MOLLY FINDS HERSELF PATRONIZED.
The wedding off much as such do. Lord Cumnor and Lady Harriet over from the Towers, so the hour for the was as late as possible. Lord Cumnor came in order to as the bride's father, and was in more open than either or bridegroom, or any one else. Lady Harriet came as a of bridesmaid, to "share Molly's duties," as she called it. They from the Manor-house in two to the church in the park, Mr. Preston and Mr. Gibson in one, and Molly, to her dismay, up with Lord Cumnor and Lady Harriet in the other. Lady Harriet's of white had one or two garden-parties, and was not in the order; it had been a of the lady's at the last moment. She was very merry, and very much to talk to Molly, by way of out what of a little Clare was to have for her daughter. She began:—
"We mustn't this dress of yours. Put it over papa's knee; he doesn't mind it in the least."
"What, my dear, a white dress!—no, to be sure not. I like it. Besides, going to a wedding, who minds anything? It would be different if we were going to a funeral."
Molly to out the meaning of this speech; but she had done so, Lady Harriet spoke again, going to the point, as she always herself on doing:
"I it's something of a trial to you, this second marriage of your father's; but you'll Clare the most of women. She always let me have my own way, and I've no she'll let you have yours."
"I to try and like her," said Molly, in a low voice, hard to keep the that would keep to her this morning. "I've very little of her yet."
"Why, it's the very best thing for you that have happened, my dear," said Lord Cumnor. "You're up into a lady—and a very lady, too, if you'll allow an old man to say so—and who so proper as your father's wife to you out, and you off, and take you to balls, and that of thing? I always said this match that is going to come off to-day was the most thing I knew; and it's a thing for you than for the people themselves."
"Poor child!" said Lady Harriet, who had a of Molly's face, "the of is too much for her just now; but you'll like having Cynthia Kirkpatrick for a companion, shan't you, dear?"
"Very much," said Molly, up a little. "Do you know her?"
"Oh, I've her over and over again when she was a little girl, and once or twice since. She's the that you saw; and with that mischief, if I'm not mistaken. But Clare her under well when she was with us,—afraid of her being troublesome, I fancy."
Before Molly shape her next question, they were at the church; and she and Lady Harriet into a near the door to wait for the bride, in train they were to to the altar. The on alone to her from her own house, not a of a mile distant. It was to her to be to the by a earl, and to have his as a bridesmaid. Mrs. Kirkpatrick in this of small gratifications, and on the of with a man she liked, and who would be to support her without any of her own, looked happy and handsome. A little cloud came over her at the of Mr. Preston,—the sweet of her was as he in Mr. Gibson's wake. But his changed; he to her gravely, and then in the service. Ten minutes, and all was over. The and were together to the Manor-house, Mr. Preston was walking by a cut, and Molly was again in the with my lord, his hands and chuckling, and Lady Harriet, trying to be and consolatory, when her would have been the best comfort.
Molly out, to her dismay, that the plan was for her to return with Lord Cumnor and Lady Harriet when they to the Towers in the evening. In the meantime Lord Cumnor had to do with Mr. Preston, and after the happy had off on their week's tour, she was to be left alone with the Lady Harriet. When they were by themselves after all the others had been thus of, Lady Harriet still over the drawing-room fire, a screen it and her face, but at Molly for a minute or two. Molly was of this look, and was trying to up her to return the stare, when Lady Harriet said,—
"I like you;—you are a little wild creature, and I want to you. Come here, and on this by me. What is your name? or what do they call you?—as North-country people would it."
"Molly Gibson. My name is Mary."
"Molly is a nice, soft-sounding name. People in the last century weren't of names; now we are all so and fine: no more 'Lady Bettys' now. I almost wonder they haven't re-christened all the and knitting-cotton that her name. Fancy Lady Constantia's cotton, or Lady Anna-Maria's worsted."
"I didn't know there was a Lady Betty's cotton," said Molly.
"That proves you don't do fancy-work! You'll Clare will set you to it, though. She used to set me at piece after piece: to ladies; flowers. But I must do her the to add that when I got of them she them herself. I wonder how you'll on together?"
"So do I!" out Molly, under her breath.
"I used to think I managed her, till one day an that all the time she had been me. Still it's easy work to let be managed; at any till one up to the of the process, and then it may amusing, if one takes it in that light."
