andheknewthat’somemustwatch，whilesomemustsleep；sorunstheworldaway。’TheillnesswhichheapprehendedcameuponMolly；notviolentlyoracutely，sothattherewasanyimmediatedangertobedreaded；butmakingalongpulluponherstrength，whichseemedtolessendaybyday，untilatlastherfatherfearedthatshemightbecomeapermanentinvalid。TherewasnothingverydecidedoralarmingtotellCynthia，andMrsGibsonkeptthedarksidefromherinherletters。’Mollywasfeelingthespringweather；’
or’MollyhadbeenagooddealoverdonewithherstayattheHall，andwasresting；’suchlittlesentencestoldnothingofMolly’srealstate。
Butthen，asMrsGibsonsaidtoherself，itwouldbeapitytodisturbCynthia’spleasurebytellinghermuchaboutMolly；indeedtherewasnotmuchtotell，onedaywassolikeanother。ButitsohappenedthatLadyHarriet，—whocamewhenevershecouldtositawhilewithMolly，atfirstagainstMrsGibson’swill，andafterwardswithherfullconsent，forreasonsofherown—LadyHarrietwrotealettertoCynthia，towhichshewasurgedbyMrsGibson。Itfelloutinthismanner：—Oneday，whenLadyHarrietwassittinginthedrawing—roomforafewminutesaftershehadbeenwithMolly，shesaid，—’Really，Clare，IspendsomuchtimeinyourhousethatIamgoingtoestablishawork—baskethere。Maryhasinfectedmewithhernotability，andIamgoingtoworkmammaafootstool。Itistobeasurprise；andsoifIdoithereshewillknownothingaboutit。OnlyIcannotmatchthegoldbeadsIwantforthepansiesinthisdearlittletown；andHollingford，whocouldsendmedownstarsandplanetsifIaskedhim，Imakenodoubt，couldnomorematchbeadsthan——’’MydearLadyHarriet！youforgetCynthia！Thinkwhatapleasureitwouldbetohertodoanythingforyou。’’Wouldit？Thensheshallhaveplentyofit；but，mind，itisyouwhohaveansweredforher。Sheshallgetmesomewooltoo；howgoodIamtoconfersomuchpleasureonafellow—creature。Butseriously，doyouthinkImightwriteandgiveherafewcommissions？NeitherAgnesnorMaryareintown——’’Iamsureshewouldbedelighted，’saidMrsGibson，whoalsotookintoconsiderationthereflectionofaristocratichonourthatwouldfalluponCynthiaifshehadaletterfromaLadyHarrietwhileatMrKirkpatrick’s。
Soshegavetheaddress，andLadyHarrietwrote。Allthefirstpartoftheletterwastakenupwithapologyandcommissions；butthen，neverdoubtingbutthatCynthiawasawareofMolly’sstate，shewentontosay，—’IsawMollythismorning。TwiceIhavebeenforbiddenadmittance，asshewastooilltoseeanyoneoutofherownfamily。Iwishwecouldbegintoperceiveachangeforthebetter；butshelooksmorefadingeverytime，andIfearMrGibsonconsidersitaveryanxiouscase。’Thedaybutoneafterthisletterwasdespatched，Cynthiawalkedintothedrawing—roomathomewithasmuchapparentcomposureasifshehadleftitnotanhourbefore。MrsGibsonwasdozing，butbelievingherselftobereading；shehadbeenwithMollythegreaterpartofthemorning，andnowafterherlunch，andtheinvalid’spretenceofearlydinner，sheconsideredherselfentitledtosomerepose。ShestartedupasCynthiacamein。’Cynthia！Dearchild，wherehaveyoucomefrom？Whyintheworldhaveyoucome？Mypoornerves！Myheartisquitefluttering；but，tobesure，it’snowonderwithallthisanxietyIhavetoundergo。Whyhaveyoucomeback？’’