第20章
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  NearlyallthatsheknewofthefamilyinteriorshehadheardfromMrsHamley,andshewasuncertainastohowfarherfatherwasacquaintedwiththem;soshedidnotliketoquestionhimtooclosely;norwasheamantobesoquestionedastothedomesticaffairsofhispatients。Sometimesshewonderedifitwasadream—thatshorthalfhourinthelibraryatHamleyHall—whenshehadlearntafactwhichseemedsoall—importanttoOsborne,yetwhichmadesolittledifferenceinhiswayoflife—eitherinspeechoraction。DuringthetwelveorfourteenhoursorsothatshehadremainedattheHallafterwards,nofurtherallusionhadbeenmadetohismarriage,eitherbyhimselforbyRoger。Itwas,indeed,verylikeadream。ProbablyMollywouldhavebeenrenderedmuchmoreuncomfortableinthepossessionofhersecretifOsbornehadstruckherasparticularlyattentiveinhisdevotiontoCynthia。Sheevidentlyamusedandattractedhim,butnotinanylivelyorpassionatekindofmanner。Headmiredherbeauty,andseemedtofeelhercharm;buthewouldleaveherside,andcometositnearMolly,ifanythingremindedhimofhismother,aboutwhichhecouldtalktoher,andtoheralone。YethecamesooftentotheGibsons’,thatMrsGibsonmightbeexcusedforthefancyshehadtakenintoherhead,thatitwasforCynthia’ssake。Helikedthelounge,thefriendliness,thecompanyoftwointelligentgirlsofbeautyandmannersabovetheaverage;

  oneofwhomstoodinapeculiarrelationtohim,ashavingbeenespeciallybelovedbythemotherwhosememoryhecherishedsofondly。Knowinghimselftobeoutofthecategoryofbachelors,hewas,perhaps,tooindifferentastootherpeople’signorance,anditspossibleconsequences。Somehow,MollydidnotliketobethefirsttointroduceRoger’snameintotheconversation,soshelostmanyanopportunityofhearingintelligenceabouthim。Osbornewasoftensolanguidorsoabsentthatheonlyfollowedtheleadoftalk;andasanawkwardfellow,whohadpaidhernoparticularattention,andasasecondson,Rogerwasnotpre—eminentinMrsGibson’sthoughts;Cynthiahadneverseenhim,andthefreakdidnottakeheroftentospeakabouthim。Hehadnotcomehomesincehehadobtainedhishighplaceinthemathematicallists:thatMollyknew;andsheknew,too,thathewasworkinghardforsomething—shesupposedafellowship—andthatwasall。Osborne’stoneinspeakingofhimwasalwaysthesame:everyword,everyinflexionofthevoicebreathedoutaffectionandrespect—nay,evenadmiration!Andthisfromtheniladmiraribrother,whoseldomcarriedhisexertionssofar。’Ah,Roger!’hesaidoneday。Mollycaughtthenameinaninstant,thoughshehadnotheardwhathadgonebefore。’Heisafellowinathousand—

  inathousand,indeed!Idon’tbelievethereishismatchanywhereforgoodnessandrealsolidpowercombined。’’Molly,’saidCynthia,afterMrOsborneHamleyhadgone,’whatsortofamanisthisRogerHamley?Onecan’ttellhowmuchtobelieveofhisbrother’spraises;foritistheonesubjectonwhichOsborneHamleybecomesenthusiastic。

  I’venoticeditonceortwicebefore。’WhileMollyhesitatedonwhichpointofthelargeroundtobeginherdescription,MrsGibsonstruckin,—’ItjustshowswhatasweetdispositionOsborneHamleyisof—thatheshouldpraisehisbrotherashedoes。Idaresayheisseniorwrangler,andmuchgoodmayitdohim!Idon’tdenythat;butasforconversation,he’sasheavyasheavycanbe。Agreatawkwardfellowtoboot,wholooksasifhedidnotknowtwoandtwomadefour,forallheissuchamathematicalgenius。YouwouldhardlybelievehewasOsborneHamley’sbrothertoseehim!Ishouldnotthinkhehadaprofileatall。’’Whatdoyouthinkofhim,Molly?’saidtheperseveringCynthia。’Ilikehim,’saidMolly。’Hehasbeenverykindtome。Iknowheisn’thandsomelikeOsborne。’Itwasratherdifficulttosayallthisquietly,butMollymanagedtodoit,quiteawarethatCynthiawouldnotresttillshehadextractedsomekindofanopinionoutofher。’IsupposehewillcomehomeatEaster,’saidCynthia,’andthenIshallseehimformyself。’’It’sagreatpitythattheirbeinginmourningwillpreventtheirgoingtotheEastercharityball,’saidMrsGibson,plaintively。’Ishan’tliketotakeyoutwogirls,ifyouarenottohaveanypartners。Itwillputmeinsuchanawkwardposition。IwishwecouldjoinontotheTowersparty。

