Shestoodimmovable，onlyhereyeslookedanywayratherthanencounterhermaster’ssteadygaze。’Molly，mydear！’’Papa！Ididnotknowyouwereathome，’saidinnocent，wonderingMolly。’Bethia，keepyourword。HereisMissMolly；giveherthenote。’’Indeed，Miss，Icouldn’thelpit！’Mollytookthenote，butbeforeshecouldopenit，herfathersaid，—’That’sall，mydear；youneednotreadit。Giveittome。Tellthosewhosentyou，Bethia，thatalllettersforMissMollymustpassthroughmyhands。
　　Nowbeoffwithyou，goosey，andgobacktowhereyoucamefrom。’’Papa，Ishallmakeyoutellmewhomycorrespondentis。’’We’llseeaboutthat，by—and—by。’Shewentalittlereluctantly，withungratifiedcuriosity，upstairstoMissEyre，whowasstillherdailycompanion，ifnothergoverness。Heturnedintotheemptydining—room，shutthedoor，brokethesealofthenote，andbegantoreadit。Itwasaflaminglove—letterfromMrCoxe；
　　whoprofessedhimselfunabletogoonseeingherdayafterdaywithoutspeakingtoherofthepassionshehadinspired—an’eternalpassion，’
　　hecalledit；onreadingwhichMrGibsonlaughedalittle。Wouldshenotlookkindlyathim？wouldshenotthinkofhimwhoseonlythoughtwasofher？andsoon，withaveryproperadmixtureofviolentcomplimentstoherbeauty。Shewasfair，notpale；hereyeswereloadstars，herdimplesmarksofCupid’sfinger，&；c。MrGibsonfinishedreadingit；andbegantothinkaboutitinhisownmind。
　　’Whowouldhavethoughttheladhadbeensopoetical；but，tobesure，there’sa"Shakespeare"inthesurgerylibrary：I’lltakeitawayandput"Johnson’sDictionary"instead。Onecomfortistheconvictionofherperfectinnocence—ignorance，Ishouldrathersay—foritiseasytoseeit’sthefirst"confessionofhislove，"ashecallsit。Butit’sanawfulworry—tobeginwithloverssoearly。Why，she’sonlyjustseventeen，—notseventeen，indeed，tillJuly；notforsixweeksyet。Sixteenandthree—quarters！
　　Why，she’squiteababy。Tobesure—poorJeaniewasnotsoold，andhowIdidloveher！（MrsGibson’snamewasMary，sohemusthavebeenreferringtosomeoneelse。）Thenhisthoughtswanderedbacktootherdays，thoughhestillheldtheopennoteinhishand。By—and—byhiseyesfelluponitagain，andhismindcamebacktobearuponthepresenttime。’I’llnotbeharduponhim。I’llgivehimahint；heisquitesharpenoughtotakeit。Poorladdie！ifIsendhimaway，whichwouldbethewisestcourse，Idobelieve，he’sgotnohometogoto。’Afteralittlemoreconsiderationinthesamestrain，MrGibsonwentandsatdownatthewriting—tableandwrotethefollowingformula：—MasterCoxe（’That"master"willtouchhimtothequick，’saidMrGibsontohimselfashewrotetheword。）*Verecundiae*FidelitatisDomesticae*Reticentiaegr。iij。M。Capiathancdosimterdieinaquapura。R。GIBSON，Ch。MrGibsonsmiledalittlesadlyashere—readhiswords。’PoorJeanie，’
　　hesaidaloud。Andthenhechoseoutanenvelope，enclosedthefervidlove—letter，andtheaboveprescription；sealeditwithhisownsharply—cutseal—ring，R。G。，inOld—Englishletters，andthenpausedovertheaddress。’He’llnotlikeMasterCoxeoutside；noneedtoputhimtounnecessaryshame。’Sothedirectionontheenvelopewas—EdwardCoxe，Esq。ThenMrGibsonappliedhimselftotheprofessionalbusinesswhichhadbroughthimhomesoopportunelyandunexpectedly，andafterwardshewentbackthroughthegardentothestables；andjustashehadmountedhishorse，hesaidtothestable—man，—’Oh！bytheway，here’saletterforMrCoxe。