hecontinued，notknowingwhattosay，andfancyingthathisinconstancywasranklinginMrGibson’smind。’No！Idon’tsupposeyouhave。Don’tgoandfancyitisthatwhichisannoyingme。You’remistakenaboutMissKirkpatrick，however。Idon’tbelieveshecouldeverhavemeanttogiveyouencouragement！’MrCoxe’sfacegrewperceptiblypaler。Hisfeelings，ifevanescent，wereevidentlystrong。’Ithink，sir，ifyoucouldhaveseenher—Idon’tconsidermyselfvain，andmannerissodifficulttodescribe。Atanyrate，youcanhavenoobjectiontomytakingmychance，andspeakingtoher。’’Ofcourse，ifyouwon’tbeconvincedotherwise，Icanhavenoobjection。
Butifyou’lltakemyadvice，youwillspareyourselfthepainofarefusal。
Imay，perhaps，betrenchingonconfidence，butIthinkIoughttotellyouthatheraffectionsareotherwiseengaged。’’Itcannotbe！’saidMrCoxe。’MrGibson，theremustbesomemistake。I
havegoneasfarasIdarediiiexpressingmyfeelings，andhermannerhasbeenmostgracious。Idon’tthinkshecouldhavemisunderstoodmymeaning。
Perhapsshehaschangedhermind？Itispossiblethat，afterconsideration，shehaslearnttopreferanother，isitnot？’’By\"another，\"youmeanyourself，Isuppose。Icanbelieveinsuchinconstancy’
（hecouldnothelp，inhisownmind，givingaslightsneerattheinstancebeforehim），’butIshouldbeverysorrytothinkthatMissKirkpatrickcouldbeguiltyofit。’’Butshemay—itisachance。Willyouallowmetoseeher？’’Certainly，mypoorfellow’—for，intermingledwithalittlecontempt，wasagooddealofrespectforthesimplicity，theunworldliness，thestrengthoffeeling，eventhoughthefeelingwasevanescent—’Iwillsendhertoyoudirectly。’’Thankyou，sir。Godblessyouforakindfriend！’MrGibsonwentupstairstothedrawing—room，wherehewasprettysureheshouldfindCynthia。Thereshewas’asbrightandcarelessasusual，makingupabonnetforhermother，andchatteringtoMollyassheworked。’Cynthia，youwillobligemebygoingdownintomyconsulting—roomatonce。
MrCoxewantstospeaktoyou！’’MrCoxe？’saidCynthia。’Whatcanhewantwithme？’Evidently，sheansweredherownquestionassoonasitwasasked，forshecoloured，andavoidedmeetingMrGibson’ssevere，uncompromisinglook。
Assoonasshehadlefttheroom，MrGibsonsatedown，andtookupanewEdinburghlyingonthetable，asanexcuseforconversation。Wasthereanythinginthearticlethatmadehimsay，afteraminuteortwo，toMolly，whosatesilentandwondering，—\"Molly，youmustnevertriflewiththeloveofanhonestman。Youdon’tknowwhatpainyoumaygive。\"PresentlyCynthiacamebackintothedrawing—room，lookingverymuchconfused。
MostlikelyshewouldnothavereturnedifshehadknownthatMrGibsonwasstillthere；butitwassuchanunheard—ofthingforhimtobesittinginthatroominthemiddleoftheday，readingormakingpretencetoread，thatshehadneverthoughtofhisremaining。Helookedupatherthemomentshecamein，sotherewasnothingforitbutputtingaboldfaceonit，andgoingbacktoherwork。’IsMrCoxestilldownstairs？’askedMrGibson。’No。Heisgone。Heaskedmetogiveyoubothhiskindregards。Ibelieveheisleavingthisafternoon。’Cynthiatriedtomakehermannerascommonplaceaspossible；butshedidnotlookup，andhervoicetrembledalittle。MrGibsonwentonlookingathisbookforafewminutes；butCynthiafeltthatmorewascoming，andonlywisheditwouldcomequickly，fortheseveresilencewasveryhardtobear。Itcameatlast。’Itrustthiswillneveroccuragain，Cynthia！’saidhe，ingravedispleasure。
