Iwanttomakeyourhomeaplaceofrestandcomforttoyou；andIdosowishtocherishyoursweetMolly，asIhopetodo，whenIcometobehermother。Ican’ttakevirtuetomyselfwhichdoesn’tbelongtome。IfI
　　havetospeakformyself，Ishallsay，"Goodpeople，findaschoolforyourdaughtersbyMichaelmas，—forafterthattimeImustgoandmakethehappinessofothers。"Ican’tbeartothinkofyourlongridesinNovember—cominghomewetatnightwithnoonetotakecareofyou。Oh！ifyouleaveittome，Ishalladvisetheparentstotaketheirdaughtersawayfromthecareofonewhoseheartwillbeabsent。ThoughIcouldn’tconsenttoanytimebeforeMichaelmas—thatwouldn’tbefairorright，andI’msureyouwouldn’turgeme—youaretoogood。’’Well，ifyouthinkthattheywillconsiderwehaveacteduprightlybythem，letitbeMichaelmaswithallmyheart。WhatdoesLadyCumnorsay？’’Oh！ItoldherIwasafraidyouwouldn’tlikewaiting，becauseofyourdifficultieswithyourservants，andbecauseofMolly—itwouldbesodesirabletoenteronthenewrelationshipwithherassoonaspossible。’’Tobesure；soitwould。Poorchild！I’mafraidtheintelligenceofmyengagementhasratherstartledher。’’Cynthiawillfeelitdeeply，too，’saidMrsKirkpatrick，unwillingtoletherdaughterbebehindMrGibson’sinsensibilityandaffection。’Wewillhaveherovertothewedding！SheandMollyshallbebridesmaids，’
　　saidMrGibson，intheunguardedwarmthofhisheart。ThisplandidnotquitesuitMrsKirkpatrick；butshethoughtitbestnottoopposeit，untilshehadapresentableexcusetogive，andperhapsalsosomereasonwouldnaturallyariseoutoffuturecircumstances；soatthistimesheonlysmiled，andsoftlypressedthehandsheheldinhers。ItisaquestionwhetherMrsKirkpatrickorMollywishedthemostforthedaytobeoverwhichtheyweretospendtogetherattheTowers。MrsKirkpatrickwasratherwearyofgirlsasaclass。Allthetrialsofherlifewereconnectedwithgirlsinsomeway。Shewasveryyoungwhenshefirstbecameagoverness，andhadbeenworstedinherstruggleswithherpupils，inthefirstplacesheeverwentto。Hereleganceofappearanceandmanner，andheraccomplishments，morethanhercharacterandacquirements，hadrendereditmoreeasyforherthanformosttoobtaingood’situations；’andshehadbeenabsolutelypettedinsome；butstillshewasconstantlyencounteringnaughtyorstubborn，orover—conscientious，orsevere—judging，orcuriousandobservantgirls。
　　Andagain，beforeCynthiawasborn，shehadlongedforaboy，thinkingitpossiblethatifsomethreeorfourinterveningrelationsdied，hemightcometobeabaronet；andinsteadofason，loandbeholditwasadaughter！
　　Nevertheless，withallherdisliketogirlsintheabstractas’theplaguesofherlife’（andheraversionwasnotdiminishedbythefactofherhavingkeptaschoolfor’youngladies’atAshcombe），shereallymeanttobeaskindasshecouldbetohernewstep—daughter，whomsherememberedprincipallyasablack—haired，sleepychild，inwhoseeyesshehadreadadmirationofherself。MrsKirkpatrickacceptedMrGibsonprincipallybecauseshewastiredofthestruggleofearningherownlivelihood；butshelikedhimpersonally—nay，sheevenlovedhiminhertorpidway，andsheintendedtobegoodtohisdaughter，thoughshefeltasifitwouldhavebeeneasierforhertohavebeengoodtohisson。Mollywasbracingherselfupinherwaytoo。’IwillbelikeHarriet。I
