第11章
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  Iwanttomakeyourhomeaplaceofrestandcomforttoyou;andIdosowishtocherishyoursweetMolly,asIhopetodo,whenIcometobehermother。Ican’ttakevirtuetomyselfwhichdoesn’tbelongtome。IfI

  havetospeakformyself,Ishallsay,\"Goodpeople,findaschoolforyourdaughtersbyMichaelmas,—forafterthattimeImustgoandmakethehappinessofothers。\"Ican’tbeartothinkofyourlongridesinNovember—cominghomewetatnightwithnoonetotakecareofyou。Oh!ifyouleaveittome,Ishalladvisetheparentstotaketheirdaughtersawayfromthecareofonewhoseheartwillbeabsent。ThoughIcouldn’tconsenttoanytimebeforeMichaelmas—thatwouldn’tbefairorright,andI’msureyouwouldn’turgeme—youaretoogood。’’Well,ifyouthinkthattheywillconsiderwehaveacteduprightlybythem,letitbeMichaelmaswithallmyheart。WhatdoesLadyCumnorsay?’’Oh!ItoldherIwasafraidyouwouldn’tlikewaiting,becauseofyourdifficultieswithyourservants,andbecauseofMolly—itwouldbesodesirabletoenteronthenewrelationshipwithherassoonaspossible。’’Tobesure;soitwould。Poorchild!I’mafraidtheintelligenceofmyengagementhasratherstartledher。’’Cynthiawillfeelitdeeply,too,’saidMrsKirkpatrick,unwillingtoletherdaughterbebehindMrGibson’sinsensibilityandaffection。’Wewillhaveherovertothewedding!SheandMollyshallbebridesmaids,’

  saidMrGibson,intheunguardedwarmthofhisheart。ThisplandidnotquitesuitMrsKirkpatrick;butshethoughtitbestnottoopposeit,untilshehadapresentableexcusetogive,andperhapsalsosomereasonwouldnaturallyariseoutoffuturecircumstances;soatthistimesheonlysmiled,andsoftlypressedthehandsheheldinhers。ItisaquestionwhetherMrsKirkpatrickorMollywishedthemostforthedaytobeoverwhichtheyweretospendtogetherattheTowers。MrsKirkpatrickwasratherwearyofgirlsasaclass。Allthetrialsofherlifewereconnectedwithgirlsinsomeway。Shewasveryyoungwhenshefirstbecameagoverness,andhadbeenworstedinherstruggleswithherpupils,inthefirstplacesheeverwentto。Hereleganceofappearanceandmanner,andheraccomplishments,morethanhercharacterandacquirements,hadrendereditmoreeasyforherthanformosttoobtaingood’situations;’andshehadbeenabsolutelypettedinsome;butstillshewasconstantlyencounteringnaughtyorstubborn,orover—conscientious,orsevere—judging,orcuriousandobservantgirls。

  Andagain,beforeCynthiawasborn,shehadlongedforaboy,thinkingitpossiblethatifsomethreeorfourinterveningrelationsdied,hemightcometobeabaronet;andinsteadofason,loandbeholditwasadaughter!

  Nevertheless,withallherdisliketogirlsintheabstractas’theplaguesofherlife’(andheraversionwasnotdiminishedbythefactofherhavingkeptaschoolfor’youngladies’atAshcombe),shereallymeanttobeaskindasshecouldbetohernewstep—daughter,whomsherememberedprincipallyasablack—haired,sleepychild,inwhoseeyesshehadreadadmirationofherself。MrsKirkpatrickacceptedMrGibsonprincipallybecauseshewastiredofthestruggleofearningherownlivelihood;butshelikedhimpersonally—nay,sheevenlovedhiminhertorpidway,andsheintendedtobegoodtohisdaughter,thoughshefeltasifitwouldhavebeeneasierforhertohavebeengoodtohisson。Mollywasbracingherselfupinherwaytoo。’IwillbelikeHarriet。I

  willthinkofothers。Iwon’tthinkofmyself,’shekeptrepeatingallthewaytotheTowers。Buttherewasnoselfishnessinwishingthatthedaywascometoanend,andthatshedidveryheartily。MrsHamleysentherthitherinthecarriage,whichwastowaitandbringherbackatnight。