Becauseoftheanxietyyouspeakof，mamma。Ineverknew，—younevertoldmehowillMollywas。’’Nonsense。Ibegyourpardon，mydear，butit’sreallynonsense。Molly’sillnessisonlynervous，MrGibsonsays。Anervousfever；butyoumustremembernervesaremerefancy，andshe’sgettingbetter。Suchapityforyoutohaveleftyouruncle’s。WhotoldyouaboutMolly？’’LadyHarriet。Shewroteaboutsomewool——’’Iknow，—Iknow。Butyoumighthaveknownshealwaysexaggeratesthings，NotbutwhatIhavebeenalmostwornoutwithnursing。Perhapsafterallitisaverygoodthingyouhavecome，mydear；andnowyoushallcomedownintothedining—roomandhavesomelunch，andtellmealltheHydeParkStreetnews—intomyroom，—don’tgointoyoursyet—Mollyissosensitivetonoise！’WhileCynthiaateherlunch，MrsGibsonwentonquestioning。’Andyouraunt，howishercold？AndHelen，quitestrongagain？Margarettaasprettyasever？TheboysareatHarrow，Isuppose？Andmyoldfavourite，MrHenderson？’
Shecouldnotmanagetoslipinthislastinquirynaturally；inspiteofherselftherewasachangeoftone，anaccentofeagerness。Cynthiadidnotreplyontheinstant；shepouredherselfoutsomewaterwithgreatdeliberation，andthensaid，—’Myauntisquitewell；Helenisasstrongassheeveris，andMargarettaverypretty。TheboysareatHarrow，andIconcludethatMrHendersonisenjoyinghisusualhealth，forhewastodineatmyuncle’sto—day。’’Takecare，Cynthia。Lookhowyouarecuttingthatgooseberrytart，’saidMrsGibson，withsharpannoyance；notprovokedbyCynthia’spresentaction，althoughitgaveexcuseforalittleventoftemper。’Ican’tthinkhowyoucouldcomeoffinthissuddenkindofway；Iamsureitmusthaveannoyedyouruncleandaunt。Idaresaythey’llneveraskyouagain。’’Onthecontrary，IamtogobackthereassoonaseverIcanbeeasytoleaveMolly。’’\"EasytoleaveMolly。\"Nowthatreallyisnonsense，andratheruncomplimentarytome，Imustsay：nursingherasIhavebeendoing，daily，andalmostnightly；forIhavebeenwakenedtimesoutofnumberbyMrGibsongettingup，andgoingtoseeifshehadhadhermedicineproperly。’’Iamafraidshehasbeenveryill？’askedCynthia。’Yes，shehas，inoneway；butnotinanother。ItwaswhatIcallmoreatedious，thananinterestingillness。Therewasnoimmediatedanger，butshelaymuchinthesamestatefromdaytoday。’’IwishIhadknown！’sighedCynthia。’DoyouthinkImightgoandseehernow？’’I’llgoandprepareher。You’llfindheragooddealbetterthanshehasbeen。Ah！here’sMrGibson！’Hecameintothedining—room，hearingvoices。
Cynthiathoughtthathelookedmucholder。’Youhere！’saidhe，comingforwardtoshakehands。’Why，howdidyoucome？’’Bythe\"Umpire。\"IneverknewMollyhadbeensoill，orIwouldhavecomedirectly。’Hereyeswerefulloftears。MrGibsonwastouched；heshookherhandagain，andmurmured，’You’reagoodgirl，Cynthia。’’She’sheardoneofdearLadyHarriet’sexaggeratedaccounts，’saidMrsGibson，’andcomestraightoff。Itellherit’sveryfoolish，forreallyMollyisagreatdealbetternow。’’Veryfoolish，’saidMrGibson，echoinghiswife’swords，butsmilingatCynthia。’Butsometimesonelikesfoolishpeoplefortheirfolly，betterthanwisepeoplefortheirwisdom。’’Iamafraidfollyalwaysannoysme，’saidhiswife。’However，Cynthiaishere，andwhatisdone，isdone。’’Verytrue，mydear。AndnowI’llrunupandseemylittlegirl，andtellherthegoodnews。You’dbetterfollowmeinacoupleofminutes。’ThistoCynthia。Molly’sdelightatseeinghershoweditselffirstinafewhappytears；
