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’
ofaneventwasthedisturbancewhichJenny（MrGibson’scook）chosetomakeatBethia’sbeingdismissed。BethiawasadistantrelationandprotegeeofJenny’s，andshechosetosayitwasMrCoxethetempterwhooughttohave’beensentpacking，’notBethiathetempted，thevictim。InthisviewtherewasquiteenoughplausibilitytomakeMrGibsonfeelthathehadbeenratherunjust。Hehad，however，takencaretoprovideBethiawithanothersituation，tothefullasgoodasthatwhichsheheldinhisfamily。
Jenny，nevertheless，chosetogivewarning；andthoughMrGibsonknewfullwellfromformerexperiencethatherwarningswerewords，notdeeds，hehatedthediscomfort，theuncertainty，—theentiredisagreeablenessofmeetingawomanatanytimeinhishouse，whoworeagrievanceandaninjuryuponherfaceaslegiblyasJennytookcaretodo。Downintothemiddleofthissmalldomestictroublecameanother，andoneofgreaterconsequence。MissEyrehadgonewithheroldmother，andherorphannephewsandnieces，tothesea—side，duringMolly’sabsence，whichwasonlyintendedatfirsttolastforafortnight。Afterabouttendaysofthistimehadelapsed，MrGibsonreceivedabeautifullywritten，beautifullyworded，admirablyfolded，andmostneatlysealedletterfromMissEyre。
Hereldestnephewhadfallenillofscarletfever，andtherewaseveryprobabilitythattheyoungerchildrenwouldbeattackedbythesamecomplaint。
ItwasdistressingenoughforpoorMissEyre—thisadditionalexpense，thisanxiety—thelongdetentionfromhomewhichtheillnessinvolved。
Butshesaidnotawordofanyinconveniencetoherself；sheonlyapologizedwithhumblesincerityforherinabilitytoreturnattheappointedtimetoherchargeinMrGibson’sfamily；meeklyadding，thatperhapsitwasaswell，forMollyhadneverhadthescarletfever，andevenifMissEyrehadbeenabletoleavetheorphanchildrentoreturntoheremployments，itmightnothavebeenasafeoraprudentstep。’Tobesurenot，’saidMrGibson，tearingtheletterintwo，andthrowingitintothehearth，wherehesoonsawitburnttoashes。’IwishI’dafive—poundhouseandnotawomanwithintenmilesofme。Imighthavesomepeacethen。’Apparently，heforgotMrCoxe’spowersofmakingmischief；
butindeedhemighthavetracedthatevilbacktounconsciousMolly。Themartyr—cook’sentrancetotakeawaythebreakfastthings，whichsheannouncedbyaheavysigh，rousedMrGibsonfromthoughttoaction。’MollymuststayalittlelongeratHamley，’heresolved。’They’veoftenaskedforher，andnowthey’llhaveenoughofher，Ithink。ButIcan’thaveherbackherejustyet；andsothebestIcandoforheristoleaveherwheresheis。MrsHamleyseemsveryfondofher，andthechildislookinghappy，andstrongerinhealth。I’llrideroundbyHamleyto—dayatanyrate，andseehowthelandlies。’HefoundMrsHamleylyingonasofaplacedundertheshadowofthegreatcedar—treeonthelawn。Mollywasflittingabouther，gardeningawayunderherdirections；tyingupthelongsea—greenstalksofbrightbuddedcarnations，snippingoffdeadroses。’Oh！here’spapa！’shecriedoutjoyfully，asherodeuptothewhitepalingwhichseparatedthetrimlawnandtrimmerflower—gardenfromtheroughpark—likegroundinfrontofthehouse。’Comein—comehere—throughthedrawing—roomwindow，’saidMrsHamley，raisingherselfonherelbow。’We’vegotarose—treetoshowyouthatMollyhasbuddedallbyherself。Wearebothsoproudofit。’