"To leave--are you going away again?"
"Yes. Have you not heard? I didn't complete my engagement. I'm going
again in September for six months."
"I remember. But somehow I fancied--you seemed to have settled down
into the old ways at the Hall."
"So my father appears to think. But it is not likely I shall ever
make it my home again; and that is partly the reason why I want my
father to adopt the notion of Aimée's living with him. Ah, here are
all the people coming back from their walk. However, I shall see you
again; perhaps this afternoon we may get a little quiet time, for I
have a great deal to consult you about."
They separated then, and Molly went upstairs very happy, very full
and warm at her heart; it was so pleasant to have Roger talking to
her in this way, like a friend; she had once thought that she could
never look upon the great brown-bearded celebrity in the former light
of almost brotherly intimacy, but now it was all coming right. There
was no opportunity for renewed confidences that afternoon. Molly went
a quiet decorous drive as fourth with two dowagers and one spinster;
but it was very pleasant to think that she should see him again at
dinner, and again to-morrow. On the Sunday evening, as they all were
sitting and loitering on the lawn before dinner, Roger went on with
what he had to say about the position of his sister-in-law in his
father's house: the mutual bond between the mother and grandfather
being the child; who was also, through jealousy, the bone of
contention and the severance. There were many little details to be
given in order to make Molly quite understand the difficulty of the
situations on both sides; and the young man and the girl became
absorbed in what they were talking about, and wandered away into the
shade of the long avenue. Lady Harriet separated herself from a group
and came up to Lord Hollingford, who was sauntering a little apart,
and putting her arm within his with the familiarity of a favourite
sister, she said,--
"Don't you think that your pattern young man, and my favourite young
woman, are finding out each other's good qualities?"
He had not been observing as she had been.
"Who do you mean?" said he.
"Look along the avenue; who are those?"
"Mr. Hamley and--is it not Miss Gibson? I can't quite make out. Oh!
if you're letting your fancy run off in that direction, I can tell
you it's quite waste of time. Roger Hamley is a man who will soon
have an European reputation!"