Youwilltrustme，won’tyou？’andturningtoRogershesaidtohimwithtearsinhereyes，—’PleasesayyouknowIshallnottell。’’Wecan’thelpit，’saidOsborne，gloomily。’OnlyRoger，whoknewofwhatimportanceitwas，oughttohavelookedroundhimbeforespeaking。’’SoIshould，’saidRoger。’I’mmorevexedwithmyselfthanyoucanconceive。
NotbutwhatI’msureofyouasofmyself，’continuedhe，turningtoMolly。’Yes；but，’saidOsborne，’youseehowmanychancestherearethateventhebest—meaningpersonsmayletoutwhatitisofsuchconsequencetometokeepsecret。’’Iknowyouthinkitso，’saidRoger。’Well，don’tletusbeginthatolddiscussionagain—atanyrate，notbeforeathirdperson。’Mollyhadhadhardworkallthistimetokeepfromcrying。Nowthatshewasalludedtoasthethirdpersonbeforewhomconversationwastoberestrained，shesaid，—’I’mgoingaway。PerhapsIoughtnottohavebeenhere。I’mverysorry—very。ButIwilltryandforgetwhatI’veheard。’’Youcan’tdothat，’saidOsborne，stillungraciously。’Butwillyoupromisemenevertospeakaboutittoanyone—noteventome，ortoRoger？Willyoutrytoactandspeakasifyouhadneverheardit？I’msure，fromwhatRogerhastoldmeaboutyou，thatifyougivemethispromiseImayrelyuponit。’’Yes；Iwillpromise，’saidMolly，puttingoutherhandasakindofpledge。
Osbornetookit，butratherasiftheactionwassuperfluous。Sheadded，’IthinkIshouldhavedoneso，evenwithoutapromise。Butitis，perhaps，bettertobindoneself。Iwillgoawaynow。IwishI’dnevercomeintothisroom。’Sheputdownherbookonthetableverysoftly，andturnedtoleavetheroom，chokingdownhertearsuntilshewasinthesolitudeofherownchamber。
ButRogerwasatthedoorbeforeher，holdingitopenforher，andreading—shefeltthathewasreading—herface。Heheldouthisbandforhers，andhisfirmgraspexpressedbothsympathyandregretforwhathadoccurred。Shecouldhardlykeepbackhersobstillshereachedherbedroom。Herfeelingshadbeenoverwroughtforsometimepast，withoutfindingthenaturalventinaction。TheleavingHamleyHallhadseemedsosadbefore；andnowshewastroubledwithhavingtobearawayasecretwhichsheoughtnevertohaveknown，andtheknowledgeofwhichhadbroughtoutaveryuncomfortableresponsibility。ThentherewouldariseaverynaturalwonderastowhowasOsborne’swife。MollyhadnotstayedsolongandsointimatelyintheHamleyfamilywithoutbeingwellawareofthemannerinwhichthefutureladyofHamleywasplannedfor。Thesquire，forinstance，partlyinordertoshowthatOsborne，hisheir，wasabovethereachofMollyGibson，thedoctor’sdaughter，intheearlydaysbeforeheknewMollywell，hadoftenalludedtothegrand，thehigh，andthewealthymarriagewhichHamleyofHamley，asrepresentedbyhisclever，brilliant，handsomesonOsborne，mightbeexpectedtomake。MrsHamley，too，unconsciouslyonherpart，showedtheprojectsthatshewasconstantlydevisingforthereceptionoftheunknowndaughter—in—lawthatwastobe。’Thedrawing—roommustberefurnishedwhenOsbornemarries’—or’Osborne’swifewillliketohavethewestsuiteofroomstoherself；itwillperhapsbeatrialtohertolivewiththeoldcouple；butwemustarrangeitsothatshewillfeelitaslittleaspossible’—’Ofcourse，whenMrsOsbornecomeswemusttryandgiveheranewcarriage；theoldonedoeswellenoughforus’—these，andsimilarspeecheshadgivenMollytheimpressionofthefutureMrsOsborneasofsomebeautifulgrandyounglady，whoseverypresencewouldmaketheoldHallintoastately，formalmansion，insteadofthepleasant，unceremonioushomethatitwasatpresent。Osborne，too，whohadspokenwithsuchlanguidcriticismtoMrsGibsonaboutvariouscountrybelles，andeveninhisownhomewasapttogivehimselfairs—
