Wives and Daughters guide

Summary

Characters

• BettyGuardianFrom Chapter 1
• ClareAlso Gibson, KirkpatrickGuardianFrom Chapter 1
• GibsonGuardianFrom Chapter 1
• MollyAlso Gibson, MaryLeadFrom Chapter 1
• HollingfordHelperFrom Chapter 1
• CumnorGatekeeperFrom Chapter 1
• SheepshanksGatekeeperFrom Chapter 1
• BrowningHelperFrom Chapter 1
• PhoebeAlso BrowningHelperFrom Chapter 1
• CynthiaAlso KirkpatrickRivalFrom Chapter 1
• GoodenoughOtherFrom Chapter 2
• HarrietHelperFrom Chapter 2
• EyreGuardianFrom Chapter 3
• HamleyGuardianFrom Chapter 4
• OsborneAlso HamleySuitorFrom Chapter 4
• RogerAlso HamleyLoveFrom Chapter 4
• Squire HamleyGuardianFrom Chapter 4
• CoxeSuitorFrom Chapter 4
• PrestonVillainFrom Chapter 8
• MariaOtherFrom Chapter 14
• RobinsonHelperFrom Chapter 22
• AimGuardianFrom Chapter 23
• HendersonSuitorFrom Chapter 41

Chapter by chapter

Storylines

• The countess delegates school visiting during her absences to the Hollingford ladies, who undertake the service.

• Lord Cumnor intends to intervene with Sheepshanks on the tenant's behalf if the tenant is genuinely ill.

• Molly wants to attend the Towers' school festival. Her father grants permission, Lady Cumnor ratifies the invitation, and Miss Browning agrees to accompany her; attendance remains ahead.

  • Molly attends the school visitors' outing at the Towers and joins the tours of the grounds and hothouses.

• Molly's wish to attend reveals her concern about troubling her father; Gibson recognizes her willingness to sacrifice the pleasure and firmly supports her attendance.

  • Gibson acts promptly when he discovers Molly missing. Their reunion and ride home deepen her sense of safety with him, and she confides her unhappiness.
  • The retrospective account establishes Molly's understanding of her father's affection and their confidential friendship; his agreement to additional lessons also shows his responsiveness to her wishes.
  • Separation exposes Molly's attachment and her habit of checking distress against her father's presumed wishes; his early visit reassures her of his concern.
  • The marriage announcement strains their affectionate relationship: Molly's response hurts Gibson, but she repents and he recognizes her suffering without requiring a spoken apology.
  • Molly protects her father's interests by withholding answers about Clare and sustaining conversation to conceal his depression.
  • Molly's private demonstrations of sorrowful affection move Gibson deeply and make him reflect on her changed behaviour.

• Gibson undertakes to secure Lady Cumnor's approval of Molly's invitation during a medical visit and arrange her attendance. Approval and an accompanying adult are secured, and he specifies a clean white frock without elaborate adornment.

  • The arranged carriage collects Molly and she reaches the Towers with the Brownings.

• The widowed Clare needs a livelihood that will allow her to keep her child with her.

  • Clare has lost successive posts, reportedly barely meets her expenses, and plans to keep Cynthia away during the holidays; a livelihood that keeps them together remains unsecured.
  • Clare has acquired a school's goodwill and furniture, establishing a livelihood; the events do not establish whether this enables her to keep Cynthia with her.
  • Engagement offers Clare an escape from earning her livelihood, bringing overwhelming relief, although the marriage remains ahead.
  • Clare accepts marriage as a means of escaping paid employment, although the marriage and her departure from school duties remain ahead.
  • The marriage progresses, and Gibson arranges to receive Cynthia as a daughter, offering Clare a future beyond paid employment with provision for her child.

• Dorothy and Phoebe's attachment persists through a past disagreement over Phoebe's refusal to attend a gathering without a personal invitation: separation spoils Dorothy's enjoyment, Phoebe worries about her sister, and Dorothy buys Phoebe matching shoes.

• Stranded at the Towers, Molly wants to return home but suppresses her wishes for fear of troubling her hosts. Her father collects her that evening.

• Clare's care initially reassures Molly, but her reproaches and forgotten promise leave Molly feeling guilty and stranded; Molly later tells Gibson what happened.

  • Clare's prospective role as stepmother gives Molly's distrust new importance; Molly doubts her unselfishness and dreads visiting her.

• Molly experiences the Towers' hospitality as blame and unwanted attention: she mistakes Lord Cumnor's teasing for anger and feels herself a burden to the adults.

  • Molly initially dreads the Towers and fears troubling its household, but respectful privacy and comfortable hospitality lead her to acknowledge that the visit is pleasant despite her earlier impressions.

• Gibson undertakes a visit to apologize and thank the Towers household after Molly's unintended stay; he reaches the house and is received by Clare.

• Hollingford society resists Hall's proposed partnership, but Gibson gains acceptance and professional preeminence through Hall's endorsement and his own success.

  • Gibson's professional preeminence and admission to the Towers' grandest company establish that the initial resistance to his acceptance has been overcome.

• Hall feels displaced by Gibson's professional and social success; his inability to attend the Towers dinner leaves lasting mortification before his death.

• Mary Pearson's companionship comforts Hall and brings her into an intimate circle with Gibson and the Browning sisters; her marriage to Gibson ends with her death, leaving Gibson widowed and Molly motherless.

• Gibson's withdrawal during Phoebe's tears is interpreted as hard-heartedness; Miss Browning condemns his apparent coldness but quarrels with Goodenough over his depth of feeling.

• The Browning sisters undertake a quasi-maternal interest in the motherless Molly.

  • Miss Browning renews their friendship after the quarrel and takes responsibility for Molly's wedding clothes and attendance.
  • The Brownings miss Molly, support her visit to Mrs. Hamley, attend to her clothing, and exchange accounts of the day's events with her.
  • The sisters experience the attack on Molly as a family calamity, and Dorothy acts to protect her by involving her father.

• Gibson wants to escape keeping pupils, whose supervision troubles him and whose presence makes Molly's domestic situation awkward; he begins declining new applicants despite continuing demand.

  • Despite his wish to stop keeping pupils, Gibson undertakes responsibility for Coxe's instruction and care, and Coxe's father accepts the apprenticeship terms.
  • Coxe's declaration strengthens Gibson's resolve to take no further resident pupils. He considers removing Coxe immediately but allows him to remain under conditions, so the existing domestic difficulty persists.
  • Coxe leaves, but Gibson accepts Browne's second son as his replacement while intending him to be his final pupil.

• Gibson employs Eyre to supervise Molly and the household during his absences, including the pupils' meals, while restricting Molly's formal education; Eyre undertakes the charge.

  • Miss Eyre's nephew contracts scarlet fever during their seaside visit, preventing her safe return to supervise Molly and the household as arranged.

• Molly pursues learning within and beyond her father's educational limits, obtaining French and drawing lessons and reading widely in his library.

  • Roger's microscope demonstration and accessible explanations awaken Molly's desire to learn more natural history.
  • Roger broadens Molly's reading and scientific knowledge and lends her books.
  • Conversation and household preparations have left Molly little time for Huber, although Roger plans to follow up on her reading.

• Betty contests Eyre's authority through hostile scrutiny, faultfinding and attempts to make Molly disregard her instructions, despite privately respecting Eyre's patience and care.

• Eyre's gratitude for Gibson's help to her family leads her to endure Betty's attacks without troubling him with complaints.

• Molly's recognition of Eyre's patient suffering develops into respect and vehement defence, but Eyre's disapproval of her uncontrolled anger leaves Molly feeling unfairly blamed.

• Scientific exchange at the Towers gives Gibson intellectual companionship, confidence in his abilities and renewed zest for life, leading him to contribute to medical journals.

  • Hollingford shares a scientific discovery with Gibson and visits his home for lunch, extending their intellectual and social companionship.

• Gibson's theological teasing distresses Ashton, prompting Gibson to soothe his conscience; Ashton nevertheless trusts Gibson's judgement and accepts his advice.

• Ashton entrusts Gibson with distributing charitable relief to people Gibson judges needy and supplies money for that purpose.

• Squire Hamley indulges his wife's tastes through money and gardening attentions; her relinquishment of London society deepens his love, while her declining health increasingly confines her.

  • His wife's decline exposes the Squire's distress and dependence on her; after renewed hope, he recognizes her approaching death and promises to remain beside her.
  • Mrs. Hamley's death ends their marital companionship; its loss leaves the Squire acutely conscious of permanent solitude.

• Squire Hamley determines to give both sons the educational advantages he lacked, sending them to school and planning Rugby and Cambridge; both eventually enter Trinity College.

• The parents' pride in Osborne's academic success contrasts with lower expectations for Roger: Mrs. Hamley urges a practical career for Roger despite the Squire's university plans, though Roger ultimately follows Osborne to Cambridge.

  • Both parents' accounts reinforce Osborne's expected distinction while presenting Roger chiefly through his practical and scientific interests.
  • Osborne retains his privileged family position despite his low examination ranking, while Roger must explain the result and attempts to defend his brother's prospects.
  • Osborne's scholarship cannot offset his lost fellowship prospects, debts and damaged parental confidence; Mrs. Hamley recognizes that she idolized him.
  • Roger becomes senior wrangler, reversing the brothers' expected academic distinction while Osborne's disappointing performance remains salient.
  • The Squire's hopes for Osborne's honours contrast with Osborne's failure and Roger's attainment of the senior wranglership, overturning the brothers' expected academic standing.

• Roger withdraws physical demonstrations of affection after his mother's teasing comparison.

• Mrs. Hamley repeatedly seeks Molly's company despite Gibson's refusals; Gibson eventually offers a visit of unspecified duration, delighting her.

  • Mrs. Hamley's wish for Molly's company becomes a settled arrangement, supported by the Squire; Molly is told to expect the carriage that afternoon.
  • Molly arrives and begins the companionship Mrs. Hamley has sought.

• Gibson offers to send Molly to stay with Mrs. Hamley; the offer is welcomed, but the visit remains ahead.

  • The visit is fixed for that afternoon for a week or two, with transport arranged and money and clothing preparations provided. Molly has not yet departed.
  • The arranged stay is carried out: Molly leaves home, reaches Hamley Hall and takes her assigned room.

• Coxe's father seeks family treatment and drawing-room evenings for his son during his apprenticeship; he accepts Gibson's terms, including pill-making, and takes comfort in Gibson's sympathetic acceptance of his trust.

  • Coxe's conduct jeopardizes the household place entrusted to Gibson by his father. Coxe's distress at disappointing his father helps move Gibson to withdraw the immediate removal plan and permit conditional residence.

• Coxe loves Molly and seeks her favour through a clandestine declaration; Gibson intercepts it before Molly reads it, leaving her ignorant of his attachment.

  • Coxe's conspicuous melancholy and watching Molly depart show his attachment continuing; Gibson notices and sharply interrupts him.
  • Coxe's attachment becomes known to the Brownings, while his lovesick agitation diminishes during Molly's absence.
  • Coxe renews his suit after becoming a prospective heir; despite Gibson's continued opposition, he privately vows lasting faithfulness to Molly.
  • Gibson permits a fair opportunity for courtship, but Molly withdraws her friendliness and Coxe abandons his attachment and intention to propose.

• Gibson requires all letters addressed to Molly to pass through him.

• Gibson conceals Coxe's declaration and its connection with Molly's sudden visit to the Hamleys; Molly suspects the connection but promises not to investigate or conjecture about his reason.

  • Clare knows the Coxe incident and the reason for Molly's removal. Molly recognizes that her father and Clare share a concealed explanation, but does not learn its substance and feels excluded.
  • Gibson reveals Coxe's attachment to Miss Browning, who passes it to Phoebe, and explains to Miss Browning why Molly was sent to Hamley; no disclosure to Molly is recorded.
  • Gibson deliberately keeps Coxe's earlier matrimonial intentions from Clare.
  • Gibson finally tells Molly about Coxe's intercepted declaration and its connection with her first removal to Hamley Hall.

• Coxe's secret approach to Molly breaks Gibson's trust and threatens his place in the household; Gibson permits him to remain only if he and Wynne keep silent about the passion.

  • Coxe's visible romantic preoccupation sustains Gibson's irritation and occasions another rebuke, although no disclosure or renewed approach is recorded.
  • Gibson maintains his intention to restrain Coxe's attachment and protect Molly from premature courtship.
  • Gibson reiterates his opposition and requires Coxe to forget his attachment before visiting again; Coxe's departure ends the immediate conflict over his residence.

• After dismissing Bethia for her part in the clandestine correspondence, Gibson undertakes to find her respectable employment elsewhere.

  • Gibson secures Bethia another situation as good as her former employment.

• Recognizing Molly's exposure to romantic approaches during his working absences, Gibson seeks to protect her by arranging a stay with Mrs. Hamley, despite his own distress at their separation.

  • Gibson implements the protective separation by sending Molly to stay at Hamley Hall.

• Molly's attachment to her father makes separation painful and his possible remarriage alarming. His visit briefly reassures her, but renewed questioning establishes that remarriage remains possible without any known prospective wife.

