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　　JustthenSquireHamleycamein。Itwashisfirstcall；andMrsGibsongavehimagracefulwelcome，andwasquitereadytoaccepthisapologyforitstardiness，andtoassurehimthatshequiteunderstoodthepressureofbusinessoneverylandownerwhofarmedhisownestate。Butnosuchapologywasmade。Heshookherhandheartily，asamarkofcongratulationonhergoodfortuneinhavingsecuredsuchaprizeashisfriendGibson，butsaidnothingabouthislongneglectofduty。Molly，whobythistimeknewthefewstrongexpressionsofhiscountenancewell，wassurethatsomethingwasthematter，andthathewasverymuchdisturbed。HehardlyattendedtoMrsGibson’sfluentopeningofconversation，forshehadalreadydeterminedtomakeafavourableimpressiononthefatherofthehandsomeyoungmanwhowasheirtoanestate，besideshisownpersonalagreeableness；butheturnedtoMolly，and，addressingher，said—almostinalowvoice，asifhewasmakingaconfidencetoherthathedidnotintendMrsGibsontohear，—’Molly，weareallwrongathome！OsbornehaslostthefellowshipatTrinityhewentbacktotryfor。Thenhehasgoneandfailedmiserablyinhisdegree，afterallthathesaid，andthathismothersaid；andI，likeafool，wentandboastedaboutmycleverson。Ican’tunderstandit。IneverexpectedanythingextraordinaryfromRoger；butOsborne——！Andthenithasthrownmadamintooneofherbadfitsofillness；andsheseemstohaveafancyforyou，child！Yourfathercametoseeherthismorning。Poorthing，she’sverypoorly，I’mafraid；andshetoldhimhowsheshouldliketohaveyouabouther，andhesaidImightfetchyou。You’llcome，won’tyou，mydear？

　　She’snotapoorwoman，suchasmanypeoplethinkit’stheonlycharitytobekindto，butshe’sjustasforlornofwoman’scareasifshewaspoor—worse，Idaresay。’’I’llbereadyintenminutes，’saidMolly，muchtouchedbythesquire’swordsandmanner，neverthinkingofaskingherstepmother’sconsent，nowthatshehadheardthatherfatherhadgivenhis。Assherosetoleavetheroom，MrsGibson，whohadonlyhalfheardwhatthesquirehadsaid，andwasalittleaffrontedattheexclusivenessofhisconfidence，said，—’Mydear，whereareyougoing？’’MrsHamleywantsme，andpapasaysImaygo，’saidMolly；andalmostatthesametimethesquirereplied，—’Mywifeisill，andasshe’sveryfondofyourdaughter，shebeggedMrGibsontoallowhertocometotheHallforalittlewhile，andhekindlysaidshemight，andI’mcometofetchher。’’Stopaminute，darling，’saidMrsGibsontoMolly—aslightcloudoverhercountenance，inspiteofhercaressingword。’Iamsuredearpapaquiteforgotthatyouweretogooutwithmeto—night，tovisitpeople，’continuedshe，addressingherselftothesquire，’withwhomIamquiteunacquainted—anditisveryuncertainifMrGibsoncanreturnintimetogowithme—so，yousee，IcannotallowMollytogowithyou。’’Ishouldn’thavethoughtitwouldhavesignified。Bridesarealwaysbrides，Isuppose；andit’stheirparttobetimid；butIshouldn’thavethoughtit—inthiscase。Andmywifesetsherheartonthings，assickpeopledo。Well，Molly’（inaloudertone，fortheseforegoingsentenceswerespokensottovoce），’wemustputitofftillto—morrow：andit’sourloss，notyours，’hecontinued，ashesawthereluctancewithwhichsheslowlyreturnedtoherplace。’You’llbeasgayascanbeto—night，Idaresay——’’No，Ishallnot，’brokeinMolly。’Ineverwantedtogo，andnowIshallwantitlessthanever。’’Hush，mydear，’saidMrsGibson；and，addressingthesquire，sheadded，’Thevisitinghereisnotallonecouldwishforsoyoungagirl—noyoungpeople，nodances，nothingofgaiety；butitiswronginyou，Molly，tospeakagainstsuchkindfriendsofyourfather’sasIunderstandtheseCockerellsare。Don’tgivesobadanimpressionofyourselftothekindsquire。’’Letheralone！letheralone！’quothhe。’Iseewhatshemeans。She’drathercomeandbeinmywife’ssick—roomthangooutforthisvisitto—night。

