Soyou’retostophereto—night？Clare，don’tyouthinkwecouldfindsomeofthosebooksofengravingsthatwouldinterestMissGibson。’MrsKirkpatrickcameglidinguptotheplacewhereMollystood；andbeganpettingherwithprettywordsandactions，whileLadyCuxhaventurnedoverheavyvolumesinsearchofonethatmightinterestthegirl。’Poordarling！Isawyoucomeintothedining—room，lookingsoshy；andIwantedyoutocomenearme，butIcouldnotmakeasigntoyou，becauseLordCuxhavenwasspeakingtomeatthetime，tellingmeabouthistravels。
　　Ah，hereisanicebook—Lodge’sPortraits；nowI’llsitbyyouandtellyouwhotheyallare，andallaboutthem。Don’ttroubleyourselfanymore，dearLadyCuxhaven；I’lltakechargeofher；prayleavehertome！’Mollygrewhotterandhotterastheselastwordsmethercar。Iftheywouldonlyleaveheralone，andnotlabouratbeingkindtoher；would’nottroublethemselves’abouther！ThesewordsofMrsKirkpatrick’sseemedtoquenchthegratitudeshewasfeelingtoLadyCuxhavenforlookingforsomethingtoamuseher。But，ofcourse，itwasatrouble，andsheoughtnevertohavebeenthere。By—and—by，MrsKirkpatrickwascalledawaytoaccompanyLadyAgnes’song；
　　andthenMollyreallyhadafewminutes’enjoyment。Shecouldlookroundtheroom，unobserved，and，sure，neverwasanyplaceoutofaking’shousesograndandmagnificent。Largemirrors，velvetcurtains，picturesintheirgildedframes，amultitudeofdazzlinglightsdecoratedthevastsaloon，andthefloorwasstuddedwithgroupsofladiesandgentlemen，alldressedingorgeousattire。SuddenlyMollybethoughtherofthechildrenwhomshehadaccompaniedintothedining—room，andtowhoseranksshehadappearedtobelong，—wherewerethey？Gonetobedanhourbefore，atsomequietsignalfromtheirmother。Mollywonderedifshemightgo，too—ifshecouldeverfindherwaybacktothehavenofMrsKirkpatrick’sbedroom。
　　Butshewasatsomedistancefromthedoor；alongwayfromMrsKirkpatrick，towhomshefeltherselftobelongmorethantoanyoneelse。Far，too，fromLadyCuxhaven，andtheterribleLadyCumnor，andherjocoseandgood—naturedlord。SoMollysateon，turningoverpictureswhichshedidnotsee；herheartgrowingheavierandheavierinthedesolationofallthisgrandeur。
　　Presentlyafootmanenteredtheroom，andafteramoment’slookingabouthim，hewentuptoMrsKirkpatrick，whereshesateatthepiano，thecentreofthemusicalportionofthecompany，readytoaccompanyanysinger，andsmilingpleasantlyasshewillinglyaccededtoallrequests。ShecamenowtowardsMolly，inhercorner，andsaidtoher，—’Doyouknow，darling，yourpapahascomeforyou，andbroughtyourponyforyoutoridehome；soIshalllosemylittlebedfellow，forIsupposeyoumustgo。’Go！wasthereaquestionofitinMolly’smind，asshestoodupquivering，sparkling，almostcryingoutloud。Shewasbroughttohersenses，though，byMrsKirkpatrick’snextwords，’YoumustgoandwishLadyCumnorgood—night，youknow，mydear，andthankherladyshipforherkindnesstoyou，Sheisthere，nearthatstatue，talkingtoMrCourtenay。’Yes！shewasthere—fortyfeetaway—ahundredmilesaway！Allthatblankspacehadtobecrossed；andthenaspeechtobemade！’MustIgo？’askedMolly，inthemostpitifulandpleadingvoicepossible。’Yes；makehasteaboutit；thereisnothingsoformidableinit，isthere？’
