'One can't account for everything,' said Lady Harriet, a little impatiently, for reason was going hard against her.'But I choose to have faith in Molly Gibson.I'm sure she's not done anything very wrong.I've a great mind to go and call on her - Mrs Gibson is confined to her room with this horrid influenza - and take her with me on a round of calls through this little gossipping town, - on Mrs Goodenough, or Badenough, who seems to have been propagating all these stories.But I've not time to-day.I've to meet papa at three, and it's three now.Only remember, Miss Phoebe, it's you and I against the world, in defence of a distressed damsel.'
'Don Quixote and Sancho Panza!' said she to herself as she ran lightly down Miss Browning's old-fashioned staircase.
'Now, I don't think that's pretty of you, Phoebe,' said Miss Browning in some displeasure, as soon as she was alone with her sister.'First, you convince me against my will, and make me very unhappy; and I have to do unpleasant things, all because you've made me believe that certain statements are true; and then you turn round and cry, and say you don't believe a word of it all, making me out a regular ogre and backbiter.No! it's of no use.I shan't listen to you.' So she left Miss Phoebe in tears, and locked herself up in her own room.
Lady Harriet, meanwhile, was riding homewards by her father's side, apparently listening to all he chose to say, but in reality turning over the probabilities and possibilities that might account for these strange interviews between Molly and Mr Preston.It was a case of parler de l'âne et l'on en voit les oreilles.At a turn in the road they saw Mr Preston a little way before them, coming towards them on his good horse, point device, in his riding attire.e The earl, in his thread-bare coat, and on his old brown cob, called out cheerfully, -'Aha! here's Preston.Good-day to you.I was just wanting to ask you about that slip of pasture-land on the Home Farm.John Brickkill wants to plough it up and crop it.It's not two acres at the best.'
While they were talking over this bit of land, Lady Harriet came to her resolution.As soon as her father had finished, she said, -'Mr Preston, perhaps you will allow me to ask you one or two questions to relieve my mind, for I am in some little perplexity at present.'
'Certainly; I shall only be too happy to give you any information in my power.' But the moment after he had made this polite speech, he recollected Molly's speech - that she would refer her case to Lady Harriet.But the letters had been returned, and the affair was now wound up.She had come off conqueror, he the vanquished.Surely she would never have been so ungenerous as to appeal after that?
'There are reports about Miss Gibson and you current among the gossips of Hollingford.Are we to congratulate you on your engagement to that young lady?'
'Ah! by the way, Preston, we ought to have done it before,' interrupted Lord Cumnor, in hasty goodwill.But his daughter said quietly, 'Mr Preston has not yet told us if the reports are well founded, papa.'
She looked at him with the air of a person expecting an answer, and expecting a truthful answer.
'I am not so fortunate,' replied he, trying to make his horse appear fidgety, without incurring observation.
'Then I may contradict that report?' asked Lady Harriet quietly.'Or is there any reason for believing that in time it may come true? I ask because such reports, if unfounded, do harm to young ladies.'
'Keep other sweethearts off,' put in Lord Cumnor, looking a good deal pleased at his own discernment.Lady Harriet went on, -'And I take a great interest in Miss Gibson.'
Mr Preston saw from her manner that he was 'in for it,' as he expressed it to himself.The question was, how much or how little did she know?
'I have no expectation or hope of ever having a nearer interest in Miss Gibson than I have at present.I shall be glad if this straightforward answer relieves your ladyship from your perplexity.'