Loaded with many such messages, which she felt that she should never deliver, not really knowing what she should say, hating the errand, not satisfied with Cynthia’s manner of speaking about her relations to Roger, oppressed with shame and complicity in conduct which appeared to her deceitful, yet willing to bear all and brave all, if she could once set Cynthia in a straight path—­in a clear space, and almost more pitiful to her friend’s great distress and possible disgrace, than able to give her that love which involves perfect sympathy, Molly set out on her walk towards the appointed place.  It was a cloudy blustering day, and the noise of the blowing wind among the nearly leafless branches of the great trees filled her ears, as she passed through the park-gates and entered the avenue.  She walked quickly, instinctively wishing to get her blood up, and have no time for thought.  But there was a bend in the avenue about a quarter of a mile from the lodge; after that bend it was a straight line up to the great house, now emptied of its inhabitants.  Molly did not like going quite out of sight of the lodge, and she stood facing it, close by the trunk of one of the trees.  Presently she heard a step coming over the grass.  It was Mr. Preston.  He saw a woman’s figure, half-behind the trunk of a tree, and made no doubt that it was Cynthia.  But when he came nearer, almost close, the figure turned round, and, instead of the brilliantly coloured face of Cynthia, he met the pale resolved look of Molly.  She did not speak to greet him, but though he felt sure from the general aspect of pallor and timidity that she was afraid of him, her steady grey eyes met his with courageous innocence.

‘Is Cynthia unable to come?’ asked he, perceiving that she expected him.

‘I did not know you thought that you should meet her,’ said Molly, a little surprised.  In her simplicity she had believed that Cynthia had named that it was she, Molly Gibson, who would meet Mr. Preston at a given time and place; but Cynthia had been too worldly-wise for that, and had decoyed him thither by a vaguely worded note, which, while avoiding actual falsehood, had led him to believe that she herself would give him the meeting.

‘She said she should be here,’ said Mr. Preston, extremely annoyed at being entrapped as he now felt that he had been, into an interview with Miss Gibson.  Molly hesitated a little before she spoke.  He was determined not to break the silence; as she had intruded herself into the affair, she should find her situation as awkward as possible.

‘At any rate she sent me here to meet you,’ said Molly.  ’She has told me exactly how matters stand between you and her.’

‘Has she?’ sneered he.  ’She is not always the most open or reliable person in the world!’

Molly reddened.  She perceived the impertinence of the tone; and her temper was none of the coolest.  But she mastered herself and gained courage by so doing.