MrsHamleysympathized，andlikedtoheardetails，astheFrenchsay，hersympathywasgivenendé；tail，thesquire’sengros。
　　Hewasverysorryforherevidentgrief，andalmostfeltguilty，asifhehadhadashareinbringingitabout，bythementionhehadmadeofthepossibilityofMrGibson’smarryingagain，whenfirstMollyhadcomeonhervisittothem。Hesaidtohiswifemorethanonce，—’’Ponmyword，now，IwishI’dneverspokenthoseunluckywordsthatfirstdayatdinner。Doyourememberhowshetookthemup？Itwaslikeaprophecyofwhatwastocome，now，wasn’tit？Andshelookedpalefromthatday，andIdon’tthinkshehaseverfairlyenjoyedherfoodsince。ImusttakemorecarewhatIsayforthefuture。NotbutwhatGibsonisdoingtheverybestthing，bothforhimselfandher，thathecando。Itoldhimsoonlyyesterday。ButI’mverysorryforthelittlegirl，though。IwishI’dneverspokenaboutit，thatIdo！butitwaslikeaprophecy，wasn’tit？’Rogertriedhardtofindoutareasonableandrightmethodofcomfort，forhe，too，inhisway，wassorryforthegirl，whobravelystruggledtobecheerful，inspiteofherownprivategrief，forhismother’ssake。
　　Hefeltasifhighprincipleandnoblepreceptoughttoperformanimmediatework。Buttheydonot，forthereisalwaystheunknownquantityofindividualexperienceandfeeling，whichofferatacitresistance，theamountincalculablebyanother，toallgoodcounselandhighdecree。ButthebondbetweentheMentorandhisTelemachusstrengthenedeveryday。Heendeavouredtoleadheroutofmorbidthoughtintointerestinotherthanpersonalthings；
　　and，naturallyenough，hisownobjectsofinterestcamereadiesttohand。
　　Shefeltthathedidhergood，shedidnotknowwhyorhow；butafteratalkwithhim，shealwaysfanciedthatshehadgotthecluetogoodnessandpeace，whateverbefell。
　　chapter12CHAPTERXIIPREPARINGFORTHEWEDDINGMeanwhilethelove—affairsbetweenthemiddle—agedcouplewereprosperingwell，afterafashion；afterthefashionthattheylikedbest，althoughitmightprobablyhaveappeareddullandprosaictoyoungerpeople。LordCumnorhadcomedowningreatgleeatthenewshehadheardfromhiswifeattheTowers。He，too，seemedtothinkhehadtakenanactivepartinbringingaboutthematchbyonlyspeakingaboutit。HisfirstwordsonthesubjecttoLadyCumnorwere，—’Itoldyouso。Nowdidn’tIsaywhatagood，suitablethingthisaffairbetweenGibsonandClarewouldbe！Idon’tknowwhenIhavebeensomuchpleased。Youmaydespisethetradeofmatch—maker，mylady，butIamveryproudofit。Afterthis，Ishallgoonlookingoutforsuitablecasesamongthemiddle—agedpeopleofmyacquaintance。Ishan’tmeddlewithyoungfolks，theyaresoapttobefanciful；butIhavebeensosuccessfulinthis，thatIdothinkitisagoodencouragementtogoon。’’Goon—withwhat？’askedLadyCumnor，drily。’Oh，planning—Youcan’tdenythatIplannedthismatch。’’Idon’tthinkyouarelikelytodoeithermuchgoodorharmbyplanning，’
