’Really，dear！’saidshe，strokingMolly’shead，’Ithinkyourhairisgettingsofter，andlosingthatdisagreeablecrispcurlyfeeling。’
　　ThenMollyknewthatherstepmotherwasinhighgood—humour；thesmoothnessorcurlinessofherhairwasasuretestofthefavourinwhichMrsGibsonheldheratthemoment。
　　’Iamsosorrytobethecauseofdetainingyoufromthislittleparty，butdearpapaissoover—anxiousaboutme。Ihavealwaysbeenakindofpetwithgentlemen，andpoorMrKirkpatrickneverknewhowtomakeenoughofme。ButIthinkMrGibsonisevenmorefoolishlyfond；hislastwordswere，"Takecareofyourself，Hyacinth；"andthenhecamebackagaintosay，"Ifyoudon’tattendtomydirectionsIwon’tanswerfortheconsequences。"
　　Ishookmyforefingerathim，andsaid，"Don’tbesoanxious，yousillyman。"’
　　’Ihopewehavedoneeverythinghetoldustodo，’saidMolly。
　　’Ohyes！Ifeelsomuchbetter。Doyouknow，lateasitis，IthinkyoumightgotoMrsGoodenough’syet？Mariacouldtakeyou，andIshouldliketoseeyoudressed；whenonehasbeenwearingdullwarmgownsforaweekortwoonegetsquiteacravingforbrightcolours，andeveningdress。Sogoandgetready，dear，andthenperhapsyou’llbringmebacksomenews，forreallyshutupasIhavebeenwithonlypapaandyouforthelastfortnight，I’vegotquitemopedanddismal，andIcan’tbeartokeepyoungpeoplefromthegaietiessuitabletotheirage。’
　　’Oh，pray，mamma！Ihadsomuchrathernotgo。’
　　’Verywell！verywell！OnlyIthinkitisratherselfishofyou，whenyouseeIamsowillingtomakethesacrificeforyoursake。’
　　’Butyousayitisasacrificetoyou，andIdon’twanttogo。’
　　’Verywell；didInotsayyoumightstopathome；onlypraydon’tchoplogic；nothingissofatiguingtoasickperson。’
　　Thentheyweresilentforsometime。MrsGibsonbrokethesilencebysaying，inalanguidvoice，—
　　’Can’tyouthinkofanythingamusingtosay，Molly？’
　　Mollypumpedupfromthedepthsofhermindafewlittletrivialitieswhichshehadnearlyforgotten，butshefeltthattheywereanythingbutamusing，andsoMrsGibsonseemedtofeelthem；forpresentlyshesaid，—
　　’IwishCynthiawasathome。’AndMollyfeltitasareproachtoherowndulness。
　　’ShallIwritetoherandaskhertocomeback？’
　　’Well，I’mnotsure；IwishIknewagreatmanythings。You’venotheardanythingofpoordearOsborneHamleylately，haveyou？’
　　Rememberingherfather’schargenotspeakofOsborne’shealth，Mollymadenoreply，norwasanyneeded，forMrsGibsonwentonthinkingaloud，—
　　’Yousee，ifMrHendersonhasbeenasattentiveashewasinthespring—andthechancesaboutRoger—Ishallbereallygrievedifanythinghappenstothatyoungman，uncouthasheis，butitmustbeownedthatAfricaisnotmerelyanunhealthy—itisasavage—andeveninsomepartsacannibalcountry。IoftenthinkofallI’vereadofitingeographybooks，asI
　　lieawakeatnight，andifMrHendersonisreallybecomingattached！Thefutureishiddenfromusbyinfinitewisdom，Molly，orelseIshouldliketoknowit；onewouldcalculateone’sbehaviouratthepresenttimesomuchbetterifoneonlyknewwhateventsweretocome。ButIthink，onthewhole，wehadbetternotalarmCynthia。IfwehadonlyknownintimewemighthaveplannedforhertohavecomedownwithLordCumnorandmylady。’
　　’Aretheycoming？IsLadyCumnorwellenoughtotravel？’
　　’Yes，tobesure。OrelseIshouldnothaveconsideredwhetherornoCynthiacouldhavecomedownwiththem；itwouldhavesoundedverywell—morethanrespectable，andwouldhavegivenherapositionamongthatlawyersetinLondon。’
