sothecarriagewillhavetogobackwardsandforwardsfourtimesnowtofetchthemall。Soyourdaughtercancomequiteeasily，Mr。Gibson，andIshallbeverygladtoseeherforyoursake。ShecansitbodkinwiththeBrownings，Isuppose？You’llarrangeitallwiththem；andmindyougetNannywelluptoherworknextweek。’JustasMr。Gibsonwasgoingaway，LadyCumnorcalledafterhim，’Oh！by—the—bye，Clareishere；yourememberClare，don’tyou？Shewasapatientofyours，longago。’’Clare！’herepeated，inabewilderedtone。’Don’tyourecollecther？MissClare，ouroldgoverness，’saidLadyAgnes。
’Abouttwelveorfourteenyearsago，beforeLadyCuxhavenwasmarried。’’Oh，yes！’saidhe。’MissClare，whohadthescarletfeverhere；averyprettydelicategirl。ButIthoughtshewasmarried！’’Yes！’saidLadyCumnor。’Shewasasillylittlething，anddidnotknowwhenshewaswelloff；wewereallveryfondofher，I’msure。Shewentandmarriedapoorcurate，andbecameastupidMrs。Kirkpatrick；butwealwayskeptoncallingher’Clare。’Andnowhe’sdead，andleftherawidow，andsheisstayinghere；andwearerackingourbrainstofindoutsomewayofhelpinghertoalivelihoodwithoutpartingherfromherchild。
She’ssomewhereaboutthegrounds，ifyouliketorenewyouracquaintancewithher。’’Thankyou，mylady。I’mafraidIcannotstopto—day。Ihavealongroundtogo；I’vestayedheretoolongasitis，I’mafraid。’Longashisridehadbeenthatday，hecalledontheMissBrowningsintheevening，toarrangeaboutMolly’saccompanyingthemtotheTowers。
Theyweretallhandsomewomen，pasttheirfirstyouth，andinclinedtobeextremelycomplaisanttothewidoweddoctor。’Ehdear！Mr。Gibson，butweshallhedelightedtohaveherwithus。Youshouldneverhavethoughtofaskingussuchathing，’saidMissBrowningtheelder。’I’msureI’mhardlysleepingatnightsforthinkingofit，’saidMissPhoebe。’YouknowI’veneverbeentherebefore。Sisterhasmanyatime；
butsomehow，thoughmynamehasbeendownonthevisitors’listthesethreeyears，thecountesshasnevernamedmeinhernote；andyouknowIcouldnotpushmyselfintonotice，andgotosuchagrandplacewithoutbeingasked；howcouldI？’’ItoldPhoebelastyear，’saidhersister，’thatIwassureitwasonlyinadvertence，asonemaycallit，onthepartofthecountess，andthatherladyshipwouldbeashurtasanyonewhenshedidn’tseePhoebeamongtheschoolvisitors；butPhoebehasgotadelicatemind，youseeMr。Gibson，andforallIcouldsayshewouldn’tgo，butstoppedhereathome；anditspoiltallmypleasureallthatday，Idoassureyou，tothinkofPhoebe’sface，asIsawitoverthewindow—blinds，asIrodeaway；hereyeswerefulloftears，ifyou’llbelieveme。’’Ihadagoodcryalteryouwasgone，Sally，’saidMissPhoebe；’butforallthat，IthinkIwasrightinstoppingawayfromwhereIwasnotasked。
Don’tyou，Mr。Gibson？’’Certainly，’saidhe。’Andyouseeyouaregoingthisyear；andlastyearitrained。’’Yes！Iremember！Isetmyselftotidymydrawers，tostringmyselfup，asitwere；andIwassotakenupwithwhatIwasaboutthatIwasquitestartledwhenIheardtherainbeatingagainstthewindow—panes。’Goodnessme！’saidItomyself，’whateverwillbecomeofsister’swhitesatinshoes，ifshehastowalkaboutonsoppygrassaftersuchrainasthis？’for，yousee，Ithoughtadealaboutherhavingapairofsmartshoes；andthisyearshehasgoneandgotmeawhitesatinpairjustassmartashers，forasurprise。’’Mollywillknowshe’stoputonherbestclothes，’saidMissBrowning。
’Wecouldperhapslendherafewbeads，orartificials，ifshewantsthem。’’Mollymustgoinacleanwhitefrock，’saidMr。Gibson，ratherhastily；
forhedidnotadmiretheMissBrownings’tasteindress，andwasunwillingtohavehischilddeckedupaccordingtotheirfancy；heesteemedhisoldservantBetty’sasthemorecorrect，becausethemoresimple。MissBrowninghadjustashadeofannoyanceinhertoneasshedrewherselfup，andsaid，’Oh！verywell。It’squiteright，I’msure。’ButMissPhoebesaid，’Mollywilllookveryniceinwhateversheputson，that’scertain。’