　　Istherenowayofgettingheroff？’’Nonewhatever，’saidMrsGibson。’Anengagementisanengagementwithme；andIconsiderthatsheisnotonlyengagedtoMrsCockerell，buttome—boundtoaccompanyme，inmyhusband’sabsence。’Thesquirewasputout；andwhenhewasputouthehadatrickofplacinghishandsonhiskneesandwhistlingsoftlytohimself。Mollyknewthisphaseofhisdispleasure，andonlyhopedhewouldconfinehimselftothiswordlessexpressionofannoyance。Itwasprettyhardworkforhertokeepthetearsoutofhereyes；andsheendeavouredtothinkofsomethingelse，ratherthandwellonregretsandannoyances。SheheardMrsGibsontalkingoninasweetmonotone，andwishedtoattendtowhatshewassaying，butthesquire’svisibleannoyancestrucksharperonhermind。Atlength，afterapauseofsilence，hestartedup，andsaid，—’Well！it’snouse。Poormadam；shewon’tlikeit。She’llbedisappointed！

　　Butit’sbutforoneevening！—butforoneevening！Shemaycometo—morrow，mayn’tshe？Orwillthedissipationofsuchaneveningasshedescribes，betoomuchforher？’TherewasatouchofsavageironyinhismannerwhichfrightenedMrsGibsonintogoodbehaviour。’Sheshallbereadyatanytimeyouname。Iamsosorry：myfoolishshynessisinfault，Ibelieve；butstillyoumustacknowledgethatanengagementisanengagement。’’DidIeversayanengagementwasanelephant，madam？However，there’snousesayinganymoreaboutit，orIshallforgetmymanners。I’manoldtyrant，andshe—lyingthereinbed，poorgirl—hasalwaysgivenmemyownway。Soyou’llexcuseme，MrsGibson，won’tyou；andletMollycomealongwithmeattento—morrowmorning？’’Certainly，’saidMrsGibson，smiling。Butwhenhisbackwasturned，shesaidtoMolly，—’Now，mydear，Imustneverhaveyouexposingmetotheill—mannersofsuchamanagain！Idon’tcallhimasquire；Icallhimaboor，orayeomanatbest。Youmustnotgoonacceptingorrejectinginvitationsasifyouwereanindependentyounglady，Molly。Paymetherespectofareferencetomywishesanothertime，ifyouplease，mydear！’’PapahadsaidImightgo，’saidMolly，chokingalittle。’AsIamnowyourmammayourreferencesmustbetome，forthefuture。

　　Butasyouaretogoyoumayaswelllookwelldressed。Iwilllendyoumynewshawlforthisvisit，ifyoulikeit，andmysetofgreenribbons。

　　Iamalwaysindulgentwhenproperrespectispaidtome。AndinsuchahouseasHamleyHall，noonecantellwhomaybecomingandgoing，evenifthereissicknessinthefamily。’’Thankyou。ButIdon’twanttheshawlandtheribbons，please：therewillbenobodythereexceptthefamily。Thereneveris，Ithink；andnowthatsheissoill’—Mollywasonthepointofcryingatthethoughtofherfriendlyingillandlonely，andlookingforherarrival。Moreover，shewassadlyafraidlestthesquirehadgoneoffwiththeideathatshedidnotwanttocome—thatshepreferredthatstupid，stupidpartyattheCockerells’。MrsGibson，too，wassorry；shehadanuncomfortableconsciousnessofhavinggivenwaytotemperbeforeastranger，andastranger，too，whosegoodopinionshehadmeanttocultivate：andshewasalsoannoyedatMolly’stearfulface。’WhatcanIdoforyou，tobringyoubackintogoodtemper？’shesaid。

　　’First，youinsistuponyourknowingLadyHarrietbetterthanIdo—I，whohaveknownherforeighteenornineteenyearsatleast。Thenyoujumpatinvitationswithouteverconsultingme，orthinkingofhowawkwarditwouldbeformetogostumpingintoadrawing—roomallbymyself；followingmynewname，too，whichalwaysmakesmefeeluncomfortable，itissuchasadcome—downafterKirkpatrick！Andthen，whenIofferyousomeoftheprettiestthingsIhavegot，yousayitdoesnotsignifyhowyouaredressed。

