Indeed，sometimes，whenthedoorbywhichsheusedtoenterwasopenedbyanychance，Mollycaughtherselflookingroundasifsheexpectedtoseethetall，languidfigureintheelegantdraperiesofrichsilkandsoftlace，whichMrsHamleywaswonttowearofanevening。Thisevening，itstruckher，asanewthoughtofpain，thatintothatroomshewouldcomenomore。Shehadfixedtogiveherfather’smessageatthisverypointoftime；butsomethinginherthroatchokedher，andshehardlyknewhowtogovernhervoice。Thesquiregotupandwenttothebroadfire—place，tostrikeintothemiddleofthegreatlog，andsplititupintoblazing，sparklingpieces。Hisbackwastowardsher。Mollybegan，’Whenpapawashereto—day，hebademetellyouhehadwrittentoMrRogerHamleytosaythat—thathethoughthehadbettercomehome；andheenclosedalettertoMrOsborneHamleytosaythesamething。’Thesquireputdownthepoker，buthestillkepthisbacktoMolly。’HesentforOsborneandRoger？’heasked，atlength。Mollyanswered，’Yes。’Thentherewasadeadsilence，whichMollythoughtwouldneverend。Thesquirehadplacedhistwohandsonthehighchimney—piece，andstoodleaningoverthefire。’RogerwouldhavebeendownfromCambridgeonthe18th，’saidhe。’AndhehassentforOsborne，too！Didheknow，’—hecontinued，turningroundtoMolly，withsomethingofthefiercenessshehadanticipatedinvoiceandlook。Inanothermomenthehaddroppedhisvoice。’Itisright，quiteright。Iunderstand。Ithascomeatlength。Come！come！Osbornehasbroughtiton，though，’withafreshaccessofangerinhistones。’Shemighthave’
（somewordMollycouldnothear—shethoughtitsoundedlike’lingered’）
’butforthat。Icannotforgivehim；Icannot。’Andthenhesuddenlylefttheroom。WhileMollysatetherestill，verysadinhersympathywithall，heputhisheadinagain，—’Gotoher，mydear；Icannot—notjustyet。ButIwillsoon。Justthisbit；andafterthatIwon’tloseamoment。Youareagoodgirl。Godblessyou！’ItisnottobesupposedthatMollyhadremainedallthistimeattheHallwithoutinterruption。Onceortwiceherfatherhadbroughtherasummonshome。Mollythoughtshecouldperceivethathehadbroughtitunwillingly；
infact，itwasMrsGibsonthathadsentforher，almost，asitwere，topreservea’rightofway’throughheractions。’Youshallcomebackto—morrow，orthenextday，’herfatherhadsaid。
’Butmammaseemstothinkpeoplewillputabadconstructiononyourbeingsomuchwayfromhomesosoonafterourmarriage。’’Oh，papa，I’mafraidMrsHamleywillmissme！Idosolikebeingwithher。’’Idon’tthinkitislikelyshewillmissyouasmuchasshewouldhavedoneamonthortwoago。Shesleepssomuchnow，thatsheisscarcelyconsciousofthelapseoftime。I’llseethatyoucomebackhereagaininadayortwo。’SooutofthesilenceandthesoftmelancholyoftheHallMollyreturnedintotheall—pervadingelementofchatterandgossipatHollingford。MrsGibsonreceivedherkindlyenough。Once’shehadasmartnewwinterbonnetreadytogiveherasapresent；butshedidnotcaretohearanyparticularsaboutthefriendswhomMollyhadjustleft；andherfewremarksonthestateofaffairsattheHalljarredterriblyonthesensitiveMolly。’Whatatimeshelingers！Yourpapaneverexpectedshewouldlasthalfsolongafterthatattack。Itmustbeverywearingworktothemall；I
