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　　thisbasinofwater—liliesgivesonetheidea，ifnotthesensation，ofcoolness；besides—itseemssolongsinceIsawyou，andIhaveamessagefrommyfathertogiveyou。Heisveryangrywithyou。’’Angrywithme？’saidMolly，insurprise。’Yes！Heheardthatyouhadcomehereforchangeofair；andhewasoffendedthatyouhadnotcometous—totheHall，instead。Hesaidthatyoushouldhaverememberedoldfriends！’Mollytookallthisquitegravely，anddidnotatfirstnoticethesmileonhisface。’Oh！Iamsosorry！’saidshe。’Butwillyoupleasetellhimhowitallhappened。LadyHarrietcalledtheverydaywhenitwassettledthatIwasnottogoto—’Cynthia’sweddingshewasgoingtoadd，butshesuddenlystoppedshort，and，blushingdeeply，changedtheexpression，—’gotoLondon，andsheplanneditallinaminute，andconvincedmammaandpapa，andhadherownway。Therewasreallynoresistingher。’’Ithinkyouwillhavetotellallthistomyfatheryourself，ifyoumeantomakeyourpeace。WhycanyounotcomeontotheHallwhenyouleavetheTowers？’Togointhecoolmannersuggestedfromonehousetoanother，afterthemannerofaroyalprogress，wasnotatallaccordingtoMolly’sprimitivehome—keepingnotions。Shemadeanswer，—’Ishouldlikeitverymuch，sometime。ButImustgohomefirst。Theywillwantmemorethanevernow——’Againshefeltherselftouchingonasoresubject，andstoppedshort。RogerbecameannoyedathersoconstantlyconjecturingwhathemustbefeelingonthesubjectofCynthia’smarriage。Withsympatheticperceptionshehaddiscernedthattheideamustgivehimpain；andperhapsshealsoknewthathewoulddisliketoshowthepain：butshehadnotthepresenceofmindorreadywittogiveaskilfulturntotheconversation。AllthisannoyedRoger，hecouldhardlytellwhy。Hedeterminedtotakethemetaphoricalbullbythehorns。Untilthatwasdone，hisfootingwithMollywouldalwaysbeinsecure；asitalwaysisbetweentwofriends，whomutuallyavoidasubjecttowhichtheirthoughtsperpetuallyrecur。’Ah，yes！’saidhe。’OfcourseyoumustbeofdoubleimportancenowMissKirkpatrickhasleftyou。IsawhermarriageinTheTimesyesterday。’Histoneofvoicewaschangedinspeakingofher，buthernamehadbeennamedbetweenthem，andthatwasthegreatthingtoaccomplish。’Still，’hecontinued，’IthinkImusturgemyfather’sclaimforashortvisit，andallthemore，becauseIcanreallyseetheapparentimprovementinyourhealthsinceIcame，—onlyyesterday。Besides，Molly，’itwastheoldfamiliarRogerofformerdayswhospokenow，’Ithinkyoucouldhelpusathome。Aim&eacute；eisshyandawkwardwithmyfather，andhehasnevertakenquitekindlytoher，—yetIknowtheywouldlikeandvalueeachother，ifsomeonecouldbutbringthemtogether，—anditwouldbesuchacomforttomeifthiscouldtakeplacebeforeIhavetoleave。’’Toleave—areyougoingawayagain？’’Yes。Haveyounotheard？Ididnotcompletemyengagement。IamgoingagaininSeptemberforsixmonths。’’Iremember。ButsomehowIfancied—youseemedtohavesettleddownintotheoldwaysattheHall。’’Somyfatherappearstothink。ButitisnotlikelyIshallevermakeitmyhomeagain；andthatispartlythereasonwhyIwantmyfathertoadoptthenotionofAim&eacute；e’slivingwithhim。Ah，hereareallthepeoplecomingbackfromtheirwalk。However，Ishallseeyouagain：perhapsthisafternoonwemaygetalittlequiettime，forIhaveagreatdealtoconsultyouabout。’Theyseparatedthen，andMollywentupstairsveryhappy，veryfullandwarmatherheart；itwassopleasanttohaveRogertalkingtoherinthisway，likeafriend；shehadoncethoughtthatshecouldneverlookuponthegreatbrown—beardedcelebrityintheformerlightofalmostbrotherlyintimacy，butnowitwasallcomingright。Therewasnoopportunityforrenewedconfidencesthatafternoon。Mollywentaquietdecorousdriveasfourthwithtwodowagersandonespinster；butitwasverypleasanttothinkthatsheshouldseehimagainatdinner，andagainto—morrow。OntheSundayevening，astheyallweresittingandloiteringonthelawnbeforedinner，Rogerwentonwithwhathehadtosayaboutthepositionofhissister—in—lawinhisfather’shouse：themutualbondbetweenthemotherandgrandfatherbeingthechild；whowasalso，throughjealousy，theboneofcontentionandtheseverance。ThereweremanylittledetailstobegiveninordertomakeMollyquiteunderstandthedifficultyofthesituationsonbothsides；andtheyoungmanandthegirlbecameabsorbedinwhattheyweretalkingabout，andwanderedawayintotheshadeofthelongavenue。LadyHarrietseparatedherselffromagroupandcameuptoLordHollingford，whowassaunteringalittleapart，andputtingherarmwithinhiswiththefamiliarityofafavouritesister，shesaid，—’Don’tyouthinkthatyourpatternyoungman，andmyfavouriteyoungwomanarefindingouteachother’sgoodqualities？’Hehadnotbeenobservingasshehadbeen。’Whodoyoumean？’saidhe。’Lookalongtheavenue；whoarethose？’’MrHamleyand—isitnotMissGibson？Ican’tquitemakeout。Oh！ifyou’relettingyourfancyrunoffinthatdirection，Icantellyouit’squitewasteoftime。RogerHamleyisamanwhowillsoonhaveanEuropeanreputation！’’That’sverypossible，andyetitdoesnotmakeanydifferenceinmyopinion。

