'It was not deep, ergo , it was very interesting.Now, a book may be both deep and interesting.' 'Oh, if you are going to chop logic and use Latin words, I think it is time for us to leave the room,' said Mrs Gibson.'Don't let us run away as if we were beaten, mamma,' said Cynthia.'Though it may be logic, I, for one, can understand what Mr Roger Hamley said just now; and I read some of Molly's book; and whether it was deep or not Ifound it very interesting - more so than I should think the "Prisoner of Chillon" now-a-days.I've displaced the Prisoner to make room for Johnnie Gilpin as my favourite poem.' 'How could you talk such nonsense, Cynthia?' said Mrs Gibson, as the girls followed her upstairs.'You know you are not a dunce.It is all very well not to be a blue-stocking, because gentle-people don't like that kind of woman; but running yourself down, and contradicting all I said about your liking for Byron, and poets and poetry - to Osborne Hamley of all men, too!' Mrs Gibson spoke quite crossly for her.'But, mamma,' Cynthia replica, 'I am either a dunce, or I am not.If Iam, I did right to own it; if I am not, he's a dunce if he doesn't find out I was joking.' 'Well,' said Mrs Gibson, a little puzzled by this speech, and wanting some elucidatory addition.'Only that if he's a dunce his opinion of me is worth nothing.So, any way, it doesn't signify.' 'You really bewilder me with your nonsense, child.Molly is worth twenty of you.' 'I quite agree with you, mamma,' said Cynthia, turning round to take Molly's hand.'Yes; but she ought not to be,' said Mrs Gibson, still irritated.'Think of the advantages you've had.' 'I'm afraid I had rather be a dunce than a blue-stocking,' said Molly;for the term had a little annoyed her, and the annoyance was rankling still.'Hush; here they are coming: I hear the dining-room door! I never meant you were a blue-stocking, dear, so don't look vexed.- Cynthia, my love, where did you get those lovely flowers - anemones, are they? They suit your complexion so exactly.' 'Come, Molly, don't look so grave and thoughtful,' exclaimed Cynthia.'Don't you perceive mamma wants us to be smiling and amiable?' Mr Gibson had had to go out to his evening round; and the young men were all too glad to come up into the pretty drawing-room; the bright little wood fire; the comfortable easy chairs which, with so small a party, might be drawn round the hearth; the good-natured hostess; the pretty, agreeable girls.Roger sauntered up to the corner where Cynthia was standing, playing with a hand-screen.'There is a charity ball in Hollingford soon, isn't there?' asked he.'Yes; on Easter Tuesday,' she replied.'Are you going? I suppose you are?' 'Yes; mamma is going to take Molly and me.' 'You will enjoy it very much - going together?' For the first time during this little conversation she glanced up at him - real honest pleasure shining out of her eyes.'Yes; going together will make the enjoyment of the thing.It would be dull without her.' 'You are great friends, then?' he asked.'I never thought I should like any one so much, - any girl I mean.' She put in the final reservation in all simplicity of heart; and in all simplicity did he understand it.He came ever so little nearer, and dropped his voice a little.'I was so anxious to know.I am so glad.I have often wondered how you two were getting on.' 'Have you?' said she, looking up again.'At Cambridge? You must be very fond of Molly!' 'Yes, I am.She was with us so long; and at such a time! I look upon her almost as a sister.' 'And she is very fond of all of you.I seem to know you all from hearing her talk about you so much.- All of you!' said she, laying an emphasis on 'all' to show that it included the dead as well as the living.Roger was silent for a minute or two.'I didn't know you, even by hearsay.So you mustn't wonder that I was a little afraid.But as soon as I saw you, I knew how it must be; and it was such a relief!' 'Cynthia,' said Mrs Gibson, who thought that the younger son had had quite his share of low, confidential conversation, 'come here, and sing that little French ballad to Mr Osborne Hamley.' 'Which do you mean, mamma? "Tu t'en repentiras, Colin"?' 'Yes; such a pretty, playful little warning to young men,' said Mrs Gibson, smiling up at Osborne.'The refrain is - Tu t'en repentiras, Colin, Tu t'en repentiras, Car si tu prends une femme, Colin, Tu t'en repentiras.The advice may apply very well when there is a French wife in the case;but not, I am sure, to an Englishman who is thinking of an English wife.' This choice of a song was exceedingly mal-àpropos , had Mrs Gibson but known it.Osborne and Rog
第126章 MRS GIBSONS LITTLE DINNER (2)（1 / 3）