　　repliedMrsKirkpatrick，inasharpervoicethanbefore，awarethattheywerewantingheratthepiano，andanxioustogetthebusinessinhanddoneassoonaspossible。Mollystoodstillforaminute，then，lookingup，shesaid，softly，—’Wouldyoumindcomingwithme，please？’’No！notI！’saidMrsKirkpatrick，seeingthathercompliancewaslikelytobethemostspeedywayofgettingthroughtheaffair；soshetookMolly’shand，and，ontheway，inpassingthegroupatthepiano，shesaid，smiling，inherprettygenteelmanner，—’Ourlittlefriendhereisshyandmodest，andwantsmetoaccompanyhertoLadyCumnortowishgood—night；herfatherhascomeforher，andsheisgoingaway。’Mollydidnotknowhowitwasafterwards，butshepulledherhandoutofMrsKirkpatrick’sonhearingthesewords，andgoingasteportwoinadvancecameuptoLadyCumnor，grandinpurplevelvet，anddroppingacurtsey，almostafterthefashionoftheschool—children，shesaid，—’Mylady，papaiscome，andIamgoingaway；and，mylady，Iwishyougood—night，andthankyouforyourkindness。Yourladyship’skindness，Imean，’shesaid，correctingherselfassherememberedMissBrowning’sparticularinstructionsastotheetiquettetobeobservedtoearlsandcountesses，andtheirhonourableprogeny，astheyweregiventhismorningontheroadtotheTowers。Shegotoutofthesaloonsomehow；shebelievedafterwards，onthinkingaboutit，thatshehadneverbiddengood—bytoLadyCuxhaven，orMrsKirkpatrick，or’alltherestofthem，’assheirreverentlystyledtheminherthoughts。MrGibsonwasinthehousekeeper’sroom，whenMollyranin，rathertothestatelyMrsBrown’sdiscomfiture。Shethrewherarmsroundherfather’sneck。’Oh，papa，papa，papa！Iamsogladyouhavecome；’andthensheburstoutcrying，strokinghisfacealmosthystericallyasiftomakesurehewasthere。’Why，whatanoodleyouare，Molly！DidyouthinkIwasgoingtogiveupmylittlegirltoliveattheTowersalltherestofherlife？Youmakeasmuchworkaboutmycomingforyou，asifyouthoughtIhad。Makehastenow，andgetonyourbonnet。MrsBrown，mayIaskyouforashawl，oraplaid，orawrapofsomekindtopinaboutherforapetticoat？’Hedidnotmentionthathehadcomehomefromalongroundnothalfanhourbefore，aroundfromwhichhehadreturneddinnerlessandhungry；
　　but，onfindingthatMollyhadnotreturnedfromtheTowers，hehadriddenhistiredhorseroundbyMissBrownings’，andfoundtheminself—reproachful，helplessdismay。Hewouldnotwaittolistentotheirtearfulapologies；
　　hegallopedhome，hadafreshhorseandMolly’sponysaddled，andthoughBerrycalledafterhimwithariding—skirtforthechild，whenhewasnottenyardsfromhisownstable—door，hehadrefusedtoturnbackforit，butgoneoff，asDickthestablemansaid，’mutteringtohimselfawful。’MrsBrownhadherbottleofwineout，andherplateofcake，beforeMollycamebackfromherlongexpeditiontoMrsKirkpatrick’sroom，’prettynighontoaquarterofamileoff，’asthehousekeeperinformedtheimpatientfather，ashewaitedforhischildtocomedownarrayedinhermorning’sfinerywiththeglossofnewnesswornoff。MrGibsonwasafavouriteinalltheTowers’household，asfamilydoctorsgenerallyare；bringinghopesofreliefattimesofanxietyanddistress；andMrsBrown，whowassubjecttogout，especiallydelightedinpettinghimwheneverhewouldallowher。