　　MollyGibsoniscapableofappreciatinghim。’’Sheisaverypretty，goodlittlecountry—girl。Idon’tmeantosayanythingagainsther，but——’’RemembertheCharityBall；youcalledher\"unusuallyintelligent\"afteryouhaddancedwithherthere。ButafterallwearelikethegenieandthefairyintheArabianNights’Entertainment，whoeachcriedupthemeritsofthePrinceCaramalzamanandthePrincessBadoura。’’Hamleyisnotamarryingman。’’Howdoyouknow？’’Iknowthathehasverylittleprivatefortune，andIknowthatscienceisnotaremunerativeprofession，ifprofessionitcanbecalled。’’Oh，ifthat’sall—ahundredthingsmayhappen—someonemayleavehimafortune—orthistiresomelittleheirthatnobodywanted，maydie。’’Hush，Harriet，that’stheworstofallowingyourselftoplanfaraheadforthefuture；youaresuretocontemplatethedeathofsomeone，andtoreckonuponthecontingencyasaffectingevents。’’Asiflawyerswerenotalwaysdoingsomethingofthekind！’’Leaveittothosetowhomitisnecessary。Idislikeplanningmarriagesorlookingforwardtodeathsaboutequally。’’Youaregettingveryprosaicandtiresome，Hollingford！’’Onlygetting！’saidhesmiling。’Ithoughtyouhadalwayslookeduponmeasatiresomematter—of—factfellow。’’Now，ifyou’regoingtofishforacompliment，Iamgone。Onlyremembermyprophecywhenmyvisioncomestopass；ormakeabet，andwhoeverwinsshallspendthemoneyonapresenttoPrinceCaramalzamanorPrincessBadoura，asthecasemaybe。’LordHollingfordrememberedhissister’swordsasheheardRogersaytoMollyashewasleavingtheTowersonthefollowingday，—’ThenImaytellmyfatherthatyouwillcomeandpayhimavisitnextweek？Youdon’tknowwhatpleasureitwillgivehim。’Hehadbeenonthepointofsaying’willgiveus，’buthehadaninstinctwhichtoldhimitwasaswelltoconsiderMolly’spromisedvisitasexclusivelymadetohisfather。ThenextdayMollywenthome；shewasastonishedatherselfforbeingsosorrytoleavetheTowers；andfounditdifficult，ifnotimpossible，toreconcilethelong—fixedideaofthehouseasaplacewhereintosufferallachild’storturesofdismayandforlornnesswithhernewandfreshconception。Shehadgainedhealth，shehadhadpleasure，thefaintfragranceofanewandunacknowledgedhopehadstolenintoherlife。NowonderthatMrGibsonwasstruckwiththeimprovementinherlooks，andMrsGibsonimpressedwithherincreasedgrace。’Ah，Molly，’saidshe，’it’sreallywonderfultoseewhatalittlegoodsocietywilldoforagirl。EvenaweekofassociationwithsuchpeopleasonemeetswithattheTowersis，assomebodysaidofaladyofrankwhosenameIhaveforgotten，\"apoliteeducationinitself。\"Thereissomethingquitedifferentaboutyou—ajenes&ccedil；aisquoi—thatwouldtellmeatoncethatyouhavebeenminglingwiththearistocracy。Withallhercharms，itwaswhatmydarlingCynthiawanted；notthatMrHendersonthoughtso，foramoredevotedlovercanhardlybeconceived。Heabsolutelyboughtheraparureofdiamonds，IwasobligedtosaytohimthatIhadstudiedtopreservehersimplicityoftaste，andthathemustnotcorruptherwithtoomuchluxury。ButIwasratherdisappointedattheirgoingoffwithoutamaid。Itwastheoneblemishinthearrangements，thespotinthesun。DearCynthia，whenIthinkofher，Idoassureyou，Molly，ImakeitmynightlyprayerthatImaybeabletofindyoujustsuchanotherhusband。AndallthistimeyouhavenevertoldmewhoyoumetattheTowers？’Mollyranoveralistofnames。RogerHamley’scamelast。’Uponmyword！Thatyoungmanispushinghiswayup！’’TheHamleysareafarolderfamilythantheCumnors，’saidMolly，flushingup。’Now，Molly，Ican’thaveyoudemocratic。Rankisagreatdistinction。

