I’llbeasdeepashim，andtakenomorenoticeoftheaffairtillhecomeshomeandtellsmehimself。’SoalthoughthesquirewasalwaysdelightedtoreceivethelittlenoteswhichCynthiasenttohimeverytimesheheardfromRoger，andalthoughthisattentiononherpartwasmeltingthehearthetriedtoharden，hecontrolledhimselfintowritingherthebriefestacknowledgements。Hiswordswerestronginmeaning，butformalinexpression；sheherselfdidnotthinkmuchaboutthem，beingsatisfiedtodothekindactionsthatcalledthemforth。Buthermothercriticizedthemandponderedthem。Shethoughtshehadhitonthetruthwhenshehaddecidedinherownmindthatitwasaveryold—fashionedstyle，andthatheandhishouseandhisfurnitureallwantedsomeofthebrighteningupandpolishingwhichtheyweresuretoreceive，when——sheneverquitelikedtofinishthesentencedefinitely，althoughshekeptrepeatingtoherselfthat’therewasnoharminit。’Toreturntothesquire。Occupiedashenowwas，herecoveredhisformerhealth，andsomethingofhisformercheerfulness。IfOsbornehadmethimhalf—way，itisprobablethattheoldbondbetweenfatherandsonmighthavebeenrenewed；butOsborneeitherwasreallyaninvalid，orhadsunkintoinvalidhabits，andmadenoefforttorally。Ifhisfatherurgedhimtogoout—nay，onceortwicehegulpeddownhispride，andaskedOsbornetoaccompanyhim—Osbornewouldgotothewindowandfindoutsomeflaworspeckinthewindorweather，andmakethatanexcuseforstoppinginthehouseoverhisbooks。Hewouldsaunteroutonthesunnysideofthehouseinamannerthatthesquireconsideredasbothindolentandunmanly。
　　Yetiftherewasaprospectofhisleavinghome，whichhedidprettyoftenaboutthistime，hewasseizedwithahecticenergy：thecloudsinthesky，theeasterlywind，thedampnessoftheair，werenothingtohimthen；
　　andasthesquiredidnotknowtherealsecretcauseofthisanxietytobegone，hetookitintohisheadthatitarosefromOsborne’sdisliketoHamleyandtothemonotonyofhisfather’ssociety。’Itwasamistake，’thoughtthesquire。’Iseeitnow。Iwasnevergreatatmakingfriendsmyself。IalwaysthoughtthoseOxfordandCambridgementurneduptheirnosesatmeforacountrybooby，andI’dgetthestartandhavenoneo’them。ButwhentheboyswenttoRugbyandCambridge，I
　　shouldha’letthemhavehadtheirownfriendsabout’em，eventhoughtheymightha’lookeddownonme；itwastheworsttheycouldha’donetome，andnowwhatfewfriendsIhadhavefallenofffromme，bydeathorsomehow，anditisbutdrearyworkforayoungman，Igrantit。Buthemighttrynottoshowitsoplaintomeashedoes。I’mgettingcase—hardened，butitdoescutmetothequicksometimes—itdoes。Andhesofondofhisdadashewasonce！IfIcanbutgetthelanddrainedI’llmakehimanallowance，andlethimgotoLondon，orwherehelikes。Maybehe’lldobetterthistime，ormaybehe’llgotothedogsaltogether；butperhapsitwillmakehimthinkabitkindlyoftheoldfatherathome—Ishouldlikehimtodothat，Ishould！’ItispossiblethatOsbornemighthavebeeninducedtotellhisfatherofhismarriageduringtheirlongtê；te—à；—tê；teintercourse，ifthesquire，inanunluckymoment，hadnotgivenhimhisconfidenceaboutRoger’sengagementwithCynthia。ItwasononewetSundayafternoon，whenthefatherandsonweresittingtogetherinthelargeemptydrawing—room。Osbornehadnotbeentochurchinthemorning；thesquirehad，andhewasnowtryinghardtoreadoneofBlair’ssermons。