SoMrGibsonroderoundtothestables，lefthishorsethere，andmadehiswaythroughthehousetotheopen—airsummer—parlourunderthecedar—tree，wheretherewerechairs，atable，books，andtangledwork。Somehow，heratherdislikedaskingforMollytoprolonghervisit；sohedeterminedtoswallowhisbitterfirst，andthentakethepleasureofthedeliciousday，thesweetrepose，themurmurous，scentedair。Mollystoodbyhim，herhandonhisshoulder。HesateoppositetoMrsHamley。’Ihavecomehereto—daytoaskforafavour，’hebegan。’Grantedbeforeyounameit。AmnotIaboldwoman？’Hesmiledandbowed，butwentstraightonwithhisspeech。’MissEyre，whohasbeenMolly’s—governess，IsupposeImustcallher—formanyyears，writesto—daytosaythatoneofthelittlenephewsshetookwithhertoNewportwhileMollywasstayinghere，hascaughtthescarletfever。’’Iguessyourrequest。Imakeitbeforeyoudo。IbegfordearlittleMollytostayonhere。OfcourseMissEyrecan’tcomebacktoyou；andofcourseMollymuststayhere！’’Thankyou；thankyouverymuch。Thatwasmyrequest。’Molly’shandstoledowntohis，andnestledinthatfirmcompactgrasp。’Papa！—MrsHamley！—Iknowyou’llbothunderstandme—butmayn’tI
gohome？Iamveryveryhappyhere；but—ohpapa！IthinkIshouldliketobeathomewithyoubest。’Anuncomfortablesuspicionflashedacrosshismind。Hepulledherround，andlookedstraightandpiercinglyintoherinnocentface。Hercolourcameathisunwontedscrutiny，buthersweeteyeswerefilledwithwonder，ratherthanwithanyfeelingwhichhedreadedtofind。Foraninstanthehaddoubtedwhetheryoungred—headedMrCoxe’slovemightnothavecalledoutaresponseinhisdaughtersbreast；buthewasquiteclearnow。’Molly，you’rerudetobeginwith。Idon’tknowhowyou’retomakeyourpeacewithMrsHamley，I’msure。Andinthenextplace，doyouthinkyou’rewiserthanIam；orthatIdon’twantyouathome，ifallotherthingswereconformable？Staywhereyouare，andbethankful。’MollyknewhimwellenoughtobecertainthattheprolongationofhervisitatHamleywasquiteadecidedaffairinhismind；andthenshewassmittenwithasenseofingratitude。Sheleftherfather，andwenttoMrsHamley，andbentoverandkissedher；butshedidnotspeak。MrsHamleytookholdofherhand，andmaderoomonthesofaforher。’Iwasgoingtohaveaskedforalongervisitthenexttimeyoucame，MrGibson。Wearesuchhappyfriends，arenotwe，Molly？andnowthatthisgoodlittlenephewofMissEyre’s——’’Iwishedhewaswhipped，’saidMrGibson。’—hasgivenussuchacapitalreason，IshallkeepMollyforareallongvisitation。Youmustcomeoverandseeusveryoften。There’saroomhereforyoualways，youknow；andIdon’tseewhyyoushouldnotstartonyourroundsfromHamleyeverymorning，justaswellasfromHollingford。’’Thankyou。Ifyouhadnotbeensokindtomylittlegirl，Imightbetemptedtosaysomethingrudeinanswertoyourlastspeech。’’Praysayit。Youwon’tbeeasytillyouhavegivenitout，Iknow。’’MrsHamleyhasfoundoutfromwhomIgetmyrudeness，’saidMolly，triumphantly。
