hadaletterfrommyLordHollingford—whereisit？’pullingoutagreatblackleathernreceptacleforallmannerofpapers。Andputtingonhisspectacles，hereadaloudtheirheadings。’\"Measurementoftimber，newrailings，\"\"drenchforcows，fromFarmerHayes，\"
\"Dobson’saccounts，\"—’um’um—hereitis。Nowreadthatletter，’handingittoMrGibson。Itwasamanly，feeling，sensibleletter，explainingtotheoldfatherinverysimplelanguagetheserviceswhichweredemandedbythetermsofthewilltowhichheandtwoorthreeothersweretrustees；theliberalallowanceforexpenses，thestillmoreliberalrewardforperformance，whichhadtemptedseveralmenofconsiderablerenowntoofferthemselvesascandidatesfortheappointment。LordHollingfordthenwentontosaythat，havingseenagooddealofRogerlately，sincethepublicationofhisarticleinreplytotheFrenchosteologist，hehadhadreasontothinkthatinhimthetrusteeswouldfindunitedthevariousqualitiesrequiredinagreatermeasurethaninanyoftheapplicantswhohadatthattimepresentedthemselves。Rogerhaddeepinterestinthesubject；muchacquiredknowledge，andatthesametime，greatnaturalpowersofcomparison，andclassificationoffacts；hehadshown’himselftobeanobserverofafineandaccuratekind，hewasoftherightage，intheveryprimeofhealthandstrength，andunshackledbyanyfamilyties。HereMrGibsonpausedforconsideration。Hehardlycaredtoascertainbywhatstepstheresulthadbeenarrivedat—healreadyknewwhatthatresultwas；buthismindwasagainarrestedashiseyecaughtontheremunerationoffered，whichwasindeedmostliberal；andthenhereadwithattentionthehighpraisebestowedonthesoninthislettertothefather。ThesquirehadbeenwatchingMrGibson—waitingtillhecametothispart—andherubbedhishandstogetherashesaid，—’Ay！you’vecometoitatlast。It’sthebestpartofthewhole，isitnot？Godblesstheboy！andfromaWhig，mindyou，whichmakesitthemorehandsome。Andthere’smoretocomestill。Isay，Gibson，Ithinkmyluckisturningatlast，’passinghimonyetanotherlettertoread。’Thatonlycamethismorning；butI’veactedonitalready，Isentfortheforemanofthedrainageworksatonce，Idid；andto—morrow，pleaseGod，they’llbeatworkagain。’MrGibsonreadthesecondletter，fromRoger。ToacertaindegreeitwasamodestrepetitionofwhatLordHollingfordhadsaid，withanexplanationofhowhehadcometotakesodecidedastepinlifewithoutconsultinghisfather。Hedidnotwishhimtobeinsuspenseforonereason。Anotherwasthathefelt，asnooneelsecouldfeelforhim，thatbyacceptingthisoffer，heentereduponthekindoflifeforwhichheknewhimselftobethemostfitted。Andthenhemergedthewholeintobusiness。Hesaidthatheknewwellthesufferinghisfatherhadgonethroughwhenhehadhadtogiveuphisdrainageworksforwantofmoney；thathe，Roger，hadbeenenabledatoncetoraisemoneyupontheremunerationhewastoreceiveontheaccomplishmentofhistwoyears’work；andthathehadinsuredhislifeatonce，inordertoprovidefortherepaymentofthemoneyhehadraised，incasehedidnotlivetoreturntoEngland。Hesaidthatthesumhehadborrowedonthissecuritywouldatoncebeforwardedtohisfather。MrGibsonlaiddowntheletterwithoutspeakingawordforsometime；thenhesaid，—’He’llhavetopayaprettysumforinsuringhislifebeyondseas。’’HehasgothisFellowshipmoney，’saidthesquire，alittledepressedatMrGibson’sremark。’Yes；that’strue。Andhe’sastrongyoungfellow，asIknow。’’IwishIcouldtellhismother，’saidthesquireinanunder—tone。’Itseemsallsettlednow，’saidMrGibson，moreinreplytohisownthoughtsthantothesquire’sremark。’Yes！’saidthesquire；’andthey’renotgoingtoletthegrassgrowunderhisfeet。He’stobeoffassoonashecangethisscientifictrapsready。
