Who is the lady? Do tell me all you know about it, there's a dear.' 'She is French, and a Roman Catholic,' said Molly.'French! They are such beguiling women; and he was so much abroad! You said there was a child, - is it a boy or girl?' 'I did not hear.I did not ask.' Molly did not think it necessary to do more than answer questions; indeed, she was vexed enough to have told anything of what her father evidently considered it desirable to keep secret.Just then Cynthia came wandering into the room with a careless, hopeless look in her face, which Molly noticed at once.She had not heard of Molly's arrival, and had no idea that she was returned until she saw her sitting there.'Molly, darling! Is that you? You're as welcome as the flowers in May, though you've not been gone twenty-four hours.But the house is not the same when you are away!' 'And she brings us such news too!' said Mrs Gibson.'I'm really almost glad you wrote to the squire yesterday, for if you had waited till to-day - I thought you were in too great a hurry at the time - he might have thought you had some interested reason for giving up your engagement.Osborne Hamley was married all this time unknown to everybody, and has got a child too.' 'Osborne married!' exclaimed Cynthia.'If ever a man looked a bachelor, he did.Poor Osborne! with his fair delicate elegance, - he looked so young and boyish!' 'Yes! it was a great piece of deceit, and I can't easily forgive him for it.Only think! If he had paid either of you any particular attention, and you had fallen in love with him! Why, he might have broken your heart, or Molly's either.I can't forgive him, even though he is dead, poor fellow!' Well, as he never did pay either of us any particular attention, and as we neither of us did fall in love with him, I think I only feel sorry that he had all the trouble and worry of concealment.' Cynthia spoke with a pretty keen recollection of how much trouble and worry her concealment had cost her.'And now of course it is a son, and will be the heir, and Roger will just be as poorly off as ever.I hope you'll take care and let the squire know Cynthia was quite ignorant of these new facts that have come out when she wrote those letters, Molly? I should not like a suspicion of worldliness to rest upon any one with whom I had any concern.' 'He has not read Cynthia's letter yet.Oh, do let me bring it home unopened,'
said Molly.'Send another letter to Roger - now - at once; it will reach him at the same time; he will get both when he arrives at the Cape, and make him understand which is the last - the real one.Think! he will hear of Osborne's death at the same time - two such sad things! Do, Cynthia!' 'No, my dear,' said Mrs Gibson.'I could not allow that, even if Cynthia felt inclined for it.Asking to be re-engaged to him! At any rate, she must wait now until he proposes again, and we see how things turn out.' But Molly kept her pleading eyes fixed on Cynthia.'No!' said Cynthia firmly, but not without consideration.'It cannot be.
I have felt more content this last night than I have done for weeks past.
I am glad to be free.I dreaded Roger's goodness, and learning, and all that.It was not in my way, and I don't believe I should have ever married him, even without knowing of all these ill-natured stories that are circulating about me, and which he would hear of, and expect me to explain, and be sorry for, and penitent and humble.I know he could not have made me happy, and I don't believe he would have been happy with me.It must stay as it is.I would rather be a governess than married to him.I should get weary of him every day of my life.' 'Weary of Roger!' said Molly to herself.'It is best as it is, I see,'
she answered aloud.'Only I am very sorry for him, very.He did love you so.You will never get any one to love you like him!' 'Very well.I must take my chance.And too much love is rather oppressive to me, I believe.I like a great deal, widely spread about; not all confined to one individual lover.' 'I don't believe you,' said Molly.'But don't let us talk any more about it.It is best as it is.I thought - I almost felt sure you would be sorry this morning.But we will leave it alone now.' She sate silently looking out of the window, her heart sorely stirred, she scarcely knew how or why.
But she could not have spoken.Most likely she would have begun to cry if she had spoken.Cynthia stole softly up to her after a while.'You are vexed with me, Molly,' she began in a low voice.But Molly turned sharply round.'I! I have no business at all in the affair.It is for you to judge.Do what you think right.I believe you have done right.Only I don't want to discuss it, and paw it over with talk.I am very much tired, dear' -gently now she spoke, - 'and I hardly know what I say.If I speak crossly, don't mind it.' Cynthia did not reply at once.Then she said, - 'Do you think I might go with you, and help you? I might have done yesterday;and you say he has not opened my letter, so he has not heard as yet.And I was always fond of poor Osborne, in my way, you know.' 'I cannot tell; I have no right to say,' replied Molly, scarcely understanding Cynthia's motives, which, after all, were only impulses in this case.'Papa would be able to judge; I think, perhaps, you had better not.But don't go by my opinion, I can only tell what I should wish to do in your place.' 'It was as much for your sake as any one's, Molly,' said Cynthia.'Oh, then, don't! I am tired to-day with sitting up; but to-morrow I shall be all right; and I should not like it, if, for my sake, you came into the house at so solemn a time.' 'Very well!' said Cynthia, half-glad that her impulsive offer was declined;for, as she said, thinking to herself, 'It would have been awkward after all,' So Molly went back in the carriage alone, wondering how she should find the squire, wondering what discoveries he had made among Osborne's papers; and at what conviction he would have arrived.