’It’sanhereditaryquality。’’IwasgoingtosaythatproposalofyoursthatIshouldsleepatHamleywasjustlikeawoman’sidea—allkindness，andnocommonsense。Howintheworldwouldmypatientsfindmeout，sevenmilesfrommyaccustomedplace？They’dbesuretosendforsomeotherdoctor，andIshouldberuinedinamonth。’’Couldnottheysendonhere？Amessengercostsverylittle。’’FancyoldGoodyHenburystrugglinguptomysurgery，groaningateverystep，andthenbeingtoldtojuststeponsevenmilesfarther！Ortaketheotherendofsociety：—Idon’tthinkmyLadyCumnor’ssmartgroomwouldthankmeforhavingtorideontoHamleyeverytimehismistresswantsme。’’Well，well，Isubmit。Iamawoman。Molly，thouartawoman！Goandordersomestrawberriesandcreamforthisfatherofyours。Suchhumbleofficesfallwithintheprovinceofwomen。Strawberriesandcreamareallkindnessandnocommonsense，forthey’llgivehimahorridfitofindigestion。’’Pleasespeakforyourself，MrsHamley，’saidMolly，merrily。’Iate—
oh，suchagreatbasketfulyesterday，andthesquirewenthimselftothedairyandbroughtmeoutagreatbowlofcreamwhenhefoundmeatmybusywork。AndI’maswellaseverIwas，to—day，andneverhadatouchofindigestionnearme。’’She’sagoodgirl，’saidherfather，whenshehaddancedoutofhearing。
Thewordswerenotquiteaninquiry，hewassocertainofhisanswer。Therewasamixtureoftendernessandtrustinhiseyes，asheawaitedthereply，whichcameinamoment。’She’sadarling！IcannottellyouhowfondthesquireandIareofher；
bothofus。Iamsodelightedtothinksheisnottogoawayforalongtime。ThefirstthingIthoughtofthismorningwhenIwakenedup，wasthatshewouldsoonhavetoreturntoyou，unlessIcouldpersuadeyouintoleavingherwithmealittlelonger。Andnowshemuststay—oh，twomonthsatleast。’ItwasquitetruethatthesquirehadbecomeveryfondofMolly。Thecharmofhavingayounggirldancingandsinginginarticulatedittiesaboutthehouseandgarden，wasindescribableinitsnoveltytohim。AndthenMollywas。sowillingandsowise；readybothtotalkandtolistenattherighttimes。MrsHamleywasquiterightinspeakingofherhusband’sfondnessforMolly。Buteithersheherselfchoseawrongtimefortellinghimoftheprolongationofthegirl’svisit，oroneofthefitsoftempertowhichhewasliable，butwhichhegenerallystrovetocheckinthepresenceofhiswife，wasuponhim；atanyrate，hereceivedthenewsinanythingbutagraciousframeofmind。’Staylonger！DidGibsonaskforit？’’Yes！Idon’tseewhatelseistobecomeofher；MissEyreawayandall。It’saveryawkwardpositionforamotherlessgirllikehertobeattheheadofahouseholdwithtwoyoungmeninit。’’That’sGibson’slook—out；heshouldhavethoughtofitbeforetakingpupils，orapprentices，orwhateverhecallsthem。’’Mydearsquire！why，Ithoughtyou’dbeasgladasIwas—asIamtokeepMolly。Iaskedhertostayforanindefinitetime；twomonthsatleast。’’AndtobeinthehousewithOsborne！Roger，too，willbeathome。’Bythecloudinthesquire’seyes，MrsHamleyreadhismind。’Oh，she’snotatallthesortofgirlyoungmenoftheiragewouldtaketo，Welikeherbecauseweseewhatshereallyis；butladsofoneortwoandtwentywantalltheaccessoriesofayoungwoman。’’Wantwhat？’growledthesquire。’Suchthingsasbecomingdress，styleofmanner。Theywouldnotattheirageevenseethatsheispretty；theirideasofbeautywouldincludecolour。’’Isupposeallthat’sveryclever；butIdon’tunderstandit。AllIknowis，thatit’saverydangerousthingtoshuttwoyoungmenofoneandthreeandtwentyupinacountry—houselikethis，withagirlofseventeen—
choosewhathergownsmaybelike，orherhair，orhereyes。AndItoldyouparticularlyIdidn’twantOsborne，oreitherofthem，indeed，tobefallinginlovewithher。I’mverymuchannoyed。’MrsHamley’sfacefell；shebecamealittlepale。’Shallwemakearrangementsfortheirstoppingawaywhilesheishere；