declareyoulookquiteanothercreaturesinceyouwentthere。Onecanonlywishitmayn’tlast，fortheirsakes。’’Youdon’tknowhowthesquirevalueseveryminute，’saidMolly。’Why，yousayshesleepsagreatdeal，anddoesn’ttalkmuchwhenshe’sawake，andthere’snottheslightesthopeforher。Andyet，atsuchtimes，peoplearekeptonthetenterhookswithwatchingandwaiting。IknowitbymydearKirkpatrick。TherereallyweredayswhenIthoughtitneverwouldend。Butwewon’ttalkanymoreofsuchdismalthings；you’vehadquiteenoughofthem，I’msure，anditalwaysmakesmemelancholytohearofillnessanddeath；andyetyourpapaseemssometimesasifhecouldtalkofnothingelse。I’mgoingtotakeyououtto—night，though，andthatwillgiveyousomethingofachange；andI’vebeengettingMissRosetotrimuponeofmyoldgownsforyou；it’stootightforme。There’ssometalkofdancing，—it’satMrsEdward’s。’’Oh，mamma，Icannotgo！’criedMolly。’I’vebeensomuchwithher；andshemaybesufferingso，orevendying—andItobedancing！’’Nonsense！You’renorelation，soyouneednotfeelitsomuch。Iwouldn’turgeyou，ifshewaslikelytoknowaboutitandbehurt；butasitis，it’sallfixedthatyouaretogo；anddon’tletushaveanynonsenseaboutit。Wemightsittwirlingourthumbs，andrepeatinghymnsallourliveslong，ifweweretodonothingelsewhenpeopleweredying。’’Icannotgo，’repeatedMolly。And，actinguponimpulse，andalmosttoherownsurprise，sheappealedtoherfather，whocameintotheroomatthisverytime。Hecontractedhisdarkeyebrows，andlookedannoyedasbothwifeanddaughterpouredtheirdifferentsidesoftheargumentintohisears。Hesatedownindesperationofpatience。Whenhisturncametopronounceadecision，hesaid，—’IsupposeIcanhavesomelunch？Iwentawayatsixthismorning，andthere’snothinginthedining—room。Ihavetogooffagaindirectly。’Mollystartedtothedoor；MrsGibsonmadehastetoringthebell。’Whereareyougoing，Molly？’saidshe，sharply。’Onlytoseeaboutpapa’slunch。’’Thereareservantstodoit；andIdon’tlikeyourgoingintothekitchen。’’Come，Molly！sitdownandbequiet，’saidherfather。’Onecomeshomewantingpeaceandquietness—andfoodtoo。IfIamtobeappealedto，whichIbegImaynotbeanothertime，IsettlethatMollystopshomethisevening。Ishallcomebacklateandtired。SeethatIhavesomethingreadytocat，goosey，andthenI’lldressmyselfupinmybest，andgoandfetchyouhome，mydear。Iwishalltheseweddingfestivitieswerewellover。
Ready，isit？ThenI’llgointothedining—roomandgorgemyself。Adoctoroughttobeabletoeatlikeacamel，orlikeMajorDugaldDalgetty。’ItwaswellforMollythatcallerscameinjustatthistime，forMrsGibsonwasextremelyannoyed。Theytoldhersomelittlelocalpieceofnews，however，whichfilleduphermind；andMollyfoundthat，ifsheonlyexpressedwonderenoughattheengagementtheyhadbothheardoffromthedepartedcallers，thepreviousdiscussionastoheraccompanyingherstepmotherornotmightbeentirelypassedover。Notentirelythough；forthenextmorningshehadtolistentoaverybrilliantlytouched—upaccountofthedanceandthegaietywhichshehadmissed；andalsotobetoldthatMrsGibsonhadchangedhermindaboutgivingherthegown，andthoughtnowthatsheshouldreserveitforCynthia，ifonlyitwaslongenough；butCynthiawassotall—quiteovergrown，infact。ThechancesseemedequallybalancedastowhetherMollymightnothavethegownafterall。
chapter18CHAPTERXVIIIMROSBORNE’SSECRETOsborneandRogercametotheHall；MollyfoundRogerestablishedtherewhenshereturnedafterthisabsenceathome。ShegatheredthatOsbornewascoming；butverylittlewassaidabouthiminanyway。Thesquirescarcelyeverlefthiswife’sroomnow；hesatbyher，watchingher，andnowandthenmoaningtohimself。Shewassomuchundertheinfluenceofopiatesthatshedidnotoftenrouseup；butwhenshedid，shealmostinvariablyaskedforMolly。Intheirraretê；te—à；—tê；te，shewouldaskafterOsborne—wherehewas，ifhehadbeentold，andifhewascoming？Inherweakenedandconfusedstateofintellectsheseemedtohaveretainedtwostrongimpressions—one，ofthesympathywithwhichMollyhadreceivedherconfidenceaboutOsborne；theother，oftheangerwhichherhusbandentertainedagainsthim。