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053 - Squire Hamley's Sorrow · Wives and Daughters

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  Speaker 1: Chapter fifty two of Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell.
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  Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, Chapter fifty two,
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  Speaker 1: Squire Hamley's Sorrow. It seemed very long before mister Gibson
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  Speaker 1: came down. He went and stood with his back to
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  Speaker 1: the empty fireplace and did not speak for a minute
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  Speaker 1: or two.
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  Speaker 2: He's gone to bed, said he at length. Robinson and
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  Speaker 2: I have got him there. But just as I was
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  Speaker 2: leaving him, he called me back and asked me to
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  Speaker 2: let you stop. I'm sure, I don't know, but one
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  Speaker 2: doesn't like to refuse at such a time.
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  Speaker 1: I wish to stay, said Molly, do you.
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  Speaker 2: There's a good girl. But how will you manage Oh?
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  Speaker 3: Never mind that I can manage Papa? She paused, What
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  Speaker 3: did osborn dayev?
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  Speaker 1: She asked the question in a low, awe stricken voice.
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  Speaker 2: Something wrong about the heart. You wouldn't understand if I
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  Speaker 2: told you. I apprehended it for some time, but it's
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  Speaker 2: better not to talk of such things at home. When
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  Speaker 2: I saw him on Thursday week, he seemed better than
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  Speaker 2: I've seen him for a long time. I told doctor
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  Speaker 2: Nicholls so, but one can never calculate in these complaints.
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  Speaker 1: You saw him on Thursday week? Why you never mentioned it,
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  Speaker 1: said Mollie.
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  Speaker 2: No, I don't talk of my patients at home. Besides,
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  Speaker 2: I didn't want him to consider me as his doctor,
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  Speaker 2: but as a friend. Any alarm about his own health
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  Speaker 2: would only have hastened the catastrophe.
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  Speaker 3: And didn't he know he was ill ill of a
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  Speaker 3: dangerous complaint, I mean one that might end as it
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  Speaker 3: has done.
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  Speaker 2: No, certainly not. He would only have been watching his
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  Speaker 2: symptoms accelerating matters.
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  Speaker 1: In fact, oh, Papa, said Molly shocked.
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  Speaker 2: I've no time to go into the question.
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  Speaker 1: Mister Gibson continued.
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  Speaker 2: And until you know what has to be said on
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  Speaker 2: both sides, and in every instance, you are not qualified
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  Speaker 2: to judge. We must keep our attention on the duties
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  Speaker 2: in hand. Now, you sleep here for the remainder of
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  Speaker 2: the night, which is more than half gone already. Yes,
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  Speaker 2: promise me to go to bed just as usual. You
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  Speaker 2: may not think it, but most likely you'll go to
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  Speaker 2: sleep at once. People do it your.
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  Speaker 1: Age, Papa.
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  Speaker 3: I think I ought to tell you something I know,
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  Speaker 3: a great secret of Osborne's which I promised solemnly not
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  Speaker 3: to tell. But the last time I saw him, I
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  Speaker 3: think he must have been afraid of something like this.
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  Speaker 1: A fit of sobbing came upon her, which her father
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  Speaker 1: was afraid would end in hysterics. But suddenly she mastered
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  Speaker 1: herself and looked up into his anxious face and smiled
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  Speaker 1: to reassure him. I could not help it, Papa.
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  Speaker 2: No, I know, go on with what you were saying.
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  Speaker 2: You ought to be in bed, But if you've a
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  Speaker 2: secret on your mind, you won't sleep.
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  Speaker 1: Osborne was married, said she, fixing her eyes on her father.
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  Speaker 2: But is a secret married? Nonsense? What makes you think so?
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  Speaker 1: He told me.
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  Speaker 3: That's to say. I was in the library, was reading
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  Speaker 3: there some time ago, and Roger came and spoke to
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  Speaker 3: Osborne about his wife. Roger did not see me, but
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  Speaker 3: Osborne did. They made me promise secrecy. I don't think
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  Speaker 3: I did wrong.
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  Speaker 2: Don't worry yourself about right or wrong. Just now tell
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  Speaker 2: me more about it.
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  Speaker 3: At once I knew no more till six months ago,
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  Speaker 3: last November, when he went up to Lady Cumnor. Then
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  Speaker 3: he called and gave me his wife's address, but still
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  Speaker 3: under promise of secrecy. And except those two times, and
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  Speaker 3: once when Roger just alluded to it, I have never
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  Speaker 3: heard any one mention the subject. I think he would
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  Speaker 3: have told me more the last time. Only miss Phoebe
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  Speaker 3: came in.