　　WhatcanIdotopleaseyou，Molly？I，whodelightinnothingmorethanpeaceinafamily，toseeyousittingtherewithdespairuponyourface？’Mollycouldstanditnolonger；shewentupstairstoherownroom—herownsmartnewroom，whichhardlyyetseemedafamiliarplace；andbegantocrysoheartilyandforsolongatime，thatshestoppedatlengthforveryweariness。ShethoughtofMrsHamleywearyingforher；oftheoldHallwhoseveryquietnessmightbecomeoppressivetoanailingperson；

　　ofthetrustthesquirehadhadinherthatshewouldcomeoffdirectlywithhim。Andallthisoppressedhermuchmorethanthequerulousnessofherstepmother’swords。

　　chapter17CHAPTERXVIITROUBLEATHAMLEYHALLIfMollythoughtthatpeacedweltperpetuallyatHamleyHallshewassorelymistaken。Somethingwasoutoftuneinthewholeestablishment；and，foraveryunusualthing，thecommonirritationseemedtohaveproducedacommonbond。Alltheservantswereoldintheirplaces，andweretoldbysomeoneofthefamily，orgathered，fromtheunheededconversationcarriedonbeforethem，everythingthataffectedmasterormistressoreitheroftheyounggentlemen。AnyoneofthemcouldhavetoldMollythatthegrievancewhichlayattherootofeverything，wastheamountofthebillsrunupbyOsborneatCambridge，andwhich，nowthatallchanceofhisobtainingafellowshipwasover，camepouringdownuponthesquire。ButMolly，confidentofbeingtoldbyMrsHamleyherselfanythingwhichshewishedhertohear，encouragednoconfidencesfromanyoneelse。Shewasstruckwiththechangein’madam’s’looksassoonasshecaughtsightofherinthedarkenedroom，lyingonthesofainherdressing—room，alldressedinwhite，whichalmostrivalledthewhitewannessofherface。

　　ThesquireusheredMollyinwith，—’Heresheisatlast！’andMollyhadscarcelyimaginedthathehadsomuchvarietyinthetonesofhisvoice—thebeginningofthesentencewasspokeninaloudcongratulatorymanner，whilethelastwordswerescarcelyaudible。

　　Hehadseenthedeath—likepalloronhiswife’sface；notanewsight，andonewhichhadbeenpresentedtohimgraduallyenough，butwhichwasnowalwaysgivinghimafreshshock。Itwasalovelytranquilwinter’sday；everybranchandeverytwigofthetreesandshrubswereglitteringwithdropsofthesun—meltedhoarfrost；arobinwasperchedonaholly—bush，pipingcheerily；buttheblindsweredown，andoutofMrsHamley’swindowsnothingofallthiswastobeseen。Therewasevenalargescreenplacedbetweenherandthewood—fire，tokeepoffthatcheerfulblaze。MrsHamleystretchedoutonehandtoMolly，andheldhersfirm；withtheothersheshadedhereyes。’Sheisnotsowellthismorning，’saidthesquire，shakinghishead。’Butneverfear，mydearone；here’sthedoctor’sdaughter，nearlyasgoodasthedoctorhimself。Haveyouhadyourmedicine？Yourbeef—tea？’hecontinued，goingaboutonheavytiptoeandpeepingintoeveryemptycupandglass。

　　Thenhereturnedtothesofa；lookedatherforaminuteortwo，andthensoftlykissedher，andtoldMollyhewouldleaveherincharge。AsifMrsHamleywasafraidofMolly’sremarksorquestions，shebeganinherturnahastysystemofinterrogatories。’Now，dearchild，tellmeall；it’snobreachofconfidence，forIshan’tmentionitagain，andIshan’tbeherelong。Howdoesitallgoon—thenewmother，thegoodresolutions？letmehelpyouifIcan。IthinkwithagirlIcouldhavebeenofuse—amotherdoesnotknowboys。Buttellmeanythingyoulikeandwill；don’tbeafraidofdetails。’EvenwithMolly’ssmallexperienceofillnessshesawhowmuchofrestlessfevertherewasinthisspeech；andinstinct，orsomesuchgift，promptedhertotellalongstoryofmanythings—thewedding—day，hervisittoMissBrownings’，thenewfurniture，LadyHarriet，&amp；c。，allinaneasyflowoftalkwhichwasverysoothingtoMrsHamley，inasmuchasitgavehersomethingtothinkaboutbeyondherownimmediatesorrows。ButMollydidnotspeakofherowngrievances，norofthenewdomesticrelationship。

