点击下载App，搜索"WIVES AND DAUGHTERS",免费读到尾

　　CHAPTERXLIIICYNTHIA’SCONFESSION

　　’YousaidImightcome，’saidMolly，’andthatyouwouldtellmeall。’

　　’Youknowall，Ithink，’saidCynthiaheavily。’Perhapsyoudon’tknowwhatexcusesIhave，butatanyrateyouknowwhatascrapeIamin。’

　　’I’vebeenthinkingagreatdeal，’saidMollytimidlyanddoubtfully。

　　’AndIcan’thelpfancyingifyoutoldpapa——’

　　Beforeshecouldgoon，Cynthiahadstoodup。

　　’No！’saidshe。’ThatIwon’t。UnlessI’mtoleavehereatonce。AndyouknowIhavenotanotherplacetogoto—withoutwarningImean。I

　　daresaymyunclewouldtakemein，he’sarelation，andwouldbeboundtostandbymeinwhateverdisgraceImightbe；orperhapsImightgetagoverness’ssituation；aprettygovernessIshouldbe！’

　　’Fray，please，Cynthia，don’tgooffintosuchwildtalking。Idon’tbelieveyou’vedonesoverywrong。Yousayyouhavenot，andIbelieveyou。Thathorridmanhasmanagedtogetyouinvolvedinsomeway；butI’msurepapacouldsetittorights，ifyouwouldonlymakeafriendofhimandtellhimall——’

　　’No，Molly，’saidCynthia，’Ican’t，andthere’sanendofit。Youmayifyoulike，onlyletmeleavethehousefirst；givemethatmuchtime。’

　　’YouknowIwouldnevertellanythingyouwishedmenottotell，Cynthia，’

　　saidMolly，deeplyhurt。

　　’Wouldyounot，darling？’saidCynthia，takingherhand。’Willyoupromisemethat？quiteasacredpromise？—foritwouldbesuchacomforttometotellyouall，nowyouknowsomuch。’

　　’Yes！I’llpromisenottotell。Youshouldnothavedoubtedme，’saidMolly，stillalittlesorrowfully。

　　’Verywell。Itrusttoyou。IknowImay。’

　　’Butdothinkoftellingpapa，andgettinghimtohelpyou，’perseveredMolly。

　　’Never，’saidCynthiaresolutely，butmorequietlythanbefore。’DoyouthinkIforgetwhathesaidatthetimeofthatwretchedMrCoxe；howseverehewas，andhowlongIwasindisgrace，ifindeedI’moutofitnow？Iamoneofthosepeople，asmammasayssometimes—Icannotlivewithpersonswhodon’tthinkwellofme。Itmaybeaweakness，orasin，IamsureIdon’tknowandIdon’tcare；butIreallycannotbehappyinthesamehousewithanyonewhoknowsmyfaults，andthinksthattheyaregreaterthanmymerits。Nowyouknowyourfatherwoulddothat。Ihaveoftentoldyouthathe（andyoutoo，Molly，）hadahigherstandardthanIhadeverknown。Oh，Icouldnotbearit—ifheweretoknowhewouldbesoangrywithme—hewouldnevergetoverit，andIhavesolikedhim！

　　Idosolikehim。’

　　’Well，nevermind，dear；heshallnotknow，’saidMolly，forCynthiawasagainbecominghysterical，—’atleastwe’llsaynomoreaboutitnow。’

　　’Andyou’llneversayanymore—never—promiseme，’saidCynthia，takingherhandeagerly。

　　’Nevertillyougivemeleave。NowdoletmeseeifIcannothelpyou。

　　Liedownonthebed，andIwillsitbyyou，andletustalkitover。’

