eyes, which he never remembered to have noticed before. She smiled at him, as she blushed still deeper, and said—

“Oh! I am quite strong now to what I was. It would be a shame to be ill when everything is in its full summer beauty.”

“I have heard how deeply we—I am indebted to you— my father can hardly praise you”——

“Please don’t!” said Molly, the tears coming into her eyes in spite of herself. He seemed to understand her at once; he went on as if speaking to Mrs. Gibson: “Indeed, my little sister-in-law is never weary of talking about ‘Monsieur le Docteur,’ as she calls your husband!”

“I have not had the pleasure of making Mrs. Osborne Hamley’s acquaintance yet,” said Mrs. Gibson, suddenly aware of a duty which might have been expected from her, “and I must beg you to apologise to her for my remissness. But Molly has been such a care and anxiety to me—for, you know, I look upon her quite as my own child—that I really have not gone anywhere; excepting to the Towers, perhaps I should say, which is just like another home to me. And then I understood that Mrs. Osborne Hamley was thinking of returning to France before long? Still it was very remiss.”

The little trap thus set for news of what might be going on in the Hamley family was quite successful. Roger answered her thus—

“I am sure Mrs. Osborne Hamley will be very glad to see any friends of the family, as soon as she is a little stronger. I hope she will not go back to France at all. She is an orphan, and I trust we shall induce her to remain with my father. But at present nothing is arranged.” Then, as if glad to have got over his “visit of ceremony,” he got up and took leave. When he was at the door, he looked back, having, as he thought, a word more to say; but he quite forgot what it was, for he surprised Molly’s intent gaze, and sudden confusion at discovery, and went away as soon as he could.

“Poor Osborne was right!” said he. “She has grown into delicate fragrant beauty, just as he said she would; or is it the character which has formed her face? Now, the next time I enter these doors, it will be to learn my fate!”

Mr. Gibson had told his wife of Roger’s desire to have a personal interview with Cynthia, rather with a view to her repeating what he said to her daughter. He did not see any exact necessity for this, it is true; but he thought it might be advisable that she should know all the truth in which she was concerned, and he told his wife this. But she took the affair into her own management, and, although she apparently agreed with Mr. Gibson, she never named the affair to Cynthia; all that she said to her was—

“Your old admirer, Roger Hamley, has come home in a great hurry, in consequence of poor dear Osborne’s unexpected decease. He must have been rather surprised to find the widow and her little boy established at the Hall. He came to call here the other day, and made himself really rather agreeable, although his manners are not improved by the society he has kept on his travels. Still, I prophesy he will be considered as a fashionable ‘lion,’ and perhaps the very uncouthness which jars against my sense of refinement may even become admired in a scientific traveller, who has been into more desert places, and eaten more extraordinary food, than any other Englishman of the day. I suppose he has given up all chance of inheriting the estate, for I hear he talks of returning to Africa and becoming a regular wanderer. Your name was not mentioned; but I believe he inquired about you from Mr. Gibson.”

“There!” said she to herself, as she folded up and directed her letter. “That can’t disturb her or make her uncomfortable. And it’s all the truth too, or very near it. Of course he’ll want to see her when she comes back; but, by that time, I do hope Mr. Henderson will have proposed again, and that that affair will all be settled.”