chapter02CHAPTERIIANOVICEAMONGSTTHEGREATFOLKAtteno’clockontheeventfulThursdaytheTowers’carriagebeganitswork。Mollywasreadylongbeforeitmadeitsfirstappearance，althoughithadbeensettledthatsheandtheMissBrowningswerenottogountilthelast，orfourth，timeofitscoming。Herfacehadbeensoaped，scrubbed，andshonebrilliantlyclean；herfrills，herfrock，herribbonswereallsnow—white。Shehadonablackmodecloakthathadbeenhermother’s；itwastrimmedroundwithrichlace，andlookedquaintandold—fashionedonthechild。Forthefirsttimeinherlifesheworekidgloves；hithertoshehadonlyhadcottonones。Hergloveswerefartoolargeforthelittledimpledfingers，butasBettyhadtoldhertheyweretolastherforyears，itwasallverywell。Shetrembledmanyatime，andalmostturnedfaintoncewiththelongexpectationofthemorning。Berrymightsaywhatshelikedaboutawatchedpotneverboiling；Mollyneverceasedtowatchtheapproachthroughthewindingstreet，andaftertwohoursthecarriagecameforheratlast。ShehadtositveryforwardtoavoidcrushingtheMissBrownings’newdresses；andyetnottooforward，forfearofincommodingfatMrsGoodenoughandherniece，whooccupiedthefrontseatofthecarriage；
sothataltogetherthefactofsittingdownatallwasratherdoubtful，andtoaddtoherdiscomfort，Mollyfeltherselftobeveryconspicuouslyplacedinthecentreofthecarriage，amarkforalltheobservationofHollingford。Itwasfartoomuchofagaladayfortheworkofthelittletowntogoforwardwithitsusualregularity。Maid—servantsgazedoutofupperwindows；shopkeepers’wivesstoodonthedoorsteps；cottagersranout，withbabiesintheirarms；andlittlechildren，tooyoungtoknowhowtobehaverespectfullyatthesightofanearl’scarriage，huzzaedmerrilyasitbowledalong。Thewomanatthelodgeheldthegateopen，anddroppedalowcurtseytotheliveries。AndnowtheywereinthePark；
andnowtheywereinsightoftheTowers，andsilencefelluponthecarriage—fullofladies，onlybrokenbyonefaintremarkfromMrsGoodenough’sniece，astrangertothetown，astheydrewupbeforethedoublesemicircleflightofstepswhichledtothedoorofthemansion。’Theycallthataperron，Ibelieve，don’tthey？’sheasked。Buttheonlyanswersheobtainedwasasimultaneous’hush。’Itwasveryawful，asMollythought，andshehalfwishedherselfathomeagain。Butshelostallconsciousnessofherselfby—and—bywhenthepartystrolledoutintothebeautifulgrounds，thelikeofwhichshehadneverevenimagined。Greenvelvetlawns，bathedinsunshine，stretchedawayoneverysideintothefinelywoodedpark；
ifthereweredivisionsandha—hasbetweenthesoftsunnysweepsofgrass，andthedarkgloomoftheforest—treesbeyond，Mollydidnotseethem；
andthemeltingawayofexquisitecultivationintothewildernesshadaninexplicablecharmtoher。Nearthehousetherewerewallsandfences；
buttheywerecoveredwithclimbingroses，andrarehoneysucklesandothercreepersjustburstingintobloom，Therewereflower—beds，too，scarlet，crimson，blue，orange；massesofblossomlyingonthegreensward。MollyheldMissBrowning’shandverytightastheyloiteredaboutincompanywithseveralotherladies，andmarshalledbyadaughteroftheTowers，whoseemedhalfamusedatthevolubleadmirationshowereddownuponeverypossiblethingandplace。Mollysaidnothing，asbecameherageandposition，buteverynowandthensherelievedherfullheartbydrawingadeepbreath，almostlikeasigh。Presentlytheycametothelongglitteringrangeofgreenhousesandhothouses，andanattendantgardenerwastheretoadmittheparty。