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  Speaker 2: Where is this wife of his.
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  Speaker 3: Down in the south near Winchester. I think he said
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  Speaker 3: she was a frenchwoman and a Roman Catholic. And I
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  Speaker 3: think he said she was a servant.
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  Speaker 1: Added Molly, who her father made a long whistle of dismay,
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  Speaker 1: and continued Molly.
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  Speaker 3: He spoke of a child. Now you know as much
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  Speaker 3: as I do, Papa, except the address. I have it
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  Speaker 3: written down safe at.
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  Speaker 1: Home forgetting apparently what time of night it was. Mister
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  Speaker 1: Gibson sat down, stretched out his legs before him, put
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  Speaker 1: his hands in his pockets, and began to think. Molly
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  Speaker 1: sat still, without speaking, too tired to do more than wait, well,
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  Speaker 1: said he at last, jumping up.
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  Speaker 2: Nothing can be done tonight. By tomorrow morning, perhaps I
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  Speaker 2: may find out poor little pale face.
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  Speaker 1: Taking it between both his hands and kissing.
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  Speaker 2: It, poor sweet little pale face.
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  Speaker 1: Then he rang the bell and told Robinson to send
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  Speaker 1: some maid servant to take Miss Gibson to her room.
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  Speaker 2: He won't be up early, said he, imparting the shock
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  Speaker 2: has lowered him too much to be energetic, send breakfast
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  Speaker 2: up to him in his own room. I'll be here
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  Speaker 2: again before ten.
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  Speaker 1: Late as it was before he left. He kept his word.
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  Speaker 2: Now, Molly, he said, you and I must tell him
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  Speaker 2: the truth between us. I don't know how he will
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  Speaker 2: take it. It may comfort him, but I have very
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  Speaker 2: little hope either way. He ought to know it at once.
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  Speaker 3: Robinson says, he has gone into the room again, and
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  Speaker 3: he is afraid he has locked the door on the inside.
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  Speaker 2: Never mind, I shall ring the bell and send up
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  Speaker 2: Robinson to say that I'm here and wish to speak
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  Speaker 2: to him.
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  Speaker 4: The message returned was the Squire's kind love and could
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  Speaker 4: not see mister Gibson. Just then.
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  Speaker 1: Robinson added it was a long time before he'd answer
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  Speaker 1: it all, sir, go.
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  Speaker 2: Up again and tell him I can wait his convenience.
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  Speaker 1: Now that's a lie, mister Gibson said, turning round to Molly,
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  Speaker 1: as soon as Robinson had left the room.
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  Speaker 2: I ought to be far enough away at twelve. But
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  Speaker 2: if I'm not much mistaken, the innate habits of a
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  Speaker 2: gentleman will make him uneasy at the idea of keeping
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  Speaker 2: me waiting his pleasure, and will do more to bring
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  Speaker 2: him out of that room. This than any entreaties or reasoning.
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  Speaker 1: Mister Gibson was growing impatient, though before they heard the
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  Speaker 1: squire's footstep on the stairs. He was evidently coming slowly
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  Speaker 1: and unwillingly. He came in almost like one blind, groping
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  Speaker 1: along and taking hold of chair or table for support
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  Speaker 1: or guidance, till he reached mister Gibson. He did not
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  Speaker 1: speak when he held the doctor by the hand. He
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  Speaker 1: only hung down his head and kept on a feeble
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  Speaker 1: shaking of welcome.
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  Speaker 4: I'm brought very low, sir. I suppose it's God's doing,
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  Speaker 4: but it comes hard to bond me. He was my
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  Speaker 4: firstborn child.
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  Speaker 1: He said this, almost as if speaking to a stranger
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  Speaker 1: and informing him of facts of which he was ignorant.
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  Speaker 1: Here's Molly, said mister Gibson, choking a little himself and
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  Speaker 1: pushing her forwards.
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  Speaker 4: I beg your pardon. I did not to see you
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  Speaker 4: at first. My mind is a good deal occupied just now.
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  Speaker 1: He sat heavily down, and then seemed almost to forget
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  Speaker 1: that they were there. Molly wondered what was to come next.
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  Speaker 1: Suddenly her father spoke.
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  Speaker 2: Where's Roger?
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  Speaker 1: Said?
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  Speaker 4: He is?
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  Speaker 2: He not likely to be soon? At the cape.
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  Speaker 1: He got up and looked at the directions of one
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  Speaker 1: or two unopened letters brought by that morning's post. Among
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  Speaker 1: them was one in Cynthia's handwriting. Both Molly and he
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  Speaker 1: saw it at the same time. How long it was
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  Speaker 1: since yesterday, but the Squire took no notice of their
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  Speaker 1: proceedings or their looks.
