Sheherselfremainedindoors，withoneortwoladieswhohadventuredtothinkthatthefatigueortheheatmightbetoomuchforthem，andwhohadthereforedeclinedaccompanyingtheladiesinchargeofMrsKirkpatrick，orthoseotherfavouredfewtowhomLordCumnorwasexplainingthenewbuildingsinhisfarm—yard。’Withtheutmostcondescension，’asherhearersafterwardsexpressedit，LadyCumnortoldthemallabouthermarrieddaughters’
establishments，nurseries，plansfortheeducationoftheirchildren，andmannerofpassingtheday。Buttheexertiontiredher；andwheneveryonehadleft，theprobabilityisthatshewouldhavegonetoliedownandrest，hadnotherhusbandmadeanunluckyremarkinthekindnessofhisheart。
Hecameuptoherandputhishandonhershoulder。’I’mafraidyou’resadlytired，mylady？’hesaid。Shebracedhermuscles，anddrewherselfup，sayingcoldly，—’WhenIamtired，LordCumnor，Iwilltellyouso。’Andherownfatigueshoweditselfduringtherestoftheeveninginhersittingparticularlyupright，anddecliningalloffersofeasy—chairsorfootstools，andrefusingtheinsultofasuggestionthattheyshouldallgotobedearlier。ShewentoninsomethingofthiskindofmanneraslongasLordCumnorremainedattheTowers。MrsKirkpatrickwasquitedeceivedbyit，andkeptassuringLordCumnorthatshehadneverseendearLadyCumnorlookingbetter，orsostrongandwell。Buthehadanaffectionateheart，ifablunderinghead；
andthoughhecouldgivenoreasonforhisbelief，hewasalmostcertainhiswifewasnotwell。YethewastoomuchafraidofhertosendforMrGibsonwithoutherpermission。HislastwordstoClarewere，—’It’ssuchacomforttoleavemyladytoyou；onlydon’tyoubedeludedbyherways。She’llnotshowshe’silltillshecan’thelpit。ConsultwithBradley，’（LadyCumnor’s’ownwoman，’—shedislikedthenew—fanglednessof’lady’s—maid，’）’andifIwereyou，I’dsendandaskGibsontocall—youmightmakeanykindofapretence，’—andthentheideahehadhadinLondonofthefitnessofamatchbetweenthetwocomingintohisheadjustnow，hecouldnothelpadding，—’Gethimtocomeandseeyou，he’saveryagreeableman；LordHollingfordsaysthere’snoonelikehimintheseparts：andhemightbelookingatmyladywhilehewastalkingtoyou，andseeifhethinksherreallyill。Andletmeknowwhathesaysabouther。’ButClarewasjustasgreatacowardaboutdoinganythingforLadyCumnorwhichshehadnotexpresslyordered，asLordCumnorhimself。SheknewshemightfallintosuchdisgraceifshesentforMrGibsonwithoutdirectpermission，thatshemightneverbeaskedtostayattheTowersagain；
andthelifethere，monotonousinitssmoothnessofluxuryasitmightbetosome，wasexactlytohertaste。SheinherturntriedtoputuponBradleythedutywhichLordCumnorhadputuponher。’MrsBradley，’shesaidoneday，’areyouquitecomfortableaboutmylady’shealth？LordCumnorfanciedthatshewaslookingwornandill？’’Indeed，MrsKirkpatrick，Idon’tthinkmyladyisherself。Ican’tpersuademyselfassheis，thoughifyouwastoquestionmetillnightIcouldn’ttellyouwhy。’’Don’tyouthinkyoucouldmakesomeerrandtoHollingford，andseeMrGibson，andaskhimtocomeroundthiswaysomeday，andmakeacallonLadyCumnor？’’Itwouldbeasmuchasmyplaceisworth，MrsKirkpatrick。Tillmylady’sdyingday，ifProvidencekeepsherinhersenses，she’llhaveeverythingdoneherownway，ornotatall。