  • Molly asks to return to her father, but Gibson insists she remain at Hamley. His fleeting suspicion that she loves Coxe passes, while the proposal that he lodge at Hamley is abandoned, leaving the separation in place.
  • Visits bring Molly intense pleasure, but absences cause anxiety and she repeatedly asks to return home. She suppresses these requests to spare her father, while he privately moves toward remarriage.
  • Possible remarriage becomes an announced engagement, provoking anger and a mistaken conviction that Molly has lost her father's love. Roger's advice helps her reconsider her response, and father and daughter begin to repair the hurt.
  • Molly asks for time with her father before his marriage, then experiences the couple's intimacy and shared secret as exclusion. Gibson sees her unhappiness but avoids discussing it to protect future household harmony.
  • Wedding preparations revive Molly's grief and resistance to the marriage; she wishes to avoid the wedding and worries over her father's depression.
  • The feared remarriage takes place while Molly remains distressed; she responds by resolving to comply with Clare's wishes for her father's sake.
  • The remarriage becomes Molly's domestic reality. Her loneliness and resistance to calling Clare mamma expose its emotional cost, although she yields to please her father.
  • Private affection brings Molly overwhelming relief, and Gibson recognizes her unmet need for closeness and the consequences of his marriage. His departure leaves her sad again and causes him sharp distress.

• Mrs. Hamley's affectionate welcome and confidential sharing of Osborne's poetry begin an intimate companionship with Molly, who responds with affection and admiration.

  • Mrs. Hamley welcomes a longer visit, and Molly's heartfelt sympathy over Osborne's absence reassures her and strengthens their companionship.
  • Molly's devotion to Osborne's poetry and her sympathy during Mrs. Hamley's distress deepen their confidence and affection; Mrs. Hamley discloses the family trouble and gains composure through talking.
  • Mrs. Hamley learns of Molly's distress, seeks to care for her and provides an opportunity for private consolation.
  • Mrs. Hamley's attachment has become maternal, and Molly's departure leaves lasting sorrow.
  • Mrs. Hamley sends sympathy and an invitation, which Molly accepts and fulfils, renewing their companionship.
  • Mrs. Hamley asks for Molly during her renewed illness; Molly eagerly commits to going and is deeply distressed by the delay and Mrs. Hamley's loneliness.
  • Molly becomes Mrs. Hamley's trusted companion and receives intimate family disclosures. Their care is reciprocal, although Molly withholds her own grievances to spare the invalid.
  • Mrs. Hamley entrusts Molly with obtaining news of Osborne; Molly's helpless grief and painful farewell show her continuing attachment.

• Molly's sense of belonging at Hamley Hall is unsettled by presumed expectations about dress and new doubts about her own appearance.

  • Her wedding dress gives Molly pleasure and tentative confidence in her appearance, though she checks her vanity by attributing the improvement to the clothes.

• The Squire draws Molly into familiar companionship through offers of small errands, cribbage and a country walk; recognizing her sensitivity about a stepmother, he resolves to speak more carefully.

  • The Squire grows fond of Molly. His anxiety about his sons briefly makes him avoid her, but affectionate ease returns; Molly also becomes an accomplished cribbage companion.
  • The Squire discourages Molly's proposal to bring her pony, placing a new limit on her participation in life at Hamley Hall.
  • The Squire misses Molly, invites her account of the visit, and renews his resolve to speak carefully after regretting his earlier mention of remarriage.
  • The Squire misses Molly's companionship after she leaves.
  • The Squire confides his family's distress to Molly and seeks her immediate help; she responds eagerly and fears losing his trust when Clare prevents her departure.
  • Molly supports the Squire through his wife's decline and conveys the sons' summons; his search for her favourite pears expresses his affectionate attention.
  • The Squire gives Molly useful work and expresses sincere gratitude and fatherly affection when she leaves.

• Roger's repeated borrowing of Gibson's books establishes an intellectual connection through his scientific interests.

• The Squire imagines a distinguished marriage for Osborne and judges even a hypothetical daughter of Lord Hollingford below the match he would seek.

  • The Squire's ambitions for Osborne's marriage now produce concrete resistance to the possibility that Osborne might fall in love with Molly.
  • Both parents' expectations of Osborne's future wife persist, although Molly now knows he is already married.
  • The Squire's marriage ambitions for Osborne explicitly include an heiress who could help sustain the estate.

• Jenny considers Bethia's dismissal unfair and threatens to leave Gibson's service, adding to his domestic difficulties.

  • Resentment over Bethia's dismissal persists in the household, while the shabby, nearly unclean dinner accompaniments expose Gibson's continuing domestic difficulties.

• Gibson arranges to prolong Molly's stay at Hamley because Miss Eyre cannot safely return after her nephew contracts scarlet fever; Mrs. Hamley welcomes the extension.

  • Gibson maintains the extended stay despite Molly's requests to return, persuading her that remaining is necessary.
  • The district's fever gives Gibson an additional reason to welcome Molly's continued absence.
  • Eyre's nephew's illness remains part of Gibson's explanation for Molly's stay, although he reports improvement; no return arrangement is settled.

• The Squire fears romance between Molly and his sons, bringing his marriage ambitions into conflict with his wife's affection for Molly and willingness to keep her.

  • The possibility of Osborne's return renews the Squire's fear that he might become attached to Molly.

• Mrs. Hamley proposes keeping the sons away during Molly's visit; the Squire proposes demanding Molly's return home and warning Osborne against falling in love with her.

  • Roger returns and meets Molly while she remains at the Hall, defeating the proposed separation of Molly from the sons; Gibson continues to require her stay.
  • The Squire again intends Molly to leave before Osborne returns, and her departure from Hamley Hall occurs.

• Molly promises Miss Eyre to practise the piano for an hour each day during her stay.

• Osborne's disappointing examination result defeats his parents' academic expectations, intensifies the Squire's anger, and makes Mrs. Hamley relieved that Osborne will delay coming home.

  • Osborne is now home, and the Squire's concern for his prospects and health coexists with renewed irritation at his conduct, only partly eased by an apology.
  • Osborne fails to obtain a fellowship and performs miserably in his degree examination; the failures deepen the family's distress and precede a severe recurrence of his mother's illness.
  • Academic disappointment is compounded by debts, lost fellowship prospects and exclusion from home, further undermining both parents' expectations of Osborne.
  • Osborne obtains his degree only barely, extinguishing his father's expectations of academic brilliance and turning former pride into irritation.

• Molly forms an adverse opinion of Roger, blaming him for exposing Osborne's failure and mistaking his efforts to sustain cheerful conversation for indifference to his family's distress.

  • Roger's sustained care overturns Molly's adverse view of him, producing trust, gratitude and willingness to follow his advice.

• Molly repeatedly seeks permission to return home, but accepts her father's insistence that she remain and suppresses further requests because they distress him.

  • Molly openly asks to remain with her father before the marriage, but the renewed Ashcombe proposal leaves her resigned about where she will be sent; she returns to Hamley Hall.

• Gibson begins moving toward a second marriage as a solution to his domestic difficulties.

  • After temporarily setting his domestic problems aside, Gibson receives Hollingford's advice to remarry, considers Clare as a possible wife, and recalls with pleasure Molly's account of her kindness.
  • Gibson's consideration of remarriage becomes an accepted proposal, a disclosed engagement and wedding arrangements, explicitly linked to providing Molly with a mother.
  • The second marriage proceeds into practical scheduling: Gibson conditionally agrees to Michaelmas, and Clare resolves to secure that date.
  • Gibson announces his intended marriage to the Brownings and commissions practical preparations for the marital home.
  • Gibson completes the second marriage and leaves with Clare on their wedding tour.

• Lady Cumnor seeks companionship and help during her retreat to the Towers; after Harriet declines, the family settles on inviting Clare for her vacation.

  • Clare accepts the invitation and arrives at the Towers.

• Harriet's account of disrupted lessons and flirtations, together with Mary's suspicions of indulgence and flattery, calls Clare's conduct as governess into question and unsettles Lady Cumnor's confidence in her supervision.

• Clare intends to keep Cynthia away during her French school holidays, preventing the mother-and-daughter visit Mary proposes.

  • Clare finds further reasons to keep Cynthia at school, plans her return for next summer, and leaves wedding attendance undecided despite Gibson's request.

• Preston's repeated gifts to Clare lead Lady Cumnor to suspect that his attentions have a romantic motive.

• Lord Cumnor proposes Gibson as a suitable husband for Clare and encourages his wife to arrange the match, although she disclaims matchmaking.

  • Lord Cumnor renews his recommendation in writing; Lady Cumnor receives it, and Clare learns of the proposed match and welcomes its possibility. No agreement to arrange the marriage is established.
  • The suggested match results in an engagement approved by Lady Cumnor, who plans to inform Lord Cumnor.

• Clare wants to preserve her welcome at the Towers and prolong the relief its hospitality gives her from working life.

• Lady Cumnor conceals her illness and resists care, while Lord Cumnor hesitates to summon Gibson without her consent and Clare and Bradley fear the consequences of arranging an unauthorized visit.

  • Gibson is present and seeks medical information; Lady Cumnor subsequently requests to see him, overcoming the immediate obstacle of arranging access without her consent.

• Clare finds marriage to Gibson an attractive possibility, though she remains uncertain of Lady Cumnor's approval.

  • Clare accepts Gibson's proposal and receives Lady Cumnor's approval, securing the match she desired.

• Gibson and Clare become engaged, but Gibson's doubts and his discovery that Clare knew of Lord Cumnor's matchmaking suggestion diminish their pleasure in the engagement.

  • The engagement continues despite differences over school obligations, timing and domestic preferences. Clare intends kindness toward Molly and professes deference to Gibson, while Gibson restrains her public sentimental displays.
  • The courtship prospers, Clare briefly shares Gibson's enthusiasm for Cynthia's attendance, and her affection grows with the prospect of escaping dependence.
  • The engagement becomes marriage and the couple depart together, although seeing Preston disturbs Clare's happiness.
  • Gibson and Clare return as a married couple. Domestic changes reduce his comfort, but he seeks accommodation and takes reassurance from her good qualities and hoped-for improvement.

• Gibson and Clare agree to announce their engagement to Lady Cumnor after Molly has been told, but Gibson discloses it to Lady Cumnor first; she approves and intends to inform Lord Cumnor.

  • Lady Cumnor informs Lord Cumnor of the match, and he receives the news with great pleasure.

• Roger becomes Molly's confidant and comforter, offering practical care, advice and continuing sympathy; Molly responds with gratitude and interest in his scientific pursuits.

  • Roger recognizes Molly's distress, listens and offers further guidance. Her effort to follow his advice gratifies him, strengthens their attachment as mentor and pupil, and restores some confidence and peace.
  • Molly increasingly relies on Roger's intellectual and moral guidance; he misses her and worries about her future. She explicitly rejects a romantic interpretation of their friendship.
  • Roger brings Molly the promised wasps' nest, their shared understanding and scientific conversation continue, and he plans another visit.
  • Roger assesses Molly's happiness, shares his concerns about his brother and mother, secures her conditional promise to visit Mrs. Hamley, and explains how she can obtain further books before his departure.
  • Roger's remembered advice continues to give Molly strength during her troubles.
  • Roger shares family confidences and explains the suspicions surrounding Osborne. Molly welcomes his familiar address, recognizes how his companionship sustains her, and receives his sympathy after the accidental disclosure.
  • Gibson conveys Roger's understanding of Molly's grief, sustaining his role as a sympathetic confidant despite their separation.
  • Molly responds tenderly to Roger's success and seeks fuller news of him, becoming frustrated when the conversation leaves her uninformed and defensive when Clare interprets her interest as romantic.
  • Molly's congratulations and Roger's admission that he missed them affirm their mutual regard. His referral of her question to Cynthia and distinctive attentions to Cynthia leave Molly uneasy, though their companionship continues in the garden.
  • Roger describes his concern for Molly as almost brotherly, feels reassured by her friendship with Cynthia, and sits beside her after noticing her distress.
  • Molly learns of Roger's favourable scientific reception, while her knowledge of Le Règne Animal is explicitly traced to his readings and explanations.
  • Roger asks to say goodbye to Molly and directly shares his happiness, while Molly's distress makes their farewell painful and leaves her seeking a further sign of recognition.
  • Reading the permitted scientific portion of Roger's letter renews Molly's access to his intellectual interests, while news of his illness intensifies her concern for him.
  • Private conversation restores Molly and Roger's familiar intimacy; openly mentioning Cynthia's marriage removes an inhibition, and Roger again makes Molly his confidante.

• Molly distrusts Clare's unselfishness and dreads the proposed visit, creating resistance to Gibson's wish that they become close.

  • Molly repeatedly resolves to love Clare and support her father's happiness, briefly revising her judgement in Clare's favour. Clare's assurances, intended changes to Gibson's tastes, persistent caresses and shared confidence with Gibson renew Molly's resistance and jealousy.
  • Clare becomes Molly's stepmother; Molly undertakes to try to like and obey her, but the stated motive is loyalty to Gibson rather than established trust in Clare.
  • Molly offers practical goodwill, but Clare's withdrawal from the welcoming meal disappoints her, and Clare's refusal to retain Betty creates a concrete new source of opposition.

• Gibson seeks to bring Molly and Clare closer through a visit to the Towers next Thursday, while Cynthia is expected to return from school for the wedding.

  • The proposed visit to the Towers takes place and ends with Molly's return. Cynthia's attendance at the wedding remains undecided and develops as a separate plan.

