'Forty-three. I don't believe he ever thought of marrying again,' said
Molly, recurring to the idea, as one does to that of danger which has
passed by, without one's being aware of it.

'No! I don't believe he did my dear. He looks to me just like a man who
would be constant to the memory of his wife. You must not mind what the
squire says.'

'Ah! you'd better go away, if you're going to teach Miss Gibson such
treason as that against the master of the house.' Molly went into the
drawing-room with Mrs. Hamley, but her thoughts did not change with the
room. She could not help dwelling on the danger which she fancied she
had escaped, and was astonished at her own stupidity at never having
imagined such a possibility as her father's second marriage. She felt
that she was answering Mrs. Hamley's remarks in a very unsatisfactory
manner.

'There is papa, with the squire!' she suddenly exclaimed. There they
were coming across the flower-garden from the stable-yard, her father
switching his boots with his riding whip, in order to make them
presentable in Mrs. Hamley's drawing-room. He looked so exactly like
his usual self, his home-self, that the seeing him in the flesh was the
most efficacious way of dispelling the phantom fears of a second
wedding, which were beginning to harass his daughter's mind; and the
pleasant conviction that he could not rest till he had come over to see
how she was going on in her new home, stole into her heart, although he
spoke but little to her, and that little was all in a joking tone.
After he had gone away, the squire undertook to teach her cribbage; and
she was happy enough now to give him all her attention. He kept on
prattling while they played; sometimes in relation to the cards; at