　　willthinkofothers。Iwon’tthinkofmyself，’shekeptrepeatingallthewaytotheTowers。Buttherewasnoselfishnessinwishingthatthedaywascometoanend，andthatshedidveryheartily。MrsHamleysentherthitherinthecarriage，whichwastowaitandbringherbackatnight。
　　MrsHamleywantedMollytomakeafavourableimpression，andshesentforhertocomeandshowherselfbeforeshesetout。’Don’tputonyoursilkgown—yourwhitemuslinwilllookthenicest，mydear。’’Notmysilk？itisquitenew！Ihadittocomehere。’’Still，Ithinkyourwhitemuslinsuitsyouthebest。’’Anythingbutthathorridplaidsilk’wasthethoughtinMrsHamley’smind；and，thankstoher，MollysetofffortheTowers，lookingalittlequaint，itistrue，butthoroughlyladylike，ifshewasold—fashioned。Herfatherwastomeetherthere；buthehadbeendetained，andshehadtofaceMrsKirkpatrickbyherself，therecollectionofherlastdayofmiseryattheTowersfreshinhermindasifithadbeenyesterday。MrsKirkpatrickwasascaressingascouldbe。SheheldMolly’shandinhers，astheysatetogetherinthelibrary，afterthefirstsalutationswereover。Shekeptstrokingitfromtimetotime，andpurringoutinarticulatesoundsoflovingsatisfaction，asshegazedintheblushingface。’Whateyes！solikeyourdearfather’s！Howweshallloveeachother—
　　shan’twe，darling？Forhissake！’’I’lltry，’saidMolly，bravely；andthenshecouldnotfinishhersentence。’Andyou’vejustgotthesamebeautifulblackcurlinghair！’saidMrsKirkpatrick，softlyliftingoneofMolly’scurlsfromoffherwhitetemple。’Papa’shairisgrowinggrey，’saidMolly。’Isit？Ineverseeit。Inevershallseeit。Hewillalwaysbetomethehandsomestofmen。’MrGibsonwasreallyaveryhandsomeman，andMollywaspleasedwiththecompliment；butshecouldnothelpsaying，—’Stillhewillgrowold，andhishairwillgrowgrey。Ithinkhewillbejustashandsome，butitwon’tbeasayoungman。’’Ah！that’sjustit，love。He’llalwaysbehandsome；somepeoplealwaysare。Andheissofondofyou，dear。’Molly’scolourflashedintoherface。
　　Shedidnotwantanassuranceofherownfather’slovefromthisstrangewoman。Shecouldnothelpbeingangry；allshecoulddowastokeepsilent。
　　’Youdon’tknowhowhespeaksofyou；"hislittletreasure，"ashecallsyou。I’malmostjealoussometimes。’Mollytookherhandaway，andherheartbegantoharden；thesespeechesweresodiscordanttoher。Butshesetherteethtogether，and’triedtobegood。’’Wemustmakehimsohappy。I’mafraidhehashadagreatdealtoannoyhimathome；butwewilldoawaywithallthatnow。Youmusttellme，’
　　seeingthecloudinMolly’seyes，’whathelikesanddislikes，forofcourseyouwillknow。’Molly’sfaceclearedalittle；ofcourseshedidknow。Shehadnotwatchedandlovedhimsolongwithoutbelievingthatsheunderstoodhimbetterthananyoneelse；thoughhowhehadcometolikeMrsKirkpatrickenoughtowishtomarryher，wasanunsolvedproblemthatsheunconsciouslyputasideasinexplicable。MrsKirkpatrickwenton，—’Allmenhavetheirfanciesandantipathies，eventhewisest。Ihaveknownsomegentlemenannoyedbeyondmeasurebythemeresttrifles；leavingadooropen，orspillingteaintheirsaucers，orashawlcrookedlyputon。Why，’continuedshe，loweringhervoice，’IknowofahousetowhichLordHollingfordwillneverbeaskedagainbecausehedidn’twipehisshoesonboththematsinthehall！Nowyoumusttellmewhatyourdearfatherdislikesmostinthesefancifulways，andIshalltakecaretoavoidit。Youmustbemylittlefriendandhelperinpleasinghim。Itwillbesuchapleasuretometoattendtohisslightestfancies。Aboutmydress，too—whatcoloursdoeshelikebest？