There’sonlyLadyHarrietthatcanmanageheratall，andshenotalways。’’Well，then—wemusthopethatthereisnothingthematterwithher；andIdaresaythereisnot。Shesaysthereisnot，andsheoughttoknowbestherself。’Butadayortwoafterthisconversationtookplace，LadyCumnorstartledMrsKirkpatrick，bysayingsuddenly，—’Clare，Iwishyou’dwriteanotetoMrGibson，saying，Ishouldliketoseehimthisafternoon。Ithoughthewouldhavecalledofhimselfbeforenow。Heoughttohavedoneso，topayhisrespects。’MrGibsonhadbeenfartoobusyinhisprofessiontohavetimeformerevisitsofceremony，thoughheknewquitewellhewasneglectingwhatwasexpectedofhim。Butthedistrictofwhichhemaybesaidtohavehadmedicalchargewasfullofabadkindoflowfever，whichtookupallhistimeandthought，andoftenmadehimverythankfulthatMollywasoutofthewayinthequietshadesofHamley。Hisdomestic’raws’hadnothealedoverintheleast，thoughhewasobligedtoputtheperplexitiesononesideforthetime。Thelastdrop—thefinalstraw，hadbeenanimpromptuvisitofLordHollingford’s，whomhehadmetinthetownoneforenoon。Theyhadhadagooddealtosaytoeachotheraboutsomenewscientificdiscovery，withthedetailsofwhichLordHollingfordwaswellacquainted，whileMrGibsonwasignorantanddeeplyinterested。
AtlengthLordHollingfordsaidsuddenly，—’Gibson，Iwonderifyou’dgivemesomelunch；I’vebeenagooddealaboutsincemyseven—o’clockbreakfast，andamgettingquiteravenous。’NowMrGibsonwasonlytoomuchpleasedtoshowhospitalitytoonewhomhelikedandrespectedsomuchasLordHollingford，andhegladlytookhimhomewithhimtotheearlyfamilydinner。ButitwasjustatthetimewhenthecookwassulkingatBethia’sdismissal—andshechosetobeunpunctualandcareless。TherewasnosuccessortoBethiaasyetappointedtowaitatthemeals。So，thoughMrGibsonknewwellthatbread—and—cheese，coldbeef，orthesimplestfoodavailable，wouldhavebeenwelcometothehungrylord，hecouldnotgeteitherthesethingsforluncheon，oreventhefamilydinner，atanythinglikethepropertime，inspiteofallhisringing，andasmuchangerashelikedtoshow，forfearofmakingLordHollingforduncomfortable。Atlastdinnerwasready，butthepoorhostsawthewantofnicety—almostthewantofcleanliness，inallitsaccompaniments—
dingyplate，dull—lookingglass，atablecloththat，ifnotabsolutelydirty，wasanythingbutfreshinitssplashedandrumpledcondition，andcompareditinhisownmindwiththedaintydelicacywithwhichevenaloafofbrownbreadwasservedupathisguest’shome。Hedidnotapologizedirectly，but，afterdinner，justastheywereparting，hesaid，—’Youseeamanlikeme—awidower—withadaughterwhocannotalwaysbeathome—hasnottheregulatedhouseholdwhichwouldenablemetocommandthesmallportionsoftimeIcanspendthere。’Hemadenoallusiontothecomfortlessmealofwhichtheyhadbothpartaken，thoughitwasfullinhismind。NorwasitabsentfromLordHollingford’s，ashemadereply，—’True，true。Yetamanlikeyououghttobefreefromanythoughtofhouseholdcares。Yououghttohavesomebody。HowoldisMissGibson？’’Seventeen。It’saveryawkwardageforamotherlessgirl。’’Yes；very。Ihaveonlyboys，butitmustbeveryawkwardwithagirl。
