shedesiredtohavehermealupstairsinherownroom；andpoorMolly，notdaringtotelltheservantsofthiswhim，hadtocarryupfirstatable，which，howeversmall，wastooheavyforher；andafterwardsallthechoiceportionsofthemeal，whichshehadtakengreatpainstoarrangeonthetable，asshehadseensuchthingsdoneatHamley，intermixedwithfruitandflowersthathadthatmorningbeensentinfromvariousgreathouseswhereMrGibsonwasrespectedandvalued。HowprettyMollyhadthoughtherhandiworkanhourortwobefore！Howdrearyitseemedas，atlastreleasedfromMrsGibson’sconversation，shesatedowninsolitudetocoldteaandthedrumsticksofthechicken！Noonetolookatherpreparations，andadmireherleft—handednessandtaste！Shehadthoughtthatherfatherwouldbegratifiedbyit，andthenhehadneverseenit。Shehadmeanthercaresasanofferingofgood—willtoherstepmother，whoevennowwasringingherbelltohavethetraytakenaway，andMissGibsonsummonedtoherbedroom，Mollyhastilyfinishedhermeal，andwentupstairsagain。’Ifeelsolonely，darling，inthisstrangehouse；docomeandbewithme，andhelpmetounpack。IthinkyourdearpapamighthaveputoffhisvisittoMrCravenSmithforjustthisoneevening。’’MrCravenSmithcouldn’tputoffhisdying，’saidMolly，bluntly。’Youdrollgirl！’saidMrsGibson，withafaintlaugh。’ButifthisMrSmithisdying，asyousay，what’stheuseofyourfather’sgoingofftohiminsuchahurry？Doesheexpectanylegacy，oranythingofthatkind？’Mollybitherlipstopreventherselffromsayingsomethingdisagreeable。
　　Sheonlyanswered，—’Idon’tquiteknowthatheisdying。Themansaidso；andpapacansometimesdosomethingtomakethelaststruggleeasier。Atanyrate，it’salwaysacomforttothefamilytohavehim。’’Whatdrearyknowledgeofdeathyouhavelearnedforagirlofyourage！
　　Really，ifIhadheardallthesedetailsofyourfather’sprofession，I
　　doubtifIcouldhavebroughtmyselftohavehim！’’Hedoesn’tmaketheillnessorthedeath；hedoeshisbestagainstthem。
　　Icallitaveryfinethingtothinkofwhathedoesortriestodo。Andyouwillthinkso，too，whenyouseehowheiswatchedfor，andhowpeoplewelcomehim！’’Well，don’tletustalkanymoreofsuchgloomythingsto—night！IthinkIshallgotobedatonce，Iamsotired，ifyouwillonlysitbymetillIgetsleepy，darling。Ifyouwilltalktome，thesoundofyourvoicewillsoonsendmeoff。"Mollygotabook，andreadherstepmothertosleep，preferringthattothehardertaskofkeepingupacontinualmurmurofspeech。Thenshestoledownandwentintothedining—room，wherethefirewasgoneout；purposelyneglectedbytheservants，tomarktheirdispleasureattheirnewmistress’shavinghadherteainherownroom。Mollymanagedtolightit，however，beforeherfathercamehome，andcollectedandrearrangedsomecomfortablefoodforhim。Thenshekneltdownagainonthehearth—rug，gazingintothefireinadreamyreverie，whichhadenoughofsadnessaboutittocausethetearstodropunnoticedfromhereyes。Butshejumpedup，andshookherselfintobrightnessatthesoundofherfather’sstep。’HowisMrCravenSmith？’saidshe。’Dead。Hejustrecognizedme。HewasoneofmyfirstpatientsoncomingtoHollingford。’MrGibsonsatedowninthearm—chairmadereadyforhim，andwarmedhishandsatthefire，seemingneithertoneedfoodnortalk，ashewentoveratrainofrecollections。Thenherousedhimselffromhissadness，andlookingroundtheroom，hesaidbrisklyenough，—’Andwhere’sthenewmamma？’’Shewastired，andwenttobedearly。Oh，papa！mustIcallher"mamma"？’’Ishouldlikeit，’repliedhe，withaslightcontractionofthebrows。Mollywassilent。Sheputacuporteanearhim；hestirredit，andsippedit，andthenherecurredtothesubject。’Whyshouldn’tyoucallher"mamma"？I’msureshemeanstodothedutyofamothertoyou。