  MrsHamleywantedMollytomakeafavourableimpression,andshesentforhertocomeandshowherselfbeforeshesetout。’Don’tputonyoursilkgown—yourwhitemuslinwilllookthenicest,mydear。’’Notmysilk?itisquitenew!Ihadittocomehere。’’Still,Ithinkyourwhitemuslinsuitsyouthebest。’’Anythingbutthathorridplaidsilk’wasthethoughtinMrsHamley’smind;and,thankstoher,MollysetofffortheTowers,lookingalittlequaint,itistrue,butthoroughlyladylike,ifshewasold—fashioned。Herfatherwastomeetherthere;buthehadbeendetained,andshehadtofaceMrsKirkpatrickbyherself,therecollectionofherlastdayofmiseryattheTowersfreshinhermindasifithadbeenyesterday。MrsKirkpatrickwasascaressingascouldbe。SheheldMolly’shandinhers,astheysatetogetherinthelibrary,afterthefirstsalutationswereover。Shekeptstrokingitfromtimetotime,andpurringoutinarticulatesoundsoflovingsatisfaction,asshegazedintheblushingface。’Whateyes!solikeyourdearfather’s!Howweshallloveeachother—

  shan’twe,darling?Forhissake!’’I’lltry,’saidMolly,bravely;andthenshecouldnotfinishhersentence。’Andyou’vejustgotthesamebeautifulblackcurlinghair!’saidMrsKirkpatrick,softlyliftingoneofMolly’scurlsfromoffherwhitetemple。’Papa’shairisgrowinggrey,’saidMolly。’Isit?Ineverseeit。Inevershallseeit。Hewillalwaysbetomethehandsomestofmen。’MrGibsonwasreallyaveryhandsomeman,andMollywaspleasedwiththecompliment;butshecouldnothelpsaying,—’Stillhewillgrowold,andhishairwillgrowgrey。Ithinkhewillbejustashandsome,butitwon’tbeasayoungman。’’Ah!that’sjustit,love。He’llalwaysbehandsome;somepeoplealwaysare。Andheissofondofyou,dear。’Molly’scolourflashedintoherface。

  Shedidnotwantanassuranceofherownfather’slovefromthisstrangewoman。Shecouldnothelpbeingangry;allshecoulddowastokeepsilent。

  ’Youdon’tknowhowhespeaksofyou;\"hislittletreasure,\"ashecallsyou。I’malmostjealoussometimes。’Mollytookherhandaway,andherheartbegantoharden;thesespeechesweresodiscordanttoher。Butshesetherteethtogether,and’triedtobegood。’’Wemustmakehimsohappy。I’mafraidhehashadagreatdealtoannoyhimathome;butwewilldoawaywithallthatnow。Youmusttellme,’

  seeingthecloudinMolly’seyes,’whathelikesanddislikes,forofcourseyouwillknow。’Molly’sfaceclearedalittle;ofcourseshedidknow。Shehadnotwatchedandlovedhimsolongwithoutbelievingthatsheunderstoodhimbetterthananyoneelse;thoughhowhehadcometolikeMrsKirkpatrickenoughtowishtomarryher,wasanunsolvedproblemthatsheunconsciouslyputasideasinexplicable。MrsKirkpatrickwenton,—’Allmenhavetheirfanciesandantipathies,eventhewisest。Ihaveknownsomegentlemenannoyedbeyondmeasurebythemeresttrifles;leavingadooropen,orspillingteaintheirsaucers,orashawlcrookedlyputon。Why,’continuedshe,loweringhervoice,’IknowofahousetowhichLordHollingfordwillneverbeaskedagainbecausehedidn’twipehisshoesonboththematsinthehall!Nowyoumusttellmewhatyourdearfatherdislikesmostinthesefancifulways,andIshalltakecaretoavoidit。Youmustbemylittlefriendandhelperinpleasinghim。Itwillbesuchapleasuretometoattendtohisslightestfancies。Aboutmydress,too—whatcoloursdoeshelikebest?

