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　　Why，Iamproudtorememberthathehasbeentomeasabrother，andI

　　lovehimasasister，andIloveyoudoublybecausehehashonouredyouwithhislove。’’Come，that’snotcomplimentary！’saidCynthia，laughing，butnotill—pleasedtohearherlover’spraises，andevenwillingtodepreciatehimalittleinordertohearmore。’He’swellenough，Idaresay，andagreatdealtoolearnedandcleverforastupidgirllikeme；butevenyoumustacknowledgeheisveryplainandawkward；andIlikeprettythingsandprettypeople。’’Cynthia，Iwon’ttalktoyouabouthim。Youknowyoudon’tmeanwhatyouaresaying，andyouonlysayitoutofcontradiction，becauseIpraisehim。Heshan’tberundownbyyou，eveninjoke。’’Well，then，wewon’ttalkofhimatall。Iwassosurprisedwhenhebegantospeak—so——’andCynthialookedverylovely，blushinganddimplingupassherememberedhiswordsandlooks。Suddenlysherecalledherselftothepresenttime，andhereyecaughtontheleaffullofblackberries—thebroadgreenleaf，sofreshandcrispwhenMollyhadgathereditanhourorsoago，butnowsoftandflabby，anddying。Mollysawit，too，andfeltastrangekindofsympatheticpityforthepoorinanimateleaf。’Oh！whatblackberries！you’vegatheredthemforme，Iknow！’saidCynthia，sittingdownandbeginningtofeedherselfdaintily，touchingthemlightlywiththeendsofhertaperfingers，anddroppingeachripeberryintoheropenmouth。Whenshehadeatenabouthalfshestoppedsuddenlyshort。’HowIshouldliketohavegoneasfarasPariswithhim，’sheexclaimed。

　　’Isupposeitwouldnothavebeenproper；buthowpleasantitwouldhavebeen。IrememberatBoulogne’（anotherblackberry）’howIusedtoenvytheEnglishwhoweregoingtoParis；itseemedtomethenasifnobodystoppedatBoulogne，butdull，stupidschool—girls。’’Whenwillhebethere？’askedMolly。’OnWednesday，hesaid。I’mtowritetohimthere；atanyrateheisgoingtowritetome。’Mollywentabouttheadjustmentofherdressinaquiet，business—likemanner，notspeakingmuch；Cynthia，althoughsittingstill，seemedveryrestless。Oh！howmuchMollywishedthatshewouldgo。’Perhaps，afterall，’saidCynthia，afterapauseofapparentmeditation，’weshallneverbemarried。’’Whydoyousaythat？’saidMolly，almostbitterly。’Youhavenothingtomakeyouthinkso。Iwonderhowyoucanbeartothinkyouwon’t，evenforamoment。’’Oh！’saidCynthia；’youmustnotgoandtakemeaugrands&eacute；rieux。

　　IdaresayIdon’tmeanwhatIsay，butyouseeeverythingseemsadreamatpresent。Still，Ithinkthechancesareequal—thechancesforandagainstourmarriage，Imean。Twoyears！it’salongtime；hemaychangehismind，orImay；orsomeoneelsemayturnup，andsayI’mengagedtohim：whatshouldyouthinkofthat，Molly？I’mputtingsuchagloomythingasdeathquiteononeside，yousee；yetintwoyearshowmuchmayhappen。’’Don’ttalkso，Cynthia，pleasedon’t，’saidMolly，piteously。’Onewouldthinkyoudidnotcareforhim，andhecaressomuchforyou！’’Why，didIsayIdidnotcareforhim！Iwasonlycalculatingchances。

　　IamsureIhopenothingwillhappentopreventthemarriage。Only，youknowitmay，andIthoughtIwastakingastepinwisdom，inlookingforwardtoalltheevilsthatmightbefall。IamsureallthewisepeopleIhaveeverknownthoughtitavirtuetohavegloomyprognosticsofthefuture。