Excuseme，Gibson，butwe’retalkinglikefriends。Haveyouneverthoughtofmarryingagain？Itwouldnotbelikeafirstmarriage，ofcourse；butifyoufoundasensibleagreeablewomanofthirtyorso，Ireallythinkyoucouldn’tdobetterthantakehertomanageyourhome，andsosaveyoueitherdiscomfortorworry；and，besides，shewouldbeabletogiveyourdaughterthatkindoftendersupervisionwhich，Ifancy，allgirlsofthatagerequire。It’sadelicatesubject，butyou’llexcusemyhavingspokenfrankly。’MrGibsonhadthoughtofthisadviceseveraltimessinceitwasgiven；
butitwasacaseof’firstcatchyourhare。’Wherewasthe’sensibleandagreeablewomanofthirtyorso？’NotMissBrowning，norMissPhoebe，norMissGoodenough。Amonghiscountrypatientsthereweretwoclassesprettydistinctlymarked：farmers，whosechildrenwereunrefinedanduneducated；
squires，whosedaughterswould，indeedthinktheworldwascomingtoaprettypass，iftheyweretomarryacountrysurgeon。ButthefirstdayonwhichMrGibsonpaidhisvisittoLadyCumnor，hebegantothinkitpossiblethatMrsKirkpatrickwashis’hare。’Herodeawaywithslackrein，thinkingoverwhatheknewofher，morethanabouttheprescriptionsheshouldwrite，orthewayhewasgoing。HerememberedherasaveryprettyMissClare：thegovernesswhohadthescarletfever；
thatwasinhiswife’sdays，alongtimeago；hecouldhardlyunderstandMrsKirkpatrick’syouthfulnessofappearancewhenhethoughthowlong。
Thenheheardofhermarriagetoacurate；andthenextday（orsoitseemed，hecouldnotrecollecttheexactdurationoftheinterval），ofhisdeath。
Heknew，insomeway，thateversinceshehadbeenlivingasagovernessindifferentfamilies；butthatshehadalwaysbeenagreatfavouritewiththefamilyattheTowers，forwhom，quiteindependentoftheirrank，hehadatruerespect。Ayearortwoagohehadheardthatshehadtakenthegood—willofaschoolatAshcombe；asmalltownclosetoanotherpropertyofLordCumnor’s，inthesamecounty。AshcombewasalargerestatethanthatnearHollingford，buttheoldManor—housetherewasnotnearlysogoodaresidenceastheTowers；soitwasgivenuptoMrPreston，theland—agent，fortheAshcombeproperty，justasMrSheepshankswasforthatatHollingford。
TherewereafewroomsattheManor—housereservedfortheoccasionalvisitsofthefamily，otherwiseMrPreston，ahandsomeyoungbachelor，haditalltohimself。MrGibsonknewthatMrsKirkpatrickhadonechild，adaughter，whomustbemuchaboutthesameageasMolly。Ofcourseshehadverylittle，ifany，property。Buthehimselfhadlivedcarefully，andhadafewthousandswellinvested；besideswhich，hisprofessionalincomewasgood，andincreasingratherthandiminishingeveryyear。Bythetimehehadarrivedatthispointinhisconsiderationofthecase，hewasatthehouseofthenextpatientonhisround，andheputawayallthoughtofmatrimonyandMrsKirkpatrickforthetime。Onceagain，inthecourseoftheday，herememberedwithacertainpleasurethatMollyhadtoldhimsomelittledetailsconnectedwithherunluckydetentionattheTowersfiveorsixyearsago，whichhadmadehimfeelatthetimeasifMrsKirkpatrickhadbehavedverykindlytohislittlegirl。Sotherethematterrestedforthepresent，asfarashewasconcerned。LadyCumnorwasoutofhealth；butnotsoillasshehadbeenfancyingherselfduringallthosedayswhenthepeopleaboutherdarednotsendforthedoctor。