　　’ThenLadyCumnorisbetter？’
　　’Tobesure。Ishouldhavethoughtpapawouldhavementionedittoyou；
　　but，tobesure，heisalwayssoscrupulouslycarefulnottospeakabouthispatients。Quiterighttoo—quiterightanddelicate。Why，hehardlyevertellsmehowtheyaregoingon。Yes！TheEarlandtheCountess，andLadyHarriet，andLordandLadyCuxhaven，andLadyAgnes；andI’veorderedanewwinterbonnetandablacksatincloak。’
　　chapter49
　　CHAPTERXLIXMOLLYGIBSONFINDSACHAMPION
　　LadyCumnorhadsofarrecoveredfromtheviolenceofherattack，andfromtheconsequentoperation，astobeabletoberemovedtotheTowersforchangeofair；andaccordinglyshewasbroughtthitherbyherwholefamilywithallthepompandstatebecominganinvalidpeeress。Therewaseveryprobabilitythat’thefamily’wouldmakealongerresidenceattheTowersthantheyhaddoneforseveralyears，duringwhichtimetheyhadbeenwanderershitherandthitherinsearchofhealth。Somehow，afterall，itwasverypleasantandrestfultocometotheoldancestralhome，andeverymemberofthefamilyenjoyeditinhisorherownway；LordCumnormostespecially。HistalentforgossipandhisloveofsmalldetailshadscarcelyfairplayinthehurryofaLondonlife，andweremuchnippedinthebudduringhisContinentalsojournings，asheneitherspokeFrenchfluently，norunderstooditeasilywhenspoken。Besides，hewasagreatproprietor，andlikedtoknowhowhislandwasgoingon；howhistenantswerefaringintheworld。Helikedtohearoftheirbirths，marriages，anddeaths，andhadsomethingofaroyalmemoryforfaces。Inshort，ifeverapeerwasanoldwoman，LordCumnorwasthatpeer；buthewasaverygood—naturedoldwoman，androdeaboutonhisstoutoldcobwithhispocketsfullofhalfpenceforthechildren，andlittlepacketsofsnufffortheoldpeople。Likeanoldwoman，too，heenjoyedanafternooncupofteainhiswife’ssitting—room，andoverhisgossip’sbeveragehewouldrepeatallthathehadlearntintheday。LadyCumnorwasexactlyinthatstateofconvalescencewhensuchtalkasherlord’swasextremelyagreeabletoher，butshehadcontemnedthehabitoflisteningtogossipsoseverelyallherlife，thatshethoughtitduetoconsistencytolistenfirst，andenterasuperciliousprotestafterwards。Ithad，however，cometobeafamilyhabitforallofthemtogathertogetherinLadyCumnor’sroomontheirreturnfromtheirdailywalksordrivesorrides，andoverthefire，sippingtheirteaatherearlymeal，torecountthemorselsoflocalintelligencetheyhadheardduringthemorning。Whentheyhadsaidallthattheyhadtosay（andnotbefore），theyhadalwaystolistentoashorthomilyfromherladyshiponthewell—worntexts，—thepoornessofconversationaboutpersons，—theprobablefalsehoodofalltheyhadheard，andthedegradationofcharacterimpliedbyitsrepetition。OnoneoftheseNovembereveningstheywereallassembledinLadyCumnor’sroom。Shewaslying，—alldrapedinwhite，andcoveredupwithanIndianshawl，—onasofanearthefire。
　　LadyHarrietsateontherug，closebeforethewood—fire，pickingupfallenemberswithapairofdwarftongs，andpilingthemontheredandodorousheapinthecentreofthehearth。LadyCuxhaven，notable’fromgirlhood，wasusingtheblindman’sholidaytonetfruit—netsforthewallsatCuxhavenPark。LadyCumnor’swomanwastryingtoseetopouroutteabythelightofonesmallwax—candleinthebackground（forLadyCumnorcouldnotbearmuchlighttoherweakenedeyes）；Iandthegreatleaflessbranchesofthetreesoutsidethehousekeptsweepingagainstthewindows，movedbythewindthatwasgathering。
