’Roger’s\"muddledbrains，\"indeed！Roger，\"stupid！\"’’Oh，verywell，mydears！WhenIwasyoungitwouldn’thavebeenthoughtbecomingforgirlsofyouragetoflyoutbecausealittlerestraintwasexercisedastothehoursatwhichtheyshouldreceivetheyoungmen’scalls。Andtheywouldhavesupposedthattheremightbegoodreasonswhytheirparentsdisapprovedofthevisitsofcertaingentlemen，evenwhiletheywereproudandpleasedtoseesomemembersofthesamefamily。’’ButthatwaswhatIsaid，mamma，’saidCynthia，lookingathermotherwithanexpressionofinnocentbewildermentonherface。’Onemanmay——
’’Bequiet，child！Allproverbsarevulgar，andIdobelievethatisthevulgarestofall。YouarereallycatchingRogerHamley’scoarseness，Cynthia！’’Mamma，’saidCynthia，rousedtoanger，’Idon’tmindyourabusingme，butMrRogerHamleyhasbeenverykindtomewhileI’venotbeenwell：
Ican’tbeartohearhimdisparaged。Ifhe’scoarse，I’venoobjectiontobecoarseaswell，foritseemstomeitmustmeankindlinessandpleasantness，andthebringingofprettyflowersandpresents。’Molly’stearswerebrimmingoveratthesewords；shecouldhavekissedCynthiaforherwarmpartisanship，but，afraidofbetrayingemotion，and’makingascene，’asMrsGibsoncalledanysignsofwarmfeeling，shelaiddownherbookhastily，andranupstairstoherroom，andlockedthedoorinordertobreathefreely。Thereweretracesoftearsuponherfacewhenshereturnedintothedrawing—roomhalf—an—hourafterwards，walkingstraightanddemurelyuptoherformerplace，whereCynthiastillsateandgazedidlyoutofthewindow，poutinganddispleased；MrsGibson，meanwhile，countingherstitchesaloudwithgreatdistinctnessandvigour。
chapter29CHAPTERXXIXBUSH—FIGHTINGDuringallthemonthsthathadelapsedsinceMrsHamley’sdeath，MollyhadwonderedmanyatimeaboutthesecretshehadsounwittinglybecomepossessedofthatlastdayintheHalllibrary。Itseemedsoutterlystrangeandunheard—ofathingtoherinexperiencedmind，thatamanshouldbemarried，andyetnotlivewithhiswife—thatasonshouldhaveenteredintotheholystateofmatrimonywithouthisfather’sknowledge，andwithoutbeingrecognizedasthehusbandofsomeoneknownorunknownbyallthosewithwhomhecameindailycontact，thatshefeltoccasionallyasifthatlittletenminutesofrevelationmusthavebeenavisioninadream。BothRogerandOsbornehadkeptthemostentiresilenceonthesubjecteversince。Notevenalook，orapause，betrayedanyallusiontoit；itevenseemedtohavepassedoutoftheirthoughts。Therehadbeenthegreatsadeventoftheirmother’sdeathtofilltheirmindsonthenextoccasionoftheirmeetingMolly；andsincethenlongpausesofintercoursehadtakenplace；sothatshesometimesfeltasifeachofthebrothersmusthaveforgottenhowshehadcometoknowtheirimportantsecret。Sheoftenfoundherselfentirelyforgettingit，butperhapstheconsciousnessofitwaspresenttoherunawares，andenabledhertocomprehendtherealnatureofOsborne’sfeelingstowardsCynthia。AtanyratesheneverforamomenthadsupposedthathisgentlekindmannertowardsCynthiawasanythingbutthecourtesyofafriend；strangetosay，intheselatterdaysMollyhadlookeduponOsborne’srelationtoherselfasprettymuchthesameasthatinwhichatonetimeshehadconsideredRoger’s；andshethoughtoftheformerasofsomeoneasnearlyabrotherbothtoCynthiaandherself，asanyyoungmancouldwellbe，whomtheyhadnotknowninchildhood，andwhowasinnowiserelatedtothem。Shethoughtthathewasverymuchimprovedinmanner，andprobablyincharacter，byhismother’sdeath。Hewasnolongersarcastic，orfastidious，orvain，orself—confident。