ItwasagreatrelieftohertohaveMrGibsontodecideforherwhatshewastodo；whattoeat，drink，avoid。Suchdecisionsabextra，aresometimesawonderfulrelieftothosewhosehabitithasbeentodecide，notonlyforthemselves，butforeveryoneelse；andoccasionallytherelaxationofthestrainwhichacharacterforinfalliblewisdombringswithit，doesmuchtorestorehealth。MrsKirkpatrickthoughtinhersecretsoulthatshehadneverfounditsoeasytogetonwithLadyCumnor；andBradleyandshehadneverdonesingingthepraisesofMrGibson，’whoalwaysmanagedmyladysobeautifully。’Reportsweredulysentuptomylord，butheandherdaughterswerestrictlyforbiddentocomedown。LadyCumnorwishedtobeweakandlanguid，anduncertainbothinbodyandmind，withoutfamilyobservation。
Itwasaconditionsodifferenttoanythingshehadeverbeeninbefore，thatshewasunconsciouslyafraidoflosingherprestige，ifshewasseeninit。Sometimessheherselfwrotethedailybulletins；atothertimesshebadeClaretodoit，butshewouldalwaysseetheletters。Anyanswersshereceivedfromherdaughterssheusedtoreadherself，occasionallyimpartingsomeoftheircontentsto’thatgoodClare。’Butanybodymightreadmylord’sletters。Therewasnogreatfearoffamilysecretsoozingoutinhissprawlinglinesofaffection。ButonceMrsKirkpatrickcameuponasentenceinaletterfromLordCumnor，whichshewasreadingoutloudtohiswife，thatcaughthereyebeforeshecametoit，andifshecouldhaveskippeditandkeptitforprivateperusal，shewouldgladlyhavedoneso。Myladywastoosharpforher，though。Inheropinion’Clarewasagoodcreature，butnotclever，’thetruthbeingthatshewasnotalwaysquickatresources，thoughtolerablyunscrupulousintheuseofthem。’Readon。Whatareyoustoppingfor？Thereisnobadnews，isthere，aboutAgnes？—Givemetheletter。’LadyCumnorread，halfaloud，—’\"HowareClareandGibsongettingon？Youdespisedmyadvicetohelponthataffair，butIreallythinkalittlematch—makingwouldbeaverypleasantamusementnowthatyouareshutupinthehouse；andIcannotconceiveanymarriagemoresuitable。\"’’Oh！’saidLadyCumnor，laughing，’itwasawkwardforyoutocomeuponthat，Clare：Idon’twonderyoustoppedshort。Yougavemeaterriblefright，though。’’LordCumnorissofondofjoking，’saidMrsKirkpatrick，alittleflurried，yetquiterecognizingthetruthofhislastwords，—’Icannotconceiveanymarriagemoresuitable。’ShewonderedwhatLadyCumnorthoughtofit。
LordCumnorwroteasiftherewasreallyachance。Itwasnotanunpleasantidea；itbroughtafaintsmileoutuponherface，asshesatebyLadyCumnor，whilethelattertookherafternoonnap。
chapter10CHAPTERXACRISISMrsKirkpatrickhadbeenreadingaloudtillLadyCumnorfellasleep，thebookrestedonherknee，justkeptfromfallingbyherhold。Shewaslookingoutofthewindow，notseeingthetreesinthepark，northeglimpsesofthehillsbeyond，butthinkinghowpleasantitwouldbetohaveahusbandoncemore；—someonewhowouldworkwhileshesateathereleganteaseinaprettily—furnisheddrawing—room；andshewasrapidlyinvestingthisimaginarybread—winnerwiththeformandfeaturesofthecountrysurgeon，whentherewasaslighttapatthedoor，andalmostbeforeshecouldrise，theobjectofherthoughtscamein。Shefeltherselfblush，andshewasnotdispleasedattheconsciousness。