Theyhaddinedearly；theyalwaysdidonSundays；andeitherthat，orthesermon，orthehopelesswetnessoftheday，madetheafternoonseeminterminablylongtothesquire。HehadcertainunwrittenrulesfortheregulationofhisconductonSundays。Coldmeat，sermon—reading，nosmokingtillaftereveningprayers，aslittlethoughtaspossibleastothestateofthelandandtheconditionofthecrops，andasmuchrespectablesitting—indoorsinhisbestclothesaswasconsistentwithgoingtochurchtwiceaday，andsayingtheresponseslouderthantheclerk。To—dayithadrainedsounceasinglythathehadremittedtheafternoonchurch；butoh，evenwiththeluxuryofanap，howlongitseemedbeforehesawtheHallservantstrudginghomewards，alongthefield—path，acoveyofumbrellas！Hehadbeenstandingatthewindowforthelasthalf—hour，hishandsinhispockets，andhismouthoftencontractingitselfintothetraditionalsinofawhistle，butasoftencheckedintosuddengravity—ending，ninetimesoutoften，inayawn。HelookedaskanceatOsborne，whowassittingnearthefireabsorbedinabook。Thepoorsquirewassomethinglikethelittleboyinthechild’sstory，whoasksallsortsofbirdsandbeaststocomeandplaywithhim；and，ineverycase，receivesthesoberanswer，thattheyaretoobusytohaveleisurefortrivialamusements。Thefatherwantedthesontoputdownhisbook，andtalktohim：itwassowet，sodull，andalittleconversationwouldsowileawaythetime！ButOsborne，withhisbacktothewindowwherehisfatherwasstanding，sawnothingofallthis，andwentonreading。Hehadassentedtohisfather’sremarkthatitwasaverywetafternoon，buthadnotcarriedonthesubjectintoallthevarietiesoftruismsofwhichitwassusceptible。Somethingmorerousingmustbestarted，andthisthesquirefelt。TherecollectionoftheaffairbetweenRogerandCynthiacameintohishead，and，withoutgivingitamoment’sconsideration，hebegan，—’Osborne！Doyouknowanythingaboutthis—thisattachmentofRoger’s？’Quitesuccessful。Osbornelaiddownhisbookinamoment，andturnedroundtohisfather。’Roger！anattachment！No！Ineverheardofit—Icanhardlybelieveit—thatistosay，Isupposeitisto——’Andthenhestopped；forhethoughthehadnorighttobetrayhisownconjecturethattheobjectwasCynthiaKirkpatrick。’Yes。Heisthough。Canyouguesswhoto？NobodythatIparticularlylike—notaconnectiontomymind—yetshe’saveryprettygirl；andIsupposeIwastoblameinthefirstinstance。’’Isit——’’It’snousebeatingaboutthebush。I’vegonesofar，Imayaswelltellyouall。It’sMissKirkpatrick，Gibson’sstepdaughter。Butit’snotanengagement，mindyou——’’I’mveryglad—IhopeshelikesRogerbackagain——’’Like—it’sonlytoogoodaconnectionforhernottolikeit：ifRogerisofthesamemindwhenhecomeshome，I’llbeboundshe’llbeonlytoohappy！’’IwonderRogernevertoldme，’saidOsborne，alittlehurt，nowhebegantoconsiderhimself。’Henevertoldmeeither，’saidthesquire。’ItwasGibson，whocamehere，andmadeacleanbreastofitlikeamanofhonour。I’dbeensayingtohim，Icouldnothaveeitherofyoutwoladstakingupwithhislasses。
　　I’llownitwasyouIwasafraidof—it’sbadenoughwithRoger，andmaybewillcometonothingafterall；butifithadbeenyou，I’dha’brokenwithGibsonandeverymother’ssonof’em，soonerthanhaveletitgoon；
　　andsoItoldGibson。’’Ibegyourpardonforinterruptingyou，but，onceforall，Iclaimtherightofchoosingmywifeformyself，subjecttonoman’sinterference，’