BeforethesquireshenevermentionedOsborne’sname；nordidsheseemathercaseinspeakingabouthimtoRoger，while，whenshewasalonewithMolly，shehardlyspokeofanyoneelse。ShemusthavehadsomesortofwanderingideathatRogerblamedhisbrother，whilesherememberedMolly’seagerdefence，whichshehadthoughthopelesslyimprobableatthetime。AtanyrateshemadeMollyherconfidanteaboutherfirst—born。ShesenthertoaskRogerhowsoonhewouldcome，forsheseemedtoknowperfectlywellthathewascoming。’TellmeallRogersays。Hewilltellyou。’ButitwasseveraldaysbeforeMollycouldaskRogeranyquestions；andmeanwhileMrsHamley’sstatehadmateriallyaltered。AtlengthMollycameuponRogersittinginthelibrary，hisheadburiedinhishands。Hedidnothearherfootsteptillshewasclosebesidehim。Thenhelifteduphisface，red，andstainedwithtears，hishairallruffledupandindisorder。’I’vebeenwantingtoseeyoualone，’shebegan。’YourmotherdoessowantsomenewsofyourbrotherOsborne。Shetoldmelastweektoaskyouabouthim，butIdidnotliketospeakofhimbeforeyourfather。’’Shehashardlyevernamedhimtome。’’Idon’tknowwhy；fortomesheusedtotalkofhimperpetually。Ihaveseensolittleofherthisweek，andIthinksheforgetsagreatdealnow。
Still，ifyoudon’tmind，Ishouldliketobeabletotellhersomethingifsheasksmeagain。’Heputhisheadagainbetweenhishands，anddidnotanswerherforsometime。’Whatdoesshewanttoknow？’saidhe，atlast。’DoessheknowthatOsborneiscomingsoon—anyday？’’Yes。Butshewantstoknowwhereheis。’’Ican’ttellyou。Idon’texactlyknow。Ibelievehe’sabroad，butI’mnotsure。’’Butyou’vesentpapa’slettertohim？’’I’vesentittoafriendofhiswhowillknowbetterthanIdowherehe’stobefound。Youmustknowthatheisn’tfreefromcreditors，Molly。Youcan’thavebeenoneofthefamily，likeachildofthehousealmost，withoutknowingthatmuch。ForthatandforsomeotherreasonsIdon’texactlyknowwhereheis。’’Iwilltellherso。Youaresurehewillcome？’’Quitesure。But，Molly，Ithinkmymothermaylivesometimeyet；don’tyou？DrNichollssaidsoyesterdaywhenhewasherewithyourfather。Hesaidshehadralliedmorethanhehadeverexpected。You’renotafraidofanychangethatmakesyousoanxiousforOsborne’scoming？’’No。It’sonlyforherthatIasked。Shedidseemsotocravefornewsofhim。Ithinkshedreamedofhim；andthenwhenshewakeneditwasarelieftohertotalkabouthimtome。Shealwaysseemedtoassociatemewithhim。Weusedtospeaksomuchofhimwhenweweretogether。’’Idon’tknowwhatweshouldanyofushavedonewithoutyou。You’vebeenlikeadaughtertomymother。’’Idosoloveher，’saidMolly，softly。’Yes；Isee。Haveyouevernoticedthatshesometimescallsyou\"Fanny\"？
Itwasthenameofalittlesisterofourswhodied。Ithinksheoftentakesyouforher。Itwaspartlythat，andpartlythatatsuchatimeasthisonecan’tstandonformalities，thatmademecallyouMolly。Ihopeyoudon’tmindit？’’No；Ilikeit。Butwillyoutellmesomethingmoreaboutyourbrother？
Shereallyhungersfornewsofhim。’’She’dbetteraskmeherself。Yet，no！Iamsoinvolvedbypromisesofsecrecy，Molly，thatIcouldn’tsatisfyherifsheoncebegantoquestionme。Ibelievehe’sinBelgium，andthathewentthereaboutafortnightago，partlytoavoidhiscreditors。Youknowmyfatherhasrefusedtopayhisdebts？’’Yes；atleast，Iknewsomethinglikeit。’’Idon’tbelievemyfathercouldraisethemoneyallatoncewithouthavingrecoursetostepswhichhewouldexceedinglyrecoilfrom。YetforthetimeitplacesOsborneinaveryawkwardposition。’’Ithinkwhatvexesyourfatheragooddealissomemysteryastohowthemoneywasspent。’’