　　shereplied，withcool，goodsense。’Itputsitintopeople’sheads，mydear。’’Yes，ifyouspeakaboutyourplanstothem，ofcourseitdoes。ButinthiscaseyouneverspoketoeitherMrGibson，orClare，didyou？’AllatoncetherecollectionofhowClarehadcomeuponthepassageinLordCumnor’sletterflashedonhislady，butshedidnotsayanythingaboutit，butleftherhusbandtoflounderaboutasbesthemight。’No！Ineverspoketothem；ofcoursenot。’’Thenyoumustbestronglymesmeric，andyourwillactedupontheirs，ifyouaretotakecreditforanypartintheaffair，’continuedhispitilesswife。’Ireallycan’tsay。It’snouselookingbacktowhatIsaidordid。I’mverywellsatisfiedwithit，andthat’senough，andImeantoshowthemhowmuchI’mpleased。IshallgiveClaresomethingtowardsherriggingout，andtheyshallhaveabreakfastatAshcombeManor—house。I’llwritetoPrestonaboutit。Whendidyousaytheyweretobemarried？’’Ithinkthey’dbetterwaittillChristmas，andIhavetoldthemso。Itwouldamusethechildren，goingovertoAshcombeforthewedding；andifit’sbadweatherduringtheholidaysI’malwaysafraidoftheirfindingitdullattheTowers。It’sverydifferentifit’sagoodfrost，andtheycangooutskatingandsledginginthepark。Buttheselasttwoyearsithasbeensowetforthem，poordears！’’Andwilltheotherpoordearsbecontenttowaittomakeaholidayforyourgrandchildren？"TomakeaRomanholiday。"Pope，orsomebodyelse，hadalineofpoetrylikethat。"TomakeaRomanholiday，"’—herepeated，pleasedwithhisunusualaptitudeatquotation。’It’sByron，andit’snothingtodowiththesubjectinhand。I’msurprisedatyourlordship’squotingByron，—hewasaveryimmoralpoet。’’IsawhimtakehisoathsintheHouseofLords，’saidLordCumnor，apologetically。’Well！thelesssaidabouthimthebetter，’saidLadyCumnor。’IhavetoldClarethatshehadbetternotthinkofbeingmarriedbeforeChristmas；
　　anditwon’tdoforhertogiveupherschoolinahurryeither。’ButClaredidnotintendtowaittillChristmas；andforthisonceshecarriedherpointagainstthewillofthecountess，andwithoutmanywords，oranyopenopposition。ShehadahardertaskinsettingasideMrGibson’sdesiretohaveCynthiaoverforthewedding，evenifshewentbacktoherschoolatBoulognedirectlyaftertheceremony。Atfirstshehadsaidthatitwouldbedelightful，acharmingplan；onlyshefearedthatshemustgiveupherownwishestohaveherchildnearheratsuchatime，onaccountoftheexpenseofthedoublejourney。ButMrGibson，economicalashewasinhishabitualexpenditure，hadareallygenerousheart。Hehadalreadyshownit，inentirelyrelinquishinghisfuturewife’slife—interestintheverysmallpropertythelateMrKirkpatrickhadleft，infavourofCynthia；whilehearrangedthatsheshouldcometohishomeasadaughterassoonasshelefttheschoolshewasat。Thelife—interestwasaboutthirtypoundsayear。NowhegaveMrsKirkpatrickthreefive—poundnotes，sayingthathehopedtheywoulddoawaywiththeobjectionstoCynthia’scomingovertothewedding；andatthetimeMrsKirkpatrickfeltasiftheywould，andcaughtthereflectionofhisstrongwish，andfancieditwasherown。Ifthelettercouldhavebeenwrittenandthemoneysentoffthatdaywhilethereflectedglowofaffectionlasted，Cynthiawouldhavebeenbridesmaidtohermother。Butahundredlittleinterruptionscameinthewayofletter—writing；andbythenextdaymaternallovehaddiminished；andthevalueaffixedtothemoneyhadincreased：moneyhadbeensomuchneeded，sohardlyearnedinMrsKirkpatrick’slife；whiletheperhapsnecessaryseparationofmotherandchildhadlessenedtheamountofaffectiontheformerhadtobestow。