　　ItwasalwaysLadyCumnor’shabittosnubthoseshelovedbest。Herhusbandwasperpetuallysnubbedbyher，yetshemissedhimnowthathewaslaterthanusual，andprofessednottowanthertea；buttheyallknewthatitwasonlybecausehewasnottheretohandittoher，andbefoundfaultwithforhisinvariablestupidityinforgettingthatshelikedtoputsugarinbeforeshetookanycream。Atlengthheburstin。
　　’Ibegyourpardon，mylady，—I’mlaterthanIshouldhavebeen，I
　　know。Why，haven’tyouhadyourteayet？’heexclaimed，bustlingabouttogetthecupforhiswife。
　　’YouknowInevertakecreambeforeI’vesweetenedit，’saidshe，withevenmoreemphasisonthe’never’thanusual。
　　’Tobesure！WhatasimpletonIam！IthinkImighthaveremembereditbythistime。YouseeImetoldSheepshanks，andthat’sthereasonofit。’
　　’Ofyourhandingmethecreambeforethesugar？’askedhiswife。Itwasoneofhergrimjokes。
　　’No，no！ha，ha！You’rebetterthisevening，Ithink，mydear。But，asIwassaying，Sheepshanksissuchaneternaltalker，there’snogettingawayfromhim，andIhadnoideaitwassolate！’
　　’Well，IthinktheleastyoucandoistotellussomethingofMrSheepshanks’
　　conversationnowyouhavetornyourselfawayfromhim。’
　　’Conversation！didIcallitconversation？Idon’tthinkIsaidmuch。
　　Ilistened。Hereallyhasalwaysagreatdealtosay。MorethanPreston，forinstance。And，bytheway，hewastellingmesomethingaboutPreston；
　　—oldSheepshanksthinkshe’llbemarriedbeforelong，—hesaysthere’sagreatdealofgossipgoingonabouthimandGibson’sdaughter。They’vebeencaughtmeetinginthepark，andcorresponding，andallthatkindofthingthatislikelytoendinamarriage。’
　　’Ishallbeverysorry，’saidLadyHarriet。’Ialwayslikedthatgirl；
　　andIcan’tbearpapa’smodelland—agent。’
　　’Idaresayit’snottrue，’saidLadyCumnor，inaveryaudibleasidetoLadyHarriet。’Papapicksupstoriesonedaytocontradictthemthenext。’
　　’Ah，butthisdidsoundliketruth。Sheepshankssaidalltheoldladiesinthetownhadgotholdofit，andweremakingagreatscandaloutofit。’
　　’Idon’tthinkitdoessoundquiteanicestory。IwonderwhatClarecouldbedoingtoallowsuchgoingson，’saidLadyCuxhaven。
　　’IthinkitismuchmorelikelythatClare’sowndaughter—thatprettypawkyMissKirkpatrick—istherealheroineofthisstory，’saidLadyHarriet。’Shealwayslookslikeaheroineofgenteelcomedy，andthoseyoungladieswerecapableofagooddealofinnocentintriguing，ifIrememberrightly。NowlittleMollyGibsonhasacertaingaucherieaboutherwhichwoulddisqualifyheratoncefromanyclandestineproceedings。Besides，"clandestine！"why，thechildistruthitself。Papa，areyousureMrSheepshankssaiditwasMissGibsonthatwasexcitingHollingfordscandal？Wasn’titMissKirkpatrick？ThenotionofherandMrPrestonmakingamatchofitdoesnotsoundsoincongruous；but，ifit’smylittlefriendMolly，I’llgotochurchandforbidthebanns。’
　　’Really，Harriet，Ican’tthinkwhatalwaysmakesyoutakesuchaninterestinallthesepettyHollingfordaffairs。’
　　’Mamma，it’sonlytitfortat。Theytakethemostlivelyinterestinalloursayingsanddoings。IfIweregoingtobemarried，theywouldwanttoknoweverypossibleparticular，—wherewefirstmet，whatwefirstsaidtoeachother，whatIwore，andwhetherheofferedbyletterorinperson。I’msurethosegoodMissBrowningswerewonderfullywell—informedastoMary’smethodsofmanaginghernursery，andeducatinghergirls；