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  Speaker 2: You will be glad to have Roger at home as
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  Speaker 2: soon as may be. I think, sir, some months must
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  Speaker 2: elapse first, but I'm sure he will return as speedily
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  Speaker 2: as possible.
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  Speaker 1: The Squire said something in a very low voice. Both
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  Speaker 1: father and daughter strained their ears to hear what it was.
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  Speaker 1: They both believed it to be Roger is in born,
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  Speaker 1: and mister Gibson spoke on that belief. He spoke more
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  Speaker 1: quietly than Molly had ever heard him do before.
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  Speaker 2: No, we know that I wish that anything that Roger
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  Speaker 2: could do, or that I could do, or that anyone
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  Speaker 2: could do, would comfort you, but it is past human comfort.
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  Speaker 4: I do try to say God's will be done, sir.
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  Speaker 1: Said the Squire, looking up at mister Gibson for the
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  Speaker 1: first time and speaking with more life in his voice.
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  Speaker 4: But it's harder to be resigned than happy people think.
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  Speaker 1: They were all silent for a while. The Squire himself
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  Speaker 1: was the first to speak again.
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  Speaker 4: It was my first child, sir, my eldest son, and
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  Speaker 4: of late years, we weren't His.
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  Speaker 1: Voice broke down, but he controlled himself.
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  Speaker 4: We weren't quite as good friends as could be wished.
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  Speaker 4: And I'm not sure, not sure that he knew how
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  Speaker 4: I loved him.
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  Speaker 1: And now he cried aloud with an exceeding bitter cry. Better,
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  Speaker 1: so whispered mister Gibson to Molly.
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  Speaker 2: When he's a little calmer, don't be afraid tell him
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  Speaker 2: all you know. Exactly as it happened.
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  Speaker 1: Molly began. Her voice sounded high and unnatural to herself,
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  Speaker 1: as if some one else was speaking, but she made
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  Speaker 1: her words clear. The Squire did not attempt to listen
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  Speaker 1: at first. At any rate.
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  Speaker 3: One day, when I was here at the time of
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  Speaker 3: missus Hamley's last illness.
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  Speaker 1: The Squire here checked his convulsive breathing.
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  Speaker 3: I was in the library and Osborne came in. He
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  Speaker 3: said he had only come in for a book, and
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  Speaker 3: that I was not to mind him, so I went
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  Speaker 3: on reading.
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  Speaker 1: Presently.
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  Speaker 3: Roger came along the flagged garden path just outside the window,
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  Speaker 3: which was open. He did not see me in the
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  Speaker 3: corner where I was sitting, and said to Osborne his
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  Speaker 3: letter from your wife.
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  Speaker 1: Now the Squire was all attention. For the first time,
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  Speaker 1: his tear swollen eyes met the eyes of another, and
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  Speaker 1: he looked at Molly with searching anxiety as he repeated.
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  Speaker 4: His wife Osborne married.
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  Speaker 1: Molly went on.
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  Speaker 3: Osborne was angry with Roger for speaking out before me,
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  Speaker 3: and I made me promise never to mention it to
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  Speaker 3: any one or to allude to it to either of
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  Speaker 3: them again. I never named it to Papa till last night.
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  Speaker 1: Go On, said mister Gibson.
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  Speaker 2: Tell the Squire about Osborne's call. What you told me?
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  Speaker 1: Still, the Squire hung on her lips, listening with open
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  Speaker 1: mouth and eyes.
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  Speaker 3: Some months ago, Osborne called. He was not well and
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  Speaker 3: wanted to see Papa. Papa was away and I was alone.
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  Speaker 3: I don't exactly remember how it came about, but he
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  Speaker 3: spoke to me of his wife for the first and
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  Speaker 3: only time since the affair.
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  Speaker 1: In the library, she looked at her father as if
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  Speaker 1: questioning him as to the desirableness of telling the few
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  Speaker 1: further particulars that she knew the Squire's mouth was dry
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  Speaker 1: and stiff, but he tried to.
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  Speaker 4: Say, tell me all everything.
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  Speaker 1: And Molly understood the half formed words.
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  Speaker 3: He said his wife was a good woman, and that
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  Speaker 3: he loved her daily, but she was a French Roman Catholic,
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  Speaker 3: and another glance at her father. She had been a
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  Speaker 3: servant once. That was all, except that I have her
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  Speaker 3: address at home. He wrote it down and gave.
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  Speaker 1: It to me. Well, well, moaned the squire.
