’Itisanunluckytimeforvisitors；nogametobehad，andlambsolatethisyear，andchickenhardlytobehadforloveormoney。’’He’llhavetoputupwithcalves—head，thathewill，’saidMrsGoodenough，solemnly。’IfI’dha’gotmyusualhealthI’dcopyoutareceiptofmygrandmother’sforarolledcalves—head，’andsendittoMrsGibson，—thedoctorhasbeenverykindtomeallthroughthisillness，—IwishmydaughterinCombermerewouldsendmesomeautumnchickens—I’dpass’emontothedoctor，thatIwould；butshe’sbeena—killingof’emall，anda—sendingofthemtome，andthelastshesentshewrotemewordwasthelast。’’Iwonderifthey’llgiveapartyforhim！’suggestedMissPhoebe。’IshouldliketoseeaQueen’scounselforonceinmylife。Ihaveseenjavelin—men，butthat’sthegreatestthinginthelegallineIevercameacross。’’They’llaskMrAshton，ofcourse，’saidMissBrowning。’Thethreeblackgraces，Law，Physic，andDivinity，asthesongcallsthem。’Wheneverthere’sasecondcourse，there’salwaystheclergymanoftheparishinvitedinanyfamilyofgentility。’’Iwonderifhe’smarried！’saidMrsGoodenough。MissPhoebehadbeenfeelingthesamewonder，buthadnotthoughtitmaidenlytoexpressit，eventohersister，whowasthesourceofknowledge，havingmetMrsGibsoninthestreetonherwaytoMrsGoodenough’s。’Yes，he’smarried，andmusthaveseveralchildren，forMrsGibsonsaidthatCynthiaKirkpatrickhadpaidthemavisitinLondon，tohavelessonswithhercousins。Andshesaidthathiswifewasamostaccomplishedwoman，andofgoodfamily，thoughshebroughthimnofortune。’’It’saverycreditableconnection，I’msure；it’sonlyawondertomeashowwe’veheardsolittletalkofitbefore，’saidMrsGoodenough。’Atthefirstlookofthething，Ishouldnotha’thoughtMrsGibsonwasonetohideawayherfinerelationsunderabushel；indeedforthatmatterwe’reallofusfondo’turningthebestbreadtho’thegowntothefront。
　　Iremember，speakingo’breadths，howI’veundonemyskirtsmanyatimeandofttoputastainoragrease—spotnexttopoorMrGoodenough。He’dasoftkindofheartwhenfirstwewasmarried，andhesaid，sayshe，"Patty，linkthyrightarmintomyleftone，thenthou’ltbenearertomyheart；"
　　andsowekeptupthehabit，when，poorman，he’dadealmoretothinkonthanromancingonwhichsidehisheartlay；soasIsaidIalwaysputmydamagedbreadthsontherighthand，andwhenwewalkedarminarm，aswealwaysdid，noonewasneverthewiser。’’IshouldnotbesurprisedifheinvitedCynthiatopayhimanothervisitinLondon，’saidMissBrowning。’Ifhediditwhenhewaspoor，he’stwentytimesmorelikelytodoitnowhe’saQueen’scounsel。’’Ay，workitbytheruleo’three，andshestandsagoodchance。Ionlyhopeitwon’tturnherhead；goingupvisitinginLondonatherage。Why，IwasfiftybeforeeverIwent！’’ButshehasbeeninFrance，she’squiteatravelledyounglady，’saidMissPhoebe。MrsGoodenoughshookherhead，forawholeminutebeforeshegaveventtoheropinion。’It’sarisk，’saidshe，’agreatrisk。Idon’tlikesayingsotothedoctor，butIshouldnotlikehavingmydaughter，ifIwashim，socheek—by—jowlwithagirlaswasbroughtupinthecountrywhereRobespierreandBonypartewasborn。’’ButBuonapartewasaCorsican，’saidMissBrowning，whowasmuchfartheradvancedbothinknowledgeandinliberalityofopinionsthanMrsGoodenough。