　　saidOsborne，hotly。’Thenyou’llkeepyourwifewithnoman’sinterference，that’sall；forne’erapennywillyougetfromme，mylad，unlessyoumarrytopleasemealittle，aswellasyourselfagreatdeal。That’sallIaskofyou。
　　I’mnotparticularastobeauty，orastocleverness，andpiano—playing，andthatsortofthing；ifRogermarriesthisgirl，weshallhaveenoughofthatinthefamily。Ishouldnotmuchmindherbeingabitolderthanyou，butshemustbewell—born，andthemoremoneyshebringsthebetterfortheoldplace。’’Isayagain，father，Ichoosemywifeformyself，andIdon’tadmitanyman’srightofdictation。’’Well，well！’saidthesquire，gettingalittleangryinhisturn。’IfI’mnottobefatherinthismatter，thoushan’tbeson。GoagainstmeinwhatI’vesetmyhearton，andyou’llfindthere’sthedeviltopay，that’sall。Butdon’tletusgetangry，it’sSundayafternoonforonething，andit’sasin；andbesidesthat，I’venotfinishedmystory。’ForOsbornehadtakenuphisbookagain，andunderpretenceofreading，wasfumingtohimself，Hehardlyputitawayevenathisfather’srequest。’AsIwassaying，Gibsonsaid，whenfirstwespokeaboutit，thattherewasnothingonfootbetweenanyofyoufour，andthatiftherewas，hewouldletmeknow；soby—and—byhecomesandtellsmeofthis。’’Ofwhat—Idon’tunderstandhowfarithasgone？’TherewasatoneinOsborne’svoicethesquiredidnotquitelike；andhebeganansweringratherangrily。’Ofthistobesure—ofwhatI’mtellingyou—ofRogergoingandmakinglovetothisgirl，thatdayheleft，afterhehadgoneawayfromhere，andwaswaitingforthe"Umpire"inHollingford。Onewouldthinkyouquitestupidattimes，Osborne。’’Icanonlysaythatthesedetailsarequitenewtome；younevermentionedthembefore，Iassureyou。’’Well；nevermindwhetherIdidornot。I’msureIsaidRogerwasattachedtoMissKirkpatrick，andbehangedtoher；andyoumighthaveunderstoodalltherest，asamatterofcourse。’’Possibly，’saidOsborne，politely。’MayIaskifMissKirkpatrick，whoappearedtometobeaverynicegirl，respondstoRoger’saffection？’’Fastenough，I’llbebound，’saidthesquire，sulkily。’AHamleyofHamleyisnottobehadeveryday。Now，I’lltellyouwhat，Osborne，you’retheonlymarriageableoneleftinthemarket，andIwanttohoisttheoldfamilyupagain。Don’tgoagainstmeinthis；itreallywillbreakmyheartifyoudo。’’Father，don’ttalkso，’saidOsborne。’IwilldoanythingIcantoobligeyou，except——’’ExcepttheonlythingI’vesetmyheartonyourdoing。’’Well，well，letitaloneforthepresent。There’snoquestionofmymarryingjustatthismoment。I’moutofhealth，andI’mnotuptogoingintosociety，andmeetingyoungladiesandallthatsortofthing，evenifIhadanopeningintofittingsociety。’’Youshouldhaveanopeningfastenough。There’llbemoremoneycomingin，inayearortwo，pleaseGod。Andasforyourhealth，why，what’stomakeyouwell，ifyoucoweroverthefireallday，andshudderawayfromagoodhonesttankardasifitwerepoison？’’Soitistome，’saidOsborne，languidly，playingwithhisbookasifhewantedtoendtheconversationandtakeitupagain。Thesquiresawthemovements，andunderstoodthem。’Well，’saidhe，’I’llgoandhaveatalkwithWillaboutpooroldBlackBess。It’sSundayworkenough，askingafteradumbanimal’sachesandpains。’ButafterhisfatherhadlefttheroomOsbornedidnottakeuphisbookagain。