’Ishouldnotfeelsatisfiedwiththeconductofanygirl，howeverfree，whocouldreceivemarkedattentionsfromayoungmanwithcomplacency，andsoleadhimontomakeanofferwhichshenevermeanttoaccept。ButwhatmustIthinkofayoungwomaninyourposition，engaged—yet\"acceptingmostgraciously，\"forthatwasthewayCoxeexpressedit—theoverturesofanotherman？Doyouconsiderwhatunnecessarypainyouhavegivenhimbyyourthoughtlessbehaviour？Icallit\"thoughtless，\"butitisthemildestepithetIcanapplytoit。Ibegthatsuchathingmaynotoccuragain，orIshallbeobligedtocharacterizeitmoreseverely。’Mollycouldnotimaginewhat\"moreseverely\"couldbe，forherfather’smannerappearedtoheralmostcruelinitssternness。Cynthiacolouredupextremely，thenwentpale，andatlengthraisedherbeautifulappealingeyesfulloftearstoMrGibson。Hewastouchedbythatlook，butheresolvedimmediatelynottobemollifiedbyanyofherphysicalcharmsofexpression，buttokeeptohissoberjudgmentofherconduct。’Please，MrGibson，hearmysideofthestorybeforeyouspeaksohardlytome。Ididnotmeanto—toflirt。Imerelymeanttomakemyselfagreeable，—Ican’thelpdoingthat，—andthatgooseofaMrCoxeseemstohavefanciedImeanttogivehimencouragement。’’Doyoumeanthatyouwerenotawarethathewasfallinginlovewithyou？’
MrGibsonwasmeltingintoareadinesstobeconvincedbythatsweetvoice，andpleadingface。’Well，IsupposeImustspeaktruly。’Cynthiablushedandsmiled—eversolittle—butitwasasmile，andithardenedMrGibson’sheartagain。
’Ididthinkonceortwicethathewasbecomingalittlemorecomplimentarythantheoccasionrequired；butIhatethrowingcoldwateronpeople，andIneverthoughthecouldtakeitintohissillyheadtofancyhimselfseriouslyinlove，andtomakesuchafussatthelast，afteronlyafortnight’sacquaintance。’’Youseemtohavebeenprettywellawareofhissilliness（Ishouldrathercallitsimplicity）。Don’tyouthinkyoushouldhaverememberedthatitmightleadhimtoexaggeratewhatyouweredoingandsayingintoencouragement？’’Perhaps。IdaresayI’mallwrong，andthatheisallright，’saidCynthia，piquedandpouting。’WeusedtosayinFrance，that\"lesabsensonttoujourstort，\"butreallyitseemsasifhere——’shestopped。Shewasunwillingtobeimpertinenttoamanwhomsherespectedandliked。Shetookupanotherpointofherdefence，andrathermademattersworse。’Besides，Rogerwouldnotallowmetoconsidermyselfasfinallyengagedtohim；Iwouldwillinglyhavedoneit，buthewouldnotletme。’’Nonsense。Don’tletusgoontalkingaboutit，Cynthia！IhavesaidallthatImeantosay。Ibelievethatyouwereonlythoughtless，asItoldyoubefore。Butdon’tletithappenagain。’Helefttheroomatonce，toputastoptotheconversation，thecontinuanceofwhichwouldservenousefulpurpose，andperhapsendbyirritatinghim。’\"Notguilty，butwerecommendtheprisonernottodoitagain。\"It’sprettymuchthat，isn’tit，Molly？’saidCynthia，lettinghertearsdownfall，’
even。whileshesmiled。’Idobelieveyourfathermightmakeagoodwomanofmeyet，ifhewouldonlytakethepains，andwasnotquitesosevere。
