’Ineversaidwhatthe"sillynotion"was，MissBrowning；didInow，MissPhoebe？Don’tyousee，dearMissPhoebe，itisallherowninterpretation，andaccordingtoherownfancy，thisfoolishtalkaboutlovers？’Mollywasflamingwithindignation；butshehadappealedtothewrongpersonforjustice。MissPhoebetriedtomakepeaceafterthefashionofweak—mindedpersons，whowouldcoverovertheunpleasantsightofasore，insteadoftryingtohealit。’I’msureIdon’tknowanythingaboutit，mydear。ItseemstomethatwhatSallywassayingwasverytrue—verytrueindeed；andIthink，love，youmisunderstoodher；or，perhaps，shemisunderstoodyou；orImaybemisunderstandingitaltogether；sowe’dbetternottalkanymoreaboutit。WhatpricedidyousayyouweregoingtogiveforthedruggetinMrGibson’sdining—room，sister？’SoMissBrowningandMollywentontillevening，eachchafedandangrywiththeother。Theywishedeachothergood—night，goingthroughtheusualformsinthecoolestmannerpossible。Mollywentuptoherlittlebedroom，cleanandneatasabedroomcouldbe，withdraperiesofsmalldelicatepatchwork—bed—curtains，window—curtains，andcounter—pane；ajapannedtoilette—table，fulloflittleboxes，withasmalllooking—glassaffixedtoit，thatdistortedeveryfacethatwassounwiseastolookinit。Thisroomhadbeentothechildoneofthemostdaintyandluxuriousplaceseverseen，incomparisonwithherownbare，white—dimitybedroom；
　　andnowshewassleepinginit，asaguest，andallthequaintadornmentsshehadoncepeepedatasagreatfavour，astheywerecarefullywrappedupincap—paper，weresetoutforheruse。Andyethowlittleshehaddeservedthishospitablecare；howimpertinentshehadbeen；howcrossshehadfelteversince！Shewascryingtearsofpenitenceandyouthfulmiserywhentherecamealowtaptothedoor。Mollyopenedit，andtherestoodMissBrowning，inawonderfulerectionofanightcap，andscantilyattiredinacolouredcalicojacketoverherscrimpyandshortwhitepetticoat。’Iwasafraidyouwereasleep，child，’saidshe，cominginandshuttingthedoor。’ButIwantedtosaytoyouwe’vegotwrongto—day，somehow；
　　andIthinkitwasperhapsmydoing。It’saswellPhoebeshouldn’tknow，forshethinksmeperfect；andwhenthere’sonlytwoofus，wegetalongbetterifoneofusthinkstheothercandonowrong。ButIratherthinkIwasalittlecross。We’llnotsayanymoreaboutit，Molly；onlywe’llgotosleepfriends，—andfriendswe’llalwaysbe，child，won’twe？Nowgivemeakiss，anddon’tcryandswellyoureyesup；—andputoutyourcandlecarefully。’’Iwaswrong—itwasmyfault，’saidMolly，kissingher。’Fiddlestick—ends！Don’tcontradictme！Isayitwasmyfault，andIwon’thearanotherwordaboutit。’ThenextdayMollywentwithMissBrowningtoseethechangesgoingoninherfather’shouse。Tohertheywerebutdismalimprovements。Thefaintgreyofthedining—roomwalls，whichhadharmonizedwellenoughwiththedeepcrimsonofthemoreencurtains，andwhichwhenwellcleanedlookedthinlycoatedratherthandirty，wasnowexchangedforapinksalmon—colourofaveryglowinghue；andthenewcurtainswereofthatpalesea—greenjustcomingintofashion。’Verybrightandpretty，’MissBrowningcalledit；andinthefirstrenewingoftheirloveMollycouldnotbeartocontradicther。Shecouldonlyhopethatthegreenandbrowndruggetwouldtonedownthebrightnessandprettiness。Therewasscaffoldinghere，scaffoldingthere，andBettyscoldingeverywhere。’Comeupnow，andseeyourpapa’sbedroom。He’ssleepingupstairsinyours，thateverythingmaybedoneupafreshinhis。’