　　soit’sonlyaproperreturnofthecomplimenttowanttoknowonoursidehowtheyaregoingon。Iamquiteofpapa’sfaction。Iliketohearallthelocalgossip。’
　　’Especiallywhenitisflavouredwithaspiceofscandalandimpropriety，asinthiscase，’saidLadyCumnor，withthemomentarybitternessofaconvalescentinvalid。LadyHarrietcolouredwithannoyance。Butthensheralliedhercourage，andsaidwithmoregravitythanbefore，—
　　’IamreallyinterestedinthisstoryaboutMollyGibson，Iown。Ibothlikeandrespecther；andIdonotliketohearhernamecoupledwiththatofMrPreston。Ican’thelpfancyingpapahasmadesomemistake。’
　　’No，mydear。I’msureI’mrepeatingwhatIheard。I’msorryIsaidanythingaboutit，ifitannoysyouormyladythere。SheepshanksdidsayMissGibson，though，andhewentontosayitwasapitythegirlhadgotherselfsotalkedabout；foritwasthewaytheyhadcarriedonthatgaverisetoallthechatter。Prestonhimselfwasaveryfairmatchforher，andnobodycouldhaveobjectedtoit。ButI’lltryandfindamoreagreeablepieceofnews。OldMargeryatthelodgeisdead；andtheydon’tknowwheretofindsomeonetoteachclear—starchingatyourschool；andRobertHallmadefortypoundslastyearbyhisapples。’SotheydriftedawayfromMollyandheraffairs；onlyLadyHarrietkeptturningwhatshehadheardoverinherownmindwithinterestandwonder。
　　’Iwarnedheragainsthimthedayofherfather’swedding。Andwhatastraightforward，out—spokenlassieitwasthen！Idon’tbelieveit；it’sonlyoneofoldSheepshanks’stories，halfinventionandhalfdeafness。’
　　ThenextdayLadyHarrietrodeovertoHollingford，andforthesettlingofhercuriosityshecalledontheMissBrownings，andintroducedthesubject。
　　ShewouldnothavespokenabouttherumourshehadheardtoanywhowerenotwarmfriendsofMolly’s。IfMrSheepshankshadchosentoalludetoitwhenshehadbeenridingwithherfather，shewouldverysoonhavesilencedhimbyoneofthehaughtylookssheknewfullwellhowtoassume。Butshefeltasifshemustknowthetruth，andaccordinglyshebeganthusabruptlytoMissBrowning，—
　　’WhatisallthisIhearaboutmylittlefriendMollyGibsonandMrPreston？’
　　’Oh，LadyHarriet！haveyouheardofit？Wearesosorry！’
　　’Sorryforwhat？’
　　’Ithink，beggingyourladyship’spardon，wehadbetternotsayanymoretillweknowhowmuchyouknow，’saidMissBrowning。
　　’Nay，’repliedLadyHarriet，laughingalittle，’Ishan’ttellwhatIknowtillIamsureyouknowmore。Thenwe’llmakeanexchangeifyoulike。’
　　’I’mafraidit’snolaughingMatterforpoorMolly，’saidMissBrowning，shakingherhead。’Peopledosaysuchthings！’
　　’ButIdon’tbelievethem；indeedIdon’t，’burstinMissPhoebe，halfcrying。
　　’NomorewillI，then，’saidLadyHarriet，takingthegoodlady’shand。
　　’It’sallveryfine，Phoebe，sayingyoudon’tbelievethem，butIshouldliketoknowwhoitwasthatconvincedme，sadlyagainstmywill，Iamsure。’
　　’IonlytoldyouthefactsasMrsGoodenoughtoldthemme，sister；butI’msureifyouhadseenpoorpatientMollyasIhavedone，sittingupinacornerofaroom，lookingattheBeautiesofEnglandandWalestillshemusthavebeensickofthem，andnoonespeakingtoher；andsheasgentleandsweetaseverattheendoftheevening，thoughmaybeabitpale—factsornofacts，Iwon’tbelieveanythingagainsther。’
　　SotheresateMissPhoebe，intearfuldefianceoffacts。
　　’And，asIsaidbefore，I’mquiteofyouropinion，’saidLadyHarriet。
