Idon’tcareaboutit—that’stosay，nottosignify。’’Whydidyoutakemeupsosharp，Roger？’saidhisfatherpettishly。’Youalltakemeupsohastilynow—a—days。Ithinkit’shardwhenamanmustn’tbeallowedabitofcrossnesswhenhe’stiredandheavyatheart—thatIdo。’’But，father，Ishouldneverliketogotoahousewheretheyhadslightedyou。’’Nay，nay，lad，’saidthesquire，brighteningupalittle；’IthinkIslightedthem。Theyaskedmetodinneraftermylordwasmadelieutenanttimeaftertime，butIneverwouldgonear’em。Icallthatmyslightingthem。’Andnomorewassaidatthetime；butthenextdaythesquireagainstoppedRoger。’I’vebeenmakingJemtryonhislivery—coatthathehasn’twornthisthreeorfouryears，—he’sgottoostoutforitnow。’’Well，heneedn’twearit，needhe？andMorgan’sladwillbegladenoughofit，—he’ssadlyinwantofclothes。’’Ay，ay；butwho’stogowithyouwhenyoucallattheTowers？It’sbutpolitetocallafterLordWhat’s—his—namehastakenthetroubletocomehere；andIshouldn’tlikeyoutogowithoutagroom。’’Mydearfather！Ishouldn’tknowwhattodowithamanridingatmyback。
Icanfindmywaytothestable—yardformyself，orthere’llbesomemanabouttotakemyhorse。Don’ttroubleyourselfaboutthat。’’Well，you’renotOsborne，tobesure。Perhapsitwon’tstrike’emasstrangeforyou。Butyoumustlookup，andholdyourown，andrememberyou’reoneoftheHamleys，who’vebeenonthesamelandforhundredsofyears，whilethey’rebuttrumperyWhigfolkwhoonlycameintothecountyinQueenAnne’stime。’
chapter28CHAPTERXXVIIIRIVALRYForsomedaysaftertheballCynthiaseemedlanguid，andwasverysilent。
Molly，whohadpromisedherselffullyasmuchenjoymentintalkingoverthepastgaietywithCynthiaasintheeveningitself，wasdisappointedwhenshefoundthatallconversationonthesubjectwasratherevadedthanencouraged。MrsGibson，itistrue，wasreadytogooverthegroundasmanytimesasanyoneliked；butherwordswerealwayslikeready—madeclothes，andneverfittedindividualthoughts。Anybodymighthaveusedthem，and，withachangeofpropernames，theymighthaveservedtodescribeanyball。Sherepeatedlyusedthesamelanguageinspeakingaboutit，tillMollyknewthesentencesandtheirsequenceeventoirritation。’Ah！MrOsborne，youshouldhavebeenthere！Isaidtomyselfmanyatimehowyoureallyshouldhavebeenthere—youand，yourbrotherofcourse。’’Ithoughtofyouveryoftenduringtheevening！’’Didyou？NowthatIcallverykindofyou。Cynthia，darling！DoyouhearwhatMrOsborneHamleywassaying？’asCynthiacameintotheroomjustthen。’Hethoughtofusallontheeveningoftheball。’’Hedidbetterthanmerelyrememberusthen，’saidCynthia，withhersoftslowsmile。’Weowehimthanksforthosebeautifulflowers，mamma。’’Oh！’saidOsborne，’youmustnotthankmeexclusively。Ibelieveitwasmythought，butRogertookallthetroubleofit。’’Iconsiderthethoughtaseverything，’saidMrsGibson。’Thoughtisspiritual，whileactionismerelymaterial。’Thisfinesentencetookthespeakerherselfbysurprise；andinsuchconversationaswasthengoingon，itisnotnecessarytoaccuratelydefinethemeaningofeverythingthatissaid。’I’mafraidtheflowersweretoolatetobeofmuchusethough，’continuedOsborne。’ImetPrestonthenextmorning，andofcoursewetalkedabouttheball。Iwassorrytofindhehadbeenbeforehandwithus，’’Heonlysentonenosegay，andthatwasforCynthia，’saidMolly，lookingupfromherwork。’AnditdidnotcometillafterwehadreceivedtheflowersfromHamley。’MollycaughtasightofCynthia’sfacebeforeshebentdownagaintohersewing。Itwasscarletincolour，andtherewasaflashofangerinhereyes。BothsheandhermotherhastenedtospeakassoonasMollyhadfinished，butCynthia’svoicewaschokedwithpassion，andMrsGibsonhadtheword。’