stayingupatCambridge，orreadingwithsomeone？goingabroadforamonthortwo？’’No；you’vebeenreckoningthiseversolongontheircominghome。I’veseenthemarksoftheweeksonyouralmanack。I’dsoonerspeaktoGibson，andtellhimhemusttakehisdaughteraway，forit’snotconvenienttous——’’MydearRoger！Ibegyouwilldonosuchthing。Itwillbesounkind；
itwillgivethelietoallIsaidyesterday。Don’t，please，dothat。Formysake，don’tspeaktoMrGibson！’’Well，well，don’tputyourselfinaflutter，’forhewasafraidofherbecominghysterical；’I’llspeaktoOsbornewhenhecomeshome，andtellhimhowmuchIshoulddislikeanythingofthekind。’’AndRogerisalwaysfartoofullofhisnaturalhistoryandcomparativeanatomy，andmessesofthatsort，tobethinkingoffallinginlovewithVenusherself，HehasnotthesentimentandimaginationofOsborne。’’Ah，youdon’tknow；younevercanbesureaboutayoungman！ButwithRogeritwouldn’tsomuchsignify。Hewouldknowhecouldn’tmarryforyearstocome。’AllthatafternoonthesquiretriedtosteerclearofMolly，towhomhefelthimselftohavebeenaninhospitabletraitor。Butshewassoperfectlyunconsciousofhisshynessofher，andsomerryandsweetinherbehaviourasawelcomeguest，neverdistrustinghimforamoment，howevergruffhemightbe，thatbythenextmorningshehadcompletelywonhimround，andtheywerequiteontheoldtermsagain。Atbreakfastthisverymorning，aletterwaspassedfromthesquiretohiswife，andbackagain，withoutawordastoitscontents；but—’Fortunate！’’Yes！very！’LittledidMollyapplytheseexpressionstothepieceofnewsMrsHamleytoldherinthecourseoftheday；namely，thathersonOsbornehadreceivedaninvitationtostaywithafriendintheneighbourhoodofCambridge，andperhapstomakeatourontheContinentwithhimsubsequently；andthat，consequently，hewouldnotaccompanyhisbrotherwhenRogercamehome。Mollywasverysympathetic。’Oh，dear！Iamsosorry！’MrsHamleywasthankfulherhusbandwasnotpresent，Mollyspokethewordssoheartily。’Youhavebeenthinkingsolongofhiscominghome。Iamafraiditisagreatdisappointment。’MrsHamleysmiled—relieved。’Yes！itisadisappointmentcertainly，butwemustthinkofOsborne’spleasure。Andwithhispoeticalmind，hewillwriteussuchdelightfultravellingletters。Poorfellow！hemustbegoingintotheexaminationto—day！BothhisfatherandIfeelsure，though，thathewillbeahighwrangler。’Only—Ishouldliketohaveseenhim，myowndearboy。Butitisbestasitis。’Mollywasalittlepuzzledbythisspeech，butsoonputitoutofherhead。
Itwasadisappointmenttoher，too，thatsheshouldnotseethisbeautiful，brilliantyoungman，hismother’shero。Fromtimetotimehermaidenfancyhaddweltuponwhathewouldbelike；howthelovelyboyofthepictureinMrsHamley’sdressing—roomwouldhavechangedinthetenyearsthathadelapsedsincethelikenesswastaken；ifhewouldreadpoetryaloud；
ifhewouldevenreadhisownpoetry。However，inthenever—endingfemininebusinessoftheday，shesoonforgotherowndisappointment；itonlycamebacktoheronfirstwakeningthenextmorning，asavaguesomethingthatwasnotquitesopleasantasshehadanticipated，andthenwasbanishedasasubjectofregret。HerdaysatHamleywerewellfilledupwiththesmalldutiesthatwouldhavebelongedtoadaughterofthehousehadtherebeenone。Shemadebreakfastforthelonelysquire，andwouldwillinglyhavecarriedupmadam’s，butthatdailypieceofworkbelongedtothesquire，andwasjealouslyguardedbyhim。