　　’Andthere’sagreatopportunityforcultivationofthemindaffordedbyintercoursewithforeigncountries。IalwaysadmireCynthia’sgraceofmanner，nevertooshytospeak，yetneverputtingherselfforwards；she’squiteahelptoaparty；andifshehasafewairsandgraces，whythey’renaturalatherage！NowasfordearMolly，there’sakindofawkwardnessabouther—shebrokeoneofourbestchinacupslasttimeshewasatapartyatourhouse，andspiltthecoffeeonthenewcarpet；andthenshegotsoconfusedthatshehardlydidanythingbutsitinacornerandholdhertonguealltherestoftheevening。’’Shewassosorryforwhatshe’ddone，sister，’saidMissPhoebe，inagentletoneofreproach；shewasalwaysfaithfultoMolly。’Well，anddidIsayshewasn’t？butwasthereanyneedforhertobestupidalltheeveningafter？’’Butyouwererathersharp，—ratherdispleased——’’AndIthinkitmydutytobesharp，ay，andcrosstoo，whenIseeyoungfolkscareless。AndwhenIseemydutyclearIdoit；I’mnotonetoshrinkfromit，andtheyoughttobegratefultome。It’snoteveryonethatwilltakethetroubleofreprovingthem，asMrsGoodenoughknows。I’mveryfondofMollyGibson，very，forherownsakeandforhermother’stoo；I’mnotsureifIdon’tthinkshe’sworthhalf—a—dozenCynthias，butforallthatsheshouldnotbreakmybestchinatea—cup，andthensitdoingnothingforherlivelihoodalltherestoftheevening。’BythistimeMrsGoodenoughgaveevidentsignsofbeingtired；Molly’smisdemeanorsandMissBrowning’sbrokenteacupwerenotasexcitingsubjectsofconversationasMrsGibson’snewly—discoveredgoodluckinhavingasuccessfulLondonlawyerforarelation。MrKirkpatrickhadbeen，likemanyothermen，strugglingoninhisprofession，andencumberedwithalargefamilyofhisown；hewasreadytodoagoodturnforhisconnections，ifitoccasionedhimnolossoftime，andif（whichwas，perhaps，aprimarycondition）herememberedtheirexistence。
　　Cynthia’svisittoDoughtyStreetnineortenyearsagohadnotmademuchimpressionuponhimafterhehadoncesuggesteditsfeasibilitytohisgood—naturedwife。Hewasevenratherstartledeverynowandthenbytheappearanceofaprettylittlegirlamongsthisownchildren，astheytroopedintodessert，andhadtoremindhimselfwhoshewas。Butasitwashiscustomtoleavethetablealmostimmediatelyandtoretreatintoasmallback—roomcalledhisstudy，toimmersehimselfinpapersfortherestoftheevening，thechildhadnotmademuchimpressionuponhim；andprobablythenexttimeherememberedherexistencewaswhenMrsKirkpatrickwrotetohimtobeghimtoreceiveCynthiaforanightonherwaytoschoolatBoulogne。Thesamerequestwasrepeatedonherreturn；butitsohappenedthathehadnotseenhereithertime；andonlydimlyrememberedsomeremarkswhichhiswifehadmadeononeoftheseoccasions，thatitseemedtoherratherhazardoustosendsoyoungagirlsolongajourneywithoutmakingmoreprovisionforhersafetythanMrsKirkpatrickhaddone。HeknewthathiswifewouldfillupalldeficienciesinthisrespectasifCynthiahadbeenherowndaughter；andthoughtnomoreaboutheruntilhereceivedaninvitationtoattendMrsKirkpatrick’sweddingwithMrGibson，thehighly—esteemedsurgeonofHollingford，&；c。&；c。—anattentionwhichirritatedinsteadofpleasinghim。’DoesthewomanthinkIhavenothingtodobutrunaboutthecountryinsearchofbridesandbridegrooms，whenthisgreatcaseofHoughtonv。Houghtoniscomingon，andIhavenotamomenttospare？’
