‘I think him perfection,’ said Mr. Gibson, to Molly’s surprise; but in an instant afterwards she saw that he had been speaking ironically.  He went on.  ’I don’t wonder she preferred him to Roger Hamley.  Such scents! such gloves!  And then his hair and his cravat!’

’Now, papa, you are not fair.  He is a great deal more than that.  One could see that he had very good feeling; and he is very handsome, and very much attached to her.’

’So was Roger.  However, I must confess I shall only be too glad to have her married.  She is a girl who will always have some love-affair on hand, and will always be apt to slip through a man’s fingers if he does not look sharp; as I was saying to Roger—­’

‘You have seen him, then, since he was here?’

‘Met him in the street.’

‘How was he?’

’I don’t suppose he had been going through the pleasantest thing in the world; but he’ll get over it before long.  He spoke with sense and resignation, and did not say much about it; but one could see that he was feeling it pretty sharply.  He’s had three months to think it over, remember.  The squire, I should guess, is showing more indignation.  He is boiling over, that any one should reject his son!  The enormity of the sin never seems to have been apparent to him till now, when he sees how Roger is affected by it.  Indeed, with the exception of myself, I don’t know one reasonable father; eh, Molly?’

Whatever else Mr. Henderson might be, he was an impatient lover; he wanted to marry Cynthia directly—­next week—­the week after.  At any rate before the long vacation, so that they could go abroad at once.  Trousseaux, and preliminary ceremonies, he gave to the winds.  Mr Gibson, generous as usual, called Cynthia aside a morning or two after her engagement, and put a hundred-pound note into her hands.

’There! that’s to pay your expenses to Russia and back.  I hope you’ll find your pupils obedient.’

To his surprise, and rather to his discomfiture, Cynthia threw her arms round his neck and kissed him.

‘You are the kindest person I know,’ said she; ’and I don’t know how to thank you in words.’

’If you tumble my shirt-collars again in that way, I’ll charge you for the washing.  Just now, too, when I’m trying so hard to be trim and elegant, like your Mr. Henderson.’

‘But you do like him, don’t you?’ said Cynthia, pleadingly.  ’He does so like you.’

’Of course.  We are all angels just now, and you are an arch-angel.  I hope he’ll wear as well as Roger.’

Cynthia looked grave.  ‘That was a very silly affair,’ she said.  ’We were two as unsuitable people—­’

’It has ended, and that’s enough.  Besides, I’ve no more time to waste; and there is your smart young man coming here in all haste.’