Sheadvancedtomeethim，makingasigntowardshersleepingladyship。’Verygood，’saidhe，inalowvoice，castingaprofessionaleyeontheslumberingfigure；’canIspeaktoyouforaminuteortwointhelibrary？’’Ishegoingtooffer？’thoughtshe，withasuddenpalpitation，andaconvictionofherwillingnesstoacceptamanwhomanhourbeforeshehadsimplylookeduponasoneofthecategoryofunmarriedmentowhommatrimonywaspossible。Hewasonlygoingtomakeoneortwomedicalinquiries；shefoundthatoutveryspeedily，andconsideredtheconversationasratherflattoher，thoughitmightbeinstructivetohim。Shewasnotawarethathefinallymadeuphismindtopropose，duringthetimethatshewasspeaking—answeringhisquestionsinmanywords，buthewasaccustomedtowinnowthechafffromthecorn；andhervoicewassosoft，heraccentsopleasant，thatitstruckhimasparticularlyagreeableafterthebroadcountryaccenthewasperpetuallyhearing。Thentheharmoniouscoloursofherdress，andherslowandgracefulmovements，hadsomethingofthesamesoothingeffectuponhisnervesthatacat’spurringhasuponsomepeople’s。Hebegantothinkthatheshouldbefortunateifhecouldwinher，forhisownsake。
YesterdayhehadlookeduponhermoreasapossiblestepmotherforMolly；
to—dayhethoughtmoreofherasawifeforhimself。TheremembranceofLordCumnor’slettergaveheraverybecomingconsciousness；shewishedtoattract，andhopedthatshewassucceeding。Stilltheyonlytalkedofthecountess’sstateforsometime；thenaluckyshowercameon。MrGibsondidnotcareajotforrain，butjustnowitgavehimanexcuseforlingering。’Itisverystormyweather，’saidhe。’Yes，very。Mydaughterwritesmeword，thatfortwodayslastweekthepacketcouldnotsailfromBoulogne。’’MissKirkpatrickisatBoulogne，isshe？’’Yes，poorgirl；sheisatschoolthere，tryingtoperfectherselfintheFrenchlanguage。But，MrGibson，youmustnotcallherMissKirkpatrick。
Cynthiaremembersyouwithsomuch—affection，Imaysay。Shewasyourlittlepatientwhenshehadthemeaslesherefouryearsago，youknow。
PraycallherCynthia；shewouldbequitehurtatsuchaformalnameasMissKirkpatrickfromyou。’’Cynthiaseemstomesuchanout—of—the—wayname，onlyfitforpoetry，notfordailyuse。’’Itismine，’saidMrsKirkpatrick，inaplaintivetoneofreproach。’I
waschristenedHyacinth，andherpoorfatherwouldhavecalledherafterme。I’msorryyoudon’tlikeit。’MrGibsondidnotknowwhattosay。Hewasnotquitepreparedtoplungeintothedirectlypersonalstyle。Whilehewashesitating，shewenton，—’HyacinthClare！OnceuponatimeIwasquiteproudofmyprettyname；
andotherpeoplethoughtitpretty，too。’’I’venodoubt—’MrGibsonbegan；andthenstopped。’PerhapsIdidwronginyieldingtohiswish，tohavehercalledbysucharomanticname。Itmayexciteprejudiceagainstherinsomepeople；and，poorchild！shewillhaveenoughtostrugglewith。Ayoungdaughterisagreatcharge，MrGibson，especiallywhenthereisonlyoneparenttolookafterher。’’Youarequiteright，’saidhe，recalledtotheremembranceofMolly；’thoughIshouldhavethoughtthatagirlwhoissofortunateastohaveamothercouldnotfeelthelossofherfathersoacutelyasonewhoismotherlessmustsufferfromherdeprivation。’’Youarethinkingofyourowndaughter。ItwascarelessofmetosaywhatIdid。Dearchild！