　　ButCypthiasatedownagaininthechairbythedressing—table。

　　’Whendiditallbegin？’saidMolly，afteralongpauseofsilence。

　　’Longago—fourorfiveyears。Iwassuchachildtobeleftalltomyself。Itwastheholidays，andmammawasawayvisiting，andtheDonaldsonsaskedmetogowiththemtotheWorcesterFestival。Youcan’tfancyhowpleasantitallsounded，especiallytome。IhadbeenshutupinthatgreatdrearyhouseatAshcombe，wheremammahadherschool；itbelongedtoLordCumnor，andMrPrestonashisagenthadtoseeitallpaintedandpapered；

　　butbesidesthathewasveryintimatewithus：Ibelievemammathought—no，I’mnotsureaboutthat，andIhaveenoughblametolayatherdoor，topreventmytellingyouanythingthatmaybeonlyfancy——’

　　Thenshepaused，andsatestillforaminuteortwo，recallingthepast。

　　Mollywasstruckbytheagedandcarewornexpressionwhichhadtakentemporaryholdofthebrilliantandbeautifulface；shecouldseefromthathowmuchCynthiamusthavesufferedfromthishiddentroubleofhers。

　　’Well！atany，ratewewereintimatewithhim，andhecameagreatdealaboutthehouse，andknewasmuchasanyoneofmamma’saffairs，andalltheinsandoutsofherlife。I’mtellingyouthatinorderthatyoumayunderstandhownaturalitwasformetoanswerhisquestionswhenhecameonedayandfoundme，notcrying，foryouknowI’mnotmuchgiventothat，inspiteofto—day’sexposureofmyself；butfrettingandfumingbecause，thoughmammahadwrittenwordImightgowiththeDonaldsons，shehadneversaidhowIwastogetanymoneyforthejourney，muchlessforanythingofdress，andIhadoutgrownallmylastyear’sfrocks，andasforglovesandboots—inshort，Ireallyhadhardlyclothesdecentenoughforchurch——’

　　’Whydidnotyouwritetoherandtellherallthis？’saidMolly，halfafraidofappearingtocastblamebyherverynaturalquestion。

　　’IwishIhadherlettertoshowyou；youmusthaveseensomeofmamma’sletters，though；don’tyouknowhowshealwaysseemstoleaveoutjusttheimportantpointofeveryfact？Inthiscaseshedescantedlargelyontheenjoymentshewashaving，andthekindnessshewasreceiving，andherwishthatIcouldhavebeenwithher，andhergladnessthatItoowasgoingtohavesomepleasure，buttheonlythingthatwouldhavebeenofrealusetomesheleftout，andthatwaswhereshewasgoingtonext。Shementionedthatshewasleavingthehouseshewasstoppingatthedayaftershewrote，andthatsheshouldbeathomebyacertaindate；butIgottheletteronaSaturday，andthefestivalbeganonthenextTuesday——’

　　’PoorCynthia！’saidMolly。’Still，ifyouhadwritten，yourlettermighthavebeenforwarded。Idon’tmeantobehard，onlyIdosodislikethethoughtofyoureverhavingmadeafriendofthatman。’

　　’Ah！’saidCynthia，sighing。’Howeasyitistojudgerightlyafteroneseeswhatevilcomesfromjudgingwrongly：Iwasonlyayounggirl，hardlymorethanachild，andhewasafriendtousthen；exceptingmamma，theonlyfriendIknew；theDonaldsonswereonlykindandgood—naturedacquaintances。’

　　’Iamsorry，’saidMollyhumbly，’Ihavebeensohappywithpapa。I

　　hardlycanunderstandhowdifferentitmusthavebeenwithyou。’

　　’Different！Ishouldthinkso。Theworryaboutmoneymademesickofmylife。Wemightnotsaywewerepoor，itwouldhaveinjuredtheschool，butIwouldhavestintedandstarvedifmammaandIhadgotonashappilytogetheraswemighthavedone—asyouandMrGibsondo。Itwasnotthepoverty；itwasthatsheneverseemedtocaretohavemewithher。Assoonastheholidayscameround，shewasofftosomegreathouseoranother，andIdaresayIwasataveryawkwardagetohavemeloungingaboutinherdrawing—roomwhencallerscame。GirlsattheageIwasthenaresoterriblykeenatscentingoutmotives，andputtingintheirawkwardquestionsastothelittletwistingsandtwirlingsandvanishingsofconversation；

