When can we arrange for you and Molly to meet?' Just then a servant came in, and the pair started apart.'Her ladyship is awake, and wishes to see Mr Gibson.' They both followed the man upstairs; Mrs Kirkpatrick trying hard to look as if nothing had happened, for she particularly wished 'to prepare' Lady Cumnor; that is to say, to give her version of Mr Gibson's extreme urgency, and her own coy unwillingness.But Lady Cumnor had observant eyes in sickness as well as in health.She had gone to sleep with the recollection of the passage in her husband's letter full in her mind, and, perhaps, it gave a direction to her wakening ideas.'I'm glad you're not gone, Mr Gibson.I wanted to tell you -- What's the matter with you both? What have you been saying to Clare? I'm sure something has happened.' There was nothing for it, in Mr Gibson's opinion, but to make a clean breast of it, and tell her ladyship all.He turned round, and took hold of Mrs Kirkpatrick's hand, and said out straight, 'I have been asking Mrs Kirkpatrick to be my wife, and to be a mother to my child; and she has consented.Ihardly know how to thank her enough in words.' 'Umph! I don't see any objection.I dare say you'll be very happy.I'm very glad of it! Here! shake hands with me, both of you.' Then laughing a little, she added, 'It does not seem to me that any exertion has been required on my part.' Mr Gibson looked perplexed at these words.Mrs Kirkpatrick reddened.'Did she not tell you? Oh, then, I must.It's too good a joke to be lost, especially as everything has ended so well.When Lord Cumnor's letter came this morning - this very morning - I gave it to Clare to read aloud to me, and I saw she suddenly came to a full stop, where no full stop could be, and I thought it was something about Agnes, so I took the letter and read - stay! I'll read the sentence to you.Where's the letter, Clare?
第52章 A CRISIS(2)（3 / 3）