"Osborne was married," said she, fixing her eyes on her father. "That
is the secret."
"Married! Nonsense. What makes you think so?"
"He told me. That's to say, I was in the library--was reading there,
some time ago; and Roger came and spoke to Osborne about his wife.
Roger did not see me, but Osborne did. They made me promise secrecy.
I don't think I did wrong."
"Don't worry yourself about right or wrong just now; tell me more
about it, at once."
"I knew no more till six months ago--last November, when you went up
to Lady Cumnor. Then he called, and gave me his wife's address, but
still under promise of secrecy; and, except those two times, and once
when Roger just alluded to it, I have never heard any one mention the
subject. I think he would have told me more that last time, only Miss
Phoebe came in."
"Where is this wife of his?"
"Down in the south; near Winchester, I think. He said she was a
Frenchwoman and a Roman Catholic; and I think he said she was a
servant," added Molly.
"Phew!" Her father made a long whistle of dismay.
"And," continued Molly, "he spoke of a child. Now you know as much as
I do, papa, except the address. I have it written down safe at home."
Forgetting, apparently, what time of night it was, Mr. Gibson sate
down, stretched out his legs before him, put his hands in his
pockets, and began to think. Molly sate still without speaking, too
tired to do more than wait.
"Well!" said he at last, jumping up, "nothing can be done to-night;
by to-morrow morning, perhaps, I may find out. Poor little pale
face!"--taking it between both his hands and kissing it; "poor,
sweet, little pale face!" Then he rang the bell, and told Robinson to
send some maid-servant to take Miss Gibson to her room.
"He won't be up early," said he, in parting. "The shock has lowered
him too much to be energetic. Send breakfast up to him in his own
room. I'll be here again before ten."
Late as it was before he left, he kept his word.
"Now, Molly," he said, "you and I must tell him the truth between us.
I don't know how he will take it; it may comfort him, but I've very
little hope: either way, he ought to know it at once."
"Robinson says he has gone into the room again, and he is afraid he
has locked the door on the inside."
"Never mind. I shall ring the bell, and send up Robinson to say that
I am here, and wish to speak to him."