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take care to avoid it. You must be my little friend and helper in pleasing him. It will be such a pleasure to me to attend to his slightest fancies. About my dress, toowhat colours does he like best? I want to do everything in my power with a view to his approval. Molly was gratified by all this, and began to think that really, after all, perhaps her father had done well for himself; and that, if she could help towards his new happiness, she ought to do it. So she tried very conscientiously to think over Mr. Gibsons wishes and ways; to ponder over what annoyed him the most in his household. I think, said she, papa isnt particular about many things; but, I think, our not having the dinner quite punctualquite ready for him when he comes infidgets him more than anything. You see, he has often had a long ride, and there is another long ride to come, and he has only half-an-hoursometimes only a quarterto eat his dinner in. Thank you, my own love! Punctuality! Yes; its a great thing in a household. Its what Ive had to enforce with my young ladies at Ashcombe. No wonder poor dear Mr. Gibson has been displeased at his dinner not being ready, and he so hard-worked! Papa doesnt care what he has, if its only ready. He would take bread-and-cheese, if cook would only send it in instead of dinner. Bread-and-cheese! Does Mr. Gibson eat cheese? Yes; hes very fond of it, said Molly innocently. Ive known him eat toasted cheese when he has been too tired to fancy anything else. Oh! but, my dear, we must change all that. I shouldnt like to think of your father eating cheese; its such a strong-smelling, coarse kind of thing. We must get him a cook who can toss him up an omelette, or something elegant. Cheese is only fit for the kitchen. Papa is very fond of it, persevered Molly. Oh! but we will cure him of that. I couldnt bear the smell of cheese; and Im sure he would be sorry to annoy me. Molly was silent; it did not do, she found, to be too minute in telling about her fathers likes or dislikes. She had better leave them for Mrs. Kirkpatrick to find out for herself. It was an awkward pause; each was trying to find something agreeable to say. Molly spoke at length. Please! I should so like to know something about Cynthiayour daughter. Yes, call her Cynthia. Its a pretty name, isnt it? Cynthia Kirkpatrick. Not so pretty, though, as my old name, Hyacinth Clare. People used to say it suited me so well. I must show you an acrostic that a gentlemanhe was a lieutenant in the 53rdmade upon it. Oh! we shall have a great deal to say to each other, I foresee! But about Cynthia? Oh, yes! about dear Cynthia. What do you want to know, my dear? Papa said she was to live with us! When will she come? Oh, was it not sweet of your kind father? I thought of nothing else but Cynthias going out as a governess when she had completed her education; she has been brought up for it, and has had great advantages. But good, dear Mr. Gibson wouldnt hear of it. He said yesterday that she must come and live with us when she left school. |
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