Ifmymothereversaysanythingaboutthatpartoftheaffair，’saidRoger，hastily，’assureherfrommethatthere’snothingofviceorwrong—doingaboutit。Ican’tsaymore：I’mtied。Butsethermindateaseonthispoint。’’I’mnotsureifsheremembersallherpainfulanxietyaboutthis，’saidMolly。’Sheusedtospeakagreatdealtomeabouthimbeforeyoucame，whenyourfatherseemedsoangry。Andnow，wheneversheseesmeshewantstotalkontheoldsubject；butshedoesn’tremembersoclearly。IfsheweretoseehimIdon’tbelieveshewouldrecollectwhyshewasuneasyabouthimwhilehewasabsent。’’Hemustbeheresoon。Iexpecthimeveryday，’saidRoger，uneasily。’Doyouthinkyourfatherwillbeveryangrywithhim？’askedMolly，withasmuchtimidityasifthesquire’sdispleasuremightbedirectedagainsther。’Idon’tknow，’saidRoger。’Mymother’sillnessmayalterhim；buthedidn’teasilyforgiveusformerly。Irememberonce—butthatisnothingtothepurpose。Ican’thelpfancyingthathehasputhimselfundersomestrongrestraintformymother’ssake，andthathewon’texpressmuch。
Butitdoesn’tfollowthathewillforgetit。Myfatherisamanoffewaffections，butwhathehasareverystrong；hefeelsanythingthattoucheshimonthesepointsdeeplyandpermanently。Thatunluckyvaluingoftheproperty！Ithasgivenmyfathertheideaofpost—obits——’’Whatarethey？’askedMolly。’Raisingmoneytobepaidonmyfather’sdeath，which，ofcourse，involvescalculationsastothedurationofhislife。’’Howshocking！’saidshe。’I’massureasIamofmyownlifethatOsborneneverdidanythingofthekind。ButmyfatherexpressedhissuspicionsinlanguagethatirritatedOsborne；andhedoesn’tspeakout，andwon’tjustifyhimselfevenasmuchashemight；and，muchashelovesme，I’vebutlittleinfluenceoverhim，orelsehewouldtellmyfatherall。Well，wemustleaveittotime，’headded，sighing。’Mymotherwouldhavebroughtusallright，ifshe’dbeenwhatsheoncewas。’HeturnedawayleavingMollyverysad。Sheknewthateverymemberofthefamilyshecaredforsomuchwasintrouble，outofwhichshesawnoexit；
andhersmallpowerofhelpingthemwasdiminishingdaybydayasMrsHamleysankmoreandmoreundertheinfluenceofopiatesandstupefyingillness。
Herfatherhadspokentoheronlythisverydayofthedesirablenessofherreturninghomeforgood。MrsGibsonwantedher—fornoparticularreason，butformanysmallfragmentsofreasons。MrsHamleyhadceasedtowanthermuch，onlyoccasionallyappearingtorememberherexistence。
Herposition（herfatherthought—theideahadnotenteredherhead）inafamilyofwhichtheonlywomanwasaninvalidconfinedtobed，wasbecomingawkward。ButMollyhadbeggedhardtoremaintwoorthreedayslonger—
onlythat—onlytillFriday。IfMrsHamleyshouldwanther（sheargued，withtearsinhereyes），andshouldhearthatshehadleftthehouse，shewouldthinkhersounkind，soungrateful！’Mydearchild，she’sgettingpastwantinganyone！Thekeennessofearthlyfeelingsisdeadened。’’Papa，thatisworstofall。Icannotbearit。Iwon’tbelieveit。Shemaynotaskformeagain，andmayquiteforgetme；butI’msure，totheverylast，ifthemedicinesdon’tstupefyher，shewilllookroundforthesquireandherchildren。ForpoorOsbornemostofall；becausehe’sinsorrow。’MrGibsonshookhishead，butsaidnothinginreply。Inaminuteortwoheasked，—’Idon’tliketotakeyouawaywhileyouevenfancyyoucanbeofuseorcomforttoonewhohasbeensokindtoyou。But，ifshehasn’twantedyoubeforeFriday，willyoubeconvinced，willyoucomehomewillingly？’’IfIgothen，Imayseeheronceagain，evenifshehasn’taskedforme？’
