She pulled herself up suddenly, and looked furtively at Mr. Preston to see if he had taken any notice of her abruptness.  Of course he had, but he was not going to show it.  He turned to Molly, and said,—­

‘Have you ever been to a public ball yet, Miss Gibson?’

‘No!’ said Molly.

‘It will be a great pleasure to you when the time comes.’

’I’m not sure.  I shall like it if I have plenty of partners; but I’m afraid I shan’t know many people.’

’And you suppose that young men haven’t their own ways and means of being introduced to pretty girls?’

It was exactly one of the speeches Molly had disliked him for before; and delivered, too, in that kind of underbred manner which showed that it was meant to convey a personal compliment.  Molly took great credit to herself for the unconcerned manner with which she went on with her tatting exactly as if she had never heard it.

’I only hope I may be one of your partners at the first ball you go to.  Pray, remember my early application for that honour, when you are overwhelmed with requests for dances.’

‘I don’t choose to engage myself beforehand,’ said Molly, perceiving, from under her dropped eyelids, that he was leaning forwards and looking at her as though he was determined to have an answer.

’Young ladies are always very cautious in fact, however modest they may be in profession,’ he replied, addressing himself in a nonchalant manner to Mrs. Gibson.  ’In spite of Miss Gibson’s apprehension of not having many partners she declines the certainty of having one.  I suppose Miss Kirkpatrick will have returned from France before then?’

He said these last words exactly in the same tone as he had used before; but Molly’s instinct told her that he was making an effort to do so.  She looked up.  He was playing with his hat, almost as if he did not care to have any answer to his question.  Yet he was listening acutely, and with a half smile on his face.

Mrs. Gibson reddened a little, and hesitated,—­

’Yes; certainly.  My daughter will be with us next winter, I believe; and I daresay she will go out with us.’

‘Why can’t she say at once that Cynthia is here now?’ asked Molly to herself, yet glad that Mr. Preston’s curiosity was baffled.

He still smiled; but this time he looked up at Mrs. Gibson, as he asked,—­’You have good news from her, I hope?’

’Yes; very.  By the way, how are our old friends the Robinsons?  How often I think of their kindness to me at Ashcombe!  Dear good people, I wish I could see them again.’

’I will certainly tell them of your kind inquiries.  They are very well, I believe.’