Wives and Daughters: An Every-Day Story - Page 567/572

"That, after all, a senior wrangler was no great shakes. Any man

might be one if he liked, but there were a lot of fellows that he

knew who would be very sorry to go in for anything so slow."

Molly thought the game never would end. She had no particular turn

for gambling in her; and whatever her card might be, she regularly

put on two counters, indifferent as to whether she won or lost.

Cynthia, on the contrary, staked high, and was at one time very rich,

but ended by being in debt to Molly something like six shillings. She

had forgotten her purse, she said, and was obliged to borrow from the

more provident Molly, who was aware that the round game of which Miss

Browning had spoken to her was likely to require money. If it was

not a very merry affair for all the individuals concerned, it was

a very noisy one on the whole. Molly thought it was going to last

till midnight; but punctually, as the clock struck nine, the little

maid-servant staggered in under the weight of a tray loaded with

sandwiches, cakes, and jelly. This brought on a general move; and

Roger, who appeared to have been on the watch for something of the

kind, came and took a chair by Molly.

"I am so glad to see you again--it seems such a long time since

Christmas," said he, dropping his voice, and not alluding more

exactly to the day when she had left the Hall.

"It is a long time," she replied; "we are close to Easter now. I

have so wanted to tell you how glad I was to hear about your honours

at Cambridge. I once thought of sending you a message through

your brother, but then I thought it might be making too much fuss,

because I know nothing of mathematics, or of the value of a senior

wranglership; and you were sure to have so many congratulations from

people who did know."

"I missed yours though, Molly," said he, kindly. "But I felt sure you

were glad for me."

"Glad and proud too," said she. "I should so like to hear something

more about it. I heard you telling Cynthia--"

"Yes. What a charming person she is! I should think you must be

happier than we expected long ago."

"But tell me something about the senior wranglership, please," said

Molly.

"It's a long story, and I ought to be helping the Miss Brownings to

hand sandwiches--besides, you wouldn't find it very interesting, it's

so full of technical details."

"Cynthia looked very much interested," said Molly.