"And so you went to Hamley yesterday after all?"
"Yes; I thought you would have come. The Squire seemed quite to
expect you."
"I thought of going there at first; but I changed my mind like
other people. I don't see why women are to have a monopoly of
changeableness. Well! how did it go off? Pleasantly, I suppose, for
both your mother and Cynthia were in high spirits last night."
"Yes. The dear old Squire was in his best dress and on his best
behaviour, and was so prettily attentive to Cynthia, and she looked
so lovely, walking about with him, and listening to all his talk
about the garden and farm. Mamma was tired, and stopped in-doors, so
they got on very well, and saw a great deal of each other."
"And my little girl trotted behind?"
"Oh, yes. You know I was almost at home, and besides--of course--"
Molly went very red, and left the sentence unfinished.
"Do you think she's worthy of him?" asked her father, just as if she
had completed her speech.
"Of Roger, papa? oh, who is? But she is very sweet, and very, very
charming."
"Very charming if you will, but somehow I don't quite understand her.
Why does she want all this secrecy? Why was she not more eager to go
and pay her duty to Roger's father? She took it as coolly as if I'd
asked her to go to church!"
"I don't think she did take it coolly; I believe I don't quite
understand her either, but I love her dearly all the same."
"Umph; I like to understand people thoroughly, but I know it's not
necessary to women. D'ye really think she's worthy of him?"
"Oh, papa--" said Molly, and then she stopped; she wanted to speak in
favour of Cynthia, but somehow she could form no reply that pleased
her to this repeated inquiry. He did not seem much to care whether he
got an answer or not, for he went on with his own thoughts, and the
result was that he asked Molly if Cynthia had heard from Roger.
"Yes; on Wednesday morning."
"Did she show it to you? But of course not. Besides, I read the
Squire's letter, which told all about him."
Now Cynthia, rather to Molly's surprise, had told her that she might
read the letter if she liked, and Molly had shrunk from availing
herself of the permission, for Roger's sake. She thought that he
would probably have poured out his heart to the one sole person, and
that it was not fair to listen, as it were, to his confidences.