young girl for a visitor; one whom it would not be a trouble to
entertain; who might be sent out to ramble in the gardens, or told to
read when the invalid was too much fatigued for conversation; and yet
one whose youth and freshness would bring a charm, like a waft of sweet
summer air, into her lonely shut-up life. Nothing could be pleasanter,
and so Molly's visit to Hamley was easily settled.

'I only wish Osborne and Roger had been at home,' said Mrs. Hamley, in
her slow soft voice. 'She may find it dull being with old people, like
the squire and me, from morning till night. When can she come? the
darling--I am beginning to love her already!'

Mr. Gibson was very glad in his heart that the young men of the house
were out of the way; he did not want his little Molly to be passing
from Scylla to Charybdis; and, as he afterwards scoffed at himself for
thinking, he had got an idea that all young men were wolves in chase of
his one ewe-lamb.

'She knows nothing of the pleasure in store for her,' he replied; 'and
I am sure I don't know what feminine preparations she may think
necessary, or how long they may take. You'll remember she is a little
ignoramus, and has had no . . . no training in etiquette; our ways at
home are rather rough for a girl, I'm afraid. But I know I could not
send her into a kinder atmosphere than this.'

When the squire heard from his wife of Mr. Gibson's proposal, he was as
much pleased as she at the prospect of their youthful visitor; for he
was a man of a hearty hospitality, when his pride did not interfere
with its gratification; and he was delighted to think of his sick
wife's having such an agreeable companion in her hours of loneliness.