　　they’venodistinctnotionofwhatarethetruthsandfalsehoodsofpolitelife。AtanyrateIwasverymuchinmamma’sway，andIfeltit。MrPrestonseemedtofeelittooforme；andIwasverygratefultohimforkindwordsandsympatheticlooks—crumbsofkindnesswhichwouldhavedroppedunderyourtableunnoticed。Sothisday，whenhecametoseehowtheworkmenweregettingon，hefoundmeinthedesertedschoolroom，lookingatmyfadedsummerbonnetandsomeoldribbonsIhadbeenspongingout，andhalf—worn—outgloves—asortofrag—fairspreadoutonthedealtable。Iwasinaregularpassionwithonlylookingatthatshabbiness。HesaidhewassogladtohearIwasgoingtothisfestivalwiththeDonaldsons；oldBetty，ourservant，hadtoldhimthenews，Ibelieve。ButIwassoperplexedaboutmoney，andmyvanitywassoputoutaboutmyshabbydress，thatIwasinapet，andsaidIshouldnotgo。Hesatedownonthetable，andlittlebylittlehemademetellhimallmytroubles。Idosometimesthinkhewasveryniceinthosedays。SomehowIneverfeltasifitwaswrongorfoolishoranythingtoaccepthisofferofmoneyatthetime。Hehadtwentypoundsinhispocket，hesaid，andreallydidnotknowwhat。todowithit，shouldnotwantitformonths；Icouldrepayit，orrathermammacould，whenitsuitedher。

　　ShemusthaveknownIshouldwantmoney，andmostlikelythoughtIshouldapplytohim。Twentypoundswouldnotbetoomuch，Imusttakeitall，andsoon。Iknew，atleastIthoughtIknew，thatIshouldneverspendtwentypounds；butIthoughtIcouldgivehimbackwhatIdidnotwant，andso—well，thatwasthebeginning！Itdoesnotsoundsoverywrong，doesit，Molly？’

　　’No，’saidMolly，hesitatingly。Shedidnotwishtomakeherselfintoahardjudge，andyetshedidsodislikeMrPreston。Cynthiawenton，—

　　’Well，whatwithbootsandgloves，andabonnetandamantle，andawhitemuslingown，whichwasmadeformebeforeIleftontheTuesday，andasilkgownthatfollowedtotheDonaldsons’，andmyjourneys，andall，therewasverylittleleftofthetwentypounds，especiallywhenI

　　foundImustgetaball—dressinWorcester，forwewerealltogototheBall。MrsDonaldsongavememyticket，butsheratherlookedgraveatmyideaofgoingtotheBallinmywhitemuslin，whichIhadalreadyworntwoeveningsattheirhouse。Ohdear！howpleasantitmustbetoberich！

　　Youknow，’continuedCynthia，smilingaverylittle，’Ican’thelpbeingawarethatIampretty，andthatpeopleadmiremeverymuch。IfounditoutfirstattheDonaldsons’。IbegantothinkIdidlookprettyinmyfinenewclothes，andIsawthatotherpeoplethoughtsotoo。Iwascertainlythebelleofthehouse，anditwasverypleasanttofeelmypower。ThelastdayortwoofthatgayweekMrPrestonjoinedourparty。ThelasttimehehadseenmewaswhenIwasdressedinshabbyclothestoosmallforme，half—cryinginmysolitude，neglectedandpenniless。AttheDonaldsons’

　　Iwasalittlequeen；andasIsaid，finefeathersmakefinebirds，allthepeopleweremakingmuchofme；andatthatball，whichwasthefirstnighthecame，IhadmorepartnersthanIknewwhattodowith。Isupposehereallydidfallinlovewithmethen。Idon’tthinkhehaddonesobefore。

　　AndthenIbegantofeelhowawkwarditwastobeinhisdebt。IcouldnotgivemyselfairstohimasIdidtoothers。Oh！itwassoawkwardanduncomfortable！ButIlikedhim，andfelthimasafriendallthetime。