　　Butyou’renotinamoodforwisdomorvirtue，Isee；soI’llgoandgetreadyfordinner，andleaveyoutoyourvanitiesofdress。’ShetookMolly’sfaceinbothherhands，beforeMollywasawareofherintention，andkisseditplayfully。ThensheleftMollytoherself。

　　chapter35CHAPTERXXXVTHEMOTHER’SMANOEUVREMrGibsonwasnotathomeatdinner—detainedbysomepatient，mostprobably。

　　Thiswasnotanunusualoccurrence；butitwasratheranunusualoccurrenceforMrsGibsontogodownintothedining—room，andsitwithhimasheatehisdeferredmealwhenhecameinanhourortwolater。Ingeneral，shepreferredhereasy—chair，orhercornerofthesofa，upstairsinthedrawing—room，thoughitwasveryrarelythatshewouldallowMollytoavailherselfofherstepmother’sneglectedprivilege。Mollywouldfainhavegonedownandkeptherfathercompanyeverynightthathehadthesesolitarymeals；butforpeaceandquietnessshegaveupherownwishesonthesubject。MrsGibsontookaseatbythefireinthedining—room，andpatientlywaitedfortheauspiciousmomentwhenMrGibson，havingsatisfiedhishealthyappetite，turnedfromthetable，andtookhisplacebyherside。Shegotup，andwithunaccustomedattentionshemovedthewineandglassessothathecouldhelphimselfwithoutmovingfromhischair。’There，now！areyoucomfortable？forIhaveagreatpieceofnewstotellyou！’saidshe，whenallwasarranged。’Ithoughttherewassomethingonhand，’saidhe，smiling。’Nowforit！’’RogerHamleyhasbeenherethisafternoontobidusgood—by。’’Good—by！Ishegone？Ididnotknowhewasgoingsosoon！’exclaimedMrGibson。’Yes：nevermind，that’snotit，’’Buttellme；hasheleftthisneighbourhood？Iwantedtohaveseenhim。’’Yes，yes。Heleftloveandregret，andallthatsortofthingforyou。

　　Nowletmegetonwithmystory：hefoundCynthiaalone，proposedtoher，andwasaccepted。’’Cynthia？Rogerproposedtoher，andsheacceptedhim？’repeatedMrGibson，slowly。’Yes，tobesure。Whynot？youspeakasifitwassomethingsoverysurprising。’’DidI？ButIamsurprised。Heisaveryfineyoungfellow，andIwishCynthiajoy；butdoyoulikeit？Itwillhavetobeaverylongengagement。’’Perhaps，’saidshe，inaknowingmanner。’Atanyratehewillbeawayfortwoyears，’saidMrGibson。’Agreatdealmayhappenintwoyears，’shereplied。’Yes！hewillhavetorunmanyrisks，andgointomanydangers，andwillcomebacknonearertothepowerofmaintainingawifethanwhenhewentout。’’Idon’tknowthat，’shereplied，stillinthearchmannerofonepossessingsuperiorknowledge。’AlittlebirddidtellmethatOsborne’slifeisnotsoverysecure；andthen—whatwillRogerbe？Heirtotheestate。’’WhotoldyouthataboutOsborne？’saidhe，facingrounduponher，andfrighteningherwithhissuddensternnessofvoiceandmanner。Itseemedasifabsolutefirecameoutofhislongdarksunkeneyes。’Whotoldyou，Isay？’Shemadeafaintrallybackintoherformerplayfulness。’Why？canyoudenyit？Isitnotthetruth？’’Iaskyouagain，Hyacinth，whotoldyouthatOsborneHamley’slifeisinmoredangerthanmine—oryours？’’Oh，don’tspeakinthatfrighteningway。Mylifeisnotindanger，I’msure；noryourseither，love，Ihope。’Hegaveanimpatientmovement，andthrewawine—glassoffthetable。Forthemomentshefeltgratefulforthediversion，andbusiedherselfinpickingupthefragments：’bitsofglassweresodangerous，’shesaid。Butshewasstartledbyavoiceofcommand，suchasshehadneveryetheardfromherhusband。’Nevermindtheglass。Iaskyouagain，Hyacinth，whotoldyouanythingaboutOsborneHamley’sstateofhealth？’’IamsureIwishnoharmtohim，andIdaresayheisinverygoodhealth，asyousay，’whisperedshe，atlast。’Whotold——？’beganheagain，sternerthanever。’Well，ifyouwillknow，andwillmakesuchafussaboutit，’saidshe，driventoextremity，’itwasyouyourself—youorDrNicholls，IamsureIforgetwhich。’’Ineverspoketoyouonthesubject，andIdon’tbelieveNichollsdid。