Shedidnotknowhowoftenallthesestylesoftalkorofbehaviourwereputontoconcealshynessorconsciousness，andtoveiltherealselffromstrangers。Osborne’sconversationandwaysmightverypossiblyhavebeenjustthesameasbefore，hadhebeenthrownamongstnewpeople；butMollyonlysawhimintheirowncircleinwhichhewasontermsofdecidedintimacy。Stilltherewasnodoubtthathewasreallyimproved，thoughperhapsnottotheextentforwhichMollygavehimcredit；andthisexaggerationonherpartaroseverynaturallyfromthefact，thathe，perceivingRoger’swarmadmirationforCynthia，withdrewalittleoutofhisbrother’sway；andusedtogoandtalktoMollyinordernottointrudehimselfbetweenRogerandCynthia。
Ofthetwo，perhaps，OsbornepreferredMolly；toherheneedednottotalkifthemoodwasnotonhim—theywereonthosehappytermswheresilenceispermissible，andwhereeffortstoactagainsttheprevailingmoodofthemindarenotrequired。Sometimes，indeed，whenOsbornewasinthehumourtobecriticalandfastidiousasofyore，heusedtovexRogerbyinsistinguponitthatMollywasprettierthanCynthia。’Youmarkmywords，Roger。FiveyearshencethebeautifulCynthia’sredandwhitewillhavebecomejustalittlecoarse，andherfigurewillhavethickened，whileMolly’swillonlyhavedevelopedintomoreperfectgrace。
Idon’tbelievethegirlhasdonegrowingyet；IamsuresheistallerthanwhenIfirstsawherlastsummer。’’MissKirkpatrick’seyesmustalwaysbeperfection。Icannotfancyanycouldcomeuptothem：soft，grave，appealing，tender；andsuchaheavenlycolour—Ioftentrytofindsomethinginnaturetocomparethemto；theyarenotlikeviolets—thatblueintheeyesistoolikephysicalweaknessofsight；theyarenotlikethesky—thatcolourhassomethingofcrueltyinit。’’Come，don’tgoontryingtomatchhereyesasifyouwereadraper，andtheyabitofribbon；sayatonce\"hereyesareloadstars，\"andhavedonewithit！IsetupMolly’sgreyeyesandcurlingblacklashes，longoddsabovetheotheryoungwoman’s；but，ofcourse，it’sallamatteroftaste。’AndnowbothOsborneandRogerhadlefttheneighbourhood。InspiteofallthatMrsGibsonhadsaidaboutRoger’svisitsbeingill—timedandintrusive，shebegantofeelasiftheyhadbeenaverypleasantvariety，nowtheyhadceasedaltogether。HebroughtinawhiffofanewatmospherefromthatofHollingford。Heandhisbrotherhadbeenalwaysreadytodonumberlesslittlethingswhichonlyamancandoforwomen；smallserviceswhichMrGibsonwasalwaystoobusytorender。Forthegooddoctor’sbusinessgrewuponhim。Hethoughtthatthisincreasewasowingtohisgreaterskillandexperience，andhewouldprobablyhavebeenmortifiedifhecouldhaveknownhowmanyofhispatientsweresolelybiassedinsendingforhim，bythefactthathewasemployedattheTowers。SomethingofthissortmusthavebeencontemplatedinthelowscaleofpaymentadoptedlongagobytheCumnorfamily。OfitselfthemoneyhereceivedforgoingtotheTowerswouldhardlyhavepaidhimforhorse—flesh，butthenasLadyCumnorinheryoungerdayshadwordedit，—’Itissuchathingforamanjustsettingupinpracticeforhimselftobeabletosayheattendsatthishouse！’Sotheprestigewastacitlysoldandpaidfor；butneitherbuyernorsellerdefinedthenatureofthebargain。Onthewhole，itwasaswellthatMrGibsonspentsomuchofhistimefromhome。Hesometimesthoughtsohimselfwhenheheardhiswife’splaintivefretorprettybabbleovertotallyindifferentthings，andperceivedofhowflimsyanaturewereallherfinesentiments。
