Molly was only too glad to allow Lady Harriet to decide everything
for her. It had begun to rain, and was altogether a gloomy day for
August; and there was a small fire of scented wood burning cheerfully
in the sitting-room appropriated to her. High up, it commanded a
wide and pleasant view over the park, and from it could be seen the
spire of Hollingford Church, which gave Molly a pleasant idea of
neighbourhood to home. She was left alone, lying on the sofa--books
near her, wood crackling and blazing, wafts of wind bringing the
beating rain against the window, and so enhancing the sense of indoor
comfort by the outdoor contrast. Parkes was unpacking for her. Lady
Harriet had introduced Parkes to Molly by saying, "Now, Molly, this
is Mrs. Parkes, the only person I am ever afraid of. She scolds me if
I dirty myself with my paints, just as if I was a little child; and
she makes me go to bed when I want to sit up,"--Parkes was smiling
grimly all the time;--"so to get rid of her tyranny I give her you as
victim. Parkes, rule over Miss Gibson with a rod of iron; make her
eat and drink, and rest and sleep, and dress as you think wisest and
best."
Parkes had begun her reign by putting Molly on the sofa, and saying,
"If you will give me your keys, Miss, I will unpack your things, and
let you know when it is time for me to arrange your hair, preparatory
to luncheon." For if Lady Harriet used familiar colloquialisms from
time to time, she certainly had not learnt it from Parkes, who piqued
herself on the correctness of her language.
When Molly went down to lunch she found "cousin Charles," with his
aunt, Lady Cumnor. He was a certain Sir Charles Morton, the son of
Lady Cumnor's only sister: a plain, sandy-haired man of thirty-five
or so; immensely rich, very sensible, awkward, and reserved. He had
had a chronic attachment, of many years' standing, to his cousin,
Lady Harriet, who did not care for him in the least, although it
was the marriage very earnestly desired for her by her mother. Lady
Harriet was, however, on friendly terms with him, ordered him about,
and told him what to do, and what to leave undone, without having
even a doubt as to the willingness of his obedience. She had given
him his cue about Molly.
"Now, Charles, the girl wants to be interested and amused without
having to take any trouble for herself; she is too delicate to be
very active either in mind or body. Just look after her when the
house gets full, and place her where she can hear and see everything
and everybody, without any fuss and responsibility."