第36章
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  I’llbeasdeepashim,andtakenomorenoticeoftheaffairtillhecomeshomeandtellsmehimself。’SoalthoughthesquirewasalwaysdelightedtoreceivethelittlenoteswhichCynthiasenttohimeverytimesheheardfromRoger,andalthoughthisattentiononherpartwasmeltingthehearthetriedtoharden,hecontrolledhimselfintowritingherthebriefestacknowledgements。Hiswordswerestronginmeaning,butformalinexpression;sheherselfdidnotthinkmuchaboutthem,beingsatisfiedtodothekindactionsthatcalledthemforth。Buthermothercriticizedthemandponderedthem。Shethoughtshehadhitonthetruthwhenshehaddecidedinherownmindthatitwasaveryold—fashionedstyle,andthatheandhishouseandhisfurnitureallwantedsomeofthebrighteningupandpolishingwhichtheyweresuretoreceive,when——sheneverquitelikedtofinishthesentencedefinitely,althoughshekeptrepeatingtoherselfthat’therewasnoharminit。’Toreturntothesquire。Occupiedashenowwas,herecoveredhisformerhealth,andsomethingofhisformercheerfulness。IfOsbornehadmethimhalf—way,itisprobablethattheoldbondbetweenfatherandsonmighthavebeenrenewed;butOsborneeitherwasreallyaninvalid,orhadsunkintoinvalidhabits,andmadenoefforttorally。Ifhisfatherurgedhimtogoout—nay,onceortwicehegulpeddownhispride,andaskedOsbornetoaccompanyhim—Osbornewouldgotothewindowandfindoutsomeflaworspeckinthewindorweather,andmakethatanexcuseforstoppinginthehouseoverhisbooks。Hewouldsaunteroutonthesunnysideofthehouseinamannerthatthesquireconsideredasbothindolentandunmanly。

  Yetiftherewasaprospectofhisleavinghome,whichhedidprettyoftenaboutthistime,hewasseizedwithahecticenergy:thecloudsinthesky,theeasterlywind,thedampnessoftheair,werenothingtohimthen;

  andasthesquiredidnotknowtherealsecretcauseofthisanxietytobegone,hetookitintohisheadthatitarosefromOsborne’sdisliketoHamleyandtothemonotonyofhisfather’ssociety。’Itwasamistake,’thoughtthesquire。’Iseeitnow。Iwasnevergreatatmakingfriendsmyself。IalwaysthoughtthoseOxfordandCambridgementurneduptheirnosesatmeforacountrybooby,andI’dgetthestartandhavenoneo’them。ButwhentheboyswenttoRugbyandCambridge,I