Mollydidnotcareforthishalfsomuchasfortheflowersintheopenair；butLadyAgneshadamorescientifictaste，sheexpatiatedontherarityofthis，andthemodeofcultivationrequiredbythatplant，tillMollybegantofeelverytired，andthenveryfaint。Shewastooshytospeakforsometime；butatlength，afraidofmakingagreatersensationifshebegantocry，orifshefellagainstthestandsofpreciousflowers，shecaughtatMissBrowning’shand，andgaspedout，—’MayIgoback，outintothegarden？Ican’tbreathehere！’’Oh，yes，tobesure，love。Idaresayit’shardunderstandingforyou，love；butit’sveryfineandinstructive，andadealofLatininittoo。’SheturnedhastilyroundnottoloseanotherwordofLadyAgnes’lectureonorchids，andMollyturnedbackandpassedoutoftheheatedatmosphere。
Shefeltbetterinthefreshair；andunobserved，andatliberty，wentfromonelovelyspottoanother，nowintheopenpark，nowinsomeshut—inflower—garden，wherethesongofthebirds，andthedripofthecentralfountain，weretheonlysounds，andthetree—topsmadeanenclosingcircleintheblueJunesky；shewentalongwithoutmorethoughtastoherwhereaboutsthanabutterflyhas，asitskimsfromflowertoflower，tillatlengthshegrewveryweary，andwishedtoreturntothehouse，butdidnotknowhow，andfeltafraidofencounteringallthestrangerswhowouldbethere，unprotectedbyeitheroftheMissBrownings。Thehotsuntolduponherhead，anditbegantoache。Shesawagreatwide—spreadingcedar—treeuponaburstoflawntowardswhichshewasadvancing，andtheblackreposebeneathitsbranchesluredherthither。Therewasarusticseatintheshadow，andwearyMollysatedownthere，andpresentlyfellasleep。Shewasstartledfromherslumbersafteratime，andjumpedtoherfeet。
Twoladieswerestandingbyher，talkingabouther。Theywereperfectstrangerstoher，andwithavagueconvictionthatshehaddonesomethingwrong，andalsobecauseshewasworn—outwithhunger，fatigue，andthemorning’sexcitement，shebegantocry。’Poorlittlewoman！Shehaslostherself；shebelongstosomeofthepeoplefromHollingford，Ihavenodoubt，’saidtheoldest—lookingofthetwoladies；shewhoappearedtobeaboutforty，althoughshedidnotreallynumbermorethanthirtyyears。Shewasplain—featured，andhadratherasevereexpressiononherface；herdresswasasrichasanymorningdresscouldbe；hervoicedeepandunmodulated，—whatinalowerrankoflifewouldhavebeencalledgruff；butthatwasnotawordtoapplytoLadyCuxhaven，theeldestdaughteroftheearlandcountess。Theotherladylookedmuchyounger，butshewasinfactsomeyearstheelder；atfirstsightMollythoughtshewasthemostbeautifulpersonshehadeverseen，andshewascertainlyaverylovelywoman。Hervoice，too，wassoftandplaintive，assherepliedtoLadyCuxhaven，—’Poorlittledarling！sheisovercomebytheheat，Ihavenodoubt—suchaheavystrawbonnet，too。Letmeuntieitforyou，mydear。’Mollynowfoundvoicetosay，—’IamMollyGibson，please。IcameherewiththeMissBrownings；’forhergreatfearwasthatsheshouldbetakenforanunauthorizedintruder。’TheMissBrownings？’saidLadyCuxhaventohercompanion，asifinquiringly。’IthinktheywerethetwotalllargeyoungwomenthatLadyAgneswastakingabout。’’Oh，Idaresay。Isawshehadanumberofpeopleintow；’thenlookingagainatMolly，shesaid，’Haveyouhadanythingtocat，child，sinceyoucame？Youlookaverywhitelittlething；orisittheheat？’’Ihavehadnothingtoeat，’saidMolly，ratherpiteously；for，indeed，beforeshefellasleepshehadbeenveryhungry。Thetwoladiesspoketoeachotherinalowvoice；thentheeldersaidinavoiceofauthority，which，indeed，shehadalwaysusedinspeakingtotheother，’Sitstillhere，mydear；wearegoingtothehouse，andClareshallbringyousomethingtocatbeforeyoutrytowalkback；itmustbeaquarterofamileatleast。’