  Thatwouldsecureyoupartners,fortheyalwaysbringanumberofdancingmen,whomightdancewithyouaftertheyhaddonetheirdutybytheladiesofthehouse。ButreallyeverythingissochangedsincedearLadyCumnorhasbeenaninvalidthatperhapstheywon’tgoatall。’ThisEasterballwasagreatsubjectofconversationwithMrsGibson。Shesometimesspokeofitasherfirstappearanceinsocietyasabride,thoughshehadbeenvisitingonceortwiceaweekallwinterlong。Thensheshiftedherground,andsaidshefeltsomuchinterestinit,becauseshewouldthenhavetheresponsibilityofintroducingbothherownandMrGibson’sdaughtertopublicnotice,thoughthefactwasthatprettynearlyeveryonewhowasgoingtothisballhadseenthetwoyoungladies—thoughnottheirballdresses—before。But,apingthemannersofthearistocracyasfarassheknewthem,sheintendedto’bringout’MollyandCynthiaonthisoccasion,whichsheregardedinsomethingofthelightofapresentationatCourt。’Theyarenotoutyet,’washerfavouriteexcusewheneitherofthemwasinvitedtoanyhousetowhichshedidnotwishthemtogo,orinvitedwithouther。Sheevenmadeadifficultyabouttheir’notbeingout’whenMissBrowning—thatoldfriendoftheGibsonfamily—cameinonemorningtoaskthetwogirlstocometoaveryfriendlyteaandaroundgameafterwards;thismildpieceofgaietybeingdesignedasanattentiontothreeofMrsGoodenough’sgrandchildren—twoyoungladiesandtheirschool—boybrother—whowerestayingonavisittotheirgrandmamma。’Youareverykind,MissBrowning,butyouseeIhardlyliketoletthemgo—theyarenotout,youknow,tillaftertheEasterball。’’Tillwhenweareinvisible,’saidCynthia,alwaysreadywithhermockerytoexaggerateanypretensionofhermother’s。’Wearesohighinrankthatoursovereignmustgiveushersanctionbeforewecanplayaroundgameatyourhouse。’Cynthiaenjoyedtheideaofherownfull—grownsizeandstatelygait,ascontrastedwiththatofameek,half—fledgedgirlinthenursery;butMissBrowningwashalfpuzzledandhalfaffronted。’Idon’tunderstanditatall。Inmydaysgirlswentwhereveritpleasedpeopletoaskthem,withoutthisfarceofburstingoutinalltheirnewfineclothesatsomepublicplace。Idon’tmeanbutwhatthegentrytooktheirdaughterstoYork,orMatlock,orBathtogivethematasteofgaysocietywhentheyweregrowingup;andthequalitywentuptoLondon,andtheiryoungladieswerepresentedtoQueenCharlotte,andwenttoabirthdayball,perhaps。ButforuslittleHollingfordpeople,whywekneweverychildamongstusfromthedayofitsbirth;andmanyagirloftwelveorfourteenhaveIseengoouttoacard—party,andsitquietatherwork,andknowhowtobehaveaswellasanyladythere。Therewasnotalkof\"comingout\"inthosedaysforanyoneunderthedaughterofasquire。’’AfterEaster,MollyandIshallknowhowtobehaveatacard—party,butnotbefore,’saidCynthia,demurely。’You’realwaysfondofyourquipsandyourcranks,’mydear,’saidMissBrowning,’andIwouldn’tquiteanswerforyourbehaviour:yousometimesletyourspiritscarryyouaway。ButI’mquitesureMollywillbealittleladyasshealwaysis,andalwayswas,andIhaveknownherfromababe。’MrsGibsontookuparmsonbehalfofherowndaughter,orrather,shetookuparmsagainstMolly’spraises。’Idon’tthinkyouwouldhavecalledMollyaladytheotherday,MissBrowning,ifyouhadfoundherwhereIdid:sittingupinacherry—tree,sixfeetfromthegroundatleast,Idoassureyou。’’Oh!butthatwasn’tpretty,’saidMissBrowning,shakingherheadatMolly。