• Clare seeks a Michaelmas marriage and an early end to her school duties; Lady Cumnor prescribes Christmas, while Gibson requires fair treatment of the pupils and their parents before agreeing to Michaelmas.

  • Clare secures a wedding before Christmas despite Lady Cumnor's recommendation and subsequent annoyance.

• At Gibson's request, his support for protecting the pupils' interests is concealed; Clare represents him to Lady Cumnor as impatient to marry because of Molly and his servants.

• Gibson intends Cynthia to attend the wedding and join Molly as a bridesmaid; Clare postpones opposing her attendance until she can offer a suitable excuse, and attendance remains undecided.

  • Gibson removes the stated travel-cost obstacle, but Clare abandons her temporary agreement and obtains Lefevre's support for keeping Cynthia at school; Gibson's wish for her attendance is defeated.
  • Cynthia will not attend the wedding. The stated obstacles are her journey and the schoolmistress's opposition; Preston suspects Clare prevented the visit.
  • Cynthia's account establishes that Clare prevented her attendance at the wedding; Cynthia discovered the intervention by reading Clare's letter to Madame Lefevre.

• Clare intends to replace Gibson's preferred cheese with elegant food and change his taste, despite learning its practical value to him.

  • Clare introduces plans for special food and forbids cheese outside the kitchen; Gibson declines the dainties and proposes eating his cheese in the kitchen.

• Gibson intends Cynthia to live with the family after school, rejecting Clare's proposed governess career for her; Clare plans to keep her at school until next summer.

  • Gibson relinquishes his prospective claim to Clare's life-interest for Cynthia's benefit and arranges to receive her into his home as a daughter after school.
  • Molly confirms that Cynthia will join the Gibson household after school and gives Easter as her probable leaving date.
  • Cynthia arrives at the Gibsons' house, and Clare expresses a wish to settle her nearby; the events do not establish whether her schooling has permanently ended.
  • Cynthia returns from school and joins the Gibson household, taking an opportunity to travel earlier than Clare expected.

• Molly's frank opposition to the Ashcombe proposal interests and amuses Lady Cumnor; Molly briefly warms to her recognition of the difficulty, though criticism of Gibson renews her defensiveness.

• Lady Cumnor proposes that Molly stay with Clare at Ashcombe before the marriage; Molly and Clare oppose the stay, but Gibson raises it again and no final arrangement is established.

• Lord Cumnor undertakes to fund Clare's wedding clothes and provide the wedding breakfast at Ashcombe Manor-house; he pays the clothing allowance and authorizes Preston to arrange the breakfast.

  • Gibson and Molly arrive at the Manor-house and receive hospitality there ahead of the wedding.
  • Cumnor attends the wedding, and the party returns to the Manor-house before the newlyweds leave, carrying the wedding arrangements into execution.

• Clare decides to use Gibson's money for Cynthia's journey and much of Cumnor's clothing allowance to clear her Ashcombe debts.

• Clare seeks freedom from dependence and domestic drudgery through marriage, and her liking for Gibson grows because he offers that escape.

  • Marriage secures the change of circumstances Clare sought, although its promised domestic freedom has yet to be tested.

• Clare's former pupils plan to supply her complete wedding outfit.

• Gibson commissions Miss Browning to inspect and prepare his house within a hundred pounds, leaving the drawing-room choices to Clare.

  • Substantial alterations are visible and the hundred-pound budget is exhausted, leaving Molly's room unchanged; further bedroom furniture is proposed.
  • The newlyweds arrive at the prepared house, and Molly conducts Clare to the newly furnished bedroom.

• Gibson seeks his old friends' affection for Clare as his future wife.

  • Miss Browning's enjoyment of furnishing Gibson's house diminishes her opposition to his marriage.

• Gibson intends Molly to stay with the Brownings until after his marriage; Phoebe welcomes the prospect.

  • Molly stays with the Brownings before travelling with her father to Ashcombe for the wedding; the intended period after the marriage remains ahead.
  • Molly's stay with the Brownings is confirmed and continues during the newlyweds' absence.
  • Molly returns home after the marriage and receives the newlyweds, completing her temporary stay away.

• Miss Browning accuses Gibson of valuing friends for their social rank; he challenges the accusation, and she retracts it to end the argument.

• Miss Browning interprets Molly's gratitude to Roger as romantic attachment; Molly rejects the interpretation and resolves to avoid discussing him. Their quarrel ends in reconciliation.

• Changes to the Gibson household revive Molly's grief for her mother; the preservation of her own room and its inherited furnishings gives her relief.

  • The demand to transfer her mother's name to Clare renews Molly's grief, while Betty's departure removes another apparently permanent part of her old home.
  • Clare's plan to refurnish Molly's room defeats the earlier reassurance that it would be preserved: Molly appeals to its connection with her mother, but the inherited furniture is moved to the lumber-room.
  • A vivid recollection of her mother's affection renews Molly's grief and moves her to tears.

• Preston resolves to flirt with Molly during her visit to divert attention from Clare and conceal another passion; Molly finds his personal insinuations uncomfortable and tries to divert the conversation.

  • Molly sees evidence against Preston's implied intimacy with Harriet, declines to accompany him into the gardens, and receives an explicit warning against allowing him intimacy.
  • Preston seeks an advance commitment to dance at Molly's first ball, but she refuses to commit herself.

• Preston conceals another passion behind his attentions to Molly; its object remains unidentified.

• Molly develops an eager interest in Cynthia through her miniature and Preston's account of her beauty, cleverness and charm, before any direct acquaintance or correspondence.

  • The prospect of Cynthia's company now offers Molly comfort amid her distress over the marriage.
  • Anticipation becomes direct and reciprocal affection: Molly is captivated, Cynthia comforts her grief and professes exceptional love for her, and their companionship includes practical generosity.

• Preston seeks to send Cynthia a greeting through Molly, but discovers that Molly does not correspond with her.

  • Molly conveys Preston's praise and his request that it be passed to Cynthia.

• Molly resolves to try to like Clare and comply with her explicit wishes for her father's sake.

  • Molly acts on her resolution through a welcoming meal, personal service, companionship and reading aloud, then promises her father to call Clare mamma despite her resistance.
  • Molly complies with Clare's errands, undertakes the longer walk as penitence, and continues to restrain objections partly for her father's sake.
  • Molly manages her growing irritation by withdrawing to calm herself and later acknowledges Clare's grievance, partly easing her resentment.

• Harriet takes an interest in Molly and offers comfort and guidance, but Molly challenges her class-conscious treatment of others and makes respect for the Brownings a condition of their friendship. Harriet apologizes and follows through with a visit.

  • Harriet continues sending Molly kind messages; Molly's account establishes that she obtained Harriet's promise not to ridicule the Brownings.
  • Harriet renews her attention to Molly despite Clare's interference and introduces her to Hollingford.
  • Harriet repeatedly asks for Molly, is disappointed to miss her, and visits the Brownings hoping to find her there.
  • Harriet's concern becomes active defence of Molly through investigation and public demonstrations of friendship.
  • Harriet sustains her care through visits during Molly's severe illness and informs Cynthia of the danger, prompting her return.
  • Harriet turns her concern for Molly into sustained practical care, protecting her privacy and arranging nursing and companionship suited to her fragility.

• Harriet suspects that Clare has been managing her while allowing her to believe she was directing Clare.

• Meeting Osborne unsettles Molly's imagined ideal of him, but his conversation flatters her and restores her idealizing admiration; observing the brothers together also gives her affection for their mutual love.

  • Molly encounters Osborne's fashionable conversational manner, distinct from his manner at the Hall, and learns that Roger considers him unwell.
  • Molly's idealizing loyalty leads her to defend Osborne and urge suspended judgment, despite evidence that defeats her charitable explanation.
  • Osborne's changed appearance and openness deepen Molly's liking, but his subsequent impersonal politeness hurts her; she begins interpreting the feelings concealed beneath his ordinary manner.
  • Molly recognizes Osborne's unhappiness; he seeks her company to speak of his mother and warmly praises Roger.
  • Molly regards Osborne almost as a brother and thinks his character improved; he chooses her company while leaving Roger with Cynthia.

• Osborne's unannounced departure from an outing frustrates the Squire's intended introductions and makes him fear another fainting attack. Osborne's apology partly eases his anger, but he demands advance notice in future.

• Roger intends to visit Mrs. Gibson soon after the newlyweds return and check Molly's reading progress.

  • Roger makes the intended visit to the Gibsons and discusses Molly's continuing access to books before leaving.

• Harriet's informal visit and offer to share her tea begin a direct acquaintance with the Brownings, whose deference and formal preparations make them less at ease with her.

• Molly resists calling Clare mamma because the name belongs to her dead mother, but yields to her father's wish and promises to use it.

• Clare's pursuit of genteel household arrangements conflicts with Gibson's comfort and established domestic routines; he reluctantly accepts later dinners, while the cook leaves over the changes.

  • Clare's late-dinner routine has consequences beyond domestic comfort: local tea invitations and the Brownings' closeness with the household have diminished.
  • Clare envies Cynthia's wealth and London life and renews pressure for elegant purchases, using Molly's refusal of a gown to support her own claim.

• Clare's household authority threatens Betty's longstanding place beside Molly. Betty regrets giving notice, but Clare refuses Molly's appeal to retain her, and Betty leaves.

  • Betty's departure is confirmed, and she has taken a place in Ashcombe.

• Clare seeks to recruit Maria as a replacement servant by offering higher wages and intends to outbid any counteroffer.

• Gibson resolves to accommodate his wife over small matters while holding firm over matters he considers important.

  • Gibson exercises his reserved authority by allowing Molly to refuse the gathering, while accommodating Clare through a promise to fetch her afterward.
  • Gibson maintains his refusal to solicit Osborne's visit and uses silence to avoid prolonged marital arguments.
  • Gibson deliberately concentrates on his marriage's advantages and suppresses examination of Clare's faults.
  • Gibson asserts firm boundaries over professional confidentiality and forbids Clare to pursue matchmaking for Molly, while recognizing their profound moral differences.

• Benson summons Coxe to remain with him for the rest of his life and makes Coxe his heir on that condition; Coxe leaves Gibson's household.

  • Coxe has inherited his uncle's estate and money and returns as a landed esquire, apparently having abandoned medicine.

• Molly agrees to visit the ailing Mrs. Hamley if permitted; when her illness worsens, Gibson consents and the Squire arranges to collect Molly, but Clare delays her departure until the following morning.

  • Molly reaches Hamley Hall and fulfils the proposed visit by attending and comforting Mrs. Hamley.

• Clare seeks to encourage Osborne's visits through Gibson and a dinner, postponing the dinner until Cynthia returns when she learns Osborne must leave for Cambridge.

  • With Cynthia now home, Clare repeatedly presses for Osborne's dinner invitation, but Gibson declines to act and avoids further argument through silence.
  • Osborne declines the quiet dinner but makes a social call; Clare summons Cynthia, who strongly interests him.
  • Clare hosts Osborne successfully and directs Cynthia to sing for him, bringing them together at the piano.

• Clare wants to settle Cynthia nearby and secure her good temper through an attractive homecoming.

  • Cynthia arrives to a prepared home, but her continuing resentment and independence complicate Clare's wish to secure her good temper.

• Clare asks Molly to conceal from Gibson her private remarks about Cynthia's wilfulness and her wish to secure Cynthia's good temper.

• Clare seeks the Squire's favourable opinion but resents his exclusive confidence in Molly; her refusal to release Molly immediately provokes his anger and irony, frightening Clare into agreeing to the next morning's departure.

• Clare's insistence on controlling Molly's acceptance of invitations overrides Gibson's permission and obstructs Molly's wish to comfort Mrs. Hamley.

  • Clare recalls Molly and again tries to control her social attendance despite her concern for Mrs. Hamley. Gibson overrules the demand to attend the gathering, leaving Clare annoyed.
  • Clare initially obstructs another invitation for Molly, but ultimately permits both girls to attend after Cynthia promises decorous conduct.

• Molly fears the Squire interprets her enforced delay as a preference for a party over Mrs. Hamley's company, leaving her distressed by his disappointed trust and Mrs. Hamley's loneliness.

• Osborne's debts and unexplained borrowing damage his parents' trust and provoke his father's exclusion of him from home; inquiries into the Squire's life expectancy make the borrowing especially distressing.

  • The Squire refuses to pay Osborne's debts and suspects borrowing against his death. Accusatory correspondence deepens their estrangement and has deterred Osborne from returning to confide in his mother; Molly hopes for reconciliation.
  • Reports after Mrs. Hamley's death establish that the Squire's estrangement from Osborne continues alongside Osborne's grief.
  • Osborne's estrangement from his father continues, and Roger explicitly blames Osborne's secrecy for their unhappiness.
  • The Squire believes Osborne begrudges his remaining life and refuses to investigate that suspicion. Osborne's unexplained journey, mutual accusations and disagreement over money deepen their estrangement; the Squire shuts him out when he follows.
  • Osborne's regular allowance has stopped, and the dispute over his debts contributes to a relationship of silence and mutual relief at separation.
  • Roger mediates between father and son, but their dissatisfaction persists, their health suffers, and Osborne's replies provoke fresh anger.
  • Osborne's account confirms continuing estrangement and dependence; he resists a home visit, and Gibson urges disclosure to his father.
  • The Squire's punitive attitude toward Osborne extends to his resolve that Osborne should bear the cost of renewed drainage borrowing.
  • The unexplained debts continue to estrange father and son, and the Squire's resentment further discourages Osborne's confidence and affection.
  • A bitter dispute over Osborne's authority to choose a wife deepens the existing estrangement from his father.