　　ThelastdayIwaswalkinginthegardenalongwiththeothers，andIthoughtIwouldtellhimhowmuchIhadenjoyedmyself，andhowhappyIhadbeen，allthankstohistwentypounds（IwasbeginningtofeellikeCinderellawhentheclockwasstrikingtwelve），andtotellhimitshouldberepaidtohimassoonaspossible，thoughIturnedsickatthethoughtoftellingmamma，andknewenoughofouraffairstounderstandhowverydifficultitwouldbetomusterupthemoney。Theendofourtalkcameverysoon，foralmosttomyterrorhebegantotalkviolentlovetome，andtobegmetopromisetomarryhim。Iwassofrightened，thatIranawaytotheothers。ButthatnightIgotaletterfromhim，apologizingforstartlingme，renewinghisoffer，hisentreatiesforapromiseofmarriage，tobefulfilledatanydateIwouldpleasetoname—infactamosturgentlove—letter，andinitareferencetomyunluckydebt，whichwastobeadebtnolonger，onlyanadvanceofthemoneytobehereaftermineifonly——Youcanfancyitall，Molly，betterthanIcanrememberittotellityou。’

　　’Andwhatdidyousay？’askedMolly，breathless。

　　’Ididnotansweritatalluntilanotherlettercame，entreatingforareply。Bythattimemammahadcomehome，andtheolddailypressureandplaintofpovertyhadcomeon。MaryDonaldsonwrotetomeoften，singingthepraisesofMrPrestonasenthusiasticallyasifshehadbeenbribedtodoit。Ihadseenhimaverypopularmanintheirset，andIlikedhimwellenough，andfeltgratefultohim。SoIwroteandgavehimmypromisetomarryhimwhenIwastwenty，butitwastobeasecrettillthen。AndItriedtoforgetIhadeverborrowedmoneyofhim，butsomehowassoonasIfeltpledgedtohimIbegantohatehim。Icouldnotendurehiseagernessofgreetingifeverhefoundmealone；andmammabegantosuspect，Ithink。

　　Icannottellyoualltheinsandouts，infactIdidnotunderstandthematthetime，andIdon’trememberclearlyhowitallhappenednow。ButIknowthatLadyCuxhavensentmammasomemoneytobeappliedtomyeducationasshecalledit，andmammaseemedverymuchputoutandinverylowspirits，andsheandIdidnotgetonatalltogether。SoofcourseIneverventuredtonamethehatefultwentypoundstoher，butwentontryingtothinkthatifIwastomarryMrPreston，itneedneverbepaid—verymeanandwickedIdaresay，butoh，Molly，I’vebeenpunishedforit，forhowIabhorthatman。’

　　’Butwhy？Whendidyoubegintodislikehim？Youseemtohavetakenitverypassivelyallthistime。’

　　’Idon’tknow。ItwasgrowinguponmebeforeIwenttothatschoolatBoulogne。HemademefeelasifIwasinhispower；andbytoooftenremindingmeofmyengagementtohim，hemademecriticalofhiswordsandways。

　　Therewasaninsolenceinhismannertomamma，too。Ah！you’rethinkingthatI’mnottoorespectfuladaughter—andperhapsnot；butIcouldnotbearhiscovertsneersatherfaults，andIhatedhiswayofshowingwhathecalledhis\"love\"forme。Then，afterIhadbeenasemestreatMadameLefevre’s，anewEnglishgirlcame—acousinofhis，whoknewbutlittleofme。Now，Molly，youmustforgetassoonasIhavetoldyouwhatIamgoingtosay—andsheusedtotalkmuchandperpetuallyabouthercousinRobert—hewasthegreatmanofthefamily，evidently—andhowhewassohandsome，andeveryladyofthelandinlovewithhim，—aladyoftitleintothebargain。’