　　Iwanttodoeverythinginmypowerwithaviewtohisapproval。’Mollywasgratifiedbyallthis，andbegantothinkthatreally，afterall，perhapsherfatherhaddonewellforhimself；andthatifshecouldhelptowardshisnewhappiness，sheoughttodoit。SoshetriedveryconscientiouslytothinkoverMrGibson’swishesandways；toponderoverwhatannoyedhimthemostinhishousehold。’Ithink，’saidshe，’papaisn’tparticularaboutmanythings；butIthinkournothavingthedinnerquitepunctual—quitereadyforhimwhenhecomesin，fidgetshimmorethananything。Yousee，hehasoftenhadalongride，andthereisanotherlongridetocome，andhehasonlyhalf—an—
　　hour—sometimesonlyaquarter—tocathisdinnerin。’’Thankyou，myownlove。Punctuality！Yes；it’sagreatthinginahousehold。
　　It’swhatI’vehadtoenforcewithmyyoungladiesatAshcombe。NowonderpoordearMrGibsonhasbeendispleasedathisdinnernotbeingready，andhesohard—worked！’’Papadoesn’tcarewhathehas，ifit’sonlyready。Hewouldtakebread—and—cheese，ifcookwouldonlysenditininsteadofdinner。’’Bread—and—cheese！DoesMrGibsoneatcheese？’’Yes；he’sveryfondofit，’saidMolly，innocently。’I’veknownhimcattoastedcheesewhenhehasbeentootiredtofancyanythingelse。’’Oh！but，mydear，wemustchangeallthat。Ishouldn’tliketothinkofyourfathereatingcheese；it’ssuchastrong—smelling，coarsekindofthing。Wemustgethimacookwhocantosshimupanomelette，orsomethingelegant。Cheeseisonlyfitforthekitchen。’’Papaisveryfondofit，’perseveredMolly。’Oh！butwewillcurehimofthat。Icouldn’tbearthesmellofcheese；
　　andI’msurehewouldbesorrytoannoyme。’Mollywassilent；itdidnotdo，shefound，tobetoominuteintellingaboutherfather’slikesordislikes。ShehadbetterleavethemforMrsKirkpatricktofindoutforherself。Itwasanawkwardpause；eachwastryingtofindsomethingagreeabletosay。Mollyspokeatlength。’Please！
　　IshouldsoliketoknowsomethingaboutCynthia—yourdaughter。’’Yes，callherCynthia。It’saprettyname，isn’tit？CynthiaKirkpatrick。
　　Notsopretty，though，asmyoldname，HyacinthClare。Peopleusedtosayitsuitedmesowell。Imustshowyouanacrosticagentleman—hewasalieutenantinthe53rd—madeuponit。Oh！weshallhaveagreatdealtosaytoeachother，Iforesee！’’ButaboutCynthia？’’Oh，yes！aboutdearCynthia。Whatdoyouwanttoknow，mydear？’’Papasaidshewastolivewithus！Whenwillshecome？’’Oh，wasitnotsweetofyourkindfather？IthoughtofnothingelsebutCynthia’sgoingoutasagovernesswhenshehadcompletedhereducation；
　　shehasbeenbroughtupforit，andhashadgreatadvantages。ButgooddearMrGibsonwouldn’thearofit。Hesaidyesterdaythatshemustcomeandlivewithuswhensheleftschool。’’Whenwillsheleaveschool？’’Shewentfortwoyears。Idon’tthinkImustletherleavebeforenextsummer。SheteachesEnglishaswellaslearningFrench。Nextsummersheshallcomehome，andthenshan’twebeahappylittlequartette？’’Ihopeso，’saidMolly。’Butsheistocometothewedding，isn’tshe？’