Shereadthesmallerprintofthenewspapersaloudtohim，cityarticles，moneyandcorn—marketsincluded。Shestrolledaboutthegardenswithhim，gatheringfreshflowers，meanwhile，todeckthedrawing—roomagainstMrsHamleyshouldcomedown。Shewashercompanionwhenshetookherdrivesintheclosecarriage；theyreadpoetryandmildliteraturetogetherinMrsHamley’ssitting—roomupstairs。Shewasquitecleveratcribbagenow，andcouldbeatthesquireifshetookpains。Besidesthesethings，therewereherownindependentwaysofemployingherself。
Sheusedtotrytopractiseadailyhourontheoldgrandpianointhesolitarydrawing—room，becauseshehadpromisedMissEyreshewoulddoso。Andshehadfoundherwayintothelibrary，andusedtoundotheheavybarsoftheshuttersifthehousemaidhadforgottenthisduty，andmounttheladder，sittingonthesteps，foranhouratatime，deepinsomebookoftheoldEnglishclassics。Thesummerdayswereveryshorttothishappygirlofseventeen。
chapter08CHAPTERVIIIDRIFTINGINTODANGEROnThursday，thequietcountryhouseholdwasstirredthroughallitsfibreswiththethoughtofRoger’scominghome。MrsHamleyhadnotseemedquitesowell，orquiteinsuchgoodspiritsfortwoorthreedaysbefore；andthesquirehimselfhadappearedtobeputoutwithoutanyvisiblecause。
TheyhadnotchosentotellMollythatOsborne’snamehadonlyappearedverylowdowninthemathematicaltripos。Soallthattheirvisitorknewwasthatsomethingwasoutoftune，andshehopedthatRoger’scominghomewouldsetittorights，foritwasbeyondthepowerofhersmallcaresandwiles。OnThursday，thehousemaidapologizedtoherforsomeslightnegligenceinherbedroom，bysayingshehadbeenbusyscouringMrRoger’srooms。
’Notbutwhattheywereascleanascouldbebeforehand；butmistresswouldalwayshavetheyounggentlemen’sroomscleanedafreshbeforetheycamehome。IfithadbeenMrOsborne，thewholehousewouldhavehadtobedone；
buttobesurehewastheeldestson，soitwasbutlikely。’Mollywasamusedatthistestimonytotherightsofheirship；butsomehowsheherselfhadfallenintothefamilymannerofthinkingthatnothingwastoogreatortoogoodfor’theeldestson。’Inhisfather’seyes，OsbornewastherepresentativeoftheancienthouseofHamleyofHamley，thefutureownerofthelandwhichhadbeentheirsforathousandyears。Hismotherclungtohimbecausetheytwowerecastinthesamemould，bothphysicallyandmentally—becauseheborehermaidenname。ShehadindoctrinatedMollywithherfaith，and，inspiteofheramusementatthehousemaid’sspeech，thegirlvisitorwouldhavebeenasanxiousasanyonetoshowherfeudalloyaltytotheheir，ifindeedithadbeenhethatwascoming。Afterluncheon，MrsHamleywenttorest，inpreparationforRoger’sreturn；andMollyalsoretiredtoherownroom，feelingthatitwouldbebetterforhertoremainthereuntildinner—time，andsotoleavethefatherandmothertoreceivetheirboyinprivacy。ShetookabookofMS。poemswithher；theywereallofOsborneHamley’scomposition；andhismotherhadreadsomeofthemaloudtoheryoungvisitormorethanonce。Mollyhadaskedpermissiontocopyoneortwoofthosewhichwerehergreatestfavourites；andthisquietsummerafternoonshetookthiscopyingforheremployment，sittingatthepleasantopenwindow，andlosingherselfindreamyout—looksintothegardensandwoods，quiveringinthenoontideheat。Thehousewassostill，initssilenceitmighthavebeenthe’moatedgrange；’theboomingbuzzoftheblueflies，inthegreatstaircasewindow，seemedtheloudestnoisein—doors。