　　MrsHamleynoticedthis。’AndyouandMrsGibsongetonhappilytogether？’’Notalways，’saidMolly。’Youknowwedidn’tknowmuchofeachotherbeforewewereputtolivetogether。’’Ididn’tlikewhatthesquiretoldmelastnight。Hewasveryangry。’Thatsorehadnotyethealedover；butMollyresolutelykeptsilence，beatingherbrainstothinkofsomeothersubjectofconversation。’Ah！Isee，Molly，’saidMrsHamley；’youwon’ttellmeyoursorrows，andyet，perhaps，Icouldhavedoneyousomegood。’’Idon’tlike，’saidMolly，inalowvoice。’Ithinkpapawouldn’tlikeit。And，besides，youhavehelpedmesomuch—youandMrRogerHamley。

　　Ioften，oftenthinkofthethingshesaid。theycomeinsousefully，andaresuchastrengthtome。’’Ah，Roger！yes。Heistobetrusted。Oh，Molly！I’veagreatdealtosaytoyoumyself，onlynotnow。Imusthavemymedicineandtrytogotosleep。

　　Goodgirl！YouarestrongerthanIam，andcandowithoutsympathy。’Mollywastakentoanotherroom；themaidwhoconductedhertoittoldherthatMrsHamleyhadnotwishedhertohavehernightsdisturbed，astheymightveryprobablyhavebeenifshehadbeeninherformersleeping—room。

　　IntheafternoonMrsHamleysentforher，andwiththewantofreticencecommontoinvalids，especiallytothosesufferingfromlonganddepressingmaladies，shetoldMollyofthefamilydistressanddisappointment。ShemadeMollysitdownnearheronalittlestool，and，holdingherhand，andlookingintohereyestocatchherspokensympathyfromtheirexpressionquickerthanshecouldfromherwords，shesaid，—’Osbornehassodisappointedus！Icannotunderstandityet。Andthesquirewassoterriblyangry！Icannotthinkhowallthemoneywasspent—advancesthroughmoney—lenders，besidesbills。Thesquiredoesnotshowmehowangryheisnow，becausehe’safraidofanotherattack；butIknowhowangryheis。YouseehehasbeenspendingeversomuchmoneyinreclaimingthatlandatUptonCommon，andisveryhardpressedhimself。Butitwouldhavedoubledthevalueoftheestate，andsoweneverthoughtanythingofeconomicswhichwouldbenefitOsborneinthelongrun。Andnowthesquiresayshemustmortgagesomeoftheland；andyoucan’tthinkhowitcutshimtotheheart。Hesoldagreatdealoftimbertosendthetwoboystocollege。

　　Osborne—oh！whatadear，innocentboyhewas：hewastheheir，youknow；

　　andhewassoclever，everyonesaidhewassureofhonoursandafellowship，andIdon’tknowwhatall；andhedidgetascholarship，andthenallwentwrong。Idon’tknowhow。Thatistheworst。Perhapsthesquirewrotetooangrily，andthatstoppedupconfidence。Buthemighthavetoldme。Hewouldhavedone，Ithink，Molly，ifhehadbeenhere，facetofacewithme。Butthesquire，inhisanger，toldhimnottoshowhisfaceathometillhehadpaidoffthedebtshehadincurredoutofhisallowance。Outoftwohundredandfiftyayeartopayoffmorethanninehundred，onewayoranother！Andnottocomehometillthen！PerhapsRogerwillhavedebtstoo！Hehadbuttwohundred；but，then，hewasnottheeldestson。

