionbetweentheoldland—stewardandthetenantry。But,then,thecountessmadeupbyherunapproachabledignityforthisweaknessoftheearl’s。Onceayearshewascondescending。

  Sheandtheladies,herdaughters,hadsetupaschool;

  notaschoolafterthemannerofschoolsnow—a—days,wherefarbetterintellectualteachingisgiventotheboysandgirlsoflabourersandworkpeoplethanoftenfallstothelotoftheirbettersinworldlyestate;butaschoolofthekindweshouldcall’industrial’,wheregirlsaretaughttosewbeautifully,tobecapitalhousemaids,andprettyfaircooks,and,aboveall,todressneatlyinakindofcharityuniformdevisedbytheladiesofCumnorTowers;—whitecaps,whitetippets,checkaprons,bluegowns,andreadycurtseys,and’please,ma’ams’,beingderigueur。Now,asthecountesswasabsentfromtheTowersforaconsiderablepartoftheyear,shewasgladtoenlistthesympathyoftheHollingfordladiesinthisschool,withaviewtoobtainingtheiraidasvisitorsduringthemanymonthsthatsheandherdaughterswereaway。Andthevariousunoccupiedgentlewomenofthetownrespondedtothecalloftheirliegelady,andgavehertheirserviceasrequired;andalongwithit,agreatdealofwhisperedandfussyadmiration。’Howgoodofthecountess!

  Solikethedearcountess—alwaysthinkingofothers!’andsoon;whileitwasalwayssupposedthatnostrangershadseenHollingfordproperly,unlesstheyhadbeentakentothecountess’sschool,andbeendulyimpressedbytheneatlittlepupils,andthestillneaterneedleworktheretobeinspected。Inreturn,therewasadayofhonoursetaparteverysummer,whenwithmuchgraciousandstatelyhospitality,LadyCumnorandherdaughtersreceivedalltheschoolvisitorsattheTowers,thegreatfamilymansionstandinginaristocraticseclusioninthecentreofthelargepark,ofwhichoneofthelodgeswasclosetothelittletown。Theorderofthisannualfestivitywasthis。Aboutteno’clockoneoftheTowers’carriagesrolledthroughthelodge,anddrovetodifferenthouses,whereindweltawomantobehonoured;pickingthemupbyonesortwos,tilltheloadedcarriagedrovebackagainthroughthereadyportals,bowledalongthesmoothtree—shadedroad,anddepositeditscoveyofsmartly—dressedladiesonthegreatflightofstepsleadingtotheponderousdoorsofCumnorTowers。

  Backagaintothetown;anotherpickingupofwomankindintheirbestclothes,andanotherreturn,andsoontillthewholepartywereassembledeitherinthehouseorinthereallybeautifulgardens。Aftertheproperamountofexhibitionontheonepart,andadmirationontheother,hadbeendone,therewasacollationforthevisitors,andsomemoredisplayandadmirationofthetreasuresinsidethehouse。Towardsfouro’clock,coffeewasbroughtround;andthiswasasignaloftheapproachingcarriagethatwastotakethembacktotheirownhomes;whithertheyreturnedwiththehappyconsciousnessofawell—spentday,butwithsomefatigueatthelong—continuedexertionofbehavingtheirbest,andtalkingonstiltsforsomanyhours。NorwereLadyCumnorandherdaughtersfreefromsomethingofthesameself—approbation,andsomething,too,ofthesamefatigue;thefatiguethatalwaysfollowsonconsciouseffortstobehaveaswillbestpleasethesocietyyouarein。Forthefirsttimeinherlife,MollyGibsonwastobeincludedamongtheguestsattheTowers。Shewasmuchtooyoungtobeavisitorattheschool,soitwasnotonthataccountthatshewastogo;butithadsohappenedthatonedaywhenLordCumnorwasona’pottering’expedition,hehadmetMr。Gibson,thedoctoroftheneighbourhood,comingoutofthefarm—housemylordwasentering;andhavingsomesmallquestiontoaskthesurgeon(LordCumnorseldompassedanyoneofhisacquaintancewithoutaskingaquestionofsomesort—notalwaysattendingtotheanswer;itwashismodeofconversation),heaccompaniedMr。Gibsontotheout—building,toaringinthewallofwhichthesurgeon’shorsewasfastened。Mollywastheretoo,sittingsquareandquietonherroughlittlepony,waitingforherfather。Hergraveeyesopenedlargeandwideatthecloseneighbourhoodandevidentadvanceof’theearl’;fortoherlittleimaginationthegrey—haired,red—faced,somewhatclumsyman,wasacrossbetweenanarchangelandaking。’Yourdaughter,eh,Gibson?—nicelittlegirl,howold?Ponywantsgroomingthough,’pattingitashetalked。’What’syourname,mydear?He’ssadlybehindhandwithhisrent,asIwassaying,butifhe’sreallyill,ImustseeafterSheepshanks,whoisahardishmanofbusiness。What’shiscomplaint?

  You’llcometoourschool—scrimmageonThursday,littlegirl—what’s—your—name?