onlyathomehisairswerepoeticallyfastidious，whilewithMrsGibsontheyhadbeensociallyfastidious—whatunspeakablyelegantbeautyhadhechosenforhiswife？Whohadsatisfiedhim；andyetsatisfyinghim，hadtohaveher，marriagekeptinconcealmentfromhisparents？AtlengthMollytoreherselfupfromherwanderings。Itwasofnouse：shecouldnotfindout；shemightnoteventry。Theblankwallofherpromiseblockeduptheway。Perhapsitwasnotevenrighttowonder，andendeavourtorememberslightspeeches，casualmentionsofaname，soastopiecethemtogetherintosomethingcoherent。Mollydreadedseeingeitherofthebrothersagain；
buttheyallmetatdinner—timeasifnothinghadhappened。Thesquirewastaciturn，eitherfrommelancholyordispleasure。HehadneverspokentoOsbornesincehisreturn，exceptingaboutthecommonesttrifles，whenintercoursecouldnotbeavoided；andhiswife’sstateoppressedhimlikeaheavycloudcomingoverthelightofhisday。Osborneputonanindifferentmannertohisfather，whichMollyfeltsurewasassumed；butitwasnotconciliatory，forallthat。Roger，quiet，steady，andnatural，talkedmorethanalltheothers；buthetoowasuneasy，andindistressonmanyaccounts。
To—dayheprincipallyaddressedhimselftoMolly；enteringintoratherlongnarrationsoflatediscoveriesinnaturalhistory，whichkeptupthecurrentoftalkwithoutrequiringmuchreplyfromanyone，MollyhadexpectedOsbornetolooksomethingdifferentfromusual—conscious，orashamed，orresentful，oreven’married’—buthewasexactlytheOsborneofthemorning—handsome，elegant，languidinmannerandinlook；cordialwithhisbrother，politetowardsher，secretlyuneasyatthestateofthingsbetweenhisfatherandhimself。Shewouldneverhaveguessedtheconcealedromancewhichlayperduunderthatevery—daybehaviour。Shehadalwayswishedtocomeintodirectcontactwithalove—story：hereshewas，andsheonlyfounditveryuncomfortable；therewasasenseofconcealmentanduncertaintyaboutitall；andherhoneststraightforwardfather，herquietlifeatHollingford，which，evenwithallitsdrawbacks，wasabove—board，andwhereeverybodyknewwhateverybodywasdoing，seemedsecureandpleasantincomparison。OfcourseshefeltgreatpainatquittingtheHall，andatthemutefarewellshehadtakenofhersleepingandunconsciousfriend。
ButleavingMrsHamleynowwasadifferentthingtowhatithadbeenafortnightago。Thenshewaswantedatanymoment，andfeltherselftobeofcomfort。Nowherveryexistenceseemedforgottenbythepoorladywhosebodyappearedtobelivingsolongafterhersoul。Shewassenthomeinthecarriage，loadedwithtruethanksfromeveryoneofthefamily。Osborneransackedthehousesforflowersforher；Rogerhadchosenheroutbooksofeverykind。Thesquirehimselfkeptshakingherhand，withoutbeingabletospeakhisgratitude，tillatlasthehadtakenherinhisarms，andkissedherashewouldhavedoneadaughter。
chapter19CHAPTERXIXCYNTHIA’SARRIVALMolly’sfatherwasnotathomewhenshereturned；andtherewasnoonetogiveherawelcome。MrsGibsonwasoutpayingcalls，theservantstoldMolly。Shewentupstairstoherownroom，meaningtounpackandarrangeherborrowedbooks，Rathertohersurpriseshesawthechamber，correspondingtoherown，beingdusted；waterandtowelstoowerebeingcarriedin。’Isanyonecoming？’sheaskedofthehousemaid。’Missus’sdaughterfromFrance。MissKirkpatrickiscomingto—morrow。’WasCynthiacomingatlast？Oh，whatapleasureitwouldbetohaveacompanion，agirl，asisterofherownage！Molly’sdepressedspiritssprangupagainwithbrightelasticity。