Sotheywentaway，andMollysateupright，waitingforthepromisedmessenger。ShedidnotknowwhoClaremightbe，andshedidnotcaremuchforfoodnow；butshefeltasifshecouldnotwalkwithoutsomehelp。Atlengthshesawtheprettyladycomingback，followedbyafootmanwithasmalltray。’LookhowkindLadyCuxhavenis，’saidshewhowascalledClare。’Shechoseoutthislittlelunchherself；andnowyoumusttryandeatit，andyou’llbequiterightwhenyou’vehadsomefood，darling—Youneednotstop，Edwards；Iwillbringthetraybackwithme。’Therewassomebread，andsomecoldchicken，andsomejelly，andaglassofwine，andabottleofsparklingwater，andabunchofgrapes；Mollyputouthertremblinglittlehandforthewater；butshewastoofainttoholdit。Clareputittohermouth，andshetookalongdraughtandwasrefreshed。Butshecouldnoteat；shetried，butshecouldnot；herheadachewastoobad。Clarelookedbewildered。’Takesomegrapes，theywillbethebestforyou；youmusttryandeatsomething，orIdon’tknowhowIshallgetyoutothehouse。’’Myheadachesso，’saidMolly，liftingherheavyeyeswistfully。’Oh，dear，howtiresome！’saidClare，stillinhersweetgentlevoice，notatallasifshewasangry，onlyexpressinganobvioustruth。Mollyfeltveryguiltyandveryunhappy。Clarewenton，withashadeofasperityinhertone：’Yousee，Idon’tknowwhattodowithyouhereifyoudon’teatenoughtoenableyoutowalkhome。AndI’vebeenoutforthesethreehourstrapesingaboutthegroundstillI’mastiredascanbe，andmissedmylunchandall。’Then，asifanewideahadstruckher，shesaid，—’Youliebackinthatseatforafewminutes，andtrytoeatthebunchofgrapes，andI’llwaitforyou，andjustbeeatingamouthfulmeanwhile。Youaresureyoudon’twantthischicken？’Mollydidasshewasbid，andleantback，pickinglanguidlyatthegrapes，andwatchingthegoodappetitewithwhichtheladyateupthechickenandjelly，anddranktheglassofwine。Shewassoprettyandsogracefulinherdeepmourning，thatevenherhurryineating，asifshewasafraidofsomeonecomingtosurpriseherintheact，didnotkeepherlittleobserverfromadmiringherinallshedid。’Andnow，darling，areyoureadytogo？’saidshe，whenshehadeatenupeverythingonthetray。’Oh，come；youhavenearlyfinishedyourgrapes；
that’sagoodgirl。Now，ifyouwillcomewithmetothesideentrance，Iwilltakeyouuptomyownroom，andyoushallliedownonthebedforanhourortwo；andifyouhaveagoodnapyourheadachewillbequitegone。’Sotheysetoff，Clarecarryingtheemptytray，rathertoMolly’sshame；
butthechildhadenoughworktodragherselfalong，andwasafraidofofferingtodoanythingmore。The’sideentrance’wasaflightofstepsleadingupfromaprivateflower—gardenintoaprivatemattedhall，orante—room，outofwhichmanydoorsopened，andinwhichweredepositedthelightgarden—toolsandthebowsandarrowsoftheyoungladiesofthehouse。LadyCuxhavenmusthaveseentheirapproach，forshemettheminthishallassoonastheycamein。’Howisshenow？’sheasked；thenglancingattheplatesandglasses，sheadded，’Come，Ithinktherecan’tbemuchamiss！You’reagoodoldClare，butyoushouldhaveletoneofthemenfetchthattrayin；lifeinsuchweatherasthisistroubleenoughofitself。’MollycouldnothelpwishingthatherprettycompanionwouldhavetoldLadyCuxhaventhatsheherselfhadhelpedtofinishuptheampleluncheon；
butnosuchideaseemedtocomeintohermind。Sheonlysaid，—’Poordear！
sheisnotquitethethingyet；hasgotaheadache，shesays。Iamgoingtoputherdownonmybed，toseeifshecangetalittlesleep。’MollysawLadyCuxhavensaysomethinginahalf—laughingmannerto’Clare，’
asshepassedher；andthechildcouldnotkeepfromtormentingherselfbyfancyingthatthewordsspokensoundedwonderfullylike’Over—eatenherself，Isuspect。’However，shefelttoopoorlytoworryherselflong；
