'You'd like to go then, would you?'

'Yes if I may!--He asked me, you know. Don't you think I may?--he asked
me twice over.'

'Well! we'll see--yes! I think we can manage it, if you wish it so
much, Molly.'

Then they were silent again. By-and-by, Molly said:

'Please, papa--I do wish to go--but I don't care about it.'

'That's rather a puzzling speech. But I suppose you mean you don't care
to go, if it will be any trouble to get you there. I can easily manage
it, however, so you may consider it settled. You'll want a white frock,
remember; you'd better tell Betty you're going, and she'll see after
making you tidy.'

Now, there were two or three things to be done by Mr. Gibson, before he
could feel quite comfortable about Molly's going to the festival at the
Towers, and each of them involved a little trouble on his part. But he
was very willing to gratify his little girl; so the next day he rode
over to the Towers, ostensibly to visit some sick housemaid, but, in
reality, to throw himself in my lady's way, and get her to ratify Lord
Cumnor's invitation to Molly. He chose his time, with a little natural
diplomacy; which, indeed, he had often to exercise in his intercourse
with the great family. He rode into the stable-yard about twelve
o'clock, a little before luncheon-time, and yet after the worry of
opening the post-bag and discussing its contents was over. After he had
put up his horse, he went in by the back-way to the house; the 'House'