’Why, it’s the very best thing for you that could have happened, my dear,’ said Lord Cumnor.  ’You’re growing up into a young lady—­and a very pretty young lady, too, if you’ll allow an old man to say so—­and who so proper as your father’s wife to bring you out, and show you off, and take you to balls, and that kind of thing?  I always said this match that is going to come off to-day was the most suitable thing I ever knew; and it’s even a better thing for you than for the people themselves.’

‘Poor child!’ said Lady Harriet, who had caught a sight of Molly’s troubled face, ’the thought of balls is too much for her just now; but you’ll like having Cynthia Kirkpatrick for a companion, shan’t you, dear?’

‘Very much,’ said Molly, cheering up a little.  ‘Do you know her?’

’Oh, I’ve seen her over and over again when she was a little girl, and once or twice since.  She’s the prettiest creature that you ever saw; and with eyes that mean mischief, if I’m not mistaken.  But Clare kept her spirit under pretty well when she was staying with us,—­afraid of her being troublesome, I fancy.’

Before Molly could shape her next question, they were at the church; and she and Lady Harriet went into a pew near the door to wait for the bride, in whose train they were to proceed to the altar.  The earl drove on alone to fetch her from her own house, not a quarter of a mile distant.  It was pleasant to her to be led to the hymeneal altar by a belted earl, and pleasant to have his daughter as a volunteered bridesmaid.  Mrs. Kirkpatrick in this flush of small gratifications, and on the brink of matrimony with a man whom she liked, and who would be bound to support her without any exertion of her own, looked beamingly happy and handsome.  A little cloud came over her face at the sight of Mr. Preston,—­the sweet perpetuity of her smile was rather disturbed as he followed in Mr. Gibson’s wake.  But his face never changed; he bowed to her gravely, and then seemed absorbed in the service.  Ten minutes, and all was over.  The bride and bridegroom were driving together to the Manor-house, Mr. Preston was walking thither by a short cut, and Molly was again in the carriage with my lord, rubbing his hands and chuckling, and Lady Harriet, trying to be kind and consolatory, when her silence would have been the best comfort.

Molly found out, to her dismay, that the plan was for her to return with Lord Cumnor and Lady Harriet when they went back to the Towers in the evening.  In the meantime Lord Cumnor had business to do with Mr. Preston, and after the happy couple had driven off on their week’s holiday tour, she was to be left alone with the formidable Lady Harriet.  When they were by themselves after all the others had been thus disposed of, Lady Harriet sate still over the drawing-room fire, holding a screen between it and her face, but gazing intently at Molly for a minute or two.  Molly was fully conscious of this prolonged look, and was trying to get up her courage to return the stare, when Lady Harriet suddenly said,—­