Still，hedidnotallowhimselftorepineoverthestephehadtaken；hewilfullyshuthiseyesandwaxeduphisearstomanysmallthingsthatheknewwouldhaveirritatedhimifhehadattendedtothem；and，inhissolitaryrides，heforcedhimselftodwellonthepositiveadvantagesthathadaccruedtohimandhisthroughhismarriage。Hehadobtainedanunexceptionablechaperone，ifnotatendermother，forhislittlegirl；askilfulmanagerofhisformerlydisorderlyhousehold；awomanwhowasgracefulandpleasanttolookatfortheheadofhistable。Moreover，Cynthiareckonedforsomethinginthefavourablesideofthebalance。ShewasacapitalcompanionforMolly；andthetwowereevidentlyveryfondofeachother。Thefemininecompanionshipofthemotheranddaughterwasagreeabletohimaswellastohischild，—whenMrsGibsonwasmoderatelysensibleandnotover—sentimental，hementallyadded；andthenhecheckedhimself，forhewouldnotallowhimselftobecomemoreawareofherfaultsandfoiblesbydefiningthem。
Atanyrate，shewasharmless，andwonderfullyjusttoMollyforastepmother。
Shepiquedherselfuponthisindeed，andwouldoftencallattentiontothefactofherbeingunlikeotherwomeninthisrespect。JustthensuddentearscameintoMrGibson’seyes，asherememberedhowquietandundemonstrativehislittleMollyhadbecomeinhergeneralbehaviourtohim；buthowonceortwice，whentheyhadmetuponthestairs，orwereotherwiseunwitnessed，shehadcaughthimandkissedhim—handorcheek—inasadpassionatenessofaffection。ButinamomenthebegantowhistleanoldScotchairhehadheardinhischildhood，andwhichhadneverrecurredtohismemorysince；andfiveminutesafterwardshewastoobusilytreatingacaseofwhiteswellinginthekneeofalittleboy，andthinkinghowtorelievethepoormother，whowentoutcharringallday，andhadtolistentothemoansofherchildallnight，tohaveanythoughtforhisowncares，which，iftheyreallyexisted，wereofsotriflinganaturecomparedtothehardrealityofthishopelesswoe。Osbornecamehomefirst。Hereturned，infact，notlongafterRogerhadgoneaway；buthewaslanguidandunwell，and，thoughhedidnotcomplain，hefeltunequaltoanyexertion。ThusaweekormoreelapsedbeforeanyoftheGibsonsknewthathewasattheHall；andthenitwasonlybychancethattheybecameawareofit。MrGibsonmethiminoneofthelanesnearHamley；theacutesurgeonnoticedthegaitofthemanashecamenear，beforeherecognizedwhoitwas。Whenheovertookhimhesaid，—’Why，Osborne，isityou？Ithoughtitwasanoldmanoffiftyloiteringbeforeme！Ididn’tknowyouhadcomeback。’’Yes，’saidOsborne，’I’vebeenathomenearlytendays。IdaresayIoughttohavecalledonyourpeople，forImadeahalfpromisetoMrsGibsontoletherknowassoonasIreturned；butthefactis，I’mfeelingverygood—for—nothing，—thisairoppressesme；Icouldhardlybreatheinthehouse，andyetI’malreadytiredwiththisshortwalk。’’You’dbettergethomeatonce；andI’llcallandseeyouasIcomebackfromRowe’s。’’No，youmustn’t，onanyaccount！’saidOsborne，hastily；myfatherisannoyedenoughaboutmygoingfromhome，sooften，hesays，thoughitwassixweeks。Heputsdownallmylanguortomyhavingbeenaway，—hekeepsthepurse—strings，youknow，’headded，withafaintsmile，’andI’mintheunluckypositionofapennilessheir，andI’vebeenbroughtupso—
Infact，Imustleavehomefromtimetotime，and，ifmyfathergetsconfirmedinthisnotionofhisthatmyhealthisworseformyabsences，hewillstopthesuppliesaltogether。’’MayIaskwhereyoudospendyourtimewhenyouarenotatHamleyHall？’