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  Speaker 4: It's all over now, all over, all passed and gone.
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  Speaker 4: Will not blame him, no, but I wish he had
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  Speaker 4: told me he and I to live together with such
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  Speaker 4: a secret in one of us. It's no wonder to
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  Speaker 4: me now. Nothing can be a wonder again, for one
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  Speaker 4: never can tell what's in a man's heart. Married so long,
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  Speaker 4: and we sitting together at meals and living together? Why
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  Speaker 4: I told him everything? Too much? Maybe, for I showed
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  Speaker 4: him all my passions and ill tempers. Married so long? Oh, Osborne, Osborne,
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  Speaker 4: you should have told me.
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  Speaker 1: Yes, he should, said mister Gibson.
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  Speaker 2: But I dare say he knew how much you would
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  Speaker 2: dislike such a choice as he had made. But he
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  Speaker 2: should have told you.
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  Speaker 1: You know nothing about it, sir, said the Squire sharply.
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  Speaker 4: You don't know the terms we were on, not heartier confidential.
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  Speaker 4: I must cross to him many a time, angry with
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  Speaker 4: him for being dull, poor lad, and he with all
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  Speaker 4: this weight on his mind. I won't have people interfering
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  Speaker 4: and judging between me and my sons. And Roger too,
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  Speaker 4: he could know it all and keep it from me.
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  Speaker 3: Osborne evidently had bound him down to secrecy, just as
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  Speaker 3: he bound me, said Molly. Roger could not help himself.
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  Speaker 4: Osborne was such a fellow for persuading people and winning
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  Speaker 4: them over.
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  Speaker 1: Said the Squire dreamily.
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  Speaker 4: I remember, But what's the use of remembering? It's all
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  Speaker 4: over and Osborne's dead without opening his heart to me.
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  Speaker 4: I could have been tender to him, my good But
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  Speaker 4: he'll never know it now.
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  Speaker 2: But we can guess what wish he had strongest in
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  Speaker 2: his mind at the last, from what we do know
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  Speaker 2: of his.
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  Speaker 1: Life, said mister Gibson, What sir, said the Squire, with
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  Speaker 1: sharp suspicion of what was coming.
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  Speaker 2: His wife must have been his last thought, must she not?
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  Speaker 4: How do I know if she was his wife? Do
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  Speaker 4: you think he'd go and marry a French baggage of
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  Speaker 4: a servant. It may be all at tale trumped up.
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  Speaker 2: Stop, Squire, I don't care to defend my daughter's truth
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  Speaker 2: or accuracy. But with the dead man's body lying upstairs,
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  Speaker 2: his soul with God, think twice before you say more
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  Speaker 2: hasty words impugning his character. If she was not his wife,
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  Speaker 2: what was she?
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  Speaker 4: I beg your pardon. I hardly know what I'm saying.
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  Speaker 4: Did I accuse Osborne? Oh, my lad, my lad? Thou
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  Speaker 4: might have trusted thy old dad. He used to call
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  Speaker 4: me his old dad when he was a little chap
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  Speaker 4: not bigger than.
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  Speaker 1: This, indicating a certain height with his hand.
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  Speaker 4: I never meant to say that he was not not
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  Speaker 4: what one would wish to think him now his soul
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  Speaker 4: with God, as you say, very justly, for I'm sure
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  Speaker 4: it is there well, But squire.
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  Speaker 1: Said mister Gibson, trying to check the other's rambling.
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  Speaker 2: To return to his wife.
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  Speaker 1: And the child whispered Molly to her father. Lo as
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  Speaker 1: the whisper was it struck on the Squire's ear? What
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  Speaker 1: said he turning round to her.
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  Speaker 4: Suddenly, child, you never named that? Is there? A child?
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  Speaker 4: Husband and father? And I never knew God bless Osborne's child.
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  Speaker 4: I say God bless it.
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  Speaker 1: He stood up reverently, and the other two instinctively rose.
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  Speaker 1: He closed his hands as if in momentary prayer. Then, exhausted,
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  Speaker 1: he sat down again and put out his hand to Molly.
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  Speaker 4: You're a good girl. Thank you. Tell me what I
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  Speaker 4: ought to do, and I'll do it.
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  Speaker 2: This to mister Gibson, I'm almost as much puzzled as
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  Speaker 2: you are, Squire replied he. I fully believe the whole story,
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  Speaker 2: but I think there must be some written confirmation of it,
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  Speaker 2: which perhaps ought to be found at once before we act.
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  Speaker 2: Most probably this is to be discovered among Osborne's papers.