　　Soshepersuadedherself，afresh，thatitwouldbeunwisetodisturbCynthiaatherstudies；tointerruptthefulfilmentofherdutiesjustafterthesemestrehadbegunafresh；andshewrotealettertoMadameLefevresowellimbuedwiththispersuasion，thatananswerwhichwasalmostanechoofherwordswasreturned，thesenseofwhichbeingconveyedtoMrGibson，whowasnogreatFrenchscholar，settledthevexedquestion，tohismoderatebutunfeignedregret。Butthefifteenpoundswerenotreturned。
　　Indeed，notmerelythatsum，butagreatpartofthehundredwhichLordCumnorhadgivenherforhertrousseau，wasrequiredtopayoffdebtsatAshcombe；fortheschoolhadbeenanythingbutflourishingsinceMrsKirkpatrickhadhadit。Itwasreallyverymuchtohercreditthatshepreferredclearingherselffromdebttopurchasingweddingfinery。ButitwasoneofthefewpointstoberespectedinMrsKirkpatrickthatshehadalwaysbeencarefulinpaymenttotheshopswhereshedealt；itwasalittlesenseofdutycroppingout。Whateverotherfaultsmightarisefromhersuperficialandflimsycharacter，shewasalwaysuneasytillshewasoutofdebt。Yetshehadnoscrupleinappropriatingherfuturehusband’smoneytoherownuse，whenitwasdecidedthatitwasnottobeemployedasheintended。Whatnewarticlessheboughtforherself，wereallsuchaswouldmakeashow，andanimpressionupontheladiesofHollingford。Shearguedwithherselfthatlinen，andallunderclothing，wouldneverbeseen，whilesheknewthateverygownshehad，wouldgiverisetomuchdiscussionandwouldbecountedupinthelittletown。Soherstockof’underclothingwasverysmall，andscarcelyanyofitnew；
　　butitwasmadeofdaintymaterial，andwasfinelymendedupbyherdeftfingers，manyanightlongafterherpupilswereinbed；inwardlyresolvingallthetimeshesewed，thathereaftersomeoneelseshoulddoherplain—work。
　　Indeed，manyalittlecircumstanceofformersubjectiontothewillofothersroseupbeforeherduringthesequiethours，asanenduranceorasufferingnevertooccuragain。Soaptarepeopletolookforwardtoadifferentkindoflifefromthattowhichtheyhavebeenaccustomed，asbeingfreefromcareandtrial！Sherecollectedhow，onetimeduringthisverysummerattheTowers，aftershewasengagedtoMrGibson，whenshehadtakenaboveanhourtoarrangeherhairinsomenewmodecarefullystudiedfromMrsBradley’sfashion—book—afterall，whenshecamedown，lookingherverybest，asshethought，andreadyforherlover，LadyCumnorhadsentherbackagaintoherroom，justasifshehadbeenalittlechild，todoherhairoveragain，andnottomakesuchafigureoffunofherself！
　　Anothertimeshehadbeensenttochangehergownforoneinheropinionfarlessbecoming，butwhichsuitedLadyCumnor’stastebetter。Thesewerelittlethings；buttheywerelatesamplesofwhatindifferentshapesshehadhadtoendureformanyyears；andherlikingforMrGibsongrewinproportiontohersenseoftheevilsfromwhichhewasgoingtoserveasameansofescape。Afterall，thatintervalofhopeandplain—sewing，intermixedthoughitwasbytuition，wasnotdisagreeable。Herwedding—dresswassecure。
