Mollytooktheletterdownwithoutaword，andbegantocopyitatthewriting—table；oftenreadingoverwhatshewasallowedtoread；oftenpausing，hercheekonherhand，hereyesontheletter，andlettingherimaginationrovetothewriter，andallthescenesinwhichshehadeitherseenhimherself，orinwhichherfancyhadpaintedhim。ShewasstartledfromhermeditationsbyCynthia’ssuddenentranceintothedrawing—room，lookingthepictureofglowingdelight。’Noonehere！Whatablessing！Ah，MissMolly，youaremoreeloquentthanyoubelieveyourself。Lookhere！’holdingupalargefullenvelope，andthenquicklyreplacingitinherpocket，asifshewasafraidofbeingseen。’What’sthematter，sweetone？’comingupandcaressingMolly。’Isitworryingitselfoverthatletter？Why，don’tyouseethesearemyveryownhorribleletters，thatIamgoingtoburndirectly，thatMrPrestonhashadthegracetosendme，thankstoyou，littleMolly—cuishlamachree，pulseofmyheart，—thelettersthathavebeenhangingovermyheadlikesomebody’sswordforthesetwoyears？’
’Oh，Iamsoglad！’saidMolly，rousingupalittle。’Ineverthoughthewouldhavesentthem。HeisbetterthanIbelievedhim。Andnowitisallover。Iamsoglad。Youquitethinkhemeanstogiveupallclaimoveryoubythis，don’tyou，Cynthia？’
’Hemayclaim，butIwon’tbeclaimed；andhehasnoproofsnow。Itisthemostcharmingrelief；andIoweitalltoyou，youpreciouslittlelady！Nowthereisonlyonethingmoretobedone；andifyouwouldbutdoitforme——？’（coaxingandcaressingwhilesheaskedthequestion）。
’Oh，Cynthia，don’taskme；Icannotdoanymore。Youdon’tknowhowsickIgowhenIthinkofyesterday，andMrSheepshanks’look。’
’Itisonlyaverylittlething。Iwon’tburdenyourconsciencewithtellingyouhowIgetmyletters，butitisnotthroughapersonIcantrustwithmoney；andImustforcehimtotakebackhistwenty—threepoundsoddshillings。Ihaveputittogetherattherateoffivepercent。，andit’ssealedup。Oh，Molly，Ishouldgooffwithsuchalightheartifyouwouldonlytrytogetitsafelytohim。It’sthelastthing；therewouldbenoimmediatehurry，youknow。Youmightmeethimbychanceinashop，inthestreet，evenataparty—andifyouonlyhaditwithyouinyourpocket，therewouldbenothingsoeasy。’
Mollywassilent。’Papawouldgiveittohim。Therewouldbenoharminthat。Iwouldtellhimhemustasknoquestionsastowhatitwas。’
’Verywell，’saidCynthia，’haveityourownway。Ithinkmywayisthebest；forifanyofthisaffaircomesout——Butyou’vedoneagreatdealformealready，andIwon’tblameyounowfordecliningtodoanymore！’
’Idosodislikehavingtheseunderhanddealingswithhim，’pleadedMolly。
’Underhand！justsimplygivinghimaletterfromme！IfIleftanoteforMissBrowning，shouldyoudislikegivingittoher？’
’Youknowthat’sverydifferent。Icoulddoitopenly。’
’Andyettheremightbewritinginthat；andtherewouldnotbealinewiththemoney。Itwouldonlybethewinding—up—thehonourable，honestwinding—upofanaffairwhichhasworriedmeforyears！Butdoasyoulike！’
’Giveitme！’saidMolly。’Iwilltry。’
’There’sadarling！Youcanbuttry；andifyoucan’tgiveittohiminprivate，withoutgettingyourselfintoascrape，why，keepittillI
comebackagain。Heshallhaveitthen，whetherhewillorno！’
Mollylookedforwardtohertê；te—？tê；tetwodayswithMrsGibsonwithverydifferentanticipationstothosewithwhichshehadwelcomedthesimilarintercoursewithherfather。Inthefirstplace，therewasnoaccompanyingthetravellerstotheinnfromwhichthecoachstarted；