  shouldha’letthemhavehadtheirownfriendsabout’em,eventhoughtheymightha’lookeddownonme;itwastheworsttheycouldha’donetome,andnowwhatfewfriendsIhadhavefallenofffromme,bydeathorsomehow,anditisbutdrearyworkforayoungman,Igrantit。Buthemighttrynottoshowitsoplaintomeashedoes。I’mgettingcase—hardened,butitdoescutmetothequicksometimes—itdoes。Andhesofondofhisdadashewasonce!IfIcanbutgetthelanddrainedI’llmakehimanallowance,andlethimgotoLondon,orwherehelikes。Maybehe’lldobetterthistime,ormaybehe’llgotothedogsaltogether;butperhapsitwillmakehimthinkabitkindlyoftheoldfatherathome—Ishouldlikehimtodothat,Ishould!’ItispossiblethatOsbornemighthavebeeninducedtotellhisfatherofhismarriageduringtheirlongtête—à—têteintercourse,ifthesquire,inanunluckymoment,hadnotgivenhimhisconfidenceaboutRoger’sengagementwithCynthia。ItwasononewetSundayafternoon,whenthefatherandsonweresittingtogetherinthelargeemptydrawing—room。Osbornehadnotbeentochurchinthemorning;thesquirehad,andhewasnowtryinghardtoreadoneofBlair’ssermons。Theyhaddinedearly;theyalwaysdidonSundays;andeitherthat,orthesermon,orthehopelesswetnessoftheday,madetheafternoonseeminterminablylongtothesquire。HehadcertainunwrittenrulesfortheregulationofhisconductonSundays。Coldmeat,sermon—reading,nosmokingtillaftereveningprayers,aslittlethoughtaspossibleastothestateofthelandandtheconditionofthecrops,andasmuchrespectablesitting—indoorsinhisbestclothesaswasconsistentwithgoingtochurchtwiceaday,andsayingtheresponseslouderthantheclerk。To—dayithadrainedsounceasinglythathehadremittedtheafternoonchurch;butoh,evenwiththeluxuryofanap,howlongitseemedbeforehesawtheHallservantstrudginghomewards,alongthefield—path,acoveyofumbrellas!Hehadbeenstandingatthewindowforthelasthalf—hour,hishandsinhispockets,andhismouthoftencontractingitselfintothetraditionalsinofawhistle,butasoftencheckedintosuddengravity—ending,ninetimesoutoften,inayawn。HelookedaskanceatOsborne,whowassittingnearthefireabsorbedinabook。Thepoorsquirewassomethinglikethelittleboyinthechild’sstory,whoasksallsortsofbirdsandbeaststocomeandplaywithhim;and,ineverycase,receivesthesoberanswer,thattheyaretoobusytohaveleisurefortrivialamusements。Thefatherwantedthesontoputdownhisbook,andtalktohim:itwassowet,sodull,andalittleconversationwouldsowileawaythetime!ButOsborne,withhisbacktothewindowwherehisfatherwasstanding,sawnothingofallthis,andwentonreading。Hehadassentedtohisfather’sremarkthatitwasaverywetafternoon,buthadnotcarriedonthesubjectintoallthevarietiesoftruismsofwhichitwassusceptible。Somethingmorerousingmustbestarted,andthisthesquirefelt。TherecollectionoftheaffairbetweenRogerandCynthiacameintohishead,and,withoutgivingitamoment’sconsideration,hebegan,—’Osborne!Doyouknowanythingaboutthis—thisattachmentofRoger’s?’Quitesuccessful。Osbornelaiddownhisbookinamoment,andturnedroundtohisfather。’Roger!anattachment!No!Ineverheardofit—Icanhardlybelieveit—thatistosay,Isupposeitisto——’Andthenhestopped;forhethoughthehadnorighttobetrayhisownconjecturethattheobjectwasCynthiaKirkpatrick。’Yes。Heisthough。Canyouguesswhoto?NobodythatIparticularlylike—notaconnectiontomymind—yetshe’saveryprettygirl;andIsupposeIwastoblameinthefirstinstance。’’Isit——’’It’snousebeatingaboutthebush。I’vegonesofar,Imayaswelltellyouall。It’sMissKirkpatrick,Gibson’sstepdaughter。Butit’snotanengagement,mindyou——’’I’mveryglad—IhopeshelikesRogerbackagain——’’Like—it’sonlytoogoodaconnectionforhernottolikeit:ifRogerisofthesamemindwhenhecomeshome,I’llbeboundshe’llbeonlytoohappy!’’IwonderRogernevertoldme,’saidOsborne,alittlehurt,nowhebegantoconsiderhimself。’Henevertoldmeeither,’saidthesquire。’ItwasGibson,whocamehere,andmadeacleanbreastofitlikeamanofhonour。I’dbeensayingtohim,Icouldnothaveeitherofyoutwoladstakingupwithhislasses。

  I’llownitwasyouIwasafraidof—it’sbadenoughwithRoger,andmaybewillcometonothingafterall;butifithadbeenyou,I’dha’brokenwithGibsonandeverymother’ssonof’em,soonerthanhaveletitgoon;

  andsoItoldGibson。’’Ibegyourpardonforinterruptingyou,but,onceforall,Iclaimtherightofchoosingmywifeformyself,subjecttonoman’sinterference,’

  saidOsborne,hotly。’Thenyou’llkeepyourwifewithnoman’sinterference,that’sall;forne’erapennywillyougetfromme,mylad,unlessyoumarrytopleasemealittle,aswellasyourselfagreatdeal。That’sallIaskofyou。