Ialmostwishhewasn’ttogo。Youdon’tseemquitetolikeit，doctor？’’YesIdo，’saidMrGibsoninamorecheerfultonethanbefore。’Itcan’tbehelpednowwithoutdoingamischief，’thoughthetohimself。’Why，squire，Ithinkit’sagreathonourtohavesuchason。Ienvyyou，that’swhatIdo。Here’saladofthreeorfourandtwentydistinguishinghimselfinmorewaysthanone，andassimpleandaffectionateathomeasanyfellowneedtobe—notabitsetup。’’Ay，ay；he’stwiceasmuchasontomeasOsborne，whohasbeenallhislifesetuponnothingatall，asonemaysay。’Come，squire，ImustnothearanythingagainstOsborne；wemaypraiseone，withouthittingattheother。OsbornehasnothadthestronghealthwhichhasenabledRogertoworkashehasdone。ImetamanwhoknewhistutoratTrinitytheotherday，andofcoursewebegancrackingaboutRoger—it’snoteverydaythatonecanreckonaseniorwrangleramongstone’sfriends，andI’mnearlyasproudoftheladasyouare。ThisMrMasontoldmethetutorsaidthatonlyhalfofRoger’ssuccesswasowingtohismentalpowers；theotherhalfwasowingtohisperfecthealth，whichenabledhimtoworkharderandmorecontinuouslythanmostmenwithoutsuffering。Hesaidthatinallhisexperiencehehadneverknownanyonewithanequalcapacityformentallabour；andthathecouldcomeagainwithafreshappetitetohisstudiesaftershorterintervalsofrestthanmost。NowI，beingadoctor，traceagooddealofhissuperioritytothematerialcauseofathoroughlygoodconstitution，whichOsbornehasnotgot。’’Osbornemighthaveifhegotouto’doorsmore，’saidthesquire，moodily；
’butexceptwhenhecanloafintoHollingfordhedoesnotcaretogooutatall。Ihope，’hecontinued，withaglanceofsuddensuspicionatMrGibson，’he’snotafteroneofyourgirls？Idon’tmeananyoffence，youknow；buthe’llhavetheestate，anditwon’tbefree，andhemustmarrymoney。Idon’tthinkIcouldallowitinRoger；butOsborneistheeldestson，youknow。’MrGibsonreddened；hewasoffendedforamoment。Thenthepartialtruthofwhatthesquiresaidwaspresentedtohismind，andherememberedtheiroldfriendship，sohespokequietly，ifshortly。’Idon’tbelievethere’sanythingofthekindgoingon。I’mnotmuchathome，youknow；butI’veneverheardorseenanythingthatshouldmakemesupposethatthereis。WhenIdo，I’llletyouknow。’’Now，Gibson，don’tgoandbeoffended。Iamgladfortheboystohaveapleasanthousetogoto，andIthankyouandMrsGibsonformakingitpleasant。Onlykeepofflove；itcancometonogood。That’sall。Idon’tbelieveOsbornewilleverearnafarthingtokeepawifeduringmylife，andifIweretodieto—morrow，shewouldhavetobringsomemoneytocleartheestate。AndifIdospeakasIshouldnothavedoneformerly—alittlesharporso—why，it’sbecauseI’vebeenworriedbymanyacarenooneknowsanythingof。’’I’mnotgoingtotakeoffence，’saidMrGibson，’butletusunderstandeachotherclearly。Ifyoudon’twantyoursonstocomeasmuchtomyhouseastheydo，tellthemsoyourself。Ilikethelads，andamgladtoseethem；butiftheydocome，youmusttaketheconsequences，whatevertheyare，andnotblameme，orthemeither，forwhatmayhappenfromthefrequentintercoursebetweentwoyoungmenandtwoyoungwomen；andwhatismore，though，asIsaid，Iseenothingwhateverofthekindyoufearatpresent，andhavepromisedtotellyouofthefirstsymptomsIdosee，yetfartherthanthatIwon’tgo。Ifthereisanattachmentatanyfuturetime，Iwon’tinterfere。’’IshouldnotsomuchmindifRogerfellinlovewithyourMolly。Hecanfightforhimself，yousee，andshe’sanuncommonnicegirl。Mypoorwifewassofondofher，’answeredthesquire。’It’sOsborneandtheestateI’mthinkingof！’’Well，then，tellhimnottocomenearus。Ishallbesorry，butyouwillbesafe。’’I’llthinkaboutit；buthe’sdifficulttomanage。I’vealwaystogetmybloodwellupbeforeIcanspeakmymindtohim。’