leave—takinginthemarket—placewasquiteoutoftheboundsofMrsGibson’ssenseofpropriety。Besidesthis，itwasagloomy，rainyevenyoing，andcandleshadtobebroughtinatanunusuallyearlyhour。Therewouldbenobreakforsixhours—nomusic，noreading；butthetwoladieswouldsitattheirworstedwork，patteringawayatsmall—talk，withnoteventheusualbreakofdinner；for，tosuittherequirementsofthosewhowereleaving，theyhadalreadydinedearly。ButMrsGibsonreallymeanttomakeMollyhappy，andtriedtobeanagreeablecompanion，onlyMollywasnotwell，anduneasyaboutmanyapprehendedcaresandtroubles—andatsuchhoursofindispositionasshewasthenpassingthrough，apprehensionstaketheshapeofcertainties，lyingawaitinourpaths。Mollywouldhavegivenagooddealtohaveshakenoffallthesefeelings，unusualenoughtoher；
buttheveryhouseandfurniture，andrain—blurredouterlandscape，seemedsteepedwithunpleasantassociations，mostofthemdatingfromthelastfewdays。
’YouandImustgoonthenextjourney，Ithink，mydear，’saidMrsGibson，almostchiminginwithMolly’swishthatshecouldgetawayfromHollingfordintosomenewairandlife，foraweekortwo。’Wehavebeenstay—at—homesforalongtime，andvarietyofsceneissodesirablefortheyoung！ButIthinkthetravellerswillbewishingthemselvesathomebythisnicebrightfireside。\"There’snoplacelikehome，\"asthepoetsays。’\"MidpleasuresandpalacesalthoughImayroam，\"itbegins，andit’sbothveryprettyandverytrue。It’sagreatblessingtohavesuchadearlittlehomeasthis，isnotit，Molly？’
’Yes，’saidMolly，ratherdrearily，havingsomethingofthe’Toujoursperdrix’feelingatthemoment。Ifshecouldbuthavegoneawaywithherfather，justfortwodays，howpleasantitwouldhavebeen。
’Tobesure，love，itwouldbeveryniceforyouandmetogoalittlejourneyallbyourselves。YouandI。Nooneelse。Ifitwerenotsuchmiserableweatherwewouldhavegoneoffonalittleimpromptutour。I’vebeenlongingforsomethingofthekindforsomeweeks；butwelivesucharestrictedkindoflifehere！IdeclaresometimesIgetquitesickoftheverysightofthechairsandtablesthatIknowsowell。Andonemissestheotherstoo！Itseemssoflatanddesertedwithoutthem！’
’Yes！Weareveryforlornto—night；butIthinkit’spartlyowingtotheweather！’
’Nonsense，dear。Ican’thaveyougivingintothesillyfancyofbeingaffectedbyweather。PoordearMrKirkpatrickusedtosay，\"acheerfulheartmakesitsownsunshine。\"Hewouldsayittome，inhisprettyway，wheneverIwasalittlelow—forIamacompletebarometer—youmayreallyjudgeofthestateoftheweatherbymyspirits，Ihavealwaysbeensuchasensitivecreature！ItiswellforCynthiathatshedoesnotinheritit；Idon’tthinkhereasilyaffectedinanyway，doyou？’
Mollythoughtforaminuteortwo，andthenreplied，—’No，sheiscertainlynoteasilyaffected—notdeeplyaffectedperhapsIshouldsay。’
’Manygirls，forinstance，wouldhavebeentouchedbytheadmirationsheexcited—Imaysaytheattentionsshereceivedwhenshewasatheruncle’slastsummer。’
’AtMrKirkpatrick’s？’
’Yes。TherewasMrHenderson，thatyounglawyer；that’stosayheisstudyinglaw，buthehasagoodprivatefortuneandislikelytohavemore，sohecan’onlybewhatIcallplayingatlaw。MrHendersonwasoverheadandearsinlovewithher。Itisnotmyfancy，althoughIgrantmothersarepartial；bothMrandMrsKirkpatricknoticedit；andinoneofMrsKirkpatrick’sletters，shesaidthatpoorMrHendersonwasgoingintoSwitzerlandforthelongvacation，’doubtlesstotryandforgetCynthia；butshereallybelievedhewouldfinditonlydraggingateachremovealengtheningchain。
Ithoughtitsucharefinedquotation，andaltogetherwordedsoprettily。
YoumustknowauntKirkpatricksomeday，Molly，mylove：sheiswhatI
callawomanofatrulyelegantmind。’
’Ican’thelpthinkingitwasapitythatCynthiadidnottellthemofherengagement。’
’Itisnotanengagement，mydear！HowoftenmustItellyouthat？’