  Iwanttodoeverythinginmypowerwithaviewtohisapproval。’Mollywasgratifiedbyallthis,andbegantothinkthatreally,afterall,perhapsherfatherhaddonewellforhimself;andthatifshecouldhelptowardshisnewhappiness,sheoughttodoit。SoshetriedveryconscientiouslytothinkoverMrGibson’swishesandways;toponderoverwhatannoyedhimthemostinhishousehold。’Ithink,’saidshe,’papaisn’tparticularaboutmanythings;butIthinkournothavingthedinnerquitepunctual—quitereadyforhimwhenhecomesin,fidgetshimmorethananything。Yousee,hehasoftenhadalongride,andthereisanotherlongridetocome,andhehasonlyhalf—an—

  hour—sometimesonlyaquarter—tocathisdinnerin。’’Thankyou,myownlove。Punctuality!Yes;it’sagreatthinginahousehold。

  It’swhatI’vehadtoenforcewithmyyoungladiesatAshcombe。NowonderpoordearMrGibsonhasbeendispleasedathisdinnernotbeingready,andhesohard—worked!’’Papadoesn’tcarewhathehas,ifit’sonlyready。Hewouldtakebread—and—cheese,ifcookwouldonlysenditininsteadofdinner。’’Bread—and—cheese!DoesMrGibsoneatcheese?’’Yes;he’sveryfondofit,’saidMolly,innocently。’I’veknownhimcattoastedcheesewhenhehasbeentootiredtofancyanythingelse。’’Oh!but,mydear,wemustchangeallthat。Ishouldn’tliketothinkofyourfathereatingcheese;it’ssuchastrong—smelling,coarsekindofthing。Wemustgethimacookwhocantosshimupanomelette,orsomethingelegant。Cheeseisonlyfitforthekitchen。’’Papaisveryfondofit,’perseveredMolly。’Oh!butwewillcurehimofthat。Icouldn’tbearthesmellofcheese;

  andI’msurehewouldbesorrytoannoyme。’Mollywassilent;itdidnotdo,shefound,tobetoominuteintellingaboutherfather’slikesordislikes。ShehadbetterleavethemforMrsKirkpatricktofindoutforherself。Itwasanawkwardpause;eachwastryingtofindsomethingagreeabletosay。Mollyspokeatlength。’Please!

  IshouldsoliketoknowsomethingaboutCynthia—yourdaughter。’’Yes,callherCynthia。It’saprettyname,isn’tit?CynthiaKirkpatrick。

  Notsopretty,though,asmyoldname,HyacinthClare。Peopleusedtosayitsuitedmesowell。Imustshowyouanacrosticagentleman—hewasalieutenantinthe53rd—madeuponit。Oh!weshallhaveagreatdealtosaytoeachother,Iforesee!’’ButaboutCynthia?’’Oh,yes!aboutdearCynthia。Whatdoyouwanttoknow,mydear?’’Papasaidshewastolivewithus!Whenwillshecome?’’Oh,wasitnotsweetofyourkindfather?IthoughtofnothingelsebutCynthia’sgoingoutasagovernesswhenshehadcompletedhereducation;

  shehasbeenbroughtupforit,andhashadgreatadvantages。ButgooddearMrGibsonwouldn’thearofit。Hesaidyesterdaythatshemustcomeandlivewithuswhensheleftschool。’’Whenwillsheleaveschool?’’Shewentfortwoyears。Idon’tthinkImustletherleavebeforenextsummer。SheteachesEnglishaswellaslearningFrench。Nextsummersheshallcomehome,andthenshan’twebeahappylittlequartette?’’Ihopeso,’saidMolly。’Butsheistocometothewedding,isn’tshe?’

