’Yes, you I are.  But—­now don’t reprove me again for impertinence—­most of them are so unnatural in their exaggerated respect and admiration when they come up to the Towers, and put on so much pretence by way of fine manners, that they only make themselves objects of ridicule.  You at least are simple and truthful, and that’s why I separate you in my own mind from them, and have talked unconsciously to you as I would—­ Well! now here’s another piece of impertinence—­as I would to my equal—­ in rank, I mean; for I don’t set myself up in solid things as any better than my neighbours.  Here’s tea, however, come in time to stop me from growing too humble.’

It was a very pleasant little tea in the fading September twilight. just as it was ended, in came Mr. Preston again.

’Lady Harriet, will you allow me the pleasure of showing you some alterations I have made in the flower-garden—­in which I have tried to consult your taste—­before it grows dark?’

’Thank you, Mr. Preston.  I will ride over with papa some day, and we will see if we approve of them.’

Mr. Preston’s brow flushed.  But he affected not to perceive Lady Harriet’s haughtiness, and, turning to Molly, he said,—­

’Will not you come out, Miss Gibson, and see something of the gardens?  You haven’t been out at all, I think, excepting to church.’

Molly did not like the idea of going out for a tete-a-tete walk with Mr. Preston; yet she pined for a little fresh air, would have liked to have seen the gardens, and have looked at the Manor-house from different aspects; and, besides this, much as she recoiled from Mr. Preston, she felt sorry for him under the repulse he had just received.  While she was hesitating, and slowly tending towards consent, Lady Harriet spoke,—­

’I cannot spare Miss Gibson.  If she would like to see the place, I will bring her over some day myself.’

When he had left the room, Lady Harriet said,—­

’I daresay it’s my own lazy selfishness has kept you indoors all day against your will.  But, at any rate, you are not to go out walking with that man.  I’ve an instinctive aversion to him; not entirely instinctive either; it has some foundation in fact; and I desire you don’t allow him ever to get intimate with you.  He’s a very clever land-agent, and does his duty by papa, and I don’t choose to be taken up for libel; but remember what I say!’

Then the carriage came round, and after numberless last words from the earl—­who appeared to have put off every possible direction to the moment when he stood, like an awkward Mercury, balancing himself on the step of the carriage—­they drove back to the Towers.

’Would you rather come in and dine with us—­we should send you home, of course—­or go home straight?’ asked Lady Harriet of Molly.  She and her father had both been sleeping till they drew up at the bottom of the flight of steps.

’Tell the truth, now and evermore.  Truth is generally amusing, if it’s nothing else!’