’ButwhatamItocallit？’
’Idon’tseewhyyouneedtocallitanything。IndeedIdon’tunderstandwhatyoumeanby\"it。\"Youshouldalwaystrytoexpressyourselfintelligibly。
ItreallyisoneofthefirstprinciplesoftheEnglishlanguage。Infact，philosophersmightaskwhatislanguagegivenusforatall，ifitisnotthatwemaymakeourmeaningunderstood？’
’ButthereissomethingbetweenCynthiaandRoger；theyaremoretoeachotherthanIamtoOsborne，forinstance。WhatamItocallit？’
’Youshouldnotcoupleyournamewiththatofanyunmarriedyoungman；
itissodifficulttoteachyoudelicacy，child。PerhapsonemaysaythereisapeculiarrelationbetweendearCynthiaandRoger，butitisverydifficulttocharacterizeit；Ihavenodoubtthatisthereasonsheshrinksfromspeakingaboutit。For，betweenourselves，Molly，Ireallysometimesthinkitwillcometonothing。Heissolongaway，and，privatelyspeaking，Cynthiaisnotveryveryconstant。Ionceknewherverymuchtakenbefore—thatlittleaffairisquitegoneby；andshewasveryciviltoMrHenderson，inherway；Ifancysheinheritsit，forwhenIwasagirlIwasbesetbylovers，andcouldneverfindinmyhearttoshakethemoff。Youhavenothearddearpapasayanythingoftheoldsquire，ordearOsborne，haveyou？ItseemssolongsincewehaveheardorseenanythingofOsborne。
Buthemustbequitewell，Ithink，orweshouldhaveheardofit。’
’Ibelieveheisquitewell。Someonesaidtheotherdaythattheyhadmethimriding—itwasMrsGoodenough，nowIremember—andthathewaslookingstrongerthanhehaddoneforyears。’
’Indeed！Iamtrulygladtohearit。IalwayswasfondofOsborne；and，doyouknow，IneverreallytooktoRoger；Irespectedhimandallthat，ofcourse。ButtocomparehimwithMrHenderson！MrHendersonissohandsomeandwell—bred，andgetsallhisglovesfromHoubigant！’
ItwastruethattheyhadnotseenanythingofOsborneHamleyforalongtime；but，asitoftenhappens，justaftertheyhadbeenspeakingabouthimheappeared。ItwasonthedayfollowingonMrGibson’sdeparturethatMrsGibsonhadreceivedoneofthenotes，notsocommonnowasformerly，fromthefamilyintownaskinghertogoovertotheTowers，andfindabook，oramanuscript，orsomethingorotherthatLadyCumnorwantedwithallaninvalid’simpatience。Itwasjustthekindofemploymentsherequiredforanamusementonagloomyday，anditputherintoagood。humourimmediately。
Therewasacertainconfidentialimportanceaboutit，anditwasavariety，anditgaveherthepleasantdriveinaflyupthenobleavenue，andthesenseofbeingthetemporarymistressofallthegrandroomsoncesofamiliartoher。SheaskedMollytoaccompanyher，outofanaccessofkindness，butwasnotatallsorrywhenMollyexcusedherselfandpreferredstoppingathome。Ateleveno’clockMrsGibsonwasoff，allinherSundaybest（tousetheservant’sexpression，whichsheherselfwouldsohavecontemned），well—dressedinordertoimposeontheservantsattheTowers，fortherewasnooneelsetobeseenortobeseenby。
’Ishallnotbeathomeuntiltheafternoon，mydear！ButIhopeyouwillnotfinditdull。Idon’tthinkyouwill，foryouaresomethinglikeme，mylove—neverlessalonethanwhenalone，asoneofthegreatauthorshasjustlyexpressedit。’
MollyenjoyedherhousetoherselftothefullasmuchasMrsGibsonwouldenjoyhavingtheTowerstoherself。Sheventuredonhavingherlunchbroughtuponatrayintothedrawing—room，sothatshemightcathersandwicheswhileshewentonwithherbook。Inthemiddle，MrOsborneHamleywasannounced。
Hecamein，lookingwretchedlyillinspiteofpurblindMrsGoodenough’sreportofhishealthyappearance。