  shewentontimidly,nowknowinghowfarMrsKirkpatrickwouldliketheallusiontohermarriage。’Yourfatherhasbeggedforhertocome;butwemustthinkaboutitalittlemorebeforequitefixingit。Thejourneyisagreatexpense!’’Isshelikeyou?Idosowanttoseeher。’’Sheisveryhandsome,peoplesay。Inthebright—colouredstyle,—perhapssomethinglikewhatIwas。ButIlikethedark—hairedforeignkindofbeautybest—justnow,’touchingMolly’shair,andlookingatherwithanexpressionofsentimentalremembrance。’DoesCynthia—issheverycleverandaccomplished?’askedMolly,alittleafraidlesttheanswershouldremoveMissKirkpatrickattoogreatadistancefromher。’Sheoughttobe;I’vepaideversomuchmoneytohavehertaughtbythebestmasters。Butyouwillseeherbeforelong,andI’mafraidwemustgonowtoLadyCumnor。Ithasbeenverycharminghavingyoualltomyself,butIknowLadyCumnorwillbeexpectingusnow,andshewasverycurioustoseeyou,—myfuturedaughter,asshecallsyou。’MollyfollowedMrsKirkpatrickintothemorning—room,whereLadyCumnorwassitting—alittleannoyed,because,havingcompletedhertoiletteearlierthanusual,Clarehadnotbeenawarebyinstinctofthefact,andsohadnotbroughtMollyGibsonforinspectionaquarterofanhourbefore。

  Everysmalloccurrenceisaneventinthedayofaconvalescentinvalid,andalittlewhileagoMollywouldhavemetwithpatronizingappreciation,wherenowshehadtoencountercriticism。OfLadyCumnor’scharacterasanindividualsheknewnothing;sheonlyknewshewasgoingtoseeandbeseenbyalivecountess;nay,more,by’thecountess’ofHollingford。MrsKirkpatrickledherintoLadyCumnor’spresencebythehand,andinpresentingher,said,—’Mydearlittledaughter,LadyCumnor!’’Now,Clare,don’tletmehavenonsense。Sheisnotyourdaughteryet,andmayneverbe,—Ibelievethatone—thirdoftheengagementsIhaveheardof,havenevercometomarriages。MissGibson,Iamverygladtoseeyou,foryourfather’ssake;whenIknowyoubetter,Ihopeitwillbeforyourown。’Mollyveryheartilyhopedthatshemightneverbeknownanybetterbythestern—lookingladywhosatesouprightlyintheeasychair,preparedforlounging,andwhichthereforegaveallthemoreeffecttothestiffattitude。

  LadyCumnorluckilytookMolly’ssilenceforacquiescenthumility,andwentonspeakingafterafurtherlittlepauseofinspection。’Yes,yes,Ilikeherlooks,Clare。Youmaymakesomethingofher。Itwillbeagreatadvantagetoyou,mydear,tohavealadywhohastrainedupseveralyoungpeopleofqualityalwaysaboutyoujustatthetimewhenyouaregrowingup。I’lltellyouwhat,Clare!’—asuddenthoughtstrikingher,—’youandshemustbecomebetteracquainted—youknownothingofeachotheratpresent;youarenottobemarriedtillChristmas,andwhatcouldbebetterthanthatsheshouldgobackwithyoutoAshcombe!Shewouldbewithyouconstantly,andhavetheadvantageofthecompanionshipofyouryoungpeople,whichwouldbeagoodthingforanonlychild!It’sacapitalplan;I’mverygladIthoughtofit!’NowitwouldbedifficulttosaywhichofLadyCumnor’stwohearerswasthemostdismayedattheideawhichhadtakenpossessionofher。MrsKirkpatrickhadnofancyforbeingencumberedwithastep—daughterbeforehertime。