andtheninsoftcaressesandinarticulatesoundsoflove。Onceortwiceshebegan，’Itissuchapleasure，’andthereshestoppedshort。ButtheeloquenceofthesefivewordssankdeepintoCynthia’sheart。Shehadreturnedjustattherighttime，whenMollywantedthegentlefillipofthesocietyofafreshandyetafamiliarperson。Cynthia’stactmadehertalkativeorsilent，gayorgrave，asthevaryinghumourofMollyrequired。Shelistened，too，withthesemblance，ifnotthereality，ofunweariedinterest，toMolly’scontinualrecurrencetoallthetimeofdistressandsorrowatHamleyHall，andtothesceneswhichhadthensodeeplyimpressedthemselvesuponhersusceptiblenature。Cynthiainstinctivelyknewthattherepetitionofallthesepainfulrecollectionswouldcasetheoppressedmemory，whichrefusedtodwellonanythingbutwhathadoccurredatatimeoffeverishdisturbanceofhealth。SosheneverinterruptedMolly，asMrsGibsonhadsofrequentlydone，with，—’Youtoldmeallthatbefore，mydear。Letustalkofsomethingelse；’or，’ReallyIcannotallowyoutobealwaysdwellingonpainfulthoughts。Tryandbealittlemorecheerful。Youthisgay。Youareyoung，andthereforeyououghttobegay。Thatisputinafamousformofspeech；Iforgetexactlywhatitiscalled。’SoMolly’shealthandspiritsimprovedrapidlyafterCynthia’sreturn；
andalthoughshewaslikelytoretainmanyofherinvalidhabitsduringthesummer，shewasabletotakedrives，andenjoythefineweather；itwasonlyherasyettenderspiritsthatrequiredalittlemanagement。AlltheHollingfordpeopleforgotthattheyhadeverthoughtofherexceptasthedarlingofthetown；andeachinhisorherwayshowedkindinterestinherfather’schild。MissBrowningandMissPhoebeconsidereditquiteaprivilegethattheywereallowedtoseeherafortnightorthreeweeksbeforeanyoneelse；MrsGoodenough，spectaclesonnose，stirreddaintymessesinasilversaucepanforMolly’sbenefit；theTowerssentbooksandforcedfruit，andnewcaricatures，andstrangeanddelicatepoultry；
humblepatientsof’thedoctor，’asMrGibsonwasusuallytermed，lefttheearliestcauliflowerstheycouldgrowintheircottagegardens，with’theirdutyforMiss。’Andlastofall，thoughstrongestinregard，mostpiteouslyeagerininterest，cameSquireHamleyhimself。Whenshewasattheworst，herodeovereverydaytohearthesmallestdetail，facingevenMrsGibson（hisabomination）
ifherhusbandwasnotathome，toaskandhear，andaskandhear，tillthetearswereunconsciouslystealingdownhischeeks。Everyresourceofhisheart，orhishouse，orhislandswassearchedandtried，ifitcouldbringamoment’spleasuretoher；andwhateveritmightbethatcamefromhim，atherveryworsttime，itbroughtoutadimsmileuponherface。