howwellIrememberhersweetlittlefaceasshelaysleepingonmybed。Isupposesheisnearlygrown—upnow。ShemustbenearmyCynthia’sage。HowIshouldliketoseeher！’’Ihopeyouwill。Ishouldlikeyoutoseeher。IshouldlikeyoutolovemypoorlittleMolly，—toloveherasyourown—’Heswalloweddownsomethingthatroseinhisthroat，andwasnearlychokinghim。’Ishegoingtooffer？Ishe？’shewondered；andshebegantotrembleinthesuspensebeforehenextspoke。’Couldyouloveherasyourdaughter？Willyoutry？Willyougivemetherightofintroducingyoutoherasherfuturemother；asmywife？’There！hehaddoneit—whetheritwaswiseorfoolish—hehaddoneit；
buthewasawarethatthequestionastoitswisdomcameintohismindtheinstantthatthewordsweresaidpastrecall。Shehidherfaceinherhands。’Oh！MrGibson，’shesaid；andthen，alittletohissurprise，andagreatdealtoherown，sheburstintohystericaltears：itwassuchawonderfulrelieftofeelthatsheneednotstruggleanymoreforalivelihood。’Mydear—mydearest，’saidhe，tryingtosootheherwithwordandcaress；
but，justatthemoment，uncertainwhatnameheoughttouse。Afterhersobbinghadabatedalittle，shesaidherself，asifunderstandinghisdifficulty，—’CallmeHyacinth—yourownHyacinth。Ican’tbear\"Clare，\"itdoessoremindmeofbeingagoverness，andthosedaysareallpastnow。’’Yes；butsurelynoonecanhavebeenmorevalued，morebelovedthanyouhavebeeninthisfamilyatleast。’’Oh，yes！theyhavebeenverygood。Butstillonehasalwayshadtorememberone’sposition。’’WeoughttotellLadyCumnor，’saidhe，thinking，perhaps，moreofthevariousdutieswhichlaybeforehim，inconsequenceofthestephehadjusttaken，thanofwhathisfuturebridewassaying。’You’lltellher，won’tyou？’saidshe，lookingupinhisfacewithbeseechingeyes。’Ialwayslikeotherpeopletotellherthings，andthenIcanseehowshetakesthem。’’Certainly！Iwilldowhateveryouwish。Shallwegoandseeifsheisawakenow？’’No！Ithinknot。Ihadbetterprepareher。Youwillcometo—morrow，won’tyou？andyouwilltellherthen。’’Yes；thatwillbebest。IoughttotellMollyfirst。Shehastherighttoknow。Idohopeyouandshewillloveeachotherdearly。’’Oh，yes！I’msureweshall。Thenyou’llcometo—morrowandtellLadyCumnor？
AndI’llprepareher。’’Idon’tseewhatpreparationisnecessary；butyouknowbest，mydear。
WhencanwearrangeforyouandMollytomeet？’Justthenaservantcamein，andthepairstartedapart。’Herladyshipisawake，andwishestoseeMrGibson。’Theybothfollowedthemanupstairs；MrsKirkpatricktryinghardtolookasifnothinghadhappened，forsheparticularlywished’toprepare’LadyCumnor；thatistosay，togiveherversionofMrGibson’sextremeurgency，andherowncoyunwillingness。ButLadyCumnorhadobservanteyesinsicknessaswellasinhealth。Shehadgonetosleepwiththerecollectionofthepassageinherhusband’sletterfullinhermind，and，perhaps，itgaveadirectiontoherwakeningideas。’I’mgladyou’renotgone，MrGibson。Iwantedtotellyou——What’sthematterwithyouboth？WhathaveyoubeensayingtoClare？I’msuresomethinghashappened。’Therewasnothingforit，inMrGibson’sopinion，buttomakeacleanbreastofit，andtellherladyshipall。Heturnedround，andtookholdofMrsKirkpatrick’shand，andsaidoutstraight，’IhavebeenaskingMrsKirkpatricktobemywife，andtobeamothertomychild；andshehasconsented。I