　　heaskedofhiswife。’Perhapssheneverheardofit，’suggestedMrsKirkpatrick。’Nonsense！thecasehasbeeninthepapersfordays。’’Butshemayn’tknowyouareengagedinit。’’Shemayn’t，’saidhe，meditatively—suchignorancewaspossible。ButnowthegreatcaseofHoughtonv。Houghtonwasathingofthepast；
　　thehardstrugglewasover，thecomparativetable—landofQ。C。—domgained，andMrKirkpatrickhadleisureforfamilyfeelingandrecollection。OnedayintheEastervacationhefoundhimselfnearHollingford；hehadaSundaytospare，andhewrotetoofferhimselfasavisitortotheGibsonsfromFridaytoMonday，expressingstrongly（whathereallyfelt，inalessdegree，）hiswishtomakeMrGibson’sacquaintance。MrGibson，thoughoftenoverwhelmedwithprofessionalbusiness，wasalwayshospitable；andmoreover，itwasalwaysapleasuretohimtogetoutofthesomewhatconfinedmentalatmospherewhichhehadbreathedoverandoveragain，andhaveawhiffoffreshair：aglimpseofwhatwaspassinginthegreatworldbeyondhisdailylimitsofthoughtandaction。Sohewasreadytogiveacordialwelcometohisunknownrelation。MrsGibsonwasinaflutterofsentimentaldelight，whichshefanciedwasfamilyaffection，butwhichmightnothavebeenquitesoeffervescentifMrKirkpatrickhadremainedinhisformerpositionofstrugglinglawyer，withsevenchildren，livinginDoughtyStreet。Whenthetwogentlemenmettheywereattractedtowardseachotherbyasimilarityofcharacter，withjustenoughdifferenceintheiropinionstomaketheexperienceofeach，onwhichsuchopinionswerebased，valuabletotheother。MrsGibson，althoughthebondbetweenthem，countedforverylittleintheirintercourse。MrKirkpatrickpaidherverypoliteattention；
　　andwas，infact，verygladthatshehaddonesowellforherselfastomarryasensibleandagreeableman，whowasabletokeepherincomfort，andtobehavetoherdaughterinsoliberalamanner。Mollystruckhimasadelicate—lookinggirl，whomightbeveryprettyifshehadhadagreaterlookofhealthandanimation：indeed，lookingathercritically，therewerebeautifulpointsaboutherface—longsoftgreyeyes，blackcurlingeyelashes，rarely—showingdimples，perfectteeth；buttherewasalanguoroverall，aslowdepressionofmanner，whichcontrastedunfavourablywiththebrightly—colouredCynthia，sparkling，quick，graceful，andwitty。AsMrKirkpatrickexpresseditafterwardstohiswife，hewasquiteinlovewiththatgirl；andCynthia，asreadytocaptivatestrangersasanylittlegirlofthreeorfour，rosetotheoccasion，forgotallhercaresanddespondencies，rememberednolongerherregretathavinglostsomethingofMrGibson’sgoodopinion，andlistenedeagerlyandmadesoftreplies，intermixedwithnaî；vesalliesofdrollhumour，tillMrKirkpatrickwasquitecaptivated。
　　HeleftHollingford，almostsurprisedtohaveperformedaduty，andfounditapleasure。ForMrsGibsonandMollyhehadageneralfriendlyfeeling；
　　buthedidnotcareifheneversawthemagain。ButforMrGibsonhehadawarmrespect，astrongpersonalliking，whichheshouldbegladtohaveripenintoafriendship，iftherewastimeforitinthisbustlingworld。