ShelongedforMrsGibson’sreturn，toaskherallaboutit：itmustbeverysudden，forMrGibsonhadsaidnothingofitattheHallthedaybefore。Noquietreadingnow；thebookswerehardlyputawaywithMolly’susualneatness。Shewentdownintothedrawing—room，andcouldnotsettletoanything。AtlastMrsGibsoncamehome，tiredoutwithherwalkandherheavyvelvetcloak。Untilthatwastakenoff，andshehadrestedherselfforafewminutes，sheseemedquiteunabletoattendtoMolly’squestions。’Oh，yes！Cynthiaiscominghometo—morrow，bythe\"Umpire，\"whichpassesthroughatteno’clock。Whatanoppressivedayitisforthetimeoftheyear！Ireallyamalmostreadytofaint。Cynthiaheardofsomeopportunity，Ibelieve，andwasonlytoogladtoleaveschoolafortnightearlierthanweplanned。ShenevergavemethechanceofwritingtosayIdid，ordidnot，likehercomingsomuchbeforethetime；andIshallhavetopayforherjustthesameasifshehadstopped。AndImeanttohaveaskedhertobringmeaFrenchbonnet；andthenyoucouldhavehadonemadeaftermine。ButI’mverygladshe’scoming，poordear。’’Isanythingthematterwithher？’askedMolly。’Oh，no！Whyshouldtherebe？’’Youcalledher\"poordear，\"anditmademeafraidlestshemightbeill。’’Oh，no！It’sonlyawayIgotinto，whenMrKirkpatrickdied。Afatherlessgirl—youknowonealwaysdoescallthem\"poordears。\"Oh，no！Cynthianeverisill。She’sasstrongasahorse。Sheneverwouldhavefeltto—dayasIhavedone。Couldyougetmeaglassofwineandabiscuit，mydear？
I’m。reallyquitefaint。’MrGibsonwasmuchmoreexcitedaboutCynthia’sarrivalthanherownmotherwas。HeanticipatedhercomingasagreatpleasuretoMolly，onwhom，inspiteofhisrecentmarriageandhisnewwife，hisinterestsprincipallycentred。Heevenfoundtimetorunupstairsandseethebedroomsofthetwogirls；forthefurnitureofwhichhehadpaidaprettyroundsum。’Well，Isupposeyoungladiesliketheirbedroomsdeckedoutinthisway！
It’sveryprettycertainly，but——’’Ilikedmyownoldroombetter，papa；butperhapsCynthiaisaccustomedtosuchdeckingup。’’Perhaps；atanyrate，she’llseewe’vetriedtomakeitpretty。Yoursislikehers。That’sright。Itmighthavehurther，ifhershadbeensmarterthanyours。Now，good—nightinyourfineflimsybed。’Mollywasupbetimes—almostbeforeitwaslight—arrangingherprettyHamleyflowersinCynthia’sroom。Shecouldhardlyeatherbreakfastthatmorning。Sheranupstairsandputonherthings，thinkingthatMrsGibsonwasquitesuretogodowntothe’George’Inn，wherethe’Umpire’stopped，tomeetherdaughterafteratwoyears’absence。ButtohersurpriseMrsGibsonhadarrangedherselfathergreatworsted—workframe，justasusual；
andshe，inherturn，wasastonishedatMolly’sbonnetandcloak。’Whereareyougoingsoearly，child？Thefoghasn’tclearedawayyet。’’IthoughtyouwouldgoandmeetCynthia；andIwantedtogowithyou。’’Shewillbehereinhalfanhour；anddearpapahastoldthegardenertotakethewheelbarrowdownforherluggage。I’mnotsureifheisnotgonehimself。’’Thenarenotyougoing？’askedMolly，withagooddealofdisappointment。’No，certainlynot。Shewillbeherealmostdirectly。And，besides，Idon’tliketoexposemyfeelingstoeverypasser—byinHighStreet。YouforgetIhavenotseenherfortwoyears，andIhatescenesinthemarket—place。’Shesettledherselftoherworkagain；andMolly，aftersomeconsideration，gaveupherowngoing，andemployedherselfinlookingoutofthedownstairswindowwhichcommandedtheapproachfromthetown。’Heresheis—heresheis！’shecriedoutatlast。Herfatherwaswalkingbythesideofatallyounglady；Williamthegardenerwaswheelingalongagreatcargoofluggage。Mollyflewtothefront—door，andhaditwideopentoadmitthenewcornersometimebeforeshearrived。’Well！