  ’Ithoughtyou’dleftoffthosetomboyways。’’Shewantstherefinementwhichgoodsocietygivesinseveralways’,saidMrsGibson,returningtotheattackonpoorMolly。’She’sveryapttocomeupstairstwostepsatatime。’’Onlytwo,Molly!’saidCynthia。’Why,to—dayIfoundIcouldmanagefourofthesebroadshallowsteps。’’Mydearchild,whatareyousaying?’’OnlyconfessingthatI,likeMolly,wanttherefinementswhichgoodsocietygives;therefore,pleasedoletusgotoMissBrownings’thisevening。

  IwillpledgemyselfforMollythatsheshan’tsitinacherry—tree;andMollyshallseethatIdon’tgoupstairsinanunladylikeway。IwillgoupstairsasmeeklyasifIwereacome—outyounglady,andhadbeentotheEasterball。’Soitwasagreedthattheyshouldgo。IfMrOsborneHamleyhadbeennamedasoneoftheprobablevisitors,therewouldhavebeennoneofthisdifficultyabouttheaffair。ButthoughhewasnottherehisbrotherRogerwas。Mollysawhiminaminutewhensheenteredthelittledrawing—room;butCynthiadidnot。’Andsee,mydears,’saidMissPhoebeBrowning,turningthemroundtothesidewhereRogerstoodwaitingforhisturnofspeakingtoMolly。’We’vegotagentlemanforyouafterall!Wasn’titfortunate?—justassistersaidthatyoumightfinditdull—you,Cynthia,shemeant,becauseyouknowyoucomefromFrance;andthen,justasifhehadbeensentfromheaven,MrRogercameintocall;andIwon’tsaywelaidviolenthandsonhim,becausehewastoogoodforthat;butreallyweshouldhavebeennearit,ifhehadnotstayedofhisownaccord。’ThemomentRogerhaddonehiscordialgreetingtoMolly,heaskedhertointroducehimtoCynthia。’Iwanttoknowher—yournewsister,’headded,withthekindsmileMollyrememberedsowellsincetheveryfirstdayshehadseenitdirectedtowardsher,asshesatecryingundertheweepingash。CynthiawasstandingalittlebehindMollywhenRogeraskedforthisintroduction。Shewasgenerallydressedwithcarelessgrace。Molly,whowasdelicateneatnessitself,usedsometimestowonderhowCynthia’stumbledgowns,tossedawaysountidily,hadtheartoflookingsowellandfallinginsuchgracefulfolds。Forinstance,thepalelilacmuslingownsheworethiseveninghadbeenwornmanytimesbefore,andhadlookedunfittowearagainuntilCynthiaputiton。Thenthelimpnessbecamesoftness,andtheverycreasestookthelinesofbeauty。Molly,inadaintilycleanpinkmuslin,didnotlookhalfsoelegantlydressedasCynthia。ThegraveeyesthatthelatterraisedwhenshehadtobepresentedtoRogerhadasortofchild—likeinnocenceandwonderaboutthem,whichdidnotquitebelongtoCynthia’scharacter。

  Sheputonherarmourofmagicthatevening—involuntarilyasshealwaysdid;but,ontheotherside,shecouldnothelptryingherpoweronstrangers。

  MollyhadalwaysfeltthatsheshouldhavearighttoagoodlongtalkwithRogerwhenshenextsawhim;andthathewouldtellher,orsheshouldgatherfromhim,allthedetailsshesolongedtohearaboutthesquire—abouttheHall—aboutOsborne—abouthimself。Hewasjustascordialandfriendlyaseverwithher。IfCynthiahadnotbeenthereallwouldhavegoneonasshehadanticipated;butofallthevictimstoCynthia’scharmshefellmostproneandabject。Mollysawitall,asshewassittingnexttoMissPhoebeatthetea—table,actingright—hand,andpassingcake,cream,sugar,withsuchbusyassiduitythateveryonebesidesherselfthoughtthathermind,aswellasherhands,wasfullyoccupied。Shetriedtotalktothetwoshygirls,asinvirtueofhertwoyears’seniorityshethoughtherselfboundtodo;andtheconsequencewas,shewentupstairswiththetwainclingingtoherarms,andwillingtoswearaneternalfriendship。