chapter55CHAPTERLVANABSENTLOVERRETURNSAndnowitwaslateJune；andtoMolly’sandherfather’sextremeurgencyinpushing，andMrandMrsKirkpatrick’saffectionatepersistencyinpulling，Cynthiahadyielded，andhadgonebacktofinishherinterruptedvisitinLondon，butnotbeforethebruitofherprevioussuddenreturntonurseMolly，hadtoldstronglyinherfavourinthefluctuatingopinionofthelittletown。HeraffairwithMrPrestonwasthrustintotheshade；whileeveryonewasspeakingofherwarmheart。UnderthegleamofMolly’srecoveryeverythingassumedarosyhue，asindeedbecamethetimewhenactualroseswereactuallyinbloom。OnemorningMrsGibsonbroughtMollyagreatbasketofflowers，thatbadbeensentfromtheHall。Mollystillbreakfastedinbed，buthadjustcomedown，andwasnowwellenoughtoarrangetheflowersforthedrawing—room，andasshedidsowiththeseblossoms，shemadesomecommentsoneach。’Ah！thesewhitepinks！TheywereMrsHamley’sfavouriteflower；andsolikeher！Thislittlebitofsweetbrier，itquitescentstheroom。Ithasprickedmyfingers，butnevermind。Oh，mamma，lookatthisrose！Iforgetitsname，butitisveryrare，andgrowsupintheshelteredcornerofthewall，nearthemulberry—tree。Rogerboughtthetreeforhismotherwithhisownmoneywhenhewasquiteaboy；heshoweditme，andmademenoticeit。’’IdaresayitwasRogerwhogotitnow。Youheardpapasayhehadseenhimyesterday。’’No！Roger！Rogercomehome！’saidMolly，turningfirstred，thenverywhite。’Yes。Oh，Irememberyouhadgonetobedbeforepapacamein，andhewascalledoffearlytotiresomeMrsBeale。Yes，RogerturnedupattheHallthedaybeforeyesterday。’ButMollyleanedbackagainstherchair，toofainttodomoreattheflowersforsometime。Shehadbeenstartledbythesuddennessofthenews。’Rogercomehome！’IthappenedthatMrGibsonwasunusuallybusyonthisparticularday，andhedidnotreturnuntillateintheafternoon。ButMollykeptherplaceinthedrawing—roomallthetime，notevengoingtotakehercustomarysiesta，soanxiouswasshetoheareverythingaboutRoger’sreturn，whichasyetappearedtoheralmostincredible。Butitwasquitenaturalinreality；
thelongmonotonyofherillnesshadmadeherloseallcountoftime。WhenRogerleftEngland，hisideawastocoastroundAfricaontheeasternsideuntilhereachedtheCape；andthencetomakewhatfurtherjourneyorvoyagemightseemtohimbestinpursuitofhisscientificobjects。ToCapeTownallhislettershadbeenaddressedoflate；andthere，twomonthsbefore，hehadreceivedtheintelligenceofOsborne’sdeath，aswellasCynthia’shastyletterofrelinquishment。HedidnotconsiderthathewasdoingwronginreturningtoEnglandimmediately，andreportinghimselftothegentlemenwhohadsenthimout，withafullexplanationofthecircumstancesrelatingtoOsborne’sprivatemarriageandsuddendeath。Heoffered，andtheyacceptedhisoffer，togooutagainforanytimethattheymightthinkequivalenttothefivemonthshewasyetengagedtothemfor。Theyweremostofthemgentlemenofproperty，andsawthefullimportanceofprovingthemarriageofaneldestson，andinstallinghischildasthenaturalheirtoalong—descendedestate。Thismuchinformation，butinamorecondensedform，MrGibsongavetoMolly，inaveryfewminutes。Shesateuponhersofa，lookingveryprettywiththeflushonhercheeks，andthebrightnessinhereyes。’Well！’saidshe，whenherfatherstoppedspeaking。’Well！what？’askedhe，playfully。’Oh！why，suchanumberofthings。I’vebeenwaitingalldaytoaskyouallabouteverything。Howishelooking？’’Ifayoungmanoftwenty—foureverdoestaketogrowingtaller，Ishouldsaythathewastaller。Asitis，Isupposeitisonlythathelooksbroader，stronger—moremuscular。’’