Weallmaymakemistakes，andherwaysmaynotbequiteallatonceourways；butatanyrateletusstartwithafamilybondbetweenus。’WhatwouldRogersaywasright？—thatwasthequestionthatrosetoMolly’smind。Shehadalwaysspokenofherfather’snewwifeasMrsGibson，andhadonceburstoutatMissBrownings’withaprotestationthatsheneverwouldcallher’mamma。’Shedidnotfeeldrawntohernewrelationbytheirintercoursethatevening。Shekeptsilence，thoughsheknewherfatherwasexpectingananswer。Atlasthegaveuphisexpectation，andturnedtoanothersubject；toldabouttheirjourney，questionedherastotheHamleys，theBrownings，LadyHarriet，andtheafternoontheyhadpassedtogetherattheManorHouse。Buttherewasacertainhardnessandconstraintinhismanner，andinhersaheavinessandabsenceofmind。Allatonceshesaid，—’Papa，Iwillcallher"mamma"！’Hetookherhand，andgraspedittight；butforaninstantortwohedidnotspeak。Thenhesaid，—’Youwon’tbesorryforit，Molly，whenyoucometolieaspoorCravenSmithdidto—night。’ForsometimethemurmursandgrumblingsofthetwoelderservantswereconfinedtoMolly’sears，thentheyspreadtoherfather’s，who，toMolly’sdismay，madesummaryworkwiththem。’Youdon’tlikeMrsGibson’sringingherbellsooften，don’tyou？You’vebeenspoilt，I’mafraid；butifyoudon’tconformtomywife’sdesires，youhavetheremedyinyourownhands，youknow。’Whatservanteverresistedthetemptationtogivewarningaftersuchaspeechasthat？BettytoldMollyshewasgoingtoleave，inasindifferentamannerasshecouldpossiblyassumetowardsthegirl，whomshehadtendedandbeenaboutforthelastsixteenyears。Mollyhadhithertoconsideredherformernurseasafixtureinthehouse；shewouldalmostassoonhavethoughtofherfather’sproposingtosevertherelationshipbetweenthem；
　　andherewasBettycoollytalkingoverwhetherhernextplaceshouldbeintownorcountry。Butagreatdealofthiswasassumedhardness。InaweekortwoBettywasinfloodsoftearsattheprospectofleavinghernursling，andwouldfainhavestayedandansweredallthebellsinthehouseonceeveryquarterofanhour。EvenMrGibson’smasculineheartwastouchedbythesorrowoftheoldservant，whichmadeitselfobvioustohimeverytimehecameacrossherbyherbrokenvoiceandherswolleneyes。OnedayhesaidtoMolly，’Iwishyou’daskyourmammaifBettymightnotstay，ifshemadeaproperapology，andallthatsortofthing。’’Idon’tmuchthinkitwillbeofanyuse，’saidMolly，inamournfulvoice。
　　’Iknowsheiswriting，orhaswritten，aboutsomeunder—housemaidattheTowers。’’Well！—allIwantispeaceandadecentquantityofcheerfulnesswhenIcomehome。Iseeenoughoftearsinotherpeople’shouses。Afterall，Bettyhasbeenwithussixteenyears—asortofserviceoftheantiqueworld。Butthewomanmaybehappierelsewhere。Doasyoulikeaboutaskingmamma；onlyifsheagrees，Ishallbequitewilling。’SoMollytriedherhandatmakingarequesttothateffecttoMrsGibson。
　　Herinstincttoldhersheshouldbeunsuccessful；butsurelyfavourwasneverrefusedinsosoftatone。’Mydeargirl，Ishouldneverhavethoughtofsendinganoldservantaway，—onewhohashadthechargeofyoufromyourbirth，ornearlyso。Icouldnothavehadthehearttodoit。Shemighthavestayedforeverforme，ifshehadonlyattendedtoallmywishes；andIamnotunreasonable，amI？But，yousee，shecomplained；andwhenyourdearpapaspoketoher，shegavewarning；anditisquiteagainstmyprinciplesevertotakeanapologyfromaservantwhohasgivenwarning。’’Sheissosorry，’pleadedMolly；’shesaysshewilldoanythingyouwish，andattendtoallyourorders，ifshemayonlystay。’’But，sweetone，youseemtoforgetthatIcannotgoagainstmyprinciples，howevermuchImaybesorryforBetty。Sheshouldnothavegivenwaytoill—temper。