  Nothingwouldsatisfythembutthatshemustsitbetweenthematvingt—un;

  andtheyweresodesirousofheradviceintheimportantpointoffixingthepriceofthecountersthatshecouldnotevenhavejoinedinintheanimatedtête—à—têtegoingonbetweenRogerandCynthia。

  Orrather,itwouldbemorecorrecttosaythatRogerwastalkinginamostanimatedmannertoCynthia,whosesweeteyeswerefixeduponhisfacewithalookofgreatinterestinallhewassaying,whileitwasonlynowandthenshemadeherlowreplies。Mollycaughtafewwordsoccasionallyinintervalsofbusiness。’Atmyuncle’s,wealwaysgaveasilverthreepenceforthreedozen。Youknowwhatasilverthreepenceis,don’tyou,dearMissGibson?’’ThethreeclassesarepublishedintheSenateHouseatnineo’clockontheFridaymorning,andyoucan’timagine—’’Ithinkitwillbethoughtrathershabbytoplayatanythinglessthansixpence。Thatgentleman’(thisinawhisper)’isatCambridge,andyouknowtheyalwaysplayveryhighthere,andsometimesruinthemselves,don’tthey,dearMissGibson?’’Oh,onthisoccasiontheMasterofArtswhoprecedesthecandidatesforhonourswhentheygointotheSenateHouseiscalledtheFatheroftheCollegetowhichhebelongs。IthinkImentionedthatbefore,didn’tI?’SoCynthiawashearingallaboutCambridge,andtheveryexaminationaboutwhichMollyhadfeltsuchkeeninterest,withouthavingeverbeenabletohaveherquestionsansweredbyacompetentperson;andRoger,towhomshehadalwayslookedasthefinalandmostsatisfactoryanswerer,wastellingallshewantedtoknow,andshecouldnotlisten。Ittookallherpatiencetomakeuplittlepacketsofcounters,andsettle,asthearbiterofthegame,whetheritwouldbebetterfortheroundortheoblongcounterstobereckonedassix。Andwhenallwasdone,andeveryonesateintheirplacesroundthetable,RogerandCynthiahadtobecalledtwicebeforetheycame。Theystoodup,itistrue,atthefirstsoundoftheirnames;

  buttheydidnotmove:Rogerwentontalking,Cynthialistening,tillthesecondcall—whentheyhurriedtothetableandtriedtoappearallonasuddenquiteinterestedinthegreatquestionsofthegame,namely,thepriceofthreedozencounters,andwhether,allthingsconsidered,itwouldbebettertocalltheroundcountersortheoblonghalf—a—dozeneach。MissBrowning,drummingthepackofcardsonthetable,andquitereadytobegindealing,decidedthematterbysaying,’Roundsaresixes,andthreedozencounterscostsixpence。Payup,ifyouplease,andletusbeginatonce。’

  CynthiasatebetweenRogerandWilliamOsborne,theyoungschoolboy,whobitterlyresentedonthisoccasionhissisters’habitofcallinghim’Willie,’

  ashethoughtthatitwasthisboyishsobriquetwhichpreventedCynthiafromattendingasmuchtohimastoMrRogerHamley;healsowascharmedbythecharmer,whofoundleisuretogivehimoneortwoofhersweetsmiles。

  Onhisreturnhometohisgrandmamma’shegaveoutoneortwoverydecidedandratheroriginalopinions,quiteopposed—aswasnatural—tohissisters’。