AndtothinkofthatstupidlittlefellowmakingallthismischiefHepretendedtotakeittoheart，asifhehadlovedmeforyearsinsteadofonlyfordays。Idaresayonlyforhoursifthetruthweretold。’’Iwasafraidhewasbecomingveryfondofyou，’saidMolly；Catleastitstruckmeonceortwice；butIknewhecouldnotstaylong，andIthoughtitwouldonlymakeyouuncomfortableifIsaidanythingaboutit。ButnowIwishIhad！’’Itwouldnothavemadeabitofdifference，’repliedCynthia。’Iknewhelikedme，andIliketobeliked；it’sborninmetotrytomakeeveryoneIcomenearfondofme；butthentheyshouldnotcarryittoofar，foritbecomesverytroublesomeiftheydo。Ishallhatered—hairedpeoplefortherestofmylife。Tothinkofsuchamanasthatbeingthecauseofyourfather’sdispleasurewithme！’Mollyhadaquestionathertongue’sendthatshelongedtoput；sheknewitwasindiscreet，butatlastoutitcamealmostagainstherwill。’ShallyoutellRogeraboutit？’Cynthiareplied，’Ihavenotthoughtaboutit—no！Idon’tthinkIshall—there’snoneed。Perhaps，ifweareevermarried——’’Evermarried！’saidMolly，underherbreath。ButCynthiatooknonoticeoftheexclamationuntilshehadfinishedthesentencewhichitinterrupted。’——andIcanseehisface，andknowhismood，Imaytellithimthen；
butnotinwriting，andwhenheisabsent；itmightannoyhim。’’Iamafraiditwouldmakehimuncomfortable，’saidMolly，simply。’Andyetitmustbesopleasanttobeabletotellhimeverything—allyourdifficultiesandtroubles。’’Yes；onlyIdon’tworryhimwiththesethings；itisbettertowritehimmerryletters，andcheerhimupamongtheblackfolk。Yourepeated\"Evermarried，\"alittlewhileago；doyouknow，Molly，Idon’tthinkIevershallbemarriedtohim？Idon’tknowwhy，butIhaveastrongpresentiment，soit’sjustaswellnottotellhimallmysecrets，foritwouldbeawkwardforhimtoknowthemifitnevercameoff！’Mollydroppedherwork，andsatesilent，lookingintothefuture；atlengthshesaid，’Ithinkitwouldbreakhisheart，Cynthia！’’Nonsense。Why，IamsurethatMrCoxecameherewiththeintentionoffallinginlovewithyou—youneednotblushsoviolently。IamsureyousawitasplainlyasIdid，onlyyoumadeyourselfdisagreeable，andI
tookpityonhim，andconsoledhiswoundedvanity。’’Canyou—doyoudaretocompareRogerHamleytoMrCoxe？’askedMolly，indignantly。’No，no，Idon’t！’saidCynthiainamoment。’Theyareasdifferentasmencanbe。Don’tbesodreadfullyseriousovereverything，Molly。Youlookasoppressedwithsadreproach，asifIhadbeenpassingontoyouthescoldingyourfathergaveme。’’BecauseIdon’tthinkyouvalueRogerasyouought，Cynthia！’saidMollystoutly，foritrequiredagooddealofcouragetoforceherselftosaythis，althoughshecouldnottellwhysheshranksofromspeaking。’Yes，Ido！It’snotinmynaturetogointoecstasies，andIdon’tsupposeIshalleverbewhatpeoplecall\"inlove。\"ButIamgladhelovesme，andIliketomakehimhappy，andIthinkhimthebestandmostagreeablemanIknow，alwaysexceptingyourfatherwhenheisnotangrywithme。
WhatcanIsaymore，Molly？wouldyoulikemetosayIthinkhimhandsome？’’Iknowmostpeoplethinkhimplain，but——’’Well，I’moftheopinionofmostpeoplethen，andsmallblametothem。
ButIlikehisface—oh，tenthousandtimesbetterthanMrPreston’shandsomeness！’