• Mrs. Hamley's worsening illness brings the Squire into conflict with medical advice and the prospect of losing her; he alternates between resistance, renewed hope and recognition of her approaching death.

  • A temporary rally gives way to increasing stupefaction and intermittent unconsciousness. Gibson describes her fading earthly attachments, and the Squire stays in her upstairs rooms.
  • Mrs. Hamley dies, ending the struggle over her approaching death; the Squire subsequently begins to recover from the first intensity of bereavement.

• Facing financial pressure after expenditure on land reclamation and his sons' education, the Squire intends to mortgage land, dismiss drainage workers and apply Osborne's allowance to his debts.

  • The drainage undertaking is contextualized by its Government loan, while falling corn prices, roof repairs and disappointing timber valuations worsen the financial pressure. The Squire reduces expenses but remains frustrated by his accounts.
  • Osborne's regular allowance ceases and the workers on the new works are dismissed, putting parts of the Squire's retrenchment into effect.
  • The drainage workers' dismissal for lack of wages is confirmed, alongside the Squire's distress and material assistance to them. Continuing interest charges embitter him, but he now resolves to borrow further and restart the works at Osborne's expense.
  • The dismissal of workers is confirmed and causes the Squire remorse; Roger's promised funding offers hope for the drainage works.

• The purpose of Osborne's unexplained borrowing remains unknown to his parents, while Molly's attempts to explain it favourably fail to account for the unpaid bills.

  • Roger assures Molly that Osborne's expenditure involved no wrongdoing and rejects the post-obit suspicion without explaining the spending. Molly learns of the secret marriage, but the events do not establish its connection to the debts.
  • Osborne's borrowing remains unexplained to his father, who substitutes a bitter belief about its implications for any investigation.
  • The borrowing is explained as funding Cambridge claims and Osborne's pursuit and marriage of Aimée. Roger receives his full confidence, but their father remains uninformed.
  • The reader learns that furnishing Aimée's cottage caused deep debt; the purpose remains concealed from Osborne's father.

• Gibson summons both sons because of their mother's condition, routing Osborne's letter through Roger; he undertakes to tell Mrs. Hamley and entrusts Molly with informing the Squire, who accepts the summons.

  • Roger is at the Hall, Gibson's forwarded summons reaches Osborne, and Osborne arrives; the Squire is informed that Gibson sent for him.

• The Squire promises to join his wife shortly and then remain with her.

  • The Squire takes up residence in his wife's upstairs rooms, fulfilling his undertaking to remain with her.

• After Clare recalls Molly home, Gibson promises that Molly may return to Hamley Hall within a day or two.

  • Molly returns to Hamley Hall after her stay at home.

• Molly refuses Clare's proposed dance while Mrs. Hamley may be dying. Clare attempts to compel her, but Gibson permits Molly to stay home; Clare subsequently withdraws the gown intended for Molly and reserves it for Cynthia.

• Molly undertakes to ask Roger about Osborne's whereabouts and report his answer to Mrs. Hamley.

• Osborne is secretly married. Roger knows and accidentally reveals the marriage to Molly, who promises silence and abandons inquiry into his wife's identity; Osborne's parents continue to imagine a future marriage for him.

  • Molly deliberately withholds what she knows when Osborne's difficulties with his father arise, maintaining the marriage's secrecy.
  • Molly's knowledge of Osborne's marriage now places her in the uncomfortable position of recognizing that Clare's hopes for him and Cynthia cannot be fulfilled.
  • Molly remains privy to the marriage without learning the wife's whereabouts. Clare mistakenly interprets Osborne's visits as courtship of Cynthia, while his secrecy continues to damage his relationship with his father.
  • Osborne withholds his journey's destination and fears his father's unspecified accusation concerns his marriage. No discovery of the marriage by the Squire is established.
  • Osborne's wife is identified as Aimée. He continues concealing the marriage after postponing disclosure because of the debt dispute and his mother's illness and death; Roger knows the full circumstances.
  • The marriage's history is disclosed to the reader. Osborne sustains its concealment through a distant home and correspondence collected away from Hamley Hall; Roger learned of it only after the wedding.
  • Osborne conceals his destination from Gibson, Molly prevents Cynthia's inquiries, and repeated visits to his wife coexist with renewed refusal to tell his father.
  • Osborne's concealed marriage directly contradicts his father's wishes. His promise not to consider either Gibson daughter reassures the Squire without disclosing that he is already married.
  • Molly privately conjectures that Osborne's absence means he is visiting his wife. She dispels Gibson's suspicion of an attachment between herself and Osborne without revealing the marriage.
  • Molly privately fears the consequences of Osborne's death for his concealed wife. Osborne maintains concealment during a renewed dispute over his right to choose a wife, despite threats of disinheritance.
  • Osborne expands Molly's confidential knowledge to include his wife's identifying details, residence and their child, entrusting her with a private paper. He did not make his intended disclosure to Cynthia.
  • Gibson learns that Molly holds another confidential mystery, but she does not disclose Osborne's marriage.
  • Molly discloses Osborne's marriage to Gibson and the Squire; Clare and Cynthia also learn of it, ending its concealment from the family.

• Molly obtains permission to remain until Friday in case Mrs. Hamley needs her, promises to leave if not summoned, and returns home after a quiet farewell.

  • Molly has returned to the Gibson house, completing her agreed departure from Hamley Hall.

• Molly struggles with solitude and feeling unwanted at Hamley Hall, then finds comfort in being useful; responsibility for Osborne's secret makes her own home seem reassuring.

• Osborne wants to see his gravely ill mother, but access is refused that evening.

• Cynthia resents Clare's childhood neglect, scant correspondence and deliberate exclusion of her from the wedding; her indifference limits Clare's influence over her.

  • Cynthia's account of lacking needed friendship and guidance reinforces the history of neglect underlying her estrangement from her mother.
  • Cynthia's account supplies the earlier experience of feeling unwanted and financially unsupported by Clare that made Preston's sympathy and loan attractive.

• Molly's grief over Mrs. Hamley's decline and death makes the household's frivolity distressing, prompting repeated solitary retreats until Cynthia offers comfort.

  • Roger's success renews Molly's sorrow that his mother did not live to see it; Cynthia recognizes her distress and protects her feelings.

• Cynthia expresses a wish to be good while asking Molly to love her as she is.

  • Cynthia acknowledges knowing Coxe liked her and deliberately seeking affection, presenting her encouragement as consolation for Molly's rejection.

• Molly wants to visit the bereaved Hamleys.

  • Roger reports the Squire's desire to see Molly and proposes a stay at the Hall, providing an opening for her desired visit.

• Cynthia wins Gibson's affection through her deference.

  • Gibson's favourable opinion extends to regarding Cynthia as a suitable companion for Molly.
  • Gibson's dissatisfaction with Clare extends to Cynthia, whose hurt follows his unexpectedly severe and unresponsive treatment.
  • Cynthia's charm still moves Gibson, but his disapproval of her conduct obstructs their affection; she restrains herself out of respect and liking for him.
  • Cynthia's warm thanks temporarily restore Gibson's liking and suspend his disapproval.
  • Gibson offers protection and retains affection, but their confrontation leads Cynthia to judge him cruel and prejudiced and reject his help.
  • Cynthia's unsolicited return out of concern for Molly renews Gibson's affection and approval.

• Cynthia undertakes to improve Molly's clothing, giving up ornaments from her own best bonnet for Molly's.

  • Cynthia extends her help with Molly's appearance to a flower wreath and preparations intended to show her beauty at the ball.
  • Cynthia has used some of the Hamley flowers to dress Molly's hair, continuing her practical attention to Molly's appearance.
  • Cynthia continues helping Molly with her appearance by advising her how to coordinate her clothes for the visit.

• Osborne wants a change of surroundings after his mother's death.

  • Osborne travels and repeatedly visits the Gibsons, obtaining time away from Hamley Hall.

• Clare withholds Cynthia's whereabouts from Preston, and Molly attempts to prevent their meeting; Cynthia's entrance exposes her presence in Hollingford, but the reason for the concealment remains unknown.

  • Cynthia's unexplained resistance and Preston's asserted claim on her dance deepen the mystery surrounding their connection; she identifies him to Molly but does not explain the underlying circumstances.

• Clare intends to press Gibson to provide a brougham before next winter.

• Cynthia rebuffs Preston, provoking suppressed anger that alarms Molly and leads her to support Cynthia.

  • Preston continues visiting the household. Cynthia refuses to discuss him and withdraws to her bedroom.
  • Cynthia's refusal to attend if Preston stays causes Clare to abandon his invitation. His presumptuous dance claim then provokes Cynthia to burn his bouquet and plan to avoid him.
  • Cynthia carries a bouquet other than Preston's despite receiving his bouquet and note. His pressure secures her reluctant compliance, and dancing with him leaves her increasingly gloomy, angry and defiant.
  • Cynthia burns Preston's bouquet, becomes angry when Molly discloses his gift and asks that his name never be mentioned to her.
  • Cynthia's resistance to Preston continues despite her fear of marrying him; she has explicitly told him that civility does not mean liking and considers ways to escape.
  • Cynthia's rejection becomes an explicit and absolute refusal to marry Preston, while his physical insistence and refusal to relinquish her bring her to acute distress.

• Molly and Cynthia develop mutual loyalty: Molly supports Cynthia against Preston, and Cynthia defends the Hamleys to protect Molly's feelings.

  • Cynthia confirms her strong affection for Molly and reports Molly's affectionate accounts of the Hamleys.
  • Cynthia accommodates Molly's distress over the bouquet and makes her a wreath; she also confides Preston's identity and obtains Molly's cooperation in avoiding him.
  • Cynthia shares flowers with Molly and entrusts her bouquet to her. Molly protects it from Preston despite his intimidating manner and understands Cynthia's wish not to be questioned.
  • Molly seeks care for Cynthia, and Cynthia's defence of Roger draws Molly's tearful gratitude and affection.
  • Molly protects Osborne's privacy, discourages Cynthia's proposed experiment with Preston, and stays with the distressed Cynthia while seeking a remedy.
  • Cynthia tries to spare the weakened Molly the long errand and uses satire to challenge Clare's management of Molly's absence.
  • Molly's affectionate intention to bring Cynthia blackberries gives way to strained intimacy after the engagement; Cynthia accepts Molly's demand to stop discussing Roger, but her later doubts distress Molly further.
  • Molly notices Cynthia's distress, moves beside her, joins her attempted musical diversion and seeks admission when Cynthia retreats upstairs sobbing.
  • Molly reaches the intimacy Cynthia permits, learns something of her past with Preston and respects her refusal to discuss it further. She worries about having caused Cynthia trouble and undertakes to convey Gibson's financial offer.
  • Cynthia's affection renews Molly's allegiance despite her dissatisfaction with Cynthia's secrecy, and Molly joins the preparations for her visit.
  • Cynthia seeks assurance of Molly's continuing friendship despite possible wrongdoing; Molly wishes to understand and help her and later attempts to protect her from gossip.
  • Molly explicitly promises continued love and loyalty if Cynthia's troubles become known, but Cynthia's demand for silence about Preston places new strain on their confidence.
  • Cynthia invokes Molly's protection and judgement; Molly intervenes, promises continued friendship despite possible exposure and commits herself to helping.
  • After feeling hurt by Cynthia's doubts about her discretion, Molly gains her confidence, recognizes the depth of her suffering and comforts her through the disclosure.
  • Molly's costly intervention tests their loyalty, but Cynthia recognizes her harshness and Molly assures her of continuing affection.
  • Molly protects Cynthia's confidence at personal cost and obtains Gibson's restraint toward her.
  • Molly continues trying to protect and help Cynthia, but Cynthia treats her disclosure as a grievance and refuses her company.
  • Cynthia offers to accompany Molly and help at Hamley Hall, but Molly declines company offered for her sake; Cynthia accepts with partial relief, and Molly returns alone.
  • Learning the truth about Molly's illness brings Cynthia home; their reunion restores comfort and intimacy, and Cynthia's companionship helps Molly recover.
  • Cynthia shows affectionate concern for Molly's care and reaffirms her wish for continued intimacy after marriage by naming Molly her first visitor.

• Clare hopes to marry Cynthia to Osborne, whose existing marriage is known to Molly.

  • Clare believes Osborne visits for Cynthia and arranges a dinner including both brothers; Osborne's attendance is conditionally promised through Roger.
  • Clare interrupts Cynthia's private conversation with Roger and directs her to sing for Osborne, who takes a place behind her at the piano.
  • Clare's alarm at Roger's possible success with Cynthia leads her to discourage him and insist that Osborne be included in the picnic.

• Clare promises to invite Roger to dinner after his turn staying with his father.

  • Clare issues a definite Friday dinner invitation to both brothers. Roger agrees subject to his father's needs and conditionally promises Osborne's attendance.
  • Roger attends the promised dinner and remains for the drawing-room gathering.

• Clare treats Roger as a prospective match for Molly; Molly resents the implication and tries to explain her interest without implying romantic preference.