Helaiditdownonthetablebyhim，leantbackinhischair，andcoveredhiseyeswithhishand。Hewasinastateofhealthwhichmadehimdespondentaboutmanythings，though，leastofall，aboutwhatwasmostindanger。Thelongconcealmentofhismarriagefromhisfathermadethedisclosureofitfarfarmoredifficultthanitwouldhavebeenatfirst。UnsupportedbyRoger，howcouldheexplainitalltoonesopassionateasthesquire？howtellofthetemptation，thestolenmarriage，theconsequenthappiness，andalas！theconsequentsuffering？—forOsbornehadsuffered，anddidsuffer，greatlyintheuntowardcircumstancesinwhichhehadplacedhimself。Hesawnowayoutofitall，exceptingbytheonestrongstrokeofwhichhefelthimselfincapable。Sowithaheavyheartheaddressedhimselftohisbookagain。Everythingseemedtocomeinhisway，andhewasnotstrongenoughincharactertoovercomeobstacles。Theonlyovertstephetookinconsequenceofwhathehadheardfromhisfather，wastorideovertoHollingfordthefirstfinedayafterhehadreceivedthenews，andgotoseeCynthiaandtheGibsons。Hehadnotbeenthereforalongtime；badweatherandlanguorcombinedhadpreventedhim。HefoundthemfullofpreparationsanddiscussionsaboutCynthia’svisittoLondon；andsheherselfnotatallinthesentimentalmoodpropertorespondtohisdelicateintimationsofhowgladhewasinhisbrother’sjoy。Indeed，itwassolongafterthetime，thatCynthiascarcelyperceivedthattohimtheintelligencewasrecent，andthatthefirstbloomofhisemotionshadnotyetpassedaway。Withherheadalittleononeside，shewascontemplatingtheeffectofaknotofribbons，whenhebegan，inalowwhisper，andleaningforwardtowardsherashespoke，—’Cynthia—ImaycallyouCynthianow，mayn’tI？—Iamsogladofthisnews；I’veonlyjustheardofit，butI’msoglad！’’Whatnewsdoyoumean？’Shehadhersuspicions；butshewasannoyedtothinkthatfromonepersonhersecretwaspassingtoanother，andanother，till，infact，itwasbecomingnosecretatall。Still，Cynthiacouldalwaysconcealherannoyancewhenshechose。’WhyareyoutobegincallingmeCynthianow？’shewenton，smiling。’Theterriblewordhasslippedoutfrombetweenyourlipsbefore，doyouknow？’ThislightwayoftakinghistendercongratulationsdidnotquitepleaseOsborne，whowasinasentimentalmood，andforaminuteorsoheremainedsilent。Then，havingfinishedmakingherbowofribbon，sheturnedtohim，andcontinued，inaquicklowvoice，anxioustotakeadvantageofatê；te—à；—tê；tebetweenhermotherandMolly，—’IthinkIcanguesswhyyoumademethatprettylittlespeechjustnow。
　　Butdoyouknowyououghtnottohavebeentold？And，moreover，thingsarenotquitearrivedatthesolemnityof—of—well—anengagement。
　　Hewouldnothaveitso。Now，Ishan’tsayanymore；andyoumustnot。
　　Prayrememberyououghtnottohaveknown；itismyownsecret，andIparticularlywisheditnottobespokenabout；andIdon’tlikeit’sbeingsotalkedabout。Oh，theleakingofwaterthroughonesmallhole！’Andthensheplungedintothetê；te—à；—tê；teoftheothertwo，makingtheconversationgeneral。Osbornewasratherdiscomfitedatthenon—successofhiscongratulations；hehadpicturedtohimselftheunbosomingofalove—sickgirl，fullofrapture，andgladofasympathizingconfidant。HelittleknewCynthia’snature。Themoreshesuspectedthatshewascalleduponforadisplayofemotion，thelesswouldsheshow；