　　’ButhowdoesyourladyshipexplainawayhermeetingswithMrPrestoninallsortsofunlikelyandopen—airplaces？’askedMissBrowning，who，todoherjustice，wouldhavebeenonlytoogladtojoinMolly’spartisans，ifshecouldhavepreservedhercharacterforlogicaldeductionatthesametime。’Iwentsofarastosendforherfatherandtellhimallaboutit。IthoughtatleasthewouldhavehorsewhippedMrPreston；butheseemstohavetakennonoticeofit。’
　　’Thenwemaybequitesureheknowssomewayofexplainingmattersthatwedon’t，’saidLadyHarriet，decisively。’Afterall，theremaybeahundredandfiftyperfectlynaturalandjustifiableexplanations。’
　　’MrGibsonknewofnonewhenIthoughtitmydutytospeaktohim，’
　　saidMissBrowning。
　　’Why，supposethatMrPrestonisengagedtoMissKirkpatrick，andMollyisconfidanteandmessenger。’
　　’Idon’tseethatyourladyship’ssuppositionmuchalterstheblame。
　　Why，ifheishonourablyengagedtoCynthiaKirkpatrick，doeshenotvisitheropenlyatherhomeinMrGibson’shouse？WhydoesMollylendherselftoclandestineproceedings？’
　　’Onecan’taccountforeverything，’saidLadyHarriet，alittleimpatiently，forreasonwasgoinghardagainsther。’ButIchoosetohavefaithinMollyGibson。I’msureshe’snotdoneanythingverywrong。I’veagreatmindtogoandcallonher—MrsGibsonisconfinedtoherroomwiththishorridinfluenza—andtakeherwithmeonaroundofcallsthroughthislittlegossippingtown，—onMrsGoodenough，orBadenough，whoseemstohavebeenpropagatingallthesestories。ButI’venottimeto—day。I’vetomeetpapaatthree，andit’sthreenow。Onlyremember，MissPhoebe，it’syouandIagainsttheworld，indefenceofadistresseddamsel。’
　　’DonQuixoteandSanchoPanza！’saidshetoherselfassheranlightlydownMissBrowning’sold—fashionedstaircase。
　　’Now，Idon’tthinkthat’sprettyofyou，Phoebe，’saidMissBrowninginsomedispleasure，assoonasshewasalonewithhersister。’First，youconvincemeagainstmywill，andmakemeveryunhappy；andIhavetodounpleasantthings，allbecauseyou’vemademebelievethatcertainstatementsaretrue；andthenyouturnroundandcry，andsayyoudon’tbelieveawordofitall，makingmeoutaregularogreandbackbiter。No！it’sofnouse。Ishan’tlistentoyou。’SosheleftMissPhoebeintears，andlockedherselfupinherownroom。
　　LadyHarriet，meanwhile，wasridinghomewardsbyherfather’sside，apparentlylisteningtoallhechosetosay，butinrealityturningovertheprobabilitiesandpossibilitiesthatmightaccountforthesestrangeinterviewsbetweenMollyandMrPreston。Itwasacaseofparlerdel’â；neetl’onenvoitlesoreilles。AtaturnintheroadtheysawMrPrestonalittlewaybeforethem，comingtowardsthemonhisgoodhorse，pointdevice，inhisridingattire。eTheearl，inhisthread—barecoat，andonhisoldbrowncob，calledoutcheerfully，—
　　’Aha！here’sPreston。Good—daytoyou。Iwasjustwantingtoaskyouaboutthatslipofpasture—landontheHomeFarm。JohnBrickkillwantstoploughitupandcropit。It’snottwoacresatthebest。’
　　Whiletheyweretalkingoverthisbitofland，LadyHarrietcametoherresolution。Assoonasherfatherhadfinished，shesaid，—
　　’MrPreston，perhapsyouwillallowmetoaskyouoneortwoquestionstorelievemymind，forIaminsomelittleperplexityatpresent。’
　　’Certainly；Ishallonlybetoohappytogiveyouanyinformationinmypower。’Butthemomentafterhehadmadethispolitespeech，herecollectedMolly’sspeech—thatshewouldreferhercasetoLadyHarriet。Butthelettershadbeenreturned，andtheaffairwasnowwoundup。Shehadcomeoffconqueror，hethevanquished。Surelyshewouldneverhavebeensoungenerousastoappealafterthat？