　　HerformerpupilsattheTowersweregoingtopresentherwiththat；theyweretodressherfromheadtofootontheauspiciousday。LordCumnor，ashasbeensaid，hadgivenherahundredpoundsforhertrousseau，andhadsentMrPrestonacarte—blancheorderforthewedding—breakfastintheoldhallinAshcombeManor—house。LadyCumnor—alittleputoutbythemarriagenotbeingdeferredtillhergrandchildren’sChristmasholidays—hadneverthelessgivenMrsKirkpatrickanexcellentEnglish—madewatchandchain；moreclumsybutmoreserviceablethanthelittleforeignelegancethathadhungathersidesolong，andmisledhersooften。Herpreparationswerethusinaveryconsiderablestateofforwardness，whileMrGibsonhaddonenothingasyettowardsanynewarrangementordecorationofhishouseforhisintendedbride。Heknewheoughttodosomething。Butwhat？Wheretobegin，whensomuchwasoutoforder，andhehadsolittletimeforsuperintendence？AtlengthhecametothewisedecisionofaskingoneoftheMissBrowningstotakethetroubleofpreparingallthatwasimmediatelyrequisiteinhishouse，foroldfriendship’ssake；
　　andresolvedtoleaveallthemoreornamentaldecorationsthatheproposed，tothetasteofhisfuturewife。ButbeforemakinghisrequesttotheMissBrowningshehadtotellthemofhisengagement，whichhadhithertobeenkeptasecretfromthetownspeople，whohadsetdownhisfrequentvisitsattheTowerstothescoreofthecountess’shealth。Hefelthowheshouldhavelaughedinhissleeveatanymiddle—agedwidowerwhocametohimwithaconfessionofthekindhehadnowtomaketotheMissBrownings，anddislikedtheideaofthenecessarycall：butitwastobedone，sooneeveninghewentin（promiscuous，’astheycalledit，andtoldthemhisstory。Attheendofthefirstchapter—thatistosay，attheendofthestoryofMrCoxe’scalf—love，MissBrowningheldupherhandsinsurprise。’TothinkofMolly，asIhaveheldinlong—clothes，comingtohavealover！
　　Well，tobesure！SisterPhoebe—’（shewasjustcomingintotheroom），’here’sapieceofnews！MollyGibsonhasgotalover！Onemayalmostsayshe’shadanoffer！MrGibson，maynotone？—andshe’sbutsixteen！’’Seventeen，sister，’saidMissPhoebe，whopiquedherselfonknowingallaboutdearMrGibson’sdomesticaffairs。’Seventeen，the22ndoflastJune。’’Well，haveityourownway。Seventeen，ifyouliketocallherso！’saidMissBrowning，impatiently。’Thefactisstillthesame—she’sgotalover；
　　anditseemstomeshewasinlong—clothesonlyyesterday。’’I’msureIhopehercourseoftruelovewillrunsmooth，’saidMissPhoebe。NowMrGibsoncamein；forhisstorywasnothalftold，andhedidnotwantthemtorunawaytoofarwiththeideaofMolly’slove—affair。’Mollyknowsnothingaboutit。Ihaven’tevennamedittoanyonebutyoutwo，andtooneotherfriend。ItrouncedCoxewell，anddidmybesttokeephisattachment—ashecallsit—inbounds。ButIwassadlypuzzledwhattodoaboutMolly。MissEyrewasaway，andIcouldn’tleavetheminthehousetogetherwithoutanyolderwoman。’’Oh，MrGibson！whydidyounotsendhertous？’brokeinMissBrowning。
　　’Wewouldhavedoneanythinginourpowerforyou；foryoursake，aswellasherpoordearmother’s。’’Thankyou。Iknowyouwould，butitwouldn’thavedonetohavehadherinHollingford，justatthetimeofCoxe’seffervescence。He’sbetternow。