• Clare plans to introduce Molly and Cynthia formally to society at the Easter ball and hopes to attach them to the Towers party.

  • Preparations culminate in Molly and Cynthia arriving at the ball with Gibson and Clare. Attachment to the Towers party is not established.
  • Both girls participate extensively in the ball. Clare continues seeking aristocratic connections, and Molly obtains an introduction to Hollingford and dances with him.

• Roger becomes strongly attracted to Cynthia and singles her out for conversation and attentions; Molly recognizes his attraction, while Cynthia's own feelings remain uncertain.

  • Cynthia catches Roger admiring her; he seeks her company in the drawing room and returns to her at the piano. Her own feelings remain uncertain.
  • Roger's love becomes clear to Cynthia as well as Molly. He repeatedly visits and brings gifts during Cynthia's illness; her gifts of roses delight him, though her own romantic commitment remains unestablished.
  • Osborne recognizes Roger's admiration for Cynthia and promotes their meetings; Roger resents Osborne's preference for Molly's beauty.
  • Roger's attachment to Cynthia grows as he seeks her company; her reciprocal feelings remain unestablished.
  • Cynthia misses Roger's attentions, but Molly concludes that she does not love him; Harriet also learns of a possible attachment between Cynthia and Roger.
  • Roger's attachment leads him to contemplate an explicit declaration before departure; Cynthia's response remains unknown.
  • Roger's attraction becomes a declared commitment and accepted engagement, confirmed by a kiss; Cynthia discloses limits to her capacity for passionate love.
  • Roger and Cynthia's attachment becomes an accepted marriage understanding, although Roger releases Cynthia from treating her acceptance as binding.

• The Orford girls form an enthusiastic attachment to Molly during the Brownings' gathering.

• William Orford is attracted to Cynthia and resents his sisters' use of his boyish nickname, which he blames for Cynthia's apparent preference for Roger.

• Gibson intends to discourage Preston's further visits, and Molly offers to help.

  • Cynthia's opposition removes the immediate prospect of Preston staying in the Gibson household, although this results from her intervention rather than Gibson's.

• Roger proposes that Molly stay at Hamley Hall because the Squire wants to see her but cannot bring himself to call.

• Bereavement leaves the Squire isolated and increasingly tyrannical; his servants fear him, and his recognition of their avoidance deepens his unhappiness.

  • The Squire's irritability, physical decline and regret over his treatment of servants deepen the effects of bereavement, but Roger gains entry to his solitude and brings comfort and laughter.
  • Grief continues to damage the Squire's health and intensify his irritability, although Roger draws him outdoors and his loyalty briefly restores warmth and self-recognition.
  • The Squire's frustration erupts into threats against Preston and repeated attempts to renew the quarrel. Roger witnesses his helpless rage; the urgent summons to dying Silas abruptly quiets it.
  • Outdoor work and happiness associated with Roger improve the Squire's health, and Hollingford's praise of Roger becomes a repeated source of comfort.
  • The Squire recovers health and some cheerfulness but remains lonely, regrets excluding his sons' friends, and seeks conversation with Osborne.

• The Squire maintains substantial life insurance intended to provide for his wife and younger children and remains determined to continue its annual payments.

• Financial pressure forces reductions in the Hamleys' horses, transport and hospitality, diminishing the family's customary standing and restricting the sons' social life.

  • Osborne feels constrained by the family's inability to reciprocate the Gibsons' hospitality and worries that his frequent visits exploit it.

• Osborne attempts to appease and approach his father, but his apology fails and the locked study door prevents further contact.

  • Osborne's attempt to restore closeness has made no evident progress: father and son avoid conversation and feel relief when apart.
  • Roger's mediation does not establish a lasting reconciliation, and Osborne's attempts to correct his father's misunderstanding increase the anger between them.
  • The Squire now attempts closeness, but Osborne does not reciprocate; his absences are misread as rejection, and their renewed marriage dispute ends in deferral rather than reconciliation.

• Osborne seeks to discover the unnamed second offense behind his father's accusations, fearing that his secret marriage has been discovered; his father refuses to explain.

• Osborne attempts to conceal the disrupted dinner from the servants by rearranging the table and explaining his father's withdrawal as illness.

• Robinson sustains his loyalty to the distressed Squire despite his conduct, while dismissing Osborne's grievance and wishing Roger were present to comfort the household.

• The Squire's distrust of Osborne briefly extends to Roger, but he reaffirms his confidence in Roger's steadiness and freedom from concealed debts.

  • Roger turns his father's confidence into renewed companionship, overcoming his initial resistance and giving both of them an unusually happy evening.
  • Roger becomes his father's habitual confidant, understands his irritability, and strengthens their bond by declining the dinner rather than distressing him.
  • Roger's good opinion partly restrains his father, and Roger draws him away from the confrontation. His eventual obedience soothes the Squire, while witnessing his father's renewed rage pains him.
  • Roger's promise of help renews his father's hope, while published praise of Roger becomes a recurring private comfort that the Squire shares with him.
  • The trustees' praise and Roger's financial help reinforce his standing with his father, who responds to his energy and tries to understand his research.

• Osborne and Aimée's marriage is sustained by her love for him, despite his financial insecurity and continued concealment.

  • The reader learns how mutual love survived Aimée's dismissal and led to marriage. Letters sustain the relationship, but debt, concealment and Osborne's absences now strain their life together.
  • Osborne repeatedly visits Aimée, receives financial support for their concealed family, and anticipates the birth of their child.

• Roger rejects the intended clerical career and wants a more active, adventurous life.

  • Roger's search for employment gains a concrete prospect in a scientific expedition, and he goes to London following Hollingford's summons.
  • Accepting the scientific appointment and preparing for overseas research gives Roger a concrete route into the active, adventurous life he wants.

• Osborne seeks income by selecting poems for publication and asking Roger to offer them to Deighton; he hopes literary success will help reconcile his father to his marriage. Roger agrees but expects little money.

  • Osborne plans a late-May journey to London to sell his poems.
  • Every publisher approached refuses Osborne's poems, frustrating his attempt to obtain literary income.

• Osborne considers supporting himself by writing while studying law, or by emigrating with Aimée; Roger opposes emigration because of its likely effect on their father.

  • Osborne offers to pursue a career if Roger can suggest one, renewing his willingness to seek an income without settling on an occupation.

• Clare's blue-stocking label vexes Molly; Clare ends the disagreement to present an agreeable appearance when the men approach.

  • Hollingford praises Molly's apparent scientific reading in Clare's hearing; Molly subsequently corrects the impression, explaining that her knowledge came through Roger's readings and explanations.

• Molly feels abandoned when Roger turns from her to Cynthia, then condemns herself for resenting his attention to Cynthia.

  • Molly's hurt deepens during Roger's concern for Cynthia, while his treatment by Clare causes sympathetic distress; she withdraws and locks her door to conceal her emotion.
  • Clare's efforts to secure Roger for Cynthia distress Molly without her understanding why; she works to persuade herself that Cynthia is unaware of the matchmaking.
  • Molly resents Cynthia's failure to value Roger's love, resolves to help him as an adopted sister, and is overwhelmed by the prospect of his departure.
  • The engagement intensifies Molly's sense of loss. She struggles through the farewell, watches for a final glimpse of Roger, explains his preference through Cynthia's beauty and longs to be alone.

• After being pressed to perform at the piano, Molly declares that she thinks she will never play again.

• The three towns agree to hold an annual hospital charity ball, rotating its location among them.

• Clare seeks private conversation with Harriet and privileged news of the Towers household, but her visit ends without the conversation she wanted.

  • Harriet comes to the Gibson party and elects to remain with Clare, giving Clare the conversation she sought, though Clare resents Molly's participation.
  • Harriet's extended visit gives Clare private conversation and news of Roger's prospective expedition, while revealing Cynthia's possible connection with him to Harriet.

• Clare gives Molly and Cynthia an embellished account of her Towers visit, concealing its disappointments behind an appearance of social intimacy.

• Harriet intends to talk with Clare at the ball.

  • Harriet fulfils her intention to talk with Clare at the ball.

• Molly wants to look correct without attracting notice, but also wishes to be pretty; Cynthia seeks to display Molly's distinctive beauty to advantage.

• Preston claims Cynthia's first dance after nine; Cynthia resolves to refuse him and secure prior engagements to prevent his dancing with her, and enlists Molly's avoidance of him.

  • Numerous engagements initially frustrate Preston's expected dance, but he obtains Cynthia's reluctant consent and eventually dances with her, defeating her effort to avoid him.

• Preston appears to exercise an undisclosed power over Cynthia: Molly observes her compelled replies and reluctant consent, but neither the grounds of his influence nor the terms of his request are revealed.

  • Cynthia's avoidance of discussion of the ball and agitation at Preston's name deepen the unexplained disturbance surrounding him, without revealing the basis of his influence.
  • News that Preston will live in Hollingford provokes Cynthia's distress and resolve to resist an unnamed doom; the grounds of his influence remain undisclosed.
  • Cynthia's contemplation of marriage to Preston and escape from him confirms the seriousness of his influence. She connects the difficulty to poverty and money at Ashcombe without disclosing its terms.
  • Cynthia urgently suppresses discussion of Preston and admits an undisclosed reason for requiring secrecy, without revealing the basis of his influence.
  • The previously unexplained hold becomes concrete to Molly: Preston invokes a marriage promise, supporting letters and a twenty-pound loan.
  • The grounds of Preston's previously unexplained power become known to Molly: Cynthia's marriage promise and letters, including criticism of Clare, furnish material for threatened exposure. His coercion continues.

• Clare resents Harriet's attention to Molly, obstructs their conversation and attempts to restrict Molly's participation, though she must concede that Molly can answer direct questions.

  • Clare repeatedly obstructs Harriet's contact with Molly and secures Molly's absence under the explanation of maintaining old friendships; Molly recognizes the manoeuvre.
  • Clare's jealousy of Molly's intimacy at the Towers renews her interference: her false account and accusations make Molly uncomfortable and constrain her description of the visit.

• Harriet seeks to repair the townspeople's disappointment with the aristocratic party through socially inclusive dancing and recruits her brothers.

• Molly and Lord Hollingford establish an easy intellectual acquaintance; his confidence puts her at ease, and their conversation earns his admiration.

• Hollingford's praise leads Clare to cultivate harmony with Molly in anticipation of a potentially advantageous marriage for her.

  • Hollingford returns to London without the anticipated opportunity arising from his interest in Molly.
  • Clare promises to find Molly a similarly advantageous match, but Gibson expressly forbids her matchmaking.

• The Squire's resentment of the Cumnors obstructs Roger's opportunity to meet scientists who admire his work; Roger sacrifices the dinner to preserve his father's peace.

• Roger plans to sit his Fellowship examination and share the resulting income with Osborne.

  • Roger wins the Fellowship, securing the position on which his intended financial help to Osborne depends; sharing the income is not yet recorded.
  • Roger now shares his Fellowship income with Osborne, providing enough to support Osborne's concealed family.
  • Roger now gives Osborne the income remaining after his own reserved needs and projects, carrying out the financial support he intended.

• Roger plans to accompany Osborne on a visit to Aimée near Winchester.

  • Roger now intends to reach Aimée before Osborne and arrange a further marriage ceremony.

• Aimée's grateful message renews Roger's affection for his sister-in-law before they have met.

• Aimée wants more of Osborne's company, while his frequent absences and increasingly unconvincing explanations leave her dissatisfied.

  • Osborne informs Aimée of a planned late-May visit after London, giving his next return a definite prospect without establishing that her dissatisfaction is settled.

• The Squire wants a groom to accompany Roger on his return visit to the Towers, but Roger considers the escort unnecessary.

• Molly seeks help for Cynthia's persistent languor; Gibson treats her low health and spirits, and Cynthia substantially recovers.

  • Cynthia's earlier improvement gives way to restless excitement, unusual talkativeness and deep silences; Gibson notices and interprets the change as a mental fever.

• Osborne wants to discover Cynthia's motives in rejecting Preston's flowers while favouring the Hamleys' gift.

• Clare proposes a Hurst Wood picnic and delays it to include Osborne; Roger's proposal to go while the roses are flowering meets her insistence on Osborne's presence.

• Gibson seeks Cynthia's confidence about possible personal sorrows, but she denies having troubles to disclose.

• Alarmed that Cynthia may prefer Roger to Osborne, Clare seeks to discourage Roger's visits through slights, restrictions on calling times and rejection of his proposed outing.

  • Clare reverses her exclusion of Roger, sends a conciliatory invitation and restores his free access; Roger accepts her changed manner despite recognizing her flatteries.

• Molly resents Clare's treatment of Roger and watches for attempts to discourage him; Clare removes her during his visits, and Cynthia joins her in opposing Clare's disparagement.

  • Clare replaces disparagement with encouragement, but Roger continues to observe her earlier restriction on morning visits, and Molly recognizes the reversal as matchmaking.

• Osborne's breathlessness, fatigue and abnormal pulse concern Gibson despite diagnostic uncertainty; a joint examination and prescriptions bring apparent improvement.