AsIsaidbefore，althoughIneverlikedher，andconsideredheramostinefficientservant，thoroughlyspoiltbyhavinghadnomistressforsolong，Ishouldhavebornewithher—atleast，IthinkIshould—aslongasIcould。NowIhaveallbutengagedMaria，whowasunder—housemaidattheTowers，sodon’tletmehearanymoreofBetty’ssorrow，oranybodyelse’ssorrow，forI’msure，whatwithyourdearpapa’ssadstoriesandotherthings，I’mgettingquitelow。’Mollywassilentforamomentortwo。’HaveyouquiteengagedMaria？’askedshe。’No—Isaid"allbutengaged。"Sometimesonewouldthinkyoudidnothearthings，dearMolly！’repliedMrsGibson，petulantly。’Mariaislivinginaplacewheretheydon’tgiveherasmuchwagesasshedeserves。Perhapstheycan’taffordit，poorthings！I’malwayssorryforpoverty，andwouldneverspeakhardlyofthosewhoarenotrich；butIhaveofferedhertwopoundsmorethanshegetsatpresent，soIthinkshe’llleave。Atanyrate，iftheyincreaseherwages，Ishallincreasemyofferinproportion；soIthinkI’msuretogether。Suchagenteelgirl！—alwaysbringsinaletteronasalver！’’PoorBetty！’saidMolly，softly。’Pooroldsoul！Ihopeshe’llprofitbythelesson，I’msure，’sighedoutMrsGibson；’butit’sapitywehadn’tMariabeforethecountyfamiliesbegantocall。’MrsGibsonhadbeenhighlygratifiedbythecircumstancesofsomanycalls’fromcountyfamilies。’Herhusbandwasmuchrespected；andmanyladiesfromvarioushalls，courts，andhouses，whohadprofitedbyhisservicestowardsthemselvesandtheirfamilies，thoughtitrighttopayhisnewwifetheattentionofacallwhentheydroveintoHollingfordtoshop。
　　ThestateofexpectationintowhichthesecallsthrewMrsGibsonratherdiminishedMrGibson’sdomesticcomfort。Itwasawkwardtobecarryinghot，savoury—smellingdishesfromthekitchentothedining—roomattheverytimewhenhigh—bornladies，withnosesofaristocraticrefinement，mightbecalling。StillmoreawkwardwastheaccidentwhichhappenedinconsequenceofclumsyBetty’shastetoopenthefrontdoortoaloftyfootman’sran—tan，whichcausedhertosetdownthebasketcontainingthedirtyplatesrightinhismistress’sway，asshesteppedgingerlythroughthecomparativedarknessofthehall；andthentheyoungmen，leavingthedining—roomquietlyenough，butburstingwithlong—repressedgiggle，ornolongerrestrainingtheirtendencytopracticaljoking，nomatterwhomightbeinthepassagewhentheymadetheirexit。TheremedyproposedbyMrsGibsonforallthesedistressinggrievanceswasalatedinner。Theluncheonfortheyoungmen，assheobservedtoherhusband，mightbesentintothesurgery。AfewelegantcoldtriflesforherselfandMollywouldnotscentthehouse，andshewouldalwaystakecaretohavesomelittledaintyreadyforhim。Heacceded，butunwillingly，foritwasaninnovationonthehabitsofalifetime，andhefeltasifheshouldneverbeabletoarrangehisroundsarightwiththisnewfanglednotionofasixo’clockdinner。’Don’tgetanydaintiesforme，mydear；breadandcheeseisthechiefofmydiet，likeitwasthatoftheoldwoman’s。"’Iknownothingofyouroldwoman，’repliedhiswife；’butreallyIcannotallowcheesetocomebeyondthekitchen。’’ThenI’lleatitthere，’saidhe。’It’sclosetothestable—yard，andifIcomeininahurryIcangetitinamoment。’’Really，MrGibson，itisastonishingtocompareyourappearanceandmannerswithyourtastes。Youlooksuchagentleman，asdearLadyCumnorusedtosay。’Thenthecookleft；alsoanoldservant，thoughnotsooldaoneasBetty。