  IfMollycametobeaninmateofherhouse,farewelltomanylittlebackgroundeconomies,andastillmoreseriousfarewelltomanylittleindulgences,thatwereinnocentenoughinthemselves,butwhichMrsKirkpatrick’sformerlifehadcausedhertolookuponassinstobeconcealed:thedirtydog’s—eareddelightfulnovelfromtheAshcombecirculatinglibrary,theleavesofwhichsheturnedoverwithapairofscissors。thelounging—chairwhichshehadforuseatherownhome,straightanduprightasshesatenowinLadyCumnor’spresence;thedaintymorsel,savouryandsmall,towhichshetreatedherselfforherownsolitarysupper,—alltheseandmanyothersimilarlypleasantthingswouldhavetobeforegoneifMollycametobeherpupil,parlour—boarder,orvisitor,asLadyCumnorwasplanning。One—twothingsClarewasinstinctivelyresolvedupon:tobemarriedatMichaelmas,andnottohaveMollyatAshcombe。

  Butshesmiledassweetlyasiftheplanproposedwasthemostcharmingprojectintheworld,whileallthetimeherpoorbrainswerebeatingaboutineverybushforthereasonsorexcusesofwhichsheshouldmakeuseatsomefuturetime。Molly,however,savedherallthistrouble。Itwasaquestionwhichofthethreewasthemostsurprisedbythewordswhichburstoutofherlips。Shedidnotmeantospeak,butherheartwasveryfull,andalmostbeforeshewasawareofherthoughtsheheardherselfsaying,—’Idon’tthinkitwouldbeniceatall。Imean,mylady,thatIshoulddislikeitverymuch;itwouldbetakingmeawayfrompapajusttheseveryfewlastmonths。Iwilllikeyou,’shewenton,hereyesfulloftears;

  and,turningtoMrsKirkpatrick,sheputherhandintoherfuturestepmother’swiththeprettiestandmosttrustfulaction。’Iwilltryhardtoloveyou,andtodoallIcantomakeyouhappy。butyoumustnottakemeawayfrompapajustthisverylastbitoftimethatIshallhavehim。’MrsKirkpatrickfondledthehandthusplacedinhers,andwasgratefultothegirlforheroutspokenoppositiontoLadyCumnor’splan。Clarewas,however,exceedinglyunwillingtobackupMollybyanywordsofherownuntilLadyCumnorhadspokenandgiventhecue。ButtherewassomethinginMolly’slittlespeech,orinherstraightforwardmanner,thatamusedinsteadofirritatingLadyCumnorinherpresentmood。Perhapsshewastiredofthesilkinesswithwhichshehadbeenshutupforsomanydays。Sheputupherglasses,andlookedatthembothbeforespeaking。Thenshesaid,—’Uponmyword,younglady!Why,Clare,you’vegotyourworkbeforeyou!Notbutwhatthereisagooddealoftruthinwhatshesays。Itmustbeverydisagreeabletoagirlofheragetohaveastepmothercominginbetweenherfatherandherself,whatevermaybetheadvantagestoherinthelongrun。’Mollyalmostfeltasifshecouldmakeafriendofthestiffoldcountess,forherclearnessofsightastotheplanproposedbeingatrial;butshewasafraid,inhernew—borndesireofthinkingforothers,ofMrsKirkpatrickbeinghurt。Sheneednothavefearedasfarasoutwardsignswent,forthesmilewasstillonthatlady’sprettyrosylips,andthesoftfondlingofherhandneverstopped。LadyCumnorwasmoreinterestedinMollythemoreshelookedather;andhergazewasprettysteadythroughhergold—rimmedeye—glasses。Shebeganasortofcatechism;astringofverystraightforwardquestions,suchasanyladyundertherankofcountessmighthavescrupledtoask,butwhichwerenotunkindlymeant。’Youaresixteen,areyounot?’’No;Iamseventeen。Mybirthdaywasthreeweeksago。’’Verymuchthesamething,Ishouldthink。Haveyoueverbeentoschool?’’No,never!MissEyrehastaughtmeeverythingIknow。’’Umph!MissEyrewasyourgoverness,Isuppose?Ishouldnothavethoughtyourfathercouldhaveaffordedtokeepagoverness。Butofcoursehemustknowhisownaffairsbest。’’Certainly,mylady,’repliedMolly,alittletouchyastoanyreflectionsonherfather’swisdom。’Yousay\"certainly!\"asifitwasamatterofcoursethateveryoneshouldknowtheirownaffairsbest。Youareveryyoung,MissGibson—very。You’llknowbetterbeforeyoucometomyage。AndIsupposeyou’vebeentaughtmusic,andtheuseoftheglobes,andFrench,andalltheusualaccomplishments,sinceyouhavehadagoverness?Ineverheardofsuchnonsense!’shewenton,lashingherselfup。’Anonlydaughter!Iftherehadbeenhalf—a—dozengirls,theremighthavebeensomesenseinit。’Mollydidnotspeakbutitwasbyastrongeffortthatshekeptsilence。