　　Sheevenwentoutintothestable—yardtopinMollyupintheshawl，asshesateupontherough—coatedpony，andhazardedthesomewhatsafeconjecture，—’Idaresayshe’llbehappierathome，MrGibson，’astheyrodeaway。OnceoutintotheparkMollystruckherpony，andurgedhimonashardashewouldgo，MrGibsoncalledoutatlast，—’Molly！we’recomingtotherabbit—holes；it’snotsafetogoatsuchapace。Stop。’Andasshedrewreinherodeupalongsideofher。’We’regettingintotheshadowofthetrees，andit’snotsaferidingfasthere。’’Oh！papa，Ineverwassogladinallmylife。Ifeltlikealightedcandlewhenthey’reputtingtheextinguisheronit。’’Didyou？Howd’yeknowwhatthecandlefeels？’’Oh，Idon’tknow，butIdid。’Andagain，afterapause，shesaid，—’Oh，Iamsogladtobehere！Itissopleasantridinghereintheopenfree，freshair，crushingoutsuchagoodsmellfromthedewygrass。Papa！areyouthere？Ican’tseeyou。’Herodecloseupalongsideofher：hewasnotsurebutwhatshemightbeafraidofridinginthedarkshadows，sohelaidhishanduponhers。’Oh！Iamsogladtofeelyou，’squeezinghishandhard。’Papa，IshouldliketogetachainlikePonto’s，’justaslongasyourlongestround，andthenIcouldfastenustwotoeachendofit，andwhenIwantedyouIcouldpull，andifyoudidnotwanttocome，youcouldpullbackagain；
　　butIshouldknowyouknewIwantedyou，andwecouldneverloseeachother。’’I’mratherlostinthatplanofyours；thedetails，asyoustatethem，arealittlepuzzling；butifImakethemoutrightly，Iamtogoaboutthecountry，likethedonkeysonthecommon，withaclogfastenedtomyhindleg。’’Idon’tmindyourcallingmeaclog，ifonlywewerefastenedtogether。’’ButIdomindyourcallingmeadonkey，’hereplied。’Ineverdid。AtleastIdidnotmeanto。ButitissuchacomforttoknowthatImaybeasrudeasIlike。’’Isthatwhatyou’velearntfromthegrandcompanyyou’vebeenkeepingto—day？Iexpectedtofindyousopoliteandceremonious，thatIreadafewchaptersofSirCharlesGrandison，inordertobringmyselfuptoconcertpitch。’’Oh，IdohopeIshallneverbealordoralady。’’Well，tocomfortyou，I’lltellyouthis。Iamsureyou’llneverbealord；andIthinkthechancesareathousandtooneagainstyoureverbeingtheother，inthesenseinwhichyoumean。’’IshouldlosemyselfeverytimeIhadtofetchmybonnet，orelsegettiredoflongpassagesandgreatstaircaseslongbeforeIcouldgooutwalking。’’Butyou’dhaveyourlady’s—maid，youknow。’’Doyouknow，papa，Ithinklady’s—maidsareworsethanladies。Ishouldnotmindbeingahousekeepersomuch。’’No！thejam—cupboardsanddessertwouldlieveryconvenientlytoone’shand，’repliedherfather，meditatively。’ButMrsBrowntellsmethatthethoughtofthedinnersoftenkeepsherfromsleeping；there’sthatanxietytobetakenintoconsideration。Still，ineveryconditionoflifethereareheavycaresandresponsibilities。’’Well！Isupposeso，’saidMolly，gravely。’IknowBettysaysIwearherlifeoutwiththegreenstainsIgetinmyfrocksfromsittinginthecherry—tree。’’AndMissBrowningsaidshehadfrettedherselfintoaheadachewiththinkinghowtheyhadleftyoubehind。Iamafraidyou’llbeasbadasabilloffaretothemto—night。Howdiditallhappen，goosey？’’Oh，Iwentbymyselftoseethegardens；theyaresobeautiful！andI
　　lostmyself，andsatedowntorestunderagreattree；andLadyCuxhavenandthatMrsKirkpatrickcame；andMrsKirkpatrickbroughtmesomelunch，andthenputmetosleeponherbed，—andIthoughtshewouldwakenmeintime，andshedidnot；andsothey’dallgoneaway；andwhentheyplannedformetostoptillto—morrow，Ididn’tlikesayinghowvery，verymuchIwantedtogohome，—butIkeptthinkinghowyouwouldwonderwhereI