　　andheremotionsweregenerallyunderthecontrolofherwill。Hehadmadeanefforttocomeandseeher；andnowheleantbackinhischair，wearyandalittledispirited。’Youpoordearyoungman，’saidMrsGibson，cominguptohimwithhersoft，soothingmanner；’howtiredyoulook！Dotakesomeofthateau—de—Cologneandbatheyourforehead。Thisspringweatherovercomesmetoo。’Primavera’
　　IthinktheItalianscallit。Butitisverytryingfordelicateconstitutions，asmuchfromitsassociationsasfromitsvariablenessoftemperature。
　　Itmakesmesighperpetually；butthenIamsosensitive。DearLadyCumnoralwaysusedtosayIwaslikeathermometer。You’veheardhowillshehasbeen？’’No，’saidOsborne，notverymuchcaringeither。’Oh，yes，sheisbetternow；buttheanxietyaboutherhastriedmeso：
　　detainedherebywhatare，ofcourse，myduties，butfarawayfromallintelligence，andnotknowingwhatthenextpostmightbring。’’Wherewasshethen？’askedOsborne，becomingalittlemoresympathetic。’AtSpa。Suchadistanceoff！Threedays’post！Can’tyouconceivethetrial？LivingwithherasIdidforyears；boundupinthefamilyasI
　　was。’’ButLadyHarrietsaid，inherlastletter，thattheyhopedthatshewouldbestrongerthanshehadbeenforyears，’saidMolly，innocently。’Yes—LadyHarriet—ofcourse—everyonewhoknowsLadyHarrietknowsthatsheisoftoosanguineatemperamentforherstatementstobeperfectlyreliedon。Altogether—strangersareoftendeludedbyLadyHarriet—shehasanoff—handmannerwhichtakesthemin；butshedoesnotmeanhalfshesays。’’Wewillhopeshedoesinthisinstance，’saidCynthia，shortly。’TheyareinLondonnow，andLadyCumnorhasnotsufferedfromthejourney。’’Theysayso，’saidMrsGibson，shakingherhead，andlayinganemphasisontheword’say。’’Iamperhapsover—anxious，butIwish—IwishIcouldseeandjudgeformyself。Itwouldbetheonlywayofcalmingmyanxiety。
　　IalmostthinkIshallgoupwithyou，Cynthia，foradayortwo，justtoseeherwithmyowneyes。Idon’tquitelikeyourtravellingaloneeither。
　　Wewillthinkaboutit，andyoushallwritetoMrKirkpatrick，andproposeit，ifwedetermineuponit。Youcantellhimofmyanxiety；anditwillbeonlysharingyourbedforacoupleofnights。’
　　chapter40CHAPTERXLMOLLYGIBSONBREATHESFREELYThatwasthewayinwhichMrsGibsonfirstbroachedherintentionofaccompanyingCynthiauptoLondonforafewdays’visit。Shehadatrickofproducingthefirstsketchofanynewplanbeforeanoutsidertothefamilycircle；
　　sothatthefirstemotionsofothers，iftheydisapprovedofherprojects，hadtoberepressed，untiltheideahadbecomefamiliartothem。ToMollyitseemedtoocharmingaproposalevertocometopass。Shehadneverallowedherselftorecognizetherestraintshewasunderinherstepmother’spresence；
　　butallatonceshefounditoutwhenherheartdancedattheideaofthreewholedays—forthatitwouldbeattheleast—ofperfectfreedomofintercoursewithherfather；ofoldtimescomebackagain；ofmealswithoutperpetualfidgetinessafterdetailsofceremonyandcorrectnessofattendance。’We’llhavebreadandcheesefordinner，andeatitonourknees；we’llmakeupforhavinghadtoeatsloppypuddingswithaforkinsteadofaspoonallthistime，byputtingourknivesinourmouthstillwecutourselves。
　　Papashallpourhisteaintohissaucerifheisinahurry；andifI’mthirsty，I’lltaketheslop—basin。Andoh，ifIcouldbutget，buy，borrow，orstealanykindofanoldhorse；mygreyskirtisnotnew，butitwilldo；—thatwouldbetoodelightful。Afterall，IthinkIcanbehappyagain；