MrPreston’sbouquetwasjustoneofthoseformalaffairsanyonecanbuyatanursery—garden，whichalwaysstrikemeashavingnosentimentinthem。IwouldfarratherhavetwoorthreeliliesofthevalleygatheredformebyapersonIlike，thanthemostexpensivebouquetthatcouldbebought！’’MrPrestonhadnobusinesstospeakasifhehadforestalledyou，’saidCynthia。’Itcamejustaswewerereadytogo，andIputitintothefiredirectly。’’Cynthia，mydearlove！’saidMrsGibson（whohadneverheardofthefateoftheflowersuntilnow），’whatanideaofyourselfyouwillgivetoMrOsborneHamley；buttobesure，Icanquiteunderstandit。Youinheritmyfeeling—myprejudice—sentimentalIgrant，againstboughtflowers。’Cynthiawassilentforamoment；thenshesaid，’Iusedsomeofyourflowers，MrHamley，todressMolly’shair。Itwasagreattemptation，forthecoloursoexactlymatchedhercoralornaments；butIbelieveshethoughtittreacheroustodisturbthearrangement，soIoughttotakealltheblameonmyself。’’Thearrangementwasmybrother’s，asItoldyou；butIamsurehewouldhavepreferredseeingtheminMissGibson’shairratherthanintheblazingfire。MrPrestoncomesfartheworstoff。’Osbornewasratheramusedatthewholeaffair，andwouldhavelikedtoprobeCynthia’smotivesalittlefarther。HedidnothearMollysayinginassoftavoiceasifsheweretalkingtoherself，’Iworeminejustastheyweresent，’forMrsGibsoncameinwithatotalchangeofsubject。’Speakingofliliesofthevalley，isittruethattheygrowwildinHurstWood？Itisnottheseasonforthemtobeinfloweryet；butwhenitis，Ithinkwemusttakeawalkthere—withourluncheoninabasket—alittlepicnicinfact。You’lljoinus，won’tyou？’turningtoOsborne。’Ithinkit’sacharmingplan！YoucouldridetoHollingfordandputupyourhorsehere，andwewouldhavealongdayinthewoodsandallcomehometodinner—dinnerwithabasketofliliesinthemiddleofthetable！’’Ishouldlikeitverymuch，’saidOsborne；’butImaynotbeathome。
Rogerismorelikelytobehere，Ibelieve，atthattime—amonthhence。’
HewasthinkingofthevisittoLondontosellhispoems，andtherundowntoWinchesterwhichheanticipatedafterwards—theendofMayhadbeentheperiodfixedforthispleasureforsometime，notmerelyinhisownmind，butinwritingtohiswife。’Oh，butyoumustbewithus！WemustwaitforMrOsborneHamley，mustnotwe，Cynthia？’’I’mafraidthelilieswon’twait，’repliedCynthia。’Well，then，wemustputitofftilldog—roseandhoneysuckletime。Youwillbeathomethen，won’tyou？ordoestheLondonseasonpresenttoomanyattractions？’’Idon’texactlyknowwhendog—rosesareinflower！’’Notknow，andyouapoet？Don’tyourememberthelines—Itwasthetimeofroses，Wepluckedthemaswepassed？\"’Yes；butthatdoesn’tspecifythetimeofyearthatisthetimeofroses；
andIbelievemymovementsareguidedmorebythelunarcalendarthanthefloral。Youhadbettertakemybrotherforyourcompanion；heispracticalinhisloveofflowers，Iamonlytheoretical。’’Doesthatfineword\"theoretical\"implythatyouareignorant？’askedCynthia。’Ofcourseweshallbehappytoseeyourbrother；butwhycan’twehaveyoutoo？Iconfesstoalittletimidityinthepresenceofonesodeepandlearnedasyourbrotherisfromallaccounts。Givemealittlecharmingignorance，ifwemustcallitbythathardword。’Osbornebowed。Itwasverypleasanttohimtobepettedandflattered，eventhoughheknewallthetimethatitwasonlyflattery。Itwasanagreeablecontrasttothehomethatwassodismaltohim，tocometothishousewherethesocietyoftwoagreeablegirls，andthesoothingsyrupoftheirmother’sspeeches，awaitedhimwheneverhelikedtocome。Tosaynothingofthedifferencethatstruckuponhissenses，poeticalthoughhemightesteemhimself，ofasitting—roomfullofflowersandtokensofwomen’spresence，whereallthechairswereeasy，andallthetableswellcoveredwithprettythings，tothegreatdrawing—roomathome，wherethedraperieswerethreadbare，andtheseatsuncomfortable，andnosignoffemininepresenceevernowlentagracetothestiffarrangementofthefurniture。