  I’mnotparticularastobeauty,orastocleverness,andpiano—playing,andthatsortofthing;ifRogermarriesthisgirl,weshallhaveenoughofthatinthefamily。Ishouldnotmuchmindherbeingabitolderthanyou,butshemustbewell—born,andthemoremoneyshebringsthebetterfortheoldplace。’’Isayagain,father,Ichoosemywifeformyself,andIdon’tadmitanyman’srightofdictation。’’Well,well!’saidthesquire,gettingalittleangryinhisturn。’IfI’mnottobefatherinthismatter,thoushan’tbeson。GoagainstmeinwhatI’vesetmyhearton,andyou’llfindthere’sthedeviltopay,that’sall。Butdon’tletusgetangry,it’sSundayafternoonforonething,andit’sasin;andbesidesthat,I’venotfinishedmystory。’ForOsbornehadtakenuphisbookagain,andunderpretenceofreading,wasfumingtohimself,Hehardlyputitawayevenathisfather’srequest。’AsIwassaying,Gibsonsaid,whenfirstwespokeaboutit,thattherewasnothingonfootbetweenanyofyoufour,andthatiftherewas,hewouldletmeknow;soby—and—byhecomesandtellsmeofthis。’’Ofwhat—Idon’tunderstandhowfarithasgone?’TherewasatoneinOsborne’svoicethesquiredidnotquitelike;andhebeganansweringratherangrily。’Ofthistobesure—ofwhatI’mtellingyou—ofRogergoingandmakinglovetothisgirl,thatdayheleft,afterhehadgoneawayfromhere,andwaswaitingforthe\"Umpire\"inHollingford。Onewouldthinkyouquitestupidattimes,Osborne。’’Icanonlysaythatthesedetailsarequitenewtome;younevermentionedthembefore,Iassureyou。’’Well;nevermindwhetherIdidornot。I’msureIsaidRogerwasattachedtoMissKirkpatrick,andbehangedtoher;andyoumighthaveunderstoodalltherest,asamatterofcourse。’’Possibly,’saidOsborne,politely。’MayIaskifMissKirkpatrick,whoappearedtometobeaverynicegirl,respondstoRoger’saffection?’’Fastenough,I’llbebound,’saidthesquire,sulkily。’AHamleyofHamleyisnottobehadeveryday。Now,I’lltellyouwhat,Osborne,you’retheonlymarriageableoneleftinthemarket,andIwanttohoisttheoldfamilyupagain。Don’tgoagainstmeinthis;itreallywillbreakmyheartifyoudo。’’Father,don’ttalkso,’saidOsborne。’IwilldoanythingIcantoobligeyou,except——’’ExcepttheonlythingI’vesetmyheartonyourdoing。’’Well,well,letitaloneforthepresent。There’snoquestionofmymarryingjustatthismoment。I’moutofhealth,andI’mnotuptogoingintosociety,andmeetingyoungladiesandallthatsortofthing,evenifIhadanopeningintofittingsociety。’’Youshouldhaveanopeningfastenough。There’llbemoremoneycomingin,inayearortwo,pleaseGod。Andasforyourhealth,why,what’stomakeyouwell,ifyoucoweroverthefireallday,andshudderawayfromagoodhonesttankardasifitwerepoison?’’Soitistome,’saidOsborne,languidly,playingwithhisbookasifhewantedtoendtheconversationandtakeitupagain。Thesquiresawthemovements,andunderstoodthem。’Well,’saidhe,’I’llgoandhaveatalkwithWillaboutpooroldBlackBess。It’sSundayworkenough,askingafteradumbanimal’sachesandpains。’ButafterhisfatherhadlefttheroomOsbornedidnottakeuphisbookagain。Helaiditdownonthetablebyhim,leantbackinhischair,andcoveredhiseyeswithhishand。Hewasinastateofhealthwhichmadehimdespondentaboutmanythings,though,leastofall,aboutwhatwasmostindanger。Thelongconcealmentofhismarriagefromhisfathermadethedisclosureofitfarfarmoredifficultthanitwouldhavebeenatfirst。UnsupportedbyRoger,howcouldheexplainitalltoonesopassionateasthesquire?howtellofthetemptation,thestolenmarriage,theconsequenthappiness,andalas!theconsequentsuffering?—forOsbornehadsuffered,anddidsuffer,greatlyintheuntowardcircumstancesinwhichhehadplacedhimself。Hesawnowayoutofitall,exceptingbytheonestrongstrokeofwhichhefelthimselfincapable。Sowithaheavyheartheaddressedhimselftohisbookagain。Everythingseemedtocomeinhisway,andhewasnotstrongenoughincharactertoovercomeobstacles。Theonlyovertstephetookinconsequenceofwhathehadheardfromhisfather,wastorideovertoHollingfordthefirstfinedayafterhehadreceivedthenews,andgotoseeCynthiaandtheGibsons。Hehadnotbeenthereforalongtime;badweatherandlanguorcombinedhadpreventedhim。HefoundthemfullofpreparationsanddiscussionsaboutCynthia’svisittoLondon;andsheherselfnotatallinthesentimentalmoodpropertorespondtohisdelicateintimationsofhowgladhewasinhisbrother’sjoy。Indeed,itwassolongafterthetime,thatCynthiascarcelyperceivedthattohimtheintelligencewasrecent,andthatthefirstbloomofhisemotionshadnotyetpassedaway。Withherheadalittleononeside,shewascontemplatingtheeffectofaknotofribbons,whenhebegan,inalowwhisper,andleaningforwardtowardsherashespoke,—’Cynthia—ImaycallyouCynthianow,mayn’tI?—Iamsogladofthisnews;I’veonlyjustheardofit,butI’msoglad!’’Whatnewsdoyoumean?’Shehadhersuspicions;butshewasannoyedtothinkthatfromonepersonhersecretwaspassingtoanother,andanother,till,infact,itwasbecomingnosecretatall。Still,Cynthiacouldalwaysconcealherannoyancewhenshechose。’WhyareyoutobegincallingmeCynthianow?’shewenton,smiling。’Theterriblewordhasslippedoutfrombetweenyourlipsbefore,doyouknow?’ThislightwayoftakinghistendercongratulationsdidnotquitepleaseOsborne,whowasinasentimentalmood,andforaminuteorsoheremainedsilent。Then,havingfinishedmakingherbowofribbon,sheturnedtohim,andcontinued,inaquicklowvoice,anxioustotakeadvantageofatête—à—têtebetweenhermotherandMolly,—’IthinkIcanguesswhyyoumademethatprettylittlespeechjustnow。