askedMrGibson，withsomehesitationinhismanner。’No！’repliedOsborne，reluctantly。’Iwilltellyouthis：—Istaywithfriendsinthecountry。Ileadalifewhichoughttobeconducivetohealth，becauseitisthoroughlysimple，rational，andhappy。AndnowI’vetoldyoumoreaboutitthanmyfatherhimselfknows。HeneverasksmewhereIhavebeen；andIshouldn’ttellhimifhedid—atleast，Ithinknot。’MrGibsonrodeonbyOsborne’sside，notspeakingforamomentortwo。’Osborne，whateverscrapesyoumayhavegotinto，Ishouldadviseyourtellingyourfatherboldlyout。Iknowhim；andIknowhe’llbeangryenoughatfirst，buthe’llcomeround，takemywordforit；and，somehoworanother，he’llfindmoneytopayyourdebtsandsetyoufree，ifit’sthatkindofdifficulty；andifit’sanyotherkindofentanglement，whystillhe’syourbestfriend。It’sthisestrangementfromyourfatherthat’stellingonyourhealth，I’llbebound。’’No，’saidOsborne，’Ibegyourpardon；butit’snotthat；Iamreallyoutoforder。Idaresaymyunwillingnesstoencounteranydispleasurefrommyfatheristheconsequenceofmyindisposition；butI’llanswerforit，itisnotthecauseofit。Myinstincttellsmethereissomethingrealthematterwithme。’’Come，don’tbesettingupyourinstinctagainsttheprofession，’saidMrGibson，cheerily。Hedismounted，andthrowingthereinsofhishorseroundhisarm，helookedatOsborne’stongueandfelthispulse，askinghimvariousquestions。Attheendhesaid，—’We’llsoonbringyouabout，thoughIshouldlikealittlemorequiettalkwithyou，withoutthistuggingbruteforathird。Ifyou’llmanagetorideoverandlunchwithusto—morrow，DrNichollswillbewithus；he’scomingovertoseeoldRowe；andyoushallhavethebenefitoftheadviceoftwodoctorsinsteadofone。Gohomenow，you’vehadenoughexerciseforthemiddleofadayashotasthisis。Anddon’tmopeinthehouse，listeningtothemaunderingsofyourstupidinstinct。’’WhatelsehaveItodo？’saidOsborne。’MyfatherandIarenotcompanions；
onecan’treadandwriteforever，especiallywhenthereisnoendtobegainedbyit。Idon’tmindtellingyou—butinconfidence，recollect—
thatI’vebeentryingtogetsomeofmypoemspublished；butthere’snoonelikeapublisherfortakingtheconceitoutofone。Notamanamongthemwouldtakethemasagift。’’0ho！sothat’sit，isit，MasterOsborne？Ithoughttherewassomementalcauseforthisdepressionofhealth。Iwouldn’ttroublemyheadaboutit，ifIwereyou，thoughthat’salwaysveryeasilysaid，Iknow。Tryyourhandatprose，ifyoucan’tmanagetopleasethepublisherswithpoetry；
but，atanyrate，don’tgoonfrettingoverspiltmilk。ButImustn’tlosemytimehere。Comeovertousto—morrow，asIsaid；andwhatwiththewisdomoftwodoctors，andthewitandfollyofthreewomen，Ithinkweshallcheeryouupabit。’Sosaying，MrGibsonremounted，androdeawayatthelong，slingingtrotsowellknowntothecountrypeopleasthedoctor’space。’Idon’tlikehislooks，’thoughtMrGibsontohimselfatnight，asoverhisdaybookshereviewedtheeventsoftheday。’Andthenhispulse。Buthowoftenwe’reallmistaken；and，tentoone，myownhiddenenemyliesclosertomethanhisdoestohim—eventakingtheworseviewofthecase。’Osbornemadehisappearanceaconsiderabletimebeforeluncheonthenextmorning；andnooneobjectedtotheearlinessofhiscall。Hewasfeelingbetter。Therewerefewsignsoftheinvalidabouthim；andwhatfewthereweredisappearedunderthebrightpleasantinfluenceofsuchawelcomeashereceivedfromall。MollyandCynthiahadmuchtotellhimofthesmallproceedingssincehewentaway，ortorelatetheconclusionsofhalf—accomplishedprojects。Cynthiawasoftenonthepointofsomegay，carelessinquiryastowherehehadbeen，andwhathehadbeendoing；butMolly，whoconjecturedthetruth，asofteninterferedtosparehimthepainofequivocation—