MrGibsonwasleavingtheroom，butatthesewordsheturnedandlaidhishandonthesquire’sarm。’Takemyadvice，squire。AsIsaid，thereisnoharmdoneasyet，asfarasIknow。Preventionisbetterthancure。Speakout，butspeakgentlytoOsborne，anddoitatonce。Ishallunderstandhowitisifhedoesnotshowhisfaceforsomemonthsinmyhouse。Ifyouspeakgentlytohim，he’lltaketheadviceasfromafriend。Ifhecanassureyouthere’snodanger，ofcoursehe’llcomejustasusual，whenhelikes。’Itwasallveryfinegivingthesquirethisgoodadvice；butasOsbornehadalreadyformedtheverykindofmarriagehisfathermostdeprecated，itdidnotactquiteaswellasMrGibsonhadhoped。Thesquirebegantheconversationwithunusualself—control；buthegrewirritatedwhenOsbornedeniedhisfather’srighttointerfereinanymarriagehemightcontemplate；
denieditwithacertaindegreeofdoggednessandwearinessofthesubjectthatdrovethesquireintooneofhispassions；andalthoughonafterreflectionherememberedthathehadhisson’spromiseandsolemnwordnottothinkofeitherCynthiaorMollyforhiswife，yetthefatherandsonhadpassedthroughoneofthosealtercationswhichhelptoestrangemenforlife。
Eachhadsaidbitterthingstotheother；and，ifthebrotherlyaffectionhadnotbeensotruebetweenOsborneandRoger，theytoomighthavebecomealienated，inconsequenceofthesquire’sexaggeratedandinjudiciouscomparisonoftheircharactersanddeeds。ButasRogerinhisboyhoodhadlovedOsbornetoowelltobejealousofthepraiseandlovetheeldestson，thebeautifulbrilliantlad，hadreceived，tothedisparagementofhisownplainawkwardnessandslowness，sonowOsbornestroveagainstanyfeelingofenvyorjealousywithallhismight；buthiseffortswereconscious，Roger’shadbeenthesimpleconsequenceofaffection，andtheendtopoorOsbornewasthathebecamemoodyanddepressedinmindandbody；butbothfatherandsonconcealedtheirfeelingsinRoger’spresence。Whenhecamehomejustbeforesailing，busyandhappy，thesquirecaughthisinfectiousenergy，andOsbornelookedupandwascheerful。Therewasnotimetobelost。Hewasboundtoahotclimate，andmusttakealladvantagepossibleofthewintermonths。HewastogofirsttoParis，tohaveinterviewswithsomeofthescientificmenthere。Someofhisoutfit，instruments，&；c。，weretofollowhimtoHavre，fromwhichporthewastoembark，aftertransactinghisbusinessinParis。Thesquire，learntallhisarrangementsandplans，andeventriedinafter—dinnerconversationstopenetrateintothequestionsinvolvedintheresearcheshissonwasabouttomake。ButRoger’svisithomecouldnotbeprolongedbeyondtwodays。ThelastdayherodeintoHollingfordearlierthanheneededtohavedonetocatchtheLondoncoach，inordertobidtheGibsonsgood—by。HehadbeentooactivelybusyforsometimetohaveleisuretobestowmuchthoughtonCynthia；buttherewasnoneedforfreshmeditationonthatsubject。
Herimageasaprizetobeworkedfor，tobeservedforsevenyears，andsevenyearsmore，’wassafeandsacredinhisheart。Itwasverybad，thisgoingaway，andwishinghergood—byfortwolongyears；andhewonderedmuchduringhisridehowfarheshouldbejustifiedintellinghermother，perhapsintellingherownsweetself，whathisfeelingswerewithoutexpecting，nay，indeedreprobating，anyansweronherpart。Thenshewouldknowatanyratehowdearlyshewasbelovedbyonewhowasabsent；howinalldifficultiesordangersthethoughtofherwouldbeapolarstar，highupintheheavens，andsoon，andsoon；forwithallalover’squicknessofimaginationandtritenessoffancy，hecalledherastar，aflower，anymph，awitch，anangel，oramermaid，anightingale，asiren，asoneoranotherofherattributesroseupbeforehim。