  Butdoyouknowyououghtnottohavebeentold?And,moreover,thingsarenotquitearrivedatthesolemnityof—of—well—anengagement。

  Hewouldnothaveitso。Now,Ishan’tsayanymore;andyoumustnot。

  Prayrememberyououghtnottohaveknown;itismyownsecret,andIparticularlywisheditnottobespokenabout;andIdon’tlikeit’sbeingsotalkedabout。Oh,theleakingofwaterthroughonesmallhole!’Andthensheplungedintothetête—à—têteoftheothertwo,makingtheconversationgeneral。Osbornewasratherdiscomfitedatthenon—successofhiscongratulations;hehadpicturedtohimselftheunbosomingofalove—sickgirl,fullofrapture,andgladofasympathizingconfidant。HelittleknewCynthia’snature。Themoreshesuspectedthatshewascalleduponforadisplayofemotion,thelesswouldsheshow;

  andheremotionsweregenerallyunderthecontrolofherwill。Hehadmadeanefforttocomeandseeher;andnowheleantbackinhischair,wearyandalittledispirited。’Youpoordearyoungman,’saidMrsGibson,cominguptohimwithhersoft,soothingmanner;’howtiredyoulook!Dotakesomeofthateau—de—Cologneandbatheyourforehead。Thisspringweatherovercomesmetoo。’Primavera’