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  Speaker 2: Will you look over them at once? Molly shall return
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  Speaker 2: with me and find the address that Osborne gave her
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  Speaker 2: while you are busy.
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  Speaker 1: Shall come back again, said the squire, eagerly.
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  Speaker 4: You she won't leave me to myself.
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  Speaker 2: No, she shall come back this evening. I'll manage to
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  Speaker 2: send her somehow. But she has no clothes but the
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  Speaker 2: habit she came in, and I want my horse that
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  Speaker 2: she rode away upon.
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  Speaker 1: Take the carriage, said the squire.
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  Speaker 4: Take anything I'll give orders you come back again too.
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  Speaker 2: No, I'm afraid not today. I'll come tomorrow early Molly
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  Speaker 2: shall return this evening whenever it suits you to send
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  Speaker 2: for her.
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  Speaker 4: This afternoon, the carriage shall be at your house at three.
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  Speaker 4: I dare not look at Osborne at the papers without
• 16:55
  Speaker 4: one of you with me. And yet I shall never
• 16:58
  Speaker 4: rest till I know more.
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  Speaker 2: I'll sum the dusk in by Robinson before I leave,
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  Speaker 2: and can you give me some lunch before I go?
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  Speaker 1: Little by little he led the Squire to eat a
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  Speaker 1: morsel or so of food, and so strengthening him physically
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  Speaker 1: and encouraging him mentally. Mister Gibson hoped that he would
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: begin his researches during Molly's absence. There was something touching
• 17:22
  Speaker 1: in the Squire's wistful looks after Mollie as she moved about.
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  Speaker 1: A stranger might have imagined her to be his daughter
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  Speaker 1: instead of mister Gibson's. The meek broken down considerate ways
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  Speaker 1: of the bereaved father never showed themselves more strongly than
• 17:37
  Speaker 1: when he called them back to his chair, out of
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  Speaker 1: which he seemed too languid to rise, and said, as
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  Speaker 1: if by an afterthought.
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  Speaker 4: Give my love to miss Kirkpatrick. Tell her I look
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  Speaker 4: upon ears quite one of the family. I shall be
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  Speaker 4: glad to see her after after the funeral. I don't
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  Speaker 4: think I can before.
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  Speaker 2: He knows nothing of Cynthia's resolution to give up Roger.
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  Speaker 1: Said mister Gibson as they rode away.
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  Speaker 2: I had a long talk with her last night, but
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  Speaker 2: she was as resolute as ever. From what your Mamma
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: tells me, there's a third lover in London whom she's
• 18:14
  Speaker 2: already refused. I'm thankful that you've no lover at all, Molly,
• 18:19
  Speaker 2: unless that aboard of attempt of mister Coxe's at an
• 18:22
  Speaker 2: offer long ago can be called a lover.
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  Speaker 1: I never heard of it, Papa, said Molly.
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  Speaker 2: Oh no, I forgot what a fool I was. Why
• 18:31
  Speaker 2: don't you remember the hurry I was in to get
• 18:33
  Speaker 2: you off to Hamley Hall the very first time you
• 18:36
  Speaker 2: ever went. It was all because I got hold of
• 18:39
  Speaker 2: a desperate love letter from Cox addressed to you.
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: But Molly was too tired to be amused or even interested.
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: She could not get over the side of the straight
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: body covered with a sheet which yet let the outlines
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: be seen. All that remained of Osborne. Her father had
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: trusted too much to the motion of the right and
• 19:00
  Speaker 1: the change of scene from the darkened house he saw
• 19:03
  Speaker 1: his mistake.
• 19:04
  Speaker 2: Some one must write to missus Osborne Hamley said he.
• 19:08
  Speaker 2: I believe her to have a legal right to the name.
• 19:11
  Speaker 2: But whether or no, she must be told that the
• 19:13
  Speaker 2: father of her child is dead. Shall you do it?
• 19:16
  Speaker 1: Or I, oh you please, Papa, I will.
• 19:20
  Speaker 2: If you wish. But she may have heard of you
• 19:22
  Speaker 2: as a friend of her dead husband's, while of me
• 19:25
  Speaker 2: a mere country doctor. It's very probable she has never
• 19:29
  Speaker 2: heard the name.
• 19:30
  Speaker 1: If I ought, I will do it. Mister Gibson did
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: not like this ready acquiescence given in so few words. Too.
• 19:38
  Speaker 3: There's Hollingford Church spire.
• 19:40
  Speaker 1: Said she presently, as they drew near the town and
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: caught a glimpse of the church through the trees. I
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: think I never wish to go out of sight of
• 19:47
  Speaker 1: it again.