　　Itisquiteenoughtohavedearpapawithdemocratictendencies。Butwewon’tbegintoquarrel。NowthatyouandIareleftaloneweoughttobebosomfriends，andIhopeweshallbe。RogerHamleydidnotsaymuchaboutthatunfortunatelittleOsborneHamley，Isuppose。’’Onthecontrary。Hesayshisfatherdotesonthechild；andheseemedveryproudofhim，himself。’’Ithoughtthesquiremustbegettingverymuchinfatuatedwithsomething。

　　IdaresaytheFrenchmothertakescareofthat。Why！hehasscarcelytakenanynoticeofyouforthismonthormore，andbeforethatyouwereeverything。’ItwasaboutsixweekssinceCynthia’sengagementhadbecomepubliclyknown，andthatmighthavehadsomethingtodowiththesquire’sdesertion，Mollythought。Butshesaid，—’Thesquirehassentmeaninvitationtogoandstaytherenextweekifyouhavenoobjection，mamma。TheyseemtowantacompanionforMrsOsborneHamley，whoisnotverystrong。’’Icanhardlytellwhattosay，—Idon’tlikeyourhavingtoassociatewithaFrenchwomanofdoubtfulrank；andIcan’tbearthethoughtoflosingmychild—myonlydaughternow。IdidaskHelenKirkpatrick，butshecan’tcomeforsometime；andthehouseisgoingtobealtered。Papahasconsentedtobuildmeanotherroomatlast，forCynthiaandMrHendersonwill，ofcourse，comeandseeus；weshallhavemanymorevisitors，Iexpect，andyourbedroomwillmakeacapitallumber—room；andMariawantsaweek’sholiday。Iamalwayssounwillingtoputanyobstaclesinthewayofanyone’spleasure，—weaklyunwilling，Ibelieve，—butitcertainlywouldbeveryconvenienttohaveyououtofthehouseforafewdays；so，foronce，Iwillwaivemyownwishforyourcompanionship，andpleadyourcausewithpapa。’TheMissBrowningscametocallandhearthedoublebatchofnews。MrsGoodenoughhadcometheverydayonwhichtheyhadreturnedfromMissHornblower’s，totellthemtheastoundingfactofMollyGibsonhavinggoneonavisittotheTowers；nottocomebackatnight，buttosleepthere，tobetherefortwoorthreedays，justasifshewasayoungladyofquality。SotheMissBrowningscametohearallthedetailsoftheweddingfromMrsGibson，andthehistoryofMolly’svisitattheTowersaswell。ButMrsGibsondidnotlikethisdividedinterest，andsomeofheroldjealousyofMolly’sintimacyattheTowershadreturned。’Now，Molly，’saidMissBrowning，’letushearhowyoubehavedamongthegreatfolks。Youmustnotbesetupwithalltheirattention；rememberthattheypayittoyouforyourgoodfather’ssake。’’Mollyis，Ithink，quiteaware，’putinMrsGibson，inhermostsoftandlanguidtone，’thatsheowesherprivilegeofvisitingatsuchahousetoLadyCumnor’skinddesiretosetmymindquiteatlibertyatthetimeofCynthia’smarriage。AssoonaseverIhadreturnedhome，Mollycameback；indeedIshouldnothavethoughtitrighttoletherintrudeupontheirkindnessbeyondwhatwasabsolutelynecessary。’Mollyfeltextremelyuncomfortableatallthis，althoughperfectlyawareoftheentireinaccuracyofthestatement。’Well，but，Molly！’saidMissBrowning，’nevermindwhetheryouwentthereonyourownmerits，oryourworthyfather’smerits，orMrsGibson’smerits；