　　Youhadbettertellmeatoncewhatyouarealludingto，forI’mresolvedI’llhaveitoutbeforeweleavethisroom。’’IwishI’dnevermarriedagain，’shesaid，nowfairlycrying，andlookingroundtheroom，asifinvainsearchforamouse—holeinwhichtohideherself。Then，asifthesightofthedoorintothestore—roomgavehercourage，sheturnedandfacedhim。’Youshouldnottalkyourmedicalsecretssoloudthen，ifyoudon’twantpeopletohearthem。Ihadtogointothestore—roomthatdayDrNichollswashere；cookwantedajarofpreserve，andstoppedmejustasIwasgoingout—Iamsureitwasfornopleasureofmine，forIwassadlyafraidofstickyingmygloves—itwasallthatyoumighthaveacomfortabledinner。’Shelookedasifshewasgoingtocryagain，buthegravelymotionedhertogoon，merelysaying，—’Well！youoverheardourconversation，Isuppose？’’Notmuch，’sheanswered，eagerly，almostrelievedbybeingthishelpedoutinherforcedconfession。’Onlyasentenceortwo。’’Whatwerethey？’heasked。’Why，youhadjustbeensayingsomething，andDrNichollssaid：\"Ifhehadgotaneurismoftheaortalhisdaysarenumbered。\"’’Well。Anythingmore？’’Yes；yousaid，\"IhopetoGodImaybemistaken；butthereisaprettyclearindicationofsymptoms，inmyopinion。\"’’HowdoyouknowwewerespeakingofOsborneHamley？’heasked；perhapsinhopesofthrowingheroffthescent。Butassoonassheperceivedthathewasdescendingtoherlevelofsubterfuge，shetookcourage，andsaidinquiteadifferenttonetothecowedonewhichshehadbeenusing，—’Oh！Iknow。IheardhisnamementionedbyyoubothbeforeIbegantolisten。’’Thenyouownyoudidlisten？’’Yes，’saidshe，hesitatingalittlenow。’Andprayhowdoyoucometoremembersoexactlythenameofthediseasespokenof？’’BecauseIwent——nowdon’tbeangry，Ireallycan’tseeanyharminwhatIdid—’’Then，don’tdeprecateanger。Youwent——’’Intothesurgery，andlookeditout。WhymightnotI？’MrGibsondidnotanswer—didnotlookather。Hisfacewasverypale，andbothforeheadandlipswerecontracted。Atlengthherousedhimself，sighed，andsaid，—’Well！Isupposeasonebrewsonemustbake？’’Idon’tunderstandwhatyoumean，’poutedshe。’Perhapsnot，’hereplied。’IsupposethatitwaswhatyouheardonthatoccasionthatmadeyouchangeyourbehaviourtoRogerHamley？Ihavenoticedhowmuchmorecivilyouweretohimoflate。’’IfyoumeanthatIhaveevergottolikehimasmuchasOsborne，youareverymuchmistaken；no，noteventhoughhehasofferedtoCynthia，andistobemyson—in—law。’’Letmeknowthewholeaffair。Youoverheard，—IwillownthatitwasOsborneaboutwhomwewerespeaking，thoughIshallhavesomethingtosayaboutthatpresently—andthen，ifIunderstandyourightly，youchangedyourbehaviourtoRoger，andmadehimmorewelcometothishousethanyouhadeverdonebefore，regardinghimasproximateheirtotheHamleyestates？’’Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanby\"proximate。\"’’Gointothesurgery，andlookintothedictionarythen，’saidhe，losinghistemperforthefirsttimeduringtheconversation。’Iknew，’saidshethroughsobsandtears，’thatRogerhadtakenafancytoCynthia；anyonemightseethat；andaslongasRogerwasonlyayoungerson，withnoprofession，andnothingbuthisFellowship，Ithoughtitrighttodiscouragehim，asanyonewouldwhohadagrainofcommonsenseinthem；foraclumsier，morecommon，awkward，stupidfellowIneversaw—