　　was。’’Thenitwasratheradismaldayofpleasure，goosey，eh？’’Notinthemorning。Ishallneverforgetthemorninginthatgarden。ButIwasneversounhappyinallmylife，asIhavebeenallthislongafternoon。’MrGibsonthoughtithisdutytorideroundbytheTowers，andpayavisitofapologyandthankstothefamily，beforetheyleftforLondon。Hefoundthemallonthewing，andnoonewassufficientlyatlibertytolistentohisgratefulcivilitiesbutMrsKirkpatrick，who，althoughshewastoaccompanyLadyCuxhaven，andpayavisittoherformerpupil，madeleisureenoughtoreceiveMrGibson，onbehalfofthefamily；andassuredhimofherfaithfulremembranceofhisgreatprofessionalattentiontoherinformerdaysinthemostwinningmanner。
　　chapter03CHAPTERIIIMOLLYGIBSON’SCHILDHOODSixteenyearsbeforethistime，allHollingfordhadbeendisturbedtoitsfoundationsbytheintelligencethatMrHall，theskilfuldoctor，whohadattendedthemalltheirdays，wasgoingtotakeapartner。Itwasnousereasoningtothemonthesubject；soMrBrowningthevicar，MrSheepshanks（LordCumnor’sagent），andMrHallhimself，themasculinereasonersofthelittlesociety，leftofftheattempt，feelingthattheChesarasarawouldprovemoresilencingtothemurmursthanmanyarguments。
　　MrHallhadtoldhisfaithfulpatientsthat，evenwiththestrongestspectacles，hissightwasnottobedependedupon；andtheymighthavefoundoutforthemselvesthathishearingwasverydefective，although，onthispoint，heobstinatelyadheredtohisownopinion，andwasfrequentlyheardtoregretthecarelessnessofpeople’scommunicationnowadays，’likewritingonblotting—paper，allthewordsrunningintoeachother，’hewouldsay。
　　AndmorethanonceMrHallhadhadattacksofasuspiciousnature，—’rheumatism’
　　heusedtocallthem；butheprescribedforhimselfasiftheyhadbeengout，—whichhadpreventedhisimmediateattentiontoimperativesummonses。
　　But，blindanddeaf，andrheumaticashemightbe，hewasstillMrHall，thedoctorwhocouldhealalltheirailments—unlesstheydiedmeanwhile—andhehadnorighttospeakofgrowingold，andtakingapartner。Hewentverysteadilytoworkallthesame；advertisinginmedicaljournals，readingtestimonials，siftingcharacterandqualifications；andjustwhentheelderlymaidenladiesofHollingfordthoughtthattheyhadconvincedtheircontemporarythathewasasyoungasever，hestartledthembybringinghisnewpartner，MrGibson，tocalluponthem，andbegan’slyly，’astheseladiessaid，tointroducehimintopractice。And’whowasthisMrGibson？’
　　theyasked，andechomightanswerthequestion，ifsheliked，fornooneelsedid。NooneeverinallhislifeknewanythingmoreofhisantecedentsthantheHollingfordpeoplemighthavefoundoutthefirstdaytheysawhim：thathewastall，grave，ratherhandsomethanotherwise；thinenoughtobecalled’averygenteelfigure，’inthosedays，beforemuscularChristianityhadcomeintovogue；speakingwithaslightScotchaccent；and，asonegoodladyobserved，’soverytriteinhisconversation，’bywhichshemeantsarcastic。Astohisbirth，parentage，andeducation，—thefavouriteconjectureofHollingfordsocietywas，thathewastheillegitimatesonofaScotchduke，byaFrenchwoman；andthegroundsforthisconjecturewerethese：
　　—HespokewithaScotchaccent；therefore，hemustbeScotch。Hehadaverygenteelappearance，anelegantfigure，andwasapt—sohisill—wisherssaid—togivehimselfairs。Therefore，hisfathermusthavebeensomepersonofquality；and，thatgranted，nothingwaseasierthantorunthissuppositionupallthenotesofthescaleofthepeerage，—baronet，baron，viscount，earl，marquis，duke。Highertheydarednotgo，thoughoneoldlady，acquaintedwithEnglishhistory，hazardedtheremark，that’shebelievedthatoneortwooftheStuarts—hem—hadnotalwaysbeen，—ahem—quitecorrectintheir—conduct；andshefanciedsuch—ahem—thingsraninfamilies。’But，inpopularopinion，MrGibson’sfatheralwaysremainedaduke；nothingmore。ThenhismothermusthavebeenaFrenchwoman，becausehishairwassoblack；