　　Hisappetitehascomebackwithdoubleforce，afterthefastinghethoughtitrighttoexhibit。Hehadthreehelpingsofblackcurrantdumplingyesterday。’’Iamsureyouaremostliberal，MrGibson。Threehelpings！And，Idaresay，butcher’smeatinproportion？’’Oh！Ionlynameditbecause，withsuchveryyoungmen，it’sgenerallysee—sawbetweenappetiteandlove，andIthoughtthethirdhelpingaverygoodsign。Butstill，youknow，whathashappenedonce，mayhappenagain。’’Idon’tknow。Phoebehadanofferofmarriageonce——’saidMissBrowning。’Hush！sister。Itmighthurthisfeelingstohaveitspokenabout。’’Nonsense，child！It’sfive—and—twentyyearsago；andhiseldestdaughterismarriedherself。’’Iownhehasnotbeenconstant，’pleadedMissPhoebe，inhertender，pipingvoice。’Allmenarenot—likeyou，MrGibson—faithfultothememoryoftheirfirstlove。’MrGibsonwinced。Jeaniewashisfirstlove；buthernamehadneverbeenbreathedinHollingford。Hiswife—good，pretty，sensible，andbelovedasshehadbeen—wasnothissecond；no，norhisthirdlove。Andnowhewascometomakeaconfidenceabouthissecondmarriage。’Well，well，’saidhe；’atanyrate，IthoughtImustdosomethingtoprotectMollyfromsuchaffairswhileshewassoyoung，andbeforeIhadgivenmysanction。MissEyre’slittlenephewfellillofscarletfever——’’Ah！by—the—by，howcarelessofmenottoinquire。Howisthepoorlittlefellow？’’Worse—better。Itdoesn’tsignifytowhatI’vegottosaynow；thefactwas，MissEyrecouldn’tcomebacktomyhouseforsometime，andIcannotleaveMollyaltogetheratHamley。’’Ah！Iseenow，whytherewasthatsuddenvisittoHamley。Uponmyword，it’squitearomance。’’Idolikehearingofalove—affair，’murmuredMissPhoebe。’Thenifyou’llletmegetonwithmystory，youshallhearofmine，’saidMrGibson，quitebeyondhispatiencewiththeirconstantinterruptions。’Yours！’saidMissPhoebe，faintly。’Blessusandsaveus！’saidMissBrowning，withlesssentimentinhertone；’whatnext？’’Mymarriage，Ihope，’saidMrGibson，choosingtotakeherexpressionofintensesurpriseliterally。’Andthat’swhatIcametospeaktoyouabout。’AlittlehopedartedupinMissPhoebe’sbreast。Shehadoftensaidtohersister，intheconfidenceofcurling—time（ladiesworecurlsinthosedays），’thattheonlymanwhocouldeverbringhertothinkofmatrimonywasMrGibson；butthatifheeverproposed，sheshouldfeelboundtoaccepthim，forpoordearMary’ssake；’neverexplainingwhatexactstyleofsatisfactionsheimaginedsheshouldgivetoherdeadfriendbymarryingherlatehusband。
　　Phoebeplayednervouslywiththestringsofherblacksilkapron。LiketheCaliphintheEasternstory，awholelifetimeofpossibilitiespassedthroughhermindinaninstant，ofwhichpossibilitiesthequestionofquestionswas，Couldsheleavehersister？Attend，Phoebe，tothepresentmoment，andlistentowhatisbeingsaidbeforeyoudistressyourselfwithaperplexitywhichwillneverarise。’OfcourseithasbeenananxiousthingformetodecidewhoIshouldasktobethemistressofmyfamily，themotherofmygirl；butIthinkI’vedecidedrightlyatlast。TheladyIhavechosen——’’Tellusatoncewhosheis，there’sagoodman，’saidstraightforwardMissBrowning。’MrsKirkpatrick，’saidthebridegroomelect。’What！thegovernessattheTowers，thatthecountessmakessomuchof？’’Yes；sheismuchvaluedbythem—anddeservedlyso。ShekeepsaschoolnowatAshcombe，andisaccustomedtohousekeeping。ShehasbroughtuptheyoungladiesattheTowers，andhasadaughterofherown，thereforeitisprobableshewillhaveakind，motherlyfeelingtowardsMolly。’’She’saveryelegant—lookingwoman，’saidMissPhoebe，feelingitincumbentuponhertosaysomethinglaudatory，bywayofconcealingthethoughtsthathadjustbeenpassingthroughhermind。’I’veseenherinthecarriage，ridingbackwardswiththecountess；averyprettywoman，Ishouldsay。’’