Don’tsenditthroughthewomen；takeitroundyourselftothesurgery—door，anddoitatonce。’Theslightsmileuponhisface，asherodeoutofthegates，diedawayassoonashefoundhimselfinthesolitudeofthelanes。Heslackenedhisspeed，andbegantothink。Itwasveryawkward，heconsidered，tohaveamotherlessgirlgrowingupintowomanhoodinthesamehousewithtwoyoungmen，evenifsheonlymetthematmeal—times；andalltheintercoursetheyhadwitheachotherwasmerelytheutteranceofsuchwordsas，’MayIhelpyoutopotatoes？’or，asMrWynnewouldpersevereinsaying，’MayIassistyoutopotatoes？’—aformofspeechwhichgrateddailymoreandmoreuponMrGibson’scars。YetMrCoxe，theoffenderinthisaffairwhichhadjustoccurred，hadtoremainforthreeyearsmoreasapupilinMrGibson’sfamily。Heshouldbetheverylastoftherace。Stilltherewerethreeyearstobegotover；andifthisstupidpassionatecalf—loveofhislasted，whatwastobedone？SoonerorlaterMollywouldbecomeawareofit。Thecontingenciesoftheaffairweresoexcessivelydisagreeabletocontemplate，thatMrGibsondeterminedtodismissthesubjectfromhismindbyagoodstrongeffort。Heputhishorsetoagallop，andfoundthattheviolentshakingoverthelanes—pavedastheywerewithroundstones，whichhadbeendislocatedbythewearandtearofahundredyears—wastheverybestthingforthespirits，ifnotforthebones。Hemadealongroundthatafternoon，andcamebacktohishomeimaginingthattheworstwasover，andthatMrCoxewouldhavetakenthehintconveyedintheprescription。
　　AllthatwouldbeneededwastofindasafeplacefortheunfortunateBethia，whohaddisplayedsuchadaringaptitudeforintrigue。ButMrGibsonreckonedwithouthishost。Itwasthehabitoftheyoungmentocomeintoteawiththefamilyinthedining—room，toswallowtwocups，munchtheirbreadortoast，andthendisappear。ThisnightMrGibsonwatchedtheircountenancesfurtivelyfromunderhislongeye—lashes，whilehetriedagainsthiswonttokeepupadegagemanner，andabriskconversationongeneralsubjects。HesawthatMrWynnewasonthepointofbreakingoutintolaughter，andthatred—haired，red—facedMrCoxewasredderandfiercerthanever，whilehiswholeaspectandwaysbetrayedindignationandanger。’Hewillhaveit，willhe？’thoughtMrGibsontohimself；andhegirdeduphisloinsforthebattle。HedidnotfollowMollyandMissEyreintothedrawing—roomasheusuallydid。Heremainedwherehewas，pretendingtoreadthenewspaper，whileBethia，herfaceswelledupwithcrying，andwithanaggrievedandoffendedaspect，removedthetea—things。Notfiveminutesaftertheroomwascleared，cametheexpectedtapatthedoor。
　　’MayIspeaktoyou，sir？’saidtheinvisibleMrCoxe，fromoutside。’Tobesure。Comein，MrCoxe。IwasratherwantingtotalktoyouaboutthatbillofCorbyn’s。Praysitdown。’’Itisaboutnothingofthatkind，sir，thatIwanted—thatIwished—
　　No，thankyou—Iwouldrathernotsitdown。’He，accordingly，stoodinoffendeddignity。’Itisaboutthatletter，sir—thatletterwiththeinsultingprescription，sir。’’Insultingprescription！Iamsurprisedatsuchawordbeingappliedtoanyprescriptionofmine—though，tobesure，patientsaresometimesoffendedatbeingtoldthenatureoftheirillnesses；and，Idaresay，theymaytakeoffenceatthemedicineswhichtheircasesrequire。’’Ididnotaskyoutoprescribeforme。’’Oh，ho！ThenyouweretheMasterCoxewhosentthenotethroughBethia！