　　andhewassosallow；andbecausehehadbeeninParis。Allthismightbetrue，ormightnot；nobodyeverknew，orfoundoutanythingmoreabouthimthanwhatMrHalltoldthem，namely，thathisprofessionalqualificationswereashighashismoralcharacter，andthatbothwerefarabovetheaverage，asMrHallhadtakenpainstoascertainbeforeintroducinghimtohispatients。
　　Thepopularityofthisworldisastransientasitsglory，asMrHallfoundoutbeforethefirstyearofhispartnershipwasover。Hehadplentyofleisurelefttohimnowtonursehisgoutandcherishhiseyesight。Theyoungerdoctorhadcarriedtheday；nearlyeveryonesentforMrGibsonnow；evenatthegreathouses—evenattheTowers，thatgreatestofall，whereMrHallhadintroducedhisnewpartnerwithfearandtrembling，withuntoldanxietyastohisbehaviour，andtheimpressionhemightmakeonmylordtheEarl，andMYladytheCountess。MrGibsonwasreceivedattheendofatwelvemonthwithasmuchwelcomerespectforhisprofessionalskillasMrHallhimselfhadeverbeen。Nay—andthiswasalittletoomuchforeventhekindolddoctor’sgoodtemper—MrGibsonhadevenbeeninvitedoncetodinnerattheTowers，todinewiththegreatSirAstley，theheadoftheprofession！Tobesure，MrHallhadbeenaskedaswell；
　　buthewaslaidupjustthenwithhisgout（sincehehadhadapartnertherheumatismhadbeenallowedtodevelopitself，andhehadnotbeenabletogo。PoorMrHallneverquitegotoverthismortification；afteritheallowedhimselftobecomedimofsightandhardofhearing，andkeptprettycloselytothehouseduringthetwowintersthatremainedofhislife。Hesentforanorphangrand—niecetokeephimcompanyinhisoldage；he，thewoman—contemningoldbachelor，becamethankfulforthecheerfulpresenceofthepretty，bonnyMaryPreston，whowasgoodandsensible，andnothingmore。Sheformedaclosefriendshipwiththedaughtersofthevicar，MrBrowning，andMrGibsonfoundtimetobecomeveryintimatewithallthree。HollingfordspeculatedmuchonwhichyoungladywouldbecomeMrsGibson，andwasrathersorrywhenthetalkaboutpossibilities，andthegossipaboutprobabilitieswithregardtothehandsomeyoungsurgeon’smarriage，endedinthemostnaturalmannerintheworld，byhismarryinghispredecessor’sniece。ThetwoMissBrowningsshowednosignsofgoingintoaconsumptionontheoccasion，althoughtheirlooksandmannerswerecarefullywatched。Onthecontrary，theywereratherboisterouslymerryatthewedding，andpoorMrsGibsonitwasthatdiedofconsumption，fourorfiveyearsafterhermarriage—threeyearsafterthedeathofhergreat—uncle，andwhenheronlychild，Molly，wasjustthreeyearsold。MrGibsondidnotspeakmuchaboutthegriefatthelossofhiswife，whichitistobesupposedthathefelt。Indeed，heavoidedalldemonstrationofsympathy，andgotuphastilyandlefttheroomwhenMissPhoebeBrowningfirstsawhimafterhisloss，andburstintoanuncontrollablefloodoftears，whichthreatenedtoendinhysterics。MissBrowningafterwardssaidshenevercouldforgivehimforhishard—heartednessonthatoccasion；
　　butafortnightafterwardsshecametoveryhighwordswitholdMrsGoodenough，forgaspingoutherdoubtswhetherMrGibsonwasamanofdeepfeeling；