Mollycouldjustremember，infaintclearlinesofdistinctness，thebeingtakenintothisveryroomtobidfarewelltoherdyingmother。Shecouldseethewhitelinen，thewhitemuslin，surroundingthepale，wanwistfulface，withthelarge，longingeyes，yearningforonemoretouchofthelittlesoftwarmchild，whomshewastoofeebletoclaspinherarms，alreadygrowingnumbindeath。ManyatimewhenMollyhadbeeninthisroomsincethatsadday，hadsheseeninvividfancythatsamewanwistfulfacelyingonthepillow，theoutlineoftheformbeneaththeclothes；andthegirlhadnotshrunkfromsuchvisions，butrathercherishedthem，aspreservingtohertheremembranceofhermother’soutwardsemblance。Hereyeswerefulloftears，asshefollowedMissBrowningintothisroomtoseeitunderitsnewaspect。Nearlyeverythingwaschanged—thepositionofthebedandthecolourofthefurniture；therewasagrandtoilette—tablenow，withaglassuponit，insteadoftheprimitivesubstituteofthetopofachestofdrawers，withamirroraboveuponthewall，slopingdownwards；
　　theselatterthingshadservedhermotherduringhershortmarriedlife。’Youseewemusthaveallinorderforaladywhohaspassedsomuchofhertimeinthecountess’smansion，’saidMissBrowning，whowasnowquitereconciledtothemarriage，thankstothepleasantemploymentoffurnishingthathaddevolveduponherinconsequence。’Cromer，theupholsterer，wantedtopersuademetohaveasofaandawriting—table。Thesemenwillsayanythingisthefashion，iftheywanttosellanarticle。Isaid，"No，no，Cromer：
　　bedroomsareforsleepingin，andsitting—roomsareforsittingin。Keepeverythingtoitsrightpurpose，anddon’ttryanddeludemeintononsense。"
　　Why，mymotherwouldhavegivenusafinescoldingifshehadevercaughtusinourbedroomsinthedaytime。Wekeptouroutdoorthingsinaclosetdownstairs；andtherewasaverytidyplaceforwashingourhands，whichisasmuchasonewantsintheday—time。Stuffingupabedroomwithsofasandtables！Ineverheardofsuchathing。Besides，ahundredpoundswon’tlastforever。Ishan’tbeabletodoanythingforyourroom，Molly！’’I’mrightdowngladofit，’saidMolly。’Nearlyeverythinginitwaswhatmammahadwhenshelivedwithmygreat—uncle。Iwouldn’thavehaditchangedfortheworld；Iamsofondofit。’’Well，there’snodangerofit，nowthemoneyisrunout。Bytheway，Molly，who’stobuyyouabridesmaid’sdress？’’Idon’tknow，’saidMolly；’IsupposeIamtobeabridesmaid；butnoonehasspokentomeaboutmydress。’’ThenIshallaskyourpapa。’’Please，don’t。Hemusthavetospendagreatdealofmoneyjustnow。Besides，Iwouldrathernotbeatthewedding，ifthey’llletmestayaway。’’Nonsense，child。Why，allthetownwouldbetalkingofit。Youmustgo，andyoumustbewelldressed，foryourfather’ssake。’ButMrGibsonhadthoughtofMolly’sdress，althoughhehadsaidnothingaboutittoher。Hehadcommissionedhisfuturewifetogetherwhatwasrequisite；andpresentlyaverysmartdressmakercameoverfromthecounty—towntotryonadress，whichwasbothsosimpleandsoelegantasatoncetocharmMolly。Whenitcamehomeallreadytoputon，Mollyhadaprivatedressing—upfortheMissBrownings’benefit；andshewasalmoststartledwhenshelookedintotheglass，andsawtheimprovementinherappearance。