  Onewas,—’That,afterall,aseniorwranglerwasnogreatshakes。Anymanmightbeoneifheliked,buttherewerealotoffellowsthatheknewwhowouldbeverysorrytogoinforanythingsoslow。’Mollythoughtthegamewouldneverend。Shehadnoparticularturnforgamblinginher;andwhateverhercardmightbe,sheregularlyputontwocounters,indifferentastowhethershewonorlost。Cynthia,onthecontrary,stakedhigh,andwasatonetimeveryrich,butendedbybeingindebttoMollysomethinglikesixshillings。Shehadforgottenherpurse,shesaid,andwasobligedtoborrowfromthemoreprovidentMolly,whowasawarethattheroundgameofwhichMissBrowninghadspokentoherwaslikelytorequiremoney。Ifitwasnotaverymerryaffairforalltheindividualsconcerned,itwasaverynoisyoneonthewhole。Mollythoughtitwasgoingtolasttillmidnight;butpunctuallyastheclockstrucknine,thelittlemaid—servantstaggeredinundertheweightofatrayloadedwithsandwiches,cakes,andjelly。Thisbroughtonageneralmove;andRoger,whoappearedtohavebeenonthewatchforsomethingofthekind,cameandtookachairbyMolly。’Iamsogladtoseeyouagain—itseemssuchalongtimesinceChristmas,’

  saidhe,droppinghisvoice,andnotalludingmoreexactlytothedaywhenshehadlefttheHall。’Itisalongtime,’shereplied;’weareclosetoEasternow。IhavesowantedtotellyouhowgladIwastohearaboutyourhonoursatCambridge。

  Ioncethoughtofsendingyouamessagethroughyourbrother,butthenIthoughtitmightbemakingtoomuchfuss,becauseIknownothingofmathematics,orofthevalueofasenior—wranglership;andyouweresuretohavesomanycongratulationsfrompeoplewhodidknow。’’Imissedyoursthough,Molly,’saidhe,kindly。’ButIfeltsureyouweregladforme。’’Gladandproudtoo,’saidshe。’Ishouldsoliketohearsomethingmoreaboutit。IheardyoutellingCynthia——’’Yes。Whatacharmingpersonsheis!Ishouldthinkyoumustbehappierthanweexpectedlongago。’’Buttellmesomethingaboutthesenior—wranglership,please,’saidMolly。’It’salongstory,andIoughttobehelpingtheMissBrowningstohandsandwiches—besides,youwouldn’tfinditveryinteresting,it’ssofulloftechnicaldetails。’’Cynthialookedverymuchinterested,’saidMolly。’Well!thenIreferyoutoher,forImustgonow。Ican’tforshamegoonsittinghere,andlettingthosegoodladieshaveallthetrouble。ButIshallcomeandcallonMrsGibsonsoon。Areyouwalkinghometo—night?’’Yes,Ithinkso,’repliedMolly,eagerlyforeseeingwhatwastocome。’ThenIshallwalkhomewithyou。Ileftmyhorseatthe\"George,\"andthat’shalf—way。IsupposeoldBettywillallowmetoaccompanyyouandyoursister?Youusedtodescribeherassomethingofadragon。’’Bettyhasleftus,’saidMolly,sadly。’She’sgonetoliveataplaceatAshcombe。’Hemadeafaceofdismay,andthenwentofftohisduties。Theshortconversationhadbeenverypleasant,andhismannerhadhadjustthebrotherlykindnessofoldtimes;butitwasnotquitethemannerhehadtoCynthia;andMollyhalfthoughtshewouldhavepreferredthelatter。HewasnowhoveringaboutCynthia,whohaddeclinedtheofferofrefreshmentsfromWillieOsborne。

  Rogerwastemptingher,andwithplayfulentreatiesurginghertotakesomethingfromhim。Everywordtheysaidcouldbeheardbythewholeroom;

  yeteverywordwassaid,onRoger’spartatleast,asifhecouldnothavespokenitinthatpeculiarmannertoanyoneelse。Atlength,andrathermorebecauseshewaswearyofbeingentreated,thanbecauseitwashiswish,Cynthiatookamacaroon,andRogerseemedashappyasthoughshehadcrownedhimwithflowers。Thewholeaffairwasastriflingandcommonplaceascouldbeinitself。hardlyworthnoticing:andyetMollydidnoticeit,andfeltuneasy;shecouldnottellwhy。Asitturnedout,itwasarainynight,andMrsGibsonsentaflyforthetwogirlsinsteadofoldBetty’ssubstitute。BothCynthiaandMollythoughtofthepossibilityoftheirtakingthetwoOsbornegirlsbacktotheirgrandmother’s,andsosavingthemawetwalk;butCynthiagotthestartinspeakingaboutit;