　　’LadyHarriet！Idaresay，’saidMolly，indignantly。

　　’Idon’tknow，’saidCynthia，wearily。’Ididn’tcareatthetime，andIdon’tcarenow；forshewentontosaytherewasaveryprettywidowtoo，whomadedesperatelovetohim。Hehadoftenlaughedwiththematallherlittleadvances，whichshethoughthedidnotseethrough，—and—oh，—andthiswasthemanIhadpromisedtomarry，andgoneintodebtto，andwrittenlove—lettersto。Sonowyouunderstanditall，Molly。’

　　’No，Idon’tyet。Whatdidyoudoonhearinghowhehadspokenaboutyourmother？’

　　’Therewasbutonethingtodo。IwroteandtoldhimIhatedhim，andwouldnever，nevermarryhim，andwouldpayhimbackhismoneyandtheinterestofitassoonaseverIcould。’

　　’Well？’

　　’AndMadameLefevrebroughtmebackmyletter，—unopened，Iwillsay；

　　andtoldmethatshedidnotallowletterstogentlementobesentbythepupilsofherestablishmentunlessshehadpreviouslyseentheircontents。

　　Itoldherhewasafamilyfriend，theagentwhomanagedmamma’saffairs—Ireallycouldnotstickatthetruth；butshewouldnotletitgo；andIbadtoseeherburnit，andtogivehermypromiseIwouldnotwriteagainbeforeshewouldconsentnottotellmamma。SoIhadtocalmdown，andwaittillIcamehome。’

　　’Butyoudidnotseehimthen；atleast，notforsometime。’

　　’No，butIcouldwrite；andIbegantotryandsaveupmymoneytopayhim。’

　　’Whatdidhesaytoyourletter？’

　　’Oh，atfirsthepretendednottobelieveIcouldbeinearnest；hethoughtitwasonlypique，oratemporaryoffencetobeapologizedforandcoveredoverwithpassionateprotestations。’

　　’Andafterwards？’

　　’Hecondescendedtothreats；and，whatisworse，thenIturnedcoward。

　　Icouldnotbeartohaveitallknownandtalkedabout，andmysillylettersshown—oh，suchletters—Icannotbeartothinkofthem，beginning，\"MydearestRobert，\"tothatman——’

　　’But，oh，Cynthia，howcouldyougoandengageyourselftoRoger？’askedMolly。

　　’Whynot？’saidCynthia，sharplyturningrounduponher。’Iwasfree—Iamfree；itseemedawayofassuringmyselfthatIwasquitefree；

　　andIdidlikeRoger—itwassuchacomforttobebroughtintocontactwithpeoplewhocouldbereliedupon；andIwasnotastockorastonethatIcouldfailtobetouchedwithhistender，unselfishlove，sodifferenttoMrPreston’s。Iknowyoudon’tthinkmegoodenoughforhim；and，ofcourse，ifallthiscomesout，hewon’tthinkmegoodenougheither’（fallingintoaplaintivetoneverytouchingtohear）；’andsometimesIthinkI

　　willgivehimup，andgoofftosomefreshlifeamongststrangers；andonceortwiceIhavethoughtIwouldmarryMrPrestonoutofpurerevenge，andhavehimforeverinmypower—onlyIthinkIshouldhavetheworstofit。forheiscruelinhisverysoul—tigerish，withhisbeautifulstripedskinandrelentlessheart。Ihavesobeggedandbeggedhimtoletmegowithoutexposure。’

　　’Nevermindtheexposure，’saidMolly。’Itwillrecoilfarmoreonhimthanharmyou。’

　　Cynthiawentalittlepaler。’ButIsaidthingsinthoselettersaboutmamma。Iwasquick—eyedenoughtoallherfaults，andhardlyunderstoodtheforceofhertemptations；andhesayshewillshowthoseletterstoyourfather，unlessIconsenttoacknowledgeourengagement。’

　　’Heshallnot！’saidMolly，risingupinherindignation，andstandingbeforeCynthiaalmostasresolutelyfierceasifshewereintheverypresenceofMrPrestonhimself。’Iamnotafraidofhim。Hedarenotinsultme，orifhedoes，Idonotcare。Iwillaskhimforthoseletters，andseeifhewilldaretorefuseme。’