Thenthemeals，lightandwellcooked，suitedhistasteanddelicateappetitesomuchbetterthantherichandheavyviandspreparedbytheservantsattheHall。OsbornewasbecomingalittleafraidoffallingintothehabitofpayingtoofrequentvisitstotheGibsons（andthat，notbecausehefearedtheconsequencesofhisintercoursewiththetwoyoungladies；forheneverthoughtofthemexceptingasfriends；—thefactofhismarriagewasconstantlypresenttohismind，andAimé；etoosecurelyenthronedinhisheart，forhimtorememberthathemightbelookeduponbyothersinthelightofapossiblehusband）；butthereflectionforceditselfuponhimoccasionally，whetherhewasnottrespassingtoooftenonhospitalitywhichhehadatpresentnomeansofreturning。ButMrsGibson，inherignoranceofthetruestateofaffairs，wassecretlyexultantintheattractionwhichmadehimcomesooftenandloungeawaythehoursintheirhouseandgarden。ShehadnodoubtthatitwasCynthiawhodrewhimtothehouse；andifthelatterhadbeenalittlemoreamenabletoreason，hermotherwouldhavemademorefrequentallusionsthanshedidtothecrisiswhichshethoughtwasapproaching。Butshewasrestrainedbytheintuitiveconvictionthatifherdaughterbecameconsciousofwhatwasimpending，andwasmadeawareofMrsGibson’scautiousandquieteffortstoforwardthecatastrophe，thewilfulgirlwouldopposeherselftoitwithallherskillandpower。Asitwas，MrsGibsontrustedthatCynthia’saffectionswouldbecomeengagedbeforesheknewwhereshewas，andthatinthatcaseshewouldnotattempttofrustratehermother’sdelicatescheming，eventhoughshedidperceiveit。ButCynthiahadcomeacrosstoomanyvarietiesofflirtation，admiration，andevenpassionatelove，tobeforamomentatfaultastothequietfriendlynatureofOsborne’sattentions。Shereceivedhimalwaysasasistermightabrother。ItwasdifferentwhenRogerreturnedfromhiselectionasFellowofTrinity。Thetremblingdiffidence，thehardlysuppressedardourofhismanner，madeCynthiaunderstandbeforelongwithwhatkindofloveshehadnowtodeal。Shedidnotputitintosomanywords—no，noteveninhersecretheart—butsherecognizedthedifferencebetweenRoger’srelationtoherandOsborne’s，longbeforeMrsGibsonfounditout。Mollywas，however，thefirsttodiscoverthenatureofRoger’sattraction。Thefirsttimetheysawhimaftertheball，itcameouttoherobservanteyes。Cynthiahadnotbeenlookingwellsincethatevening；
shewentslowlyaboutthehouse，paleandheavy—eyed；and，fondassheusuallywasofexerciseandthefreefreshair，therewashardlyanypersuadinghernowtogooutforawalk。Mollywatchedthisfadingwithtenderanxiety，buttoallherquestionsastowhethershehadfeltover—fatiguedwithherdancing，whetheranythinghadoccurredtoannoyher，andallsuchinquiries，sherepliedinlanguidnegatives。OnceMollytouchedonMrPreston’sname，andfoundthatthiswasasubjectonwhichCynthiawasraw；now，Cynthia’sfacelightedupwithspirit，andherwholebodyshowedherill—repressedagitation，butsheonlysaidafewsharpwords，expressiveofanythingbutkindlyfeelingtowardsthegentleman，andthenbadeMollynevernamehisnametoheragain。Still，thelattercouldnotimaginethathewasmorethanintenselydistastefultoherfriend，aswellastoherself，hecouldnotbethecauseofCynthia’spresentindisposition。Butthisindispositionlastedsomanydayswithoutchangeormodification，thatevenMrsGibsonnoticedit，andMollybecamepositivelyuneasy。MrsGibsonconsideredCynthia’squietnessandlanguorasthenaturalconsequenceof’dancingwitheverybodywhoaskedher’attheball。Partnerswhosenameswereinthe’RedBook’