’Thiscallisnotonyou，Molly，’saidhe，afterthefirstgreetingswereover。’IwasinhopesImighthavefoundyourfatherathome；Ithoughtlunch—timewasthebesthour。’Hehadsatedown，asifthoroughlygladoftherest，andfallenintoalanguidstoopingposition，asifithadbecomesonaturaltohimthatnosenseofwhatwereconsideredgoodmannerssufficedtorestrainhimnow。
’Ihopeyoudidnotwanttoseehimprofessionally？’saidMolly，wonderingifshewaswiseinalludingtohishealth，yeturgedtoitbyherrealanxiety。
’Yes，Idid。IsupposeImayhelpmyselftoabiscuitandaglassofwine？No，don’tringformore。Icouldnoteatitifitwashere。ButI
justwantamouthful；thisisquiteenough，thankyou。Whenwillyourfatherbeback？’
’HewassummoneduptoLondon。LadyCumnorisworse。Ifancythereissomeoperationgoingon；butIdon’tknow。Hewillbebackto—morrownight。’
’Verywell。ThenImustwait。PerhapsIshallbebetterbythattime。
Ithinkit’shalffancy；butIshouldlikeyourfathertotellmeso。Hewilllaughatme，Idaresay；butIdon’tthinkIshallmindthat。Healwaysissevereonfancifulpatients，isnothe，Molly？’
MollythoughtthatifhesawOsborne’slooksjustnowhewouldhardlythinkhimfanciful，orbeinclinedtobesevere。Butsheonlysaid，—’Papaenjoysajokeateverything，youknow。Itisareliefafterallthesorrowhesees。’
’Verytrue。Thereisagreatdealofsorrowintheworld。Idon’tthinkit’saveryhappyplaceafterall。SoCynthiaisgonetoLondon，’headded，afterapause，’IthinkIshouldliketohaveseenheragain。PooroldRoger！Helovesherverydearly，Molly，’hesaid。Mollyhardlyknewhowtoanswerhiminallthis；shewassostruckbythechangeinbothvoiceandmanner。
’MammahasgonetotheTowers，’shebegan，atlength。’LadyCumnorwantedseveralthingsthatmammaonlycanfind。Shewillbesorrytomissyou。
Wewerespeakingofyouonlyyesterday，andshesaidhowlongitwassincewehadseenyou。’
’IthinkI’vegrowncareless；IhaveoftenfeltsowearyandillthatitwasallIcoulddotokeepupabravefacebeforemyfather。’
’Whydidyounotcomeandseepapa？’saidMolly；’orwritetohim？’
’Icannottell。Idriftedonsometimesbetter，andsometimesworse，tillto—dayImustereduppluck，andcametohearwhatyourfatherhasgottotellme：andallfornouseitseems。’
’Iamverysorry。Butitisonlyfortwodays。Heshallgoandseeyouassoonaseverhereturns。’
’Hemustnotalarmmyfather，remember，Molly，’saidOsborne，liftinghimselfbythearmsofhischairintoanuprightpositionandspeakingeagerlyforthemoment。’IwishtoGodRogerwasathome，’saidhe，fallingbackintotheoldposture。
’Ican’thelpunderstandingyou，’saidMolly。’Youthinkyourselfveryill；butisnotitthatyouaretiredjustnow？’Shewasnotsureifsheoughttohaveunderstoodwhatwaspassinginhismind；butasshedid，shecouldnothelpspeakingatruereply。
’Well，sometimesIdothinkI’mveryill；andthen，again，Ithinkit’sonlythemopinglifesetsmefancyingandexaggerating。’Hewassilentforsometime。Then，asifhehadtakenasuddenresolution，hespokeagain。
’Youseethereareothersdependinguponme—uponmyhealth。Youhavenotforgottenwhatyouheardthatdayinthelibraryathome？No，Iknowyouhavenot。Ihaveseenthethoughtofitinyoureyesoftensincethen。
Ididnotknowyouatthattime。IthinkIdonow。’
’Don’tgoontalkingsofast，’saidMolly。’Rest。Noonewillinterruptus；Iwillgoonwithmysewing；whenyouwanttosayanythingmoreIshallbelistening。’Forshehadbeenalarmedatthestrangepallorthathadcomeoverhisface。
’Thankyou。’Afteratimeherousedhimself，andbegantospeakveryquietly，asifonanindifferentmatteroffact。
’ThenameofmywifeisAimé；e。Aimé；eHamleyofcourse。