　　tobecalledcounty，Imean。’’Takecare；you’llhavetocatyourwordspresentlywhenyoucometofancyhe’llhaveHamleysomeday。’’No，Ishan’t，’saidshe，notperceivinghisexactdrift。’YouarevexednowbecauseitisnotMollyhe’sinlovewith；andIcallitveryunjustandunfairtomypoorfatherlessgirl。IamsureIhavealwaystriedtofurtherMolly’sinterestsasifshewasmyowndaughter。’MrGibsonwastooindifferenttothisaccusationtotakeanynoticeofit。Hereturnedtowhatwasoffarmoreimportancetohim。’ThepointIwanttobeclearaboutisthis。DidyouordidyounotalteryourbehaviourtoRogerinconsequenceofwhatyouoverheardofmyprofessionalconversationwithDrNicholls？HaveyounotfavouredhissuittoCynthiasincethen，ontheunderstandinggatheredfromthatconversationthathestoodagoodchanceofinheritingHamley？’’IsupposeIdid，’saidshe，sulkily。’AndifIdid，Ican’tseeanyharminit，thatIshouldbequestionedasifIwereinawitness—box。HewasinlovewithCynthialongbeforethatconversation，andshelikedhimsomuch。Itwasnotformetocrossthepathoftruelove。Idon’tseehowyouwouldhaveamotherloveherchildifshemaynotturnaccidentalcircumstancestoheradvantage。PerhapsCynthiamighthavediedifshehadbeencrossedinlove；herpoorfatherwasconsumptive。’’Don’tyouknowthatallprofessionalconversationsareconfidential？ThatitwouldbethemostdishonourablethingpossibleformetobetraysecretswhichIlearnintheexerciseofmyprofession？’’Yes，ofcourse，you。’’Well！andarenotyouandIoneinalltheserespects？Youcannotdoadishonourableactwithoutmybeinginculpatedinthedisgrace。Ifitwouldbeadeepdisgraceformetobetrayaprofessionalsecret，whatwoulditbeformetotradeonthatknowledge？’Hewastryinghardtobepatient；buttheoffencewasofthatclasswhichgalledhiminsupportably。’Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbytrading。Tradinginadaughter’saffectionsisthelastthingIshoulddo；andIshouldhavethoughtyouwouldberathergladthanotherwisetogetCynthiawellmarried，andoffyourhands。’MrGibsongotup，andwalkedabouttheroom，hishandsinhispockets。

　　Onceortwicehebegantospeak，buthestoppedimpatientlyshortwithoutgoingon。’Idon’tknowwhattosaytoyou，’hesaidatlength。’Youeithercan’torwon’tseewhatImean。IamgladenoughtohaveCynthiahere。Ihavegivenheratruewelcome，andIsincerelyhopeshewillfindthishouseasmuchahomeasmyowndaughterdoes。ButforthefutureImustlookoutofmydoors，anddouble—locktheapproachesifIamsofoolishasto——However，that’spastandgone；anditremainswithmetopreventitsrecurrenceasfarasIcanforthefuture。Nowletushearthepresentstateofaffairs。’’Idon’tthinkIoughttotellyouanythingaboutit。Itisasecret，justasmuchasyourmysteriesare。’’Verywell；youhavetoldmeenoughformetoactupon，whichImostcertainlyshalldo。ItwasonlytheotherdayIpromisedthesquiretolethimknowifIsuspectedanything—anyloveaffair，orentanglement，muchlessanengagement，betweeneitherofhissonsandourgirls。’’Butthisisnotanengagement；hewouldnotletitbeso；ifyouwouldonlylistentome，Icouldtellyouall。OnlyIdohopeyouwon’tgoandtellthesquireandeverybody。Cynthiadidsobegthatitmightnotbeknown。Itisonlymyunfortunatefranknesshasledmeintothisscrape。

