By-and-by, however, when her father had done all that he could, and they were once more downstairs, he told them more about her journey than they yet knew.  The hurry, the sense of acting in defiance of a prohibition, the over-mastering anxiety, the broken night, and fatigue of the journey, had ill prepared her for the shock at last, and Mr. Gibson was seriously alarmed for the consequences.  She had wandered strangely in her replies to him; had perceived that she was wandering, and had made great efforts to recall her senses; but Mr Gibson foresaw that some bodily illness was coming on, and stopped late that night, arranging many things with Molly and the squire.  One—­the only—­comfort arising from her state was the probability that she would be entirely unconscious by the morrow—­the day of the funeral.  Worn out by the contending emotions of the day, the squire seemed now unable to look beyond the wrench and trial of the next twelve hours.  He sate with his head in his hands, declining to go to bed, refusing to dwell on the thought of his grandchild—­not three hours ago such a darling in his eyes.  Mr. Gibson gave some instructions to one of the maid-servants as to the watch she was to keep by Mrs. Osborne Hamley, and insisted on Molly’s going to bed.  When she pleaded the apparent necessity of her staying up, he said,—­

’Now, Molly, look how much less trouble the dear old squire would give if he would obey orders.  He is only adding to anxiety by indulging himself.  One pardons everything to extreme grief, however.  But you will have enough to do to occupy all your strength for days to come; and go to bed you must now.  I only wish I saw my way as clearly through other things as I do to your nearest duty.  I wish I’d never let Roger go wandering off; he’ll wish it too, poor fellow!  Did I tell you Cynthia is going off in hot haste to her uncle Kirkpatrick’s?  I suspect a visit to him will stand in lieu of going out to Russia as a governess.’

‘I am sure she was quite serious in wishing for that.’

’Yes, yes! at the time.  I’ve no doubt she thought she was sincere in intending to go.  But the great thing was to get out of the unpleasantness of the present time and place; and uncle Kirkpatrick’s will do this as effectually, and more pleasantly, than a situation at Nishni-Novgorod in an ice-palace.’

He had given Molly’s thoughts a turn, which was what he wanted to do.  Molly could not help remembering Mr. Henderson; and his offer, and all the consequent hints; and wondering, and wishing—­what did she wish? or had she been falling asleep?  Before she had quite ascertained this point she was asleep in reality.