　　buttelluswhatyoudidwhenyouwerethere。’SoMollybegananaccountoftheirsayingsanddoings，whichshecouldhavemadefarmoreinterestingtoMissBrowningandMissPhoebeifshehadnotbeenconsciousofherstepmother’scriticallistening。Shehadtotellitallwithamentalsquint；thesurestwaytospoilanarration。

　　ShewasalsosubjecttoMrsGibson’sperpetualcorrectionsoflittlestatementswhichsheknewtobefacts。ButwhatvexedhermostofallwasMrsGibson’slastspeechbeforetheMissBrowningsleft。’Mollyhadfallenintoramblingwayswiththisvisitofhers，ofwhichshemakessomuch，asifnobodyhadeverbeeninagreathousebutherself。

　　SheisgoingtoHamleyHallnextweek，—gettingquitedissipatedinfact。’YettoMrsGoodenough，thenextcalleronthesameerrandofcongratulation，MrsGibson’stonewasquitedifferent。Therehadalwaysbeenatacitantagonismbetweenthetwo，andtheconversationnowranasfollows：—MrsGoodenoughbegan，—’Well！MrsGibson，IsupposeImustwishyoujoyofMissCynthia’smarriage；

　　Ishouldcondolewithsomemothersashadlosttheirdaughters；

　　butyou’renotoneofthatsort，Ireckon。’Now，asMrsGibsonwasnotquitesuretowhich’sort’ofmothersthegreatestcreditwastobeattached，shefounditalittledifficulthowtoframeherreply。’DearCynthia！’shesaid。’Onecan’tbutrejoiceinherhappiness！Andyet——’sheendedhersentencebysighing。’Ay。Shewasayoungwomanaswouldalwayshaveherfollowers；for，totellthetruth，shewasasprettyacreatureaseverIsawinmylife。

　　Andallthemoresheneededskilfulguidance。IamsureI，forone，amasgladascanbeshe’sdonesowellbyherself。FolkssayMrHendersonhasahandsomeprivatefortuneoverandabovewhathemakesbythelaw。’