heresheis。Molly，thisisCynthia。Cynthia，Molly。You’retobesisters，youknow。’Mollysawthebeautiful，tall，swayingfigure，againstthelightoftheopendoor，butcouldnotseeanyofthefeaturesthatwere，forthemoment，inshadow。Asuddengushofshynesshadcomeoverherjustattheinstant，andquenchedtheembraceshewouldhavegivenamomentbefore。ButCynthiatookherinherarms，andkissedheronbothcheeks。’Here’smamma，’shesaid，lookingbeyondMollyontothestairswhereMrsGibsonstood，wrappedupinashawl，andshiveringinthecold。SheranpastMollyandMrGibson，whoratheravertedtheireyesfromthisfirstgreetingbetweenmotherandchild。MrsGibsonsaid，—’Why，howyouaregrown，darling！Youlookquiteawoman。’’AndsoIam，’saidCynthia。’IwasbeforeIwentaway；I’vehardlygrownsince，—except，itisalwaystobehoped，inwisdom。’’Yes！Thatwewillhope，’saidMrsGibson，inratherameaningway。Indeedtherewereevidentlyhiddenallusionsintheirseemingcommonplacespeeches。
Whentheyallcameintothefulllightandreposeofthedrawing—room，MollywasabsorbedinthecontemplationofCynthia’sbeauty。Perhapsherfeatureswerenotregular；butthechangesinherexpressivecountenancegaveonenotimetothinkofthat。Hersmilewasperfect；herpoutingcharming；
theplayofthefacewasinthemouth。Hereyeswerebeautifullyshaped，buttheirexpressionhardlyseemedtovary。Incolouringshewasnotunlikehermother；onlyshehadnotsomuchofthered—hairedtintsinhercomplexion；
andherlong—shaped，seriousgreyeyeswerefringedwithdarklashes，insteadofhermother’sinsipidflaxenones。Mollyfellinlovewithher，sotospeak，ontheinstant。Shesatetherewarmingherfeetandhands，asmuchathereaseasifshehadbeenthereallherlife；notparticularlyattendingtohermother—who，allthetime，wasstudyingeitherherorherdress—measuringMollyandMrGibsonwithgraveobservantlooks，asifguessinghowsheshouldlikethem。’There’shotbreakfastreadyforyouinthedining—room，whenyouarereadyforit，’saidMrGibson。’I’msureyoumustwantitafteryournightjourney。’
Helookedroundathiswife，atCynthia’smother，butshedidnotseeminclinedtoleavethewarmroomagain。’Mollywilltakeyoutoyourroom，darling，’saidshe；’itisnearhers，andshehasgotherthingstotakeoff。I’llcomedownandsitinthedining—roomwhileyouarehavingyourbreakfast，butIreallyamafraidofthecoldnow。’CynthiaroseandfollowedMollyupstairs。’I’msosorrythereisn’tafireforyou，’saidMolly，’but—Isupposeitwasn’tordered；and，ofcourse，Idon’tgiveanyorders。Hereissomehotwater，though。’’Stopaminute，’saidCynthia，gettingholdofbothMolly’shands，andlookingsteadilyintoherface，butinsuchamannerthatshedidnotdisliketheinspection。’IthinkIshalllikeyou。Iamgoglad！IwasafraidIshouldnot。We’reallinaveryawkwardpositiontogether，aren’twe？Ilikeyourfather’slooks，though。’Mollycouldnothelpsmilingatthewaythiswassaid。Cynthiarepliedtohersmile。’Ah，youmaylaugh。ButIdon’tknowthatIameasytogetonwith；mammaandIdidn’tsuitwhenwewerelasttogether。Butperhapsweareeachofuswisernow。Now，pleaseleavemeforaquarterofanhour。Idon’twantanythingmore。’Mollywentintoherownroom，waitingtoshowCynthiadowntothedining—room。