  IthinktheItalianscallit。Butitisverytryingfordelicateconstitutions,asmuchfromitsassociationsasfromitsvariablenessoftemperature。

  Itmakesmesighperpetually;butthenIamsosensitive。DearLadyCumnoralwaysusedtosayIwaslikeathermometer。You’veheardhowillshehasbeen?’’No,’saidOsborne,notverymuchcaringeither。’Oh,yes,sheisbetternow;buttheanxietyaboutherhastriedmeso:

  detainedherebywhatare,ofcourse,myduties,butfarawayfromallintelligence,andnotknowingwhatthenextpostmightbring。’’Wherewasshethen?’askedOsborne,becomingalittlemoresympathetic。’AtSpa。Suchadistanceoff!Threedays’post!Can’tyouconceivethetrial?LivingwithherasIdidforyears;boundupinthefamilyasI

  was。’’ButLadyHarrietsaid,inherlastletter,thattheyhopedthatshewouldbestrongerthanshehadbeenforyears,’saidMolly,innocently。’Yes—LadyHarriet—ofcourse—everyonewhoknowsLadyHarrietknowsthatsheisoftoosanguineatemperamentforherstatementstobeperfectlyreliedon。Altogether—strangersareoftendeludedbyLadyHarriet—shehasanoff—handmannerwhichtakesthemin;butshedoesnotmeanhalfshesays。’’Wewillhopeshedoesinthisinstance,’saidCynthia,shortly。’TheyareinLondonnow,andLadyCumnorhasnotsufferedfromthejourney。’’Theysayso,’saidMrsGibson,shakingherhead,andlayinganemphasisontheword’say。’’Iamperhapsover—anxious,butIwish—IwishIcouldseeandjudgeformyself。Itwouldbetheonlywayofcalmingmyanxiety。

  IalmostthinkIshallgoupwithyou,Cynthia,foradayortwo,justtoseeherwithmyowneyes。Idon’tquitelikeyourtravellingaloneeither。

  Wewillthinkaboutit,andyoushallwritetoMrKirkpatrick,andproposeit,ifwedetermineuponit。Youcantellhimofmyanxiety;anditwillbeonlysharingyourbedforacoupleofnights。’

  chapter40CHAPTERXLMOLLYGIBSONBREATHESFREELYThatwasthewayinwhichMrsGibsonfirstbroachedherintentionofaccompanyingCynthiauptoLondonforafewdays’visit。Shehadatrickofproducingthefirstsketchofanynewplanbeforeanoutsidertothefamilycircle;

  sothatthefirstemotionsofothers,iftheydisapprovedofherprojects,hadtoberepressed,untiltheideahadbecomefamiliartothem。ToMollyitseemedtoocharmingaproposalevertocometopass。Shehadneverallowedherselftorecognizetherestraintshewasunderinherstepmother’spresence;

  butallatonceshefounditoutwhenherheartdancedattheideaofthreewholedays—forthatitwouldbeattheleast—ofperfectfreedomofintercoursewithherfather;ofoldtimescomebackagain;ofmealswithoutperpetualfidgetinessafterdetailsofceremonyandcorrectnessofattendance。’We’llhavebreadandcheesefordinner,andeatitonourknees;we’llmakeupforhavinghadtoeatsloppypuddingswithaforkinsteadofaspoonallthistime,byputtingourknivesinourmouthstillwecutourselves。