  MrsKirkpatrickfondledherhandmoreperseveringlythanever,hopingthustoexpressasufficientamountofsympathytopreventherfromsayinganythinginjudicious。ButthecaresshadbecomewearisometoMolly,andonlyirritatedhernerves。ShetookherhandoutofMrsKirkpatrick’s,withaslightmanifestationofimpatience。Itwas,perhaps,fortunateforthegeneralpeacethatjustatthismomentMrGibsonwasannounced。Itisoddenoughtoseehowtheentranceofapersonoftheoppositesexintoanassemblageofeithermenorwomencalmsdownthelittlediscordancesandthedisturbanceofmood。Itwasthecasenow;atMrGibson’sentrancemyladytookoffherglasses,andsmoothedherbrow;MrsKirkpatrickmanagedtogetupaverybecomingblush,andasforMolly,herfaceglowedwithdelight,andthewhiteteethandprettydimplescameoutlikesunlightonalandscape。Ofcourse,afterthefirstgreeting,myladyhadtohaveaprivateinterviewwithherdoctor;andMollyandherfuturestepmotherwanderedaboutinthegardenswiththeirarmsroundeachother’swaists,orhandinhand,likethebabesinthewood;MrsKirkpatrickactiveinsuchendearments,Mollypassive,andfeelingwithinherselfveryshyandstrange;forshehadthatparticularkindofshymodestywhichmakesanyoneuncomfortableatreceivingcaressesfromapersontowardswhomtheheartdoesnotgoforthwithanimpulsivewelcome。Thencametheearlydinner;LadyCumnorhavinghersinthequietofherownroom,towhichshewasstillaprisoner。Onceortwiceduringthemeal,theideacrossedMolly’smindthatherfatherdislikedhispositionasamiddle—agedloverbeingmadesoevidenttothemeninwaitingasitwasbyMrsKirkpatrick’saffectionatespeechesandinnuendos。Hetriedtobanisheverytintofpinksentimentalismfromtheconversation,andtoconfineittomatteroffact;andwhenMrsKirkpatrickwouldpersevereindwellinguponsuchfactsashadabearinguponthefuturerelationshipoftheparties,heinsisteduponviewingtheminthemostmatter—of—factway;andthiscontinuedevenafterthemenhadlefttheroom。AnoldrhymeMollyhadheardBettyuse,wouldkeeprunninginherheadandmakingheruneasy,—Twoiscompany,Threeistrumpery。Butwherecouldshegotointhatstrangehouse?Whatoughtshetodo?