Notthat，inthemoderate—sizedhouse，therewasanydifficultyinfindingtheway。Averylittletroubleinconjecturingwouldenableastrangertodiscoveranyroom。ButCynthiahadsocaptivatedMolly，thatshewantedtodevoteherselftothenewcomer’sservice。Eversinceshehadheardoftheprobabilityofherhavingasister—（shecalledherasister，butwhetheritwasaScotchsister，orasisterà；lamodedeBré；tagne，wouldhavepuzzledmostpeople）—MollyhadallowedherfancytodwellmuchontheideaofCynthia’scoming；andintheshorttimesincetheyhadmet，Cynthia’sunconsciouspoweroffascinationhadbeenexerciseduponher。Somepeoplehavethispower。Ofcourse，itseffectsareonlymanifestedinthesusceptible。Aschool—girlmaybefoundineveryschoolwhoattractsandinfluencesalltheothers，notbyhervirtues，norherbeauty，norhersweetness，norhercleverness，butbysomethingthatcanneitherbedescribednorreasonedupon。Itisthesomethingalludedtointheoldlines：—Lovemenotforcomelygrace，Formypleasingeyeandface；No，norformyconstantheart，—Forthesemaychange，andturntoill，Andthustruelovemaysever。Butlovemeon，andknownotwhy，SohastthouthesamereasonstillTodoteuponmeever。’Awomanwillhavethischarm，notonlyovermenbutoverherownsex；itcannotbedefined，orratheritissodelicateamixtureofmanygiftsandqualitiesthatitisimpossibletodecideontheproportionsofeach。
Perhapsitisincompatiblewithveryhighprinciple；asitsessenceseemstoconsistinthemostexquisitepowerofadaptationtovaryingpeopleandstillmorevariousmoods；’beingallthingstoallmen。’Atanyrate，MollymightsoonhavebeenawarethatCynthiawasnotremarkableforunflinchingmorality；buttheglamourthrownoverherwouldhavepreventedMollyfromanyattemptatpenetratingintoandjudginghercompanion’scharacter，evenhadsuchprocessesbeentheleastinaccordancewithherowndisposition。Cynthiawasverybeautiful，andwassowellawareofthisfactthatshehadforgottentocareaboutit；noonewithsuchlovelinesseverappearedsolittleconsciousofit。Mollywouldwatchherperpetuallyasshemovedabouttheroom，withthefreestatelystepofsomewildanimaloftheforest—movingalmost，asitwere，tothecontinualsoundofmusic。Herdress，too，thoughnowtoourideasitwouldbeconsidereduglyanddisfiguring，wassuitedtohercomplexionandfigure，andthefashionofitsubduedwithindueboundsbyherexquisitetaste。Itwasinexpensiveenough，andthechangesinitwerebutfew。MrsGibsonprofessedherselfshockedtofindthatCynthiahadbutfourgowns，whenshemighthavestockedherselfsowell，andbroughtoversomanyusefulFrenchpatterns，ifshehadbutpatientlyawaitedhermother’sanswertotheletterwhichshehadsentannouncingherreturnbytheopportunitymadamehadfoundforher。MollywashurtforCynthiaatallthesespeeches；shethoughttheyimpliedthatthepleasurewhichhermotherfeltinseeingherafortnightsoonerafterhertwoyears’absencewasinferiortothatwhichshewouldhavereceivedfromabundleofsilver—paperpatterns。ButCynthiatooknoapparentnoticeofthefrequentrecurrenceofthesesmallcomplaints。Indeed，shereceivedmuchofwhathermothersaidwithakindofcompleteindifference，thatmadeMrsGibsonholdherratherinawe；andshewasmuchmorecommunicativetoMollythantoherownchild。Withregardtodress，however，Cynthiasoonshowedthatshewashermother’sowndaughterinthemannerinwhichshecoulduseherdeftandnimblefingers。Shewasacapitalworkwoman；
and，unlikeMolly，whoexcelledinplainsewing，buthadnonotionofdressmakingormillinery，shecouldrepeatthefashionsshehadonlyseeninpassingalongthestreetsofBoulogne，withoneortwoprettyrapidmovementsofherhands，assheturnedandtwistedtheribbonsandgauzehermotherfurnishedherwith。SosherefurbishedMrsGibson’swardrobe；doingitallinasortofcontemptuousmanner，thesourceofwhichMollycouldnotquitemakeout。DayafterdaythecourseofthesesmallfrivolitieswasbrokeninuponbythenewsMrGibson。broughtofMrsHamley’snearerapproachtodeath。
