"She shall have the south pink room, opening out of mine by one door,
you remember; and the dressing-room shall be made into a cosy little
sitting-room for her, in case she likes to be by herself. Parkes
shall attend upon her, and I'm sure Mr. Gibson must know Parkes's
powers as a nurse by this time. 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 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 was satisfied
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,--