ForthefirsttimeduringtheconversationCynthiaseemedthoroughlyinearnest。WhyMrPrestonwasintroducedneithershenorMollyknew；itcameupandoutbyasuddenimpulse；butafiercelookcameintotheeyes，andthesoftlipscontractedthemselvesasCynthianamedhisname。Mollyhadnoticedthislookbefore，alwaysatthementionofthisoneperson。’Cynthia，whatmakesyoudislikeMrPrestonsomuch？’’Don’tyou？Whydoyouaskme？andyet，Molly，’saidshe，suddenlyrelaxingintodepression，notmerelyintoneandlook，butinthedroopofherlimbs—’Molly，whatshouldyouthinkofmeifImarriedhimafterall？’’Marriedhim！Hasheeveraskedyou？’ButCynthia，insteadofreplyingtothisquestion，wenton，utteringherownthoughts，—’Moreunlikelythingshavehappened。Haveyouneverheardofstrongwillsmesmerizingweakeronesintosubmission？OneofthegirlsatMadameLefevre’swentoutasagovernesstoaRussianfamily，wholivednearMoscow。IsometimesthinkI’llwritetohertogetmeasituationinRussia，justtogetoutofthedailychanceofseeingthatman！’’Butsometimesyouseemquiteintimatewithhim，andtalktohim——’’HowcanIhelpit？’saidCynthiaimpatiently。Thenrecoveringherselfsheadded：’WeknewhimsowellatAshcombe，andhe’snotamantobeeasilythrownoff，Icantellyou。Imustbeciviltohim；it’snotfromliking，andheknowsitisnot，forI’vetoldhimso。However，wewon’ttalkabouthim。Idon’tknowhowwecametodoit，I’msure：themerefactofhisexistence，andofhisbeingwithinhalfamileofus，isbadenough。Oh！
IwishRogerwasathome，andrich，andcouldmarrymeatonce，andcarrymeawayfromthatman！IfI’dthoughtofit，IreallybelieveIwouldhavetakenpoorred—hairedMrCoxe。’’Idon’tunderstanditatall，’saidMolly。’IdislikeMrPreston，butIshouldneverthinkoftakingsuchviolentstepsasyouspeakof，togetawayfromtheneighbourhoodinwhichhelives。’’No，becauseyouareareasonablelittledarling，’saidCynthia，resumingherusualmanner，andcominguptoMolly，andkissingher。’Atleastyou’llacknowledgeI’magoodhater！’’Yes。ButstillIdon’tunderstandit。’’Oh，nevermind！ThereareoldcomplicationswithouraffairsatAshcombe。
Moneymattersareattherootofitall。Horridpoverty—doletustalkofsomethingelse！Or，betterstill，letmegoandfinishmylettertoRoger，orIshallbetoolatefortheAfricanmail！’’Isitnotgone？Oh，Ioughttohaveremindedyou！Itwillbetoolate。
Didyounotseethenoticeatthepost—officethatlettersfor——oughttobeinLondononthemorningofthe10thinsteadoftheevening。Oh，Iamsosorry！’’SoamI，butitcan’tbehelped。Itistobehopeditwillbethegreatertreatwhenhedoesgetit。I’veafargreaterweightonmyheart，becauseyourfatherseemssodispleasedwithme。Iwasfondofhim，andnowheismakingmequiteacoward。Yousee，Molly，’continuedshe，alittlepiteously，’I’veneverlivedwithpeoplewithsuchahighstandardofconductbefore；
andIdon’tquiteknowhowtobehave。’’Youmustlearn，’saidMolly，tenderly。’You’llfindRogerquiteasstrictinhisnotionsofrightandwrong。’’Ah，buthe’sinlovewithme！’saidCynthia，withaprettyconsciousnessofherpower。Mollyturnedawayherhead，andwassilent；itwasofnousecombatingthetruth，andshetriedrathernottofeelit—nottofeel，poorgirl，thatshetoohadagreatweightonherheart，intothecauseofwhichsheshrankfromexamining。Thatwholewinterlongshehadfeltasifhersunwasallshroudedoverwithgreymist，andcouldnolongershinebrightlyforher。Shewakenedupinthemorningwithadullsenseofsomethingbeingwrong—theworldwasoutofjoint，and，ifshewereborntosetitright，shedidnotknowhowtodoit。Blindherselfasshewould，shecouldnothelpperceivingthatherfatherwasnotsatisfiedwiththewifehehadchosen。ForalongtimeMollyhadbeensurprisedathisapparentcontentment；sometimesshehadbeenunselfishenoughtobegladthathewassatisfied；butstillmorefrequentlynaturewouldhaveitsway，andshewasalmostirritatedatwhatsheconsideredhisblindness。
