She could not manage to slip in this last inquiry naturally; in spite of herself there was a change of tone, an accent of eagerness.Cynthia did not reply on the instant; she poured herself out some water with great deliberation, and then said, - 'My aunt is quite well; Helen is as strong as she ever is, and Margaretta very pretty.The boys are at Harrow, and I conclude that Mr Henderson is enjoying his usual health, for he was to dine at my uncle's to-day.' 'Take care, Cynthia.Look how you are cutting that gooseberry tart,' said Mrs Gibson, with sharp annoyance; not provoked by Cynthia's present action, although it gave excuse for a little vent of temper.'I can't think how you could come off in this sudden kind of way; I am sure it must have annoyed your uncle and aunt.I daresay they'll never ask you again.' 'On the contrary, I am to go back there as soon as ever I can be easy to leave Molly.' '"Easy to leave Molly." Now that really is nonsense, and rather uncomplimentary to me, I must say: nursing her as I have been doing, daily, and almost nightly; for I have been wakened times out of number by Mr Gibson getting up, and going to see if she had had her medicine properly.' 'I am afraid she has been very ill?' asked Cynthia.'Yes, she has, in one way; but not in another.It was what I call more a tedious, than an interesting illness.There was no immediate danger, but she lay much in the same state from day to day.' 'I wish I had known!' sighed Cynthia.'Do you think I might go and see her now?' 'I'll go and prepare her.You'll find her a good deal better than she has been.Ah! here's Mr Gibson!' He came into the dining-room, hearing voices.
Cynthia thought that he looked much older.'You here!' said he, coming forward to shake hands.'Why, how did you come?' 'By the "Umpire." I never knew Molly had been so ill, or I would have come directly.' Her eyes were full of tears.Mr Gibson was touched; he shook her hand again, and murmured, 'You're a good girl, Cynthia.' 'She's heard one of dear Lady Harriet's exaggerated accounts,' said Mrs Gibson, 'and come straight off.I tell her it's very foolish, for really Molly is a great deal better now.' 'Very foolish,' said Mr Gibson, echoing his wife's words, but smiling at Cynthia.'But sometimes one likes foolish people for their folly, better than wise people for their wisdom.' 'I am afraid folly always annoys me,' said his wife.'However, Cynthia is here, and what is done, is done.' 'Very true, my dear.And now I'll run up and see my little girl, and tell her the good news.You'd better follow me in a couple of minutes.' This to Cynthia.Molly's delight at seeing her showed itself first in a few happy tears;and then in soft caresses and inarticulate sounds of love.Once or twice she began, 'It is such a pleasure,' and there she stopped short.But the eloquence of these five words sank deep into Cynthia's heart.She had returned just at the right time, when Molly wanted the gentle fillip of the society of a fresh and yet a familiar person.Cynthia's tact made her talkative or silent, gay or grave, as the varying humour of Molly required.She listened, too, with the semblance, if not the reality, of unwearied interest, to Molly's continual recurrence to all the time of distress and sorrow at Hamley Hall, and to the scenes which had then so deeply impressed themselves upon her susceptible nature.Cynthia instinctively knew that the repetition of all these painful recollections would case the oppressed memory, which refused to dwell on anything but what had occurred at a time of feverish disturbance of health.So she never interrupted Molly, as Mrs Gibson had so frequently done, with, - 'You told me all that before, my dear.Let us talk of something else;' or, 'Really I cannot allow you to be always dwelling on painful thoughts.Try and be a little more cheerful.Youth is gay.You are young, and therefore you ought to be gay.That is put in a famous form of speech; I forget exactly what it is called.' So Molly's health and spirits improved rapidly after Cynthia's return;and although she was likely to retain many of her invalid habits during the summer, she was able to take drives, and enjoy the fine weather; it was only her as yet tender spirits that required a little management.All the Hollingford people forgot that they had ever thought of her except as the darling of the town; and each in his or her way showed kind interest in her father's child.Miss Browning and Miss Phoebe considered it quite a privilege that they were allowed to see her a fortnight or three weeks before any one else; Mrs Goodenough, spectacles on nose, stirred dainty messes in a silver saucepan for Molly's benefit; the Towers sent books and forced fruit, and new caricatures, and strange and delicate poultry;humble patients of 'the doctor,' as Mr Gibson was usually termed, left the earliest cauliflowers they could grow in their cottage gardens, with 'their duty for Miss.' And last of all, though strongest in regard, most piteously eager in interest, came Squire Hamley himself.When she was at the worst, he rode over every day to hear the smallest detail, facing even Mrs Gibson (his abomination)if her husband was not at home, to ask and hear, and ask and hear, till the tears were unconsciously stealing down his cheeks.Every resource of his heart, or his house, or his lands was searched and tried, if it could bring a moment's pleasure to her; and whatever it might be that came from him, at her very worst time, it brought out a dim smile upon her face.