apainthathertenderconsciencewouldhavefeltforhim，muchmorethanhewouldhavefeltitforhimself。Mr。Gibson’stalkwasdesultory，complimentary，andsentimental，afterherusualfashion；butstill，onthewhole，thoughOsbornesmiledtohimselfatmuchthatshesaid，itwassoothingandagreeable。Presently，DrNichollsandMrGibsoncamein；theformerhadhadsomeconferencewiththelatteronthesubjectofOsborne’shealth；and，fromtimetotime，theskilfuloldphysician’ssharpandobservanteyesgaveacomprehensivelookatOsborne。Thentherewaslunch，wheneveryonewasmerryandhungry，exceptingthehostess，whowastryingtotrainhermiddayappetiteintothegenteelestofallways，andthought（falselyenough）thatDrNichollswasagoodpersontopractisethesemblanceofill—healthupon，andthathewouldgiveherthepropercivilamountofcommiserationforherailments，whicheveryguestoughttobestowuponahostesswhocomplainsofherdelicacyofhealth。
Theolddoctorwastoocunningamantofallintothistrap。Hewouldkeeprecommendinghertotrythecoarsestviandsonthetable；and，atlast，hetoldherifshecouldnotfancythecoldbeeftotryalittlewithpickledonions。Therewasatwinkleinhiseyeashesaidthis，thatwouldhavebetrayedhishumourtoanyobserver；butMrGibson，Cynthia，andMollywereallattackingOsborneonthesubjectofsomeliterarypreferencehehadexpressed，andDrNichollshadMrsGibsonquiteathismercy。Shewasnotsorrywhenluncheonwasovertoleavetheroomtothethreegentlemen；
andeverafterwardsshespokeofDrNichollsas’thatbear。’Presently，Osbornecameupstairs，and，afterhisoldfashion，begantotakeupnewbooks，andtoquestionthegirlsastotheirmusic。MrsGibsonhadtogooutandpaysomecalls，sosheleftthethreetogether；andafterawhiletheyadjournedintothegarden，Osborneloungingonachair，whileMollyemployedherselfbusilyintyingupcarnations，andCynthiagatheredflowersinhercareless，gracefulway。’Ihopeyounoticethedifferenceinouroccupations，MrHamley。Molly，yousee，devotesherselftotheuseful，andItotheornamental。Please，underwhatheaddoyouclasswhatyouaredoing？Ithinkyoumighthelponeofus，insteadoflookingonliketheGrandSeigneur。’’Idon’tknowwhatIcando，’saidhe，ratherplaintively。’Ishouldliketobeuseful，butIdon’tknowhow；andmydayispastforpurelyornamentalwork。Youmustletmebe，Iamafraid。Besides，Iamreallyratherexhaustedbybeingquestionedandpulledaboutbythosegooddoctors。’’Why，youdon’tmeantosaytheyhavebeenattackingyousincelunch！’
exclaimedMolly。’Yes；indeed，theyhave；andtheymighthavegoneontillnowifMrsGibsonhadnotcomeinopportunely。’’Ithoughtmammahadgoneoutsometimeago！’saidCynthia，catchingwaftsoftheconversationassheflittedhitherandthitheramongtheflowers。’Shecameintothedining—roomnotfiveminutesago。Doyouwanther，forIseehercrossingthehallatthisverymoment？’andOsbornehalfrose。’Oh，notatall！’saidCynthia。’Onlysheseemedtobeinsuchahurrytogoout，Ifanciedshehadsetofflongago。ShehadsomeerrandtodoforLadyCumnor，andshethoughtshecouldmanagetocatchthehousekeeper，whoisalwaysinthetownonThursday。’’ArethefamilycomingtotheTowersthisautumn？’’Ibelieveso。ButIdon’tknow，andIdon’tmuchcare。Theydon’ttakekindlytome，’continuedCynthia，’andsoIsupposeIamnotgenerousenoughtotakekindlytothem。’’Ishouldhavethoughtthatsuchaveryunusualblotintheirdiscriminationwouldhaveinterestedyouinthemasextraordinarypeople，’saidOsborne，withalittleairofconsciousgallantry。’Isn’tthatacompliment？’saidCynthia，afterapauseofmockmeditation。
’Ifanyonepaysmeacompliment，pleaseletitbeshortandclear。I’mverystupidatfindingouthiddenmeanings。’’Thensuchspeechesas\"youareverypretty，\"or\"youhavecharmingmanners，\"