　　Letmetellyouithascostherherplace，andwasaverysillyletterintothebargain。’’Itwasnottheconductofagentleman，sir，tointerceptit，andtoopenit，andtoreadwordsneveraddressedtoyou，sir。’’No！’saidMrGibson，withaslighttwinkleinhiseyeandacurlonhislips，notunnoticedbytheindignantMrCoxe。’IbelieveIwasonceconsideredtolerablygood—looking，andIdaresayIwasasgreatacoxcombasanyoneattwenty；butIdon’tthinkthateventhenIshouldquitehavebelievedthatallthoseprettycomplimentswereaddressedtomyself。’’Itwasnottheconductoragentleman，sir，’repeatedMrCoxe，stammeringoverhiswords—hewasgoingontosaysomethingmore，whenMrGibsonbrokein。’Andletmetellyou，youngman，’repliedMrGibson，withasuddensternnessinhisvoice，’thatwhatyouhavedoneisonlyexcusableinconsiderationofyouryouthandextremeignoranceofwhatareconsideredthelawsofdomestichonour。Ireceiveyouintomyhouseasamemberofmyfamily—
　　youinduceoneofmyservants—corruptingherwithabribe，Ihavenodoubt—’’Indeed，sir！Inevergaveherapenny。’’Thenyououghttohavedone。Youshouldalwayspaythosewhodoyourdirtywork。’’Justnow，sir，youcalleditcorruptingwithabribe，’mutteredMrCoxe。MrGibsontooknonoticeofthisspeech，butwenton，—’Inducingoneofmyservantstoriskherplace，withoutofferinghertheslightestequivalent，bybegginghertoconveyaletterclandestinelytomydaughter—amerechild。’’MissGibson，sir，isnearlyseventeen！Iheardyousaysoonlytheotherday，’saidMrCoxe，agedtwenty。AgainMrGibsonignoredtheremark。’Aletterwhichyouwereunwillingtohaveseenbyherfather，whohadtacitlytrustedtoyourhonour，byreceivingyouasaninmateofhishouse。
　　Yourfather’sson—IknowMajorCoxewell—oughttohavecometome，andhavesaidoutopenly，"MrGibson，Ilove—orIfancythatIlove—
　　yourdaughter；Idonotthinkitrighttoconcealthisfromyou，althoughunabletoearnapenny；andwithnoprospectofanunassistedlivelihood，evenformyself，forseveralyears，Ishallnotsayawordaboutmyfeelings—orfanciedfeelings—totheveryyoungladyherself。"Thatiswhatyourfather’ssonoughttohavesaid；if，indeed，acoupleofgrainsofreticentsilencewouldnothavebeenbetterstill。’’AndifIhadsaidit，sir—perhapsIoughttohavesaidit，’saidpoorMrCoxe，inahurryofanxiety，’whatwouldhavebeenyouranswer？Wouldyouhavesanctionedmypassion，sir？’’Iwouldhavesaid，mostprobably—Iwillnotbecertainofmyexactwordsinasuppositiouscase—thatyouwereayoungfool，butnotadishonourableyoungfool，andIshouldhavetoldyounottoletyourthoughtsrunuponacalf—loveuntilyouhadmagnifieditintoapassion。AndIdaresay，tomakeupforthemortificationIshouldhavegivenyou，IshouldhaveprescribedyourjoiningtheHollingfordCricketClub，andsetyouatlibertyasoftenasIcouldontheSaturdayafternoons。Asitis，Imustwritetoyourfather’sagentinLondon，andaskhimtoremoveyououtofmyhousehold，repayingthepremium，ofcourse，whichwillenableyoutostartafreshinsomeotherdoctor’ssurgery。’’Itwillsogrievemyfather，’saidMrCoxe，startledintodismay，ifnotrepentance。’Iseenoothercourseopen。ItwillgiveMajorCoxesometrouble（Ishalltakecarethatheisatnoextraexpense），butwhatIthinkwillgrievehimthemostisthebetrayalofconfidence；forItrustedyou，Edward，likeasonofmyown！’