We shall have all manner of agreeable people in the house to amuse her downstairs; and when she has got rid of this access of cold, I will drive her out every day, and write daily bulletins, as I said.Pray tell Mr Gibson all that, and let it be considered as settled.I will come for her in the close carriage to-morrow, at eleven.And now may I see the lovely bride elect, and give her mamma's present, and my own good wishes?' So Cynthia came in, and demurely received the very proper present, and the equally correct congratulations, without testifying any very great delight or gratitude at either; for she was quite quick enough to detect that there was no great afflux.of affection accompanying either.But when she heard her mother quickly recapitulating all the details of the plan for Molly, Cynthia's eyes did sparkle with gladness; and almost to Lady Harriet's surprise, she thanked her as if she had conferred a personal favour upon her, Cynthia.Lady Harriet saw, too, that in a very quiet way, she had taken Molly's hand, and was holding it all the time, as if loth to think of their approaching separation - somehow, she and Lady Harriet were brought nearer together by this little action than they had ever been before.If Molly had hoped that her father might have raised some obstacles to the project, she was disappointed.But, indeed, she did not when she perceived how he seemed to feel that, by placing her under the care of Lady Harriet and Parkes, he should be relieved from anxiety; and how he spoke of this change of air and scene as being the very thing he had been wishing to secure for her; country air, and absence of excitement as this would be;for the only other place where he could have secured her these advantages, and at the same time sent her as an invalid, was to Hamley Hall; and he dreaded the associations there with the beginning of her present illness.So Molly was driven off in state the next day, leaving her own home all in confusion with the assemblage of boxes and trunks in the hall, and all the other symptoms of the approaching departure of the family for London and the wedding.All the morning Cynthia had been with her in her room, attending to the arrangement of Molly's clothes, instructing her what to wear with what, and rejoicing over the pretty smartnesses, which, having been prepared for her as bridesmaid, were now to serve as adornments for her visit to the Towers.Both Molly and Cynthia spoke about dress as if it was the very object of their lives; for each dreaded the introduction of more serious subjects; Cynthia more for Molly than herself.Only when the carriage was announced, and Molly was preparing to go downstairs, Cynthia said, - 'I am not going to thank you, Molly, or to tell you how I love you.' 'Don't,' said Molly, 'I can't bear it.' 'Only you know you're to be my first visitor, and if you wear brown ribbons to a green gown, I'll turn you out of the house!' So they parted.Mr Gibson was there in the hall to hand Molly in.He had ridden hard; and was now giving her two or three last injunctions as to her health.'Think of us on Thursday,' said he.'I declare I don't know which of her three lovers she may not summon at the very last moment to act the part of bridegroom.I'm determined to be surprised at nothing; and will give her away with a good grace to whoever comes.' They drove away, and until they were out of sight of the house, Molly had enough to do to keep returning the kisses of the hand wafted to her by her stepmother out of the drawing-room window, while at the same time her eyes were fixed on a white handkerchief fluttering out of the attic from which she herself had watched Roger's departure nearly two years before.