  Papashallpourhisteaintohissaucerifheisinahurry;andifI’mthirsty,I’lltaketheslop—basin。Andoh,ifIcouldbutget,buy,borrow,orstealanykindofanoldhorse;mygreyskirtisnotnew,butitwilldo;—thatwouldbetoodelightful。Afterall,IthinkIcanbehappyagain;

  formonthsandmonthsithasseemedasifIhadgottoooldevertofeelpleasure,muchlesshappinessagain。’SothoughtMolly。Yetsheblushed,asifwithguilt,whenCynthia,readingherthought,saidtoheroneday,—’Molly,youareverygladtogetridofus,arenotyou?’’Notofyou,Cynthia;atleast,Idon’tthinkIam。Only,ifyouonlyknewhowIlovepapa,andhowIusedtoseeagreatdealmoreofhimthanI

  everdonow——’’Ah!Ioftenthinkwhatinterloperswemustseem,andareinfact——’’Idon’tfeelyouassuch。You,atanyrate,havebeenanewdelighttome,asister;andIneverknewhowcharmingsucharelationshipcouldbe。’’Butmamma?’saidCynthia,half—suspiciously,half—sorrowfully。’Sheispapa’swife,’saidMolly,quietly。’Idon’tmeantosayIamnotoftenverysorrytofeelIamnolongerfirstwithhim;butitwas’—theviolentcolourflushedintoherfacetillevenhereyesburnt,andshesuddenlyfoundherselfonthepointofcrying;theweepingash—tree,themisery,theslowdroppingcomfort;’andthecomforterscameallsovividlybeforeher;—’itwasRoger!’—shewentonlookingupatCynthia,assheovercameherslighthesitationatmentioninghisname—’Roger,whotoldmehowIoughttotakepapa’smarriage,whenIwasfirststartledandgrievedatthenews。Oh,Cynthia,whatagreatthingitistobelovedbyhim!’Cynthiablushed,andlookedflutteredandpleased。’Yes,Isupposeitis。Atthesametime,Molly,I’mafraidhe’llexpectmetobealwaysasgoodashefanciesmenow,andIshallhavetowalkontip—toealltherestofmylife。’’Butyouaregood,Cynthia,’putinMolly。’No,I’mnot。You’rejustasmuchmistakenasheis;andsomedayIshallgodowninyouropinionswitharun,justlikethehallclocktheotherdaywhenthespringbroke。’’Ithinkhe’llloveyoujustasmuch,’saidMolly。’Couldyou?Wouldyoubemyfriendif—ifitturnedouteverthatIhaddoneverywrongthings?Wouldyourememberhowverydifficultithassometimesbeentometoactrightly’(shetookholdofMolly’shandasshespoke)。

  ’Wewon’tspeakofmamma,foryoursakeasmuchasmineorhers;butyoumustseesheisnotonetohelpagirlwithmuchgoodadvice,orgood——

  Oh,Molly,youdon’tknowhowIwasneglectedjustatatimewhenIwantedfriendsmost。Mammadoesnotknowit;itisnotinhertoknowwhatImighthavebeenifIhadonlyfallenintowise,goodhands。ButIknowit;andwhat’smore,’continuedshe,suddenlyashamedofherunusualexhibitionoffeeling,’Itrynottocare,whichIdaresayisreallytheworstofall;butIcouldworrymyselftodeathifIoncetooktoseriousthinking。’’IwishIcouldhelpyou,orevenunderstandyou,’saidMolly,afteramomentortwoofsadperplexity。’Youcanhelpme,’saidCynthia,changinghermannerabruptly。’Icantrimbonnets,andmakehead—dresses;butsomehowmyhandscan’tfoldupgownsandcollars,likeyourdeftlittlefingers。Pleasewillyouhelpmetopack?That’sareal,tangiblepieceofkindness,andnotsentimentalconsolationforsentimentaldistresses,whichare,perhaps,imaginaryafterall。’Ingeneral,itisthepeoplewhoareleftbehindstationary,whogivewaytolowspiritsatanyparting;thetravellers,howeverbitterlytheymayfeeltheseparation,findsomethinginthechangeofscenetosoftenregretintheveryfirsthourofseparation。ButasMollywalkedhomewithherfatherfromseeingMrsGibsonandCynthiaofftoLondonbythe’Umpire’