  Mindyousendher,orbringher,Gibson;andjustgiveawordtoyourgroom,forI’msurethatponywasn’tsingedlastyear,now,washe?Don’tforgetThursday,littlegirl—what’syourname?—it’sapromisebetweenus,isitnot?’Andofftheearltrotted,attractedbythesightofthefarmer’seldestsonontheothersideoftheyard。Mr。Gibsonmounted,andheandMollyrodeoff。Theydidnotspeakforsometime。Thenshesaid,’MayIgo,papa?’inratherananxiouslittletoneofvoice。’Where,mydear?’saidhe,wakeningupoutofhisownprofessionalthoughts。’TotheTowers—onThursday,youknow。Thatgentleman’(shewasshyofcallinghimbyhistitle)’askedme。’’Wouldyoulikeit,mydear?Ithasalwaysseemedtomeratheratiresomepieceofgaiety—ratheratiringday,Imean—beginningsoearly—andtheheat,andallthat。’’Oh,papa!’saidMollyreproachfully。’You’dliketogothen,wouldyou?’’YesifImay!—Heaskedme,youknow。Don’tyouthinkImay?—heaskedmetwiceover。’’Well!we’llsee—yes!Ithinkwecanmanageit,ifyouwishitsomuch,Molly。’Thentheyweresilentagain。By—and—by,Mollysaid:’Please,papa—Idowishtogo—butIdon’tcareaboutit。’’That’sratherapuzzlingspeech。ButIsupposeyoumeanyoudon’tcaretogo,ifitwillbeanytroubletogetyouthere。Icaneasilymanageit,however,soyoumayconsideritsettled。You’llwantawhitefrock,remember;you’dbettertellBettyyou’regoing,andshe’llseeaftermakingyoutidy。’Now,thereweretwoorthreethingstobedonebyMr。Gibson,beforehecouldfeelquitecomfortableaboutMolly’sgoingtothefestivalattheTowers,andeachoftheminvolvedalittletroubleonhispart。Buthewasverywillingtogratifyhislittlegirl;sothenextdayherodeovertotheTowers,ostensiblytovisitsomesickhousemaid,but,inreality,tothrowhimselfinmylady’sway,andgethertoratifyLordCumnor’sinvitationtoMolly。Hechosehistime,withalittlenaturaldiplomacy;

  which,indeed,hehadoftentoexerciseinhisintercoursewiththegreatfamily。Herodeintothestable—yardabouttwelveo’clock,alittlebeforeluncheon—time,andyetaftertheworryofopeningthepost—baganddiscussingitscontentswasover。Afterhehadputuphishorse,hewentinbytheback—waytothehouse;the’House’onthisside,the’Towers’atthefront。

  Hesawhispatient,gavehisdirectionstothehousekeeper,andthenwentout,withararewild—flowerinhishand,tofindoneoftheladiesTranmereinthegarden,where,accordingtohishopeandcalculation,hecameuponLadyCumnortoo—nowtalkingtoherdaughteraboutthecontentsofanopenletterwhichsheheldinherhand,nowdirectingagardeneraboutcertainbedding—outplants。’IwascallingtoseeNanny,andItooktheopportunityofbringingLadyAgnestheplantIwastellingheraboutasgrowingonCumnorMoss。’’Thankyousomuch,Mr。Gibson。Mamma,look!thisistheDroserarotundifoliaIhavebeenwantingsolong。’’Ah!yes;veryprettyIdaresay,onlyIamnobotanist。Nannyisbetter,Ihope?Wecan’thaveanyonelaidupnextweek,forthehousewillbequitefullofpeople—andherearetheDanbyswaitingtoofferthemselvesaswell。Onecomesdownforafortnightofquiet,atWhitsuntide,andleaveshalfone’sestablishmentintown,andassoonaspeopleknowofourbeinghere,wegetletterswithoutend,longingforabreathofcountryair,orsayinghowlovelytheTowersmustlookinspring;andImustown,LordCumnorisagreatdealtoblameforitall,forassoonaseverwearedownhere,heridesabouttoalltheneighbours,andinvitesthemtocomeoverandspendafewdays。’’WeshallgobacktotownonFridaythe18th,’saidLadyAgnes,inaconsolatorytone。’Ah,yes!assoonaswehavegotovertheschoolvisitors’affair。Butitisaweektothathappyday。’’Bytheway!’saidMr。Gibson,availinghimselfofthegoodopeningthuspresented,’ImetmylordattheCross—treesFarmyesterday,andhewaskindenoughtoaskmylittledaughter,whowaswithme,tobeoneofthepartyhereonThursday;itwouldgivethelassiegreatpleasure,Ibelieve。’

  HepausedforLadyCumnortospeak。’Oh,well!ifmylordaskedher,Isupposeshemustcome,butIwishhewasnotsoamazinglyhospitable!Notbutwhatthelittlegirlwillbequitewelcome;only,yousee,hemetayoungerMissBrowningtheotherday,ofwhoseexistenceIhadneverheard。’’Shevisitsattheschool,mamma,’saidLadyAgnes。’Well,perhapsshedoes;Ineversaidshedidnot。IknewtherewasonevisitorofthenameofBrowning;Ineverknewthereweretwo,but,ofcourse,assoonasLordCumnorheardtherewasanother,hemustneedsaskher;

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