  andthethanksandtheimpliedpraiseforthoughtfulnesswerehers。WhentheygothomeMrandMrsGibsonweresittinginthedrawing—room,quitereadytobeamusedbyanydetailsoftheevening。Cynthiabegan,—’Oh!itwasn’tveryentertaining。Onedidn’texpectthat,’andsheyawnedwearily。’Whowerethere?’askedMrGibson。’Quiteayoungparty—wasn’tit?’’They’donlyaskedLizzieandFannyOsborne,andtheirbrother;butMrRogerHamleyhadriddenoverandcalledontheMissBrownings,andtheyhadkepthimtotea。Nooneelse。’’RogerHamleythere!’saidMrGibson。’He’scomehomethen。Imustmaketimetorideoverandseehim。’’You’dmuchbetteraskhimhere,’saidMrsGibson。’SupposeyouinvitehimandhisbrothertodinehereonFriday,mydear?Itwouldbeaveryprettyattention,Ithink。’’Mydear!theseyoungCambridgemenhaveaverygoodtasteinwine,anddon’tspareit。Mycellarwon’tstandmanyoftheirattacks。’’Ididn’tthinkyouweresoinhospitable,MrGibson。’’I’mnotinhospitable,I’msure。Ifyou’llput\"bitterbeer\"inthecornerofyournotesofinvitation,justasthesmartpeopleput\"quadrilles\"

  asasignofentertainmentoffered,we’llhaveOsborneandRogertodinneranydayyoulike。Andwhatdidyouthinkofmyfavourite,Cynthia?Youhadn’tseenhimbefore,Ithink?’’Oh!he’snothinglikesohandsomeashisbrother;norsopolished;norsoeasytotalkto。Heentertainedmeformorethananhourwithalongaccountofsomeexaminationorother;butthere’ssomethingonelikesabouthim。’’Well—andMolly—’saidMrsGibson,whopiquedherselfonbeinganimpartialstepmother;andwhoalwaystriedhardtomakeMollytalkasmuchasCynthia—’whatsortofaneveninghaveyouhad?’’Verypleasant,thankyou。’Herheartalittlebeliedherasshesaidthis。

  Shehadnotcaredfortheroundgame;andshewouldhavecaredforRoger’sconversation。Shehadhadwhatshewasindifferentto,andnothadwhatshewouldhaveliked。’We’vehadourunexpectedvisitor,too,’saidMrGibson。’JustafterdinnerwhoshouldcomeinbutMrPreston。Ifancyhe’shavingmoreofthemanagementoftheHollingfordpropertythanformerly。Sheepshanksisgettinganoldman。Andifso,IsuspectweshallseeagooddealofPreston。He’s\"noblate,\"astheyusedtosayinScotland,andmadehimselfquiteathometo—night。IfI’daskedhimtostay,or,indeed,ifI’ddoneanythingbutyawn,he’dhavebeenherenow。ButIdefyanymantostaywhenIhaveafitofyawning。’’DoyoulikeMrPreston,papa?’askedMolly。’AboutasmuchasIdohalfthemenImeet。Hetalkswell,andhasseenagooddeal。Iknowverylittleofhim,though,exceptthathe’smylord’ssteward,whichisaguaranteeforagooddeal。’’LadyHarrietspokeprettystronglyagainsthimthatdayIwaswithherattheManor—house。’’LadyHarriet’salwaysfulloffancies:shelikespersonsto—day,anddislikesthemto—morrow,’saidMrsGibson,whowastouchedonhersorepointwheneverMollyquotedLadyHarriet,orsaidanythingtoimplyeversotransitoryanintimacywithher。’YoumustknowagooddealaboutMrPreston,mydear?IsupposeyousawagooddealofhimatAshcombe?’MrsGibsoncoloured,andlookedatCynthiabeforeshereplied。Cynthia’sfacewassetintoadeterminationnottospeak,howevermuchshemightbereferredto。’Yes;wesawagooddealofhim—atonetime,Imean。He’schangeable,Ithink。Buthealwayssentusgame,andsometimesfruit。Thereweresomestoriesagainsthim,butIneverbelievedthem。’’Whatkindofstories?’saidMrGibson,quickly。’Oh,vaguestories,youknow:scandal,Idaresay。Nooneeverbelievedthem。Hecouldbesoagreeableifhechose;andmylord,whoissoveryparticular,wouldneverhavekepthimasagentiftheyweretrue;notthatIeverknewwhattheywere,forIconsiderallscandalasabominablegossip。’’I’mverygladIyawnedinhisface,’saidMrGibson。’Ihopehe’lltakethehint。’’Ifitwasoneofyourgiant—gapes,papa,Ishouldcallitmorethanahint,’saidMolly。’Andifyouwantayawningchorusthenexttimehecomes,I’lljoinin;won’tyou,Cynthia?’’Idon’tknow,’repliedthelatter,shortly,asshelightedherbed—candle。