　　AndhefullyresolvedtoseemoreofCynthia；hiswifemustknowher；theymusthaveheruptostaywiththeminLondon，andshowhersomethingoftheworld。But，onreturninghome，MrKirkpatrickfoundsomuchworkawaitinghimthathehadtolockupembryofriendshipsandkindlyplansinsomesafeclosetofhismind，andgivehimselfup，bodyandsoul，totheimmediateworkofhisprofession。But，inMay，hefoundtimetotakehiswifetotheAcademyExhibition，’andsomeportraitthere，strikinghimasbeinglikeCynthia，hetoldhiswifemoreaboutherandhisvisittoHollingfordthanhehadeverhadleisuretodobefore；andtheresultwasthatonthenextdayaletterwassentofftoMrsGibson，invitingCynthiatopayavisittohercousinsinLondon，andremindingherofmanylittlecircumstancesthathadoccurredwhenshewaswiththemasachild，soastocarryontheclueoffriendshipfromthattimetothepresent。Onitsreceiptthisletterwasgreetedinvariouswaysbythefourpeoplewhosateroundthebreakfast—table。MrsGibsonreadittoherselffirst。
　　Then，withouttellingwhatitscontentswere，sothatherauditorswerequiteinthedarkastowhatherremarksapplied，shesaid，—’IthinktheymighthaverememberedthatIamagenerationnearertothemthansheis，butnobodythinksoffamilyaffectionnow—a—days；andIlikedhimsomuch，andboughtanewcookery—book，alltomakeitpleasantandagreeableandwhathewasusedto。’Shesaidallthisinaplaintive，aggrievedtoneofvoice；butasnooneknewtowhatshewasreferring，itwasdifficulttoofferherconsolation。Herhusbandwasthefirsttospeak。’Ifyouwantustosympathizewithyou，telluswhatisthenatureofyourwoe。’’Why，Idaresayit’swhathemeansasaverykindattention，onlyIthinkIoughttohavebeenaskedbeforeCynthia，’saidshe，readingtheletteroveragain。’Who’she？andwhat’smeantfora"kindattention"？’’MrKirkpatrick，tobesure。Thisletterisfromhim；andhewantsCynthiatogoandpaythemavisit，andneversaysanythingaboutyouorme，mydear。AndI’msurewedidourbesttomakeitpleasant；andheshouldhaveaskedusfirst，Ithink。’’AsIcouldnotpossiblyhavegone，itmakesverylittledifferencetome。’’ButIcouldhavegone；and，atanyrate，heshouldhavepaidusthecompliment：
　　it’sonlyapropermarkofrespect，youknow。Soungrateful，too，whenIgaveupmydressing—roomonpurposeforhim！’’AndIdressedfordinnereverydayhewashere，ifweareeachtorecapitulatealloursacrificesonhisbehalf。ButforallthatIdidnotexpecttobeinvitedtohishouse。Ishallbeonlytoogladifhewillcomeagaintomine。’’I’veagreatmindnottoletCynthiago，’saidMrsGibson，reflectively。’Ican’tgo，mamma，’saidCynthia，colouring。’Mygownsareallsoshabby，andmyoldbonnetmustdoforthissummer。’’Well，butyoucanbuyanewone；andI’msureitishightimeyoushouldgetyourselfanothersilk—gown。Youmusthavebeensavingupagreatdeal，forIdon’tknowwhenyou’vehadanynewclothes。’Cynthiabegantosaysomething，butstoppedshort。Shewentonbutteringhertoast，butshehelditinherhandwithouteatingit；withoutlookingupeither，as，afteraminuteortwoofsilence，shespokeagain，—’Icannotgo。Ishouldlikeitverymuch；butIreallycannotgo。Please，mamma，writeatonce，andrefuseit。’’Nonsense，child！WhenamaninMrKirkpatrick’spositioncomesforwardtoofferafavour，itdoesnotdotodeclineitwithoutgivingasufficientreason。Sokindofhimasitis，too！’’Supposeyouoffertogoinsteadofme？’proposedCynthia。’No，no！thatwon’tdo，’saidMrGibson，decidedly。’Youcan’ttransferinvitationsinthatway。Butreallythisexcuseaboutyourclothesdoesappeartobeverytrivial，Cynthia，ifyouhavenootherreasontogive。’’Itisareal，truereasontome，’saidCynthia，lookingupathimasshespoke。’Youmustletmejudgeformyself。