thelittlewhitebedinthecoolandprettyroomhadtoomanyattractionsforherachinghead。Themuslincurtainsflappedsoftlyfromtimetotimeinthescentedairthatcamethroughtheopenwindows。Clarecoveredherupwithalightshawl，anddarkenedtheroom。AsshewasgoingawayMollyrousedherselftosay，’Please，ma’am，don’tletthemgoawaywithoutme。
PleaseasksomebodytowakenmeifIgotosleep。IamtogobackwiththeMissBrownings。’’Don’ttroubleyourselfaboutit，dear；I’lltakecare，’saidClare，turningroundatthedoor，andkissingherhandtolittleanxiousMolly。Andthenshewentaway，andthoughtnomoreaboutit。Thecarriagescameroundathalf—pastfour，hurriedalittlebyLadyCumnor，whohadsuddenlybecometiredofthebusinessofentertaining，andannoyedattherepetitionofindiscriminatingadmiration。’Whynothavebothcarriagesout，mamma，andgetridofthemallatonce？’
saidLadyCuxhaven。’Thisgoingbyinstalmentsisthemosttiresomethingthatcouldbeimagined。’Soatlasttherehadbeenagreathurryandanunmethodicalwayofpackingoffeveryoneatonce。MissBrowninghadgoneinthechariot（or’chawyot，’asLadyCumnorcalledit；—itrhymedtoherdaughter，LadyHawyot—orHarriet，asthenamewasspeltinthePeerage），andMissPhoebehadbeenspeededalongwithseveralotherguests，awayinagreatroomyfamilyconveyance，ofthekindwhichweshouldnowcallan’omnibus。’EachthoughtthatMollyGibsonwaswiththeother，andthetruthwas，thatshelayfastasleeponMrsKirkpatrick’sbed—MrsKirkpatrickneeClare。Thehousemaidscameintoarrangetheroom。TheirtalkingarousedMolly，whosateuponthebed，andtriedtopushbackthehairfromherhotforehead，andtorememberwhereshewas。Shedroppeddownonherfeetbythesideofthebed，totheastonishmentofthewomen，andsaid，—’Please，howsoonarewegoingaway？’’Blessusandsaveus！who’dha’thoughtofanyonebeinginthebed？AreyouoneoftheHollingfordladies，mydear？Theyareallgonethishourormore！’’Oh，dear，whatshallIdo？ThatladytheycallClarepromisedtowakenmeintime。PapawillsowonderwhereIam，andIdon’tknowwhatBettywillsay。’Thechildbegantocry，andthehousemaidslookedateachotherinsomedismayandmuchsympathy。Justthen，theyheardMrsKirkpatrick’sstepalongthepassages，approaching。ShewassingingsomelittleItalianairinalowmusicalvoice，comingtoherbedroomtodressfordinner。Onehousemaidsaidtotheother，withaknowinglook，’Bestleaveittoher；’
andtheypassedontotheirworkintheotherrooms。MrsKirkpatrickopenedthedoor，andstoodaghastatthesightofMolly。’Why，Iquiteforgotyou！’shesaidatlength。’Nay，don’tcry；you’llmakeyourselfnotfittobeseen。OfcourseImusttaketheconsequencesofyourover—sleepingyourself，andifIcan’tmanagetogetyoubacktoHollingfordto—night，youshallsleepwithme，andwe’lldoourbesttosendyouhometo—morrowmorning。’’Butpapa！’sobbedoutMolly。’Healwayswantsmetomaketeaforhim；
andIhavenonight—things。’’Well，don’tgoandmakeapieceofworkaboutwhatcan’tbehelpednow。
I’lllendyounight—things，andyourpapamustdowithoutyourmakingteaforhimto—night。Andanothertimedon’tover—sleepyourselfinastrangehouse；youmaynotalwaysfindyourselfamongsuchhospitablepeopleastheyarehere。Whynow，ifyoudon’tcryandmakeafigureofyourself，I’llaskifyoumaycomeintodessertwithMasterSmytheandthelittleladies。Youshallgointothenursery，andhavesometeawiththem；andthenyoumustcomebackhereandbrushyourhairandmakeyourselftidy。