　　’Youdon’tknowhim，’saidCynthia，shakingherhead。’Hehasmademanyanappointmentwithme，justasifhewouldtakebackthemoney—whichhasbeensealedupreadyforhimthisfourmonths；orasifhewouldgivemebackmyletters。Poor，poorRoger！Howlittlehethinksofallthis。

　　WhenIwanttowritewordsoflovetohimIpullmyselfup，forIhavewrittenwordsasaffectionatetothatotherman。AndifMrPrestoneverguessedthatRogerandIwereengagedhewouldmanagetoberevengedonbothhimandmebygivingusasmuchpainashecouldwiththoseunluckyletters—writtenwhenIwasnotsixteen，Molly，—onlysevenofthem！

　　Theyarelikeamineundermyfeet，whichmayblowupanyday；anddownwillcomefatherandmotherandall。’Sheendedbitterlyenough，thoughherwordsweresolight。

　　’HowcanIgetthem？’saidMolly，thinking，—’forgetthemIwill。

　　Withpapatobackme，hedarenotrefuse。’

　　’Ah！Butthat’sjustthething。HeknowsI’mafraidofyourfather’shearingofitall，morethanofanyoneelse。’

　　’Andyethethinkshelovesyou！’

　　’Itishiswayofloving。Hesaysoftenenoughhedoesnotcarewhathedoessothathegetsmetobehiswife；andthatafterthatheissurehecanmakemelovehim。’Cynthiabegantocry，outofwearinessofbodyanddespairofmind。Molly’sarmswereroundherinaminute，andshepressedthebeautifulheadtoherbosom，andlaidherowncheekuponit，andhushedherupwithlullingwords，justasifCynthiawerealittlechild。

　　’Oh，itissuchacomforttohavetoldyouall！’murmuredshe。AndMollymadereply，—’Iamsurewehaverightonourside；andthatmakesmecertainhemustandshallgiveuptheletters。’

　　’Andtakethemoney？’addedCynthia，liftingherhead，andlookingeagerlyintoMolly’sface。’Hemusttakethemoney。Oh，Molly，youcannevermanageitallwithoutitscomingouttoyourfather！AndIwouldfarrathergoouttoRussiaasagoverness。IalmostthinkIwouldrather—no，notthat，’

　　saidshe，shudderingawayfromwhatshewasgoingtosay。’Buthemustnotknow—please，Molly，hemustnotknow。Icouldnotbearit。Idon’tknowwhatImightnotdo。You’llpromisemenevertotellhim，ormamma？’

　　’Ineverwill。YoudonotthinkIwouldforanythingshortofsaving——’Shewasgoingtohavesaid，’savingyouandRogerfrompain。’ButCynthiabrokein，—

　　’Fornothing。Noreasonwhatevermustmakeyoutellyourfather。Ifyoufail，youfail，andIwillloveyouforeverfortrying；butIshallbenoworsethanbefore。Better，indeed；forIshallhavethecomfortofyoursympathy。ButpromisemenottotellMrGibson。’

　　’Ihavepromisedonce，’saidMolly，’butIpromiseagain；sonowdogotobed，andtryandrest。Youarelookingaswhiteasasheet；you’llbeillifyoudon’tgetsomerest；andit’spasttwoo’clock，andyou’reshiveringwithcold。’

　　Sotheywishedeachothergood—night。ButwhenMollygotintoherroomallherspiritlefther；andshethrewherselfdownonherbed，dressedasshewas，forshehadnoheartleftforanything。IfRogereverheardofitallbyanychance，shefelthowitwoulddisturbhisloveforCynthia。

　　Andyetwasitrighttoconcealitfromhim？ShemusttryandpersuadeCynthiatotellitallstraightouttohimassoonashereturnedtoEngland。