ShelivesatBishopsfield，avillagenearWinchester。Writeitdown，butkeepittoyourself。SheisaFrenchwoman，aRomanCatholic，andwasaservant。Sheisathoroughlygoodwoman。Imustnotsayhowdearsheistome。Idarenot。Imean。toncetohavetoldCynthia，butshedidnotseemquitetoconsidermeasabrother。Perhapsshewasshyofanewrelation，butyou’llgivemylovetoher，allthesame。Itisarelieftothinkthatsomeoneelsehasmysecret；andyouarelikeoneofus，Molly。IcantrustyoualmostasIcantrustRoger。IfeelbetteralreadynowIfeelthatsomeoneelseknowsthewhereaboutsofmywifeandchild。’
’Child！’saidMolly，surprised。Butbeforehecouldreply，Mariahadannounced，—
’MissPhoebeBrowning。’
’Foldupthatpaper，’saidhe，quickly，puttingsomethingintoherhands。
’Itisonlyforyourself。’
chapter46
CHAPTERXLVIHOLLINGFORDGOSSIPS
’MYdearMolly，whydidn’tyoucomeanddinewithus？IsaidtosisterIwouldcomeandscoldyouwell。Oh，MrOsborneHamley，isthatyou？’andalookofmistakenintelligenceatthetê；te—？tê；teshehaddisturbedcamesoperceptiblyoverMissPhoebe’sfacethatMollyruscaughtOsborne’ssympatheticeye，andbothsmiledatthenotion。
’I’msureI—well！onemustsometimes—Iseeourdinnerwouldhavebeen—’Thensherecoveredherselfintoaconnectedsentence。’WeonlyjustheardofMrsGibson’shavingaflyfromthe\"George，\"becausesistersentourNancytopayforacoupleofrabbitsTomOstlerhadsnared（I
hopeweshan’tbetakenupforpoachers，MrOsborne—snaringdoesn’trequirealicence，Ibelieve？），andsheheardhewasgoneoffwiththeflytotheTowerswithyourdearmamma；forCoxewhodrivestheflyingeneralhassprainedhisankle。Wehadjustfinisheddinner，butwhenNancysaidTomOstlerwouldnotbebacktillnightIsaid，\"Why，there’sthatpoordeargirlleftallalonebyherself，andhermothersuchafriendofours，\"
—whenshewasalive，Imean，ButI’msureI’mgladI’mmistaken。’
Osbornesaid，—’IcametospeaktoMrGibson，notknowinghehadgonetoLondon，andMissGibsonkindlygavemesomeofherlunch。Imustgonow。’
’Ohdear！Iamsosorry，’flutteredoutMissPhoebe，’Idisturbedyou；
butitwaswiththebestintentions。Ialwayswasmal—à；proposfromachild。’ButOsbornewasgonebeforeshehadfinishedherapologies。Beforeheleft，hiseyesmetMolly’swithastrangelookofyearningfarewellthatstruckheratthetime，andthatsherememberedstronglyafterwards。
’Suchanicesuitablething，andIcameinthemidst，andspoiltitall。
Iamsureyou’reverykind，mydear，considering—’t’Consideringwhat，mydearMissPhoebe？IfyouareconjecturingaloveaffairbetweenMrOsborneHamleyandme，youneverweremoremistakeninyourlife。IthinkItoldyousooncebefore。Pleasedobelieveme。’
’Oh，yes！Iremember。AndsomehowsistergotitintoherheaditwasMrPreston，Irecollect。’
’Oneguessisjustaswrongastheother，’saidMolly，smiling，andtryingtolookperfectlyindifferent，butgoingextremelyredfromannoyanceatthementionofMrPreston’sname。Itwasverydifficultforhertokeepupanyconversation，forherheartwasfullofOsborne—hischangedappearance，hismelancholywordsofforeboding，andhisconfidencesabouthiswife—French，Catholic，servant。Mollycouldnothelptryingtopiecethesestrangefactstogetherbyimaginationsofherown，andfounditveryhardworktoattendtokindMissPhoebe’sunceasingpatter。Shecameuptothepoint，however，whenthevoiceceased；andcouldrecall，inamechanicalmanner，theechoofthelastwords，whichfrombothMissPhoebe’slook，andthedyingaccentthatlingeredinMolly’sear，sheperceivedtobeaquestion。MissPhoebewasaskingherifshewouldgooutwithher？ShewasgoingtoGrinstead’s，thebooksellerofHollingford；who，inadditiontohisregularbusiness，wastheagentfortheHollingfordBookSociety，receivedtheirsubscriptions，kepttheiraccounts，orderedtheirbooksfromLondon，and，onpaymentofasmallsalary，allowedtheSocietytokeeptheirvolumesonshelvesinhisshop。