"Really, Charles, considering that she is in your charge, I think you
might have saved her from the chatter and patter of Mr. Watson; I can
only stand it when I am in the strongest health."
Why was Molly in Sir Charles's charge? why? Then Roger remembered
many little things that might serve to confirm the fancy he had got
into his head; and he went to bed puzzled and annoyed. It seemed
to him such an incongruous, hastily-got-up sort of engagement, if
engagement it really was. On Saturday they were more fortunate: they
had a long _tête-à-tête_ in the most public place in the house--on a
sofa in the hall where Molly was resting at Lady Harriet's command
before going upstairs after a walk. Roger was passing through, and
saw her, and came to her. Standing before her, and making pretence of
playing with the gold-fish in a great marble basin close at hand,--
"I was very unlucky," said he. "I wanted to get near you last night,
but it was quite impossible. You were so busy talking to Mr. Watson,
until Sir Charles Morton came and carried you off--with such an air
of authority! Have you known him long?"
Now this was not at all the manner in which Roger had pre-determined
that he would speak of Sir Charles to Molly; but the words came out
in spite of himself.
"No! not long. I never saw him before I came here--on Tuesday. But
Lady Harriet told him to see that I did not get tired, for I wanted
to come down; but you know I have not been strong. He is a cousin of
Lady Harriet's, and does all she tells him to do."
"Oh! he is not handsome; but I believe he is a very sensible man."
"Yes! I should think so. He is so silent though, that I can hardly
judge."
"He bears a very high character in the county," said Roger, willing
now to give him his full due.
Molly stood up.
"I must go upstairs," she said; "I only sate down here for a minute
or two because Lady Harriet bade me."
"Stop a little longer," said he. "This is really the pleasantest
place; this basin of water-lilies gives one the idea, if not the
sensation, of coolness; besides--it seems so long since I saw you,
and I have a message from my father to give you. He is very angry
with you."
"Angry with me?" said Molly in surprise.
"Yes! He heard that you had come here for change of air; and he was
offended that you hadn't come to us--to the Hall, instead. He said
that you should have remembered old friends!"