　　Thecookdidnotlikethetroubleoflatedinners；and，beingaMethodist，sheobjectedonreligiousgroundstotryinganyofMrsGibson’snewreceiptsforFrenchdishes。Itwasnotscriptural，shesaid。TherewasadealofmentionoffoodintheBible；butitwasofsheepreadydressed，whichmeantmutton，andofwine，andofbread，andmilk，andfigsandraisins，offattedcalves，agoodwell—brownedfilletofveal，andsuchlike；butithadalwaysgoneagainstherconsciencetocookswine—fleshandmakeraisedpork—pies，andnowifshewastobesettocookheathendishesafterthefashionofthePapists，she’dsoonergiveitalluptogether。SothecookfollowedinBetty’strack，andMrGibsonhadtosatisfyhishealthyEnglishappetiteonbadlymadeomelettes，rissoles，vol—au—vents，croquets，andtimbales；neverbeingexactlysurewhathewaseating。Hehadmadeuphismindbeforehismarriagetoyieldintrifles，andbefirmingreaterthings。Butthedifferencesofopinionabouttriflesaroseeveryday，andwereperhapsmoreannoyingthaniftheyhadrelatedtothingsofmoreconsequence。Mollyknewherfather’slooksaswellassheknewheralphabet；hiswifedidnot；andbeinganunperceptiveperson，exceptwhenherowninterestsweredependentuponanotherperson’shumour，neverfoundouthowhewasworriedbyallthesmalldailyconcessionswhichhemadetoherwillorherwhims。Heneverallowedhimselftoputanyregretintoshape，eveninhisownmind；herepeatedlyremindedhimselfofhiswife’sgoodqualities，andcomfortedhimselfbythinkingtheyshouldworktogetherbetterastimerolledon；buthewasveryangryatabachelorgreat—uncleofMrCoxe’s，who，aftertakingnonoticeofhisred—headednephewforyears，suddenlysentforhim，aftertheoldmanhadpartiallyrecoveredfromaseriousattackofillness，andappointedhimhisheir，onconditionthathisgreat—nephewremainedwithhimduringtheremainderofhislife。ThishadhappenedalmostdirectlyafterMrandMrsGibson’sreturnfromtheirweddingjourney，andonceortwicesincethattimeMrGibsonhadfoundhimselfwonderingwhythedeuceoldBensoncouldnothavemadeuphismindsooner，andsohaveridhishouseoftheunwelcomepresenceoftheyounglover。TodoMrCoxejustice，intheverylastconversationhehadasapupilwithMrGibsonhehadsaid，withhesitatingawkwardness，thatperhapsthenewcircumstancesinwhichheshouldbeplacedmightmakesomedifferencewithregardtoMrGibson’sopinionon—’Notatall，’saidMrGibson，quickly。’Youarebothofyoutooyoungtoknowyourownminds；andifmydaughterwassillyenoughtobeinlove，sheshouldneverhavetocalculateherhappinessonthechancesofanoldman’sdeath。Idaresayhe’lldisinherityouafterall。Hemaydo，andthenyou’dbeworseoffthanever。No！goaway，andforgetallthisnonsense；
　　andwhenyou’vedone，comebackandseeus！’SoMrCoxewentaway，withanoathofunalterablefaithfulnessinhisheart；
　　andMrGibsonhadunwillinglytofulfilanoldpromisemadetoagentlemanfarmerintheneighbourhoodayearortwobefore，andtotakethesecondsonofMrBrowneinyoungCoxe’splace。Hewastobethelastoftheraceofpupils，andashewasrathermorethanayearyoungerthanMolly，MrGibsontrustedthattherewouldbenorepetitionoftheCoxeromance。
　　chapter16CHAPTERXVITHEBRIDEATHOMEAmongthe’countypeople’（asMrsGibsontermedthem）whocalleduponherasabride，werethetwoyoungMrHamleys。Thesquire，theirfather，haddonehiscongratulations，asfarasheeverintendedtodothem，toMrGibsonhimselfwhenhecametothehall；butMrsHamley，unabletogoandpayvisitsherself，anxioustoshowattentiontoherkinddoctor’snewwife，andwithperhapsalittlesympatheticcuriosityastohowMollyandherstepmothergotontogether，madehersonsrideovertoHollingfordwithhercardsandapologies。Theycameintothenewly—furnisheddrawing—room，lookingbrightandfreshfromtheirride：Osbornefirst，—asusual，perfectlydressedfortheoccasion，andwiththesortoffinemannerwhichsatesowelluponhim；Roger，lookinglikeastrong—built，cheerful，intelligentcountryfarmer，followedinhisbrother’strain。