Itwouldnotdotogothereinastateofshabbiness，foreveninDoughtyStreet，Iremember，myauntwasveryparticularaboutdress；andnowthatMargaretandHelenaregrownup，andtheyvisitsomuch，—praydon’tsayanythingmoreaboutit，forIknowitwouldnotdo。’’Whathaveyoudonewithallyourmoney，Iwonder？’saidMrsGibson。’You’vetwentypoundsayear，thankstoMrGibsonandme；andI’msureyouhaven’tspentmorethanten。’’IhadnotmanythingswhenIcamebackfromFrance，’saidCynthia，inalowvoice，andevidentlytroubledbyallthisquestioning。’Prayletitbedecidedatonce；Ican’tgo，andthere’sanendofit。’Shegotup，andlefttheroomrathersuddenly。’Idon’tunderstanditatall，’saidMrsGibson。’Doyou，Molly？’’No。Iknowshedoesnotlikespendingmoneyonherdress，andisverycareful。’Mollysaidthismuch，andthenwasafraidshehadmademischief。’Butthenshemusthavegotthemoneysomewhere。Italwayshasstruckmethatifyouhavenotextravaganthabits，anddonotliveuptoyourincome，youmusthaveacertainsumtolaybyattheendoftheyear。HaveInotoftensaidso，MrGibson？’’Probably。’’Well，then，applythesamereasoningtoCynthia’scase；andthen，Iask，whathasbecomeofthemoney？’’Icannottell，’saidMolly，seeingthatshewasappealedto。’Shemayhavegivenitawaytosomeonewhowantsit。’MrGibsonputdownhisnewspaper。’ItisveryclearthatshehasneithergotthedressnorthemoneynecessaryforthisLondonvisit，andthatshedoesnotwantanymoreinquiriestobemadeonthesubject。Shelikesmysteries，infact，andIdetestthem。
　　Still，Ithinkitisadesirablethingforhertokeepuptheacquaintance，orfriendship，orwhateveritistobecalled，withherfather’sfamily；
　　andIshallgladlygivehertenpounds；andifthat’snotenough，why，eitheryoumusthelpherout，orshemustdowithoutsomesuperfluousarticleofdressoranother。’’I’msurethereneverwassuchakind，dear，generousmanasyouare，MrGibson，’saidhiswife。’Tothinkofyourbeingastepfather！andsogoodtomypoorfatherlessgirl！But，Mollymydear，Ithinkyou’llacknowledgethatyoutooareveryfortunateinyourstepmother。Arenotyou，love？
　　Andwhathappytê；te—à；—tê；tesweshallhavetogetherwhenCynthiagoestoLondon。I’mnotsureifIdon’tgetonbetterwithyoueventhanwithher，thoughsheismyownchild；for，asdearpapasayssotruly，thereisaloveofmysteryabouther；andifIhateanything，itistheslightestconcealmentorreserve。Tenpounds！Why，itwillquitesetherup，buyheracoupleofgownsandanewbonnet，andIdon’tknowwhatall！DearMrGibson，howgenerousyouare！’Somethingverylike’Pshaw！’wasgrowledoutfrombehindthenewspaper。’MayIgoandtellher？’saidMolly，risingup。’Yes，do，love。Tellheritwouldbesoungratefultorefuse；andtellherthatyourfatherwisheshertogo；andtellher，too，thatitwouldbequitewrongnottoavailherselfofanopeningwhichmayby—and—bybeextendedtotherestofthefamily。Iamsureiftheyaskme—whichcertainlytheyoughttodo—Iwon’tsaybeforetheyaskedCynthia，becauseIneverthinkofmyself，andamreallythemostforgivingpersonintheworld，inforgivingslights；—butwhentheydoaskme，whichtheyaresuretodo，Ishallneverbecontenttill，byputtinginalittlehinthereandalittlehintthere，I’veinducedthemtosendyouaninvitation。AmonthortwoinLondonwoulddoyousomuchgood，Molly。’