Something，however，hadchangedhimnow：somethingthathadarisenatthetimeofCynthia’sengagement；hehadbecomenervouslysensitivetohiswife’sfailings，andhiswholemannerhadgrowndryandsarcastic，notmerelytoher，butsometimestoCynthia，—andeven—butthisveryrarely，toMollyherself。Hewasnotamantogointopassions，orebullitionsoffeeling：theywouldhaverelievedhim，evenwhiledegradinghiminhisowneyes；buthebecamehard，andoccasionallybitterinhisspeechesandways。Mollynowlearnttolongafterthevanishedblindnessinwhichherfatherhadpassedthefirstyearofhismarriage；yettherewerenooutrageousinfractionsofdomesticpeace。SomepeoplemightsaythatMrGibson’acceptedtheinevitable；’hetoldhimselfinmorehomelyphrase’thatitwasnousecryingoverspiltmilk；’andhe，fromprinciple，avoidedallactualdissensionswithhiswife，preferringtocutshortadiscussionbyasarcasm，orbyleavingtheroom。Moreover，MrsGibsonhadaverytolerabletemperofherown，andhercat—likenaturepurredanddelightedinsmoothways，andpleasantquietness。Shehadnogreatfacilityforunderstandingsarcasm；
itistrueitdisturbedher，butasshewasnotquickatdecipheringanydepthofmeaning，andfeltittobeunpleasanttothinkaboutit，sheforgotitassoonaspossible。Yetshesawshewasofteninsomekindofdisfavourwithherhusband，anditmadeheruneasy。SheresembledCynthiainthis；
shelikedtobeliked；andshewantedtoregaintheesteemwhichshedidnotperceiveshehadlostforever。Mollysometimestookherstepmother’spartinsecret；shefeltasifsheherselfcouldneverhaveborneherfather’shardspeechessopatiently：theywouldhavecuthertotheheart，andshemusteitherhavedemandedanexplanation，andprobedthesoretothebottom，orsatedowndespairingandmiserable。InsteadofwhichMrsGibson，afterherhusbandhadlefttheroomontheseoccasions，wouldsayinamannermorebewilderedthanhurt，—’Ithinkdearpapaseemsalittleputoutto—day；wemustseethathehasadinnerthathelikeswhenhecomeshome。Ihaveoftenperceivedthateverythingdependsonmakingamancomfortableinhisownhouse。’Andthusshewenton，gropingabouttofindthemeansofreinstatingherselfinhisgoodgraces—reallytrying，accordingtoherlights，tillMollywasoftencompelledtopityherinspiteofherself，andalthoughshesawthatherstepmotherwasthecauseofherfather’sincreasedastringencyofdisposition。Forindeedhehadgotintothatkindofexaggeratedsusceptibilitywithregardtohiswife’sfaults，whichmaybebesttypifiedbythestateofbodilyirritationthatisproducedbytheconstantrecurrenceofanyparticularnoise：thosewhoarebroughtwithinhearingofit，areapttobealwaysonthewatchfortherepetition，iftheyareoncemadetonoticeit，andareinanirritablestateofnerves。SothatpoorMollyhadnotpassedacheerfulwinter，independentlyofanyprivatesorrowsthatshemighthaveinherownheart。