　　InevercouldkeepasecretfromthosewhomIlove。’’Imusttellthesquire。Ishallnotmentionittoanyoneelse。Anddoyouquitethinkitwasconsistentwithyourgeneralfranknesstohaveoverheardwhatyoudid，andnevertohavementionedittome？IcouldhavetoldyouthenthatDrNicholls’opinionwasdecidedlyopposedtomine，andthathebelievedandbelievesthatthedisturbanceaboutwhichIconsultedhimonOsborne’sbehalfwasmerelytemporary。DrNichollswouldtellyouthatOsborneisaslikelyasanymantoliveandmarryandbegetchildren。’IftherewasanyskillusedbyMrGibsonsotowordthisspeechastoconcealhisownopinion，MrsGibsonwasnotsharpenoughtofinditout。Shewasdismayed，andMrGibsonenjoyedherdismay；itrestoredhimtosomethinglikehisusualframeofmind。’Letusreviewthismisfortune，forIseeyouconsideritassuch，’saidhe。’No，notquiteamisfortune，’saidshe。’ButcertainlyifIhadknownDrNicholls’opinion——’shehesitated。’Youseetheadvantageofalwaysconsultingme，’hecontinuedgravely。

　　’HereisCynthiaengaged——’’Notengaged，Itoldyoubefore。Hewouldnotallowittobeconsideredanengagementonherpart。’’Well，entangledinaloveaffairwithaladofthree—and—twenty，withnothingbeyondhisfellowshipandachanceofinheritinganencumberedestate；noprofessioneven，abroadfortwoyears，andImustgoandtellhisfatherallaboutitto—morrow。’’Ohdear！Praysaythat，ifhedislikesit，hehasonlytoexpresshisopinion。’’Idon’tthinkyoucanactwithoutCynthiaintheaffair。AndifIamnotmistaken，Cynthiawillhaveaprettystoutwillofherownonthesubject。’’Oh，Idon’tthinkshecaresforhimverymuch；sheisnotonetobealwaysfallinginlove，andshedoesnottakethingsverydeeplytoheart。Butofcourseonewouldnotdoanythingabruptly；twoyears’absencegivesoneplentyoftimetoturnoneselfin。’’ButalittlewhileagowewerethreatenedwithconsumptionandanearlydeathifCynthia’saffectionswerethwarted。’’Oh，youdearcreature，howyourememberallmysillywords！Itmightbe，youknow。PoordearMrKirkpatrickwasconsumptive，andCynthiamayhaveinheritedit，andagreatsorrowmightbringoutthelatentseeds。AttimesIamsofearful。ButIdaresayitisnotprobable，forIdon’tthinkshetakesthingsverydeeplytoheart。’’ThenIamquiteatlibertytogiveuptheaffair，actingasCynthia’sproxy，ifthesquiredisapprovesofit？’PoorMrsGibsonwasinastraitatthisquestion。’No！’shesaidatlast。’Wecannotgiveitup。IamsureCynthiawouldnot；especiallyifshethoughtotherswereactingforher。Andhereallyisverymuchinlove。IwishhewereinOsborne’splace。’’ShallItellyouwhatIshoulddo？’saidMrGibson，inrealearnest。’Howeveritmayhavebeenbroughtabout，herearetwoyoungpeopleinlovewitheachother。Oneisasfineayoungfellowaseverbreathed；theotheraverypretty，lively，agreeablegirl。Thefatheroftheyoungmanmustbetold，anditismostlikelyhewillblusterandoppose；forthereisnodoubtitisanimprudentaffairasfarasmoneygoes。Butletthembesteadyandpatient，andabetterlotneedawaitnoyoungwoman。IonlywishitwereMolly’sgoodfortunetomeetwithsuchanother。’’Iwilltryforher；Iwillindeed，’saidMrsGibson，relievedbyhischangeoftone。’No，don’t。That’sonethingIforbid。I’llhaveno\"trying\"forMolly。’’Well，don’tbeangry，dear！DoyouknowIwasquiteafraidyouweregoingtoloseyourtemperatonetime！’’Itwouldhavebeenofnouse！’saidhe，gloomily，gettingupasiftoclosethesitting。Hiswifewasonlytoogladtomakeherescape。Theconjugalinterviewhadnotbeensatisfactorytoeither。MrGibsonhadbeencompelledtofaceandacknowledgethefactthatthewifehehadchosenhadaverydifferentstandardofconducttothatwhichhehadupheldallhislife，andhadhopedtohaveseeninculcatedinhisdaughter。Hewasmoreirritatedthanhechosetoshow；fortherewassomuchofself—reproachinhisirritationthathekeptthefeelingtohimself，broodedoverit，andallowedafeelingofsuspiciousdissatisfactionwithhiswifetogrowupinhismind，whichextendeditselfby—and—bytotheinnocentCynthia，andcausedhismannertobothmotheranddaughtertoassumeacertaincurtseverity，whichtookthelatteratanyratewithextremesurprise。Butonthepresentoccasionhefollowedhiswifeuptothedrawing—room，andgravelycongratulatedtheastonishedCynthia。’Hasmammatoldyou？’saidshe，shootinganindignantglanceathermother。