hardlyknowhowtothankherenoughinwords。’’Umph！Idon’tseeanyobjection。Idaresayyou’llbeveryhappy。I’mverygladofit！Here！shakehandswithme，bothofyou。’Thenlaughingalittle，sheadded，’Itdoesnotseemtomethatanyexertionhasbeenrequiredonmypart。’MrGibsonlookedperplexedatthesewords。MrsKirkpatrickreddened。’Didshenottellyou？Oh，then，Imust。It’stoogoodajoketobelost，especiallyaseverythinghasendedsowell。WhenLordCumnor’slettercamethismorning—thisverymorning—IgaveittoClaretoreadaloudtome，andIsawshesuddenlycametoafullstop，wherenofullstopcouldbe，andIthoughtitwassomethingaboutAgnes，soItooktheletterandread—stay！I’llreadthesentencetoyou。Where’stheletter，Clare？
Oh！don’ttroubleyourself，hereitis。\"HowareClareandGibsongettingon？Youdespisedmyadvicetohelponthataffair，butIreallythinkalittlematch—makingwouldbeaverypleasantamusementnowthatyouareshutupinthehouse；andIcannotconceiveanymarriagemoresuitable。\"
Yousee，youhavemylord’sfullapprobation。ButImustwrite，andtellhimyouhavemanagedyourownaffairswithoutanyinterferenceofmine。
Nowwe’lljusthavealittlemedicaltalk，MrGibson，andthenyouandClareshallfinishyourtete—a—tete。’TheywereneitherofthemquitsasdesirousoffurtherconversationtogetherastheyhadbeenbeforethepassageoutofLordCumnor’sletterhadbeenreadaloud。MrGibsontriednottothinkaboutit，forhewasawarethatifhedweltuponit，hemightgettofancyallsortsofthings，astotheconversationwhichhadendedinhisoffer。ButLadyCumnorwasimperiousnow，asalways。’Come，nononsense。Ialwaysmademygirlsgoandhavetete—a—teteswiththemenwhoweretobetheirhusbands，whethertheywouldorno：there’sagreatdealtobetalkedoverbeforeeverymarriage，andyoutwoarecertainlyoldenoughtobeaboveaffectation。Goawaywithyou。’Sotherewasnothingforitbutforthemtoreturntothelibrary；MrsKirkpatrickpoutingalittle，andMrGibsonfeelingmorelikehisowncool，sarcasticself，bymanydegrees，thanhehaddonewhenlastinthatroom。Shebegan，halfcrying，—’IcannottellwhatpoorKirkpatrickwouldsayifheknewwhatIhavedone。
Hedidsodislikethenotionofsecondmarriages，poorfellow。’’Letushopethathedoesnotknow，then；orthat，ifhedoesknow，heiswiser—Imean，thatheseeshowsecondmarriagesmaybemostdesirableandexpedientinsomecases。’Altogether，thissecondtete—a—tete，donetocommand，wasnotsosatisfactoryasthefirst；andMrGibsonwasquitealivetothenecessityofproceedingonhisroundtoseehispatientsbeforeverymuchtimehadelapsed。’Weshallshakedownintouniformitybeforelong，I’venodoubt，’saidhetohimself，asherodeaway。’It’shardlytobeexpectedthatourthoughtsshouldruninthesamegrooveallatonce。NorshouldIlikeit，’headded。
’Itwouldbeveryflatandstagnanttohaveonlyanechoofone’sownopinionsfromone’swife。Heigho！ImusttellMollyaboutit：dearlittlewoman，Iwonderhowshe’lltakeit！It’sdone，inagreatmeasure，forhergood。’
AndthenhelosthimselfinrecapitulatingMrsKirkpatrick’sgoodqualities，andtheadvantagestobegainedtohisdaughterfromthestephehadjusttaken。ItwastoolatetogoroundbyHamleythatafternoon。TheTowersandtheTowers’roundlayjustintheoppositedirectiontoHamley。SoitwasthenextmorningbeforeMrGibsonarrivedatthehall，timinghisvisitaswellashecouldsoastohavehalf—an—hour’sprivatetalkwithMollybeforeMrsHamleycamedownintothedrawing—room。Hethoughtthathisdaughterwouldrequiresympathyafterreceivingtheintelligencehehadtocommunicate；