"I should to be managed," said Molly, indignantly. "I'll try and do what she for papa's sake, if she'll only tell me outright; but I should to be into anything."
"Now I," said Lady Harriet, "am too lazy to avoid traps; and I like to the with which they're set. But then, of course, I know that if I choose to myself, I can through the of green with which they try to me. Now, perhaps, you won't be able."
"I don't what you mean," said Molly.
"Oh, well—never mind; I it's as well for you that you shouldn't. The of all I have been saying is, 'Be a good girl, and to be led, and you'll your new the imaginable.' You'll on with her, I make no doubt. How you'll on with her is another affair; but I very well. Now we'll ring for tea; for I that is to for our lunch."
Mr. Preston came into the room just at this time, and Molly was a little at Lady Harriet's manner of him, as she did how Mr. Preston had his with her the at dinner-time.
"I cannot that of person," said Lady Harriet, almost he was out of hearing; "giving himself of one to his respect is all his duty. I can talk to one of my father's with pleasure, while with a man like that I am all over and nettles. What is it the Irish call that of creature? They've some word for it, I know. What is it?"
"I don't know—I it," said Molly, a little of her ignorance.
"Oh! that you've read Miss Edgeworth's tales;—now, have you? If you had, you'd have that there was such a word, if you didn't what it was. If you've read those stories, they would be just the thing to your solitude—vastly and moral, and yet interesting. I'll them to you while you're all alone."
"I'm not alone. I'm not at home, but on a visit to Miss Brownings."
"Then I'll them to you. I know the Miss Brownings; they used to come on the school-day to the Towers. Pecksy and Flapsy I used to call them. I like the Miss Brownings; one of respect from them at any rate; and I've always wanted to see the of ménage of such people. I'll you a whole of Miss Edgeworth's stories, my dear."
Molly for a minute or two; then she up to speak out what was in her mind.
"Your ladyship" (the title was the of the lesson, as Molly took it, on paying respect)—"your speaking of the of—the class of people to which I as if it was a of animal you were talking about; yet you talk so openly to me that—"
"Well, go on—I like to you."
Still silence.
"You think me in your a little impertinent—now, don't you?" said Lady Harriet, almost kindly.
Molly her peace for two or three moments; then she her beautiful, to Lady Harriet's face, and said,—
"Yes!—a little. But I think you a great many other things."
"We'll the 'other things' for the present. Don't you see, little one, I talk after my kind, just as you talk after your kind. It's only on the surface with of us. Why, I some of your good Hollingford ladies talk of the people in a manner which they would as in their turn, if they it. But I ought to be more when I how often my blood has at the modes of speech and of one of my aunts, mamma's sister, Lady— No! I won't name names. Any one who earns his by any of or hands, from professional people and rich merchants to labourers, she calls 'persons.' She would in her most slip-slop talk them the title of 'gentlemen;' and the way in which she takes of beings, 'my woman,' 'my people,'—but, after all, it is only a way of speaking. I ought not to have used it to you; but somehow I you from all these Hollingford people."
"But why?" Molly. "I'm one of them."
"Yes, you are. But—now don't me again for impertinence—most of them are so in their respect and when they come up to the Towers, and put on so much by way of manners, that they only make themselves objects of ridicule. You at least are and truthful, and that's why I you in my own mind from them, and have talked to you as I would—well! now here's another piece of impertinence—as I would to my equal—in rank, I mean; for I don't set myself up in solid as any than my neighbours. Here's tea, however, come in time to stop me from too humble."
It was a very little tea in the September twilight.
Just as it was ended, in came Mr. Preston again:—
"Lady Harriet, will you allow me the of you some I have in the flower-garden—in which I have to your taste—before it dark?"
Unwelcome Attentions.
Unwelcome Attentions.
Click to ENLARGE
"Thank you, Mr. Preston. I will over with papa some day, and we will see if we approve of them."
Mr. Preston's flushed. But he not to Lady Harriet's haughtiness, and, to Molly, he said,—
"Will not you come out, Miss Gibson, and see something of the gardens? You haven't been out at all, I think, to church."
Molly did not like the idea of going out for a walk with only Mr. Preston; yet she for a little fresh air, would have been to see the gardens, and look at the Manor-house from different aspects; and, this, much as she from Mr. Preston, she sorry for him under the he had just received.
While she was hesitating, and slowly consent, Lady Harriet spoke,—
"I cannot Miss Gibson. If she would like to see the place, I will her over some day myself."