　　shewentontimidly，nowknowinghowfarMrsKirkpatrickwouldliketheallusiontohermarriage。’Yourfatherhasbeggedforhertocome；butwemustthinkaboutitalittlemorebeforequitefixingit。Thejourneyisagreatexpense！’’Isshelikeyou？Idosowanttoseeher。’’Sheisveryhandsome，peoplesay。Inthebright—colouredstyle，—perhapssomethinglikewhatIwas。ButIlikethedark—hairedforeignkindofbeautybest—justnow，’touchingMolly’shair，andlookingatherwithanexpressionofsentimentalremembrance。’DoesCynthia—issheverycleverandaccomplished？’askedMolly，alittleafraidlesttheanswershouldremoveMissKirkpatrickattoogreatadistancefromher。’Sheoughttobe；I’vepaideversomuchmoneytohavehertaughtbythebestmasters。Butyouwillseeherbeforelong，andI’mafraidwemustgonowtoLadyCumnor。Ithasbeenverycharminghavingyoualltomyself，butIknowLadyCumnorwillbeexpectingusnow，andshewasverycurioustoseeyou，—myfuturedaughter，asshecallsyou。’MollyfollowedMrsKirkpatrickintothemorning—room，whereLadyCumnorwassitting—alittleannoyed，because，havingcompletedhertoiletteearlierthanusual，Clarehadnotbeenawarebyinstinctofthefact，andsohadnotbroughtMollyGibsonforinspectionaquarterofanhourbefore。
　　Everysmalloccurrenceisaneventinthedayofaconvalescentinvalid，andalittlewhileagoMollywouldhavemetwithpatronizingappreciation，wherenowshehadtoencountercriticism。OfLadyCumnor’scharacterasanindividualsheknewnothing；sheonlyknewshewasgoingtoseeandbeseenbyalivecountess；nay，more，by’thecountess’ofHollingford。MrsKirkpatrickledherintoLadyCumnor’spresencebythehand，andinpresentingher，said，—’Mydearlittledaughter，LadyCumnor！’’Now，Clare，don’tletmehavenonsense。Sheisnotyourdaughteryet，andmayneverbe，—Ibelievethatone—thirdoftheengagementsIhaveheardof，havenevercometomarriages。MissGibson，Iamverygladtoseeyou，foryourfather’ssake；whenIknowyoubetter，Ihopeitwillbeforyourown。’Mollyveryheartilyhopedthatshemightneverbeknownanybetterbythestern—lookingladywhosatesouprightlyintheeasychair，preparedforlounging，andwhichthereforegaveallthemoreeffecttothestiffattitude。
　　LadyCumnorluckilytookMolly’ssilenceforacquiescenthumility，andwentonspeakingafterafurtherlittlepauseofinspection。’Yes，yes，Ilikeherlooks，Clare。Youmaymakesomethingofher。Itwillbeagreatadvantagetoyou，mydear，tohavealadywhohastrainedupseveralyoungpeopleofqualityalwaysaboutyoujustatthetimewhenyouaregrowingup。I’lltellyouwhat，Clare！’—asuddenthoughtstrikingher，—’youandshemustbecomebetteracquainted—youknownothingofeachotheratpresent；youarenottobemarriedtillChristmas，andwhatcouldbebetterthanthatsheshouldgobackwithyoutoAshcombe！Shewouldbewithyouconstantly，andhavetheadvantageofthecompanionshipofyouryoungpeople，whichwouldbeagoodthingforanonlychild！It’sacapitalplan；I’mverygladIthoughtofit！’NowitwouldbedifficulttosaywhichofLadyCumnor’stwohearerswasthemostdismayedattheideawhichhadtakenpossessionofher。MrsKirkpatrickhadnofancyforbeingencumberedwithastep—daughterbeforehertime。