Mollyhadlefttheroombeforethisspeechwasended，andMrGibsonwasoccupiedwithhisnewspaper；butMrsGibsonfinishedittoherselfverymuchtoherownsatisfaction；for，afterall，itwasbettertohavesomeoneofthefamilygoingonthevisit，thoughshemightnotbetherightperson，thantorefuseitaltogether，andnevertohavetheopportunityofsayinganythingaboutit。AsMrGibsonwassokindtoCynthia，shetoowouldbekindtoMolly，anddressherbecomingly，andinviteyoungmentothehouse；doallthethings，infact，whichMollyandherfatherdidnotwanttohavedone，andthrowtheoldstumbling—blocksinthewayoftheirunrestrainedintercourse，whichwastheonethingtheydesiredtohave，freeandopen，andwithouttheconstantdreadofherjealousy。
　　chapter39CHAPTERXXXIXSECRETTHOUGHTSOOZEOUTMollyfoundCynthiainthedrawing—room，standinginthebow—window，lookingoutonthegarden。ShestartedasMollycameuptoher。’Oh，Molly，’saidshe，puttingherarmsouttowardsher，’Iamalwayssogladtohaveyouwithme！’ItwasoutburstsofaffectionsuchasthesethatalwayscalledMollyback，ifshehadbeeneversounconsciouslywaveringinherallegiancetoCynthia。
　　ShehadbeenwishingdownstairsthatCynthiawouldbelessreserved，andnothavesomanysecrets；butnowitseemedalmostliketreasontohavewantedhertobeanythingbutwhatshewas。NeverhadanyonemorethanCynthiathepowerspokenofbyGoldsmithwhenhewrote，—Hethrewoffhisfriendslikeahuntsmanhispack，Forheknewwhenhelikedhecouldwhistlethemback。’’Doyouknow，Ithinkyou’llbegladtohearwhatI’vegottotellyou？’
　　saidMolly。’IthinkyouwouldreallyliketogotoLondon；shouldnotyou？’’Yes，butitisofnouseliking，’saidCynthia。’Don’tyoubeginaboutit，Molly，forthethingissettled；andIcan’ttellyouwhy，butIcan’tgo。’’Itisonlythemoney，dear。Andpapahasbeensokindaboutit。Hewantsyoutogo；hethinksyououghttokeepuprelationships；andheisgoingtogiveyoutenpounds。’’Howkindheis！’saidCynthia。’ButIoughtnottotakeit。IwishIhadknownyouyearsago；IshouldhavebeendifferenttowhatIam。’’Nevermindthat！Welikeyouasyouare；wedon’twantyoudifferent。
　　You’llreallyhurtpapaifyoudon’ttakeit。Whydoyouhesitate？DoyouthinkRogerwon’tlikeit？’’Roger！no，Iwasnotthinkingabouthim！Whyshouldhecare？Ishallbethereandbackagainbeforeheevenhearsaboutit。’’Thenyouwillgo？’saidMolly。Cynthiathoughtforaminuteortwo。’Yes，Iwill，’saidshe，atlength。
　　’Idaresayit’snotwise，butitwillbepleasant，andI’llgo。WhereisMrGibson？Iwanttothankhim。Oh，howkindheis！Molly，you’realuckygirl！’’I？’saidMolly，quitestartledatbeingtoldthis；forshehadbeenfeelingasifsomanythingsweregoingwrong，almostasiftheywouldnevergorightagain。’Thereheis！’saidCynthia。’Ihearhiminthehall！’Anddownsheflew，andlayingherhandsonMrGibson’sarm，shethankedhimwithsuchwarmimpulsiveness，andinsoprettyandcaressingamanner，thatsomethingofhisoldfeelingofpersonallikingforherreturned，andheforgotforatimethecausesofdisapprovalhehadagainsther。’There，there！’saidhe，’that’senough，mydear！Itisquiterightyoushouldkeepupwithyourrelations；there’snothingmoretobesaidaboutit。’’IdothinkyourfatheristhemostcharmingmanIknow，’saidCynthia，onherreturntoMolly；’andit’sthatwhichalwaysmakesmesoafraidoflosinghisgoodopinion，andfretgowhenIthinkheisdispleasedwithme。AndnowletusthinkallaboutthisLondonvisit。Itwillbedelightful，won’tit？Icanmaketenpoundsgoeversofar；andinsomewaysitwillbesuchacomforttogetoutofHollingford。’’Willit？’saidMolly，ratherwistfully。’Oh，yes！YouknowIdon’tmeanthatitwillbeacomforttoleaveyou；