TherewassomethinginMrGibson’svoicewhenhespokeseriously，especiallywhenhereferredtoanyfeelingofhisown—hewhosorarelybetrayedwhatwaspassinginhisheart—thatwasirresistibletomostpeople：thechangefromjokingandsarcasmtotendergravity。MrCoxehunghisheadalittle，andmeditated。’IdoloveMissGibson，’saidheatlength。’Whocouldhelpit？’’MrWynne，Ihope！’saidMrGibson。’Hisheartispre—engaged，’repliedMrCoxe。’MinewasfreeasairtillIsawher。’’Wouldittendtocureyour—well！passion，we’llsay—ifsheworebluespectaclesatmeal—times？Iobserveyoudwellmuchonthebeautyofhereyes。’’Youareridiculingmyfeelings，MrGibson。Doyouforgetthatyouyourselfwereyoungonce？’’PoorJeanie’rosebeforeMrGibson’seyes；andhefeltalittlerebuked。’Come，MrCoxe，letusseeifwecan’tmakeabargain，’saidhe，afteraminuteorsoofsilence。’Youhavedoneareallywrongthing，andIhopeyouareconvincedofitinyourheart，orthatyouwillbewhentheheatofthisdiscussionisover，andyoucometothinkalittleaboutit。ButIwon’tloseallrespectforyourfather’sson。Ifyouwillgivemeyourwordthat，aslongasyouremainamemberofmyfamily—pupil，apprentice，whatyouwill—youwon’tagaintrytodiscloseyourpassion—yousee，IamcarefultotakeyourviewofwhatIshouldcallamerefancy—bywordorwriting，looksoracts，inanymannerwhatever，tomydaughter，ortotalkaboutyourfeelingstoanyoneelse，youshallremainhere。
　　Ifyoucannotgivemeyourword，ImustfollowoutthecourseInamed，andwritetoyourfather’sagent。’MrCoxestoodirresolute。’MrWynneknowsallIfeelforMissGibson，sir。HeandIhavenosecretsfromeachother。’’Well，Isupposehemustrepresentthereeds。YouknowthestoryofKingMidas’sbarber，whofoundoutthathisroyalmasterhadtheearsofanassbeneathhishyacinthinecurls。Sothebarber，indefaultofaMrWynne，wenttothereedsthatgrewontheshoresofaneighbouringlake，andwhisperedtothem，"KingMidashastheearsofanass。"Butherepeateditsooftenthatthereedslearntthewords，andkeptonsayingthemallthedaylong，tillatthelastthesecretwasnosecretatall。IfyoukeepontellingyourtaletoMrWynne，areyousurehewon’trepeatitinhisturn？’’IfIpledgemywordasagentleman，sir，IpledgeitforMrWynneaswell。’’IsupposeImustruntherisk。Butrememberhowsoonayounggirl’snamemaybebreathedupon，andsullied。Mollyhasnomother，andforthatveryreasonsheoughttomoveamongyouall，asunharmedasUnaherself。’’MrGibson，ifyouwishit，I’llswearitontheBible，’criedtheexcitableyoungman。’Nonsense。Asifyourword，ifit’sworthanything，wasnotenough！We’llshakehandsuponit，ifyoulike。’MrCoxecameforwardeagerly，andalmostsqueezedMrGibson’sringintohisfinger。Ashewasleavingtheroom，hesaid，alittleuneasily，’MayIgiveBethiaacrown—piece？’’No，indeed！LeaveBethiatome。Ihopeyouwon’tsayanotherwordtoherwhilesheishere。Ishallseethatshegetsarespectableplacewhenshegoesaway。’ThenMrGibsonrangforhishorse，andwentoutonthelastvisitsoftheday。Heusedtoreckonthatherodetheworldaroundinthecourseoftheyear。Therewerenotmanysurgeonsinthecountywhohadsowidearangeofpracticeashe；hewenttolonelycottagesonthebordersofgreatcommons；