　　IfMollycametobeaninmateofherhouse，farewelltomanylittlebackgroundeconomies，andastillmoreseriousfarewelltomanylittleindulgences，thatwereinnocentenoughinthemselves，butwhichMrsKirkpatrick’sformerlifehadcausedhertolookuponassinstobeconcealed：thedirtydog’s—eareddelightfulnovelfromtheAshcombecirculatinglibrary，theleavesofwhichsheturnedoverwithapairofscissors。thelounging—chairwhichshehadforuseatherownhome，straightanduprightasshesatenowinLadyCumnor’spresence；thedaintymorsel，savouryandsmall，towhichshetreatedherselfforherownsolitarysupper，—alltheseandmanyothersimilarlypleasantthingswouldhavetobeforegoneifMollycametobeherpupil，parlour—boarder，orvisitor，asLadyCumnorwasplanning。One—twothingsClarewasinstinctivelyresolvedupon：tobemarriedatMichaelmas，andnottohaveMollyatAshcombe。
　　Butshesmiledassweetlyasiftheplanproposedwasthemostcharmingprojectintheworld，whileallthetimeherpoorbrainswerebeatingaboutineverybushforthereasonsorexcusesofwhichsheshouldmakeuseatsomefuturetime。Molly，however，savedherallthistrouble。Itwasaquestionwhichofthethreewasthemostsurprisedbythewordswhichburstoutofherlips。Shedidnotmeantospeak，butherheartwasveryfull，andalmostbeforeshewasawareofherthoughtsheheardherselfsaying，—’Idon’tthinkitwouldbeniceatall。Imean，mylady，thatIshoulddislikeitverymuch；itwouldbetakingmeawayfrompapajusttheseveryfewlastmonths。Iwilllikeyou，’shewenton，hereyesfulloftears；
　　and，turningtoMrsKirkpatrick，sheputherhandintoherfuturestepmother’swiththeprettiestandmosttrustfulaction。’Iwilltryhardtoloveyou，andtodoallIcantomakeyouhappy。butyoumustnottakemeawayfrompapajustthisverylastbitoftimethatIshallhavehim。’MrsKirkpatrickfondledthehandthusplacedinhers，andwasgratefultothegirlforheroutspokenoppositiontoLadyCumnor’splan。Clarewas，however，exceedinglyunwillingtobackupMollybyanywordsofherownuntilLadyCumnorhadspokenandgiventhecue。ButtherewassomethinginMolly’slittlespeech，orinherstraightforwardmanner，thatamusedinsteadofirritatingLadyCumnorinherpresentmood。Perhapsshewastiredofthesilkinesswithwhichshehadbeenshutupforsomanydays。Sheputupherglasses，andlookedatthembothbeforespeaking。Thenshesaid，—’Uponmyword，younglady！Why，Clare，you’vegotyourworkbeforeyou！Notbutwhatthereisagooddealoftruthinwhatshesays。Itmustbeverydisagreeabletoagirlofheragetohaveastepmothercominginbetweenherfatherandherself，whatevermaybetheadvantagestoherinthelongrun。’Mollyalmostfeltasifshecouldmakeafriendofthestiffoldcountess，forherclearnessofsightastotheplanproposedbeingatrial；butshewasafraid，inhernew—borndesireofthinkingforothers，ofMrsKirkpatrickbeinghurt。Sheneednothavefearedasfarasoutwardsignswent，forthesmilewasstillonthatlady’sprettyrosylips，andthesoftfondlingofherhandneverstopped。LadyCumnorwasmoreinterestedinMollythemoreshelookedather；andhergazewasprettysteadythroughhergold—rimmedeye—glasses。Shebeganasortofcatechism；astringofverystraightforwardquestions，suchasanyladyundertherankofcountessmighthavescrupledtoask，butwhichwerenotunkindlymeant。’Youaresixteen，areyounot？’’No；Iamseventeen。Mybirthdaywasthreeweeksago。’’Verymuchthesamething，Ishouldthink。Haveyoueverbeentoschool？’’No，never！MissEyrehastaughtmeeverythingIknow。’’Umph！MissEyrewasyourgoverness，Isuppose？