MrsGibsonwasdressedforreceivingcallers，andmadetheeffectshealwaysintendedtoproduce，ofaveryprettywoman，nolongerinfirstyouth，butwithsuchsoftmannersandsuchacaressingvoice，thatpeopleforgottowonderwhatherrealagemightbe。Mollywasbetterdressedthanformerly；herstepmothersawafterthat。Shedislikedanythingoldorshabby，oroutoftasteabouther；ithurthereye；andshehadalreadyfidgetedMollyintoanewamountofcareaboutthemannerinwhichsheputonherclothes，arrangedherhair，andwasglovedandshod。MrsGibsonhadtriedtoputherthroughacourseofrosemarywashesandcreamsinordertoimprovehertanned，complexion；
　　butaboutthatMollywaseitherforgetfulorrebellious，andMrsGibsoncouldnotwellcomeuptothegirl’sbedroomeverynightandseethatshedaubedherfaceandneckoverwiththecosmeticssocarefullyprovidedforher。Still，herappearancewasextremelyimproved，eventoOsborne’scriticaleye。Rogersoughtrathertodiscoverinherlooksandexpressionwhethershewashappyornot；hismotherhadespeciallychargedhimtonoteallthesesigns。OsborneandMrsGibsonmadethemselvesagreeabletoeachotheraccordingtotheapprovedfashionwhenayoungmancallsonamiddle—agedbride。
　　Theytalkedofthe’Shakespeareandmusicalglasses’oftheday，eachviewingwiththeotherintheirknowledgeofLondontopics。MollyheardfragmentsoftheirconversationinthepausesofsilencebetweenRogerandherself。
　　Herherowascomingoutinquiteanewcharacter；nolongerliteraryorpoetical，orromantic，orcritical，hewasnowfullofthelastnewplay，thesingersattheopera。HehadtheadvantageoverMrsGibson，who，infact，onlyspokeofthesethingsfromhearsay，fromlisteningtothetalkattheTowers，whileOsbornehadrunupfromCambridgetwoorthreetimestohearthis，ortoseethat，wonderoftheseason。Butshehadtheadvantageoverhimingreaterboldnessofinventiontoekeoutherfacts；andbesidesshehadmoreskillinthechoiceandarrangementofherwords，soastomakeitappearasiftheopinionsthatwereinrealityquotations，wereformedbyherselffromactualexperienceorpersonalobservation；suchas，inspeakingofthemannerismsofafamousItaliansinger，shewouldask，—’Didyouobserveherconstanttrickofheavinghershouldersandclaspingherhandstogetherbeforeshetookahighnote？’—whichwassosaidastoimplythatMrsGibsonherselfhadnoticedthistrick。Molly，whohadaprettygoodideabythistimeofhowherstepmotherhadpassedthelastyearofherlife，listenedwithnosmallbewildermenttothisconversation；
　　butatlengthdecidedthatshemustmisunderstandwhattheyweresaying，asshecouldnotgatherupthemissinglinksforthenecessityofreplyingtoRoger’squestionsandremarks。OsbornewasnotthesameOsbornehewaswhenwithhismotheratthehall。Rogersawherglancingathisbrother。’Youthinkmybrotherlookingill？’saidhe，loweringhisvoice。’No—notexactly。’’Heisnotwell。BothmyfatherandIareanxiousabouthim。ThatrunontheContinentdidhimharm，insteadofgood；andhisdisappointmentathisexaminationhastolduponhim，I’mafraid。’’Iwasnotthinkinghelookedill；onlychangedsomehow。’’HesayshemustgobacktoCambridgesoon。Possiblyitmaydohimgood；
　　andIshallbeoffnextweek。Thisisafarewellvisittoyou，aswellasoneofcongratulationtoMrsGibson。’’Yourmotherwillfeelyourbothgoingaway，won’tshe？Butofcourseyoungmenwillalwayshavetoliveawayfromhome。’’Yes，’hereplied。’Stillshefeelsitagooddeal；andIamnotsatisfiedaboutherhealtheither。Youwillgooverandseehersometimes，willyou？