　　’IwonderifI’mpretty，’thoughtshe。’IalmostthinkIam—inthiskindofdressImean，ofcourse。Bettywouldsay，"Finefeathersmakefinebirds。"’Whenshewentdownstairsinherbridalattire，andwithshyblushespresentedherselfforinspection，shewasgreetedwithaburstofadmiration。’Well，uponmyword！Ishouldn’thaveknownyou。’（’Finefeathers，’thoughtMolly，andcheckedherrisingvanity。）’Youarereallybeautiful—isn’tshe，sister？’saidMissPhoebe。’Why，mydear，ifyouwerealwaysdressed，youwouldbeprettierthanyourdearmamma，whomwealwaysreckonedsoverypersonable。’’You’renotabitlikeher。Youfavouryourfather，andwhitealwayssetsoffabrowncomplexion。’’Butisn’tshebeautiful？’perseveredMissPhoebe。’Well！andifsheis，Providencemadeher，andnotsheherself。Besides，thedressmakermustgoshares。WhatafineIndiamuslinitis！it’llhavecostaprettypenny！’MrGibsonandMollydroveovertoAshcombe，thenightbeforethewedding，intheoneyellowpost—chaisethatHollingfordpossessed。TheyweretobeMrPreston’s，or，rather，mylord’s，guestsattheManor—house。TheManor—housecameuptoitsname，anddelightedMollyatfirstsight。Itwasbuiltofstone，hadmanygablesandmullionedwindows，andwascoveredoverwithVirginiancreeperandlate—blowingroses。MollydidnotknowMrPreston，whostoodinthedoorwaytogreetherfather。Shetookstandingwithhimasayoungladyatonce，anditwasthefirsttimeshehadmetwiththekindofbehaviour—halfcomplimentary，halfflirting—whichsomementhinkitnecessarytoassumewitheverywomanunderfive—and—twenty。
　　MrPrestonwasveryhandsome，andknewit。Hewasafairman，withlight—brownhairandwhiskers；grey，roving，well—shapedeyes，withlashesdarkerthanhishair；andafigurerenderedeasyandsupplebytheathleticexercisesinwhichhisexcellencewasfamous，andwhichhadprocuredhimadmissionintomuchhighersocietythanhewasotherwiseentitledtoenter。Hewasacapitalcricketer；wassogoodashot，thatanyhousedesirousofreputationforitsbagsonthe12thorthe1st，wasgladtohavehimforaguest。
　　Hetaughtyoungladiestoplaybilliardsonawetday，orwentinforthegameinseriousearnestwhenrequired，Heknewhalftheprivatetheatricalplaysoffbyheart，andwasinvaluableinarrangingimpromptucharadesandtableaux。HehadhisownprivatereasonsforwishingtogetupaflirtationwithMollyjustatthistime；hehadamusedhimselfsomuchwiththewidowwhenshefirstcametoAshcombe，thathefanciedthatthesightofhim，standingbyherlesspolished，lesshandsome，middle—agedhusband，mightbetoomuchofacontrasttobeagreeable。Besides，hehadreallyastrongpassionforsomeoneelse；someonewhowouldbeabsent；andthatpassionitwasnecessaryforhimtoconceal。Sothat，altogether，hehadresolved，evenhad’thelittleGibson—girl’（ashecalledher）beenlessattractivethanshewas，todevotehimselftoherforthenextsixteenhours。Theyweretakenbytheirhostintoawainscotedparlour，whereawoodfirecrackledandburnt，andthecrimsoncurtainsshutoutthewaningdayandtheouterchill。Herethetablewaslaidfordinner；snowytable—linen，brightsilver，clearsparklingglass，wineandanautumnaldessertonthesideboard。YetMrPrestonkeptapologizingtoMollyfortherudenessofhisbachelorhome，forthesmallnessoftheroom，thegreatdining—roombeingalreadyappropriatedbyhishousekeeper，inpreparationforthemorrow’sbreakfast。AndthenherangforaservanttoshowMollytoherroom。Shewastakenintoamostcomfortablechamber。awoodfireonthehearth，candleslightedonthetoilette—table，darkwoollencurtainssurroundingasnow—whitebed，greatvasesofchinastandinghereandthere。’ThisismyLadyHarriet’sroomwhenherladyshipcomestotheManor—housewithmylordtheearl，’saidthehousemaid，strikingoutthousandsofbrilliantsparksbyawell—directedblowatasmoulderinglog。’