Itwasthecentreofnewsandgossip，theclub，asitwere，ofthelittletown。Everybodywhopretendedtogentilityintheplacebelongedtoit，Itwasatestofgentility，indeed，ratherthanofeducationoraloveofliterature。Noshopkeeperwouldhavethoughtofofferinghimselfasamember，howevergreathisgeneralintelligenceandloveofreading；whileitboasteduponthelistofsubscribersmostofthecountyfamiliesintheneighbourhood，someofwhomsubscribedtotheHollingfordBookSocietyasasortofdutybelongingtotheirstation，withoutoftenusingtheirprivilegeofreadingthebooks：whiletherewereresidentsinthelittletown，suchasMrsGoodenough，whoprivatelythoughtreadingagreatwasteoftime，thatmightbemuchbetteremployedinsewing，andknitting，andpastry—making，butwhoneverthelessbelongedtoitasamarkofstation，justasthesegood，motherlywomenwouldhavethoughtitaterriblecome—downintheworldiftheyhadnothadaprettyyoungservant—maidtofetchthemhomefromthetea—partiesatnight。Atanyrate，Grinstead’swasaveryconvenientplaceforalounge。InthatviewoftheBookSocietyeveryoneagreed。MollywentupstairstogetreadytoaccompanyMissPhoebe；andonopeningoneofherdrawersshesawCynthia’senvelope，containingthenotessheowedtoMrPreston，carefullysealeduplikealetter。ThiswaswhatMollyhadsounwillinglypromisedtodeliver—thelastfinalstroketotheaffair。Mollytookitup，hatingit。Foratimeshehadforgottenit；andnowitwashere，facingher，andshemusttryandgetridofit。Sheputitintoherpocketforthechancesofthewalkandtheday，andfortuneforonceseemedtobefriendher；for，ontheirenteringGrinstead’sshop，inwhichtwoorthreepeoplewerenow，asalways，congregated，makingplayofexaminingthebooks，orbusinessofwritingdownthetitlesofnewworksintheorder—book，therewasMrPreston。Hebowedastheycamein。Hecouldnothelpthat；but，atthesightofMolly，helookedasill—temperedandoutofhumourasamanwellcoulddo。Shewasconnectedinhismindwithdefeatandmortification；andbesides，thesightofhercalledupwhathedesirednowaboveallthingstoforget；
namely，thedeepconvictionreceivedthroughMolly’ssimpleearnestness，ofCynthia’sdisliketohim，IfMissPhoebehadseenthescowluponhishandsomeface，shemighthaveundeceivedhersisterinhersuppositionsabouthimandMolly。ButMissPhoebe，whodidnotconsideritquitemaidenlytogoandstandclosetoMrPreston，andsurveytheshelvesofbooksinsuchcloseproximitytoagentleman，foundherselfanerrandattheotherendoftheshop，andoccupiedherselfinbuyingwriting—paper。Mollyfingeredhervaluableletter，asitlayinherpocket；didshedaretocrossovertoMrPreston，andgiveittohim，ornot？Whileshewasstillundecided，shrinkingalwaysjustatthemomentwhenshethoughtshehadgothercourageupforaction，MissPhoebe，havingfinishedherpurchase，turnedround，andafterlookingalittlepatheticallyatMrPreston’sback，saidtoMollyinawhisper，—’Ithinkwe’llgotoJohnson’snow，andcomebackforthebooksinalittlewhile。’SoacrossthestreettoJohnson’stheywent；
butnosoonerhadtheyenteredthedraper’sshop，thanMolly’sconsciencesmoteherforhercowardice，andlossofagoodopportunity。’I’llbebackdirectly，’saidshe，assoonasMissPhoebewasengagedwithherpurchases；