Ishouldnothavethoughtyourfathercouldhaveaffordedtokeepagoverness。Butofcoursehemustknowhisownaffairsbest。’’Certainly，mylady，’repliedMolly，alittletouchyastoanyreflectionsonherfather’swisdom。’Yousay"certainly！"asifitwasamatterofcoursethateveryoneshouldknowtheirownaffairsbest。Youareveryyoung，MissGibson—very。You’llknowbetterbeforeyoucometomyage。AndIsupposeyou’vebeentaughtmusic，andtheuseoftheglobes，andFrench，andalltheusualaccomplishments，sinceyouhavehadagoverness？Ineverheardofsuchnonsense！’shewenton，lashingherselfup。’Anonlydaughter！Iftherehadbeenhalf—a—dozengirls，theremighthavebeensomesenseinit。’Mollydidnotspeakbutitwasbyastrongeffortthatshekeptsilence。
　　MrsKirkpatrickfondledherhandmoreperseveringlythanever，hopingthustoexpressasufficientamountofsympathytopreventherfromsayinganythinginjudicious。ButthecaresshadbecomewearisometoMolly，andonlyirritatedhernerves。ShetookherhandoutofMrsKirkpatrick’s，withaslightmanifestationofimpatience。Itwas，perhaps，fortunateforthegeneralpeacethatjustatthismomentMrGibsonwasannounced。Itisoddenoughtoseehowtheentranceofapersonoftheoppositesexintoanassemblageofeithermenorwomencalmsdownthelittlediscordancesandthedisturbanceofmood。Itwasthecasenow；atMrGibson’sentrancemyladytookoffherglasses，andsmoothedherbrow；MrsKirkpatrickmanagedtogetupaverybecomingblush，andasforMolly，herfaceglowedwithdelight，andthewhiteteethandprettydimplescameoutlikesunlightonalandscape。Ofcourse，afterthefirstgreeting，myladyhadtohaveaprivateinterviewwithherdoctor；andMollyandherfuturestepmotherwanderedaboutinthegardenswiththeirarmsroundeachother’swaists，orhandinhand，likethebabesinthewood；MrsKirkpatrickactiveinsuchendearments，Mollypassive，andfeelingwithinherselfveryshyandstrange；forshehadthatparticularkindofshymodestywhichmakesanyoneuncomfortableatreceivingcaressesfromapersontowardswhomtheheartdoesnotgoforthwithanimpulsivewelcome。Thencametheearlydinner；LadyCumnorhavinghersinthequietofherownroom，towhichshewasstillaprisoner。Onceortwiceduringthemeal，theideacrossedMolly’smindthatherfatherdislikedhispositionasamiddle—agedloverbeingmadesoevidenttothemeninwaitingasitwasbyMrsKirkpatrick’saffectionatespeechesandinnuendos。Hetriedtobanisheverytintofpinksentimentalismfromtheconversation，andtoconfineittomatteroffact；andwhenMrsKirkpatrickwouldpersevereindwellinguponsuchfactsashadabearinguponthefuturerelationshipoftheparties，heinsisteduponviewingtheminthemostmatter—of—factway；andthiscontinuedevenafterthemenhadlefttheroom。AnoldrhymeMollyhadheardBettyuse，wouldkeeprunninginherheadandmakingheruneasy，—Twoiscompany，Threeistrumpery。Butwherecouldshegotointhatstrangehouse？Whatoughtshetodo？