　　formonthsandmonthsithasseemedasifIhadgottoooldevertofeelpleasure，muchlesshappinessagain。’SothoughtMolly。Yetsheblushed，asifwithguilt，whenCynthia，readingherthought，saidtoheroneday，—’Molly，youareverygladtogetridofus，arenotyou？’’Notofyou，Cynthia；atleast，Idon’tthinkIam。Only，ifyouonlyknewhowIlovepapa，andhowIusedtoseeagreatdealmoreofhimthanI
　　everdonow——’’Ah！Ioftenthinkwhatinterloperswemustseem，andareinfact——’’Idon’tfeelyouassuch。You，atanyrate，havebeenanewdelighttome，asister；andIneverknewhowcharmingsucharelationshipcouldbe。’’Butmamma？’saidCynthia，half—suspiciously，half—sorrowfully。’Sheispapa’swife，’saidMolly，quietly。’Idon’tmeantosayIamnotoftenverysorrytofeelIamnolongerfirstwithhim；butitwas’—theviolentcolourflushedintoherfacetillevenhereyesburnt，andshesuddenlyfoundherselfonthepointofcrying；theweepingash—tree，themisery，theslowdroppingcomfort；’andthecomforterscameallsovividlybeforeher；—’itwasRoger！’—shewentonlookingupatCynthia，assheovercameherslighthesitationatmentioninghisname—’Roger，whotoldmehowIoughttotakepapa’smarriage，whenIwasfirststartledandgrievedatthenews。Oh，Cynthia，whatagreatthingitistobelovedbyhim！’Cynthiablushed，andlookedflutteredandpleased。’Yes，Isupposeitis。Atthesametime，Molly，I’mafraidhe’llexpectmetobealwaysasgoodashefanciesmenow，andIshallhavetowalkontip—toealltherestofmylife。’’Butyouaregood，Cynthia，’putinMolly。’No，I’mnot。You’rejustasmuchmistakenasheis；andsomedayIshallgodowninyouropinionswitharun，justlikethehallclocktheotherdaywhenthespringbroke。’’Ithinkhe’llloveyoujustasmuch，’saidMolly。’Couldyou？Wouldyoubemyfriendif—ifitturnedouteverthatIhaddoneverywrongthings？Wouldyourememberhowverydifficultithassometimesbeentometoactrightly’（shetookholdofMolly’shandasshespoke）。
　　’Wewon’tspeakofmamma，foryoursakeasmuchasmineorhers；butyoumustseesheisnotonetohelpagirlwithmuchgoodadvice，orgood——
　　Oh，Molly，youdon’tknowhowIwasneglectedjustatatimewhenIwantedfriendsmost。Mammadoesnotknowit；itisnotinhertoknowwhatImighthavebeenifIhadonlyfallenintowise，goodhands。ButIknowit；andwhat’smore，’continuedshe，suddenlyashamedofherunusualexhibitionoffeeling，’Itrynottocare，whichIdaresayisreallytheworstofall；butIcouldworrymyselftodeathifIoncetooktoseriousthinking。’’IwishIcouldhelpyou，orevenunderstandyou，’saidMolly，afteramomentortwoofsadperplexity。’Youcanhelpme，’saidCynthia，changinghermannerabruptly。’Icantrimbonnets，andmakehead—dresses；butsomehowmyhandscan’tfoldupgownsandcollars，likeyourdeftlittlefingers。Pleasewillyouhelpmetopack？That’sareal，tangiblepieceofkindness，andnotsentimentalconsolationforsentimentaldistresses，whichare，perhaps，imaginaryafterall。’Ingeneral，itisthepeoplewhoareleftbehindstationary，whogivewaytolowspiritsatanyparting；thetravellers，howeverbitterlytheymayfeeltheseparation，findsomethinginthechangeofscenetosoftenregretintheveryfirsthourofseparation。ButasMollywalkedhomewithherfatherfromseeingMrsGibsonandCynthiaofftoLondonbythe’Umpire’