When he had left the room, Lady Harriet said,—"I it's my own lazy selfishness has you all day against your will. But, at any rate, you are not to go out walking with that man. I've an to him; not either; it has some in fact; and I you don't allow him to with you. He's a very land-agent, and his by papa, and I don't choose to be taken up for libel; but what I say!"
Then the came round, and after last from the earl—who appeared to have put off every possible direction to the moment when he stood, like an Mercury, himself on the step of the carriage—they to the Towers.
"Would you come in and with us—we should send you home, of course—or go home straight?" asked Lady Harriet of Molly. She and her father had been sleeping till they up at the of the of steps.
"Tell the truth, now and evermore. Truth is amusing, if it's nothing else!"
"I would go to Miss Brownings' at once, please," said Molly, with a nightmare-like of the last, the only she had at the Towers.
Lord Cumnor was on the steps, waiting to hand his out of the carriage. Lady Harriet stopped to Molly on the forehead, and to say,—
"I shall come some day soon, and you a of Miss Edgeworth's tales, and make with Pecksy and Flapsy."
"No, don't, please," said Molly, taking of her, to her. "You must not come—indeed you must not."
"Why not?"
"Because I would not—because I think that I ought not to have any one to see me who laughs at the friends I am with, and calls them names." Molly's very fast, but she meant every word that she said.
"My dear little woman!" said Lady Harriet, over her and speaking gravely. "I'm very sorry to have called them names—very, very sorry to have you. If I promise you to be to them in word and in deed—and in very thought, if I can—you'll let me then, won't you?"
Molly hesitated. "I'd go home at once; I shall only say things—and there's Lord Cumnor waiting all this time."
"Let him alone; he's very well all the news of the day from Brown. Then I shall come—under promise?"
So Molly off in grandeur; and Miss Brownings' was on its by the never-ending of Lord Cumnor's footman.
They were full of welcome, full of curiosity. All through the long day they had been missing their visitor, and three or four times in every hour they had been and settling what was doing at that exact minute. What had of Molly all the afternoon, had been a great to them; and they were very much with a of the great she had in being allowed to so many hours alone with Lady Harriet. They were, indeed, more by this one than by all the of the wedding, most of which they had of beforehand, and talked over with much the day. Molly to as if there was some for Lady Harriet's to the paid by the good people of Hollingford to their lord, and to wonder with what of they would Lady Harriet if she came to pay her promised visit. She had of the of this call until this evening; but now she as if it would be not to speak of the chance, as she was not at all sure that the promise would be fulfilled.
Before Lady Harriet's call was paid, Molly another visit.
Roger Hamley came over one day with a note from his mother, and a wasps'-nest as a present from himself. Molly his powerful voice come up the little staircase, as he asked if Miss Gibson was at home from the servant-maid at the door; and she was and as she how this call of his would give colour to Miss Browning's fancies. "I would be married at all," she, "than an man,—and dear good Mr. Roger is ugly; I don't think one call him plain." Yet Miss Brownings, who did not look upon men as if their natural was a and a of armour, Mr. Roger Hamley a very fellow, as he came into the room, his with exercise, his white teeth in the and he gave to all around. He the Miss Brownings slightly, and talked to them while Molly read Mrs. Hamley's little of and good to the wedding; then he to her, and though Miss Brownings with all their ears, they not out anything either in the he said or the in which they were spoken.
"I've you the wasps'-nest I promised you, Miss Gibson. There has been no of such this year; we've taken seventy-four on my father's land alone; and one of the labourers, a who out his by bee-keeping, has had a sad misfortune—the have the out of his seven hives, taken possession, and up the honey."
"What little vermin!" said Miss Browning.
Molly saw Roger's at the of the word; but though he had a of humour, it appeared to his respect for the people who him.
"I'm sure they fire and more than the dear bees," said Miss Phœbe. "And then it so of mankind, who are going to on the honey!" She over the thought, as if it was too much for her.
While Molly reading her note, he its to Miss Browning.
"My and I are going with my father to an meeting at Canonbury on Thursday, and my mother me to say to you how very much she should be if you would her Miss Gibson for the day. She was very to ask for the of your company, too, but she is so that we her to be with Miss Gibson, as she wouldn't a lady to herself, which she would be to do if you and your sister were there."