　　Shewasrousedfromthisfitofwonderandabstractionbyherfather’ssaying，—’WhatdoyouthinkofthisplanofLadyCumnor’s？ShesaysshewasadvisingyoutohaveMollyasavisitoratAshcombeuntilwearemarried。’MrsKirkpatrick’scountenancefell。IfonlyMollywouldbesogoodastotestifyagain，asshehaddonebeforeLadyCumnor！Butiftheproposalwasmadebyherfather，itwouldcometohisdaughterfromadifferentquarterthanithaddonefromastrangelady，besheeversogreat。Mollydidnotsayanything；sheonlylookedpale，andwistful，andanxious。MrsKirkpatrickhadtospeakforherself。’Itwouldbeacharmingplan，only—Well！weknowwhywewouldrathernothaveit，don’twe，love？Andwewon’ttellpapa，forfearofmakinghimvain。No！IthinkImustleaveherwithyou，dearMrGibson，foratê；te—à；—tê；tefortheselastfewweeks。Itwouldbecrueltotakeheraway。’’Butyouknow，mydear，ItoldyouofthereasonwhyitdoesnotdotohaveMollyathomejustatpresent，’saidMrGibson，eagerly。Forthemoreheknewofhisfuturewife，themorehefeltitnecessarytorememberthat，withallherfoibles，shewouldbeabletostandbetweenMollyandanysuchadventuresasthatwhichhadoccurredlatelywithMrCoxe；sothatoneofthegoodreasonsforthestephehadtakenwasalwayspresenttohim，whileithadslippedoffthesmoothsurfaceofMrsKirkpatrick’smirror—likemindwithoutleavinganyimpression。Shenowrecalledit，onseeingMrGibson’sanxiousface。ButwhatwereMolly’sfeelingsattheselastwordsofherfather’s？Shehadbeensentfromhomeforsomereason，keptasecretfromher，buttoldtothisstrangewoman。Wastheretobeperfectconfidencebetweenthesetwo，andshetobeforevershutout？Wasshe，andwhatconcernedher—
　　thoughhow，shedidnotknow—tobediscussedbetweenthemforthefuture，andshetobekeptinthedark？Abitterpangofjealousymadeherheart—sick。
　　ShemightaswellgotoAshcombe，oranywhereelse，now。Thinkingmoreofothers’happinessthanofherownwasveryfine；butdiditnotmeangivingupherveryindividuality，quenchingallthewarmlove，thekeendesires，thatmadeherherself？Yetinthisdeadnesslayheronlycomfort；
　　orsoitseemed。Wanderinginsuchmazes，shehardlyknewhowtheconversationwenton；athirdwasindeed’trumpery，’wheretherewasentireconfidencebetweenthetwowhowerecompany，fromwhichtheotherwasshutout。Shewaspositivelyunhappy，andherfatherdidnotappeartoseeit；hewasabsorbedwithhisnewplansandhisnewwifethatwastobe。Buthedidnoticeit；andwaskeenlysorryforhislittlegirl；onlyhethoughtthattherewasagreaterchanceforthefutureharmonyofthehousehold，ifhedidnotleadMollytodefineherpresentfeelingsbyputtingthemintowords。Itwashisgeneralplantorepressemotionbynotshowingthesympathyhefelt。Yet，whenhehadtoleave，hetookMolly’shandinhis，andhelditthere，insuchadifferentmannertothatinwhichMrsKirkpatrickhaddone；andhisvoicesoftenedtohischildashebadehergood—by，andaddedthewords（mostunusualtohim），’Godblessyou，child！’Mollyhadheldupallthedaybravely；shehadnotshownanger，orrepugnance，orannoyance，orregret；butwhenoncemorebyherselfintheHamleycarriage，sheburstintoapassionoftears，andcriedherfilltillshereachedthevillageofHamley。Thenshetriedinvaintosmoothherfaceintosmiles，anddoawaywiththeothersignsofhergrief。Sheonlyhopedshecouldrunupstairstoherownroomwithoutnotice，andbathehereyesincoldwaterbeforeshewasseen。Butatthehall—doorshewascaughtbythesquireandRogercominginfromanafter—dinnerstrollinthegarden，andhospitablyanxioustohelphertoalight。Rogersawthestateofthingsinaninstant，andsaying，—’Mymotherhasbeenlookingforyoutocomebackforthislasthour，’heledthewaytothedrawing—room。ButMrsHamleywasnotthere；thesquirehadstoppedtospeaktothecoachmanaboutoneofthehorses；theytwowerealone。Rogersaid，—’Iamafraidyouhavehadaverytryingday。Ihavethoughtofyouseveraltimes，forIknowhowawkwardthesenewrelationsare。’’Thankyou，’saidshe，herlipstrembling，andonthepointofcryingagain。