ShallIhelpyoutodress，miss？Ialwayshelpsherladyship。’Molly，quiteawareofthefactthatshehadbutherwhitemuslingownfortheweddingbesidesthatshehadon，dismissedthegoodwoman，andwasthankfultobelefttoherself。’Dinner’wasitcalled？Whyitwasnearlyeighto’clock；andpreparationsforbedseemedamorenaturalemploymentthandressingatthishourofnight。Allthedressingshecouldmanagewastheplacingofareddamaskroseortwointhebandofhergreystuffgown，therebeingagreatnosegayofchoiceautumnalflowersonthetoilette—table。Shedidtrytheeffectofanothercrimsonroseinherblackhair，justaboveherear；itwasverypretty，buttoocoquettish，andsosheputitbackagain。Thedark—oakpanelsandwainscotingofthewholehouseseemedtoglowinwarmlight；thereweresomanyfiresindifferentrooms，inthehall，andevenoneonthelandingofthestaircase。MrPrestonmusthaveheardherstep，forhemetherinthehall，andledherintoasmalldrawing—room，withclosedfolding—doorsononeside，openingintothelargerdrawing—room，ashetoldher。ThisroomintowhichsheenteredremindedheralittleofHamley—yellow—satinupholsteryofseventyorahundredyearsago，alldelicatelykeptandscrupulouslyclean；greatIndiancabinets，andchinajars，emittingspicyodours；alargeblazingfire，beforewhichherfatherstoodinhismorningdress，graveandthoughtful，ashehadbeenallday。’ThisroomisthatwhichLadyHarrietuseswhenshecomesherewithherfatherforadayortwo，’saidMrPreston。AndMollytriedtosaveherfatherbybeingreadytotalkherself。’Doessheoftencomehere？’’Notoften。ButIfancyshelikesbeingherewhenshedoes。PerhapsshefindsitanagreeablechangeafterthemoreformallifesheleadsattheTowers。’’Ishouldthinkitwasaverypleasanthousetostayat，’saidMolly，rememberingthelookofwarmcomfortthatpervadedit。ButalittletoherdismayMrPrestonseemedtotakeitasacomplimenttohimself。’Iwasafraidayoungladylikeyoumightperceivealltheincongruitiesofabachelor’shome。Iamverymuchobligedtoyou，MissGibson。IngeneralIliveprettymuchintheroominwhichweshalldine；andIhaveasortofagent’sofficeinwhichIkeepbooksandpapers，andreceivecallersonbusiness。’Thentheywentintodinner。Mollythoughteverythingthatwasservedwasdelicious，andcookedtothepointofperfection；buttheydidnotseemtosatisfyMrPreston，whoapologizedtohisguestsseveraltimesforthebadcookingofthisdish，ortheomissionofaparticularsaucetothat；
　　alwaysreferringtobachelor’shousekeeping，bachelor’sthisandbachelor’sthat，tillMollygrewquiteimpatientattheword。Herfather’sdepression，whichwasstillcontinuingandrenderinghimverysilent，madeheruneasy；
　　yetshewishedtoconcealitfromMrPreston；andsoshetalkedaway，tryingtoobviatethesortofpersonalbearingwhichtheirhostwouldgivetoeverything。Shedidnotknowwhentoleavethegentlemen，butherfathermadeasigntoher；andshewasconductedbacktotheyellowdrawing—roombyMrPreston，whomademanyapologiesforleavinghertherealone。Sheenjoyedherselfextremely，however，feelingatlibertytoprowlabout，andexamineallthecuriositiestheroomcontained。AmongotherthingswasaLouisQuinzecabinetwithlovelyminiaturesinenamelletintothefinewoodwork。Shecarriedacandletoit，andwaslookingintentlyatthesefaceswhenherfatherandMrPrestoncamein。Herfatherlookedstillcarewornandanxious；hecameupandpattedherontheback，lookedatwhatshewaslookingat，andthenwentofftosilenceandthefire。