Ithinkitisaveryfinethingforyoutobestoppinginsuchagrandhouseasthis；manyalittlegirlwouldlikenothingbetter。’Duringthisspeechshewasarranginghertoilettefordinner—takingoffherblackmorninggown；puttingonherdressing—gown；shakingherlongsoftauburnhairoverhershoulders，andglancingabouttheroominsearchofvariousarticlesofherdress，—arunningflowofeasytalkcamebabblingoutallthetime。’Ihavealittlegirlofmyown，dear！Idon’tknowwhatshewouldnotgivetobestayinghereatLordCumnor’swithme；but，insteadofthat，shehastospendherholidaysatschool；andyetyouarelookingasmiserableascanbeatthethoughtofstoppingforjustonenight。Ireallyhavebeenasbusyascanbewiththosetiresome—thosegoodladies，Imean，fromHollingford—andonecan’tthinkofeverythingatatime。’Molly—onlychildasshewas—hadstoppedhertearsatthementionofthatlittlegirlofMrsKirkpatrick’s，andnowsheventuredtosay，—’Areyoumarried，ma’am；IthoughtshecalledyouClare？’InhighgoodhumourMrsKirkpatrickmadereply：—’Idon’tlookasifI
wasmarried，doI？Everyoneissurprised。AndyetIhavebeenawidowforsevenmonthsnow：andnotagreyhaironmyhead，thoughLadyCuxhaven，whoisyoungerthanI，haseversomany。’’Whydotheycallyou\"Clare\"？’continuedMolly，findinghersoaffableandcommunicative。’BecauseIlivedwiththemwhenIwasMissClare。Itisaprettyname，isn’tit？ImarriedaMrKirkpatrick；hewasonlyacurate，poorfellow；
buthewasofaverygoodfamily，andifthreeofhisrelationshaddiedwithoutchildrenIshouldhavebeenabaronet’swife。ButProvidencedidnotseefittopermitit；andwemustalwaysresignourselvestowhatisdecreed。Twoofhiscousinsmarried，andhadlargefamilies；andpoordearKirkpatrickdied，leavingmeawidow。’’Butyouhavealittlegirl？’askedMolly。’Yes；darlingCynthia！Iwishyoucouldseeher；sheismyonlycomfortnow。IfIhavetimeIwillshowyouherpicturewhenwecomeuptobed；
butImustgonow。ItdoesnotdotokeepLadyCumnorwaitingamoment，andsheaskedmetobedownearly，tohelpwithsomeofthepeopleinthehouse。NowIshallringthisbell，andwhenthehousemaidcomes，askhertotakeyouintothenursery，andtotellLadyCuxhaven’snursewhoyouare。Andthenyou’llhaveteawiththelittleladies，andcomeinwiththemtodessert。There！I’msorryyou’veoversleptyourself，andarelefthere；butgivemeakiss，anddon’tcry—youreallyareratheraprettychild，thoughyou’venotgotCynthia’scolouring！Oh，Nanny，wouldyoubesoverykindastotakethisyounglady—（what’syourname，mydear？
Gibson？），—MissGibson，toMrsDyson，inthenursery，andaskhertoallowhertodrinkteawiththeyoungladiesthere；andtosendherinwiththemtodessert。I’llexplainitalltomylady。’Nanny’sfacebrightenedoutofitsgloomwhensheheardthenameGibson；
and，havingascertainedfromMollythatshewas’thedoctor’s’child，sheshowedmorewillingnesstocomplywithMrsKirkpatrick’srequestthanwasusualwithher。Mollywasanobliginggirl，andfondofchildren；so，aslongasshewasinthenursery，shegotonprettywell，beingobedienttothewishesofthesupremepower，andevenveryusefultoMrsDyson，byplayingatbricks，andthuskeepingalittleonequietwhileitsbrothersandsisterswerebeingarrayedingayattire，—laceandmuslin，andvelvet，andbrilliantbroadribbons。’Now，miss，’saidMrsDyson，whenherownespecialchargewereallready，’whatcanIdoforyou？Youhavenotgotanotherfrockhere，haveyou？’