inquiredMolly。’Yes，ofcourse。Youmustmakenonoise，nostep；butyoumaygoinandseeher。Imusttellyou，I’malmostcertainshewon’taskforyou。’’Butshemay，papa。IwillgohomeonFriday，ifshehasnot。Ithinkshewill。’SoMollyhungaboutthehouse，tryingtodoallshecouldoutofthesick—room，forthecomfortofthoseinit。Theyonlycameoutformeals，orfornecessarybusiness，andfoundlittletimefortalkingtoher，soherlifewassolitaryenough，waitingforthecallthatnevercame。TheeveningofthedayonwhichshehadhadtheaboveconversationwithRoger，Osbornearrived。Hecamestraightintothedrawing—room，whereMollywasseatedontherug，readingbyfirelight，asshedidnotliketoringforcandiesmerelyforherownuse。Osbornecamein，withakindofhurry，whichalmostmadehimappearasifhewouldtriphimselfup，andfalldown。Mollyrose。Hehadnotnoticedherbefore；nowhecameforwards，andtookholdofbothherhands，leadingherintothefullflickeringlight，andstraininghiseyestolookintoherface。’Howisshe？Youwilltellme—youmustknowthetruth！I’vetravelleddayandnightsinceIgotyourfather’sletter。’Beforeshecouldframeheranswer，hehadsatedowninthenearestchair，coveringhiseyeswithhishand。’She’sveryill，’saidMolly。’Thatyouknow；butIdon’tthinkshesuffersmuchpain。Shehaswantedyousadly。’Hegroanedaloud。’Myfatherforbademetocome。’’Iknow！’saidMolly，anxioustopreventhisself—reproach。’Yourbrotherwasaway，too。Ithinknooneknewhowillshewas—shehadbeenaninvalidforsolong。’’Youknow——Yes！shetoldyouagreatdeal—shewasveryfondofyou。
AndGodknowshowIlovedher。IfIhadnotbeenforbiddentocomehome，Ishouldhavetoldherall。Doesmyfatherknowofmycomingnow？’’Yes，’saidMolly；’Itoldhimpapahadsentforyou。’Justatthatmomentthesquirecamein。HehadnotheardofOsborne’sarrival，andwasseekingMollytoaskhertowritealetterforhim。Osbornedidnotstandupwhenhisfatherentered。Hewastoomuchexhausted，toomuchoppressedbyhisfeelings，andalsotoomuchestrangedbyhisfather’sangry，suspiciousletters。Ifhehadcomeforwardswithanymanifestationoffeelingatthismoment，everythingmighthavebeendifferent。Buthewaitedforhisfathertoseehimbeforeheutteredaword。Allthatthesquiresaidwhenhiseyefelluponhimatlastwas，—’Youhere，sir！’And，breakingoffinthedirectionshewasgivingtoMolly，heabruptlylefttheroom。Allthetimehisheartwasyearningafterhisfirst—born；
butmutualpridekeptthemasunder。Yethewentstraighttothebutler，andaskedofhimwhenMrOsbornehadarrived，andhowhehadcomeandifhehadhadanyrefreshment—dinnerorwhat—sincehisarrival？’ForIthinkIforgeteverythingnow！’saidthepoorsquire，puttinghishanduptohishead。’Forthelifeofme，Ican’trememberwhetherwe’vehaddinnerornot；theselongnights，andallthissorrowandwatching，quitebewilderme。’’Perhaps，sir，youwilltakesomedinnerwithMrOsborne。MrsMorganissendinguphisdirectly。Youhardlysatedownatdinner—time，sir，youthoughtmymistresswantedsomething。’’Ay！Iremembernow。No！Iwon’thaveanymore。GiveMrOsbornewhatwinehechooses。Perhapshecaneatanddrink。’Sothesquirewentawayupstairswithbitternessaswellassorrowinhisheart。Whenlightswerebrought，MollywasstruckwiththechangeinOsborne。
Helookedhaggardandworn；perhapswithtravellingandanxiety。Notquitesuchadaintygentlemaneither，asMollyhadthoughthim，whenshehadlastseenhimcallingonherstepmother，twomonthsbefore。Butshelikedhimbetternow。Thetoneofhisremarkspleasedhermore。Hewassimpler，andlessashamedofshowinghisfeelings。HeaskedafterRogerinawarm，longingkindofway。Rogerwasout：hehadriddentoAshcombetotransactsomebusinessforthesquire。Osborneevidentlywishedforhisreturn；
