Before Lady Harriet’s call was paid, Molly received another visit.  Roger Hamley came riding over one day with a note from his mother, and a wasps’-nest as a present from himself.  Molly heard his powerful voice come sounding up the little staircase, as he asked if Miss Gibson was at home from the servant-maid at the door; and she was half amused and half annoyed as she thought how this call of his would give colour to Miss Browning’s fancies.  ‘I would rather never be married at all,’ thought she, ’than marry an ugly man,—­and dear good Mr. Roger is really ugly; I don’t think one could even call him plain.’  Yet the Miss Brownings, who did not look upon young men as if their natural costume was a helmet and a suit of armour, thought Mr. Roger Hamley a very personable young fellow, as he came into the room, his face flushed with exercise, his white teeth showing pleasantly in the courteous bow and smile he gave to all around.  He knew the Miss Brownings slightly, and talked pleasantly to them while Molly read Mrs. Hamley’s little missive of sympathy and good wishes relating to the wedding; then he turned to her, and though the Miss Brownings listened with all their ears, they could not find out anything remarkable either in the words he said or the tone in which they were spoken.

’I’ve brought you the wasps’-nest I promised you, Miss Gibson.  There has been no lack of such things this year; we’ve taken seventy-four on my father’s land alone; and one of the labourers, a poor fellow who ekes out his wages by bee-keeping, has had a sad misfortune—­the wasps have turned the bees out of his seven hives, taken possession, and eaten up the honey.’

‘What greedy little vermin!’ said Miss Browning.

Molly saw Roger’s eyes twinkle at the misapplication of the word;’ but though he had a strong sense of humour, it never appeared to diminish his respect for the people who amused him.

’I’m sure they deserve fire and brimstone more than the poor dear innocent bees,’ said Miss Phoebe.  ’And then it seems so ungrateful of mankind, who are going to feast on the honey!’ She sighed over the thought, as if it was too much for her.

While Molly finished reading her note, he explained its contents to Miss Browning.

’My brother and I are going with my father to an agricultural meeting at Canonbury on Thursday, and my mother desired me to say to you how very much obliged to you she should be if you would spare her Miss Gibson for the day.  She was very anxious to ask for the pleasure of your company, too, but she really is so poorly that we persuaded her to be content with Miss Gibson, as she wouldn’t scruple leaving a young lady to amuse herself, which she would be unwilling to do if you and your sister were there.’

’I’m sure she’s very kind; very.  Nothing would have given us more pleasure,’ said Miss Browning, drawing herself up in gratified dignity.  ’Oh, yes, we quite understand, Mr. Roger; and we fully recognize Mrs. Hamley’s kind intention.  We will take the will for the deed, as the common people express it.  I believe that there was an intermarriage between the Brownings and the Hamleys, a generation or two ago.’