MrPrestontookthecandleoutofherhand，andthrewhimselfintoherinterestswithanairofreadygallantry。’ThatissaidtobeMademoiselledeStQuentin，agreatbeautyattheFrenchCourt。ThisisMadameduBarri。DoyouseeanylikenessinMademoiselledeStQuentintoanyoneyouknow？’Hehadloweredhisvoicealittleasheaskedthisquestion。’No！’saidMolly，lookingatitagain。’Ineversawanyonehalfsobeautiful。’’Butdon’tyouseealikeness—intheeyesparticularly？’heaskedagain，withsomeimpatience。Mollytriedhardtofindoutaresemblance，andwasagainunsuccessful。’Itconstantlyremindsmeof—ofMissKirkpatrick。’’Doesit？’saidMolly，eagerly。’Oh！Iamsoglad—I’veneverseenher，soofcourseIcouldn’tfindoutthelikeness。Youknowher，then，doyou？
　　Pleasetellmeallabouther。’Hehesitatedamomentbeforespeaking。Hesmiledalittlebeforereplying。’She’sverybeautiful；thatofcourseisunderstoodwhenIsaythatthisminiaturedoesnotcomeuptoherforbeauty。’’Andbesides？—Goon，please。’’Whatdoyoumeanby"besides"？’’Oh！Isupposeshe’sverycleverandaccomplished？’ThatwasnotintheleastwhatMollywantedtoask；butitwasdifficulttowordthevaguevastnessofherunspokeninquiry。’Sheisclevernaturally；shehaspickedupaccomplishments。Butshehassuchacharmabouther，oneforgetswhatsheherselfisinthehalothatsurroundsher。Youaskmeallthis，MissGibson，andIanswertruthfully；
　　orelseIshouldnotentertainoneyoungladywithmyenthusiasticpraisesofanother。’’Idon’tseewhynot，’saidMolly。’Besides，ifyouwouldn’tdoitingeneral，Ithinkyououghttodoitinmycase；foryou，perhaps，don’tknow，butsheiscomingtolivewithuswhensheleavesschool，andweareverynearlythesameage；soitwillbealmostlikehavingasister。’’Sheistolivewithyou，isshe？’saidMrPreston，towhomthisintelligencewasnews。’Andwhenisshetoleaveschool？Ithoughtshewouldsurelyhavebeenatthiswedding；butIwastoldshewasnottocome。Whenisshetoleaveschool？’’IthinkitistobeatEaster。Youknowshe’satBoulogne，andit’salongjourneyforhertocomealone；orelsepapawishedforhertobeatthemarriageverymuchindeed。’’Andhermotherpreventedit？—Iunderstand。’’No，itwasn’thermother；itwastheFrenchschoolmistress，whodidn’tthinkitdesirable。’’Itcomestoprettymuchthesamething。Andshe’storeturnandlivewithyouafterEaster？’’Ibelieveso。Issheagraveoramerryperson？’’Neververygrave，asfarasIhaveseenofher。Sparklingwouldbethewordforher，Ithink。Doyoueverwritetoher？Ifyoudo，prayremembermetoher，andtellherhowwehavebeentalkingabouther—youandI。’’Ineverwritetoher，’saidMolly，rathershortly。Teacamein；andafterthattheyallwenttobed，Mollyheardherfatherexclaimatthefireinhisbedroom，andMrPreston’sreply，—’Ipiquemyselfonmykeenrelishforallcreaturecomforts，andalsoonmypowerofdoingwithoutthem，ifneedbe。Mylord’swoodsareample，andIindulgemyselfwithafireinmybedroomforninemonthsintheyear；
　　yetIcouldtravelinIcelandwithoutwincingfromthecold。’
　　chapter14CHAPTERXIVMOLLYFINDSHERSELFPATRONIZEDTheweddingwentoffmuchassuchaffairsdo。LordCumnorandLadyHarrietdroveoverfromtheTowers，sothehourfortheceremonywasaslateaspossible。LordCumnorcameovertoofficiateasthebride’sfather，andwasinmoreopengleethaneitherbrideorbridegroom，oranyoneelse。
　　LadyHarrietcameasasortofamateurbridesmaid，to’shareMolly’sduties，’