　　Thesquirehasgivenordersthatthemenaretobeturnedoffthedraining—works；

　　andIlieawakethinkingoftheirpoorfamiliesthiswintryweather。Butwhatshallwedo？I’veneverbeenstrong，and，perhaps，I’vebeenextravagantinmyhabits；andtherewerefamilytraditionsastoexpenditure，andthereclaimingofthisland。Oh！Molly，Osbornewassuchasweetlittlebaby，andsuchalovingboy：soclever，too！YouknowIreadyousomeofhispoetry：now，couldapersonwhowrotelikethatdoanythingverywrong？

　　AndyetI’mafraidhehas。’’Don’tyouknow，atall，howthemoneyhasgone？’askedMolly。’No！notatall。That’sthesting。Therearetailors’bills，andbillsforbook—bindingandwineandpictures—thatcometofourorfivehundred；

　　andthoughthisexpenditureisextraordinary—inexplicabletosuchsimplefolkasweare—yetitmaybeonlytheluxuryofthepresentday。Butthemoneyforwhichhewillgivenoaccount，—ofwhich，indeed，weonlyheardthroughthesquire’sLondonagents，whofoundoutthatcertaindisreputableattorneysweremakinginquiriesastotheentailoftheestate，—oh！Molly，worsethanall—Idon’tknowhowtobringmyselftotellyou—astotheageandhealthofthesquire，hisdearfather’—（shebegantosobalmosthysterically；yetshewouldgoontalking，inspiteofMolly’seffortstostopher）—’whoheldhiminhisarms，andblessedhim，evenbeforeIhadkissedhim；andthoughtalwayssomuchofhimashisheirandfirst—borndarling。Howhehaslovedhim！HowIhavelovedhim！Isometimeshavethoughtoflatethatwe’vealmostdonethatgoodRogerinjustice。’’No！I’msureyou’venot：onlylookatthewayhelovesyou。Why，youarehisfirstthought：hemaynotspeakaboutit，butanyonemayseeit。Anddear，dearMrsHamley，’saidMolly，determinedtosayoutallthatwasinhermindnowthatshehadoncegottheword，’don’tyouthinkthatitwouldbebetternottomisjudgeMrOsborneHamley？Wedon’tknowwhathehasdonewiththemoney：heissogood（ishenot？）thathemayhavewantedittorelievesomepoorperson—sometradesman，forinstance，pressedbycreditors—some——’’Youforget，dear，’saidMrsHamley，smilingalittleatthegirl’simpetuousromance，butsighingthenextinstant，’thatalltheotherbillscomefromtradesmen，whocomplainpiteouslyofbeingkeptoutoftheirmoney。’Mollywasnonplussedforthemoment；butthenshesaid，—’Idaresaytheyimposeduponhim。I’msureI’veheardstoriesofyoungmenbeingmaderegularvictimsofbytheshopkeepersingreattowns。’’You’reagreatdarling，child，’saidMrsHamley，comfortedbyMolly’sstrongpartisanship，unreasonableandignorantthoughitwas。’And，besides，’continuedMolly，’someonemustbeactingwronglyinOsborne’s—MrOsborneHamley’s，Imean—Ican’thelpsayingOsbornesometimes，but，indeed，IalwaysthinkofhimasMrOsborne—’’Nevermind，Molly，whatyoucallhim；onlygoontalking。Itseemstodomegoodtohavethehopefulsidetaken。Thesquirehasbeensohurtanddispleased：strange—lookingmencomingintotheneighbourhood，too，questioningthetenants，andgrumblingaboutthelastfalloftimber，asiftheywerecalculatingonthesquire’sdeath。’’That’sjustwhatIwasgoingtospeakabout。Doesn’titshowthattheyarebadmen？andwouldbadmenscrupletoimposeuponhim，andtotellliesinhisname，andtoruinhim？’’Don’tyousee，youonlymakehimoutweak，insteadofwicked？’’Yes；perhapsIdo。ButIdon’tthinkheisweak。Youknowyourself，dearMrsHamley，howverycleverhereallyis。Besides，Iwouldratherhewasweakthanwicked。Weakpeoplemayfindthemselvesallatoncestronginheaven，whentheyseethingsquiteclearly；butIdon’tthinkthewickedwillturnthemselvesintovirtuouspeopleallatonce。’’IthinkI’vebeenveryweak，Molly，’saidMrsHamley，strokingMolly’scurlsaffectionately。’I’vemadesuchanidolofmybeautifulOsborne；