Molly—veryoftensittingbyCynthia，andsurroundedbyribbon，andwire，andnet—heardthebulletinslikethetollofafuneralbellatamarriagefeast。Herfathersympathizedwithher。Itwasthelossofadearfriendtohimtoo；buthewassoaccustomedtodeath，thatitseemedtohimbutasitwas，thenaturalendofallthingshuman。ToMolly，thedeathofsomeoneshehadknownsowellandlovedsomuch，wasasadandgloomyphenomenon。Sheloathedthesmallvanitieswithwhichshewassurrounded，andwouldwanderoutintothefrostygarden，andpacethewalk，whichwasbothshelteredandconcealedbyevergreens。Atlength—andyetitwasnotsolong，notafortnightsinceMollyhadlefttheHall—theendcame。MrsHamleyhadsunkoutoflifeasgraduallyasshehadsunkoutofconsciousnessandherplaceinthisworld。Thequietwavesclosedoverher，andherplaceknewhernomore。’Theyallsenttheirlovetoyou，Molly，’saidherfather。’RogerHamleysaidheknewhowyouwouldfeelit。’MrGibsonhadcomeinverylate，andwashavingasolitarydinnerinthedining—room。Mollywassittingnearhimtokeephimcompany。Cynthiaandhermotherwereupstairs。Thelatterwastryingonahead—dresswhichCynthiahadmadeforher。Mollyremaineddownstairsafterherfatherhadgoneoutafreshonhisfinalroundamonghistownpatients。Thefirewasgrowingverylow，andthelightswerewaning。Cynthiacamesoftlyin，andtakingMolly’slistlesshand，thathungdownbyherside，sateatherfeetontherug，chafingherchillyfingerswithoutspeaking。ThetenderactionthawedthetearsthathadbeengatheringheavilyatMolly’sheart，andtheycamedroppingdownhercheeks。’Youlovedherdearly，didyounot，Molly？’’Yes，’sobbedMolly；andthentherewasasilence。’Hadyouknownherlong？’’No，notayear。ButIhadseenagreatdealofher。Iwasalmostlikeadaughtertoher；shesaidso。YetIneverbidhergood—by，oranything。
Hermindbecameweakandconfused。’’Shehadonlysons，Ithink？’’No；onlyMrOsborneandMrRogerHamley。Shehadadaughteronce—\"Fanny。\"
Sometimes，inherillness，sheusedtocallme\"Fanny。\"’Thetwogirlsweresilentforsometime，bothgazingintothefire。Cynthiaspokefirst，—’IwishIcouldlovepeopleasyoudo，Molly！’’Don’tyou？’saidtheother，insurprise。’No。Agoodnumberofpeopleloveme，Ibelieve，oratleasttheythinktheydo；butIneverseemtocaremuchforanyone。IdobelieveIloveyou，littleMolly，whomIhaveonlyknownfortendays，betterthananyone。’’Notthanyourmother？’saidMolly，ingraveastonishment。’Yes，thanmymother！’repliedCynthia，half—smiling。’It’sveryshocking，Idaresay；butitisso。Now，don’tgoandcondemnme。Idon’tthinkloveforone’smotherquitecomesbynature；andrememberhowmuchIhavebeenseparatedfrommine！Ilovedmyfather，ifyouwill，’shecontinued，withtheforceoftruthinhertone，andthenshestopped；’buthediedwhenIwasquitealittlething，andnoonebelievesthatIrememberhim。I
heardmammasaytoacaller，notafortnightafterhisfuneral，\"Oh，no，Cynthiaistooyoung；shehasquiteforgottenhim\"—andIbitmylips，tokeepfromcryingout，\"Papa！papa！haveI？\"Butit’sofnouse。Well，thenmammahadtogooutasagoverness；shecouldn’thelpit，poorthing！
butshedidn’tmuchcareforpartingwithme。Iwasatrouble，Idaresay。
SoIwassenttoschoolatfouryearsold；firstoneschool，andthenanother；
andintheholidays，mammawenttostayatgrandhouses，andIwasgenerallyleftwiththeschoolmistresses。OnceIwenttotheTowers；andmammalecturedmecontinually，andyetIwasverynaughty，Ibelieve。AndsoIneverwentagain；andIwasverygladofit，foritwasahorridplace。’’Thatitwas，’saidMolly，whorememberedherowndayoftribulationthere。’AndonceIwenttoLondon，tostaywithmyuncleKirkpatrick。Heisalawyer，andgettingonnow；butthenhewaspoorenough，andhadsixorsevenchildren。Itwaswintertime，andwewereallshutupinasmallhouseinDoughtyStreet。’But，afterall，thatwasn’tsobad。’’ButthenyoulivedwithyourmotherwhenshebeganschoolatAshcombe。