chapter34CHAPTERXXXIVALOVER’SMISTAKEItwasafternoon。Mollyhadgoneoutforawalk。MrsGibsonhadbeenpayingsomecalls。LazyCynthiahaddeclinedaccompanyingeither。AdailywalkwasnotanecessitytoherasitwastoMolly。Onalovelyday，orwithanagreeableobject，orwhenthefancytookher，shecouldgoasfarasanyone；butthesewereexceptionalcases；ingeneral，shewasnotdisposedtodisturbherselffromherin—dooroccupations。Indeed，notoneoftheladieswouldhaveleftthehouse，hadtheybeenawarethatRogerwasintheneighbourhood；fortheywereawarethathewastocomedownbutoncebeforehisdeparture，andthathisstayathomethenwouldbebutforashorttime，andtheywereallanxioustowishhimgood—bybeforehislongabsence，ButtheyhadunderstoodthathewasnotcomingtotheHalluntilthefollowingweek，andthereforetheyhadfeltthemselvesatfulllibertythisafternoontofollowtheirowndevices。Mollychoseawalkthathadbeenafavouritewithhereversinceshewasachild。Somethingorotherhadhappenedjustbeforeshelefthomethatmadeherbeginwonderinghowfaritwasrightforthesakeofdomesticpeacetopassoverwithoutcommentthelittledeviationsfromrightthatpeopleperceiveinthosewhomtheylivewith。Or，whether，astheyareplacedinfamiliesfordistinctpurposes，notbychancemerely，therearenotdutiesinvolvedinthisaspectoftheirlotinlife，—whetherbycontinuallypassingoverfailings，theirownstandardisnotlowered，—thepracticalapplicationofthesethoughtsbeingadismalsortofperplexityonMolly’spartastowhetherherfatherwasquiteawareofherstepmother’sperpetuallapsesfromtruth；andwhetherhisblindnesswaswilfulornot。Thenshefeltbitterlyenoughthatalthoughshewassureascouldbethattherewasnorealestrangementbetweenherandherfather，yetthattherewereperpetualobstaclesthrowninthewayoftheirintercourse；andshethoughtwithasighthatifhewouldbutcomeinwithauthority，hemightcuthiswaycleartotheoldintimacywithhisdaughter，andthattheymighthavealltheformerwalksandtalks，andquipsandcranks，andglimpsesofrealconfidenceonceagain；thingsthatherstepmotherdidnotvalue，yetwhichshe，likethedoginthemanger，preventedMollyenjoying。ButafterallMollywasagirl，notsofarremovedfromchildhood；andinthemiddleofhergraveregretsandperplexitieshereyewascaughtbythesightofsomefineripeblackberriesflourishingawayhighuponthehedge—bankamongscarlethipsandgreenandrussetleaves。Shedidnotcaremuchforblackberriesherself；butshehadheardCynthiasaythatshelikedthem；
andbesidestherewasthecharmofscramblingandgatheringthem，sosheforgotallabouthertroubles，andwentclimbingupthebanks，andclutchingatheralmostinaccessibleprizes，andslippingdownagaintriumphant，tocarrythembacktothelargeleafwhichwastoserveherasabasket。
Oneortwoofthemshetasted，buttheywereasvapidtoherpalateasever。Theskirtofherprettyprintgownwastornoutofthegathers，andevenwiththefruitshehadeaten’herprettylipswithblackberrieswereallbesmearedanddyed，’when，havinggatheredasmanyandmorethanshecouldpossiblycarry，shesetoffhome，hopingtoescapeintoherroomandmendhergownbeforeithadoffendedMrsGibson’sneateye。Thefrontdoorwaseasilyopenedfromtheoutside，andMollywasoutoftheclearlightoftheopenairandintheshadowofthehall；shesawafacepeepoutofthedining—roombeforeshequiterecognizedwhoitwas；andthenMrsGibsoncamesoftlyout，sufficientlyatleasttobeckonherintotheroom。WhenMollyhadenteredMrsGibsonclosedthedoor。PoorMollyexpectedareprimandforhertorngownanduntidyappearance，butwassoonrelievedbytheexpressionofMrsGibson’sface—mysteriousandradiant。’Ihavebeenwatchingforyou，dear。Don’tgoupstairsintothedrawing—room，love。Itmightbealittleinterruptionjustnow。