　　sheisveryfondofyou。’’IfImay，’saidMolly，unconsciouslyglancingatherstepmother。Shehadanuncomfortableinstinctthat，inspiteofMrsGibson’sownperpetualflowofwords，shecould，anddid，heareverythingthatfellfromMolly’slips。’Doyouwantanymorebooks？’saidhe。’Ifyoudo，makealistout，andsendittomymotherbeforeIleave，nextTuesday。AfterIamgone，therewillbenoonetogointothelibraryandpickthemout。’Aftertheyweregone，MrsGibsonbeganherusualcommentsonthedepartedvisitors。’IdolikethatOsborneHamley！Whatanicefellowheis！Somehow，Ialwaysdolikeeldestsons。Hewillhavetheestate，won’the？Ishallaskyourdearpapatoencouragehimtocomeaboutthehouse。Hewillbeaverygood，verypleasantacquaintanceforyouandCynthia。Theotherisbutaloutishyoungfellow，tomymind；thereisnoaristocraticbearingabouthim。I
　　supposehetakesafterhismother，whoisbutaparvenue，I’veheardthemsayattheTowers。’Mollywasspitefulenoughtohavegreatpleasureinsaying，—’IthinkI’veheardherfatherwasaRussiamerchant，andimportedtallowandhemp。MrOsborneHamleyisextremelylikeher。’’Indeed！Butthere’snocalculatingthesethings。Anyhow，heistheperfectgentlemaninappearanceandmanner。Theestateisentailed，isitnot？’’Iknownothingaboutit，’saidMolly。Ashortsilenceensued。ThenMrsGibsonsaid，—’Doyouknow，IalmostthinkImustgetdearpapatogivealittledinner—party，andaskMrOsborneHamley？Ishouldliketohavehimfeelathomeinthishouse。ItwouldbesomethingcheerfulforhimafterthedulnessandsolitudeofHamleyHall。Fortheoldpeopledon’tvisitmuch，Ibelieve？’’He’sgoingbacktoCambridgenextweek，’saidMolly。’Ishe？Well，then，we’llputoffourlittledinnertillCynthiacomeshome。Ishouldliketohavesomeyoungsocietyforher，poordarling，whenshereturns。’’Whenisshecoming？’saidMolly，whohadalwaysalongingcuriosityforthissameCynthia’sreturn。’Oh！I’mnotsure；perhapsatthenewyear—perhapsnottillEaster。I
　　mustgetthisdrawing—roomallnewfurnishedfirst；andthenImeantofitupherroomandyoursjustalike。Theyarejustthesamesize，onlyonoppositesidesofthepassage。’’Areyougoingtonew—furnishthatroom？’saidMolly，inastonishmentatthenever—endingchanges。’Yes；andyours，too，darling；sodon’tbejealous。"’Oh，please，mamma，notmine，’saidMolly，takingintheideaforthefirsttime。’Yes，dear！Youshallhaveyoursdoneaswell。AlittleFrenchbed，’andanewpaper，andaprettycarpet，andadressed—uptoilette—tableandglass，willmakeitlookquiteadifferentplace。’’ButIdon’twantittolookdifferent。Ilikeitasitis。Praydon’tdoanythingtoit。’’Whatnonsense，child！Ineverheardanythingmoreridiculous！Mostgirlswouldbegladtogetridoffurnitureonlyfitforthelumber—room。’’Itwasmyownmamma’sbeforeshewasmarried，’saidMolly，inaverylowvoice；bringingoutthislastpleaunwillingly，butwithacertaintythatitwouldnotberesisted。MrsGibsonpausedforamomentbeforeshereplied，—’It’sverymuchtoyourcreditthatyoushouldhavesuchfeelings，I’msure。Butdon’tyouthinksentimentmaybecarriedtoofar？Why，weshouldhavenonewfurnitureatall，andshouldhavetoputupwithworm—eatenhorrors。Besides，mydear，HollingfordwillseemverydulltoCynthia，afterpretty，gayFrance，andIwanttomakethefirstimpressionsattractive。