　　andheturnsouttohavefeetofclay，notstrongenoughtostandfirmontheground。Andthat’sthebestviewofhisconduct，too！’Whatwithhisangeragainsthisson，andhisanxietyabouthiswife：thedifficultyofraisingthemoneyimmediatelyrequired，andhisirritationatthescarce—concealedinquiriesmadebystrangersastothevalueofhisproperty，thepoorsquirewasinasadstate。Hewasangryandimpatientwitheveryonewhocamenearhim；andthenwasdepressedathisownviolenttemperandunjustwords。Theoldservants，who，perhaps，cheatedhiminmanysmallthings，werebeautifullypatientunderhisupbraidings。Theycouldunderstandburstsofpassion，andknewthecauseofhisvariablemoodsaswellashedidhimself。Thebutler，whowasaccustomedtoarguewithhismasterabouteveryfreshdirectionastohiswork，nownudgedMollyatdinner—timetomakehereatofsomedishwhichshehadjustbeendeclining，andexplainedhisconductafterwardsasfollows，—’Yousee，miss，meandcookhadplannedadinneraswouldtemptmastertocat；butwhenyousay，\"No，thankyou，\"whenIhandyouanything，masterneversomuchaslooksatit。Butifyoutakesathing，andcatswitharelish，whyfirsthewaits，andthenhelooks，andby—and—byhesmells；

　　andthenhefindsoutashe’shungry，andfallstoeatingasnaturalasakittentakestomewing。That’sthereason，miss，asIgaveyouanudgeandawink，whichnooneknowsbetternormewasnotmanners。’Osborne’snamewasnevermentionedduringthesetete—a—tetemeals。ThesquireaskedMollyquestionsaboutHollingfordpeople，butdidnotseemmuchtoattendtoheranswers。Heusedalsotoaskhereverydayhowshethoughtthathiswifewas；butifMollytoldthetruth—thateverydayseemedtomakeherweakerandweaker—hewasalmostsavagewiththegirl。

　　Hecouldnotbearit；andhewouldnot。Nay，oncehewasonthepointofdismissingMrGibsonbecauseheinsistedonaconsultationwithDrNicholls，thegreatphysicianofthecounty。’It’snonsensethinkinghersoillasthat—youknowit’sonlythedelicacyshe’shadforyears；andifyoucan’tdoheranygoodinsuchasimplecase—nopain—onlyweaknessandnervousness—itisasimplecase，eh？

　　—don’tlookinthatpuzzledway，man！—you’dbettergiveherupaltogether，andI’lltakehertoBathorBrighton，’orsomewhereforchange，forinmyopinionit’sonlymopingandnervousness。’Butthesquire’sblufffloridfacewaspinchedwithanxiety，andwornwiththeeffortofbeingdeaftothefootstepsoffateashesaidthesewordswhichbeliedhisfears。MrGibsonrepliedveryquietly，—’Ishallgooncomingtoseeher，andIknowyouwillnotforbidmyvisits。

　　ButIshallbringDrNichollswithmethenexttimeIcome。Imaybemistakeninmytreatment；andIwishtoGodhemaysayIammistakeninmyapprehensions。’’Don’ttellmethem！Icannothearthem！’criedthesquire。’Ofcoursewemustalldie；andshemusttoo。ButnotthecleverestdoctorinEnglandshallgoaboutcoollymetingoutthelifeofsuchasher。IdaresayI