RogerHamleyistherewithCynthia；andI’vereasontothink，—infactIdidopenthedoorunawares，butIshutitagainsoftly，andIdon’tthinktheyheardme。Isnotitcharming？Younglove，youknow，ah，howsweetitis！’’DoyoumeanthatRogerhasproposedtoCynthia？’askedMolly。’Notexactlythat。ButIdon’tknow；ofcourseIknownothing。OnlyIdidhearhimsaythathehadmeanttoleaveEnglandwithoutspeakingofhislove，butthatthetemptationofseeingheralonehadbeentoogreatforhim。Itwassymptomatic，wasitnot，mydear？AndallIwantedwastoletitcometoacrisiswithoutinterruption。SoI’vebeenwatchingforyoutopreventyourgoinginanddisturbingthem。’’ButImaygotomyroom，mayn’tI，’pleadedMolly。’Ofcourse，’saidMrsGibson，alittletestily。’OnlyIhadexpectedsympathyfromyouatsuchaninterestingmoment。’ButMollydidnotheartheselastwords。Shehadescapedupstairs，andhadshutherdoor。Instinctivelyshehadcarriedherleaffullofblackberries—whatwouldblackberriesbetoCynthianow？Shefeltasifshecouldnotunderstanditall；butasforthatmatter，whatcouldsheunderstand？Nothing。
Forafewminutesherbrainseemedintoogreatawhirltocomprehendanythingbutthatshewasbeingcarriedoninearth’sdiurnalcourse，withrocks，andstones，andtrees，withaslittlevolitiononherpartasifsheweredead。Thentheroomgrewstifling，andinstinctivelyshewenttotheopencasementwindow，andleantout，gaspingforbreath。Graduallytheconsciousnessofthesoftpeacefullandscapestoleintohermind，andstilledthebuzzingconfusion。There，bathedinthealmostlevelraysoftheautumnsunlight，laythelandscapeshehadknownandlovedfromchildhood；asquiet，asfulloflowhumminglifeasithadbeenatthishourformanygenerations。
Theautumnflowersblazedoutinthegardenbelow，thelazycowswereinthemeadowbeyond，chewingtheircudinthegreenaftermath；theeveningfireshadjustbeenmadeupinthecottagesbeyond，inpreparationforthehusband’shomecoming，andweresendingupsoftcurlsofbluesmokeintothestillair；thechildren，letloosefromschool，wereshoutingmerrilyinthedistance，andshe——Justthensheheardnearersounds；
anopeneddoor，stepsonthelowerflightofstairs，Hecouldnothavegonewithoutevenseeingher。Henever，neverwouldhavedonesocruelathing—neverwouldhaveforgottenpoorlittleMolly，howeverhappyhemightbe。No！therewerestepsandvoices，andthedrawing—roomdoorwasopenedandshutoncemore。Shelaiddownherheadonherarmsthatrestedonthewindow—sill，andcried，—shehadbeensodistrustfulastohavelettheideaenterhermindthathecouldgowithoutwishinghergood—by；
her，whomhismotherhadsoloved，andcalledbythenameofhislittledeadsister。AndasshethoughtofthetenderloveMrsHamleyhadbornehershecriedthemore，forthevanishingofsuchloveforheroffthefaceoftheearth。Suddenlythedrawing—roomdooropened，andsomeonewasheardcomingupstairs；itwasCynthia’sstep。Mollyhastilywipedhereyes，andstoodupandtriedtolookunconcerned；itwasallshehadtimetodobeforeCynthia，afteralittlepauseatthecloseddoor，hadknocked；
andonananswerbeinggiven，hadsaid，withoutopeningthedoor，—’Molly！
MrRogerHamleyishere，andwantstowishyougood—bybeforehegoes。’
Thenshewentdownstairsagain，asifanxiousjustatthatmomenttoavoidevensoshortatê；te—à；—tê；tewithMolly。Withagulpandafitofresolution，asachildmakesupitsmindtoswallowanauseousdoseofmedicine，Mollywentinstantlydownstairs。RogerwastalkingearnestlytoMrsGibsoninthebayofthewindowwhenMollyentered；Cynthiawasstandingnear，listening，buttakingnopartintheconversation。Hereyesweredowncast，andshedidnotlookupasMollydrewshylynear。Rogerwassaying，—’IcouldneverforgivemyselfifIhadacceptedapledgefromher。Sheshallbefreeuntilmyreturn；butthehope，thewords，hersweetgoodness，havemademehappybeyonddescription。Oh，Molly！’suddenlybecomingawareofherpresence，andturningtoher，andtakingherhandinbothofhis，—’Ithinkyouhavelongguessedmysecret，haveyounot？