MrPrestontoldmethat，whenIstayedthatdayattheManor—house。’’Whatdidhetellyou？’askedCynthia，almostfiercely。’Nothingbutthat。Oh，yes！Hepraisedyourbeauty，andwantedmetotellyouwhathehadsaid。’’Ishouldhavehatedyouifyouhad，’saidCynthia。’OfcourseIneverthoughtofdoingsuchathing，’repliedMolly。’Ididn’tlikehim；andLadyHarrietspokeofhimthenextday，asifhewasn’tapersontobeliked。’Cynthiawasquitesilent。Atlengthshesaid，—’IwishIwasgood！’’SodoI，’saidMolly，simply。ShewasthinkingagainofMrsHamley，—OnlytheactionsofthejustSmellsweetandblossominthedust—and’goodness’justthenseemedtohertobetheonlyenduringthingintheworld。’Nonsense，Molly！Youaregood。Atleast，ifyou’renotgood，whatamI？
There’sarule—of—threesumforyoutodo！Butit’snousetalking；Iamnotgood，andInevershallbenow。PerhapsImightbeaheroinestill，butIshallneverbeagoodwoman，Iknow。’’Doyouthinkiteasiertobeaheroine？’’Yes，asfarasoneknowsofheroinesfromhistory。I’mcapableofagreatjerk，aneffort，andthenarelaxation—butsteadyevery—daygoodnessisbeyondme。Imustbeamoralkangaroo！’MollycouldnotfollowCynthia’sideas；shecouldnotdistractherselffromthethoughtsofthesorrowinggroupattheHall。’HowIshouldliketoseethemall！andyetonecandonothingatsuchatime！PapasaysthefuneralistobeonTuesday，andthat，afterthat，RogerHamleyistogobacktoCambridge。Itwillseemasifnothinghadhappened！IwonderhowthesquireandMrOsborneHamleywillgetontogether。’’He’stheeldestson，ishenot？Whyshouldn’theandhisfathergetonwelltogether？’’Oh！Idon’tknow。Thatistosay，Idoknow，butIthinkIoughtnottotell。’’Don’tbesopedanticallytruthful，Molly。Besides，yourmannershowswhenyouspeaktruthandwhenyouspeakfalsehood，withouttroublingyourselftousewords。Iknewexactlywhatyour\"Idon’tknow\"meant。Ineverconsidermyselfboundtobetruthful，soIbegwemaybeonequalterms。’Cynthiamightwellsayshedidnotconsiderherselfboundtobetruthful；
sheliterallysaidwhatcameuppermost，withoutcaringverymuchwhetheritwasaccurateornot。Buttherewasnoill—nature，and，inageneralway，noattemptatprocuringanyadvantageforherselfinallherdeviations；
andtherewasoftensuchalatentsenseoffuninthemthatMollycouldnothelpbeingamusedwiththeminfact，thoughshecondemnedthemintheory。
Cynthia’splayfulnessofmannerglossedsuchfailingsoverwithakindofcharm；andyet，attimes，shewassosoftandsympatheticthatMollycouldnotresisther，evenwhensheaffirmedthemoststartlingthings。
ThelittleaccountshemadeofherownbeautypleasedMrGibsonextremely；
andherprettydeferencetohimwonhisheart。Shewasrestlesstoo，tillshehadattackedMolly’sdress，aftershehadremodelledhermother’s。’Nowforyou，sweetone，’saidsheasshebeganupononeofMolly’sgowns。
’I’vebeenworkingasconnoisseuruntilnow。NowIbeginasamateur。’Shebroughtdownherprettyartificialflowers，pluckedoutofherownbestbonnettoputintoMolly’s，sayingtheywouldsuithercomplexion，andthataknotofribbonswoulddowellenoughforher。Allthetimesheworked，shesang；shehadasweetvoiceinsinging，aswellasinspeaking，andusedtorunupanddownhergayFrenchchansonswithoutanydifficulty；
soflexibleintheartwasshe。Yetshedidnotseemtocareformusic。
Sherarelytouchedthepiano，onwhichMollypractisedwithdailyconscientiousness。