andhungaboutrestlesslyinthedrawing—roomafterhehaddined。’YouaresureImaynotseeherto—night？’heaskedMolly，forthethirdorfourthtime。’No，indeed。Iwillgoupagainifyoulikeit。ButMrsJones，thenurseDrNichollssent，isaverydecidedperson。Iwentupwhileyouwereatdinner，andMrsHamleyhadjusttakenherdrops，andwasonnoaccounttobedisturbedbyseeinganyone，muchlessbyanyexcitement。’Osbornekeptwalkingupanddownthelongdrawing—room，halftalkingtohimself，halftoMolly。’IwishRogerwouldcome。Heseemstobetheonlyonetogivemeawelcome。
Doesmyfatheralwaysliveupstairsinmymother’srooms，MissGibson？’’Hehasdonesinceherlastattack。Ibelievehereproacheshimselffornothavingbeenenoughalarmedbefore。’’Youheardallthewordshesaidtome：theywerenotmuchofawelcome，werethey？Andmydearmother，whoalways—whetherIwastoblameornot——IsupposeRogerissuretocomehometo—night？’’Quitesure。’’Youarestayinghere，areyounot？Doyouoftenseemymother，ordoesthisomnipotentnursekeepyououttoo？，’MrsHamleyhasn’taskedformeforthreedaysnow，andIdon’tgointoherroomunlesssheasks。I’mleavingonFriday，Ibelieve。’’Mymotherwasveryfondofyou，Iknow。’Afterawhilehesaid，inavoicethathadagreatdealofsensitivepaininitstone，—’Isuppose—doyouknowwhethersheisquiteconscious—quiteherself？’’Notalwaysconscious，’saidMolly，tenderly。’Shehastotakesomanyopiates。Butsheneverwanders，onlyforgets，andsleeps。’’Oh，mother，mother！’saidhe，stoppingsuddenly，andhangingoverthefire，hishandsonthechimney—piece。WhenRogercamehome，Mollythoughtittimetoretire。Poorgirl！itwasgettingtobetimeforhertoleavethissceneofdistressinwhichshecouldbeofnouse。ShesobbedherselftosleepthisTuesdaynight。Twodaysmore，anditwouldbeFriday；andshewouldhavetowrenchuptherootsshehadshotdownintothisground。Theweatherwasbrightthenextmorning；andmorningandsunnyweathercheerupyounghearts。Mollysateinthedining—roommakingteaforthegentlemenastheycamedown。ShecouldnothelphopingthatthesquireandOsbornemightcometoabetterunderstandingbeforesheleft；forafterall，inthediscussionbetweenfatherandson，layabittererstingthanintheillnesssentbyGod。Butthoughtheymetatthebreakfast—table，theypurposelyavoidedaddressingeachother。Perhapsthenaturalsubjectofconversationbetweenthetwo，atsuchatime，wouldhavebeenOsborne’slongjourneythenightbefore；
buthehadneverspokenoftheplacehehadcomefrom，whethernorth，south，east，orwest，andthesquiredidnotchoosetoalludetoanythingthatmightbringoutwhathissonwishedtoconceal。Again，therewasanunexpressedideainboththeirmindsthatMrsHamley’spresentillnesswasmuchaggravated，ifnotentirelybroughton，bythediscoveryofOsborne’sdebts；so，manyinquiriesandanswersonthatheadweretabooed。Infact，theirattemptsateasyconversationwerelimitedtolocalsubjects，andprincipallyaddressedtoMollyorRoger。Suchintercoursewasnotproductiveofpleasure，orevenoffriendlyfeeling，thoughtherewasathinoutwardsurfaceofpolitenessandpeace。Longbeforethedaywasover，Mollywishedthatshehadaccededtoherfather’sproposal，andgonehomewithhim。Nooneseemedtowanther。MrsJones，thenurse，assuredhertimeaftertimethatMrsHamleyhadnevernamedhername；andhersmallservicesinthesickroomwerenotrequiredsincetherewasaregularnurse。OsborneandRogerseemedallinalltoeachother；andMollynowfelthowmuchtheshortconversationsshehadhadwithRogerhadservedtogivehersomethingtothinkabout，allduringtheremainderofhersolitarydays。