  Shewasrousedfromthisfitofwonderandabstractionbyherfather’ssaying,—’WhatdoyouthinkofthisplanofLadyCumnor’s?ShesaysshewasadvisingyoutohaveMollyasavisitoratAshcombeuntilwearemarried。’MrsKirkpatrick’scountenancefell。IfonlyMollywouldbesogoodastotestifyagain,asshehaddonebeforeLadyCumnor!Butiftheproposalwasmadebyherfather,itwouldcometohisdaughterfromadifferentquarterthanithaddonefromastrangelady,besheeversogreat。Mollydidnotsayanything;sheonlylookedpale,andwistful,andanxious。MrsKirkpatrickhadtospeakforherself。’Itwouldbeacharmingplan,only—Well!weknowwhywewouldrathernothaveit,don’twe,love?Andwewon’ttellpapa,forfearofmakinghimvain。No!IthinkImustleaveherwithyou,dearMrGibson,foratête—à—têtefortheselastfewweeks。Itwouldbecrueltotakeheraway。’’Butyouknow,mydear,ItoldyouofthereasonwhyitdoesnotdotohaveMollyathomejustatpresent,’saidMrGibson,eagerly。Forthemoreheknewofhisfuturewife,themorehefeltitnecessarytorememberthat,withallherfoibles,shewouldbeabletostandbetweenMollyandanysuchadventuresasthatwhichhadoccurredlatelywithMrCoxe;sothatoneofthegoodreasonsforthestephehadtakenwasalwayspresenttohim,whileithadslippedoffthesmoothsurfaceofMrsKirkpatrick’smirror—likemindwithoutleavinganyimpression。Shenowrecalledit,onseeingMrGibson’sanxiousface。ButwhatwereMolly’sfeelingsattheselastwordsofherfather’s?Shehadbeensentfromhomeforsomereason,keptasecretfromher,buttoldtothisstrangewoman。Wastheretobeperfectconfidencebetweenthesetwo,andshetobeforevershutout?Wasshe,andwhatconcernedher—

  thoughhow,shedidnotknow—tobediscussedbetweenthemforthefuture,andshetobekeptinthedark?Abitterpangofjealousymadeherheart—sick。

  ShemightaswellgotoAshcombe,oranywhereelse,now。Thinkingmoreofothers’happinessthanofherownwasveryfine;butdiditnotmeangivingupherveryindividuality,quenchingallthewarmlove,thekeendesires,thatmadeherherself?Yetinthisdeadnesslayheronlycomfort;

  orsoitseemed。Wanderinginsuchmazes,shehardlyknewhowtheconversationwenton;athirdwasindeed’trumpery,’wheretherewasentireconfidencebetweenthetwowhowerecompany,fromwhichtheotherwasshutout。Shewaspositivelyunhappy,andherfatherdidnotappeartoseeit;hewasabsorbedwithhisnewplansandhisnewwifethatwastobe。Buthedidnoticeit;andwaskeenlysorryforhislittlegirl;onlyhethoughtthattherewasagreaterchanceforthefutureharmonyofthehousehold,ifhedidnotleadMollytodefineherpresentfeelingsbyputtingthemintowords。Itwashisgeneralplantorepressemotionbynotshowingthesympathyhefelt。Yet,whenhehadtoleave,hetookMolly’shandinhis,andhelditthere,insuchadifferentmannertothatinwhichMrsKirkpatrickhaddone;andhisvoicesoftenedtohischildashebadehergood—by,andaddedthewords(mostunusualtohim),’Godblessyou,child!’Mollyhadheldupallthedaybravely;shehadnotshownanger,orrepugnance,orannoyance,orregret;butwhenoncemorebyherselfintheHamleycarriage,sheburstintoapassionoftears,andcriedherfilltillshereachedthevillageofHamley。Thenshetriedinvaintosmoothherfaceintosmiles,anddoawaywiththeothersignsofhergrief。Sheonlyhopedshecouldrunupstairstoherownroomwithoutnotice,andbathehereyesincoldwaterbeforeshewasseen。Butatthehall—doorshewascaughtbythesquireandRogercominginfromanafter—dinnerstrollinthegarden,andhospitablyanxioustohelphertoalight。Rogersawthestateofthingsinaninstant,andsaying,—’Mymotherhasbeenlookingforyoutocomebackforthislasthour,’heledthewaytothedrawing—room。ButMrsHamleywasnotthere;thesquirehadstoppedtospeaktothecoachmanaboutoneofthehorses;theytwowerealone。Rogersaid,—’Iamafraidyouhavehadaverytryingday。Ihavethoughtofyouseveraltimes,forIknowhowawkwardthesenewrelationsare。’’Thankyou,’saidshe,herlipstrembling,andonthepointofcryingagain。