  • Osborne becomes increasingly ailing and languid, undermining the earlier apparent improvement.
  • Nicholls disputes the diagnosis of fatal disease, leaving medical uncertainty, while Osborne becomes depressed in both mind and body.
  • The medical discussion concerned a suspected fatal aortic aneurysm in Osborne, but Gibson reports Nicholls's more reassuring assessment that the disturbance was temporary and Osborne's life prospects normal.
  • Molly and Cynthia independently notice Osborne's alarming appearance, while his limited activity contrasts with his father's efforts to draw him out.
  • Molly's direct observation contradicts the reassuring report of improvement: Osborne appears very ill, reports recurrent exhaustion and seeks medical advice, while his manner reveals fear of serious illness.
  • Osborne's apparent illness and fear renew concern. Gibson rejects Molly's reassuring interpretation, obtains a written symptom report, and judges a visit not immediately urgent.
  • Osborne's recurrent illness culminates in his death; these events do not establish its medical cause.

• Cynthia considers becoming a governess to escape her unnamed trouble, then resolves to resist it at home, where she believes she has greater protection.

  • Cynthia revives the possibility of governess work, now in Russia, and also wishes Roger could marry her immediately and take her away from Preston.
  • Cynthia now expects to escape her unnamed trouble shortly, while considering a fuller disclosure to Molly.
  • Cynthia maintains her refusal and resistance, but Preston will neither relinquish his claim nor accept the repayment through which she seeks release.

• Cynthia privately seeks to make up an unspecified deficiency after counting her insufficient money and regretting a past folly.

  • Cynthia connects her Preston difficulties to old Ashcombe complications involving poverty and money, although the specific deficiency and its remedy remain undisclosed.
  • Cynthia's earlier money concerns are clarified by her effort to accumulate repayment of Preston's loan; his refusal prevents repayment from securing her release.
  • Cynthia identifies the financial deficiency as the twenty-pound loan largely spent on the festival visit; she has saved toward repayment with interest and now asks Molly to secure Preston's acceptance.

• Osborne postpones disclosing his marriage while increasingly hoping that his expected child will reconcile his father to it.

  • The expected child has been born, but Osborne continues to keep his family secret and entrusts information to Molly rather than disclosing it to his father.
  • Osborne dies without the recorded disclosure or hoped-for reconciliation through his child.
  • Osborne's death ends his postponement of disclosure. Molly reveals the marriage and child, and the Squire welcomes the child, although Osborne cannot receive the hoped-for reconciliation.

• Osborne actively creates opportunities for Roger to see Cynthia.

• As Cumnor's new estate manager, Preston undertakes improvements including drainage of the waste land adjoining the Squire's abandoned works.

• The dying Silas seeks a final comforting meeting with the Squire; after an initial visit, his renewed summons brings the Squire and Roger back to his cottage.

• Reports that Cumnor's drainage labourers are stripping his game coverts bring the Squire into confrontation with Preston; resentment of the neighbouring improvements and Preston's manner escalates into insults and a threat of horsewhipping.

• Preston undertakes to investigate the alleged damage by the drainage workers and, if it is established, stop it and provide compensation; Roger separately promises to investigate and require the trespass to cease.

• Preston resents Roger's calm dignity during his intervention in the quarrel with the Squire.

  • Preston's resentment intensifies into particular hatred of Roger and a determination to make him pay for the encounter.

• The Squire resolves to resume his drainage works through further borrowing, both to spite Preston and to make Osborne bear the cost.

  • Roger's promised funds enable the Squire to summon the foreman and arrange for drainage work to resume the next day.

• Preston resolves to retaliate against Roger for the encounter with the Squire.

• Preston cultivates favourable standing in Hollingford through sociability; Sheepshanks suspects that he has an ulterior purpose.

  • Preston intends to settle in Hollingford, but reports of an acknowledged engagement and adverse accounts of his past circulate alongside his cultivated social standing.
  • Although Preston's gallantry alienates Harriet, his explanation raises her estimation of him.

• Clare seeks to bring Roger and Cynthia together and secure their engagement, reversing her earlier discouragement of his visits.

  • Roger declares his love and Cynthia accepts an engagement; Clare protects their private conversation from interruption.
  • Cynthia has accepted Roger. Clare admits that anticipated inheritance motivated her encouragement; uncertainty about Osborne's prognosis dismays her, but she refuses to relinquish Cynthia's understanding on her behalf.

• Roger promises to obtain approximately a hundred for his father's drainage works within two months, although he has not determined how to raise it.

  • Roger investigates available resources and pursues employment to finance the drainage, intending any capital he supplies to be an interest-bearing loan; the money is not yet secured.
  • Roger secures a loan against his prospective remuneration, insures his life to secure repayment, and commits to forwarding the money; its receipt by his father is not recorded.

• Roger fears that defects in Osborne and Aimée's marriage formalities could endanger their child's legitimacy and inheritance; Osborne's account leaves the legal validity uncertain.

  • The marriage remains unverified. The Squire questions its reality, and Gibson proposes checking Osborne's papers while withholding a confident announcement pending verification.

• Roger urges Osborne and Aimée to marry again in England before their child's birth, in both Catholic and parish churches, and intends to visit Aimée first to arrange it; Osborne tentatively accepts.

• Hollingford considers Roger for a funded scientific voyage and summons him about the opportunity; Gibson declares that he intends to have a voice in the proposal.

  • Roger has accepted the funded two-year appointment. After learning its terms and Roger's financial arrangements, Gibson abandons possible intervention because stopping him would cause harm.

• Troubled by her own lie to escape the Towers visitors, Harriet seeks moral correction from Clare but finds her indulgence unsatisfactory and considers another confidant.

• Molly questions whether silently tolerating Clare's domestic dishonesty is right, but restrains confrontation out of concern for Gibson and consideration of Clare's kindness.

  • Molly continues to question her tolerance of Clare's untruths and connects her distress with diminished intimacy with her father.
  • Clare's false account again troubles Molly, whose resulting account to the Brownings remains constrained.
  • Molly tries to restrain her anger at Clare's statements about the Hamleys and resists presenting a misleadingly elevated household to Cynthia and Henderson.

• The Squire's suspicion that Osborne may court one of Gibson's daughters prompts a dispute over paternal authority and marriage, further estranging father and son despite Osborne's promise to consider neither daughter as a wife.

  • Osborne asserts his right to choose his wife, while the Squire threatens financial exclusion and disownment. Osborne's qualified compliance merely postpones the dispute.

• Gibson promises to tell the Squire if he notices an attachment involving his daughters, but refuses responsibility for preventing or obstructing one.

  • After allowing Roger time to disclose the attachment himself and finding no mention in his letter, Gibson fulfils his promise by telling the Squire.

• Osborne struggles against envy and jealousy of Roger while becoming increasingly depressed; Roger's return temporarily cheers him.

• Roger prepares to travel through Paris for scientific interviews and embark at Havre for a hot climate, arranging his equipment and a farewell visit to the Gibsons.

  • Roger completes his farewell visit and leaves to catch the coach, with luggage already deposited and an expected Wednesday arrival in Paris.
  • Roger makes his farewell visit, leaves the neighbourhood and subsequently writes to his father; embarkation is not established by these events.
  • Roger has reached Abyssinia, continues his scientific work and reports recovery from a slight fever.
  • Roger interrupts his scientific travels to return home, but accepts an arrangement to complete five remaining months abroad.

• Before leaving, Roger considers declaring his love to Cynthia's mother and possibly Cynthia herself, without asking for an answer.

  • Roger declares himself directly to Cynthia and receives her acceptance, although he tries to leave her free of a binding pledge until his return.

• Roger's wholehearted commitment contrasts with Cynthia's declared inability to love passionately and her uncertainty that they will ever marry, despite her acceptance of the engagement.

  • Roger does not hold Cynthia bound by her acceptance, while his own promise remains binding before his return; Gibson nevertheless treats their understanding as an engagement.
  • Cynthia declares a strong presentiment that she will never marry Roger, yet wishes for immediate marriage as an escape from Preston. Roger's loving letters contrast with Molly's growing concern about Cynthia's insufficient love.
  • Cynthia meets Osborne's welcome with annoyance and insists on the attachment's provisional, secret character, disappointing his expectations.
  • Reported uneasiness and later tenderness coexist with Cynthia's attendance at the ball and her threat to end the understanding if pressed to acknowledge it.
  • Disclosure of Cynthia's earlier promise to Preston introduces a concrete complication to her understanding with Roger, whose possible suffering Molly recognizes.
  • Cynthia reveals that committing herself to Roger also served to assert her freedom from Preston, adding an undisclosed motive to her acceptance.
  • Cynthia reveals that she accepted Roger chiefly to gain security against Preston, further exposing the disparity between her motives and Roger's wholehearted attachment.
  • Cynthia honours her promise to Roger by refusing Henderson and firmly insisting on marrying Roger; this establishes commitment without establishing passionate love.
  • Cynthia ends her commitment and writes to Roger and his father. Relief predominates despite regret and thoughts of the life she relinquishes; Roger's response remains unknown.

• Cynthia requests that her engagement to Roger remain secret until his return; Roger and Clare agree.

  • Cynthia renews her demand for secrecy and secures Gibson's agreement to preserve it more generally, but his prior promise leads him to disclose the understanding to the Squire.
  • The women learn that Gibson has told the Squire, but Gibson assures them that the Squire intends to keep the engagement private.
  • Osborne learns of the attachment from the Squire. Cynthia resents its further disclosure, denies that it is a formal engagement, and asks Osborne not to discuss it.
  • Cynthia maintains secrecy despite hearing Roger discussed in London and reserves the announcement for a time of her own choosing.
  • Preston suspects Osborne as his rival, while Molly identifies Roger as the lover Cynthia means; Roger's identity remains concealed from Preston.
  • Molly refuses to identify Cynthia's other suitor, preserving Roger's anonymity despite Preston's questioning.

• Roger and Cynthia arrange to correspond during his stay in Paris.

  • Cynthia receives a letter from Roger and permits Molly to read it; Molly refrains from reading his private confidences.
  • Their correspondence extends to Roger's African journey. Cynthia receives his letters but misses an advanced African mail deadline with her own unfinished reply.
  • Cynthia receives another letter from Roger and lends Molly the permitted portion to copy his news for his father.

• Molly's loyalty to Roger brings her into conflict with Cynthia's manner of discussing him and their possible marriage; Molly demands that the disparaging discussion stop.

  • Molly regrets not warning Cynthia about Coxe and learns of Cynthia's deliberate pursuit of affection, intended nondisclosure to Roger and expectation that their marriage will never occur; her uneasiness about Cynthia's love persists.
  • Molly judges Cynthia's dancing incompatible with sufficient love for the ill Roger, although Cynthia's later tenderness about him gives her wistful pleasure.
  • Cynthia's admission and Preston's threatened disclosures intensify Molly's determination to protect Roger, making the intervention personally painful.
  • Molly learns what Cynthia's claims to virtue concern and struggles to protest Clare's proposed dishonesty toward Roger, ultimately suppressing her protest.
  • Molly briefly seeks to reverse the breakup for Roger's sake, but Cynthia's firm refusal and expressed relief convince her that separation is best; she ends the discussion.

• Clare's deliberate overhearing and investigation of confidential medical information, and her use of it to favour Roger as Osborne's likely heir, expose a profound difference between her moral standards and Gibson's. His resulting coldness extends to Cynthia, while Clare displaces her resentment onto Molly.

  • Gibson's loss of esteem for Clare becomes habitual marital dissatisfaction and bitterness. Clare recognizes recurring disfavour, while Molly sees the continuing damage and sometimes inwardly takes Clare's side.
  • Clare again connects Osborne's possible death with an earlier marriage for Cynthia; Cynthia challenges the speculation, and Clare retreats from her prognosis.
  • Gibson briefly suspects Clare of involving Molly to shield Cynthia, then feels relief when Molly assures him Clare knows nothing of the affair.

• Gibson resolves to prevent further breaches of professional confidentiality after discovering Clare's deliberate listening and subsequent research.

  • Gibson explicitly requires secrecy from Clare about Osborne's medical concern and his intended visit; Molly confirms that Clare knows only of the call.

• Cynthia's insistence on secrecy conflicts with Gibson's promise to inform the Squire of developing attachments. Gibson delays disclosure to let Roger speak first, but ultimately tells the Squire when Roger's letter omits the understanding.

• Gibson suspects that Cynthia has an undisclosed reason for insisting on secrecy about Roger; her subsequent breakdown reveals distress without explaining its cause.

  • Cynthia's avoidance of her past, equivocations under Gibson's pressure and distress when questioned about money and clothing sustain the evidence of undisclosed trouble without revealing its cause.
  • Cynthia again reveals unexplained distress and anxiety about wrongdoing, but redirects Molly's offer of help to packing rather than disclosing its cause.
  • Cynthia admits an undisclosed predicament, fears Gibson's rejection if it becomes known, and hopes to conceal it from Roger; its nature remains unrevealed.
  • Molly learns of an earlier marriage promise and loan that could explain Cynthia's undisclosed trouble; Gibson remains uninformed, and Cynthia actively conceals her present distress.
  • Molly learns the concealed prior engagement and threats behind Cynthia's distress, while Gibson remains excluded from the explanation.
  • Gibson connects Molly's withheld explanation with Cynthia and seeks disclosure while protecting her; Molly asks him to spare Cynthia for her own and Roger's sake.
  • Gibson connects the alleged Preston engagement with Molly's earlier account and identifies Cynthia as the person Molly protected, although the full history remains undisclosed.