　　’Ididtrytorememberwhatyousaid，andtothinkmoreofothers，butitissodifficultsometimes；youknowitis，don’tyou？’’Yes，’saidhe，gravely。Hewasgratifiedbyhersimpleconfessionofhavingbornehiswordsofadviceinmind，andtriedtoactuptothem。Hewasbutaveryyoungman，andhewashonestlyflattered；perhapsthisledhimontooffermoreadvice，andthistimeitwasevidentlymingledwithsympathy。
　　Hedidnotwanttodrawoutherconfidence，whichhefeltmightveryeasilybedonewithsuchasimplegirl；buthewishedtohelpherbygivingherafewoftheprinciplesonwhichhehadlearnttorely。’Itisdifficult，’
　　hewenton，’butby—and—byyouwillbesomuchhappierforit。’’No，Ishan’t！’saidMolly，shakingherhead。’ItwillbeverydullwhenIshallhavekilledmyself，asitwere，andliveonlyintryingtodo，andtobe，asotherpeoplelike。Idon’tseeanyendtoit。Imightaswellneverhavelived。Andasforthehappinessyouspeakof，Ishallneverbehappyagain。’Therewasanunconsciousdepthinwhatshesaid，thatRogerdidnotknowhowtoansweratthemoment；itwaseasiertoaddresshimselftotheassertionofthegirlofseventeen，thatsheshouldneverbehappyagain。’Nonsense：perhapsintenyears’timeyouwillbelookingbackonthistrialasaverylightone—whoknows？’’Idaresayitseemsfoolish；perhapsallourearthlytrialswillappearfoolishtousafterawhile。perhapstheyseemsonowtoangels。Butweareourselves，youknow，andthisisnow，notsometimetocome，along，longwayoff。Andwearenotangels，tobecomfortedbyseeingtheendsforwhicheverythingissent。’Shehadneverspokensolongasentencetohimbefore；andwhenshehadsaidit，thoughshedidnottakehereyesawayfromhis，astheystoodsteadilylookingateachother，sheblushedalittle；shecouldnothavetoldwhy。Nordidhetellhimselfwhyasuddenpleasurecameoverhimashegazedathersimpleexpressiveface—andforamomentlostthesenseofwhatshewassaying，inthesensationofpityforhersadearnestness。
　　Inaninstantmorehewashimselfagain。Onlyitispleasanttothewisest，mostreasonableyouthofoneortwoandtwentytofindhimselflookeduptoasaMentorbyagirlofseventeen。’Iknow，Iunderstand。Yes：itisnowwehavetodowith。Don’tletusgointometaphysics。’Mollyopenedhereyeswideatthis。Hadshebeentalkingmetaphysicswithoutknowingit？’Onelooksforwardtoamassoftrials，whichwillonlyhavetobeencounteredonebyone，littlebylittle。Oh，hereismymother！shewilltellyoubetterthanIcan。’Andthetê；te—à；—tê；tewasmergedinatrio。MrsHamleylaydown；shehadnotbeenwellallday—shehadmissedMolly，shesaid，—andnowshewantedtohearofalltheadventuresthathadoccurredtothegirlattheTowers。Mollysateonastoolclosetotheheadofthesofa，andRoger，thoughatfirsthetookupabookandtriedtoreadthathemightbenorestraint，soonfoundhisreadingallapretence：itwassointerestingtolistentoMolly’slittlenarrative，and，besides，ifhecouldgiveheranyhelpinhertimeofneed，wasitnothisdutytomakehimselfacquaintedwithallthecircumstancesofhercase？AndsotheywentonduringalltheremainingtimeofMolly’sstayatHamley。