Oh！ishechanged？’askedMolly，alittledisturbedbythisaccount。’No，notchanged；andyetnotthesame。Heisasbrownasaberryforonething；caughtalittleofthenegrotinge，andabeardasfineandsweepingasmybay—mare’stail。’’Abeard！Butgoon，papa。Doeshetalkasheusedtodo？Ishouldknowhisvoiceamongsttenthousand。’’IdidnotcatchanyHottentottwang，ifthat’swhatyoumean。Nordidhesay，\"Cæ；sarandPompeyberrymuchalike，’speciallyPompey，\"whichistheonlyspecimenofnegrolanguageIcanrememberjustatthismoment。’’AndwhichInevercouldseethewitof，’saidMrsGibson，whohadcomeintotheroomaftertheconversationhadbegun；anddidnotunderstandwhatitwasaimingat。Mollyfidgeted；shewantedtogoonwithherquestionsandkeepherfathertodefiniteandmatter—of—factanswers，andsheknewthatwhenhiswifechimedintoaconversation，MrGibsonwasveryapttofindoutthathemustgoaboutsomenecessarypieceofbusiness。’Tellme，howaretheyallgettingontogether？’ItwasaninquirywhichshedidnotmakeingeneralbeforeMrsGibson，forMollyandherfatherhadtacitlyagreedtokeepsilenceonwhattheykneworhadobserved，respectingthethreewhoformedthepresentfamilyattheHall。’Oh！’saidMrGibson，’Rogerisevidentlyputtingeverythingtorightsinhisfirm，quietway。’’\"Thingstorights。\"Why，what’swrong？’askedMrsGibsonquickly。’ThesquireandtheFrenchdaughter—in—lawdon’tgetonwelltogether，Isuppose？
IamalwayssogladCynthiaactedwiththepromptitudeshedid；itwouldhavebeenveryawkwardforhertohavebeenmixedupwithallthesecomplications。
PoorRoger！tofindhimselfsupplantedbyachildwhenhecomeshome！’’Youwerenotintheroom，mydear，whenIwastellingMollyofthereasonsforRoger’sreturn；itwastoputhisbrother’schildatonceintohisrightfulandlegalplace。Sonow，whenhefindstheworkpartlydonetohishands，heishappyandgratifiedinproportion。’’ThenheisnotmuchaffectedbyCynthia’sbreakingoffherengagement？’
（MrsGibsoncouldaffordtocallitan（engagement’now。）’Ineverdidgivehimcreditforverydeepfeelings。’’Onthecontrary，hefeelsitveryacutely。HeandIhadalongtalkaboutit，yesterday。’BothMollyandMrsGibsonwouldhavelikedtohaveheardsomethingmoreaboutthisconversation；butMrGibsondidnotchoosetogoonwiththesubject。TheonlypointwhichhedisclosedwasthatRogerhadinsistedonhisrighttohaveapersonalinterviewwithCynthia；and，onhearingthatshewasinLondonatpresent，haddeferredanyfurtherexplanationorexpostulationbyletter，preferringtoawaitherreturn。Mollywentonwithherquestionsonothersubjects。’AndMrsOsborneHamley？
Howisshe？’’WonderfullybrightenedupbyRoger’spresence。Idon’tthinkIhaveeverseenhersmilebefore；butshegiveshimthesweetestsmilesfromtimetotime。Theyareevidentlygoodfriends；andshelosesherstrangestartledlookwhenshespeakstohim。Isuspectshehasbeenquiteawareofthesquire’swishthatsheshouldreturntoFrance；andhasbeenhardputtoittodecidewhethertoleaveherchildornot。Theideathatshewouldhavetomakesomesuchdecisioncameuponherwhenshewascompletelyshatteredbygriefandillness，andshehasnothadanyonetoconsultastoherdutyuntilRogercame，uponwhomshehasevidentlyfirmreliance。Hetoldmesomethingofthishimself。’’