　　coach，shealmostdancedalongthestreet。’Now，papa！’saidshe，’I’mgoingtohaveyoualltomyselfforawholeweek。Youmustbeveryobedient。’’Don’tbetyrannical，then。Youarewalkingmeoutofbreath，andwearecuttingMrsGoodenough，inourhurry。’SotheycrossedoverthestreettospeaktoMrsGoodenough。’We’vejustbeenseeingmywifeandherdaughterofftoLondon。MrsGibsonhasgoneupforaweek！’’Deary，deary，toLondon，andonlyforaweek！Why，Icanrememberitsbeingathreedays’journey！Itwillbeverylonesomeforyou，MissMolly，withoutyouryoungcompanion！’’Yes！’saidMolly，suddenlyfeelingasifsheoughttohavetakenthisviewofthecase。’IshallmissCynthiaverymuch。’’Andyou，MrGibson；why，itwillbelikebeingawidoweroveragain！Youmustcomeanddrinkteawithmesomeevening。Wemusttryandcheeryouupabitamongstus。ShallitbeTuesday？’InspiteofthesharppinchwhichMollygavetohisarm，MrGibsonacceptedtheinvitation，muchtothegratificationoftheoldlady。’Papa，howcouldyougoandwasteoneofourevenings。Wehavebutsixinall，andnowbutfive；andIhadsoreckonedonourdoingallsortsofthingstogether。’’Whatsortofthings？’’Oh，Idon’tknow：everythingthatisunrefinedandungenteel，’addedshe，slylylookingupintoherfather’sface。Hiseyestwinkled，buttherestofhisfacewasperfectlygrave。’I’mnotgoingtobecorrupted。WithtoilandlabourIhavereachedaveryfairheightofrefinement。Iwon’tbepulleddownagain。’’Yes，youwill，papa。We’llhavebreadandcheeseforlunchthisveryday。
　　Andyoushallwearyourslippersinthedrawing—roomeveryeveningyou’llstayquietlyathome；andoh，papa，don’tyouthinkIcouldrideNoraCreina。
　　I’vebeenlookingouttheoldgreyskirt，andIthinkIcouldmakemyselftidy。’’Whereistheside—saddletocomefrom？’’Tobesuretheoldonewon’tfitthatgreatIrishmare。ButI’mnotparticular，papa。IthinkIcouldmanagesomehow。’’Thankyou。ButI’mnotquitegoingtoreturnintobarbarism。Itmayheadepravedtaste，butIshouldliketoseemydaughterproperlymounted。’’Thinkofridingtogetherdownthelanes—why，thedog—rosesmustbealloutinflower，andthehoneysuckles，andthehay—howIshouldliketoseeMerriman’sfarmagain！Papa，doletmehaveoneridewithyou！Pleasedo。Iamsurewecanmanageitsomehow。’And’somehow’itwasmanaged。’Somehow’allMolly’swishescametopass；
　　therewasonlyonelittledrawbacktothisweekofholidayandhappyintercoursewithherfather。Everybodywouldaskthemouttotea。Theywerequitelikebrideandbridegroom；forthefactwas，thatthelatedinnerswhichMrsGibsonhadintroducedintoherownhouse，wereagreatinconvenienceinthecalculationsofthesmalltea—drinkingsatHollingford。Howaskpeopletoteaatsix，whodinedatthathour？How，whentheyrefusedcakeandsandwichesathalf—pasteight，howinduceotherpeoplewhowerereallyhungrytocommitavulgaritybeforethosecalmandscornfuleyes？SotherehadbeenagreatlullofinvitationsfortheGibsonstoHollingfordtea—parties。
　　MrsGibson，whoseobjectwastosqueezeherselfinto’countysociety，’
　　hadtakenthisbeingleftoutofthesmallerfestivitieswithgreatequanimity；
　　butMollymissedthekindhomelinessofthepartiestowhichshehadgonefromtimetotimeaslongasshecouldremember；andthough，aseachthree—cornerednotewasbroughtin，shegrumbledalittleoverthelossofanothercharmingtê；te—à；—tê；tewithherfather，shereallywasgladtogoagainintheoldwayamongoldfriends。MissBrowningandMissPhoebewereespeciallycompassionatetowardsherinherloneliness。Iftheyhadhadtheirwillshewouldhavedinedthereeveryday；andshehadtocalluponthemveryfrequentlyinordertopreventtheirbeinghurtatherdecliningthedinners。MrsGibsonwrotetwiceduringherweek’sabsencetoherhusband。