　　tofarm—housesattheendofnarrowcountrylanesthatledtonowhereelse，andwereovershadowedbytheelmsandbeechesoverhead。HeattendedallthegentrywithinacircleoffifteenmilesroundHollingford；andwastheappointeddoctortothestillgreaterfamilieswhowentuptoLondonveryFebruary—asthefashionthenwas—andreturnedtotheiracresintheearlyweeksofJuly。Hewas，ofnecessity，agreatdealfromhome，andonthissoftandpleasantsummereveninghefelttheabsenceasagreatevil。Hewasstartledintodiscoveringthathislittleonewasgrowingfastintoawoman，andalreadythepassiveobjectofsomeofthestrongintereststhataffectawoman’slife；andhe—hermotheraswellasherfather—somuchawaythathecouldnotguardherashewouldhavewished。
　　TheendofhiscogitationswasthatridetoHamleythenextmorning，whenheproposedtoallowhisdaughtertoacceptMrsHamley’slastinvitation—aninvitationthathadbeendeclinedatthetime。’Youmayquoteagainstmetheproverb，"Hethatwillnotwhenhemay，whenhewillheshallhavenay。"AndIshallhavenoreasontocomplain，’hehadsaid。ButMrsHamleywasonlytoomuchcharmedwiththeprospectofhavingayounggirlforavisitor；onewhomitwouldnotbeatroubletoentertain；
　　whomightbesentouttorambleinthegardens，ortoldtoreadwhentheinvalidwastoomuchfatiguedforconversation；andyetonewhoseyouthandfreshnesswouldbringacharm，likeawaftofsweetsummerair，intoherlonelyshut—uplife。Nothingcouldbepleasanter，andsoMolly’svisittoHamleywaseasilysettled。’IonlywishOsborneandRogerhadbeenathome，’saidMrsHamley，inherslowsoftvoice。’Shemayfinditdullbeingwitholdpeople，likethesquireandme，frommorningtillnight。Whencanshecome？thedarling—Iambeginningtoloveheralready！"MrGibsonwasverygladinhisheartthattheyoungmenofthehousewereoutoftheway；hedidnotwanthislittleMollytobepassingfromScyllatoCharybdis；and，asheafterwardsscoffedathimselfforthinking，hehadgotanideathatallyoungmenwerewolvesinchaseofhisoneewe—lamb。’Sheknowsnothingofthepleasureinstoreforher，’hereplied；’andIamsureIdon’tknowwhatfemininepreparationsshemaythinknecessary，orhowlongtheymaytake。You’llremembersheisalittleignoramus，andhashadno……notraininginetiquette；ourwaysathomeareratherroughforagirl，I’mafraid。ButIknowIcouldnotsendherintoakinderatmospherethanthis。’WhenthesquireheardfromhiswifeofMrGibson’sproposal，hewasasmuchpleasedassheattheprospectoftheiryouthfulvisitor；forhewasamanofaheartyhospitality，whenhispridedidnotinterferewithitsgratification；andhewasdelightedtothinkofhissickwife’shavingsuchanagreeablecompanioninherhoursofloneliness。Afterawhilehesaid，—’It’saswelltheladsareatCambridge；wemighthavebeenhavingalove—affairiftheyhadbeenathome。’’Well—andifwehad？’askedhismoreromanticwife。’Itwouldnothavedone，’saidthesquire，decidedly。’Osbornewillhavehadafirst—rateeducation—asgoodasanymaninthecounty—he’llhavethisproperty，andhe’saHamleyofHamley；notafamilyintheshireisasoldasweare，orsettledontheirgroundsowell。Osbornemaymarrywherehelikes。IfLordHollingfordhadadaughter，Osbornewouldhavebeenasgoodamatchasshecouldhaverequired。ItwouldneverdoforhimtofallinlovewithGibson’sdaughter—Ishouldnotallowit。Soit’saswellhe’soutoftheway。’’Well！perhapsOsbornehadbetterlookhigher。’’"Perhaps！"Isayhemust。’Thesquirebroughthishanddownwithathumponthetable，nearhim，whichmadehiswife’sheartbeathardforsomeminutes。’AndasforRoger，’hecontinued，unconsciousoftheflutterhehadputherinto，’he’llhavetomakehisownway，andearnhisownbread；
