"Well, well!" said Mr. Gibson, seeing that he was to be worsted, and
not caring enough about the matter to show fight. "Perhaps you're
right. It's a case of luxury _versus_ fresh air. Some people suffer
more from want of the one than from want of the other. You know I
shall be glad to see her if she likes to come, and take us as we are,
but I can't give up the consulting-room. It's a necessity; our daily
bread!"
"I'll write and tell them how kind Mr. Gibson is," said his wife in
high contentment, as her husband left the room. "They'll be just as
much obliged to him as if she had come!"
Whether it was Helen's illness, or from some other cause, after
breakfast Cynthia became very flat and absent, and this lasted all
day long. Molly understood now why her moods had been so changeable
for many months, and was tender and forbearing with her accordingly.
Towards evening, when the two girls were left alone, Cynthia came and
stood over Molly, so that her face could not be seen.
"Molly," said she, "will you do it? Will you do what you said last
night? I've been thinking of it all day, and sometimes I believe he
would give you back the letters if you asked him; he might fancy--at
any rate it's worth trying, if you don't very much dislike it."
Now it so happened that with every thought she had given to it, Molly
disliked the idea of the proposed interview with Mr. Preston more and
more; but it was, after all, her own offer, and she neither could nor
would draw back from it; it might do good; she did not see how it
could possibly do harm. So she gave her consent, and tried to conceal
her distaste, which grew upon her more and more as Cynthia hastily
arranged the details.
"You shall meet him in the avenue leading from the park lodge up to
the Towers. He can come in one way from the Towers, where he has
often business--he has pass-keys everywhere--you can go in as we have
often done by the lodge--you need not go far."
It did strike Molly that Cynthia must have had some experience in
making all these arrangements; and she ventured to ask how he was
to be informed of all this. Cynthia only reddened and replied, "Oh!
never mind! He will only be too glad to come; you heard him say
he wished to discuss the affair more; it is the first time the
appointment has come from my side. If I can but once be free--oh,
Molly, I will love you, and be grateful to you all my life!"