• 19:48
  Speaker 2: Nonsense, said he. Why you've all your traveling to do yet.
• 19:52
  Speaker 2: And if these new fangled railways spread as they say
• 19:55
  Speaker 2: they will, we shall all be spinning about the world,
• 19:59
  Speaker 2: sitting on tea kettles, as Phoebe Browning calls it. Miss
• 20:02
  Speaker 2: Browning wrote such a capital letter of advice to Miss Hornbloer.
• 20:06
  Speaker 2: I heard of it at the Miller's Miss Hornbloer was
• 20:09
  Speaker 2: going to travel by railroad for the first time, and
• 20:12
  Speaker 2: Dorothy was very anxious and sent her directions for her conduct.
• 20:17
  Speaker 2: One piece of advice was not to sit on the boiler.
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: Molly laughed a little, as she was expected to do.
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: Here we are at home at last. Missus Gibson gave
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: Molly a warm welcome. For one thing, Cynthia was in
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: disgrace for another. Molly came from the center of news.
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: For a third, Missus Gibson was really fond of the
• 20:40
  Speaker 1: girl in her way and sorry to see her pale
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: heavy looks.
• 20:44
  Speaker 5: To think of it all being so sudden at last,
• 20:47
  Speaker 5: not but what I always expected it, and so provoking.
• 20:51
  Speaker 5: Just when Cynthia had given up Roger, if she had
• 20:54
  Speaker 5: only waited a day, What does the Squire say to
• 20:57
  Speaker 5: it all?
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: He is beaten down with grief, replied Molly.
• 21:01
  Speaker 5: Indeed, I should not have fancied he had liked the
• 21:04
  Speaker 5: engagement so much?
• 21:05
  Speaker 1: What engagement?
• 21:07
  Speaker 4: Why?
• 21:07
  Speaker 5: Roger to Cynthia. To be sure, I asked you how
• 21:10
  Speaker 5: the Squire took her letter announcing the breaking of it off.
• 21:13
  Speaker 3: Oh, I made a mistake. He hasn't opened his letters
• 21:17
  Speaker 3: to day. I saw Cynthia's among them.
• 21:20
  Speaker 5: Now that I call positive disrespect.
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: I don't know. He did not mean it for such.
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: Where is Cynthia.
• 21:28
  Speaker 5: Gone out into the meadow garden? She'll be in directly.
• 21:31
  Speaker 5: I wanted her to do some errands for me, but
• 21:32
  Speaker 5: she flatly refused to go into the town. I am
• 21:35
  Speaker 5: afraid she mismanages her affairs badly, but she won't allow
• 21:39
  Speaker 5: me to interfere. I hate to look at such things
• 21:41
  Speaker 5: in a mercenary spirit, but it is provoking to see
• 21:44
  Speaker 5: her throw over two such good matches, first mister Henderson
• 21:48
  Speaker 5: and now Roger Hamley. When does the Squire expect Roger?
• 21:52
  Speaker 5: Does he think he will come back sooner for poor
• 21:54
  Speaker 5: dear Osborne's death?
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: I don't know.
• 21:56
  Speaker 3: He hardly seems to think of anything but Osborne, to
• 22:00
  Speaker 3: me to have almost forgotten every one else. But perhaps
• 22:03
  Speaker 3: the news of Osborne's being married and of the child
• 22:06
  Speaker 3: may rouse him up.
• 22:07
  Speaker 1: Molly had no doubt that Osborne was really and truly married,
• 22:12
  Speaker 1: nor had she any idea that her father had never
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: breathed the facts of which she had told him on
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: the previous night to his wife or Cynthia. But mister
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: Gibson had been slightly dubious of the full legality of
• 22:24
  Speaker 1: the marriage, and had not felt inclined to speak of
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: it to his wife until that had been ascertained one
• 22:30
  Speaker 1: way or another. So Missus Gibson exclaimed, what.
• 22:34
  Speaker 5: Do you mean child married? Osborne married?
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: Who says?
• 22:38
  Speaker 4: So?
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: Oh, dear?
• 22:40
  Speaker 3: I suppose I ought not to have named it. I'm
• 22:43
  Speaker 3: very stupid to day. Yes, Osborne has been married a
• 22:47
  Speaker 3: long time, but the Squire did not know of it
• 22:49
  Speaker 3: until this morning. I think it has done him good,
• 22:53
  Speaker 3: But I don't know.
• 22:54
  Speaker 5: Who is the lady? Why? I call it a shame
• 22:57
  Speaker 5: to go about as a single man and be married
• 22:59
  Speaker 5: all the time. If there is one thing that revokes me,
• 23:02
  Speaker 5: it is duplicity. Who is the lady? Do tell me
• 23:06
  Speaker 5: all you know about it.