arewhatyouprefer。Now，Ipiquemyselfonwrappingupmysugar—plumsdelicately。’’Thenwouldyoupleasetowritethemdown，andatmyleisureI’llparsethem。’’No！Itwouldbetoomuchtrouble。I’llmeetyouhalfway，andstudyclearnessnexttime。’’Whatareyoutwotalkingabout？’saidMolly，restingonherlightspade。’It’sonlyadiscussiononthebestwayofadministeringcompliments，’
saidCynthia，takingupherflower—basketagain，butnotgoingoutofthereachoftheconversation。’Idon’tlikethematallinanyway，’saidMolly。’But，perhaps，it’srathersourgrapeswithme，’sheadded。’Nonsense！’saidOsborne。’ShallItellyouwhatIheardofyouattheball？’’OrshallIprovokeMrPreston，’saidCynthia，’tobeginuponyou？Itisliketurningatap，suchastreamofprettyspeechesflowoutatthemoment。’
Herlipcurledwithscorn。’Foryou，perhaps，’saidMolly；’butnotforme。’’Foranywoman。Itishisnotionofmakinghimselfagreeable。Ifyoudareme，Molly，Iwilltrytheexperiment，andyou’llseewithwhatsuccess。’’No，don’t，pray！’saidMolly，inahurry。’Idosodislikehim！’’Why？’saidOsborne，rousedtoalittlecuriositybyhervehemence。’Oh！Idon’tknow。Heneverseemstoknowwhatoneisfeeling。’’Hewouldn’tcareifhedidknow，’saidCynthia。’Andhemightknowheisnotwanted，’’Ifhechoosestostay，hecareslittlewhetherheiswantedornot。’’Come，thisisveryinteresting，’saidOsborne。’Itislikethestropheandanti—stropheinaGreekchorus。Pray，goon。’’Don’tyouknowhim？’askedMolly。’Yes，bysight，andIthinkwewereonceintroduced。But，youknow，wearemuchfartherfromAshcombe，atHamley，thanyouarehere，atHollingford。’’Oh！butheiscomingtotakeMrSheepshanks’place，andthenhewillliveherealtogether，’saidMolly。’Molly！whotoldyouthat？’saidCynthia，inquiteadifferenttoneofvoicetothatinwhichshehadbeenspeakinghitherto。’Papa，didn’tyouhearhim？Oh，no！itwasbeforeyouweredownthismorning。
PapametMrSheepshanksyesterday，andhetoldhimitwasallsettled：
youknowweheardarumouraboutitinthespring！’Cynthiawasverysilentafterthis。Presently，shesaidthatshehadgatheredalltheflowersshewanted，andthattheheatwassogreatshewouldgoindoors。AndthenOsbornewentaway。ButMollyhadsetherselfatasktodigupsuchrootsashadalreadyflowered，andtoputdownsomebedding—outplantsintheirstead。Tiredandheatedasshewasshefinishedit，andthenwentupstairstorest，andchangeherdress。Accordingtoherwont，shesoughtforCynthia；therewasnoreplytohersoftknockatthebedroom—dooroppositetoherown，and，thinkingthatCynthiamighthavefallenasleep，andbelyinguncoveredinthedraughtoftheopenwindow，shewentinsoftly。
Cynthiawaslyinguponthebedasifshehadthrownherselfdownonitwithoutcaringfortheeaseorcomfortofherposition。Shewasverystill；
andMollytookashawl，andwasgoingtoplaceitoverher，whensheopenedhereyes，andspoke，—’Isthatyou，dear？Don’tgo。Iliketoknowthatyouarethere。’Sheshuthereyesagain，andremainedquitequietforafewminuteslonger。
Thenshestartedupintoasittingposture，pushedherhairawayfromherforeheadandburningeyes，andgazedintentlyatMolly。’DoyouknowwhatI’vebeenthinking，dear？’saidshe。’IthinkI’vebeenlongenoughhere，andthatIhadbettergooutasagoverness。’’Cynthia，whatdoyoumean？’askedMolly，aghast。’You’vebeenasleep—
