Cynthia sate between Roger and William Osborne, the young schoolboy, who bitterly resented on this occasion his sisters' habit of calling him 'Willie,'
as he thought that it was this boyish sobriquet which prevented Cynthia from attending as much to him as to Mr Roger Hamley; he also was charmed by the charmer, who found leisure to give him one or two of her sweet smiles.
On his return home to his grandmamma's he gave out one or two very decided and rather original opinions, quite opposed - as was natural - to his sisters'.
One was, - 'That, after all, a senior wrangler was no great shakes.Any man might be one if he liked, but there were a lot of fellows that he knew who would be very sorry to go in for anything so slow.' Molly thought the game would never end.She had no particular turn for gambling in her; and whatever her card might be, she regularly put on two counters, indifferent as to whether she won or lost.Cynthia, on the contrary, staked high, and was at one time very rich, but ended by being in debt to Molly something like six shillings.She had forgotten her purse, she said, and was obliged to borrow from the more provident Molly, who was aware that the round game of which Miss Browning had spoken to her was likely to require money.If it was not a very merry affair for all the individuals concerned, it was a very noisy one on the whole.Molly thought it was going to last till midnight; but punctually as the clock struck nine, the little maid-servant staggered in under the weight of a tray loaded with sandwiches, cakes, and jelly.This brought on a general move; and Roger, who appeared to have been on the watch for something of the kind, came and took a chair by Molly.'I am so glad to see you again - it seems such a long time since Christmas,'
said he, dropping his voice, and not alluding more exactly to the day when she had left the Hall.'It is a long time,' she replied; 'we are close to Easter now.I have so wanted to tell you how glad I was to hear about your honours at Cambridge.
I once thought of sending you a message through your brother, but then I thought it might be making too much fuss, because I know nothing of mathematics, or of the value of a senior-wranglership; and you were sure to have so many congratulations from people who did know.' 'I missed yours though, Molly,' said he, kindly.'But I felt sure you were glad for me.' 'Glad and proud too,' said she.'I should so like to hear something more about it.I heard you telling Cynthia -- ' 'Yes.What a charming person she is! I should think you must be happier than we expected long ago.' 'But tell me something about the senior-wranglership, please,' said Molly.'It's a long story, and I ought to be helping the Miss Brownings to hand sandwiches - besides, you wouldn't find it very interesting, it's so full of technical details.' 'Cynthia looked very much interested,' said Molly.'Well! then I refer you to her, for I must go now.I can't for shame go on sitting here, and letting those good ladies have all the trouble.But I shall come and call on Mrs Gibson soon.Are you walking home to-night?' 'Yes, I think so,' replied Molly, eagerly foreseeing what was to come.'Then I shall walk home with you.I left my horse at the "George," and that's half-way.I suppose old Betty will allow me to accompany you and your sister? You used to describe her as something of a dragon.' 'Betty has left us,' said Molly, sadly.'She's gone to live at a place at Ashcombe.' He made a face of dismay, and then went off to his duties.The short conversation had been very pleasant, and his manner had had just the brotherly kindness of old times; but it was not quite the manner he had to Cynthia; and Molly half thought she would have preferred the latter.He was now hovering about Cynthia, who had declined the offer of refreshments from Willie Osborne.