Youseemtohavehadquitealongconversationwithhim，papa！’’Yes。IwasgoingtoseeoldAbraham，whenthesquirecalledtomeoverthehedge，asIwasjoggingalong。Hetoldmethenews；andtherewasnoresistinghisinvitationtocomebackandlunchwiththem。Besides，onegetsagreatdealofmeaningoutofRoger’swords；itdidnottakesoverylongatimetohearthismuch。’’Ishouldthinkhewouldcomeandcalluponussoon，’saidMrsGibsontoMolly；’andthenweshallseehowmuchwecanmanagetohear。’’Doyouthinkhewill，papa？’saidMolly，moredoubtfully。Sherememberedthelasttimehewasinthatveryroom，andthehopeswithwhichheleftit；andshefanciedthatshecouldseetracesofthisthoughtinherfather’scountenanceathiswife’sspeech。’Icannottell，mydear。UntilheisquiteconvincedofCynthia’sintentions，itcannotbeverypleasantforhimtocomeonmerevisitsofceremonytothehouseinwhichhehasknownher；butheisonewhowillalwaysdowhathethinksright，whetherpleasantornot。’MrsGibsoncouldhardlywaittillherhusbandhadfinishedhissentencebeforeshetestifiedagainstapartofit。’\"ConvincedofCynthia’sintentions！\"Ishouldthinkshehadmadethemprettyclear！Whatmoredoesthemanwant？’’Heisnotasyetconvincedthattheletterwasnotwritteninafitoftemporaryfeeling。Ihavetoldhimthatthiswastrue；althoughIdidnotfeelitmyplacetoexplaintohimthecausesofthatfeeling。Hebelievesthathecaninducehertoresumetheformerfooting。Idonot；andIhavetoldhimso；butofcourseheneedsthefullconvictionthatshealonecangivehim。’’PoorCynthia！Mypoorchild！’saidMrsGibson，plaintively。’Whatshehasexposedherselftobylettingherselfbeover—persuadedbythatman！’MrGibson’seyesflashedfire。Buthekepthislipstightclosed；andonlysaid，’\"Thatman，\"indeed！’quitebelowhisbreath。Molly，too，hadbeendampedbyanexpressionortwoinherfather’sspeech。
’Merevisitsofceremony！’Wasitso，indeed？A’merevisitofceremony！’
Whateveritwas，thecallwaspaidbeforemanydayswereover。ThathefeltalltheawkwardnessofhispositiontowardsMrsGibson—thathewasinrealitysufferingpainallthetime—wasbuttooevidenttoMolly；
butofcourseMrsGibsonsawnothingofthisinhergratificationattheproperrespectpaidtoherbyonewhosenamewasalreadyinthenewspapersthatchronicledhisreturn，andaboutwhomalreadyLordCumnorandtheTowersfamilyhadbeenmakinginquiry。Mollywassittinginherprettywhiteinvalid’sdress，halfreading，halfdreaming，fortheJuneairwassoclearandambient，thegardensofullofbloom，thetreessofullofleaf，thatreadingbytheopenwindowwasonlyapretenceatsuchatime；besideswhichMrsGibsoncontinuallyinterruptedherwithremarksaboutthepatternofherworsted—work。Itwasafterlunch—orthodoxcallingtime，whenMariausheredinMrRogerHamley。Mollystartedup；andthenstoodshylyandquietlyinherplacewhileabronzed，bearded，gravemancameintotheroom，inwhomsheatfirsthadtoseekforthemerryboyishfacesheknewbyheartonlytwoyearsago。ButmonthsintheclimatesinwhichRogerhadbeentravellingageasmuchasyearsinmoretemperatedistricts。Andconstantthoughtandanxietywhileindailyperiloflifedeepenthelinesofcharacteruponaface。Moreover，thecircumstancesthathadoflateaffectedhimpersonallywerenotofanaturetomakehimeitherbuoyantorcheerful。Buthisvoicewasthesame；thatwasthefirstpointoftheoldfriendMollycaught，whenheaddressedherinatonefarsofterthanheusedinspeakingconventionalpolitenessestoherstepmother。’Iwassosorrytohearhowillyouhadbeen！Youarelookingbutdelicate！’