　　asshecalledit。TheywentfromtheManor—houseintwocarriagestothechurchinthepark，MrPrestonandMrGibsoninone，andMolly，toherdismay，shutupwithLordCumnorandLadyHarrietintheother。LadyHarriet’sgownofwhitemuslinhadseenoneortwogarden—parties，andwasnotinthefreshestorder；ithadbeenratherafreakoftheyounglady’satthelastmoment。Shewasverymerry，andverymuchinclinedtotalktoMolly，bywayoffindingoutwhatsortofalittlepersonageClarewastohaveforherfuturedaughter。Shebegan，—’Wemustn’tcrushthisprettymuslindressofyours。Putitoverpapa’sknee；hedoesn’tminditintheleast。’’What，mydear，awhitedress！—no，tobesurenot。Iratherlikeit。
　　Besides，goingtoawedding，whomindsanything？Itwouldbedifferentifweweregoingtoafuneral。’Mollyconscientiouslystrovetofindoutthemeaningofthisspeech；butbeforeshehaddoneso，LadyHarrietspokeagain，goingtothepoint，asshealwayspiquedherselfondoing。’Idaresayit’ssomethingofatrialtoyou，thissecondmarriageofyourfather’s；butyou’llfindClarethemostamiableofwomen。Shealwaysletmehavemyownway，andI’venodoubtshe’llletyouhaveyours。’’Imeantotryandlikeher，’saidMolly，inalowvoice，tryinghardtokeepdownthetearsthatwouldkeeprisingtohereyesthismorning。’I’veseenverylittleofheryet。’’Why，it’stheverybestthingforyouthatcouldhavehappened，mydear，’
　　saidLordCumnor。’You’regrowingupintoayounglady—andaveryprettyyounglady，too，ifyou’llallowanoldmantosayso—andwhosoproperasyourfather’swifetobringyouout，andshowyouoff，andtakeyoutoballs，andthatkindofthing？Ialwayssaidthismatchthatisgoingtocomeoffto—daywasthemostsuitablethingIeverknew；andit’sevenabetterthingforyouthanforthepeoplethemselves。’’Poorchild！’saidLadyHarriet，whohadcaughtasightofMolly’stroubledface，’thethoughtofballsistoomuchforherjustnow；butyou’lllikehavingCynthiaKirkpatrickforacompanion，shan’tyou，dear？’’Verymuch，’saidMolly，cheeringupalittle。’Doyouknowher？’’Oh，I’veseenheroverandoveragainwhenshewasalittlegirl，andonceortwicesince。She’stheprettiestcreaturethatyoueversaw；andwitheyesthatmeanmischief，ifI’mnotmistaken。ButClarekeptherspiritunderprettywellwhenshewasstayingwithus，—afraidofherbeingtroublesome，Ifancy。’BeforeMollycouldshapehernextquestion，theywereatthechurch；andsheandLadyHarrietwentintoapewnearthedoortowaitforthebride，inwhosetraintheyweretoproceedtothealtar。Theearldroveonalonetofetchherfromherownhouse，notaquarterofamiledistant。Itwaspleasanttohertobeledtothehymenealaltarbyabeltedearl，andpleasanttohavehisdaughterasavolunteeredbridesmaid。MrsKirkpatrickinthisflushofsmallgratifications，andonthebrinkofmatrimonywithamanwhomsheliked，andwhowouldbeboundtosupportherwithoutanyexertionofherown，lookedbeaminglyhappyandhandsome。AlittlecloudcameoverherfaceatthesightofMrPreston，—thesweetperpetuityofhersmilewasratherdisturbedashefollowedinMrGibson’swake。Buthisfaceneverchanged；hebowedtohergravely，andthenseemedabsorbedintheservice。
　　Tenminutes，andallwasover。Thebrideandbridegroomweredrivingtê；te—à；—tê；tetotheManor—house，MrPrestonwaswalkingthitherbyashortcut，andMollywasagaininthecarriagewithmylord，rubbinghishandsandchuckling，andLadyHarriet，tryingtobekindandconsolatory，whenhersilencewouldhavebeenthebestcomfort。Mollyfoundout，toherdismay，thattheplanwasforhertoreturnwithLordCumnorandLadyHarrietwhentheywentbacktotheTowersintheevening。