  coach,shealmostdancedalongthestreet。’Now,papa!’saidshe,’I’mgoingtohaveyoualltomyselfforawholeweek。Youmustbeveryobedient。’’Don’tbetyrannical,then。Youarewalkingmeoutofbreath,andwearecuttingMrsGoodenough,inourhurry。’SotheycrossedoverthestreettospeaktoMrsGoodenough。’We’vejustbeenseeingmywifeandherdaughterofftoLondon。MrsGibsonhasgoneupforaweek!’’Deary,deary,toLondon,andonlyforaweek!Why,Icanrememberitsbeingathreedays’journey!Itwillbeverylonesomeforyou,MissMolly,withoutyouryoungcompanion!’’Yes!’saidMolly,suddenlyfeelingasifsheoughttohavetakenthisviewofthecase。’IshallmissCynthiaverymuch。’’Andyou,MrGibson;why,itwillbelikebeingawidoweroveragain!Youmustcomeanddrinkteawithmesomeevening。Wemusttryandcheeryouupabitamongstus。ShallitbeTuesday?’InspiteofthesharppinchwhichMollygavetohisarm,MrGibsonacceptedtheinvitation,muchtothegratificationoftheoldlady。’Papa,howcouldyougoandwasteoneofourevenings。Wehavebutsixinall,andnowbutfive;andIhadsoreckonedonourdoingallsortsofthingstogether。’’Whatsortofthings?’’Oh,Idon’tknow:everythingthatisunrefinedandungenteel,’addedshe,slylylookingupintoherfather’sface。Hiseyestwinkled,buttherestofhisfacewasperfectlygrave。’I’mnotgoingtobecorrupted。WithtoilandlabourIhavereachedaveryfairheightofrefinement。Iwon’tbepulleddownagain。’’Yes,youwill,papa。We’llhavebreadandcheeseforlunchthisveryday。

  Andyoushallwearyourslippersinthedrawing—roomeveryeveningyou’llstayquietlyathome;andoh,papa,don’tyouthinkIcouldrideNoraCreina。

  I’vebeenlookingouttheoldgreyskirt,andIthinkIcouldmakemyselftidy。’’Whereistheside—saddletocomefrom?’’Tobesuretheoldonewon’tfitthatgreatIrishmare。ButI’mnotparticular,papa。IthinkIcouldmanagesomehow。’’Thankyou。ButI’mnotquitegoingtoreturnintobarbarism。Itmayheadepravedtaste,butIshouldliketoseemydaughterproperlymounted。’’Thinkofridingtogetherdownthelanes—why,thedog—rosesmustbealloutinflower,andthehoneysuckles,andthehay—howIshouldliketoseeMerriman’sfarmagain!Papa,doletmehaveoneridewithyou!Pleasedo。Iamsurewecanmanageitsomehow。’And’somehow’itwasmanaged。’Somehow’allMolly’swishescametopass;

  therewasonlyonelittledrawbacktothisweekofholidayandhappyintercoursewithherfather。Everybodywouldaskthemouttotea。Theywerequitelikebrideandbridegroom;forthefactwas,thatthelatedinnerswhichMrsGibsonhadintroducedintoherownhouse,wereagreatinconvenienceinthecalculationsofthesmalltea—drinkingsatHollingford。Howaskpeopletoteaatsix,whodinedatthathour?How,whentheyrefusedcakeandsandwichesathalf—pasteight,howinduceotherpeoplewhowerereallyhungrytocommitavulgaritybeforethosecalmandscornfuleyes?SotherehadbeenagreatlullofinvitationsfortheGibsonstoHollingfordtea—parties。

  MrsGibson,whoseobjectwastosqueezeherselfinto’countysociety,’

  hadtakenthisbeingleftoutofthesmallerfestivitieswithgreatequanimity;

  butMollymissedthekindhomelinessofthepartiestowhichshehadgonefromtimetotimeaslongasshecouldremember;andthough,aseachthree—cornerednotewasbroughtin,shegrumbledalittleoverthelossofanothercharmingtête—à—têtewithherfather,shereallywasgladtogoagainintheoldwayamongoldfriends。MissBrowningandMissPhoebewereespeciallycompassionatetowardsherinherloneliness。Iftheyhadhadtheirwillshewouldhavedinedthereeveryday;andshehadtocalluponthemveryfrequentlyinordertopreventtheirbeinghurtatherdecliningthedinners。MrsGibsonwrotetwiceduringherweek’sabsencetoherhusband。