wouldnothaveproducedhalftheamountoffatigue，accordingtoMrsGibson’sjudgmentapparently，andifCynthiahadbeenquitewell，veryprobablyshewouldhavehittheblotinhermother’sspeechwithoneofhertouchesofsarcasm。Then，again，whenCynthiadidnotrally，MrsGibsongrewimpatient，andaccusedherofbeingfancifulandlazy；atlength，andpartlyatMolly’sinstance，therecameanappealtoMrGibson，andaprofessionalexaminationofthesupposedinvalid，whichCynthiahatedmorethananything，especiallywhentheverdictwas，thattherewasnothingverymuchthematter，onlyagenerallownessoftone，anddepressionofhealthandspirits，whichwouldsoonberemediedbytonics，and，meanwhile，shewasnottobeurgedtoexertion。’IfthereisonethingIdislike，’saidCynthiatoMrGibson，afterhehadpronouncedtonicstobethecureforherpresentstate，’itisthewaydoctorshaveofgivingtablespoonfulsofnauseousmixturesasacertainremedyforsorrowsandcares。’Shelaughedupinhisfaceasshespoke；
shehadalwaysaprettywordandsmileforhim，eveninthemidstofherlossofspirits。’Come！youacknowledgeyouhave\"sorrows\"bythatspeech；we’llmakeabargain：ifyou’lltellmeyoursorrowsandcares，I’lltryandfindsomeotherremedyforthemthangivingyouwhatyouarepleasedtotermmynauseousmixtures。’’No，’saidCynthia，colouring；’IneversaidIhadsorrowsandcares；I
spokegenerally。WhatshouldIhaveasorrowabout—youandMollyareonlytookindtome，’hereyesfillingwithtears。’Well，well，we’llnottalkofsuchgloomythings，andyoushallhavesomesweetemulsiontodisguisethetasteofthebittersIshallbeobligedtofallbackupon。’’Please，don’t。IfyoubutknewhowIdislikeemulsionsanddisguises！
Idowantbitters—andifIsometimes—ifI’mobligedto—ifI’mnottruthfulmyself，Idoliketruthinothers—atleast，sometimes。’Sheendedhersentencewithanothersmile，busitwasratherfaintandwatery。NowthefirstpersonoutofthehousetonoticeCynthia’schangeoflookandmannerwasRogerHamley—andyethedidnotseeheruntil，undertheinfluenceofthenauseousmixture，shewasbeginningtorecover。Buthiseyeswerescarcelyoffherduringthefirstfiveminuteshewasintheroom。AllthetimehewastryingtotalktoMrsGibsoninreplytohercivilplatitudes，hewasstudyingCynthia；andatthefirstconvenientpausehecameandstoodbeforeMolly，soastointerposehispersonbetweenherandtherestoftheroom；forsomevisitorshadcomeinsubsequenttohisentrance。’Molly，howillyoursisterislooking！Whatisit？Hasshehadadvice？
Youmustforgiveme，butsooftenthosewholivetogetherinthesamehousedon’tobservethefirstapproachesofillness。’NowMolly’sloveforCynthiawasfastandunwavering，butifanythingtriedit，itwasthehabitRogerhadfallenintoofalwayscallingCynthiaMolly’ssisterinspeakingtothelatter。Fromanyoneelseitwouldhavebeenamatterofindifferencetoher，andhardlytobenoticed；itvexedbothearandheartwhenRogerusedtheexpression；andtherewasacurtnessofmanneraswellasofwordsinherreply。’Oh！shewasover—tiredbytheball。Papahasseenher，andsaysshewillbeallrightverysoon。’’Iwonderifshewantschangeofair？’saidRoger，meditatively。’Iwish—IdowishwecouldhaveherattheHall；youandyourmothertoo，ofcourse。ButIdon’tseehowitwouldbepossible—orelsehowcharmingitwouldbe！’MollyfeltasifavisittotheHallundersuchcircumstanceswouldbealtogethersodifferentanaffairtoallherformerones，thatshecouldhardlytellifsheshouldlikeitornot。Rogerwenton，—’Yougotourflowersintime，didyounot？Ah！youdon’tknowhowoftenIthoughtofyouthatevening！Andyouenjoyedittoo，didn’tyou？—youhadplentyofagreeablepartners，andallthatmakesafirstballdelightful？