  Thetwogirlshadusuallysomenightlyconversationinoneorotheroftheirbed—rooms;butto—nightCynthiasaidsomethingorotheraboutbeingterriblytired,andhastilyshutherdoor。Theverynextday,Rogercametopayhispromisedcall。MollywasoutinthegardenwithWilliams,planningthearrangementofsomenewflower—beds,anddeepinheremploymentofplacingpegsuponthelawntomarkoutthedifferentsituations,when,standinguptomarktheeffect,hereyewascaughtbythefigureofagentleman,sittingwithhisbacktothelight,leaningforwards,andtalking,orlistening,eagerly。Mollyknewtheshapeoftheheadperfectly,andhastilybegantoputoffherbrown—hollandgardeningapron,emptyingthepocketsasshespoketoWilliams。’Youcanfinishitnow,Ithink,’saidshe。’Youknowaboutthebright—colouredflowersbeingagainsttheprivet—hedge,andwherethenewrose—bedittobe?’’Ican’tjustlysayasIdo,’saidhe。’Mebbe,you’lljustgoo’eritallonceagain,MissMolly。I’mnotsoyoungasIoncstwas,andmyheadisnotsoclearnow—a—days,andI’dbelothtomakemistakeswhenyou’resosetuponyourplans。’Mollygaveupherimpulseinamoment。Shesawthattheoldgardenerwasreallyperplexed,yetthathewasasanxiousashecouldbetodohisbest。

  Soshewentoverthegroundagain,peggingandexplainingtillthewrinkledbrowwassmoothagain,andhekeptsaying,’Isee,miss。Allright,MissMolly,I’segottenitinmyheadasclearaspatch—worknow。’Soshecouldleavehim,andgoin。Butjustasshewasclosetothegardendoor,Rogercameout。Itreallywasforonceacaseofvirtueitsownreward,foritwasfarpleasantertohertohavehiminatête—à—tête,howevershort,thanintherestraintofMrsGibson’sandCynthia’spresence。’Ionlyjustfoundoutwhereyouwere,Molly。MrsGibsonsaidyouhadgoneout,butshedidn’tknowwhere;anditwasthegreatestchancethatIturnedroundandsawyou。’’Isawyousometimeago,butIcouldn’tleaveWilliams。Ithinkhewasunusuallyslowto—day;andheseemedasifhecouldn’tunderstandmyplanforthenewflower—beds。’’Isthatthepaperyou’vegotinyourhand?Letmelookatit,willyou?

  Ah,Isee!you’veborrowedsomeofyourideasfromourgardenathome,haven’tyou?Thisbedofscarletgeraniums,withtheborderofyoungoaks,peggeddown!Thatwasafancyofmydearmother’s。’Theywerebothsilentforaminuteortwo。ThenMollysaid,—’Howisthesquire?I’veneverseenhimsince。’’No,hetoldmehowmuchhewantedtoseeyou,buthecouldn’tmakeuphismindtocomeandcall。IsupposeitwouldneverdonowforyoutocomeandstayattheHall,wouldit?Itwouldgivemyfathersomuchpleasure:

  helooksuponyouasadaughter,andI’msurebothOsborneandIshallalwaysconsideryouarelikeasistertous,afterallmymother’sloveforyou,andyourtendercareofheratlast。ButIsupposeitwouldn’tdo。’’No!certainlynot,’saidMolly,hastily。’Ifancyifyoucouldcomeitwouldputusalittletorights。Youknow,asIthinkIoncetoldyou,OsbornehasbehaveddifferentlytowhatIshouldhavedone,thoughnotwrongly,—onlywhatIcallanerrorofjudgment。

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