mortification at not having heard all she wished to know about Roger, that gave her a keener insight than usual, but certain it is that all at once she perceived that Mrs. Gibson would not dislike a marriage between Osborne and Cynthia, and considered the present occasion as an auspicious beginning.  Remembering the secret which she had been let into so unwillingly, Molly watched his behaviour, almost as if she had been retained in the interests of the absent wife; but, after all, thinking as much of the possibility of his attracting Cynthia as of the unknown and mysterious Mrs Osborne Hamley.  His manner was expressive of great interest and of strong prepossession in favour of the beautiful girl to whom he was talking.  He was in deep mourning, which showed off his slight figure and delicate refined face.  But there was nothing of flirting, as far as Molly understood the meaning of the word, in either looks or words.  Cynthia, too, was extremely quiet; she was always much quieter with men than with women; it was part of the charm of her soft allurement that she was so passive.  They were talking of France.  Mrs. Gibson herself had passed two or three years of her girlhood there; and Cynthia’s late return from Boulogne made it a very natural subject of conversation.  But Molly was thrown out of it; and with her heart still unsatisfied as to the details of Roger’s success, she had to stand up at last, and receive Osborne’s good-by, scarcely longer or more intimate than his farewell to Cynthia.  As soon as he was gone Mrs. Gibson began in his praise.

’Well, really, I begin to have some faith in long descent.  What a gentleman he is!  How agreeable and polite!  So different from that forward Mr. Preston,’ she continued, looking a little anxiously at Cynthia.  Cynthia, quite aware that her reply was being watched for, said, coolly,—­

’Mr. Preston doesn’t improve on acquaintance.  There was a time, mamma, when I think both you and I thought him very agreeable.’

’I don’t remember.  You’ve a clearer memory than I have.  But we were talking of this delightful Mr. Osborne Hamley.  Why, Molly, you were always talking of his brother—­it was Roger this, and Roger that—­I can’t think how it was you so seldom mentioned this young man.’

‘I did not know I had mentioned Mr. Roger Hamley so often,’ said Molly, blushing a little.  ‘But I saw much more of him—­he was more at home.’

’Well, well!  It’s all right, my dear.  I daresay he suits you best.  But really, when I saw Osborne Hamley close to my Cynthia, I couldn’t help thinking—­but perhaps I’d better not tell you what I was thinking of.  Only they are each of them so much above the average in appearance; and, of course, that suggests things.’

‘I perfectly understand what you were thinking of, mamma,’ said Cynthia, with the greatest composure; ’and so does Molly, I have no doubt.’