Iheardthatyoursisterdancedeverydance。’’Itwasverypleasant，’saidMolly，quietly。’But，afterall，I’mnotsureifIwanttogotoanotherjustyet；thereseemstobesomuchtroubleconnectedwithaball。’’Ah！youarethinkingofyoursister，andhernotbeingwell？’’No，Iwasnot，’saidMolly，ratherbluntly。’Iwasthinkingofthedress，andthedressing，andthewearinessthenextday。’Hemightthinkherunfeelingifheliked；shefeltasifshehadonlytoomuchfeelingjustthen，foritwasbringingonherastrangecontractionofheart。Buthewastooinherentlygoodhimselftoputanyharshconstructiononherspeech。Justbeforehewentaway，whilehewasostensiblyholdingherhandandwishinghergood—by，hesaidtoherinavoicetoolowtobegenerallyheard，—’IsthereanythingIcoulddoforyoursister？Wehaveplentyofbooks，asyouknow，ifshecaresforreading。’Then，receivingnoaffirmativelookorwordfromMollyinreplytothissuggestion，hewenton，—’Orflowers？shelikesflowers。Oh！andourforcedstrawberriesarejustready—Iwillbringsomeoverto—morrow。’’Iamsureshewilllikethem，’saidMolly。Forsomereasonorother，unknowntotheGibsons，alongerintervalthanusualoccurredbetweenOsborne’svisits，whileRogercamealmosteveryday，alwayswithsomefreshofferingbywhichheopenlysoughttorelieveCynthia’sindispositionasfarasitlayinhispower。HermannertohimwassogentleandgraciousthatMrsGibsonbecamealarmed，lest，inspiteofhis’uncouthness’（asshewaspleasedtotermit），hemightcometobepreferredtoOsborne，whowassostrangelyneglectinghisowninterests，inMrsGibson’sopinion。Inherquietway，shecontrivedtopassmanyslightsuponRoger；butthedartsreboundedfromhisgenerousnaturethatcouldnothaveimaginedhermotives，andfastenedthemselvesonMolly。Shehadoftenbeencallednaughtyandpassionatewhenshewasachild；andshethoughtnowthatshebegantounderstandthatshereallyhadaviolenttemper。WhatseemedneithertohurtRogernorannoyCynthiamadeMolly’sbloodboil；andnowshehadoncediscoveredMrsGibson’swishtomakeRoger’svisitsshorterandlessfrequent，shewasalwaysonthewatchforindicationsofthisdesire。Shereadherstepmother’sheartwhenthelattermadeallusionstothesquire’sloneliness，nowthatOsbornewasabsentfromtheHall，andthatRogerwassooftenawayamongsthisfriendsduringtheday，—’MrGibsonandIshouldbesodelightedifyoucouldhavestoppedtodinner；
but，ofcourse，wecannotbesoselfishastoaskyoutostaywhenwerememberhowyourfatherwouldbeleftalone。Weweresayingyesterdaywewonderedhowheborehissolitude，pooroldgentleman！’Or，assoonasRogercamewithhisbunchofearlyroses，itwasdesirableforCynthiatogoandrestinherownroom，whileMollyhadtoaccompanyMrsGibsononsomeimprovisederrandorcall。StillRoger，whoseobjectwastogivepleasuretoCynthia，andwhohad，fromhisboyhood，beenalwayscertainofMrGibson’sfriendlyregard，wasslowtoperceivethathewasnotwanted。IfhedidnotseeCynthia，thatwashisloss；atanyrate，heheardhowshewas，andlefthersomelittlethingwhichhebelievedshewouldlike，andwaswillingtoriskthechanceofhisowngratificationbycallingfourorfivetimesinthehopeofseeingheronce。AtlasttherecameadaywhenMrsGibsonwentbeyondherusualnegativesnubbiness，andwhen，insomeunwontedfitofcrossness，forshewasaveryplacid—temperedpersoningeneral，shewasguiltyofpositiverudeness，Cynthiawasverymuchbetter。Tonicshadministeredtoaminddiseased，thoughshehatedtoacknowledgeit；herprettybloomandmuchofherlight—heartednesshadcomeback，andtherewasnocauseremainingforanxiety。MrsGibsonwassittingatherembroideryinthedrawing—room，andthetwogirlswereatthewindow，CynthialaughingatMolly’searnestendeavourstoimitatetheFrenchaccentinwhichtheformerhadbeenreadingapageofVoltaire。