　　’Itishardlyanengagement；andweallpledgedourselvestokeepitasecret，mammaamongtherest！’’But，mydearestCynthia，youcouldnotexpect—youcouldnothavewishedmetokeepasecretfrommyhusband？’pleadedMrsGibson。’No，perhapsnot。Atanyrate，sir，’saidCynthia，turningtowardshimwithgracefulfrankness，’Iamgladyoushouldknowit。Youhavealwaysbeenamostkindfriendtome，andIdaresayIshouldhavetoldyoumyself，butIdidnotwantitnamed；ifyouplease，itmuststillbeasecret。

　　Infact，itishardlyanengagement—he’（sheblushedandsparkledalittleattheeuphuism，whichimpliedthattherewasbutone’he’presentinherthoughtsatthemoment）’wouldnotallowmetobindmyselfbyanypromiseuntilhisreturn！’MrGibsonlookedgravelyather，irresponsivetoherwinninglooks，whichatthemomentremindedhimtooforciblyofhermother’sways。Thenhetookherhand，andsaid，seriouslyenough，—’Ihopeyouareworthyofhim，Cynthia，foryouhaveindeeddrawnaprize。

　　IhaveneverknownatruerorwarmerheartthanRoger’s；andIhaveknownhimboyandman。’Mollyfeltasifshecouldhavethankedherfatheraloudforthistestimonytothevalueofhimwhowasgoneaway。ButCynthiapoutedalittlebeforeshesmiledupinhisface。’Youarenotcomplimentary，areyou，MrGibson？’saidshe。’Hethinksmeworthy，Isuppose；andifyouhavesohighanopinionofhim，yououghttorespecthisjudgmentofme。’Ifshehopedtoprovokeacompliment，shewasdisappointed，forMrGibsonletgoofherhandinanabsentmanner，andsatedowninaneasychairbythefire，gazingatthewoodembersasifhopingtoreadthefutureinthem。MollysawCynthia’seyesfillwithtears，andfollowedhertotheotherendoftheroom，whereshehadgonetoseeksomeworkingmaterials。’DearCynthia，’wasallshesaid；butshepressedherhandwhiletryingtoassistinthesearch。’Oh，Molly，Iamsofondofyourfather；whatmakeshimspeaksotometo—night？’’Idon’tknow，’saidMolly；’perhapshe’stired。’TheywererecalledfromfurtherconversationbyMrGibson。Hehadrousedhimselffromhisreverie，andwasnowaddressingCynthia。’Ihopeyouwillnotconsideritabreachofconfidence，Cynthia，butI

　　musttellthesquireof—ofwhathastakenplaceto—daybetweenyouandhisson。Ihaveboundmyselfbyapromisetohim。Hewasafraid—it’saswelltotellyouthetruth—hewasafraid’（anemphasisonthislastword）’ofsomethingofthiskindbetweenhissonsandoneofyoutwogirls。