andMollyranacrosstoGrinstead’s，withoutlookingeithertotherightortheleft；shehadbeenwatchingthedoor，andsheknewthatnoMrPrestonhadissuedforth。Sheranin；hewasatthecounternow，talkingtoGrinsteadhimself，Mollyputtheletterintohishand，tohissurprise，andalmostagainsthiswill，andturnedroundtogobacktoMissPhoebe。AtthedooroftheshopstoodMrsGoodenough，arrestedintheactofentering，staring，withherroundeyes，madestillrounderandmoreowl—likebyspectacles，toseeMollyGibsongivingMrPrestonaletter，whichhe，consciousofbeingwatched，andfavouringunderhandpracticeshabitually，putquicklyintohispocket，unopened。Perhaps，ifhehadhadtimeforreflectionhewouldnothavescrupledtoputMollytoopenshame，byrejectingwhatshesoeagerlyforceduponhim。
TherewasanotherlongeveningtobegotthroughwithMrsGibson；butonthisoccasiontherewasthepleasantoccupationofdinner，whichtookupatleastanhour；foritwasoneofMrsGibson’sfancies—onewhichMollychafedagainst—tohaveeveryceremonialgonethroughinthesamestatelymannerfortwoasfortwenty。So，althoughMollyknewfullwell，andherstepmotherknewfullwell，andMariaknewfullwell，thatneitherMrsGibsonnorMollytoucheddessert，itwassetonthetablewithasmuchformasifCynthiahadbeenathome，whodelightedinalmondsandraisins；
orMrGibsonbeenthere，whonevercouldresistdates，althoughhealwaysprotestedagainst’personsintheirstationoflifehavingaformaldessertsetoutbeforethemeveryday。’
AndMrsGibsonherselfapologizedasitweretoMollyto—day，inthesamewordsshehadoftenusedtoMrGibson，—’It’snoextravagance，forweneednoteatit—Ineverdo。Butitlookswell，andmakesMariaunderstandwhatisrequiredinthedailylifeofeveryfamilyofposition。’
AllthroughtheeveningMolly’sthoughtswanderedfarandwide，thoughshemanagedtokeepupashowofattentiontowhatMrsGibsonwassaying。
ShewasthinkingofOsborne，andhisabrupt，half—finishedconfidence，hisill—looks；shewaswonderingwhenRogerwouldcomehome，andlongingforhisreturn，asmuch（shesaidtoherself）forOsborne’ssakeasforherown。Andthenshecheckedherself。WhathadshetodowithRoger？Whyshouldshelongforhisreturn？ItwasCynthiawhowasdoingthis；onlysomehowhewassuchatruefriendtoMolly，thatshecouldnothelpthinkingofhimasastaffandastayinthetroubloustimeswhichappearedtolienotfaraheadthisevening。ThenMrPrestonandherlittleadventurewithhimcameuppermost。Howangryhelooked！HowcouldCynthiahavelikedhimevenenoughtogetintothisabominablescrape，whichwas，however，allovernow！Andsosheranoninherfanciesandimaginations，littledreamingthatthatverynightmuchtalkwasgoingonnothalf—a—milefromwhereshesatesewing，thatwouldprovethatthe’scrape’（asshecalledit，inhergirlishphraseology）wasnotallover。
Scandalsleepsinthesummer，comparativelyspeaking。Itsnatureisthereverseofthatofthedormouse。Warmambientair，loiteringsabroad，gardenings，flowerstotalkabout，andpreservestomake，soothedthewickedimptoslumberintheparishofHollingfordinsummer—time。Butwheneveningsgrewshort，andpeoplegatheredroundthefires，andputtheirfeetinacircle—notonthefenders，thatwasnotallowed—thenwasthetimeforconfidentialconversation！Orinthepausesallowedforthetea—traystocirculateamongthecard—tables—whenthosewhowerepeaceablyinclinedtriedtostopthewarmdiscussionsabout’theoddtrick，’andtheratherwearisomefemininewayof’shoulderingthecrutch，andshowinghowfieldswerewon’—smallcrumbsandscrapsofdailynewscameuptothesurface，suchas’Martindalehasraisedthepriceofhisbestjointsahalfpennyinthepound；’or’it’sashameofSirHarrytoorderinanotherbookonfarrieryintotheBookSociety；PhoebeandItriedtoreadit，butreallythereisnogeneralinterestinit；’or，’IwonderwhatMrAshtonwilldo，nowNancyisgoingtobemarried！Why，shehasbeenwithhimtheseseventeenyears！It’saveryfoolishthingforawomanofheragetobethinkingofmatrimony；andsoItoldher，whenImetherinthemarket—placethismorning！’