Fortheduty，orthefarce，ofsettlingto’improvingreading’inthemorningswasstillkeptup，althoughLordHollingford，theunconscioussuggestoroftheidea，hadgonebacktotownwithoutmakinganyoftheeffortstoseeMollyagainthatMrsGibsonhadanticipatedonthenightoftheball。
ThatAlnascharvisionhadfallentotheground。Itwasasyetearlymorning；
adelicious，fresh，lovelyJuneday，theairredolentwiththescentsofflower—growthandbloom；andhalfthetimethegirlshadbeenostensiblyemployedintheFrenchreadingtheyhadbeenleaningoutoftheopenwindowtryingtoreachaclusterofclimbingroses。Theyhadsecuredthematlast，andthebunchlayonCynthia’slap，butmanyofthepetalshadfallenoff，so，thoughtheperfumelingeredaboutthewindow—seat，thefullbeautyoftheflowershadpassedaway。MrsGibsonhadonceortwicereprovedthemforthemerrynoisetheyhadbeenmaking，whichhinderedherinthebusinessofcountingthestitchesinherpattern；andshehadsetherselfacertainquantitytodothatmorningbeforegoingout，andwasofthatnaturewhichattachesinfiniteimportancetofulfillingsmallresolutions，madeaboutindifferenttrifleswithoutanyreasonwhatever。’MrRogerHamley，’wasannounced。’Sotiresome！’saidMrsGibson，almostinhishearing，asshepushedawayherembroideryframe。Sheputouthercold，motionlesshandtohim，withahalf—murmuredwordofwelcome，stilleyeingherlostembroidery。Hetooknoapparentnotice，andpassedontothewindow。’Howdelicious！’saidhe。’NoneedforanymoreHamleyrosesnowyoursareout，’’Iagreewithyou，’saidMrsGibson，replyingtohimbeforeeitherCynthiaorMollycouldspeak，thoughheaddressedhiswordstothem。’Youhavebeenverykindinbringingusflowerssolong；butnowourownareoutweneednottroubleyouanymore。’Helookedatherwithalittlesurprisecloudinghishonestface；itwasperhapsmoreatthetonethanthewords。MrsGibson，however，hadbeenboldenoughtostrikethefirstblow，andshedeterminedtogoonasopportunityoffered。MollywouldperhapshavebeenmorepainedifshehadnotseenCynthia’scolourrise。Shewaitedforhertospeak，ifneedwere；forsheknewthatRoger’sdefence，ifdefencewereneeded，mightbesafelyentrustedtoCynthia’sreadywit。HeputouthishandfortheshatteredclusterofrosesthatlayinCynthia’slap。’Atanyrate，’saidhe，’mytrouble—ifMrsGibsonconsidersithasbeenatroubletome—willbeover—paid，ifImayhavethis。’’Oldlampsfornew，’saidCynthia，smilingasshegaveittohim。’Iwishonecouldalwaysbuynosegayssuchasyouhavebroughtus，ascheaply。’’Youforgetthewasteoftimethat，Ithink，wemustreckonaspartofthepayment，’saidhermother。’Really，MrHamley，wemustlearntoshutourdoorsonyouifyoucomesooften，andatsuchearlyhours！Isettlemyselftomyownemploymentregularlyafterbreakfasttilllunch—time；
anditismywishtokeepCynthiaandMollytoacourseofimprovingreadingandstudy—sodesirableforyoungpeopleoftheirage，iftheyareevertobecomeintelligent，companionablewomen；butwithearlyvisitorsitisquiteimpossibletoobserveanyregularityofhabits。’Allthiswassaidinthatsweet，falsetonewhichoflatehadgonethroughMollylikethescrapingofaslate—pencilonaslate。Roger’sfacechanged。
Hisruddycolourgrewpalerforamoment，andhelookedgraveandnotpleased。
Inanothermomentthewontedfranknessofexpressionreturned。Whyshouldnothe，heaskedhimself，believeher？itwasearlytocall；itdidinterruptregularoccupation。Sohespoke，andsaid，—’IbelieveIhavebeenverythoughtless—I’llnotcomesoearlyagain；