　　’TherearereportsaboutMissGibsonandyoucurrentamongthegossipsofHollingford。Arewetocongratulateyouonyourengagementtothatyounglady？’
　　’Ah！bytheway，Preston，weoughttohavedoneitbefore，’interruptedLordCumnor，inhastygoodwill。Buthisdaughtersaidquietly，’MrPrestonhasnotyettoldusifthereportsarewellfounded，papa。’
　　Shelookedathimwiththeairofapersonexpectingananswer，andexpectingatruthfulanswer。
　　’Iamnotsofortunate，’repliedhe，tryingtomakehishorseappearfidgety，withoutincurringobservation。
　　’ThenImaycontradictthatreport？’askedLadyHarrietquietly。’Oristhereanyreasonforbelievingthatintimeitmaycometrue？Iaskbecausesuchreports，ifunfounded，doharmtoyoungladies。’
　　’Keepothersweetheartsoff，’putinLordCumnor，lookingagooddealpleasedathisowndiscernment。LadyHarrietwenton，—
　　’AndItakeagreatinterestinMissGibson。’
　　MrPrestonsawfromhermannerthathewas’inforit，’asheexpressedittohimself。Thequestionwas，howmuchorhowlittledidsheknow？
　　’IhavenoexpectationorhopeofeverhavinganearerinterestinMissGibsonthanIhaveatpresent。Ishallbegladifthisstraightforwardanswerrelievesyourladyshipfromyourperplexity。’
　　Hecouldnothelpthetouchofinsolencethataccompaniedtheselastwords。Itwasnotinthewordsthemselves，norinthetoneinwhichtheywerespoken，norinthelookwhichaccompaniedthem，itwasinall；itimpliedadoubtofLadyHarriet’srighttoquestionhimasshedid；andtherewassomethingofdefianceinitaswell。ButthistouchofinsolenceputLadyHarriet’smettleup；andshewasnotonetocheckherself，inanycourse，fortheopinionofaninferior。
　　’Then，sir！areyouawareoftheinjuryyoumaydotoayounglady’sreputationifyoumeether，anddetainherinlongconversations，whensheiswalkingbyherself，unaccompaniedbyanyone？Yougiverise—youhavegivenrisetoreports。’
　　’MydearHarriet，arenotyougoingtoofar？Youdon’tknow—MrPrestonmayhaveintentions—unacknowledgedintentions。’
　　’No，mylord。IhavenointentionswithregardtoMissGibson。Shemaybeaveryworthyyounglady—Ihavenodoubtsheis。LadyHarrietseemsdeterminedtopushmeintosuchapositionthatIcannotbutacknowledgemyselftobe—itisnotenviable—notpleasanttoown—butIam，infact，ajiltedman；jiltedbyMissKirkpatrick，afteratolerablylongengagement。MyinterviewswithMissGibsonwerenotofthemostagreeablekind—asyoumayconcludewhenItellyoushewas，Ibelieve，theinstigator—certainly，shewastheagentinthislaststepofMissKirkpatrick’s。
　　Isyourladyship’scuriosity’（withanemphasisonthislastword）’satisfiedwiththisrathermortifyingconfessionofmine？’
　　’Harriet，mydear，you’vegonetoofar—wehadnorighttopryintoMrPreston’sprivateaffairs。’
　　’NomoreIhad，’saidLadyHarriet，withasmileofwinningfrankness：
　　thefirstsmileshehadaccordedtoMrPrestonformanyalongday；eversincethetime，yearsago，when，presumingonhishandsomeness，hehadassumedatoneofgallantfamiliaritywithLadyHarriet，andpaidherpersonalcomplimentsashewouldhavedonetoanequal。
　　’Buthewillexcuseme，Ihope，’continuedshe，stillinthatgraciousmannerwhichmadehimfeelthathenowheldamuchhigherplaceinheresteemthanhehadhadatthebeginningoftheirinterview，’whenhelearnsthatthebusytonguesoftheHollingfordladieshavebeenspeakingofmyfriend，MissGibson，inthemostunwarrantablemanner；drawingunjustifiableinferencesfromthefactsofthatintercoursewithMrPreston，thenatureofwhichhehasjustconferredsucharealobligationonmebyexplaining。’
