- putting each inquiry with as light and delicate a touch as if she had been dressing a wound.She hesitated a little, a very little, before speaking of Roger; for just one moment the thought flitted across her mind that Osborne might feel the contrast between his own and his brother's college career too painfully to like to have it referred to; but then she remembered the generous brotherly love that had always existed between the two, and had just entered upon the subject, when Cynthia, in obedience to her mother's summons, came into the room, and took up her work.No one could have been quieter - she hardly uttered a word; but Osborne seemed to fall under her power at once.He no longer gave his undivided attention to Molly.He cut short his answers to her questions; and by-and-by, without Molly's rightly understanding how it was, he had turned towards Cynthia, and was addressing himself to her.Molly saw the look of content on Mrs Gibson's face; perhaps it was her own mortification at not having heard all she wished to know about Roger, that gave her a keener insight than usual, but certain it is that all at once she perceived that Mrs Gibson would not dislike a marriage between Osborne and Cynthia, and considered the present occasion as an auspicious beginning.Remembering the secret which she had been let into so unwillingly, Molly watched his behaviour, almost as if she had been retained in the interests of the absent wife; but, after all, thinking as much of the possibility of his attracting Cynthia as of the unknown and mysterious Mrs Osborne Hamley.His manner was expressive of great interest and of strong prepossession in favour of the beautiful girl to whom he was talking.He was in deep mourning, which showed off his slight figure and delicate refined face.But there was nothing of flirting, as far as Molly understood the meaning of the word, in either looks or words.Cynthia, too, was extremely quiet; she was always much quieter with men than with women; it was part of the charm of her soft allurement that she was so passive.They were talking of France.Mrs Gibson herself had passed two or three years of her girlhood there; and Cynthia's late return from Boulogne made it a very natural subject of conversation.But Molly was thrown out of it; and with her heart still unsatisfied as to the details of Roger's success, she had to stand up at last, and receive Osborne's good-by, scarcely longer or more intimate than his farewell to Cynthia.As soon as he was gone Mrs Gibson began in his praise.'Well, really, I begin to have some faith in long descent.What a gentleman he is! How agreeable and polite! So different from that forward Mr Preston,'
she continued, looking a little anxiously at Cynthia.Cynthia, quite aware that her reply was being watched for, said, coolly, - 'Mr Preston doesn't improve on acquaintance.There was a time, mamma, when I think both you and I thought him very agreeable.' 'I don't remember.You've a clearer memory than I have.But we were talking of this delightful Mr Osborne Hamley.Why, Molly, you were always talking of his brother - it was Roger this, and Roger that - I can't think how it was you so seldom mentioned this young man.' 'I did not know I had mentioned Mr Roger Hamley so often,' said Molly, blushing a little.'But I saw much more of him - he was more at home.' 'Well, well! It's all right, my dear.I daresay he suits you best.But really, when I saw Osborne Hamley close to my Cynthia, I couldn't help thinking - but perhaps I'd better not tell you what I was thinking of.
Only they are each of them so much above the average in appearance; and, of course, that suggests things.' 'I perfectly understand what you were thinking of, mamma,' said Cynthia, with the greatest composure; 'and so does Molly, I have no doubt.' 'Well! there's no harm in it, I'm sure.Did you hear him say that, though he did not like to leave his father alone just at present, yet that when his brother Roger came back from Cambridge, he should feel more at liberty?
It was quite as much to say, "If you will ask me to dinner then, I shall be delighted to come." And chickens will be so much cheaper, and cook has such a nice way of boning them, and doing them up with forcemeat.Everything seems to be falling out so fortunately.And Molly, my dear, you know Iwon't forget you.By-and-by, when Roger Hamley has taken his turn at stopping at home with his father, we will ask him to one of our little quiet dinners.' Molly was very slow at taking this in; but in about a minute the sense of it had reached her brain, and she went all over very red and hot; especially as she saw that Cynthia was watching the light come into her mind with great amusement.'I'm afraid Molly isn't properly grateful, mamma.If I were you, I wouldn't exert myself to give a dinner-party on her account.Bestow all your kindness upon me.' Molly was often puzzled by Cynthia's speeches to her mother; and this was one of these occasions.But she was more anxious to say something for herself;she was so much annoyed at the implication in Mrs Gibson's last words.'Mr Roger Hamley has been very good to me; he was a great deal at home when I was there, and Mr Osborne Hamley was very little there: that was the reason I spoke so much more of one than the other.If I had - if he had,' - losing her coherence in the difficulty of finding words, - 'I don't think I should.Oh, Cynthia, instead of laughing at me, I think you might help me to explain myself!' Instead, Cynthia gave a diversion to the conversation.'Mamma's paragon gives me an idea of weakness.I can't quite make out whether it is in body or mind.Which is it, Molly?' 'He is not strong, I know; but he is very accomplished and clever.Every one says that, - even papa, who doesn't generally praise young men.That made the puzzle the greater when he did so badly at college.' 'Then it's his character that is weak.I'm sure there's weakness somewhere;but he's very agreeable.It must have been very pleasant, staying at the Hall.' 'Yes; but it's all over now.' 'Oh, nonsense!' said Mrs Gibson, wakening up from counting the stitches in her pattern.'We shall have the young men coming to dinner pretty often, you'll see.Your father likes them, and I shall always make a point of welcoming his friends.They can't go on mourning for a mother for ever.
I expect we shall see a great deal of them; and that the two families will become very intimate.After all, these good Hollingford people are terribly behindhand, and I should say, rather commonplace.'