Osbornewasextremelypolite，andevenexpressedhisgratitudetoherforherattentionstohismotherinaverypleasantmanner；butheappearedtobeunwillingtoshowheranyofthedeeperfeelingsofhisheart，andalmostashamedofhisexhibitionofemotionthenightbefore。Hespoketoherasanyagreeableyoungmanspeakstoanypleasantyounglady；butMollyalmostresentedthis。Itwasonlythesquirewhoseemedtomakeherofanyaccount。Hegaveherletterstowrite，smallbillstoreckonup；andshecouldhavekissedhishandsforthankfulness。ThelastafternoonofherstayattheHallcame。Rogerhadgoneoutonthesquire’sbusiness。Mollywentintothegarden，thinkingoverthelastsummer，whenMrsHamley’ssofausedtobeplacedundertheoldcedar—treeonthelawn，andwhenthewarmairseemedtobescentedwithrosesandsweetbrier。Now，thetreeswereleafless，—therewasnosweetodourinthekeenfrostyair；andlookingupatthehouse，therewerethewhitesheetsofblinds，shuttingoutthepalewinterskyfromtheinvalid’sroom。
Thenshethoughtofthedayherfatherhadbroughtherthenewsofhissecondmarriage：thethicketwastangledwithdeadweedsandrimeandhoarfrost；
andthebeautifulfinearticulationofbranchesandboughsanddelicatetwigswereallintertwinedinleaflessdistinctnessagainstthesky。Couldsheeverbesopassionatelyunhappyagain？Wasitgoodness，orwasitnumbness，thatmadeherfeelasthoughlifewastooshorttobetroubledmuchaboutanything？deathseemedtheonlyreality。Shehadneitherenergynorhearttowalkfarorbriskly；andturnedbacktowardsthehouse。Theafternoonsunwasshiningbrightlyonthewindows；and，stirreduptounusualactivitybysomeunknowncause，thehousemaidshadopenedtheshuttersandwindowsofthegenerallyunusedlibrary。Themiddlewindowwasalsoadoor；thewhite—paintedwoodwenthalf—wayup。Mollyturnedalongthelittleflag—pavedpaththatledpastthelibrarywindowstothegateinthewhiterailingsatthefrontofthehouse，andwentinattheopeneddoors。Shehadhadleavegiventochooseoutanybooksshewishedtoread，andtotakethemhomewithher；anditwasjustthesortofhalf—dawdlingemploymentsuitedtohertastethisafternoon。Shemountedontheladdertogettoaparticularshelfhighupindarkcorneroftheroom；andfindingtheresomevolumethatlookedinteresting，shesatedownonthesteptoreadpartofit。
Thereshesate，inherbonnetandcloak，whenOsbornesuddenlycamein。
Hedidnotseeheratfirst；indeed，heseemedinsuchahurrythatheprobablymightnothavenoticedheratall，ifshehadnotspoken。’AmIinyourway？Ionlycamehereforaminutetolookforsomebooks。’
Shecamedownthestepsasshespoke，stillholdingthebookinherhand。’Notatall。ItisIwhoamdisturbingyou。Imustjustwritealetterforthepost，andthenIshallbegone。Isnotthisopendoortoocoldforyou？’’Oh，no。Itissofreshandpleasant。’Shebegantoreadagain，sittingontheloweststepoftheladder；hetowriteatthelargeold—fashionedwriting—tableclosetothewindow。Therewasaminuteortwoofprofoundsilence，inwhichtherapidscratchingofOsborne’spenuponthepaperwastheonlysound。Thencameaclickofthegate，andRogerstoodattheopendoor。HisfacewastowardsOsborne，sittinginthelight；hisbacktoMolly，crouchedupinhercorner。Heheldoutaletter，andsaidinhoarsebreathlessness，—’Here’saletterfromyourwife，Osborne。Iwentpastthepost—officeandthought——’Osbornestoodup，angrydismayuponhisface。’Roger！whathaveyoudone！Don’tyouseeher？’Rogerlookedround，andMollystoodupinhercorner，red，trembling，miserable，asthoughshewereaguiltyperson。Rogerenteredtheroom。Allthreeseemedtobeequallydismayed。Mollywasthefirsttospeak；shecameforwardsandsaid，—’Iamsosorry！Youdidn’twishmetohearit，butIcouldn’thelpit。