　　thatwillbeanythingbutacomfort。But，afterall，acountrytownisacountrytown，andLondonisLondon。Youneednotsmileatmytruisms；
　　I’vealwayshadasympathywithM。delaPalisse，—M。delaPalisseestmortEnperdantsavie；Unquartd’heureavantsamortIlé；taitenvie，’sangshe，insogayamannerthatshepuzzledMolly，assheoftendid，byherchangeofmoodfromthegloomydecisionwithwhichshehadrefusedtoaccepttheinvitationonlyhalfanhourago。ShesuddenlytookMollyroundthewaist，andbeganwaltzingroundtheroomwithher，totheimminentdangerofthevariouslittletables，loadedwith’objetsd’art’
　　（asMrsGibsondelightedtocallthem）withwhichthedrawing—roomwascrowded。Sheavoidedthem，however，withherusualskill；buttheybothstoodstillatlast，surprisedatMrsGibson’ssurprise，asshestoodatthedoor，lookingatthewhirlgoingonbeforeher。’Uponmyword，Ionlyhopeyouarenotgoingcrazy，bothofyou？What’sallthisabout，pray？’’OnlybecauseI’msogladI’mgoingtoLondon，mamma，’saidCynthia，demurely。’I’mnotsureifit’squitethethingforanengagedyoungladytobesomuchbesideherselfattheprospectofgaiety。Inmytime，ourgreatpleasureinourlovers’absencewasinthinkingaboutthem。’’Ishouldhavethoughtthatwouldhavegivenyoupain，becauseyouwouldhavehadtorememberthattheywereaway，whichoughttohavemadeyouunhappy。Now，totellyouthetruth，justatthemomentIhadforgottenallaboutRoger。Ihopeitwasnotverywrong。OsbornelooksasifhedidallmyshareaswellashisownofthefrettingafterRoger。Howillhelookedyesterday！’’Yes，’saidMolly；’Ididnotknowifanyonebesidesmehadnoticedit。
　　Iwasquiteshocked。’’Ah，’saidMrs。Gibson，’I’mafraidthatyoungmanwon’tlivelong—verymuchafraid，’andsheshookherheadominously。’Oh，whatwillhappenifhedies！’exclaimedMolly，suddenlysittingdown，andthinkingofthatstrange，mysteriouswifewhonevermadeherappearance，whoseveryexistencewasneverspokenabout—andRogerawaytoo！’Well，itwouldbeverysad，ofcourse，andweshouldallfeelitverymuch，I’venodoubt；forI’vealwaysbeenveryfondofOsborne；infact，beforeRogerbecame，asitwere，myownfleshandblood，IlikedOsbornebetter：butwemustnotforgettheliving，dearMolly’（forMolly’seyeswerefillingwithtearsatthedismalthoughtspresentedtoher）。’OurdeargoodRogerwould，Iamsure，doallinhispowertofillOsborne’splaceineveryway；andhismarriageneednotbesolongdelayed。’’Don’tspeakofthatinthesamebreathasOsborne’slife，mamma，’saidCynthia，hastily。’Why，mydear，itisaverynaturalthought。ForpoorRoger’ssake，youknow，onewishesitnottobesoveryverylonganengagement；andIwasonlyansweringMolly’squestion，afterall。Onecan’thelpfollowingoutone’sthoughts。Peoplemustdie，youknow—young，aswellasold。’’IfIeversuspectedRogeroffollowingouthisthoughtsinasimilarway，’
　　saidCynthia，’I’dneverspeaktohimagain。’’Asifhewould！’saidMolly，warminherturn。’Youknowheneverwould；
　　andyoushouldnotsupposeitofhim，Cynthia—no，notevenforamoment！’’Ican’tseethegreatharmofitall，formypart，’saidMrsGibson，plaintively。