Shedidnotlookwell，either；shewasgraduallyfallingintolowhealth，ratherthanbadhealth。Herheartbeatmorefeeblyandslower；thevivifyingstimulantofhope—evenunacknowledgedhope—wasgoneoutofherlife。Itseemedasiftherewasnot，andnevercouldbeinthisworld，anyhelpforthedumbdiscordancybetweenherfatherandhiswife。Dayafterday，monthaftermonth，yearafteryear，wouldMollyhavetosympathizewithherfather，andpityherstepmother，feelingacutelyforboth，andcertainlymorethanMrsGibsonfeltforherself。Mollycouldnotimaginehowshehadatonetimewishedforherfather’seyestobeopened，andhowshecouldeverhavefanciedthatiftheywere，hewouldbeabletochangethingsinMrsGibson’scharacter。Itwasallhopeless，andtheonlyattemptataremedywastothinkaboutitaslittleaspossible。ThenCynthia’swaysandmannersaboutRogergaveMollyagreatdealofuneasiness。ShedidnotbelievethatCynthiacaredenoughforhim；atanyrate，notwiththesortoflovethatsheherselfwouldhavebestowed，ifshehadbeensohappy—no，thatwasnotii—ifshehadbeeninCynthia’splace。Shefeltasifsheshouldhavegonetohimbothhandsheldout，fullandbrimmingoverwithtenderness，andbeengratefulforeverywordofpreciousconfidencebestowedonher。
YetCynthiareceivedhisletterswithakindofcarelessness，andreadthemwithastrangeindifference，whileMollysateatherfeet，sotospeak，lookingupwitheyesaswistfulasadog’swaitingforcrumbs，andsuchchancebeneficences。Shetriedtobepatientontheseoccasions，butatlastshemustask，—
’Whereishe，Cynthia？Whatdoeshesay？’BythistimeCynthiahadputdowntheletteronthetablebyher，smilingalittlefromtimetotime，assherememberedthelovingcomplimentsitcontained。’Where？Oh，Ididnotlookexactly—somewhereinAbyssinia—Huon。’I
can’treadtheword，anditdoesnotmuchsignify，foritwouldgivemenoidea。’’Ishewell？’askedgreedyMolly。’Yes，now。Hehashadaslighttouchoffever，hesays；butit’sallovernow，andhehopesheisgettingacclimatized。’’Offever！—andwhotookcareofhim？hewouldwantnursing—andsofarfromhome。Oh，Cynthia！’’Oh，Idon’tfancyhehadanynursing，poorfellow！Onedoesnotexpectnursing，andhospitals，anddoctorsinAbyssinia；buthehadplentyofquininewithhim，andIsupposethatisthebestspecific。Atanyrate，hesaysheisquitewellnow！’Mollysatesilentforaminuteortwo。’Whatisthedateoftheletter，Cynthia？’’Ididnotlook。Decemberthe—Decemberthe10th。’’That’snearlytwomonthsago，’saidMolly。’Yes；butIdeterminedIwouldnotworrymyselfwithuselessanxiety，whenhewentaway。Ifanythingdid—gowrong，youknow，’saidCynthia，usinganeuphuism’fordeath，asmostpeopledo（itisanuglywordtospeakplainoutinthemidstoflife），’itwouldbealloverbeforeIevenheardofhisillness，andIcouldbeofnousetohim—couldI，Molly？’’No。Idaresayitisallverytrue；onlyIshouldthinkthesquirecouldnottakeitsoeasily。’’IalwayswritehimalittlenotewhenIhearfromRoger，butIdon’tthinkI’llnamethistouchoffever—shallI，Molly？’’Idon’tknow，’saidMolly。’Peoplesayoneought，butIalmostwishI
hadnotheardit。Please，doeshesayanythingelsethatImayhear？’’Oh，lovers’lettersaresosilly，andIthinkthisissillierthanusual，’