　　and，I’mafraid，he’snotgettingonverybrilliantlyatCambridge。Hemustnotthinkoffallinginloveforthesetenyears。’’Unlesshemarriesafortune，’saidMrsHamley，morebywayofconcealingherpalpitationthananythingelse；forshewasunworldlyandromantictoafault。’Nosonofmineshallevermarryawifewhoisricherthanhimself，withmygoodwill，’saidthesquireagain，withemphasis，butwithoutathump。
　　’Idon’tsaybutwhatifRogerisgainingfivehundredayearbythetimehe’sthirty，heshallnotchooseawifewithtenthousandpoundsdown；
　　butIdosay，ifaboyofmine，withonlytwohundredayear—whichisallRogerwillhavefromus，andthatnotforalongtime—goesandmarriesawomanwithfiftythousandtoherportion，Iwilldisownhim—itwouldbejustdisgusting。’’Notiftheylovedeachother，andtheirwholehappinessdependedupontheirmarryingeachother？’putinMrsHamley，mildly。’Pooh！awaywithlove！Nay，mydear，welovedeachothersodearlyweshouldneverhavebeenhappywithanyoneelse；butthat’sadifferentthing。
　　Peoplearenotlikewhattheywerewhenwewereyoung。Allthelovenow—a—daysisjustsillyfancy，andsentimentalromance，asfarasIcansee。’MrGibsonthoughtthathehadsettledeverythingaboutMolly’sgoingtoHamleybeforehespoketoheraboutit，whichhedidnotdo，untilthemorningofthedayonwhichMrsHamleyexpectedher。Thenhesaid，—’Bytheway，Molly！youaretogotoHamleythisafternoon；MrsHamleywantsyoutogotoherforaweekortwo，anditsuitsmecapitallythatyoushouldacceptherinvitationjustnow。’’GotoHamley！Thisafternoon！Papa，you’vegotsomeoddreasonsatthebackofyourhead—somemystery，orsomething。Please，tellmewhatitis。GotoHamleyforaweekortwo！Why，Ineverwasfromhomebeforethiswithoutyouinallmylife。’’Perhapsnot。Idon’tthinkyoueverwalkedbeforeyouputyourfeettotheground。Everythingmusthaveabeginning。’’Ithassomethingtodowiththatletterthatwasdirectedtome，butthatyoutookoutofmyhandsbeforeIcouldevenseethewritingofthedirection。’
　　Shefixedhergreyeyesonherfather’sface，asifshemeanttopluckouthissecret。Heonlysmiledandsaid，—’You’reawitch，goosey！’’Thenithad！ButifitwasanotefromMrsHamley，whymightInotseeit？Ihavebeenwonderingifyouhadsomeplaninyourheadeversincethatday—Thursday，wasitnot？You’vegoneaboutinakindofthoughtfulperplexedway，justlikeaconspirator。Tellme，papa’—cominguptohim，andputtingonabeseechingmanner—’whymightnotIseethatnote？andwhyamItogotoHamleyallonasudden？’’Don’tyouliketogo？Wouldyourathernot？’Ifshehadsaidthatshedidnotwanttogohewouldhavebeenratherpleasedthanotherwise，althoughitwouldhaveputhimintoagreatperplexity；buthewasbeginningtodreadthepartingfromherevenforsoshortatime。However，shereplieddirectly，—’Idon’tknow—IdaresayIshalllikeitwhenIhavethoughtalittlemoreaboutit。JustnowIamsostartledbythesuddennessoftheaffair，IhavenotconsideredwhetherIshalllikeitornot。Ishan’tlikegoingawayfromyou，Iknow。WhyamItogo，papa？’’Therearethreeoldladiessittingsomewhere，Iandthinkingaboutyoujustatthisveryminute；onehasadistaffinherhands，andisspinningathread；shehascometoaknotinit，andispuzzledwhattodowithit。Hersisterhasagreatpairofscissorsinherhands，andwants—asshealwaysdoes，whenanydifficultyarisesinthesmoothnessofthethread—tocutitoffshort；butthethird，whohasthemostheadofthethree，planshowtoundotheknot；andsheitiswhohasdecidedthatyouaretogotoHamley。