hungry, than he could have flown through the air.  Molly knew all this by instinct, and was happy without being aware of it, as soon as she heard the low whistle which was no music after all.  But Mrs. Gibson did not like this trick of her husband’s; it was not refined she thought, not even ‘artistic;’ if she could have called it by this fine word it would have compensated her for the want of refinement.  To-night it was particularly irritating to her nerves; but since her conversation with Mr. Gibson about Cynthia’s engagement, she had not felt herself in a sufficiently good position to complain.

Mr. Gibson began,—­’Well, Cynthia; I have seen the squire to-day, and made a clean breast of it.’

Cynthia looked up quickly, questioning with her eyes; Molly stopped her netting to listen; no one spoke.

’You’re all to go there on Thursday to lunch; he asked you all, and I promised for you.’

Still no reply; natural, perhaps, but very flat.

‘You’ll be glad of that Cynthia, shan’t you?’ asked Mr. Gibson.  ’It may be a little formidable, but I hope it will be the beginning of a good understanding between you.’

‘Thank you!’ said she, with an effort.  ’But—­but won’t it make it public?  I do so wish not to have it known, or talked about, not till he comes back or close upon the marriage.’

‘I don’t see how it should make it public,’ said Mr. Gibson.  ’My wife goes to lunch with my friend, and takes her daughters with her—­there’s nothing in that, is there?’

‘I am not sure that I shall go,’ put in Mrs. Gibson.  She did not know why she said it, for she fully intended to go all the time; but having said it she was bound to stick to it for a little while; and, with such a husband as hers, the hard necessity was sure to fall upon her of having to find a reason for her saying.  There it came, quick and sharp.

‘Why not?’ said he, turning round upon her.

’Oh, because—­because I think he ought to have called on Cynthia first; I’ve that sort of sensitiveness I can’t bear to think of her being slighted because she is poor.’

‘Nonsense!’ said Mr. Gibson.  ’I do assure you, no slight whatever was intended.  He does not wish to speak about the engagement to anyone—­not even to Osborne—­that’s your wish, too, is it not, Cynthia?  Nor does he intend to mention it to any of you when you go there; but, naturally enough, he wants to make acquaintance with his future daughter-in-law.  If he deviated so much from his usual course as to come calling here—­’

‘I am sure I don’t want him to come calling here,’ said Mrs. Gibson, interrupting.  ’He was not so very agreeable the only time he did come.  But I am that sort of a character that I cannot put up with any neglect of persons I love, just because they are not smiled upon by fortune.’  She sighed a little ostentatiously as she ended her sentence.

‘Well, then, you won’t go!’ said Mr. Gibson provoked, but not wishing to have a long discussion, especially as he felt his temper going.