IoncethoughtofspeakingtoyoubeforeIleft，andconfidingitalltoyou。Butthetemptationhasbeentoogreat，IhavetoldCynthiahowfondlyIloveher，asfaraswordscantell；andshesays——’thenhelookedatCynthiawithpassionatedelightandseemedtoforgetinthatgazethathehadlefthissentencetoMollyhalffinished。Cynthiadidnotseeminclinedtorepeathersaying，whateveritwas，buthermotherspokeforher。’Mydearsweetgirlvaluesyourloveasitoughttobevalued，Iamsure。
AndIbelieve，’lookingatCynthiaandRogerwithintelligentarchness，’Icouldtelltalesastothecauseofherindispositioninthespring。’’Mother，’saidCynthiasuddenly，’youknowitwasnosuchthing。Praydon’tinventstoriesaboutme。IhaveengagedmyselftoMrRogerHamley，andthatisenough。’’Enough！morethanenough！’saidRoger。’Iwillnotacceptyourpledge。
Iambound，butyouarefree。Iliketofeelbound，itmakesmehappyandatpeace，butwithallthechancesinvolvedinthenexttwoyears，youmustnotshackleyourselfbypromises。’Cynthiadidnotspeakatonce；shewasevidentlyrevolvingsomethinginherownmind。MrsGibsontookuptheword。’Youareverygenerous，Iamsure。Perhapsitwillbebetternottomentionit。’’Iwouldmuchratherhaveitkeptasecret，’saidCynthia，interrupting。’Certainly，mydearlove。ThatwasjustwhatIwasgoingtosay。IonceknewayoungladywhoheardofthedeathofayoungmaninAmerica，whomshehadknownprettywell；andsheimmediatelysaidshehadbeenengagedtohim，andevenwentsofarastoputonweeds；anditwasafalsereport，forhecamebackwellandmerry，anddeclaredtoeverybodyhehadneversomuchasthoughtabouther。Soitwasveryawkwardforher。Thesethingshadmuchbetterbekeptsecretuntilthepropertimehascomefordivulgingthem。’EventhenandthereCynthiacouldnotresistthetemptationofsaying，—’Mamma，IwillpromiseyouIwon’tputonweeds，whateverreportscomeofMrRogerHamley。’’Roger，please！’heputin，inatenderwhisper。’Andyouwillallbewitnessesthathehasprofessedtothinkofme，ifheistemptedafterwardstodenythefact。ButatthesametimeIwishittobekeptasecretuntilhisreturn—andIamsureyouwillallbesokindastoattendtomywish。Please，Roger！Please，Molly！Mamma！
Imustespeciallybegitofyou！’Rogerwouldhavegrantedanythingwhensheaskedhimbythatname，andinthattone。Hetookherhandinsilentpledgeofhisreply。Mollyfeltasifshecouldneverbringherselftonametheaffairasacommonpieceofnews。SoitwasonlyMrsGibsonansweredaloud，—’Mydearchild！why\"especially\"topoorme！YouknowI’mthemosttrustworthypersonalive！’Thelittlependuleonthechimney—piecestruckthehalf—hour。’Imustgo！’saidRoger，indismay。’Ihadnoideaitwassolate。IshallwritefromParis。Thecoachwillbeatthe\"George\"bythistime，andwillonlystayfiveminutes。DearestCynthia——’hetookherhand，andthen，asifthetemptationwasirresistible，hedrewhertohimandkissedher。
’Onlyrememberyouarefree！’saidhe，ashereleasedherandpassedontoMrsGibson。’IfIhadconsideredmyselffree，’saidCynthia，blushingalittle，butreadywithherreparteetothelast，—’ifIhadthoughtmyselffree，doyouthinkIwouldhaveallowedthat？’ThenMolly’sturncame；andtheoldbrotherlytendernesscamebackintohislook，hisvoice，hisbearing。’Molly！youwon’tforgetme，Iknow；Ishallneverforgetyou，noryourgoodnessto—her。’Hisvoicebegantoquiver，anditwasbesttobegone。