Theothersarequiteconvincedbyherarguments；so，astheFateshavedecreedthatthisvisitistobepaid，thereisnothingleftforyouandmebuttosubmit。’’Thatisallnonsense，papa，andyouareonlymakingmemorecurioustofindoutthishiddenreason。’MrGibsonchangedhistone，andspokegravelynow。’Thereisareason，Molly，andonewhichIdonotwishtogive。WhenItellyouthismuch，Iexpectyoutobeanhonourablegirl，andtotryandnotevenconjecturewhatthereasonmaybe，—muchlessendeavourtoputlittlediscoveriestogethertillverylikelyyoumayfindoutwhatIwanttoconceal。’’Papa，Iwon’teventhinkaboutyourreasonagain。ButthenIshallhavetoplagueyouwithanotherquestion。Ihavehadnonewgownsthisyear，andIhaveoutgrownallmylastsummerfrocks。IhaveonlythreethatI
　　canwearatall。BettywassayingonlyyesterdaythatIoughttohavesomemore。’’Thatwilldothatyouhavegoton，won’tit？Itisaveryprettycolour。’’Yes；but，papa，’（holdingitoutasifshewas，goingtodance）’it’smadeofwoollen，andsohotandheavy；andeverydayitwillbegettingwarmer。’’Iwishgirlscoulddresslikeboys，’saidMrGibson，withalittleimpatience。
　　’Howisamantoknowwhenhisdaughterwantsclothes？andhowishetorigheroutwhenhefindsitout，justwhensheneedsthemmostandhasnotgotthem？’’Ah，that’sthequestion！’saidMolly，insomedespair。’Can’tyougotoMissRose’s？Doesnotshekeepready—madefrocksforgirlsofyourage？’’MissRose！Ineverhadanythingfromherinmylife，’repliedMolly，insomesurprise；forMissRosewasthegreatdressmakerandmillinerofthelittletown，andhithertoBettyhadmadethegirl’sfrocks。’Well，butitseemspeopleconsideryouasayoungwomannow，andsoI
　　supposeyoumustrunupmilliners’billsliketherestofyourkind。Notthatyouaretogetanythinganywherethatyoucan’tpayfordowninreadymoney。Here’saten—poundnote；gotoMissRose’s，orMissanybody’s，andgetwhatyouwantatonce。TheHamleycarriageistocomeforyouattwo，andanythingthatisnotquiteready，caneasilybesentbytheircartonSaturday，whensomeoftheirpeoplealwayscometomarket。Nay，don’tthankme！Idon’twanttohavethemoneyspent，andIdon’twantyoutogoandleaveme：Ishallmissyou，Iknow；it’sonlyhardnecessitythatdrivesmetosendyoua—visiting，andtothrowawaytenpoundsonyourclothes。There，goaway；you’reaplague，andImeantoleaveofflovingyouasfastasIcan。’’Papa！’holdingupherfingerasinwarning，’youaregettingmysteriousagain；andthoughmyhonourablenessisverystrong，Iwon’tpromisethatitshallnotyieldtomycuriosityifyougoonhintingatuntoldsecrets。’’Goawayandspendyourtenpounds。WhatdidIgiveityouforbuttokeepyouquiet？’MissRose’sready—maderesourcesandMolly’stastecombined，didnotarriveataverygreatsuccess。Sheboughtalilacprint，becauseitwouldwash，andwouldbecoolandpleasantforthemornings；andthisBettycouldmakeathomebeforeSaturday。Andforhigh—daysandholidays—bywhichwasunderstoodafternoonsandSundays—MissRosepersuadedhertoorderagay—coloured，flimsyplaidsilk，whichsheassuredherwasquitethelatestfashioninLondon，andwhichMollythoughtwouldpleaseherfather’sScotchblood。Butwhenhesawthescrapwhichshehadbroughthomeasapattern，hecriedoutthattheplaidbelongedtonoclaninexistence，andthatMollyoughttohaveknownthisbyinstinct。Itwastoolatetochangeit，however，forMissRosehadpromisedtocutthedressoutassoonasMollyhadlefthershop。MrGibsonhadhungaboutthetownallthemorninginsteadofgoingawayonhisusualdistantrides。Hepassedhisdaughteronceortwiceinthestreet，buthedidnotcrossoverthewaywhenhewasontheoppositeside—onlygaveheralookoranod，andwentonhisway，scoldinghimselfforhisweaknessinfeelingsomuchpainatthethoughtofherabsenceforafortnightorso。’And，afterall，’thoughthe，’IamonlywhereIwaswhenshecomesback；