　　judgingbythenarrownessofhiscrapehat—band，whichoughttohavecoveredhishat，whereastherewasatleastthreeinchesofbeavertobeseen。
　　And，inspiteofitall，MissBrowningandMissPhoebeconsideredthemselvesasMrGibson’smostintimatefriends，inrightoftheirregardforhisdeadwife，andwouldfainhavetakenaquasi—motherlyinterestinhislittlegirl，hadshenotbeenguardedbyawatchfuldragonintheshapeofBetty，hernurse，whowasjealousofanyinterferencebetweenherandhercharge；
　　andespeciallyresentfulanddisagreeabletowardsallthoseladieswho，bysuitableage，rank，orpropinquity，shethoughtcapableof’castingsheep’seyesatmaster。’Severalyearsbeforetheopeningofthisstory，MrGibson’spositionseemedsettledforlife，bothsociallyandprofessionally。Hewasawidower，andlikelytoremainso；hisdomesticaffectionswerecentredonlittleMolly，buteventoher，intheirmostprivatemoments，hedidnotgivewaytomuchexpressionofhisfeelings；hismostcaressingappellationforherwas’Goosey，’andhetookapleasureinbewilderingherinfantmindwithhisbadinage。Hehadratheracontemptfordemonstrativepeople，arisingfromhismedicalinsightintotheconsequencestohealthofuncontrolledfeeling。Hedeceivedhimselfintobelievingthatstillhisreasonwaslordofall，becausehehadneverfallenintothehabitofexpressiononanyotherthanpurelyintellectualsubjects。Molly，however，hadherownintuitionstoguideher。Thoughherpapalaughedather，quizzedher，jokedather，inawaywhichtheMissBrowningscalled’reallycruel’toeachotherwhentheywerequitealone，Mollytookherlittlegriefsandpleasures，andpouredthemintoherpapa’sears，soonereventhanintoBetty’s，thatkind—heartedtermagant。Thechildgrewtounderstandherfatherwell，andthetwohadthemostdelightfulintercoursetogether—halfbanter，halfseriousness，butaltogetherconfidentialfriendship。MrGibsonkeptthreeservants；
　　Betty，acook，andagirlwhowassupposedtobehousemaid，butwhowasunderboththeeldertwo，andhadaprettylifeofitinconsequence。ThreeservantswouldnothavebeenrequiredifithadnotbeenMrGibson’shabit，asithadbeenMrHall’sbeforehim，totaketwo’pupils，’astheywerecalledinthegenteellanguageofHollingford，（apprentices，’astheywereinfact—beingboundbyindentures，andpayingahandsomepremium’tolearntheirbusiness。Theylivedinthehouse，andoccupiedanuncomfortable，ambiguous，or，asMissBrowningcalleditwithsometruth，’amphibious’
　　position。TheyhadtheirmealswithMrGibsonandMolly，andwerefelttobeterriblyintheway；MrGibsonnotbeingamanwhocouldmakeconversation，andhatingthedutyoftalkingunderrestraint。Yetsomethingwithinhimmadehimwince，asifhisdutieswerenotrightlyperformed，when，astheclothwasdrawn，thetwoawkwardladsroseupwithjoyfulalacrity，gavehimanod，whichwastobeinterpretedasabow，knockedagainsteachotherintheirendeavourstogetoutofthedining—roomquickly；andthenmightbehearddashingalongapassagewhichledtothesurgery，chokingwithhalf—suppressedlaughter。Yettheannoyancehefeltatthisdullsenseofimperfectlyfulfilleddutiesonlymadehissarcasmsontheirinefficiency，orstupidity，orillmanners，morebitterthanbefore。Beyonddirectprofessionalinstruction，hedidnotknowwhattodowiththesuccessionofpairsofyoungmen，whosemissionseemedtobetoplaguetheirmasterconsciously，andtoplaguehimunconsciously。