saidCynthia，lookingoverherletteragain。’Here’sapieceyoumayread，fromthatlinetothat，’indicatingtwoplaces。’Ihavenotreaditmyselfforitlookeddullish—allaboutAristotleandPliny—andIwanttogetthisbonnet—capmadeupbeforewegoouttopayourcalls。’Mollytooktheletter，thethoughtcrossinghermindthathehadtouchedit，hadhadhishandsuponit，inthosefar—distantdesertlands，wherehemightbelosttosightandtoanyhumanknowledgeofhisfate；evennowherprettybrownfingersalmostcaressedtheflimsypaperwiththeirdelicacyoftouchassheread。Shesawreferencesmadetobooks，which，withalittletrouble，wouldbeaccessibletoherhereinHollingford。
Perhapsthedetailsandthereferenceswouldmaketheletterdullanddrytosomepeople，butnottoher，thankstohisformerteachingandtheinteresthehadexcitedinherforhispursuits。But，ashesaidinapology，whathadhetowriteaboutinthatsavageland，buthislove，andhisresearches，andtravels？Therewasnosociety，nogaiety，nonewbookstowriteabout，nogossipinAbyssinianwilds。Mollywasnotinstronghealth，andperhapsthismadeheralittlefanciful；
butcertainitisthatherthoughtsbydayandherdreamsbynightwerehauntedbytheideaofRogerlyingillanduntendedinthosesavagelands。
Herconstantprayer，’OmyLord！giveherthelivingchild，andinnowiseslayit，’camefromaheartastrueasthatoftherealmotherinKingSolomon’sjudgment。’Lethimlive，lethimlive，eventhoughImayneverseteyesuponhimagain。Havepityuponhisfather！Grantthathemaycomehomesafe，andlivehappilywithherwhomhelovessotenderly—sotenderly，OGod。’Andthenshewouldburstintotears，anddropasleepatlast，sobbing。
chapter38CHAPTERXXXVIIIMRKIRKPATRICK，Q。C。CynthiawasalwaysthesamewithMolly：kind，sweet—tempered，readytohelp，professingagreatdealofloveforher，andprobablyfeelingasmuchasshedidforanyoneintheworld。ButMollyhadreachedtothissuperficialdepthofaffectionandintimacyinthefirstfewweeksofCynthia’sresidenceinherfather’shouse；andifshehadbeenofanaturepronetoanalysethecharacterofonewhomsheloveddearly，shemighthaveperceivedthat，withallCynthia’sapparentfrankness，therewerecertainlimitsbeyondwhichherconfidencedidnotgo；whereherreservebegan，andherrealselfwasshroudedinmystery。Forinstance，herrelationswithMrPrestonwereoftenverypuzzlingtoMolly。ShewassurethattherehadbeenamuchgreaterintimacybetweenthemformerlyatAshcombe，andthattheremembranceofthiswasoftenverygallingandirritatingtoCynthia，whowasasevidentlydesirousofforgettingitashewasanxioustomakeherrememberit。Butwhythisintimacyhadceased，whyCynthiadislikedhimsoextremelynow，andmanyotherunexplainedcircumstancesconnectedwiththesetwofacts，wereCynthia’ssecrets；andsheeffectuallybaffledallMolly’sinnocentattemptsduringthefirstglowofherfriendshipforCynthia，tolearnthegirlishantecedentsofhercompanion’slife。EverynowandthenMollycametoadeadwall，beyondwhichshecouldnotpass—atleastwiththedelicateinstrumentswhichwereallshechosetouse。
PerhapsCynthiamighthavetoldalltherewastotelltoamoreforciblecuriosity，whichknewhowtoimproveeveryslipofthetongueandeveryfitoftempertoitsowngratification。ButMolly’swastheinterestofaffection，notthecoarserdesireofknowingeverythingforalittleexcitement；