Nonsense，sister，’saidMissBrowning。’Whathashereleganceorprettinesstodowiththeaffair？Didyoueverknowawidowermarryagainforsuchtriflesasthose？It’salwaysfromasenseofdutyofonekindoranother—isn’tit，MrGibson？Theywantahousekeeper；ortheywantamotherfortheirchildren；ortheythinktheirlastwifewouldhavelikedit。’Perhapsthethoughthadpassedthroughtheeldersister’smindthatPhoebemighthavebeenchosenfortherewasasharpacrimonyinhertone；notunfamiliartoMrGibson，butwithwhichhedidnotchoosetocopeatthispresentmoment。’Youmusthaveityourownway，MissBrowning。Settlemymotivesforme。
　　Idon’tpretendtobequiteclearaboutthemmyself。ButIamclearinwishingheartilytokeepmyoldfriends，andforthemtolovemyfuturewifeformysake。Idon’tknowanytwowomenintheworld，exceptMollyandMrsKirkpatrick，IregardasmuchasIdoyou。Besides，IwanttoaskyouifyouwillletMollycomeandstaywithyoutillaftermymarriage？’’YoumighthaveaskedusbeforeyouaskedMadamHamley，’saidMissBrowning，onlyhalfmollified。’Weareyouroldfriends；andwewerehermother’sfriends，too；thoughwearenotcountyfolk。’’That’sunjust，’saidMrGibson。’Andyouknowitis。’’Idon’tknow。YouarealwayswithLordHollingford，whenyoucangetathim，muchmorethanyoueverarewithMrGoodenough，orMrSmith。AndyouarealwaysgoingovertoHamley。’MissBrowningwasnotonetogiveinallatonce。’IseekLordHollingfordasIshouldseeksuchaman，whateverhisrankorpositionmightbe：ushertoaschool，carpenter，shoemaker，ifitwerepossibleforthemtohavehadasimilarcharacterofminddevelopedbysimilaradvantages。MrGoodenoughisaverycleverattorney，withstronglocalinterestsandnotathoughtbeyond。’’Well，well，don’tgoonarguing，italwaysgivesmeaheadache，asPhoebeknows。Ididn’tmeanwhatIsaid，that’senough，isn’tit？I’llretractanythingsoonerthanbereasonedwith。Wherewerewebeforeyoubeganyourarguments？’’AboutdearlittleMollycomingtopayusavisit，’saidMissPhoebe。’Ishouldhaveaskedyouatfirst，onlyCoxewassorampantwithhislove。
　　Ididn’tknowwhathemightdo，orhowtroublesomehemightbebothtoMollyandyou。Buthehascooleddownnow。Absencehashadaverytranquillizingeffect，andIthinkMollymaybeinthesametownwithhim，withoutanyconsequencesbeyondafewsighseverytimeshe’sbroughttohismindbymeetingher。AndI’vegotanotherfavourtoaskofyou，soyouseeitwouldneverdoformetoarguewithyou，MissBrowning，whenIoughttobeahumblesuppliant。SomethingmustbedonetothehousetomakeitallreadyforthefutureMrsGibson。Itwantspaintingandpaperingshamefully，andIshouldthinksomenewfurniture，butI’msureIdon’tknowwhat。Wouldyoubesoverykindastolookovertheplace，andseehowfarahundredpoundswillgo？Thedining—roomwallsmustbepainted；we’llkeepthedrawing—roompaperforherchoice，andI’vealittlesparemoneyforthatroomforhertolayout；butalltherestofthehouseI’llleavetoyou，ifyou’llonlybekindenoughtohelpanoldfriend。’ThiswasacommissionwhichexactlygratifiedMissBrowning’sloveofpower。
　　Thedisposalofmoneyinvolvedpatronageoftradespeople，suchasshehadexercisedinherfather’slifetime，buthadhadverylittlechanceofshowingsincehisdeath。Herusualgood—humourwasquiterestoredbythisproofofconfidenceinhertasteandeconomy，whileMissPhoebe’simaginationdweltratheronthepleasureofavisitfromMolly。