　　’IthinkIneedhardlyrequestLadyHarriettoconsiderthisexplanationofmineasconfidential，’saidMrPreston。
　　’Ofcourse，ofcourse！’saidtheearl；’everyonewillunderstandthat。’
　　Andherodehome，andtoldhiswifeandLadyCuxhaventhewholeconversationbetweenLadyHarrietandMrPreston；inthestrictestconfidence，ofcourse。
　　LadyHarriethadtostandagoodmanystricturesonmanners，andproperdignityforafewdaysafterthis。However，sheconsoledherselfbycallingontheGibsons；and，findingthatMrsGibson（whowasstillaninvalid）
　　wasasleepatthetime，sheexperiencednodifficultyincarryingofftheunconsciousMollyforawalk，whichLadyHarrietsocontrivedthattheytwicepassedthroughallthelengthoftheprincipalstreetofthetown，loiteredatGrinstead’sforhalfanhour，andwoundupbyLadyHarriet’scallingontheMissBrownings，who，toherregret，werenotathome。
　　’Perhaps，itisaswell，’saidshe，afteraminute’sconsideration。
　　’I’llleavemycard，andputyournamedownunderneathit，Molly。’
　　Mollywasalittlepuzzledbythemannerinwhichshehadbeentakenpossessionof，likeaninanimatechattel，foralltheafternoon，andexclaimed，—
　　’Please，LadyHarriet—Ineverleavecards；Ihavenotgotany，andontheMissBrownings，ofallpeople；why，IruninandoutwheneverI
　　like。’
　　’Nevermind，littleone。To—dayyoushalldoeverythingproperly，andaccordingtofulletiquette。
　　’AndnowtellMrsGibsontocomeouttotheTowersforalongday；wewillsendthecarriageforherwhenevershewillletusknowthatsheisstrongenoughtocome。Indeed，shehadbettercomeforafewdays；atthistimeoftheyearitdoesnotdoforaninvalidtobeoutintheevenings，eveninacarriage。’SospokeLadyHarriet，standingonthewhitedoor—stepsatMissBrownings’，andholdingMolly’shandwhileshewishedhergood—by。
　　’You’lltellher，dear，thatIcamepartlytoseeher—butthatfindingherasleep，Iranoffwithyou，anddon’tforgetabouthercomingtostaywithusforchangeofair—mammawilllikeit，I’msure—andthecarriage，andallthat。Andnowgood—by，we’vedoneagoodday’swork！Andbetterthanyou’reawareof，’continuedshe，stilladdressingMolly，thoughthelatterwasquiteoutofhearing。’HollingfordisnottheplaceItakeittobe，ifitdoesn’tveerroundinMissGibson’sfavouraftermyto—day’strottingofthatchildabout。’
　　chapter50CHAPTERLCYNTHIAATBAY
　　MrsGibsonwasslowinrecoveringherstrengthaftertheinfluenza，andbeforeshewaswellenoughtoacceptLadyHarriet’sinvitationtotheTowers，CynthiacamehomefromLondon。IfMollyhadthoughthermannerofdeparturewasscarcelyasaffectionateandconsiderateasitmighthavebeen，—ifsuchathoughthadcrossedMolly’sfancyforaninstant，shewasrepentantforitassoonaseverCynthiareturned，andthegirlsmettogetherfacetoface，withalltheoldfamiliaraffection，goingupstairstothedrawing—room，withtheirarmsroundeachother’swaists，andsittingtheretogetherhandinhand。Cynthia’swholemannerwasmorequietthanithadbeen，whentheweightofherunpleasantsecretrestedonhermind，andmadeheralternatelydespondentorflighty。
　　’Afterall，’saidCynthia，’there’salookofhomeabouttheseroomswhichisverypleasant。ButIwishIcouldseeyoulookingstronger，mammalthat’stheonlyunpleasantthing。Molly，whydidn’tyousendforme？’
　　’Iwantedtodo，’beganMolly。