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: There's a dear. She's French and a Roman Catholic, said
• 23:11
  Speaker 1: Molly French.
• 23:13
  Speaker 5: Ah, they are such beguiling women. And he was so
• 23:16
  Speaker 5: much abroad. You said there was a child? Is it
• 23:19
  Speaker 5: a boy or girl?
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: I did not hear. I did not ask. Molly did
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: not think it necessary to do more than answer questions. Indeed,
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: she was vexed enough to have told anything of what
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: her father evidently considered it desirable to keep secret. Just
• 23:35
  Speaker 1: then Cynthia came wandering into the room with a careless,
• 23:39
  Speaker 1: hopeless look in her face, which Molly noticed at once.
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: She had not heard of Molly's arrival and had no
• 23:46
  Speaker 1: idea that she was returned until she saw her sitting there.
• 23:50
  Speaker 6: Molly, Darling, is that you. You're as welcome as the
• 23:53
  Speaker 6: flowers in May, though you've not been gone twenty four hours.
• 23:56
  Speaker 6: But the house isn't the same when you are away.
• 23:59
  Speaker 5: And she brings us such news too, said missus Gibson.
• 24:03
  Speaker 5: I'm really almost glad you wrote to the squire yesterday,
• 24:06
  Speaker 5: for if you had waited till to day, I thought
• 24:08
  Speaker 5: you were in too great a hurry. At the time,
• 24:10
  Speaker 5: he might have thought you had some interested reason for
• 24:12
  Speaker 5: giving up your engagement. Osborne Hamley was married all this time,
• 24:16
  Speaker 5: unknown to everybody, and has got a child too.
• 24:20
  Speaker 1: Osborne married, exclaimed Cynthia.
• 24:23
  Speaker 6: If ever a man looked a bachelor, he did, poor Osborne,
• 24:27
  Speaker 6: with his fair, delicate elegance. He looks so young and boyish.
• 24:31
  Speaker 5: Yes, it was a great piece of deceit, and I
• 24:33
  Speaker 5: can't easily forgive him for it. Only think if he
• 24:37
  Speaker 5: had paid either of you any particular attention, and you
• 24:39
  Speaker 5: had fallen in love with him, or he might have
• 24:41
  Speaker 5: broken your heart or Molly's either. I can't forgive him,
• 24:44
  Speaker 5: even though he is dead, poor fellow.
• 24:47
  Speaker 6: Well, as he never did pay either of us any
• 24:49
  Speaker 6: particular attention, and as we neither of us did fall
• 24:52
  Speaker 6: in love with him. I think I only feel sorry
• 24:54
  Speaker 6: that he had all the trouble and worry of concealment.
• 24:56
  Speaker 1: Cynthia spoke with a pretty keen recollection of how much
• 25:00
  Speaker 1: trouble and worry her concealment had cost her.
• 25:04
  Speaker 5: And now, of course it is a son and will
• 25:05
  Speaker 5: be the heir, and Roger will be just as poorly
• 25:08
  Speaker 5: off as ever. I hope you'll take care and let
• 25:10
  Speaker 5: the squire know. Cynthia was quite ignorant of these new
• 25:13
  Speaker 5: facts that have come out when she wrote those letters. Molly,
• 25:16
  Speaker 5: I should not like a suspicion of worldliness to rest
• 25:18
  Speaker 5: upon any one with whom I had any concern.
• 25:21
  Speaker 3: He hasn't read Cynthia's letter yet, Oh, do let me
• 25:24
  Speaker 3: bring it home unopened, said Molly. Send another letter to
• 25:28
  Speaker 3: Roger now at once. It will reach him at the
• 25:31
  Speaker 3: same time. He will get both when he arrives at
• 25:34
  Speaker 3: the cape and make him on the stand, which is
• 25:36
  Speaker 3: the last the real one. Think he will hear of
• 25:40
  Speaker 3: Osborne's death at the same time two such sad things,
• 25:44
  Speaker 3: do Cynthia, No.
• 25:46
  Speaker 1: My dear, said missus Gibson.
• 25:49
  Speaker 5: I could not allow that, even if Cynthia felt inclined
• 25:51
  Speaker 5: for it, asking to be re engaged to him at
• 25:55
  Speaker 5: any rate. She must wait now until he proposes again
• 25:58
  Speaker 5: and we see how things turn out.
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: But Molly kept her pleading eyes fixed on Cynthia. No,
• 26:04
  Speaker 1: said Cynthia, firmly, but not without consideration.