　　chapter13CHAPTERXIIIMOLLYGIBSON’SNEWFRIENDSTimewasspeedingon；itwasnowthemiddleofAugust，—ifanythingwastobedonetothehouse，itmustbedoneatonce。Indeed，inseveralwaysMrGibson’sarrangementswithMissBrowninghadnotbeenmadetoosoon。
　　ThesquirehadheardthatOsbornemightprobablyreturnhomeforafewdaysbeforegoingabroad；and，thoughthegrowingintimacybetweenRogerandMollydidnotalarmhimintheleast，yethewaspossessedbyaveryheartypaniclesttheheirmighttakeafancytothesurgeon’sdaughter；
　　andhewasinsuchafidgetforhertoleavethehousebeforeOsbornecamehome，thathiswifelivedinconstantterrorlestheshouldmakeittooobvioustotheirvisitor。Everyyounggirlofseventeenorso，whoisatallthoughtful，isveryapttomakeaPopeoutofthefirstpersonwhopresentstoheraneworlargersystemofdutythanthatbywhichshehasbeenunconsciouslyguidedhitherto。SuchaPopewasRogertoMolly；shelookedtohisopinion，tohisauthorityonalmosteverysubject，yethehadonlysaidoneortwothingsinatersemannerwhichgavethemtheforceofprecepts—stableguidestoherconduct，andhadshownthenaturalsuperiorityinwisdomandknowledgewhichissuretoexistbetweenahighlyeducatedyoungmanofnocommonintelligence，andanignorantgirlofseventeen，whoyetwaswellcapableofappreciation。Still，althoughtheyweredrawntogetherinthisverypleasantrelationship，eachwasimaginingsomeoneverydifferentforthefutureowneroftheirwholeheart—theirhighestandcompletestlove。Rogerlookedtofindagrandwoman，hisequal，andhisempress；beautifulinperson，sereneinwisdom，readyforcounsel，aswasEgeria。’Molly’slittlewaveringmaidenfancydweltontheunseenOsborne，whowasnowatroubadour，andnowaknight，suchashewroteaboutinoneofhisownpoems；someonelikeOsborne，perhaps，ratherthanOsbornehimself，forsheshrankfromgivingapersonalformandnametotheherothatwastobe。ThesquirewasnotunwiseinwishingherwelloutofthehousebeforeOsbornecamehome，ifhewasconsideringherpeaceofmind。Yet，whenshewentawayfromthehallhemissedherconstantly；ithadbeensopleasanttohavehertheredailyfulfillingalltheprettyofficesofadaughter；
　　cheeringthemeals，sooftentê；te—à；—tê；tebetwixthimandRoger，withherinnocentwisequestions，herlivelyinterestintheirtalk，hermerryrepliestohisbanter。AndRogermissedhertoo。Sometimesherremarkshadprobedintohismind，andexcitedhimtothedeepthoughtinwhichhedelighted；atothertimeshehadfelthimselfofrealhelptoherinherhoursofneed，andinmakinghertakeaninterestinbooks，whichtreatedofhigherthingsthanthecontinualfictionandpoetrywhichshehadhithertoread。Hefeltsomethinglikeanaffectionatetutorwhowassuddenlydeprivedofhismostpromisingpupil；hewonderedhowshewouldgoonwithouthim；whethershewouldbepuzzledanddisheartenedbythebookshehadlenthertoread；howsheandherstepmotherwouldgetalongtogether？Sheoccupiedhisthoughtsagooddealthosefirstfewdaysaftersheleftthehall。MrsHamleyregrettedhermore，andlongerthandidtheothertwo。