• The Squire agrees to receive Clare, Cynthia and Molly with Gibson at Hamley Hall next Thursday so that he can assess Cynthia, while withholding approval of the match and avoiding discussion of Roger.

  • Clare eventually commits to attending, and all three women visit Hamley Hall. Gibson does not accompany them. Molly reports a pleasant visit and the Squire's attention to Cynthia, although formal approval of the match is not established.

• Gibson conditionally undertakes to advise Cynthia to accept dissolution of the understanding if Roger requests it.

• The Squire's dismissal of Molly's family and fortune, and his admission that he has considered and rejected her as a wife for Osborne, irritate Gibson.

• Clare's resistance to the Hamley invitation and Cynthia's apparent indifference anger Gibson, who mistakes Cynthia's professed objection for her actual wishes.

• Cynthia and the Squire establish a friendly acquaintance through sustained conversation during her visit.

  • Cynthia's visits and recurring notes sharing Roger's news increase the Squire's affection despite his determination to resist acknowledging the match.

• Gibson requires immediate, honest disclosure of any further romantic attachment; Molly reassures him that she and Osborne are only friends.

• Clare seeks a good marriage for Molly, despite Gibson's prohibition, believing matchmaking may restore his favour.

  • Clare resolves to reciprocate Gibson's kindness to Cynthia by arranging clothing and male company for Molly, continuing her effort to promote Molly's marriage prospects.

• Coxe transfers his attachment from Molly to Cynthia, interprets Cynthia's friendliness as encouragement and proposes marriage; Cynthia does not accept.

• Gibson censures Cynthia for encouraging Coxe while engaged. Her distress moves him, but he resists her charm and ends the discussion without an established reconciliation; his displeasure frightens her.

  • Cynthia tries to preserve Gibson's good opinion by restraining sarcasm and falsehood, but remains uneasy and evasive under his pressure. Kirkpatrick's visit only temporarily relieves her regret over Gibson's diminished opinion.
  • Gibson's displeasure temporarily yields to Cynthia's affectionate gratitude, without an established resolution of his objections to her conduct.
  • Gibson condemns Cynthia's bitterness toward Molly, recognizes privately that his words were excessive but cannot retract them; Cynthia consequently withdraws her confidence and refuses explanation.

• Cynthia decides to withhold Coxe's proposal from Roger in her letters, leaving possible disclosure until after their marriage.

• Molly's recognition of her father's marital dissatisfaction brings persistent unhappiness, pity for Clare and declining health; she abandons hope that his clearer judgement will change Clare and tries to avoid thinking about the discord.

  • Kirkpatrick independently notices Molly's languor and unhealthy appearance, reinforcing the established decline in her health without establishing a new cause.
  • Molly recognizes how constrained she feels with Clare and experiences marked relief and happiness during the absence.
  • Molly's existing unhappiness deepens under intrusive questioning and Cynthia's withdrawal; familiar pleasures lose their attraction.
  • Molly's existing unhappiness and poor health are compounded by persistent distress over concealing Cynthia's affair.

• Clare tries to recover Gibson's esteem by attending to his comfort, recognizing his disfavour without understanding his lasting loss of esteem.

• Roger's report of a recovered fever, received nearly two months after its date, leaves Molly haunted by the possibility that he is ill and untended abroad.

  • News of another fever, followed by improvement before Roger wrote, renews Molly's anxiety and prompts her prayer for his safe return.
  • Molly receives and reads further news that Roger has recovered and is cheerful, supplying reassurance about the reported fever.

• Cynthia tentatively proposes withholding news of Roger's fever from the Squire.

  • Molly undertakes to copy Roger's news for his father, although whether the copied account will mention the fever is not established.

• Cumnor seeks a satisfactory replacement agent at Ashcombe while Preston temporarily undertakes both agencies.

• Gibson and Kirkpatrick establish a mutually agreeable personal acquaintance during Kirkpatrick's visit.

• Cynthia captivates Kirkpatrick, whose interest leads him to seek further acquaintance and include her in his family's London life.

• Kirkpatrick invites Cynthia to visit her London cousins. Cynthia insists on declining, but Gibson offers ten pounds for clothing and Clare comes to favour the visit as a family opportunity; Cynthia's acceptance remains unestablished.

  • Cynthia accepts the London invitation after learning of Gibson's support, becomes delighted at the prospect, and begins preparing her clothes; departure remains ahead.
  • Cynthia travels to London and joins her cousins' social life, establishing that the proposed visit takes place.

• Cynthia refuses to explain how she has spent her allowance; Clare suspends direct questioning but continues speculating with Molly.

• The Squire resolves not to acknowledge Roger's engagement until Roger returns and tells him himself.

  • The Squire moves from withholding recognition to wishing to arrange the marriage, but news that the understanding has ended removes the question of acknowledging it.

• The Squire considers giving Osborne an allowance and freedom to live elsewhere once the drainage works are completed.

  • Osborne's death prevents the Squire's contemplated allowance and permission for him to live elsewhere.

• Osborne feels hurt that Roger did not confide his attachment to Cynthia; Cynthia's unwelcoming response to his congratulations further discourages him.

• Clare tentatively proposes accompanying Cynthia to London to inspect Lady Cumnor's health and asks Cynthia to seek Kirkpatrick's hospitality if the plan proceeds.

  • Clare carries out her proposed London visit and is reported at Lady Cumnor's.

• Molly seeks to enjoy a week of informal domestic companionship with her father during Clare and Cynthia's absence; the week proves happy, although a tea engagement disappoints her and Gibson refuses an improvised riding arrangement.

  • Clare's return ends Molly's interval of informal companionship with her father; prolonged company with Clare subsequently makes Molly long for Cynthia's return.

• Molly seeks to stop gossip connecting Cynthia with Preston because it could harm Roger.

  • Gossip expands beyond the Brownings and publicly connects Molly with Preston. Goodenough also repeats her former suspicion that Preston pursued Cynthia, keeping Cynthia implicated.
  • Harriet and Cumnor learn that Preston claims no attachment to Molly and that her meetings concerned Cynthia, although public gossip has not yet been corrected.

• Molly's attempt to suppress the gossip offends Miss Browning, and her apology does not prevent the sisters from interpreting her conduct as evidence that she herself is Preston's companion.

  • The mistaken suspicion produces a warning Molly cannot initially understand; she later suspects Preston is intended and explains that she had thought Miss Browning knew of a connection involving Cynthia.
  • Miss Browning's mistaken belief that Molly is involved with Preston persists, while Phoebe independently mistakes Osborne's visit for a romantic meeting with Molly.

• Believing Molly secretly involved with Preston and crediting adverse reports about him, Miss Browning resolves to watch Molly, withhold her theory from Goodenough until substantiated, and prevent the marriage.

  • Miss Browning warns Molly directly and commits to forbidding her banns if necessary. She only partly accepts Molly's denial and suspends the conversation without abandoning her intervention.
  • Miss Browning investigates the reports, moves from emphatic disbelief to reluctant conviction, and transfers her concern to Gibson.

• Cynthia returns from London more reserved and avoids Molly's companionship and certain subjects, unsettling their former intimacy despite her gifts and renewed assurances of affection.

  • Cynthia's withdrawal continues and Molly blames herself for resenting it, but the confrontation draws Molly back into a supporting and increasingly confidential role.
  • Cynthia's confession restores confidential closeness, but Molly's recognition of the dealings concealed beneath Cynthia's apparent openness introduces fresh unease.
  • Understanding Cynthia's concealments brings adverse judgments as well as sympathy. Cynthia reproaches Molly, then retracts the reproach when Molly breaks down; Molly admits some critical thoughts while affirming her love.
  • Cynthia's belief that Molly esteems her less deepens her reserve despite gratitude; an affectionate message does not dispel Molly's unexplained depression.
  • Cynthia resents Molly's limited disclosure to Gibson and rejects her attempts at comfort and reconciliation, deepening their estrangement.

• Miss Browning's warning about Molly's marriage prospects makes Clare feel accused of neglecting her care; Clare blames Molly, whose acknowledgment of her grievance partly soothes her resentment.

  • Clare answers the perceived criticism of her care by closely supervising Molly, whose freedom and willingness to go out suffer.

• Cynthia seeks Molly's permanent silence about anything connecting her with Preston, stopping her account before Clare and demanding secrecy without explaining its grounds.

  • Molly directly witnesses the concealed association and learns part of its history; Cynthia now promises a full private explanation rather than maintaining complete silence between them.
  • Molly explicitly promises confidentiality, agrees not to raise disclosure again without Cynthia's permission, and renews her promise to conceal the history from Gibson and Clare.
  • Molly's promise not to tell Gibson is established, while Cynthia reinforces concealment by declaring that disclosure to him would make her leave permanently.
  • Molly maintains her promise of secrecy even when Gibson seeks the explanation needed to defend her reputation.
  • Others disclose Cynthia's connection with Preston independently of Molly; Molly now offers Gibson a full explanation, though Clare's presence prevents it.

• Clare's close supervision and questioning chafe Molly and lead her to abandon outings, further diminishing her enjoyment of life.

• Cynthia repudiates her earlier promise to marry Preston, but he insists on holding her to it, claims her letters as proof and refuses repayment of his loan as a means of releasing her.

  • The account establishes how the loan preceded Cynthia's secret promise to marry Preston, how her first rejection was intercepted, and how Preston resisted her later rejection through threats of exposure and meetings offering apparent prospects of release.
  • Preston invokes Cynthia's promise and subsequent letters, insists that marriage will win her love, and answers her rejection with threats to retain and expose the letters to rivals, Osborne and Gibson.
  • Preston returns the compromising letters, relieving Cynthia and removing her correspondence from his possession; she prepares repayment, but his acceptance of it and release of her claimed promise are not established.
  • Cynthia's engagement to Preston ends, her letters are returned through Molly, and Preston acknowledges Molly's role in ending the engagement.

• Cynthia promises Molly a full private explanation of her dealings with Preston in her bedroom at bedtime; Molly goes to Cynthia's room, but the explanation remains ahead.

  • Cynthia gives Molly the promised account of the loan, secret engagement, attempted repudiation and Preston's coercion.

• Molly resolves to help extricate Cynthia from Preston's claims while sustaining her friendship and support.

  • Molly's proposal to seek Gibson's help gives way to a personal undertaking to recover the letters and arrange repayment, despite the practical difficulty of meeting Preston.
  • Molly persists through humiliation and a failed negotiation, then considers intervention by Gibson or Harriet and Cumnor.
  • Molly welcomes the recovery of Cynthia's letters and agrees to attempt delivery of the repayment despite her initial refusal.
  • Molly overcomes her reluctance and delivers the repayment, then mistakenly believes she has ended Cynthia's trouble with Preston.
  • Molly reports that she has achieved her purpose of ending the concealed affair.

• Cynthia conceals her distress from Gibson by making herself appear lively after the confrontation with Preston.

• Molly undertakes to recover Cynthia's letters from Preston and secure his acceptance of repayment; arranging a private interview presents an immediate difficulty.

  • Molly secures the private interview, but Preston refuses to surrender the letters. Her appeal to Cumnor creates leverage without obtaining an immediate concession.
  • The letters have been recovered. Cynthia prepares principal and interest, and Molly agrees to try delivering them privately; Cynthia will arrange delivery on her return if Molly cannot.
  • After missing an initial opportunity, Molly delivers Cynthia's repayment envelope to Preston, who pockets it unopened. His agreement to release Cynthia and the recovery of her letters remain unestablished.
  • Molly describes the single letter she delivered and reports that her intervention achieved its purpose.

• Helping Cynthia draws Molly toward concealment, troubling her commitment to honesty; she resolves to act honestly while allowing exceptions to spare loved ones pain.

  • The deceptive arrangement increases Molly's sense of complicity. Her growing wish to involve Gibson conflicts with her promise of silence and Cynthia's threatened departure.
  • Concealment continues to depress Molly and affect her health. Although she intends to avoid Preston, she accepts another task requiring private dealings with him.
  • Molly gives Gibson a truthful but limited account and accepts damage to her reputation rather than break her promise.

• Molly resolves to urge Cynthia to tell Roger the whole history when he returns to England.

  • Cynthia refuses to explain herself or seek Roger's forgiveness and writes to end the engagement instead.
  • Cynthia confirms the breakup and refuses renewal. Molly accepts that the separation is best and stops discussing the engagement, leaving her intended appeal for disclosure to Roger unfulfilled.

• Gibson proposes a recuperative visit and free medical care for Helen, but Clare's objections lead him to stop pressing the invitation.

  • Clare now invites Helen, but Helen cannot come for some time, leaving the proposed visit deferred.

• Cynthia declares that she will leave Hollingford permanently if Preston exposes her letters or Gibson learns of the affair.

  • After Gibson learns her history, Cynthia asks for help leaving Hollingford to become a governess.

• Molly proposes telling Harriet about Preston's coercion and asking her to enlist Lord Cumnor to recover Cynthia's letters; Preston recognizes this could compel his surrender but intends to delay.

  • Molly's threatened appeal to Harriet has discomfited Preston, although no appeal or surrender of the letters is established.
  • Preston recalls Molly's threat to involve Harriet; the letters have been surrendered and the engagement ended without requiring Cumnor to compel their return.

• Sheepshanks mistakes Molly's intervention with Preston for a romantic meeting, exposing her to further suspicion while she conceals Cynthia's affairs.

