’What a charming plan!  I cannot think of anything kinder or pleasanter for this poor darling.  Only—­what will Lady Cumnor say?  I am modest for my family as much as for myself.  She won’t—­’

’You know mamma’s sense of hospitality is never more gratified than when the house is quite full; and papa is just like her.  Besides she is fond of you, and grateful to our good Mr. Gibson, and will be fond of you, little one, when she knows you as I do.’

Molly’s heart sank within her at the prospect.  Excepting on the one evening of her father’s wedding-day, she had never even seen the outside of the Towers since that unlucky day in her childhood when she had fallen asleep on Clare’s bed.  She had a dread of the countess, a dislike to the house, only it seemed as if it was a solution to the problem of what to do with her, which had been perplexing every one all morning, and so evidently that it had caused her much distress.  She kept silence, though her lips quivered from time to time.  Oh, if the Miss Brownings had not chosen this very time of all others to pay their monthly visit to Miss Hornblower! if she could only have gone there, and lived with them in their quaint, quiet, primitive way, instead of having to listen, without remonstrance, to hearing plans discussed about her, as if she was an inanimate chattel.

’She shall have the south pink room, opening out of mine by one door, you remember; and the dressing-room shall be made into a cozy little sitting-room for her, in case she likes to be by herself.  Parkes shall attend upon her, and I am sure Mr. Gibson must know Parkes’s powers as a nurse by this time.  We shall have all manner of agreeable people in the house to amuse her downstairs; and when she has got rid of this access of cold, I will drive her out every day, and write daily bulletins, as I said.  Pray tell Mr. Gibson all that, and let it be considered as settled.  I will come for her in the close carriage to-morrow, at eleven.  And now may I see the lovely bride elect, and give her mamma’s present, and my own good wishes?’

So Cynthia came in, and demurely received the very proper present, and the equally correct congratulations, without testifying any very great delight or gratitude at either; for she was quite quick enough to detect that there was no great afflux of affection accompanying either.  But when she heard her mother quickly recapitulating all the details of the plan for Molly, Cynthia’s eyes did sparkle with gladness; and almost to Lady Harriet’s surprise, she thanked her as if she had conferred a personal favour upon her, Cynthia.  Lady Harriet saw, too, that in a very quiet way, she had taken Molly’s hand, and was holding it all the time, as if loth to think of their approaching separation—­ somehow, she and Lady Harriet were brought nearer together by this little action than they had ever been before.