　　atleast，ifthatfoolishfellowgoesonwithhisimaginaryfancy。She’llhavetocomebacksometime，andifhechoosestoimaginehimselfconstant，there’sstillthedeviltopay。’Presentlyhebegantohumtheairoutofthe’Beggar’sOpera’—IwonderanymanaliveShouldeverrearadaughter。
　　chapter06CHAPTERVIAVISITTOTHEHAMLEYSOfcoursethenewsofMissGibson’sapproachingdeparturehadspreadthroughthehouseholdbeforetheoneo’clockdinner—timecame；andMrCoxe’sdismalcountenancewasasourceofmuchinwardirritationtoMrGibson，whokeptgivingtheyouthsharpglancesofsavagereproofforhismelancholyface，andthewantofappetite；whichhetrottedout，withagooddealofsadostentation；allofwhichwaslostuponMolly，whowastoofullofherownpersonalconcernstohaveanythoughtorobservationtosparefromthem，exceptingonceortwicewhenshethoughtofthemanydaysthatmustpassoverbeforesheshouldagainsitdowntodinnerwithherfather。Whenshenamedthistohimafterthemealwasover，andtheyweresittingtogetherinthedrawing—room，waitingforthesoundofthewheelsoftheHamleycarriage，helaughed，andsaid，—’I’mcomingoverto—morrowtoseeMrsHamley；andIdaresayIshalldineattheirlunch；soyouwon’thavetowaitlongbeforeyou’vethetreatofseeingthewildbeastfeed。’Thentheyheardtheapproachingcarriage。’Oh，papa，’saidMolly，catchingathishand，’IdosowishIwasnotgoing，nowthatthetimeiscome。’’Nonsense；don’tletushaveanysentiment。Haveyougotyourkeys？that’smoretothepurpose。’Yes；shehadgotherkeys，andherpurse；andherlittleboxwasputupontheseatbythecoachman；andherfatherhandedherin；thedoorwasshut，andshedroveawayinsolitarygrandeur，lookingbackandkissingherhandtoherfather，whostoodatthegate，inspiteofhisdislikeofsentiment，aslongasthecarriagecouldbeseen。Thenheturnedintothesurgery，andfoundMrCoxehadhadhiswatchingtoo，andhad，indeed，remainedatthewindowgazing，moonstruck，attheemptyroad，upwhichtheyoungladyhaddisappeared。MrGibsonstartledhimfromhisreveriebyasharp，almostvenomous，speechaboutsomesmallneglectofdutyadayortwobefore。ThatnightMrGibsoninsistedonpassingbythebedsideofapoorgirlwhoseparentswereworn—outbymanywakefulanxiousnightssucceedingtohardworkingdays。Mollycriedalittle，butcheckedhertearsassoonassherememberedhowannoyedherfatherwouldhavebeenatthesightofthem。Itwasverypleasantdrivingquicklyalongintheluxuriouscarriage，throughtheprettygreenlanes，withdog—rosesandhoneysucklessoplentifulandratheinthehedges，thatsheonceortwicewastemptedtoaskthecoachmantostoptillshehadgatheredanosegay。Shebegantodreadtheendofherlittlejourneyofsevenmiles；theonlydrawbacktowhichwas，thathersilkwasnotatrueclan—tartan，andalittleuncertaintyastoMissRose’spunctuality，Atlengththeycametoavillage；stragglingcottageslinedtheroad，anoldchurchstoodonakindofgreen，withthepublic—houseclosebyit；