　　’ThereisnofearbutthatmyCynthiawillhaveeverythingthisworldcangive！’saidMrsGibsonwithdignity。’Well，well！shewasalwaysabitofafavouriteofmine；andasIwassayingtomygrand—daughterthere’（forshewasaccompaniedbyayounglady，wholookedkeenlytotheprospectofsomewedding—cake），’Iwasneveroneofthosewhoranherdownandcalledheraflirtandajilt。I’mgladtohearshe’sliketobesowelloff。Andnow，Isuppose，you’llbeturningyourmindtodoingsomethingforMissMollythere？’’Ifyoumeanbythat，doinganythingthatcan，byhasteninghermarriage，deprivemeofthecompanyofonewhoislikemyownchild，youareverymuchmistaken，MrsGoodenough。Andprayremember，Iamthelastpersonintheworldtomatch—make。CynthiamadeMrHenderson’sacquaintanceatheruncle’sinLondon。’’Ay！Ithoughthercousinwasveryoftenill，andneedinghernursing，andyouwereverykeensheshouldbeofuse。Iamnotsayingbutwhatitisrightinamother；I’monlyputtinginawordforMissMolly。’’Thankyou，MrsGoodenough，’saidMolly，half—angry，half—laughing。’WhenIwanttobemarried，I’llnottroublemamma。I’lllookoutformyself。’’Mollyisbecomingsopopular，Ihardlyknowhowweshallkeepherathome，’

　　saidMrsGibson。’Imisshersadly；but，asIsaidtoMrGibson，letyoungpeoplehavechange，andseealittleoftheworldwhiletheyareyoung。

　　IthasbeenagreatadvantagetoherbeingattheTowerswhilesomanycleveranddistinguishedpeoplewerethere。Icanalreadyseeadifferenceinhertoneofconversation：anelevationinherchoiceofsubjects。AndnowsheisgoingtoHamleyHall。IcanassureyouIfeelquiteaproudmother，whenIseehowsheissoughtafter。Andmyotherdaughter—myCynthia—writingsuchlettersfromParis！’’Thingsisadealchangedsincemydays，forsure，’saidMrsGoodenough。

　　’So，perhaps，I’mnojudge。WhenIwasmarriedfirst，himandmewentinapostchaisetohisfather’shouse，amatteroftwentymileoffattheoutside；andsatedowntoasgoodasupperamongsthisfriendsandfamilyasyou’dwishtosee。Andthatwasmyfirstweddingjaunt。MysecondwaswhenIbetterknowedmyworthasabride，andthoughtthatnoworneverImustseeLondon。ButIwerereckonedaveryextravagantsortofabodytogosofar，andspendmymoney，thoughHarryhadleftmeuncommonwelloff。ButnowyoungfolksgoofftoParis，andthinknothingofthecost：

　　andit’swellifwilfulwastedon’tmakewoefulwantbeforetheydie。ButI’mthankfulsomewhatisbeingdoneforMissMolly’schances，asIsaidafore。It’snotquitewhatIshouldhavelikedtohavedoneformyBessythough。Buttimesarechanged，asIsaidjustnow。’

　　chapter59CHAPTERLIXMOLLYGIBSONATHAMLEYHALLTheconversationendedthereforthetime。Wedding—cakeandwinewerebroughtin，anditwasMolly’sdutytoservethemout。ButthoselastwordsofMrsGoodenough’stingledinherears，andshetriedtointerpretthemtoherownsatisfactioninanywaybuttheobviousone。Andthat，too，wasdestinedtobeconfirmed；fordirectlyafterMrsGoodenoughtookherleave，MrsGibsondesiredMollytocarryawaythetraytoatableclosetoanopencornerwindow，wherethethingsmightbeplacedinreadinessforanyfuturecallers；andunderneaththisopenwindowwentthepathfromthehouse—doortotheroad。MollyheardMrsGoodenoughsayingtohergrand—daughter，—’ThatMrsGibsonisadeepun。There’sMrRogerHamleyaslikeasnottohavetheHallestate，andshesendsMollya—visiting—’andthenshepassedoutofhearing。Mollycouldhaveburstoutcrying，withafullsuddenconvictionofwhatMrsGoodenoughhadbeenalludingto：hersenseoftheimproprietyofMolly’sgoingtovisitattheHallwhenRogerwasathome。TobesureMrsGoodenoughwasacommonplace，unrefinedwoman。MrsGibsondidnotseemtohaveevennoticedtheallusion。MrGibsontookitallasamatterofcoursethatMollyshouldgototheHallassimplynow，asshehaddonebefore。Rogerhadspokenofitinsostraightforwardamannerasshowedhehadnoconceptionofitsbeinganimpropriety，—thisvisit，—thisvisituntilnowsohappyasubjectofanticipation。MollyfeltasifshecouldneverspeaktoanyoneoftheideatowhichMrsGoodenough’swordshadgivenrise；asifshecouldneverbethefirsttosuggestthenotionofimpropriety，whichpresupposedwhatsheblushedtothinkof。Thenshetriedtocomfortherselfbyreasoning。Ifithadbeenwrong，forward，orindelicate，reallyimproperintheslightestdegree，whowouldhavebeensoreadyasherfathertoputhisvetouponit？ButreasoningwasofnouseafterMrsGoodenough’swordshadputfanciesintoMolly’shead。Themoreshebadethesefanciesbegonethemoretheyansweredher（asDanielO’Rourkedidthemaninthemoon，whenhebadeDangetoffhisseatonthesickle，andgointoemptyspace），’Themoreyeaskusthemorewewon’tstir。’Onemaysmileatayounggirl’smiseriesofthisdescription；buttheyareveryrealandstingingmiseriestoher。AllthatMollycoulddowastoresolveonasingleeyetothedearoldsquire，andhismentalandbodilycomforts；totryandhealupanybreacheswhichmighthaveoccurredbetweenhimandAim&eacute；e；andtoignoreRogerasmuchaspossible。