butIhadsomeexcuseto—day：mybrothertoldmeyouhadmadeaplanforgoingtoseeHurstWoodwhentheroseswereout，andtheyareearlierthanusualthisyear—I’vebeenroundtosee。Hespokeofalongdaythere，goingbeforelunch——’’TheplanwasmadewithMrOsborneHamley。Icouldnotthinkofgoingwithouthim！’saidMrsGibson，coldly。’Ihadaletterfromhimthismorning，inwhichhenamedyourwish，andhesayshefearshecannotbeathometilltheyareoutofflower。Idaresaytheyarenotmuchtoseeinreality，butthedayissolovelyIthoughtthattheplanofgoingtoHurstWoodwouldbeacharmingexcuseforbeingoutofdoors。’’Thankyou。Howkindyouare！andsogood，too，insacrificingyournaturaldesiretobewithyourfatherasmuchaspossible。’’Iamgladtosaymyfatherissomuchbetterthanhewasinthewinterthathespendsmuchofhistimeoutofdoorsinhisfields。Hehasbeenaccustomedtogoaboutalone，andI—wethinkthatasgreatareturntohisformerhabitsashecanbeinducedtomake，isthebestforhim。’’AndwhendoyoureturntoCambridge？’TherewassomehesitationinRoger’smannerashereplied，—’Itisuncertain。YouprobablyknowthatIamaFellowofTrinitynow。
Ihardlyyetknowwhatmyfutureplansmaybe；IamthinkingofgoinguptoLondonsoon。’’Ah！Londonisthetrueplaceforayoungman，’saidMrsGibson，withdecision，asifshehadreflectedagooddealonthequestion。’Ifitwerenotthatwereallyaresobusythismorning，Ishouldhavebeentemptedtomakeanexceptiontoourgeneralrule；onemoreexception，foryourearlyvisitshavemadeusmaketoomanyalready。Perhaps，however，wemayseeyouagainbeforeyougo？’’CertainlyIshallcome，’repliedhe，risingtotakehisleave，andstillholdingthedemolishedrosesinhishand。Then，addressinghimselfmoreespeciallytoCynthia，headded，’MystayinLondonwillnotexceedafortnightorso—isthereanythingIcandoforyou—oryou？’turningalittletoMolly。’No，thankyouverymuch，’saidCynthia，verysweetly，andthen，actingonasuddenimpulse，sheleantoutofthewindow，andgatheredhimsomehalf—openedroses。’Youdeservethese；dothrowthatpoorshabbybunchaway。’Hiseyesbrightened，hischeeksglowed。Hetooktheofferedbuds，butdidnotthrowawaytheotherbunch。’Atanyrate，Imaycomeafterlunchisover，andtheafternoonsandtheeveningswillbethemostdelicioustimeofdayamonthhence。’HesaidthistobothMollyandCynthia，butinhisheartheaddressedittothelatter。MrsGibsonaffectednottohearwhathewassaying，butheldoutherlimphandoncemoretohim。’Isupposeweshallseeyouwhenyoureturn；andpraytellyourbrotherhowwearelongingtohaveavisitfromhimagain。’Whenhehadlefttheroom，Molly’sheartwasquitefull。Shehadwatchedhisface，andreadsomethingofhisfeelings：hisdisappointmentattheirnon—acquiescenceinhisplanofaday’spleasureinHurstWood，thedelayedconvictionthathispresencewasnotwelcometothewifeofhisoldfriend，whichhadcomesoslowlyuponhim—perhaps，afterall，thesethingstouchedMollymorekeenlythantheydidhim。HisbrightlookwhenCynthiagavehimtherosebudsindicatedagushofsuddendelightmorevividthanthepainhehadshownbyhispreviousincreaseofgravity。’Ican’tthinkwhyhewillcomeatsuchuntimelyhours，’saidMrsGibson，assoonassheheardhimfairlyoutofthehouse。’It’sdifferentfromOsborne；wearesomuchmoreintimatewithhim：hecameandmadefriendswithusallthetimethisstupidbrotherofhiswasmuddlinghisbrainswithmathematicsatCambridge。FellowofTrinity，indeed！Iwishhewouldlearntostaythere，andnotcomeintrudinghere，andassumingthatbecauseIaskedOsbornetojoininapicnicitwasallthesametomewhichbrothercame。’’Inshort，mamma，onemanmaystealahorse，butanothermustnotlookoverthehedge，’saidCynthia，poutingalittle。’Andthetwobrothershavealwaysbeentreatedsoexactlyalikebytheirfriends，andtherehasbeensuchastrongfriendshipbetweenthem，thatitisnowonderRogerthinkshemaybewelcomewhereOsborneisallowedtocomeatallhours，’continuedMolly，inhighdudgeon。