you’vebeendreaming。You’reovertired，’continuedshe，sittingdownonthebed，andtakingCynthia’spassivehand，andstrokingitsoftly—amodeofcaressingthathadcomedowntoherfromhermother—whetherasanhereditaryinstinct，orasalingeringremembranceofthetenderwaysofthedeadwoman，MrGibsonoftenwonderedwithinhimselfwhenheobservedit。’Oh，howgoodyouare，Molly。Iwonder，ifIhadbeenbroughtuplikeyou，ifIshouldhavebeenasgood。ButI’vebeentossedaboutso。’’Then，don’tgoandbetossedaboutanymore，’saidMolly，softly。’Oh，dear！Ihadbettergo。But，yousee，nooneeverlovedmelikeyou，and，Ithink，yourfather—doesn’the，Molly？Andit’shardtobedrivenout。’’Cynthia，Iamsureyou’renotwell，orelseyou’renothalfawake。’Cynthiasatewithherarmsencirclingherknees，andlookingatvacancy。’Well！’saidshe，atlast，heavingagreatsigh；but，then，smilingasshecaughtMolly’sanxiousface，’Isupposethere’snoescapingone’sdoom；
andanywhereelseIshouldbemuchmoreforlornandunprotected。’’Whatdoyoumeanbyyourdoom？’’Ah，that’stelling，littleone，’saidCynthia，whoseemednowtohaverecoveredherusualmanner。’Idon’tmeantohaveone，though。Ithinkthat，thoughIamanarrantcowardatheart，Icanshowfight。’’Withwhom？’askedMolly，reallyanxioustoprobethemystery—if，indeed，therewasone—tothebottom，inthehopeofsomeremedybeingfoundforthedistressCynthiawasinwhenfirstMollyhadentered，AgainCynthiawaslostinthought；then，catchingtheechoofMolly’slastwordsinhermind，shesaid，—’\"Withwhom？\"—oh！showfightwithwhom—withmydoom，tobesure。AmnotIagrandyoungladytohaveadoom？Why，Molly，child，howpaleandgraveyoulook！’saidshe，kissingherallofasudden。’Yououghtnottocaresomuchforme；I’mnotgoodenoughforyoutoworryyourselfaboutme。I’vegivenmyselfupalongtimeagoasaheartlessbaggage！’’Nonsense！Iwishyouwouldn’ttalkso，Cynthia！’’AndIwishyouwouldn’talwaystakeme\"atthefootoftheletter，\"asanEnglishgirlatschoolusedtotranslateit。Oh，howhotitis！Isitnevergoingtogetcoolagain？Mychild！whatdirtyhandsyou’vegot，andfacetoo；andI’vebeenkissingyou—IdaresayI’mdirtywithit，too。
Now，isn’tthatlikeoneofmamma’sspeeches？But，forallthat，youlookmorelikeadelvingAdamthanaspinningEve。’ThishadtheeffectthatCynthiaintended；thedaintilycleanMollybecameconsciousofhersoiledcondition，whichshehadforgottenwhileshehadbeenattendingtoCynthia，andshehastilywithdrewtoherownroom。Whenshehadgone，Cynthianoiselesslylockedthedoor；and，takingherpurseoutofherdesk，shebegantocountoverhermoney。Shecounteditonce—shecountedittwice，asifdesirousoffindingoutsomemistakewhichshouldproveittobemorethanitwas；buttheendofitallwasasigh。’Whatafool！—whatafoolIwas！’shesaid，atlength。’ButevenifI
don’tgooutasagoverness，Ishallmakeitupintime。’SomeweeksafterthetimehehadanticipatedwhenhehadspokenofhisdeparturetotheGibsons，RogerreturnedbacktotheHall。Onemorningwhenhecalled，Osbornetoldthemthathisbrotherhadbeenathomefortwoorthreedays。’Andwhyhashenotcomehere，then？’saidMrsGibson。’Itisnotkindofhimnottocomeandseeusassoonashecan。TellhimIsayso—praydo。’OsbornehadgainedoneortwoideasastohertreatmentofRogerthelasttimehehadcalled。Rogerhadnotcomplainedofit，orevenmentionedit，tillthatverymorning；whenOsbornewasonthepointofstarting，andhadurgedRogertoaccompanyhim，thelatterhadtoldhimsomethingofwhatMrsGibsonhadsaid。Hespokeratherasifhewasmoreamusedthanannoyed；butOsbornecouldreadthathewaschagrinedatthoserestrictionsplaceduponcallswhichwerethegreatestpleasureofhislife。Neitherofthemletoutthesuspicionwhichhadenteredboththeirminds—thewell—groundedsuspicionarisingfromthefactthatOsborne’svisits，betheypaidearlyorlate，hadneveryetbeenmetwitharepulse。OsbornenowreproachedhimselfwithhavingdoneMrsGibsoninjustice。