Andtherewasscarcelyasoundout—of—doorsbutthehummingofbees，intheflower—bedsbelowthewindow。Distantvoicesfromthefar—awayfieldsinwhichtheyweremakinghay—thescentofwhichcameinsuddenwaftsdistinctfromthatofthenearerrosesandhoney—suckles—thesemerrypipingvoicesjustmadeMollyfeelthedepthofthepresentsilence。Shehadleftoffcopying，herhandwearywiththeunusualexertionofsomuchwriting，andshewaslazilytryingtolearnoneortwoofthepoemsoffbyheart。Iaskedofthewind，butanswermadeitnone，Saveitsaccustomedsadandsolitarymoan—shekeptsayingtoherself，losinghersenseofwhatevermeaningthewordshadeverhad，intherepetitionwhichhadbecomemechanical。Suddenlytherewasthesnapofashuttinggate；wheelscranchingonthedrygravel，horses’
feetonthedrive；aloudcheerfulvoiceinthehouse，comingupthroughtheopenwindows，thehall，thepassages，thestaircase，withunwontedfulnessandroundnessoftone。Theentrance—halldownstairswaspavedwithdiamondsofblackandwhitemarble；thelowwidestaircasethatwentinshortflightsaroundthehall，tillyoucouldlookdownuponthemarblefloorfromthetopstoryofthehouse，wasuncarpeted—uncovered。Thesquirewastooproudofhisbeautifully—joinedoakenflooringtocoverthisstaircaseupunnecessarily；nottosayawordoftheusualstateofwantofreadymoneytoexpenduponthedecorationsofhishouse。So，throughtheundraperiedhollowsquareofthehallandstaircaseeverysoundascendedclearanddistinct；andMollyheardthesquire’sglad’Hollo！hereheis，’
andmadam’ssofter，moreplaintivevoice；andthentheloud，full，strangetone，whichsheknewmustbeRoger’s。Thentherewasanopeningandshuttingofdoors，andonlyadistantbuzzoftalking。Mollybeganagain—Iaskedofthewind，butanswermadeit，none。Andthistimeshehadnearlyfinishedlearningthepoem，whensheheardMrsHamleycomehastilyintohersitting—roomthatadjoinedMolly’sbedroom，andburstoutintoanirrepressiblehalf—hystericalfitofsobbing。Mollywastooyoungtohaveanycomplicationofmotiveswhichshouldpreventhergoingatoncetotryandgivewhatcomfortshecould。InaninstantshewaskneelingatMrsHamley’sfeet，holdingthepoorlady’shands，kissingthem，murmuringsoftwords；which，allunmeaningastheywereofaughtbutsympathywiththeuntoldgrief，didMrsHamleygood。Shecheckedherself，smilingsadlyatMollythroughthemidstofherthick—comingsobs。’It’sonlyOsborne，’saidshe，atlast。’Rogerhasbeentellingusabouthim。’’Whatabouthim？’askedMolly，eagerly。’IknewonMonday；wehadaletter—hesaidhehadnotdonesowellaswehadhoped—ashehadhopedhimself，poorfellow！Hesaidhehadjustpassed，—wasonlylowdownamongthejunioroptimes，andnotwherehehadexpected，andhadledustoexpect，Butthesquirehasneverbeenatcollege，anddoesnotunderstandcollegeterms，andhehasbeenaskingRogerallaboutit，andRogerhasbeentellinghim，andithasmadehimsoangry。Butthesquirehatescollegeslang；—hehasneverbeenthere，youknow；andhethoughtpoorOsbornewastakingittoolightly，andhehasbeenaskingRogeraboutit，andRoger——’Therewasafreshfitofthesobbingcrying。Mollyburstout，—’Idon’tthinkMrRogershouldhavetold；hehadnoneedtobeginsosoonabouthisbrother’sfailure。Why，hehasn’tbeeninthehouseanhour！’’Hush，hush，love！’saidMrsHamley。’Rogerissogood。Youdon’tunderstand。