　　ItwasonlytheotherdayIassuredhimtherewasnothingofthekindonfoot；andItoldhimthenIwouldinformhimatonceifIsawanysymptoms。’Cynthialookedextremelyannoyed。’ItwastheonethingIstipulatedfor—secrecy。’’Butwhy？’saidMrGibson。’Icanunderstandyournotwishingtohaveitmadepublicunderthepresentcircumstances。Butthenearestfriendsonbothsides！Surelyyoucanhavenoobjectiontothat？’’Yes，Ihave，’saidCynthia；’IwouldnothavehadanyoneknowifIcouldhavehelpedit。’’IamalmostcertainRogerwilltellhisfather。’’No，hewon’t，’saidCynthia；’Imadehimpromise，andIthinkheisonetorespectapromise’—withaglanceathermother，who，feelingherselfindisgracewithbothhusbandandchild，waskeepingajudicioussilence。’Well，atanyrate，thestorywouldcomewithsomuchbetteragracefromhimthatIshallgivehimthechance；Iwon’tgoovertotheHalltilltheendoftheweek；hemayhavewrittenandtoldhisfatherbeforethen。’Cynthiaheldhertongueforalittlewhile。Thenshesaid，withtearfulpettishness，—’Aman’spromiseistooverrideawoman’swishthen，isit？’’Idon’tseeanyreasonwhyitshouldnot。’’WillyoutrustinmyreasonswhenItellyouitwillcausemeagreatdealofdistressifitgetsknown？’Shesaidthisinsopleadingavoice，thatifMrGibsonhadnotbeenthoroughlydispleasedandannoyedbyhispreviousconversationwithhermother，hemusthaveyieldedtoher。Asitwas，hesaidcoldly，—’TellingRoger’sfatherisnotmakingitpublic。

　　Idon’tlikethisexaggerateddesireforsuchsecrecy，Cynthia。Itseemstomeasifsomethingmorethanwasapparentwasconcealedbehindit。’’Come，Molly，’saidCynthia，suddenly；’letussingthatduetI’vebeenteachingyou；it’sbetterthantalkingaswearedoing。’ItwasalittlelivelyFrenchduet。Mollysangitcarelessly，withheavinessatherheart；butCynthiasangitwithspiritandapparentmerriment；onlyshebrokedowninhystericsatlast，andflewupstairstoherownroom。

　　Molly，heedingnothingelse—neitherherfathernorMrsGibson’swords—followedher，andfoundthedoorofherbedroomlocked，andforallreplytoherentreatiestobeallowedtocomein，sheheardCynthiasobbingandcrying。ItwasmorethanaweekaftertheincidentslastrecordedbeforeMrGibsonfoundhimselfatlibertytocallonthesquire；andheheartilyhopedthatlongbeforethen，Roger’slettermighthavearrivedfromParis，tellinghisfatherthewholestory。Buthesawatthefirstglancethatthesquirehadheardnothingunusualtodisturbhisequanimity。Hewaslookingbetterthanhehaddoneformonthspast；thelightofhopewasinhiseyes，hisfaceseemedofahealthyruddycolour，gainedpartlybyhisresumptionofout—of—dooremploymentinthesuperintendenceoftheworks，andpartlybecausethehappinesshehadlatelyhadthroughRoger’smeans，causedhisbloodtoflowwithregularvigour。HehadfeltRoger’sgoingaway，itistrue；butwheneverthesorrowofpartingwithhimpressedtooheavilyuponhim，hefilledhispipe，andsmokeditoutoveralong，slow，deliberatereperusalofLordHollingford’sletter，everywordofwhichheknewbyheart；butexpressionsinwhichhemadeapretencetohimselfofdoubting，thathemighthaveanexcuseforlookingathisson’spraisesonceagain。

　　Thefirstgreetingsover，MrGibsonplungedintohissubject。’AnynewsfromRogeryet？’’Oh，yes；here’shisletter，’saidthesquire，producingletsblackleathercase，inwhichRoger’smissivehadbeenplacedalongwiththeotherveryheterogeneouscontents。MrGibsonreadit，hardlyseeingthewordsafterhehadbyonerapidglanceassuredhimselfthattherewasnomentionofCynthiainit。’Hum！Iseehedoesnotnameoneveryimportanteventthathasbefallenhimsinceheleftyou，’saidMrGibson，seizingonthefirstwordsthatcame。’IbelieveI’mcommittingabreachofconfidenceononeside。butI’mgoingtokeepthepromiseImadethelasttimeIwashere。Ifindthereissomething—somethingofthekindyouapprehended—youunderstand—

　　betweenhimandmystep—daughter，CynthiaKirkpatrick。Hecalledatourhousetowishusgood—by，whilewaitingfortheLondoncoach，foundheralone，andspoketoher。Theydon’tcallitanengagement，butofcourseitisone。’’Givemebacktheletter，’saidthesquire，inaconstrainedkindofvoice。