"I'm sure she's very kind; very. Nothing would have us more pleasure," said Miss Browning, herself up in dignity. "Oh, yes, we understand, Mr. Roger; and we Mrs. Hamley's intention. We will take the will for the deed, as the common people it. I that there was an the Brownings and the Hamleys, a or two ago."
"I there was," said Roger. "My mother is very delicate, and to her health, which has her keep from society."
"Then I may go?" said Molly, with the idea of her dear Mrs. Hamley again, yet of appearing too of her old friends.
"To be sure, my dear. Write a note, and tell Mrs. Hamley how much to her we are for of us."
"I'm I can't wait for a note," said Roger. "I must take a message instead, for I have to meet my father at one o'clock, and it's close upon it now."
When he was gone, Molly so light-hearted at the of Thursday that she to what the Miss Brownings were saying. One was talking about the which Molly had sent to the wash only that morning, and how it be had again in time for her to wear; and the other, Miss Phœbe, totally to her sister's speaking for a wonder, was out a of her own, and Roger Hamley's praises.
"Such a fine-looking man, and so and affable. Like the men of our now, is he not, sister? And yet they all say Mr. Osborne is the handsomest. What do you think, child?"
"I've Mr. Osborne," said Molly, blushing, and herself for doing so. Why was it? She had him as she said. It was only that her had on him so much.
He was gone—all the were gone the carriage, which came to Molly on Thursday, Hamley Hall. But Molly was almost glad, she was so much of being disappointed. Besides, she had her dear Mrs. Hamley the more to herself; the in the morning-room, talking and romance; the into the garden, with flowers and dew-drops on the that from to blue, and to and yellow petals. As they were at lunch, a man's voice and step were in the hall; the door was opened, and a man came in, who be no other than Osborne. He was and languid-looking, almost as in as his mother, he resembled. This him appear older than he was. He was to perfection, and yet with easy carelessness. He came up to his mother, and by her, her hand, while his Molly, not or impertinently, but as if her critically.
"Yes! I'm again. Bullocks, I find, are not in my line. I only my father in not being able to their merits, and, I'm afraid, I didn't to learn. And the was on such a day."
"My dear boy, don't make to me; keep them for your father. I'm only too to have you back. Miss Gibson, this tall is my son Osborne, as I you have guessed. Osborne—Miss Gibson. Now, what will you have?"
He looked the table as he down. "Nothing here," said he. "Isn't there some cold game-pie? I'll ring for that."
Molly was trying to the with the real. The was agile, yet powerful, with Greek and an eagle-eye, of long fasting, and as to what he ate. The was almost in movement, though not in figure; he had the Greek features, but his had a cold, in them. He was in eating, and had anything but a Homeric appetite. However, Molly's hero was not to eat more than Ivanhoe, when he was Friar Tuck's guest; and, after all, with a little alteration, she to think Mr. Osborne Hamley might turn out a poetical, if not a hero. He was to his mother, which pleased Molly, and, in return, Mrs. Hamley with him to such a that Molly once or twice that mother and son would have been in her absence. Yet, again, it on the shrewd, if girl, that Osborne was at her in the which was to his mother. There were little and 'fioriture' of speech which Molly not help were of language not common in the daily mother and son. But it was than otherwise to that a very man, who was a to boot, should think it while to talk on the tight rope for her benefit. And the was ended, without there having been any direct Osborne and Molly, she had him on his in her imagination; indeed, she had almost herself to her dear Mrs. Hamley when, in the hour after her introduction, she had questioned his on his mother's idolatry. His came out more and more, as he in some with her; and all his attitudes, if a little studied, were in the extreme. Before Molly left, the and Roger returned from Canonbury.
"Osborne here!" said the Squire, red and panting. "Why the couldn't you tell us you were home? I looked about for you everywhere, just as we were going into the ordinary. I wanted to you to Grantley, and Fox, and Lord Forrest—men from the other of the county, you ought to know; and Roger there missed above his dinner about for you; and all the time you'd away, and were here with the women. I wish you'd let me know the next time you make off. I've my in looking at as a of as I saw, with you might be having one of your old of faintness."
"I should have had one, I think, if I'd longer in that atmosphere. But I'm sorry if I've you anxiety."
"Well! well!" said the Squire, mollified. "And Roger, too,—there I've been sending him here and sending him there all the afternoon."
"I didn't mind it, sir. I was only sorry you were so uneasy. I Osborne had gone home, for I it wasn't much in his way," said Roger.
