(turning and addressing Lady Harriet).'But you see it is a great mortification to a girl of her age to lose her first visit to London.' 'It is not that,' began Molly; but Lady Harriet made her a little sign to be silent while she herself spoke.'Now, Clare! you and I can manage it all, I think, if you will but help me in a plan I have got in my head.Mr Gibson shall stay as long as ever he can in London; and Molly shall be well cared for, and have some change of air and scene too, which is really what she needs as much as anything, in my poor opinion.I can't spirit her to the wedding and give her a sight of London; but I can carry her off to the Towers, and nurse her myself;and send daily bulletins up to London, so that Mr Gibson may feel quite at case, and stay with you as long as you like, What do you say to it, Clare?' 'Oh, I could not go,' said Molly; 'I should only be a trouble to everybody.' 'Nobody asked you for your opinion, little one.If we wise elders decide that you are to go, you must submit in silence.' Meanwhile Mrs Gibson was rapidly balancing advantages and disadvantages.
Amongst the latter, jealousy came in predominant.Amongst the former, -it would sound well; Maria could then accompany Cynthia and herself as 'their maid,' - Mr Gibson would stay longer with her, and it was always desirable to have a man at her beck and call in such a place as London;besides that, this identical man was gentlemanly and good-looking, and a favourite with her prosperous brother-in-law.The ayes had it.'What a charming plan! I cannot think of anything kinder or pleasanter for this poor darling.Only - what will Lady Cumnor say? I am modest for my family as much as for myself.She won't - ' 'You know mamma's sense of hospitality is never more gratified than when the house is quite full; and papa is just like her.Besides she is fond of you, and grateful to our good Mr Gibson, and will be fond of you, little one, when she knows you as I do.' Molly's heart sank within her at the prospect.Excepting on the one evening of her father's wedding-day, she had never even seen the outside of the Towers since that unlucky day in her childhood when she had fallen asleep on Clare's bed.She had a dread of the countess, a dislike to the house, only it seemed as if it was a solution to the problem of what to do with her, which had been perplexing every one all morning, and so evidently that it had caused her much distress.She kept silence, though her lips quivered from time to time.Oh, if the Miss Brownings had not chosen this very time of all others to pay their monthly visit to Miss Hornblower!