Mrs. Kirkpatrick fondled the hand thus placed in hers, and was grateful to the girl for her outspoken opposition to Lady Cumnor’s plan.  Clare was, however, exceedingly unwilling to back up Molly by any words of her own until Lady Cumnor had spoken and given the cue.  But there was something in Molly’s little speech, or in her straightforward manner, that amused instead of irritating Lady Cumnor in her present mood.  Perhaps she was tired of the silkiness with which she had been shut up for so many days.

She put up her glasses, and looked at them both before speaking.  Then she said,—­’Upon my word, young lady!  Why, Clare, you’ve got your work before you!  Not but what there is a good deal of truth in what she says.  It must be very disagreeable to a girl of her age to have a stepmother coming in between her father and herself, whatever may be the advantages to her in the long run.’

Molly almost felt as if she could make a friend of the stiff old countess, for her clearness of sight as to the plan proposed being a trial; but she was afraid, in her new-born desire of thinking for others, of Mrs. Kirkpatrick being hurt.  She need not have feared as far as outward signs went, for the smile was still on that lady’s pretty rosy lips, and the soft fondling of her hand never stopped.  Lady Cumnor was more interested in Molly the more she looked at her; and her gaze was pretty steady through her gold-rimmed eye-glasses.  She began a sort of catechism; a string of very straightforward questions, such as any lady under the rank of countess might have scrupled to ask, but which were not unkindly meant.

‘You are sixteen, are you not?’

‘No; I am seventeen.  My birthday was three weeks ago.’

’Very much the same thing, I should think.  Have you ever been to school?’

‘No, never!  Miss Eyre has taught me everything I know.’

’Umph!  Miss Eyre was your governess, I suppose?  I should not have thought your father could have afforded to keep a governess.  But of course he must know his own affairs best.’

‘Certainly, my lady,’ replied Molly, a little touchy as to any reflections on her father’s wisdom.

’You say “certainly!” as if it was a matter of course that every one should know their own affairs best.  You are very young, Miss Gibson—­ very.  You’ll know better before you come to my age.  And I suppose you’ve been taught music, and the use of the globes, and French, and all the usual accomplishments, since you have had a governess?  I never heard of such nonsense!’ she went on, lashing herself up.  ’An only daughter!  If there had been half-a-dozen girls, there might have been some sense in it.’

Molly did not speak but it was by a strong effort that she kept silence.  Mrs. Kirkpatrick fondled her hand more perseveringly than ever, hoping thus to express a sufficient amount of sympathy to prevent her from saying anything injudicious.  But the caress had become wearisome to Molly, and only irritated her nerves.  She took her hand out of Mrs. Kirkpatrick’s, with a slight manifestation of impatience.