• 26:08
  Speaker 6: It cannot be. I've felt more content this last night
• 26:12
  Speaker 6: than I've done for weeks past. I'm glad to be free.
• 26:15
  Speaker 6: I dreaded Roger's goodness and learning in all that he
• 26:18
  Speaker 6: was not in my way, and I don't believe I
• 26:20
  Speaker 6: should have ever married him, even without knowing of all
• 26:23
  Speaker 6: these ill natured stories that are circulating about me, and
• 26:26
  Speaker 6: which he would hear of and expect me to explain
• 26:29
  Speaker 6: and be sorry for and penitent and humble. I know
• 26:33
  Speaker 6: he could not have made me happy, and I don't
• 26:34
  Speaker 6: believe he would have been happy with me. It must
• 26:37
  Speaker 6: stay as it is. I would rather be a governess
• 26:39
  Speaker 6: than married to him. I should get weary of him
• 26:41
  Speaker 6: every day of my life, weary.
• 26:44
  Speaker 1: Of Roger, said Molly to herself. It is the best
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: as it is. I see, she answered aloud.
• 26:51
  Speaker 3: Only I'm very sorry for him, very he did love you,
• 26:54
  Speaker 3: so you will never get any one to love you
• 26:57
  Speaker 3: like him.
• 26:58
  Speaker 6: Very well. I must take my check, and too much
• 27:01
  Speaker 6: love is rather oppressive to me, I believe, I like
• 27:03
  Speaker 6: her great deal widely spread about not talk confine to
• 27:06
  Speaker 6: one individual lover.
• 27:08
  Speaker 3: I don't believe you, said Molly. But don't let us
• 27:11
  Speaker 3: talk any more about it. It is best as it is,
• 27:15
  Speaker 3: I thought. I almost felt sure you would be sorry
• 27:17
  Speaker 3: this morning. But we will leave it alone now.
• 27:21
  Speaker 1: She sat silently, looking out of the window, her heart
• 27:24
  Speaker 1: sorely stirred. She scarcely knew how or why, but she
• 27:28
  Speaker 1: could not have spoken. Most likely she would have begun
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: to cry if she had spoken. Cynthia stole softly up
• 27:36
  Speaker 1: to her. After a while, you are vexed with me, Molly,
• 27:40
  Speaker 1: she began in a low voice. But Molly turned sharply round.
• 27:44
  Speaker 1: I I have no business at all in the affair.
• 27:47
  Speaker 1: It tis for you to judge. Do what you think right.
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: I believe you have done right, only I don't want
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: to discuss it and poy it over we talk. I
• 27:57
  Speaker 1: am very much tired, dear gently now she spoke, and.
• 28:00
  Speaker 3: I hardly know what I say. If I speak crossly,
• 28:04
  Speaker 3: don't mind it.
• 28:05
  Speaker 1: Cynthia did not reply at once. Then she said, to.
• 28:09
  Speaker 6: Think I might go with you and help you. I
• 28:11
  Speaker 6: might have done yesterday. And you say he hasn't opened
• 28:13
  Speaker 6: my letters, so he has not heard as yet. I
• 28:16
  Speaker 6: was always fond of poor Osborne in my way. You
• 28:18
  Speaker 6: know I cannot tell.
• 28:20
  Speaker 1: I have no right to say, replied Molly, scarcely understanding
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: Cynthia's motives, which after all, were only impulses. In this case,
• 28:29
  Speaker 1: Papa would be able to judge. I think perhaps you
• 28:32
  Speaker 1: had better not, but don't go by my opinion. I
• 28:36
  Speaker 1: can only tell what I should wish to do in
• 28:37
  Speaker 1: your place.
• 28:38
  Speaker 6: It was as much for your sake as any one's.
• 28:40
  Speaker 1: Molly said Cynthia.
• 28:43
  Speaker 3: Oh, then don't I am tired to day with sitting up,
• 28:46
  Speaker 3: But to morrow I shall be all right, and I
• 28:49
  Speaker 3: should not like it if for my sake you came
• 28:51
  Speaker 3: into the house at so solemn a time.
• 28:54
  Speaker 1: Very well, said Cynthia, half glad that her impulsive offer
• 28:58
  Speaker 1: was declined, for, as she said, thinking to herself.
• 29:02
  Speaker 6: It would have been not quite after all.
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: So Molly went back in the carriage alone, wondering how
• 29:08
  Speaker 1: she should find the squire, wondering what discoveries he had
• 29:12
  Speaker 1: made among Osborne's papers, and at what conviction he would
• 29:16
  Speaker 1: have arrived. End of Chapter fifty two.