　　GoodRoger！KindRoger！DearRoger！Itwouldbeveryhardtoavoidhimasmuchaswasconsistentwithcommonpoliteness；butitwouldberighttodoit；andwhenshewaswithhimshemustbeasnaturalaspossible，orhemightobservesomedifference；butwhatwasnatural？Howmuchoughtsheavoidbeingwithhim？Wouldheevernoticeifshewasmorecharyofhercompany，morecalculatingofherwords？Alas！thesimplicityoftheirintercoursewasspoilthenceforwards！Shemadelawsforherself；sheresolvedtodevoteherselftothesquireandtoAim&eacute；e，andtoforgetMrsGoodenough’sfoolishspeeches；butherperfectfreedomwasgone；andwithithalfherchance，thatistosay，halfherchancewouldhavebeenlostoveranystrangerswhohadnotknownherbefore：theywouldprobablyhavethoughtherstiffandawkward，andapttosaythingsandthenretractthem。

　　ButshewassodifferentfromherusualselfthatRogernoticedthechangeinherassoonasshearrivedattheHall。Shehadcarefullymeasuredoutthedaysofhervisit；theyweretobeexactlythesamenumberasshehadspentattheTowers。ShefearedlestifshestayedattheHallashortertimethesquiremightbeannoyed。Yethowcharmingtheplacelookedinitsearlyautumnalglowasshedroveup！AndtherewasRogeratthehall—doorwaitingtoreceiveher，watchingforhercoming。Andnowheretreated，apparentlytosummonhissister—in—law，whocamenowtimidlyforwardsinherdeepwidow’smourning，holdingherboyinherarmsasiftoprotecthershyness；buthestruggleddown，andrantowardsthecarriage，eagertogreethisfriendthecoachman，andtoobtainapromisedride。Rogerdidnotsaymuchhimself：hewantedtomakeAim&eacute；efeelherplaceasdaughterofthehouse；butshewastootimidtospeakmuch，AndsheonlytookMollybythehandandledherintothedrawing—room，where，asifbyasuddenimpulseofgratitudeforallthetendernursingshehadreceivedduringherillness，sheputherarmsroundMollyandkissedherlongandwell。Andafterthattheycametobefriends。Itwasnearlylunch—time，andthesquirealwaysmadehisappearanceatthatmeal，moreforthepleasureofseeinghisgrandsoneathisdinner，thanforanyhungerofhisown。To—dayMollyquicklysawthewholestateofthefamilyaffairs。ShethoughtthatevenhadRogersaidnothingaboutthemattheTowers，sheshouldhavefoundoutthatneitherthefathernorthedaughter—in—lawhadasyetfoundthecluetoeachother’scharacters，althoughtheyhadnowbeenlivingforseveralmonthsinthesamehouse。