  ’Ididtrytorememberwhatyousaid,andtothinkmoreofothers,butitissodifficultsometimes;youknowitis,don’tyou?’’Yes,’saidhe,gravely。Hewasgratifiedbyhersimpleconfessionofhavingbornehiswordsofadviceinmind,andtriedtoactuptothem。Hewasbutaveryyoungman,andhewashonestlyflattered;perhapsthisledhimontooffermoreadvice,andthistimeitwasevidentlymingledwithsympathy。

  Hedidnotwanttodrawoutherconfidence,whichhefeltmightveryeasilybedonewithsuchasimplegirl;buthewishedtohelpherbygivingherafewoftheprinciplesonwhichhehadlearnttorely。’Itisdifficult,’

  hewenton,’butby—and—byyouwillbesomuchhappierforit。’’No,Ishan’t!’saidMolly,shakingherhead。’ItwillbeverydullwhenIshallhavekilledmyself,asitwere,andliveonlyintryingtodo,andtobe,asotherpeoplelike。Idon’tseeanyendtoit。Imightaswellneverhavelived。Andasforthehappinessyouspeakof,Ishallneverbehappyagain。’Therewasanunconsciousdepthinwhatshesaid,thatRogerdidnotknowhowtoansweratthemoment;itwaseasiertoaddresshimselftotheassertionofthegirlofseventeen,thatsheshouldneverbehappyagain。’Nonsense:perhapsintenyears’timeyouwillbelookingbackonthistrialasaverylightone—whoknows?’’Idaresayitseemsfoolish;perhapsallourearthlytrialswillappearfoolishtousafterawhile。perhapstheyseemsonowtoangels。Butweareourselves,youknow,andthisisnow,notsometimetocome,along,longwayoff。Andwearenotangels,tobecomfortedbyseeingtheendsforwhicheverythingissent。’Shehadneverspokensolongasentencetohimbefore;andwhenshehadsaidit,thoughshedidnottakehereyesawayfromhis,astheystoodsteadilylookingateachother,sheblushedalittle;shecouldnothavetoldwhy。Nordidhetellhimselfwhyasuddenpleasurecameoverhimashegazedathersimpleexpressiveface—andforamomentlostthesenseofwhatshewassaying,inthesensationofpityforhersadearnestness。

  Inaninstantmorehewashimselfagain。Onlyitispleasanttothewisest,mostreasonableyouthofoneortwoandtwentytofindhimselflookeduptoasaMentorbyagirlofseventeen。’Iknow,Iunderstand。Yes:itisnowwehavetodowith。Don’tletusgointometaphysics。’Mollyopenedhereyeswideatthis。Hadshebeentalkingmetaphysicswithoutknowingit?’Onelooksforwardtoamassoftrials,whichwillonlyhavetobeencounteredonebyone,littlebylittle。Oh,hereismymother!shewilltellyoubetterthanIcan。’Andthetête—à—têtewasmergedinatrio。MrsHamleylaydown;shehadnotbeenwellallday—shehadmissedMolly,shesaid,—andnowshewantedtohearofalltheadventuresthathadoccurredtothegirlattheTowers。Mollysateonastoolclosetotheheadofthesofa,andRoger,thoughatfirsthetookupabookandtriedtoreadthathemightbenorestraint,soonfoundhisreadingallapretence:itwassointerestingtolistentoMolly’slittlenarrative,and,besides,ifhecouldgiveheranyhelpinhertimeofneed,wasitnothisdutytomakehimselfacquaintedwithallthecircumstancesofhercase?AndsotheywentonduringalltheremainingtimeofMolly’sstayatHamley。

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