OnceortwiceMrGibsonhaddeclinedtakingafreshpupil，inthehopesofshakinghimselffreefromtheincubus，buthisreputationasacleversurgeonhadspreadsorapidlythatfeeswhichhehadthoughtprohibitory，werewillinglypaid，inorderthattheyoungmanmightmakeastartinlife，withtheprestigeofhavingbeenapupilofGibsonofHollingford。ButasMollygrewtobealittlegirlinsteadofachild，whenshewasabouteightyearsold，herfatherperceivedtheawkwardnessofherhavingherbreakfastsanddinnerssooftenalonewiththepupils，withouthisuncertainpresence。Todoawaywiththisevil，morethanfortheactualinstructionshecouldgive，heengagedarespectablewoman，thedaughterofashopkeeperinthetown，whohadleftadestitutefamily，tocomeeverymorningbeforebreakfast，andtostaywithMollytillhecamehomeatnight；or，ifhewasdetained，untilthechild’sbedtime。’Now，MissEyre，’saidhe，summinguphisinstructionsthedaybeforesheentereduponheroffice，’rememberthis：youaretomakegoodteafortheyoungmen，andseethattheyhavetheirmealscomfortably，and—youarefive—and—thirty，Ithinkyousaid？—tryandmakethemtalk，—rationally，Iamafraidisbeyondyouroranybody’spower；butmakethemtalkwithoutstammeringorgiggling。Don’tteachMollytoomuch：shemustsew，andread，andwrite，anddohersums；butIwanttokeepherachild，andifIfindmorelearningdesirableforher，I’llseeaboutgivingittohermyself。
　　Afterall，Iamnotsurethatreadingorwritingisnecessary。Manyagoodwomangetsmarriedwithonlyacrossinsteadofhername；it’sratheradilutingofmother—wit，tomyfancy；but，howeverwemustyieldtotheprejudicesofsociety，MissEyre，andsoyoumayteachthechildtoread。’MissEyrelistenedinsilence，perplexedbutdeterminedtobeobedienttothedirectionsofthedoctor，whosekindnesssheandherfamilyhadgoodcausetoknow。Shemadestrongtea；shehelpedtheyoungmenliberallyinMrGibson’sabsence，aswellasinhispresence，andshefoundthewaytounloosentheirtongues，whenevertheirmasterwasaway，bytalkingtothemontrivialsubjectsinherpleasanthomelyway。ShetaughtMollytoreadandwrite，buttriedhonestlytokeepherbackineveryotherbranchofeducation。Itwasonlybyfightingandstrugglinghard，thatbitbybitMollypersuadedherfathertoletherhaveFrenchanddrawinglessons。
　　Hewasalwaysafraidofherbecomingtoomucheducated，thoughheneednothavebeenalarmed；themasterswhovisitedsuchsmallcountrytownsasHollingfordfortyyearsago，werenosuchgreatproficientsintheirarts。Onceaweekshejoinedadancingclassintheassembly—roomattheprincipalinninthetown：the’George；’and，beingdauntedbyherfatherineveryintellectualattempt，shereadeverybookthatcameinherway，almostwithasmuchdelightasifithadbeenforbidden。Forhisstationinlife，MrGibsonhadanunusuallygoodlibrary；themedicalportionofitwasinaccessibletoMolly，beingkeptinthesurgery，buteveryotherbookshehadeitherread，ortriedtoread。Hersummerplaceofstudywasthatseatinthecherry—tree，whereshegotthegreenstainsonherfrock，thathavealreadybeenmentionedaslikelytowearBetty’slifeout。Inspiteofthis’hiddenwormi’th’bud，’Bettywastoallappearancestrong，alert，andflourishing。ShewastheonecrookinMissEyre’slot，whowasotherwisesohappyinhavingmetwithasuitablewell—paidemploymentjustwhensheneededitmost。