　　Aim&eacute；eseemedtoforgetherEnglishinhernervousness；andtowatchwiththejealouseyesofadissatisfiedmotheralltheproceedingsofthesquiretowardsherlittleboy。Theywerenotofthewisestkinditmustbeowned；thechildsippedthestrongalewithevidentrelish，andclamouredforeverythingwhichhesawtheothersenjoying。Aim&eacute；ecouldhardlyattendtoMollyforheranxietyastowhatherboywasdoingandeating；

　　yetshesaidnothing。Rogertooktheendofthetableoppositetothatatwhichsategrandfatherandgrandchild。Aftertheboy’sfirstwantsweregratifiedthesquireaddressedhimselftoMolly。’Well！andsoyoucancomeherea—visitingthoughyouhavebeenamongthegrandfolks。Ithoughtyouweregoingtocutus，MissMolly，whenIheardyouwasgonetotheTowers—couldnotfindanyotherplacetostayatwhilefatherandmotherwereaway，butanearl’s，eh？’’Theyaskedme，andIwent，’saidMolly；’nowyou’veaskedme，andI’vecomehere。’’Ithinkyoumightha’knownyou’dbealwayswelcomehere，withoutwaitingforasking。Why，Molly！IlookuponyouasakindofadaughtermorethanMadamthere！’droppinghisvoicealittle，andperhapssupposingthatthechild’sbabblewoulddrownthesignificationofhiswords。—’Nay，youneednotlookatmesopitifully—shedoesnotfollowEnglishreadily。’’Ithinkshedoes！’saidMolly，inalowvoice，notlookingup，however，forfearofcatchinganotherglimpseatAim&eacute；e’ssuddenforlornnessofexpressionanddeepenedcolour。Shefeltgrateful，asifforapersonalfavour，whensheheardRogerspeakingtoAim&eacute；ethemomentafterwardsinthetendertonesofbrotherlyfriendliness；andpresentlythesetwoweresufficientlyengagedinat&ecirc；te—&agrave；—t&ecirc；teconversationtoallowMollyandthesquiretogoontalking。’He’ssturdychap，isnothe？’saidthesquire，strokingthelittleRoger’scurlyhead。’Andhecanpufffourpuffsatgrandpapa’spipewithoutbeingsick，can’the？’’Is’antpuffanymorepuffs，’saidtheboy，resolutely。’Mammasaysno。

　　Is’ant。’’That’sjustlikeher！’saidthesquire，droppinghisvoicethistimehowever。

　　’Asifitcoulddothechildanyharm！’Mollymadeapointofturningtheconversationfromallpersonalsubjectsafterthis，andkeptthesquiretalkingabouttheprogressofhisdrainageduringtherestoflunch。Heofferedtotakehertoseeit；andsheaccededtotheproposal，thinking，meantime，howlittlesheneedhaveanticipatedthebeingthrowntoointimatelywithRoger，whoseemedtodevotehimselftohissister—in—law。But，intheevening，whenAim&eacute；ehadgoneupstairstoputherboytobed，andthesquirewasasleepinhiseasychair，asuddenflushofmemorybroughtMrsGoodenough’swordsagaintohermind。Shewasvirtuallyt&ecirc；te—&agrave；—t&ecirc；tewithRoger，asshehadbeendozensoftimesbefore，butnowshecouldnothelpassuminganairofconstraint：

　　hereyesdidnotmeethisintheoldfrankway；shetookupabookatapauseintheconversation，andlefthimpuzzledandannoyedatthechangeinhermanner。Andsoitwentonduringallthetimeofhervisit。Ifsometimessheforgotandletherselfgointoallheroldnaturalness，by—and—byshecheckedherself，andbecamecomparativelycoldandreserved。Rogerwaspainedatallthis—morepaineddayafterday；moreanxioustodiscoverthecause。Aim&eacute；e，too，silentlynoticedhowdifferentMollybecameinRoger’spresence。OnedayshecouldnothelpsayingtoMolly，—’Don’tyoulikeRoger？Youwouldifyouonlyknewhowgoodhewas！Heislearned，butthatisnothing：itishisgoodnessthatoneadmiresandloves。’’Heisverygood，’saidMolly。’Ihaveknownhimlongenoughtoknowthat。’’Butyoudon’tthinkhimagreeable？Heisnotlikemypoorhusband，tobesure；andyouknewhimwell，too。Ah！tellmeabouthimonceagain。