andheknewtherewasnoonemorefittogiveitthanMrsHamley。Itwasabrilliantlyhotsummer’smorning；menintheirshirt—sleeveswereinthefieldsgettingintheearlyharvestofoats；asMrGibsonrodeslowlyalong，hecouldseethemoverthetallhedge—rows，andevenhearthesoothingmeasuredsoundofthefallofthelongswathes，astheyweremown。Thelabourersseemedtoohottotalk；thedog，guardingtheircoatsandcans，laypantingloudlyontheothersideoftheelm，underwhichMrGibsonstoppedforaninstanttosurveythescene，andgainalittledelaybeforetheinterviewthathewishedwaswellover。Inanotherminutehehadsnappedathimselfforhisweakness，andputspurstohishorse。Hecameuptothehallatagoodsharptrot；itwasearlierthantheusualtimeofhisvisits，andnoonewasexpectinghim；allthestablemenwereinthefields，butthatsignifiedlittletoMrGibson；hewalkedhishorseaboutforfiveminutesorsobeforetakinghimintothestable，andloosenedhisgirths，examininghimwithperhapsunnecessaryexactitude。Hewentintothehousebyaprivatedoor，andmadehiswayintothedrawing—room，halfexpecting，however，thatMollywouldbeinthegarden。Shehadbeenthere，butitwastoohotanddazzlingnowforhertoremainoutofdoors，andshehadcomeinbytheopenwindowofthedrawing—room。Oppressedwiththeheat，shehadfallenasleepinaneasy—chair，herbonnetandopenbookuponherknee，onearmhanginglistlesslydown。Shelookedverysoft，andyoung，andchildlike；andagushoflovesprangintoherfather’sheartashegazedather。’Molly！’saidhe，gently，takingthelittlebrownhandthatwashangingdown，andholdingitinhisown。’Molly！’Sheopenedhereyes，thatforonemomenthadnorecognitioninthem。Thenthelightcamebrilliantlyintothemandshesprangup，andthrewherarmsroundhisneck，exclaiming，—’Oh，papa，mydear，dearpapa！WhatmadeyoucomewhileIwasasleep？I
lovethepleasureofwatchingforyou。’MrGibsonturnedalittlepalerthanhehadbeenbefore。Hestillheldherhand，anddrewhertoaseatbyhimonasofa，withoutspeaking。Therewasnoneed；shewaschatteringaway。’Iwasupsoearly！Itissocharmingtobeouthereinthefreshmorningair。Ithinkthatmademesleepy。Butisn’titagloriouslyhotday？I
wonderiftheItalianskiestheytalkaboutcanbebluerthanthat—thatlittlebityouseejustbetweentheoaks—there！’Shepulledherhandaway，andusedbothitandtheothertoturnherfather’shead，sothatheshouldexactlyseetheverybitshemeant。Shewasratherstruckbyhisunusualsilence。’HaveyouheardfromMissEyre，papa？Howaretheyall？Andthisfeverthatisabout？Doyouknow，papa，Idon’tthinkyouarelookingwell？Youwantmeathometotakecareofyou。HowsoonmayIcomehome？’’Don’tIlookwell？Thatmustbeallyourfancy，goosey。Ifeeluncommonlywell；andIoughttolookwell，for——Ihaveapieceofnewsforyou，littlewoman。’（Hefeltthathewasdoinghisbusinessveryawkwardly，buthewasdeterminedtoplungeon。）’Canyouguessit？’’HowshouldI？’saidshe；buthertonewaschanged，andshewasevidentlyuneasy，aswiththepresageofaninstinct。