Wives and Daughters: An Every-Day Story - Page 513/572

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."