　　I’veanotionIcansettleherdownnearhere；andIwanthertocomeinagoodtemper；for，betweenourselves，mydear，sheisalittle，leetlewilful。Youneednotmentionthistoyourpapa。’’Butcan’tyoudoCynthia’sroom，andnotmine？Pleaseletminealone。’’No，indeed！Icouldn’tagreetothat。Onlythinkwhatwouldbesaidofmebyeverybody；pettingmyownchild，andneglectingmyhusband’s！Icouldn’tbearit。’’Nooneneedknow。’’Insuchatittle—tattleplaceasHollingford！Really，Molly，youareeitherverystupidorveryobstinate，orelseyoudon’tcarewhathardthingsmaybesaidaboutme：andallforaselfishfancyofyourown！No！IowemyselfthejusticeofactinginthismatterasIplease。EveryoneshallknowI’mnotacommonstepmother。EverypennyIspendonCynthiaIshallspendonyoutoo；soit’snousetalkinganymoreaboutit。’SoMolly’slittlewhitedimitybed，herold—fashionedchestofdrawers，andherothercherishedrelicsofhermother’smaiden—days，wereconsignedtothelumber—room；andafterawhile，whenCynthiaandhergreatFrenchboxeshadcomehome，theoldfurniturethathadfilledupthespacerequiredforthefreshimportationoftrunks，disappearedintothelumber—room。AllthistimethefamilyattheTowershadbeenabsent；LadyCumnorhadbeenorderedtoBathfortheearlypartofthewinter，andherfamilywerewithherthere。Ondullrainydays，MrsGibsonusedtobethinkherofmissing’theCumnors，’forsoshehadtakentocallingthemsinceherpositionhadbecomemoreindependentoftheirs。Itmarkedadistinctionbetweenherintimacyinthefamily，andthereverentialmannerinwhichthetownspeoplewereaccustomedtospeakof’theearlandthecountess。’bothLadyCumnorandLadyHarrietwrotetotheirdearClarefromtimetotime。TheformerhadgenerallysomecommissionsthatshewishedtohaveexecutedattheTowers，orinthetown；andnoonecoulddothemsowellasClare，whowasacquaintedwithallthetastesandwaysofthecountess。Thesecommissionswerethecauseofvariousbillsforflysandcarsfromthe’George’Inn。
　　MrGibsonpointedoutthisconsequencetohiswife；butshe，inreturn，badehimremarkthatapresentofgamewasprettysuretofollowuponthesatisfactoryexecutionofLadyCumnor’swishes。Somehow，MrGibsondidnotquitelikethisconsequenceeither；buthewassilentaboutit，atanyrate。LadyHarriet’sletterswereshortandamusing。Shehadthatsortofregardforheroldgovernesswhichpromptedhertowritefromtimetotime，andtofeelgladwhenthehalf—voluntarytaskwasaccomplished。Sotherewasnorealoutpouringofconfidence，butenoughnewsofthefamilyandgossipoftheplaceshewasin，asshethoughtwouldmakeClarefeelthatshewasnotforgottenbyherformerpupils，intermixedwithmoderatebutsincereexpressionsofregard。HowthoseletterswerequotedandreferredtobyMrsGibsoninherconversationswiththeHollingfordladies！ShehadfoundouttheireffectatAshcombe；anditwasnotlessatHollingford。
　　ButshewasratherperplexedatkindlymessagestoMolly，andatinquiriesastohowtheMissBrowningslikedtheteashehadsent；andMollyhadfirsttoexplain，andthentonarrateatfulllength，alltheoccurrencesoftheafternoonatAshcombeManorHouse，andLadyHarriet’scalluponheratMissBrownings’。’Whatnonsense！’saidMrsGibson，withsomeannoyance。’LadyHarrietonlywenttoseeyououtofadesireofamusement。ShewouldonlymakefunoftheMissBrownings，andthentheywillbequotingherandtalkingabouther，justasifshewastheirintimatefriend。’’Idon’tthinkshedidmakefunofthem。Shereallysoundedasifshehadbeenverykind。’’AndyousupposeyouknowherwaysbetterthanIdo，whohaveknownherthesefifteenyears？Itellyousheturnseveryoneintoridiculewhodoesnotbelongtoherset。Why，sheusedalwaystospeakoftheMissBrowningsas"PecksyandFlapsy。"’’Shepromisedmeshewouldnot，’saidMollydriventobay。’Promisedyou！—LadyHarriet？Whatdoyoumean？’’Only—shespokeofthemasPecksyandFlapsy—andwhenshetalkedofcomingtocallonmeattheirhouse，Iaskedhernottocomeifshewasgoingto——tomakefunofthem。’’Uponmyword！withallmylongacquaintancewithLadyHarrietIshouldneverhaveventuredonsuchimpertinence。’’Ididn’tmeanitasimpertinence，’saidMolly，sturdily。’AndIdon’tthinkLadyHarriettookitassuch。’’Youcan’tknowanythingaboutit。Shecanputonanykindofmanner。’