ThesquireWouldbeginandaskquestionsbeforeRogerhadtastedfood—
assoonaseverwehadgotintothedining—room。Andallhesaid—tome，atanyrate—wasthatOsbornewasnervous，andthatifhecouldonlyhavegoneinfortheChancellor’smedals，hewouldhavecarriedallbeforehim。
ButRogersaidthatafterfailinglikethis，heisnotverylikelytogetafellowship，whichthesquirehadplacedhishopeson。Osbornehimselfseemedsosureofit，thatthesquirecan’tunderstandit，andisseriouslyangry，andgrowingmoresothemorehetalksaboutit。Hehaskeptitintwoorthreedays，andthatneversuitshim。Heisalwaysbetterwhenheisangryaboutathingatonce，anddoesnotletitsmoulderinhismind。
Poor，poorOsborne！Ididwishhehadbeencomingstraighthome，insteadofgoingtothesefriendsofhis；IthoughtIcouldhavecomfortedhim。
ButnowI’mglad，foritwillbebettertolethisfather’sangercoolfirst。’Sotalkingoutwhatwasinherheart，MrsHamleybecamemorecomposed；
andatlengthshedismissedMollytodressfordinner，withakiss，saying，—’You’rearealblessingtomothers，child！Yougiveonesuchpleasantsympathy，bothinone’sgladnessandinone’ssorrow；inone’spride（forIwassoproudlastweek，soconfident），andinone’sdisappointment。Andnowyourbeingafourthatdinnerwillkeepusoffthatsoresubject；therearetimeswhenastrangerinthehouseholdisawonderfulhelp。’Mollythoughtoverallthatshehadheard，asshewasdressingandputtingontheterrible，over—smartplaidgowninhonourofthenewarrival。HerunconsciousfealtytoOsbornewasnotintheleastshakenbyhishavingcometogriefatCambridge。Onlyshewasindignant—withorwithoutreason—againstRoger，whoseemedtohavebroughttherealityofbadnewsasanofferingoffirst—fruitsonhisreturnhome。Shewentdownintothedrawing—roomwithanythingbutawelcometohiminherheart。Hewasstandingbyhismother；thesquirehadnotyetmadehisappearance。Mollythoughtthatthetwowerehandinhandwhenshefirstopenedthedoor，butshecouldnotbequitesure。MrsHamleycamealittleforwardstomeether，andintroducedherinsofondlyintimateawaytoherson，thatMolly，innocentandsimple，knowingnothingbutHollingfordmanners，whichwereanythingbutformal，halfputoutherhandtoshakehandswithoneofwhomshehadheardsomuch—thesonofsuchkindfriends。
Shecouldonlyhopehehadnotseenthemovement，forhemadenoattempttorespondtoit；onlybowed。Hewasatallpowerfully—madeyoungman，givingtheimpressionofstrengthmorethanelegance。Hisfacewasrathersquare，ruddy—coloured（ashisfatherhadsaid），hairandeyesbrown—thelatterratherdeep—setbeneathhisthickeyebrows；andhehadatrickofwrinklinguphiseyelidswhenhewantedparticularlytoobserveanything，whichmadehiseyeslookevensmallerstillatsuchtimes。Hehadalargemouth，withexcessivelymobilelips；andanothertrickofhiswas，thatwhenhewasamusedatanything，heresistedtheimpulsetolaugh，byadrollmanneroftwitchingandpuckeringuphismouth，tillatlengththesenseofhumourhaditsway，andhisfeaturesrelaxed，andhebrokeintoabroadsunnysmile；hisbeautifulteeth—hisonlybeautifulfeature—breakingoutwithawhitegleamuponthered—browncountenance。Thesetwotricksofhis—ofcrumplinguptheeyelids，soastoconcentratethepowerofsight，whichmadehimlooksternandthoughtful；