　　shalldiefirst。IhopeIshall。ButI’llknockanyonedownwhospeakstomeofthedeathsittingwithinme。And，besides，Ithinkalldoctorsareignorantquacks，pretendingtoknowledgetheyhaven’tgot。Ay，youmaysmileatme。Idon’tcare。UnlessyoucantellmeIshalldiefirst，neitheryounoryourDrNichollsshallcomeprophesyingandcroakingaboutthishouse。’MrGibsonwentaway，heavyatheartatthethoughtofMrsHamley’sapproachingdeath，butthinkinglittleenoughofthesquire’sspeeches。Hehadalmostforgottenthem，infact，whenaboutnineo’clockthatevening，agroomrodeinfromHamleyHallinhothaste，withanotefromthesquire。DEARGIBSON，—ForGod’ssakeforgivemeifIwasrudeto—day。Sheismuchworse。Comeandspendthenighthere。WriteforNicholls，andallthephysiciansyouwant。Writebeforeyoustartoffhere。Theymaygiveherease。TherewereWhitworthdoctorsmuchtalkedofinmyyouthforcuringpeoplegivenupbytheregulardoctors；can’tyougetoneofthem？Iputmyselfinyourhands。SometimesIthinkitistheturningpoint，andshe’llrallyafterthisbout。Itrustalltoyou。Yoursever，R。HAMLEY。P。S。—Mollyisatreasure。—Godhelpme！OfcourseMrGibsonwent；forthefirsttimesincehismarriagecuttingshortMrsGibson’squerulouslamentationsoverherlife，asinvolvedinthatofadoctorcalledoutatallhoursofdayandnight。HebroughtMrsHamleythroughthisattack；andforadayortwothesquire’salarmandgratitudemadehimdocileinMrGibson’shands。Thenhereturnedtotheideaofitsbeingacrisisthroughwhichhiswifehadpassed；andthatshewasnowonthewaytorecovery。ButthedayaftertheconsultationwithDrNicholls，MrGibsonsaidtoMolly，—’Molly！I’vewrittentoOsborneandRoger。DoyouknowOsborne’saddress？’’No，papa。He’sindisgrace。Idon’tknowifthesquireknows；andshehasbeentooilltowrite。’’Nevermind。I’llencloseittoRoger；whateverthoseladsmaybetoothers，there’sasstrongbrotherlyloveaseverIsaw，betweenthetwo。Rogerwillknow。And，Molly，theyaresuretocomehomeassoonastheyhearmyreportoftheirmother’sstate。Iwishyou’dtellthesquirewhatI’vedone。It’snotapleasantpieceofwork；andI’lltellmadammyselfinmyownway。I’dhavetoldhimifhe’dbeenathome；butyousayhewasobligedtogotoAshcombeonbusiness。’’Quiteobliged。Hewassosorrytomissyou。But，papa，hewillbesoangry！

　　Youdon’tknowhowmadheisagainstOsborne。’Mollydreadedthesquire’sangerwhenshegavehimherfather’smessage。

　　ShehadseenquiteenoughofthedomesticrelationsoftheHamleyfamilytounderstandthat，underneathhisold—fashionedcourtesy，andthepleasanthospitalityheshowedtoherasaguest，therewasastrongwill，andavehementpassionatetemper，alongwiththatdegreeofobstinacyinprejudices（or’opinions，’ashewouldhavecalledthem）socommontothosewhohave，neitherinyouthnorinmanhood，mixedlargelywiththeirkind。Shehadlistened，dayafterday，toMrsHamley’splaintivemurmursastothedeepdisgraceinwhichOsbornewasbeingheldbyhisfather—theprohibitionofhiscominghome；andshehardlyknewhowtobegintotellhimthatthelettersummoningOsbornehadalreadybeensentoff。Theirdinnersweret&ecirc；te—&agrave；—t&ecirc；te。ThesquiretriedtomakethempleasanttoMolly，feelingdeeplygratefultoherforthesoothingcomfortshewastohiswife。Hemademerryspeeches，whichsankawayintosilence，andatwhichtheyeachforgottosmile。Heordereduprarewines，whichshedidnotcarefor，buttastedoutofcomplaisance。

　　Henoticedthatonedayshehadeatensomebrownbuerr&eacute；pearsasifshelikedthem；andashistreeshadnotproducedmanythisyear，hegavedirectionsthatthisparticularkindshouldbesoughtforthroughtheneighbourhood。Mollyfeltthat，inmanyways，hewasfullofgood—willtowardsher；butitdidnotdiminishherdreadoftouchingontheonesorepointinthefamily。However，ithadtobedone，andthatwithoutdelay。Thegreatlogwasplacedontheafter—dinnerfire，thehearthsweptup，theponderouscandlessnuffed，andthenthedoorwasshut，andMollyandthesquirewerelefttotheirdessert。Shesateatthesideofthetableinheroldplace。Thatattheheadwasvacant；yetasnoordershadbeengiventothecontrary，theplateandglassesandnapkinwerealwaysarrangedasregularlyandmethodicallyasifMrsHamleywouldcomeinasusual。