lettinghiseyesrestuponherfacewithaffectionateexamination。Mollyfeltherselfcolouralloverwiththeconsciousnessofhisregard。Todosomethingtoputanendtoit，shelookedup，andshowedhimherbeautifulsoftgreyeyes，whichheneverrememberedtohavenoticedbefore。Shesmiledathimassheblushedstilldeeper，andsaid，—’Oh！IamquitestrongnowtowhatIwas。Itwouldbeashametobeillwheneverythingisinitsfullsummerbeauty。’’Ihaveheardhowdeeplywe—Iamindebtedtoyou—myfathercanhardlypraiseyou——’’Pleasedon’t，’saidMolly，thetearscomingintohereyesinspiteofherself。Heseemedtounderstandheratonce；hewentonasifspeakingtoMrsGibson，—’Indeedmylittlesister—in—lawisneverwearyoftalkingaboutMonsieurleDocteur，asshecallsyourhusband！’’IhavenothadthepleasureofmakingMrsOsborneHamley’sacquaintanceyet，’saidMrsGibson，suddenlyawareofadutywhichmighthavebeenexpectedfromher，’andImustbegyoutoapologizetoherformyremissness。ButMollyhasbeensuchacareandanxietytome—for，youknow，Ilookuponherquiteasmyownchild—thatIreallyhavenotgoneanywhere，exceptingtotheTowersperhapsIshouldsay，whichisjustlikeanotherhometome。AndthenIunderstoodthatMrsOsborneHamleywasthinkingofreturningtoFrancebeforelong？Stillitwasveryremiss。’ThelittletrapthussetfornewsofwhatmightbegoingonintheHamleyfamilywasquitesuccessful。Rogeransweredherthus，—’IamsureMrsOsborneHamleywillbeverygladtoseeanyfriendsofthefamily，assoonassheisalittlestronger。IhopeshewillnotgobacktoFranceatall。Sheisanorphan，andItrustweshallinducehertoremainwithmyfather。Butatpresentnothingisarranged。’Then，asifgladtohavegotoverhis’visitofceremony，’hegotupandtookleave。
Whenhewasatthedoorhelookedback，having，ashethought，awordmoretosay；buthequiteforgotwhatitwas，forhesurprisedMolly’sintentgaze，andsuddenconfusionatdiscovery，andwentawayassoonashecould。’PoorOsbornewasright！’saidhe。’Shehadgrownintodelicatefragrantbeautyjustashesaidshewould：orisitthecharacterwhichhasformedtheface？NowthenexttimeIenterthesedoorsitwillbetolearnmyfate！’MrGibsonhadtoldhiswifeofRoger’sdesiretohaveapersonalinterviewwithCynthia，ratherwithaviewtoherrepeatingwhathesaidtoherdaughter。
Hedidnotseeanyexactnecessityforthis，itistrue；buthethoughtthatitmightbeadvisablethatsheshouldknowallthetruthinwhichshewasconcerned，andhetoldhiswifethis。Butshetooktheaffairintoherownmanagement，and，althoughsheapparentlyagreedwithMrGibson，shenevernamedtheaffairtoCynthia；allthatshesaidtoherwas，—’Youroldadmirer，RogerHamley，hascomehomeinagreathurryinconsequenceofpoordearOsborne’sunexpecteddecease。HemusthavebeenrathersurprisedtofindthewidowandherlittleboyestablishedattheHall。Hecametocallheretheotherday，andmadehimselfreallyratheragreeable，althoughhismannersarenotimprovedbythesocietyhehaskeptonhistravels。