MrsGibsonwaspouringout，unheardandunheeded，wordsoffarewell；Cynthiawasrearrangingsomeflowersinavaseonthetable，thedefectsinwhichhadcaughtherartisticeye，withouttheconsciousnesspenetratingtohermind。Mollystood，numbtotheheart；neithergladnorsorry，noranythingbutstunned。Shefelttheslackenedtouchofthewarmgraspinghand；shelookedup—fortillnowhereyeshadbeendowncast，asiftherewereheavyweightstotheirlids—andtheplacewasemptywherehehadbeen；hisquickstepwasheardonthestair，thefrontdoorwasopenedandshut；
andthenasquickaslightningMollyranuptothefrontattic—thelumber—room，whosewindowcommandedthestreetdownwhichhemustpass。Thewindow—claspwasunusedandstiff，Mollytuggedatit—unlessitwasopen，andherheadputout，thatlastchancewouldbegone。’Imustseehimagain；Imust！Imust！’shewailedout，asshewaspulling。
Therehewas，runninghardtocatchtheLondoncoach；hisluggagehadbeenleftatthe’George’beforehecameuptowishtheGibsonsgood—by。Inallhishurry，Mollysawhimturnroundandshadehiseyesfromthelevelraysofthewesteringsun，andrakethehousewithhisglances—inhopes，sheknew，ofcatchingonemoreglimpseofCynthia。Butapparentlyhesawnoone，notevenMollyattheatticcasement。forshehaddrawnbackwhenhehadturned，andkeptherselfinshadow；forshehadnorighttoputherselfforwardastheonetowatchandyearnforfarewellsigns。Nonecame—anothermoment—hewasoutofsightforyears。Sheshutthewindowsoftly，andshiveredallover。Shelefttheatticandwenttoherownroom；butshedidnotbegintotakeoffherout—of—doorthingstillsheheardCynthia’sfootonthestairs。Thenshehastilywenttothetoilet—table，andbegantountieherbonnet—strings；buttheywereinaknot，andtooktimetoundo。Cynthia’sstepstoppedatMolly’sdoor；
sheopeneditalittleandsaid，—’MayIcomein，Molly？’’Certainly，’saidMolly，longingtobeabletosay’No’allthetime。Mollydidnotturntomeether，soCynthiacameupbehindher，andputtinghertwohandsroundMolly’swaist，peepedoverhershoulder，puttingoutherlipstobekissed。Mollycouldnotresisttheaction—themuteentreatyforacaress。Butinthemomentbeforeshehadcaughtthereflectionofthetwofacesintheglass；herown，red—eyed，pale，withlipsdyedwithblackberryjuice，hercurlstangled，herbonnetpulledawry，hergowntorn—andcontrasteditwithCynthia’sbrightnessandbloom，andthetrimeleganceofherdress。’Oh！itisnowonder！’thoughtpoorMolly，assheturnedround，andputherarmsroundCynthia，andlaidherheadforaninstantonhershoulder—theweary，achingheadthatsoughtalovingpillowinthatsuprememoment！Thenextshehadraisedherself，andtakenCynthia’stwohands，andwasholdingheroffalittle，thebettertoreadherface。’Cynthia！youdolovehimdearly，don’tyou？’Cynthiawincedalittleasidefromthepenetratingsteadinessofthoseeyes。’Youspeakwithallthesolemnityofanadjuration，Molly！’saidshe，laughingalittleatfirsttocoverhernervousness，andthenlookingupatMolly。
’Don’tyouthinkIhavegivenaproofofit？ButyouknowI’veoftentoldyouI’venotthegiftofloving；Isaidprettymuchthesamethingtohim。
Icanrespect，andIfancyIcanadmire，andIcanlike，butIneverfeelcarriedoffmyfeetbyloveforanyone，notevenforyou，littleMolly，andIamsureIloveyoumorethan——’’No，don’t！’saidMolly，puttingherhandbeforeCynthia’smouth，inalmostapassionofimpatience。’Don’t，don’t—Iwon’thearyou—Ioughtnottohaveaskedyou—itmakesyoutelllies！’’Why，Molly！’saidCynthia，inherturnseekingtoreadMolly’sface，’what’sthematterwithyou？Onemightthinkyoucaredforhimyourself。’’I？’saidMolly，allthebloodrushingtoherheartsuddenly；thenitreturned，andshehadcouragetospeak，andshespokethetruthasshebelievedit，thoughnottherealactualtruth。’Idocareforhim；Ithinkyouhavewontheloveofaprinceamongstmen。