No，indeed，shehadnot；norifshehadhadone，wouldithavebeenofasmarternaturethanherpresentthickwhitedimity。Soshecouldonlywashherfaceandhands，andsubmittothenurse’sbrushingandperfumingherhair。Shethoughtshewouldratherhavestayedintheparkallnightlong，andsleptunderthebeautifulquietcedar，thanhavetoundergotheunknownordealof’goingdowntodessert，’whichwasevidentlyregardedbothbychildrenandnursesastheeventoftheday。Atlengththerewasasummonsfromafootman，andMrsDyson，inarustlingsilkgown，marshalledherconvoy，andsetsailforthedining—roomdoor。Therewasalargepartyofgentlemenandladiessittingroundthedeckedtable，inthebrilliantlylightedroom。Eachdaintylittlechildranuptoitsmother，oraunt，orparticularfriend；butMollyhadnoonetogoto。’Whoisthattallgirlinthethickwhitefrock？Notoneofthechildrenofthehouse，Ithink？’Theladyaddressedputupherglass，gazedatMolly，anddroppeditinaninstant。’AFrenchgirl，Ishouldimagine。IknowLadyCuxhavenwasinquiringforonetobringupwithherlittlegirls，thattheymightgetagoodaccentearly。Poorlittlewoman，shelookswildandstrange！’Andthespeaker，whosatenexttoLordCumnor，madealittlesigntoMollytocometoher；Mollycreptuptoherastothefirstshelter；butwhentheladybegantalkingtoherinFrench，sheblushedviolently，andsaid，inaverylowvoice，—’Idon’tunderstandFrench。I’monlyMollyGibson，ma’am。’’MollyGibson！’saidthelady，outloud；asifthatwasnotmuchofanexplanation。LordCumnorcaughtthewordsandthetone。’Oh，ho！’saidhe。’Areyouthelittlegirlwhohasbeensleepinginmybed？’Heimitatedthedeepvoiceofthefabulousbear，whoasksthisquestionofthelittlechildinthestory；butMollyhadneverreadthe’ThreeBears，’
andfanciedthathisangerwasreal；shetrembledalittle，anddrewnearertothekindladywhohadbeckonedherastoarefuge。LordCumnorwasveryfondofgettingholdofwhathefanciedwasajoke，andworkinghisideathreadbare；soallthetimetheladieswereintheroomhekeptonhisrunningfireatMolly，alludingtotheSleepingBeauty，theSevenSleepers，andanyotherfamoussleeperthatcameintohishead。Hehadnoideaofthemiseryhisjokesweretothesensitivegirl，whoalreadythoughtherselfamiserablesinner，forhavingslepton，whensheoughttohavebeenawake。
IfMollyhadbeeninthehabitofputtingtwoandtwotogether，shemighthavefoundanexcuseforherself，byrememberingthatMrsKirkpatrickhadpromisedfaithfullytoawakenherintime；butallthegirlthoughtofwas，howlittletheywantedherinthisgrandhouse；howshemustseemlikeacarelessintruderwhohadnobusinessthere。Onceortwiceshewonderedwhereherfatherwas，andwhetherhewasmissingher；butthethoughtofthefamiliarhappinessofhomebroughtsuchachokinginherthroat，thatshefeltshemustnotgivewaytoit，forfearofburstingoutcrying；
andshehadinstinctenoughtofeelthat，asshewasleftattheTowers，thelesstroubleshegave，themoreshekeptherselfoutofobservation，thebetter。Shefollowedtheladiesoutofthedining—room，almosthopingthatnoonewouldseeher。Butthatwasimpossible，andsheimmediatelybecamethesubjectofconversationbetweentheawfulLadyCumnorandherkindneighbouratdinner。’Doyouknow，IthoughtthisyoungladywasFrenchwhenIfirstsawher？
shehasgottheblackhairandeyelashes，andgreyeyes，andcolourlesscomplexionwhichonemeetswithinsomepartsofFrance，andIknewLadyCuxhavenwastryingtofindawell—educatedgirlwhowouldbeapleasantcompaniontoherchildren。’’No！’saidLadyCumnor，lookingverystern，asMollythought。’SheisthedaughterofourmedicalmanatHollingford；shecamewiththeschoolvisitorsthismorning，andshewasovercomebytheheatandfellasleepinClare’sroom，andsomehowmanagedtooversleepherself，anddidnotwakenuptillallthecarriagesweregone。Wewillsendherhometo—morrowmorning，butforto—nightshemuststayhere，andClareiskindenoughtosayshemaysleepwithher。’Therewasanimpliedblamerunningthroughthisspeech，thatMollyfeltlikeneedle—pointsalloverher。LadyCuxhavencameupatthismoment。
Hertonewasasdeep，hermannerofspeakingasabruptandauthoritative，ashermother’s，butMollyfeltthekindernatureunderneath。’Howareyounow，mydear？Youlookbetterthanyoudidunderthecedar—tree。