  ThatpieceofnewswasquitesatisfactorytotheMissBrownings,whohadoflatemonthsheldthemselvesagreatdealalooffromahousewheretheychosetosupposethattheirpresencewasnotwanted。IntheirwintereveningstheyhadoftentalkedoverMrGibson’shousehold,andhavinglittlebesidesconjecturestogoupon,theyfoundthesubjectinterminable,astheycouldvarythepossibilitieseveryday。OneoftheirwonderswashowMrandMrsGibsonreallygotontogether;anotherwaswhetherMrsGibsonwasextravagantornot。Nowtwolettersduringtheweekofherabsenceshowedwhatwasinthosedaysconsideredaveryproperamountofconjugalaffection。Yetnottoomuch—atelevenpencehalfpennypostage。Athirdletterwouldhavebeenextravagant。SisterlookedtosisterwithanapprovingnodasMollynamedthesecondletter,whicharrivedinHollingfordtheverydaybeforeMrsGibsonwastoreturn。TheyhadsettledbetweenthemselvesthattwoletterswouldshowtherightamountofgoodfeelingandproperunderstandingintheGibsonfamily:morewouldhavebeenextravagant;onlyonewouldhavebeenamerematterofduty。TherehadbeenratheraquestionbetweenMissBrowningandMissPhoebeastowhichpersonthesecondletter(supposingitcame)wastobeaddressed。ItwouldbeveryconjugaltowritetwicetoMrGibson;andyetitwouldbeveryprettyifMollycameinforhershare。’You’vehadanotherletter,yousay,mydear,’askedMissBrowning,’I

  daresayMrsGibsonhaswrittentoyouthistime?’’Itisalargesheet,andCynthiahaswrittenononehalftome,andalltherestistopapa。’’Averynicearrangement,I’msure。AndwhatdoesCynthiasay?Issheenjoyingherself?’’Oh,yes,Ithinkso。Theyhavehadadinner—party,andonenightwhenmammawasatLadyCumnor’s,Cynthiawenttotheplaywithhercousins。’’Uponmyword!andallinoneweek?Idocallthatdissipation。Why,Thursdaywouldbetakenupwiththejourney,andFridaywithresting,andSundayisSundayalltheworldover;andtheymusthavewrittenonTuesday。Well!

  IhopeCynthiawon’tfindHollingforddull,that’sall,whenshecomesback。’’Idon’tthinkit’slikely,’saidMissPhoebe,withalittlesimperandaknowinglook,whichsateoddlyonherkindlyinnocentface。’YouseeagreatdealofMrPreston,don’tyou,Molly!’’MrPreston!’saidMolly,flushingupwithsurprise。’No!notmuch。He’sbeenatAshcombeallwinter,youknow!Hehasbutjustcomebacktosettlehere,Whatshouldmakeyouthinkso!’’Oh!alittlebirdtoldus,’saidMissBrowning。Mollyknewthatlittlebirdfromherchildhood,andhadalwayshatedit,andlongedtowringitsneck。Whycouldnotpeoplespeakoutandsaythattheydidnotmeantogiveupthenameoftheirinformant?ButitwasaveryfavouriteformoffictionwiththeMissBrownings,andtoMissPhoebeitwastheveryacmeofwit。’ThelittlebirdwasflyingaboutonedayinHeathLane,anditsawMrPrestonandayounglady—wewon’tsaywho—walkingtogetherinaveryfriendlymanner,thatistosay,hewasonhorseback;butthepathisraisedabovetheroad,justwherethereisthelittlewoodenbridgeoverthebrook——’’PerhapsMollyisinthesecret,andweoughtnottoaskheraboutit,’

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