　　InthemeantimeLordCumnorhadbusinesstodowithMrPreston，andafterthehappycouplehaddrivenoffontheirweek’sholidaytour，shewastobeleftalonewiththeformidableLadyHarriet。Whentheywerebythemselvesafteralltheothershadbeenthusdisposedof，LadyHarrietsatestilloverthedrawing—roomfire，holdingascreen’betweenitandherface，butgazingintentlyatMollyforaminuteortwo。Mollywasfullyconsciousofthisprolongedlook，andwastryingtogetuphercouragetoreturnthestare，whenLadyHarrietsuddenlysaid，—’Ilikeyou；—youarealittlewildcreature，andIwanttotameyou。
　　Comehere，andsitonthisstoolbyme。Whatisyourname？orwhatdotheycallyou？—asNorth—countrypeoplewouldexpressit。’’MollyGibson。MyrealnameisMary。’’Mollyisanice，soft—soundingname。Peopleinthelastcenturyweren’tafraidofhomelynames；nowweareallsosmartandfine：nomore"LadyBettys"now。Ialmostwondertheyhaven’tre—christenedalltheworstedandknitting—cottonthatbearshername。FancyLadyConstantia’scotton，orLadyAnna—Maria’sworsted。’’Ididn’tknowtherewasaLadyBetty’scotton，’saidMolly。’Thatprovesyoudon’tdofancy—work！You’llfindClarewillsetyoutoit，though。Sheusedtosetmeatpieceafterpiece：knightskneelingtoladies；impossibleflowers。ButImustdoherthejusticetoaddthatwhenIgottiredofthemshefinishedthemherself。Iwonderhowyou’llgetontogether？’’SodoI！’sighedoutMolly，underherbreath。’IusedtothinkImanagedher，tillonedayanuncomfortablesuspicionarosethatallthetimeshehadbeenmanagingme。Stillit’seasyworktoletoneselfbemanaged；atanyratetillonewakensuptotheconsciousnessoftheprocess，andthenitmaybecomeamusing，ifonetakesitinthatlight。’’Ishouldhatetobemanaged，’saidMolly，indignantly。’I’lltryanddowhatshewishesforpapa’ssake，ifshe’llonlytellmeoutright；butI
　　shoulddisliketobetrappedintoanything。’’NowI，’saidLadyHarriet，’amtoolazytoavoidtraps；andIratherliketoremarktheclevernesswithwhichthey’reset。ButthenofcourseIknowthat，ifIchoosetoexertmyself，Icanbreakthroughthewithesofgreenflaxwithwhichtheytrytobindme。Now，perhaps，youwon’tbeable。’’Idon’tquiteunderstandwhatyoumean，’saidMolly。’Oh，well—nevermind；Idaresayit’saswellforyouthatyoushouldn’t。
　　ThemoralofallIhavebeensayingis，"Beagoodgirl，andsufferyourselftobeled，andyou’llfindyournewstepmotherthesweetestcreatureimaginable。"
　　You’llgetoncapitallywithher，Imakenodoubt。Howyou’llgetonwithherdaughterisanotheraffair；butIdaresayverywell。Nowwe’llringfortea；forIsupposethatheavybreakfastistostandforourlunch。’MrPrestoncameintotheroomjustatthistime，andMollywasalittlesurprisedatLadyHarriet’scoolmannerofdismissinghim，rememberingasshedidhowMrPrestonhadimpliedhisintimacywithherladyshiptheeveningbeforeatdinner—time。’Icannotbearthatsortofperson，’saidLadyHarriet，almostbeforehewasoutofhearing；’givinghimselfairsofgallantrytowardsonetowhomhissimplerespectisallhisduty。Icantalktooneofmyfather’slabourerswithpleasure，whilewithamanlikethatunderbredfopIamalloverthornsandnettles。WhatisittheIrishcallthatstyleofcreature？They’vegotsomecapitalwordforit，Iknow。Whatisit？’’Idon’tknow—Ineverheardit，’saidMolly，alittleashamedofherignorance。’Oh！thatshowsyou’veneverreadMissEdgeworth’stales；—now，haveyou？