Molly a the two brothers—a look of true and love, which her like them under the of relationship—new to her observation.
Roger came up to her, and sat by her.
"Well, and how are you on with Huber; don't you him very interesting?"
"I'm afraid," said Molly, penitently, "I haven't read much. Miss Brownings like me to talk; and, besides, there is so much to do at home papa comes back; and Miss Browning doesn't like me to go without her. I know it nothing, but it take up a great of time."
"When is your father back?"
"Next Tuesday, I believe. He cannot long away."
"I shall over and pay my respects to Mrs. Gibson," said he. "I shall come as soon as I may. Your father has been a very friend to me since I was a boy. And when I come, I shall my to have been very diligent," he concluded, his kind, at Molly.
Then the came round, and she had the long drive to Miss Brownings'. It was dark out of doors when she got there; but Miss Phœbe was on the stairs, with a in her hand, into the to see Molly come in.
"Oh, Molly! I you'd come back. Such a piece of news! Sister has gone to bed; she's had a headache—with the excitement, I think; but she says it's new bread. Come softly, my dear, and I'll tell you what it is! Who do you think has been here,—drinking tea with us, too, in the most manner?"
"Lady Harriet?" said Molly, by the word "condescending."
"Yes. Why, how did you it? But, after all, her call, at any in the instance, was upon you. Oh, dear Molly! if you're not in a to go to bed, let me and tell you all about it; for my jumps into my mouth still when I think of how I was caught. She—that is, her ladyship—left the at 'The George,' and took to her to go shopping—just as you or I may have done many a time in our lives. And sister was taking her winks; and I was with my up above my and my on the fender, out my grandmother's which I'd been washing. The has yet to be told. I'd taken off my cap, for I it was and no one would come, and there was I in my black skull-cap, when Nancy put her in, and whispered, 'There's a lady downstairs—a one, by her talk;' and in there came my Lady Harriet, so sweet and in her ways, it was some time I I had a cap on. Sister wakened; or up, so to say. She says she it was Nancy in the tea when she some one moving; for her ladyship, as soon as she saw the of the case, came and on the by me, and my so for having Nancy without waiting for permission; and was so taken by my old lace, and wanted to know how I it, and where you were, and when you'd be back, and when the happy would be back: till sister wakened—she's always a little put out, you know, when she from her nap,—and, without her to see who it was, she said, sharp,—'Buzz, buzz, buzz! When will you learn that is more than talking out loud? I've not been able to sleep at all for the you and Nancy have been up all this time.' You know that was a little of sister's, for she'd been away as naturally as be. So I to her, and over her, and said in a low voice,—
"'Sister, it's her and me that has been conversing.'
"'Ladyship here, there! have you your wits, Phœbe, that you talk such nonsense—and in your skull-cap, too!'
"By this time she was up—and, looking her, she saw Lady Harriet, in her and silks, on our rug, smiling, her off, and her all with the of the fire. My word! sister was up on her directly; and she her curtsey, and her for sleeping, as fast as might be, while I off to put on my best cap, for sister might well say I was out of my to go on to an earl's in an old black skull-cap. Black silk, too! when, if I'd only she was coming, I might have put on my new one, in my top drawer. And when I came back, sister was ordering tea for her ladyship,—our tea, I mean. So I took my turn at talk, and sister out to put on her Sunday silk. But I don't think we were so much at our with her as when I sat out my in my skull-cap. And she was with our tea, and asked where we got it, for she had any like it before; and I told her we gave only 3s. 4d. a for it, at Johnson's—(sister says I ought to have told her the price of our company-tea, which is 5s. a pound, only that was not what we were drinking; for, as ill-luck would have it, we'd none of it in the house)—and she said she would send us some of hers, all the way from Russia or Prussia, or some out-of-the-way place, and we were to and see which we liked best; and if we liked hers best, she it for us at 3s. a pound. And she left her love for you; and, though she was going away, you were not to her. Sister such a message would set you up too much, and told me she would not be for the it you. 'But,' I said, 'a message is a message, and it's on Molly's own if she's set up by it. Let us her an example of humility, sister, though we have been cheek-by-jowl in such company.' So sister humphed, and said she'd a headache, and to bed. And now you may tell me your news, my dear."
So Molly told her small events; which, as they might have been at other times to the gossip-loving and Miss Phœbe, were in the light from the visit of an earl's daughter.