Shehadgivenhertheplaceofadaughterinherheart；andnowshemissedthesweetfemininecompanionship，theplayfulcaresses，thenever—ceasingattentions；theveryneedofsympathyinhersorrows，thatMollyhadshownsoopenlyfromtimetotime；allthesethingshadextremelyendearedhertothetenderheartedMrsHamley。Molly，too，feltthechangeofatmospherekeenly；andsheblamedherselfforsofeelingevenmorekeenlystill。Butshecouldnothelphavingasenseofrefinement，whichhadmadeherappreciatethewholemannerofbeingattheHall。ByherdearoldfriendstheMissBrowningsshewaspettedandcaressedsomuchthatshebecameashamedofnoticingthecoarserandloudertonesinwhichtheyspoke，theprovincialismoftheirpronunciation，theabsenceofinterestinthings，andtheirgreedinessofdetailsaboutpersons。Theyaskedherquestionswhichshewaspuzzledenoughtoansweraboutherfuturestepmother；herloyaltytoherfatherforbiddinghertoreplyfullyandtruthfully。ShewasalwaysgladwhentheybegantomakeinquiriesastoeverypossibleaffairattheHall。Shehadbeensohappythere；shelikedthemall，downtotheverydogs，sothoroughly，thatitwaseasyworkreplying：shedidnotmindtellingthemeverything，eventothestyleofMrsHamley’sinvaliddress；norwhatwinethesquiredrankatdinner。Indeed，talkingaboutthesethingshelpedhertorecallthehappiesttimeinherlife。Butoneevening，astheywereallsittingtogetherafterteainthelittleupstairsdrawing—room，lookingintotheHighStreet—MollydiscoursingawayonthevariouspleasuresofHamleyHall，andjustthentellingofallRoger’swisdominnaturalscience，andsomeofthecuriositieshehadshownher，shewassuddenlypulledupbythislittlespeech，—’YouseemtohaveseenagreatdealofMrRoger，Molly！’saidMissBrowning，inawayintendedtoconveyagreatdealofmeaningtohersisterandnoneatalltoMolly。But，—Themanrecoveredofthebite；Thedogitwasthatdied。’MollywasperfectlyawareofMissBrowning’semphatictone，thoughatfirstshewasperplexedastoitscause；whileMissPhoebewasjustthentoomuchabsorbedinknittingtheheelofherstockingtobefullyalivetohersister’snodsandwinks。’Yes；hewasverykindtome，’saidMolly，slowly，ponderingoverMissBrowning’smanner，andunwillingtosaymoreuntilshehadsatisfiedherselftowhatthequestiontended。’IdaresayyouwillsoonbegoingtoHamleyHallagain？He’snottheeldestson，。youknow，Phoebe！Don’tmakemyheadachewithyoureternal"eighteen，nineteen，"butattendtotheconversation。MollyistellingushowmuchshesawofMrRoger，andhowkindhewastoher。I’vealwaysheardhewasaveryniceyoungman，mydear。Tellussomemoreabouthim！Now，Phoebe，attend！Howwashekindtoyou，Molly？’’Oh，hetoldmewhatbookstoread；andonedayhemademenoticehowmanybeesIsaw——’’Bees，child！Whatdoyoumean？Eitheryouorhemusthavebeencrazy！’’No，notatall。TherearemorethantwohundredkindsofbeesinEngland，andhewantedmetonoticethedifferencebetweenthemandflies。MissBrowning，Ican’thelpseeingwhatyoufancy，’saidMolly，asredasfire，’butitisverywrong；itisallamistake。Iwon’tspeakanotherwordaboutMrRogerorHamleyatall，ifitputssuchsillynotionsintoyourhead。’’Highty—tighty！Here’sayoungladytobelecturingherelders！Sillynotions，indeed！Theyareinyourhead，itseems。Andletmetellyou，Molly，youaretooyoungtoletyourmindberunningonlovers。’Mollyhadbeenonceortwicecalledsaucyandimpertinent，andcertainlyalittlesaucinesscameoutnow。