　　ThatpieceofnewswasquitesatisfactorytotheMissBrownings，whohadoflatemonthsheldthemselvesagreatdealalooffromahousewheretheychosetosupposethattheirpresencewasnotwanted。IntheirwintereveningstheyhadoftentalkedoverMrGibson’shousehold，andhavinglittlebesidesconjecturestogoupon，theyfoundthesubjectinterminable，astheycouldvarythepossibilitieseveryday。OneoftheirwonderswashowMrandMrsGibsonreallygotontogether；anotherwaswhetherMrsGibsonwasextravagantornot。Nowtwolettersduringtheweekofherabsenceshowedwhatwasinthosedaysconsideredaveryproperamountofconjugalaffection。Yetnottoomuch—atelevenpencehalfpennypostage。Athirdletterwouldhavebeenextravagant。SisterlookedtosisterwithanapprovingnodasMollynamedthesecondletter，whicharrivedinHollingfordtheverydaybeforeMrsGibsonwastoreturn。TheyhadsettledbetweenthemselvesthattwoletterswouldshowtherightamountofgoodfeelingandproperunderstandingintheGibsonfamily：morewouldhavebeenextravagant；onlyonewouldhavebeenamerematterofduty。TherehadbeenratheraquestionbetweenMissBrowningandMissPhoebeastowhichpersonthesecondletter（supposingitcame）wastobeaddressed。ItwouldbeveryconjugaltowritetwicetoMrGibson；andyetitwouldbeveryprettyifMollycameinforhershare。’You’vehadanotherletter，yousay，mydear，’askedMissBrowning，’I
　　daresayMrsGibsonhaswrittentoyouthistime？’’Itisalargesheet，andCynthiahaswrittenononehalftome，andalltherestistopapa。’’Averynicearrangement，I’msure。AndwhatdoesCynthiasay？Issheenjoyingherself？’’Oh，yes，Ithinkso。Theyhavehadadinner—party，andonenightwhenmammawasatLadyCumnor’s，Cynthiawenttotheplaywithhercousins。’’Uponmyword！andallinoneweek？Idocallthatdissipation。Why，Thursdaywouldbetakenupwiththejourney，andFridaywithresting，andSundayisSundayalltheworldover；andtheymusthavewrittenonTuesday。Well！
　　IhopeCynthiawon’tfindHollingforddull，that’sall，whenshecomesback。’’Idon’tthinkit’slikely，’saidMissPhoebe，withalittlesimperandaknowinglook，whichsateoddlyonherkindlyinnocentface。’YouseeagreatdealofMrPreston，don’tyou，Molly！’’MrPreston！’saidMolly，flushingupwithsurprise。’No！notmuch。He’sbeenatAshcombeallwinter，youknow！Hehasbutjustcomebacktosettlehere，Whatshouldmakeyouthinkso！’’Oh！alittlebirdtoldus，’saidMissBrowning。Mollyknewthatlittlebirdfromherchildhood，andhadalwayshatedit，andlongedtowringitsneck。Whycouldnotpeoplespeakoutandsaythattheydidnotmeantogiveupthenameoftheirinformant？ButitwasaveryfavouriteformoffictionwiththeMissBrownings，andtoMissPhoebeitwastheveryacmeofwit。’ThelittlebirdwasflyingaboutonedayinHeathLane，anditsawMrPrestonandayounglady—wewon’tsaywho—walkingtogetherinaveryfriendlymanner，thatistosay，hewasonhorseback；butthepathisraisedabovetheroad，justwherethereisthelittlewoodenbridgeoverthebrook——’’PerhapsMollyisinthesecret，andweoughtnottoaskheraboutit，’