ButBetty，thoughagreeingintheorywithhermasterwhenhetoldherofthenecessityofhavingagovernessforhislittledaughter，wasvehementlyopposedtoanydivisionofherauthorityandinfluenceoverthechildwhohadbeenhercharge，herplague，andherdelighteversinceMrsGibson’sdeath。ShetookupherpositionascensorofallMissEyre’ssayingsanddoingsfromtheveryfirst，anddidnotforamomentcondescendtoconcealherdisapprobation。Inherheart，shecouldnothelprespectingthepatienceandpainstakingofthegoodlady，—fora’lady’MissEyrewasinthebestsenseoftheword，thoughinHollingfordsheonlytookrankasashopkeeper’sdaughter。YetBerrybuzzedaboutherwiththeteasingpertinacityofagnat，alwaysreadytofindfault，ifnottobite。MissEyre’sonlydefencecamefromthequarterwhenceitmightleasthavebeenexpected—fromherpupil；onwhosefanciedbehalf，asanoppressedlittlepersonage，Bettyalwaysbasedherattacks。ButveryearlyinthedayMollyperceivedtheirinjustice，andsoonafterwardsshebegantorespectMissEyreforhersilentenduranceofwhatevidentlygaveherfarmorepainthanBettyimagined。MrGibsonhadbeenafriendinneedtoherfamily，soMissEyrerestrainedhercomplaints，soonerthanannoyhim。Andshehadherreward。BettywouldofferMollyallsortsofsmalltemptationstoneglectMissEyre’swishes；Mollysteadilyresisted，andploddedawayathertaskofsewingorherdifficultsum。BettymadecumbrousjokesatMissEyre’sexpense。Mollylookedupwiththeutmostgravity，asifrequestingtheexplanationofanunintelligiblespeech；andthereisnothingsoquenchingtoawagastobeaskedtotranslatehisjestintoplainmatter—of—factEnglish，andtoshowwhereinthepointlies。OccasionallyBerrylosthertemperentirely，andspokeimpertinentlytoMissEyre；butwhenthishadbeendoneinMolly’spresence，thegirlflewoutintosuchaviolentpassionofwordsindefenceofhersilenttremblinggoverness，thatevenBerryherselfwasdaunted，thoughshechosetotakethechild’sangerasagoodjoke，andtriedtopersuadeMissEyreherselftojoininheramusement。’Blessthechild！onewouldthinkIwasahungrypussy—cat，andsheahen—sparrow，withherwingsallfluttering，andherlittleeyesaflame，andherbeakreadytopeckmejustbecauseIhappenedtolooknearhernest。Nay，child！
　　ifthoulik’sttobestifledinanastycloseroom，learningthingsasisofnoearthlygoodwhentheyislearnt，insteado’ridingonJobDonkin’shay—cart，it’sthylook—out，notmine。She’salittlevixen，isn’tshe？’
　　smilingatMissEyre，asshefinishedherspeech。Butthepoorgovernesssawnohumourintheaffair；thecomparisonofMollytoahen—sparrowwaslostuponher。Shewassensitiveandconscientious，andknew，fromhomeexperience，theevilsofanungovernabletemper。SoshebegantoreproveMollyforgivingwaytoherpassion，andthechildthoughtithardtobeblamedforwhatsheconsideredherjustangeragainstBetty。But，afterall，thesewerethesmallgrievancesofaveryhappychildhood，chapter04CHAPTERIVMRGIBSON’SNEIGHBOURSMollygrewupamongthesequietpeopleincalmmonotonyoflife，withoutanygreatereventthanthatwhichhasbeenrecorded，—thebeingleftbehindattheTowers，untilshewasnearlyseventeen。Shehadbecomeavisitorattheschool，butshehadnevergoneagaintotheannualfestivalatthegreathouse；itwaseasytofindsomeexcuseforkeepingaway，andtherecollectionofthatdaywasnotapleasantoneonthewhole，thoughsheoftenthoughthowmuchsheshouldliketoseethegardensagain。LadyAgneswasmarried；therewasonlyLadyHarrietremainingathome；