　　Thenhereaditagain，asifhehadnotpreviouslymastereditscontents，andasiftheremightbesomesentenceorsentenceshehadoverlooked。’No！’hesaidatlast，withasigh。’Hetellsmenothingaboutit。Ladsmayplayatconfidenceswiththeirfathers，buttheykeepadealback。’

　　ThesquireappearedmoredisappointedatnothavingheardofthisstraightfromRogerthandispleasedatthefactitself，MrGibsonthought。Buthelethimtakehistime。’He’snottheeldestson，’continuedthesquire，talkingasitweretohimself。’Butit’snotthematchIshouldhaveplannedforhim。Howcameyou，sir，’saidhe，firingroundonMrGibson，suddenly—’tosaywhenyouwerelasthere，thattherewasnothingbetweenmysonsandeitherofyourgirls？Why，thismusthavebeengoingonallthetime！’’Iamafraiditwas。ButIwasasignorantaboutitasthebabeunborn。

　　IonlyheardofitontheeveningofthedayofRoger’sdeparture。’’Andthat’saweekago，sir。What’skeptyouquieteversince？’’IthoughtthatRogerwouldtellyouhimself。’’Thatshowsyou’venosons。Morethanhalftheirlifeisunknowntotheirfathers。Why，Osbornethere，welivetogether—that’stosay，wehaveourmealstogether，andwesleepunderthesameroof—andyet—Well！

　　well！lifeisasGodhasmadeit。Yousayit’snotanengagementyet？ButIwonderwhatI’mdoing？Hopingformylad’sdisappointmentinthefollyhe’ssethishearton—andjustwhenhe’sbeenhelpingme。Isitafolly，orisitnot？Iaskyou，Gibson，foryoumustknowthisgirl。Shehasnotmuchmoney，Isuppose？’’Aboutthirtypoundsayear，atmypleasureduringhermother’slife。’’Whew！It’swellhe’snotOsborne。They’llhavetowait。Whatfamilyissheof？Noneof’emintrade，Ireckon，fromherbeingsopoor？’’IbelieveherfatherwasgrandsonofacertainSirGeraldKirkpatrick。

　　Hermothertellsmeitisanoldbaronetcy。Iknownothingofsuchthings。’’That’ssomething。Idoknowsomethingofsuchthings，asyouarepleasedtocallthem。Ilikehonourableblood。’MrGibsoncouldnothelpsaying，’ButI’mafraidthatonlyone—eighthofCynthia’sbloodishonourable；Iknownothingfurtherofherrelationsexceptingthefactthatherfatherwasacurate。’’Professional，That’sastepabovetradeatanyrate。Howoldisshe？’’Eighteenornineteen。’’Pretty？’’Yes，Ithinkso；mostpeopledo；butitisallamatteroftaste。Come，squire，judgeforyourself。Rideoverandtakelunchwithusanydayyoulike。Imaynotbein；buthermotherwillbethere，andyoucanmakeacquaintancewithyourson’sfuturewife。’Thiswasgoingtoofast，however；presumingtoomuchonthequietnesswithwhichthesquirehadbeenquestioninghim。MrHamleydrewbackwithinhisshell，andspokeinasurlymannerashereplied，—’Roger’s\"futurewife！\"—He’llbewiserbythetimehecomeshome。Twoyearsamongtheblackfolkwillhaveputmoresenseinhim。’’Possible，butnotprobable，Ishouldsay，’repliedMrGibson。’Blackfolkarenotremarkablefortheirpowersofreasoning，Ibelieve，sothattheyhavenotmuchchanceofalteringhisopinionbyargument，evenifthey