　　Afullconfessiononherpartwouldwonderfullylessenanypainhemighthaveonfirsthearingofit。ShelostherselfinthoughtsofRoger—howhewouldfeel，whathewouldsay，howthatmeetingwouldcometopass，wherehewasatthatverytime，andsoon，tillshesuddenlypluckedherselfup，andrecollectedwhatsheherselfhadofferedandpromisedtodo。Nowthatthefirstfervourwasover，shesawthedifficultiesclearly；andtheforemostofallwashowshewastomanagetohaveat&ecirc；te—？t&ecirc；tewithMrPreston？HowhadCynthiamanaged？andthelettersthathadpassedbetweenthemtoo？Unwillingly，MollywascompelledtoperceivethattheremusthavebeenagreatdealofunderhandworkgoingoningbeneathCynthia’sapparentIopennessofbehaviour；andstillmoreunwillinglyshebegantobeafraidthatsheherselfwouldbeledintothepractice。Butshewouldtryandwalkinastraightpath；andifshedidwanderoutofit，itshouldonlybetosavepaintothosewhomsheloved。

　　chapter44

　　CHAPTERXLIVMOLLYGIBSONTOTHERESCUE

　　Itseemedcuriousenough，afterthestormsofthenight，tomeetinsmoothtranquillityatbreakfast。Cynthiawaspale；butshetalkedasquietlyasusualaboutallmannerofindifferentthings，whileMollysatesilent，watchingandwondering，andbecomingconvincedthatCynthiamusthavegonethroughalongexperienceofconcealingherrealthoughtsandsecrettroublesbeforeshecouldhavebeenabletoputonsuchasemblanceofcomposure。

　　AmongthelettersthatcameinthatmorningwasonefromtheLondonKirkpatricks；

　　butnotfromHelen，Cynthia’sownparticularcorrespondent。HersisterwrotetoapologizeforHelen，whowasnotwell，shesaid：hadhadtheinfluenza，whichhadleftherveryweakandpoorly。

　　’Lethercomedownhereforchangeofair，’saidMrGibson。’ThecountryatthistimeoftheyearisbetterthanLondon，exceptingwhentheplaceissurroundedbytrees。Nowourhouseiswelldrained，highup，gravelsoil，andI’llundertaketodoctorherfornothing。’

　　’Itwouldbecharming，’saidMrsGibson，rapidlyrevolvinginhermindthechangesnecessaryinherhouseholdeconomybeforereceivingayoungladyaccustomedtosuchahouseholdasMrKirkpatrick’s，andcalculatingtheconsequentinconveniencesinherownmind，weighingthemagainsttheprobableadvantagesevenwhileshespoke。

　　’Shouldnotyoulikeit，Cynthia？andMollytoo。Youtoo，dear，wouldbecomeacquaintedwithoneofthegirls，andIhavenodoubtyouwouldbeaskedbackagain，whichwouldbesoverynice！’

　　’AndIshouldnotlethergo，’saidMrGibson，whohadacquiredanunfortunatefacilityofreadinghiswife’sthoughts。

　　’DearHelen！’wentonMrsGibson，’Ishouldsoliketonurseher，wewouldmakeyourconsulting—roomintoherownprivatesitting—room，mydear。’

　　—（Itishardlynecessarytosaythatthescaleshadbeenweigheddownbytheinconveniencesofhavingapersonbehindthescenesforseveralweeks）。’Forwithaninvalidsomuchdependsontranquillity。Inthedrawing—room，forinstance，shemightconstantlybedisturbedbycallers；andthedining—roomisso—sowhatshallIcallit？sodinnery，—thesmellofmealsneverseemstoleaveit；itwouldhavebeendifferentifdearpapahadallowedmetothrowoutthatwindow——’

　　’Whycan’tshehavethedressing—roomforherbed—room，andthelittleroomopeningoutofthedrawing—roomforhersitting—room？’askedMrGibson。

　　’Thelibrary，’forbythisnameMrsGibsonchosetodignifywhathadformerlybeencalledthebook—closet，—’why，itwouldhardlyholdasofa，besidesthebooksandthewriting—table，andtherearedraughtseverywhere。

　　No，mydear，wehadbetternotaskheratall，herownhomeiscomfortableatanyrate！’