　　’Ayoungmanstrikesusallaslookingveryill—andI’msureI’msorryforit；butillnessveryoftenleadstodeath。Surelyyouagreewithmethere，andwhat’stheharmofsayingso？ThenMollyaskswhatwillhappenifhedies；andItrytoanswerherquestion。Idon’tliketalkingorthinkingofdeathanymorethananyoneelse；butIshouldthinkmyselfwantinginstrengthofmindifIcouldnotlookforwardtotheconsequencesofdeath。Ireallythinkwe’recommandedtodoso，somewhereintheBibleorthePrayer—book。’’Doyoulookforwardtotheconsequencesofmydeath，mamma？’askedCynthia。’YoureallyarethemostunfeelinggirlIevermetwith，’saidMrsGibson，reallyhurt。’IwishIcouldgiveyoualittleofmyownsensitiveness，forIhavetoomuchformyhappiness。Don’tletusspeakofOsborne’slooksagain；tentooneitwasonlysometemporaryover—fatigue，orsomeanxietyaboutRoger，orperhapsalittlefitofindigestion。Iwasveryfoolishtoattributeittoanythingmoreserious，anddearpapamightbedispleasedifheknewIhaddoneso。Medicalmendon’tlikeotherpeopletobemakingconjecturesabouthealth；theyconsideritastrenchingontheirownparticularprovince，andveryproperI’msure。Nowletusconsideraboutyourdress，Cynthia；Icouldnotunderstandhowyouhadspentyourmoney，andmadesolittleshowwithit。’’Mammalitmaysoundverycross，butImusttellMollyandyou，andeverybody，onceforall，thatasIdon’twantanddidnotaskformorethanmyallowance，I’mnotgoingtoansweranyquestionsaboutwhatIdowithit。’Shedidnotsaythiswithanywantofrespect；butshesaiditwithquietdetermination，whichsubduedhermotherforthetime，thoughoftenafterwardswhenMrsGibsonandMollywerealone，theformerwouldstartthewonderastowhatCynthiacouldpossiblyhavedonewithhermoney，andhunteachpoorconjecturethroughwoodsandvalleysofdoubt，tillshewasweariedout；’andtheexcitingsportwasgivenupfortheday。Atpresent，however，sheconfinedherselftothepracticalmatterinhand；andthegeniusformillineryanddress，inherentinbothmotheranddaughter，soonsettledagreatmanyknottypointsofcontrivanceandtaste，andthentheyallthreesettoworkto’garauldclaeslookamaistasweel’sthenew。’Cynthia’srelationswiththesquirehadbeenverystationaryeversincethevisitshehadpaidtotheHallthepreviousautumn。Hehadreceivedthemallatthattimewithhospitablepoliteness，andhehadalsobeenmorecharmedwithCynthiathanhelikedtoacknowledgetohimselfwhenhethoughtthevisitalloverafterwards。’She’saprettylasssureenough，’thoughthe，’andhasprettywaysabouthertoo，andlikestolearnfromolderpeople，whichisagoodsign；butsomehowIdon’tlikemadamhermother，butstillsheishermother，andthegirlisherdaughter；yetshespoketoheronceortwiceasIshouldnotha’likedourlittleFannytohavespoken，ifithadpleasedGodforhertoha’lived。No，it’snottherightway，anditmaybeabitold—fashioned，butIliketherightway。Andthenagainshetookpossessiono’measI
　　maysay，andlittleMollyhadtorunafterusinthegardenwalksthataretoonarrowforthree，justlikealittlefour—leggeddoggie；andtheotherwassofulloflisteningtome，sheneverturnedroundfortospeakawordtoMolly。Idon’tmeantosaythey’renotfondofeachother，andthat’sinRoger’ssweetheart’sfavour，andit’sveryungratefulinmetogoandfindfaultwithalasswhowassociviltome，andhadsuchaprettywaywithherofhangingoneverywordthatfellfrommylips。Well！adealmaycomeandgointwoyears！andtheladsaysnothingtomeaboutit。