andassoonasshesawthatCynthiadidnotwishtotellheranythingaboutthatperiodofherlife，Mollyleftoffreferringtoit。ButifCynthiahadpreservedasweettranquillityofmannerandanunvaryingkindnessforMollyduringthewinterofwhichthereisquestion，atpresentshewastheonlypersontowhomthebeauty’swayswereunchanged。MrGibson’sinfluencehadbeengoodforheraslongasshesawthathelikedher；shehadtriedtokeepashighaplaceinhisgoodopinionasshecould，andhadcurbedmanyalittlesarcasmagainsthermother，andmanyatwistingoftheabsolutetruthwhenhewasby。Nowtherewasaconstantuneasinessaboutherwhichmadehermorecowardlythanbefore；andevenherpartisan，Molly，couldnothelpbeingawareofthedistinctequivocationssheoccasionallyusedwhenanythinginMrGibson’swordsorbehaviourpressedhertoohard。
Herreparteestohermotherwerelessfrequentthantheyhadbeen，buttherewasoftentheunusualphenomenonofpettishnessinherbehaviourtoMrsGibson。Thesechangesinhumouranddisposition，heredescribedallatonce，wereinthemselvesaseriesofdelicatealterationsofrelativeconductspreadovermanymonths—manywintermonthsoflongeveningsandbadweather，whichbringoutdiscordsofcharacter，asadashofcoldwaterbringsoutthefadingcoloursofanoldfresco。DuringmuchofthistimeMrPrestonhadbeenatAshcombe；forLordCumnorhadnotbeenabletofindanagentwhomhelikedtoreplaceMrPreston；
andwhiletheinferiorsituationremainedvacantMrPrestonhadundertakentodothedutiesofboth。MrsGoodenoughhadhadaseriousillness；andthelittlesocietyatHollingforddidnotcaretomeetwhileoneoftheirhabitualsetwasscarcelyoutofdanger。Sotherehadbeenverylittlevisiting；andthoughMissBrowningsaidthattheabsenceofthetemptationsofsocietywasveryagreeabletocultivatedminds，afterthedissipationsofthepreviousautumn，whentherewerepartieseveryweektowelcomeMrPreston，yetMissPhoebeletoutinconfidencethatsheandhersisterhadfallenintothehabitofgoingtobedatnineo’clock，fortheyfoundcribbagenightafternight，fromfiveo’clocktillten，rathertoomuchofagoodthing。Totellthetruth，thatwinter，ifpeaceful，wasmonotonousinHollingford；andthewholecircleofgentilitytherewasdelightedtobestirredupinMarchbytheintelligencethatMrKirkpatrick，thenewly—madeQ。C。，wascomingonavisitofacoupleofdaystohissister—in—lawMrsGibson。MrsGoodenough’sroomwastheverycentreofgossip；gossiphadbeenherdailybreadthroughherlife，gossipwasmeatandwinetohernow。’Dear—ah—me！’saidtheoldlady，rousingherselfsoastosituprightinhereasychair，andproppingherselfwithherhandsonthearms；’whowouldha’thoughtshe’dsuchgrandrelations！Why，MrAshtontoldmeoncethataQueen’scounselwasasliketobeajudgeasakittenisliketobeacat。Andtothinkofherbeingasgoodasasistertoajudge！Isawoneoncst；andIknowIthoughtasIshouldnotwishforabetterwinter—cloakthanhisoldrobeswouldmakeme，ifIcouldonlyfindoutwhereIcouldgetthemsecond—hand。AndIknowshe’dhersilkgownsturnedanddyedandcleaned，and，foraughtIknow，turnedagain，whileshelivedatAshcombe。
Keepingaschool，too，andsonearakintothisQueen’scounselallthetime！Well，tobesure，itwasnotmuchofaschool—onlytenyoungladiesatthebesto’times；soperhapsheneverheardofit。’’I’vebeenwonderingwhatthey’llgivehimtodinner，’saidMissBrowning。