Cynthia was almost too much absorbed in her own reflections to reply, but she did say,—­

‘Hundreds of briefless barristers.  Take the other side, mamma.’

‘Well; but I have noticed that many of these have private fortunes.’

’Perhaps.  Mamma, I expect Mr. Henderson will come and call this morning.’

’Oh, my precious child!  But how do you know?  My darling Cynthia, am I to congratulate you?’

’No!  I suppose I must tell you.  I have had a letter this morning from him, and he is coming down by the “Umpire” to-day.’

‘But he has offered?  He surely must mean to offer, at any rate?’

Cynthia played with her teaspoon before she replied; then she looked up, like one startled from a dream, and caught the echo of her mother’s question.

‘Offered! yes, I suppose he has.’

‘And you accept him?  Say yes, Cynthia, and make me happy!’

’I shan’t say “yes” to make any one happy except myself, and the Russian scheme has great charms for me.’  She said this to plague her mother, and lessen Mrs. Gibson’s exuberance of joy, it must be confessed; for her mind was pretty well made up.  But it did not affect Mrs. Gibson, who affixed even less truth to it than there really was.  The idea of a residence in a new, strange country, among new, strange people, was not without allurement to Cynthia.

’You always look nice, dear; but don’t you think you had better put on that pretty lilac silk?’

‘I shall not vary a thread or a shred from what I have got on now.’

’You dear wilful creature! you know you always look lovely in whatever you put on.’  So, kissing her daughter, Mrs. Gibson left the room, intent on the lunch which should impress Mr. Henderson at once with an idea of family refinement.

Cynthia went upstairs to Molly; She was inclined to tell her about Mr. Henderson, but she found it impossible to introduce the subject naturally, so she left it to time to reveal the future as gradually as it might.  Molly was tired with a bad night; and her father, in his flying visit to his darling before going out, had advised her to stay upstairs for the greater part of the morning, and to keep quiet in her own room till after her early dinner, so Time had not a fair chance of telling her what he had in store in his budget.  Mrs. Gibson sent an apology to Molly for not paying her her usual morning visit, and told Cynthia to give Mr. Henderson’s probable coming as a reason for her occupation downstairs.  But Cynthia did no such thing.  She kissed Molly, and sate silently by her, holding her hand; till at length she jumped up, and said, ’You shall be left alone now, little one.  I want you to be very well and very bright this afternoon:  so rest now.’  And Cynthia left her, and went to her own room, locked the door, and began to think.