  • Sheepshanks's mistaken interpretation spreads through Dawes's gathering. Goodenough's account of the repayment handover supplies apparent corroboration of secret courtship, and one guest condemns Molly's conduct.
  • The mistaken interpretation of Molly's meetings with Preston becomes a town scandal, and Sheepshanks's reported observation forms part of the allegations disclosed to Gibson.

• Cynthia accepts an immediate visit to the Kirkpatricks to help cheer Helen; Gibson's London summons enables him to accompany her.

  • Cynthia returns from her London visit, and Helen's health is reported improved.

• Cynthia intends to burn her recovered letters immediately.

• Henderson falls deeply in love with Cynthia; her response is not established.

  • Henderson proposes marriage, but Cynthia refuses him.
  • Cynthia's rejection of Henderson's suit is confirmed; no reciprocal attachment is established.
  • Henderson renews contact with Cynthia in London and is expected at her uncle's dinner; Molly considers a possible connection between his offer and the visit, but Cynthia's response remains unestablished.
  • Cynthia has refused Henderson's proposal, and he has not proposed again.
  • Cynthia accepts Henderson and their engagement is announced to the Kirkpatricks. He accepts her warning of inconstancy, while her intermittent unhappiness complicates her professed lack of affection.
  • Henderson's courtship culminates in marriage to Cynthia, although the event does not establish the depth of her feelings.

• Osborne seeks Gibson's medical opinion about recurrent illness and exhaustion, but Gibson's absence prevents an immediate consultation.

  • Gibson receives Osborne's symptoms and forms a preliminary judgement, but an examination remains deferred.
  • Osborne dies before the sought medical consultation can help him; Gibson arrives after his death.

• Molly promises to have Gibson visit Osborne promptly after returning; Osborne asks that his father not be alarmed.

  • Molly conveys Osborne's condition and secures Gibson's commitment to visit, but he postpones attendance.
  • An urgent summons prompts Molly to search for Gibson, but he is out, and Osborne's death is confirmed before Gibson reaches the Hall.

• Fearing serious illness, Osborne entrusts Molly with identifying details and the whereabouts of his secret family, asking her to record and conceal the information and retain a private paper for her exclusive use.

  • Molly uses the information entrusted to her to identify Osborne's wife and child to Gibson and the Squire; retrieving the written address becomes the next practical step.

• Rumours of clandestine relations with Preston damage Molly's reputation and cause social exclusion; Molly notices disapproval without understanding its grounds.

  • Molly learns the grounds of the gossip and experiences continuing social rejection, although she sometimes doubts her interpretation of individual slights.
  • The scandal reaches the Cumnors, and Molly's social exclusion is corroborated. Harriet publicly supports her, but a change in public opinion remains anticipated.
  • The scandal reaches explicit discussion at the Towers, while Gibson explains that Molly's compromising meetings were undertaken for another person's sake; no public restoration is established.
  • Molly's social exclusion ends: her standing as the town's darling is unquestioned, and visitors and gifts demonstrate renewed public affection.

• Preston deliberately leaves the gossip linking him with Molly uncorrected, enjoying its injury to her and avoiding inquiry into his coercion of Cynthia.

• Phoebe's partial belief in the allegations against Molly clashes with Dorothy's fierce defence of her, provoking a blow and a subsequent qualified reconciliation.

  • The sisters' disagreement over believing the allegations revives their quarrel; Dorothy withdraws and locks herself away, leaving Phoebe in tears.

• Miss Browning undertakes to stop the rumours about Molly by investigating Mrs. Dawes's account and placing the matter in Gibson's hands; she summons him and discloses the allegations.

  • Miss Browning's disclosure has placed the allegations in Gibson's hands, and Molly learns of her intervention.

• Gibson resolves to ask Molly for the truth and let the public report subside, rejecting violence because it would give the scandal further publicity.

  • Gibson questions Molly and obtains a limited account; unable to secure full disclosure, he reluctantly agrees to let the scandal subside without public intervention.

• Gibson recognizes Miss Browning's painful disclosure about Molly as an act of friendship and responds with heartfelt gratitude.

• Molly's refusal to betray another person's secret initially damages Gibson's trust, but her sincerity restores his confidence and their affection despite the withheld explanation.

  • Gibson now understands whom Molly was protecting and defends her sacrifice; Molly is willing to supply the remaining explanation privately.

• Gibson intends eventually to confront Preston for compromising Molly, while avoiding a public quarrel that would increase her exposure.

• Phoebe offers Molly increased tenderness and conversational support during her social exclusion, moving Molly to gratitude.

• Molly resolves to bear the social consequences of her intervention, conceal her distress from Gibson and continue attending gatherings.

• Harriet investigates the rumours about Molly through the Brownings and Preston, discovering Cynthia's former engagement and Molly's intervention.

• Harriet seeks to restore Molly's reputation through conspicuous public companionship and linked visiting cards; she expects this support to change local opinion, but its effect is not yet established.

  • The intended restoration of Molly's public reputation is now established, although this event does not isolate Harriet's contribution from other causes.

• Preston requests confidentiality about Cynthia's former engagement and Molly's intervention. Lord Cumnor agrees, but subsequently recounts the conversation to Lady Cumnor and Agnes.

  • Preston's confidential account spreads through Lord Cumnor to Lady Cumnor and then Clare, who learns its source.

• Harriet invites Clare to visit or stay at the Towers and offers a carriage, conveying the invitation through Molly.

  • Clare accepts the Towers invitation, makes the visit and returns home.

• Clare objects to Cynthia's refusal of the wealthy Henderson and presses against her commitment to Roger; Cynthia insists she will marry Roger and refuses further discussion.

  • Cynthia abandons the commitment to Roger that she had defended against Clare, formally communicating her decision.
  • Clare resents Cynthia's continued refusal of Henderson and plans to influence her through her aunt, despite declaring that she will neither help nor hinder her daughters' love affairs.
  • Cynthia reverses her refusal of Henderson and accepts him, fulfilling Clare's preference for the match and ending her insistence that she will marry Roger.

• Clare undertakes to question Cynthia and uncover her dealings with Preston after learning the accusations at the Towers.

• Gibson offers to hear Cynthia's full account and protect her until Roger returns, but Cynthia refuses his help and Molly's offer to explain is interrupted by Clare's presence.

  • Gibson receives Cynthia's account and learns of the broken engagement. He judges separation right for both parties but urges delay and ends the discussion when further speech would aggravate her excitement.
  • Gibson gives Cynthia a hundred pounds, eliciting affectionate thanks that surprise and discomfit him; their exchange shows renewed warmth without establishing that she has accepted his earlier offer of confidential help.

• Molly tries to reconcile Cynthia with Gibson by conveying his affection, but Cynthia refuses to hear her and insists on being left alone.

  • Gibson sends Molly to Cynthia, renewing Molly's role as intermediary, although reconciliation is not established.
  • Molly communicates Gibson's account of Roger and reveals his wish for an interview, but Cynthia rejects renewed engagement and prevents further serious discussion.

• Cynthia seeks Gibson's help to leave Hollingford and become a governess, escaping gossip before Roger receives her letter ending their engagement; Gibson urges her to postpone action until tomorrow.

  • Gibson fails to change Cynthia's decision to relinquish Roger. She confirms the breakup and feels freer afterward, but her proposed departure and governess employment remain unsettled.
  • Cynthia visits the Kirkpatricks, which Gibson suspects will replace the proposed governess work; her return for Molly is temporary in intention.
  • Roger receives the letter ending the engagement. Cynthia renews her escape plan by proposing a governess position in Moscow and renouncing marriage.

• Cynthia predicts that Roger will marry Molly, provoking Molly's shame and indignation.

• Molly undertakes to go to Hamley Hall and comfort the bereaved Squire despite Clare's remonstrance; she reaches him and attempts to give him soup.

  • At the Squire's request Molly stays overnight, then returns alone that afternoon under arrangements for continued support.
  • Molly returns to the anxiously waiting Squire, comforts him by reading Aimée's letters and undertakes to receive Aimée on his behalf.

• Osborne's death overwhelms the Squire with grief; Molly fears for his life, while Gibson and the servants attend him.

  • The Squire's grief centres on estrangement and possibly unexpressed love for Osborne. News of the child, food and Gibson's encouragement provide some support without resolving his bereavement.
  • The Squire's bereavement deepens into self-reproach, while compassion for Aimée and caring for his grandson give his grief new outlets and some relief.
  • The approaching funeral renews the Squire's overwhelming grief, preventing rest and even consolation in his grandson.

• Facing Osborne's death and the Squire's grief exhausts and terrifies Molly; Robinson's care and an opportunity to cry bring partial relief.

  • Molly remains overwhelmed by grief and distress. The ride fails to relieve her, and she nevertheless continues her care for the Squire.
  • Molly's exhaustion develops into prolonged debilitating illness, and her memories of Hamley Hall remain painful; Cynthia's return brings marked improvement.

• The Squire resents Roger's participation in concealing Osborne's marriage.

• Learning of Osborne's child gives the grieving Squire a new object of familial love; he welcomes and blesses the child.

  • The Squire's anticipated attachment becomes direct affection: he protects, feeds and tends his grandson, who shows a marked preference for him.

• Gibson and the Squire undertake to examine Osborne's papers for confirmation of his marriage, while Gibson takes Molly home to retrieve his wife's address.

  • Osborne's papers supply documentary confirmation of the marriage, Aimée's letters and the child's baptismal details.

• Gibson offers to notify Osborne's wife of his death, and Molly conditionally undertakes to write the notification herself.

  • Following Gibson's staged notification plan, Molly sends both letters. Aimée travels after receiving only the illness report and discovers Osborne's death from Molly's expression on arrival.

• The Squire blames his own harshness for Osborne's secrecy and the worry he believes contributed to his death.

• The Squire intends to raise Osborne's son at Hamley Hall, call him Osborne and provide financially for Aimée elsewhere. Molly anticipates that Aimée may resist separation from her child but withholds her objection.

  • Aimée recognizes that returning to France may mean separation from her child, while Roger hopes she will remain with the Squire; no settlement is reached.
  • Continuing difficulties between Aimée and the Squire over the child obstruct a settled arrangement and prompt Roger to seek Molly's mediation.
  • The arrangement keeps Aimée and her child together, undermining the Squire's proposed separation of mother and son.

• Believing Osborne dangerously ill, Aimée travels with their child to nurse him; discovering his death at Hamley Hall defeats her purpose.

• Aimée's discovery of Osborne's death causes collapse and withdrawn grief, leaving Molly fearful for her health and the household responsible for her care.

  • Brief responsiveness gives way to severe prolonged illness requiring professional nursing; Aimée eventually regains her faculties but remains profoundly weak.

• The Squire undertakes to care for Aimée and let her recover before travelling, although he still expects her eventual departure.

  • The Squire undertakes provision for Aimée, attends her despite his desire to remain with the child, and gives Gibson unrestricted authority to arrange her care.
  • Roger's support comforts Aimée and introduces an explicit hope that her stay with the Squire will become permanent.

• The Squire intends to secure Roger and Cynthia's immediate marriage, but abandons the plan on learning that their understanding has ended.

• Gibson takes Molly home for medical observation and undertakes to protect her from worry; Clare agrees to maintain cheerfulness around her.

  • Molly becomes well enough to come downstairs, although news of Roger's return makes her faint.
  • Gibson continues prescribing rest, but Molly faints after the encounter surrounding Roger's departure. Her recovery becomes necessary for attendance at Cynthia's wedding.
  • A fresh cold prompts Gibson to recommend that Molly miss the wedding and shorten his holiday. He approves Harriet's alternative arrangements for supervised care at the Towers, where Molly begins to feel her health returning.
  • Molly's recovery becomes substantial and visible, although prolonged conversation still briefly exhausts her and requires intervention.

• The Squire recognizes Molly's value and his dependence on her, then expresses his attachment through daily visits and offerings during her illness.

  • Flowers from Hamley Hall continue the attentions accompanying Molly's recovery.
  • The Squire feels slighted that Molly convalesced elsewhere and invites her to stay, showing his continuing attachment and desire for her company.
  • The Squire expresses his attachment through an outing and familial praise, although his comparison wounds Aimée and his marriage disclosure subsequently distresses Molly.

• Clare deliberately understates Molly's illness to Cynthia to preserve her enjoyment in London; Harriet's letter exposes the seriousness of Molly's condition.

• Cynthia intends to remain with Molly until she can comfortably leave her, then return to the Kirkpatricks.

  • With Molly recovering, Cynthia yields to family persuasion and resumes her London visit.

• Roger returns to establish his nephew's legal position.

• Roger hopes to restore his engagement to Cynthia through a personal interview, postponing further written appeals; Cynthia firmly rejects renewal.

  • Roger comes seeking reconciliation but abandons the interview after seeing Cynthia with Henderson and learning of their engagement. Cynthia feels relieved, and Gibson subsequently describes Roger as deeply hurt but resigned.
  • Roger retrospectively accepts the broken engagement as the best outcome, judging the attachment hasty and unsuitable despite his initial misery.

• Roger becomes a source of comfort and dependable counsel for the widowed Aimée.

  • Roger's support becomes practical provision for Aimée and her child.

• On renewing acquaintance with Molly, Roger recognizes her beauty and notices her intent, embarrassed attention to him.

  • Molly is agitated by Roger's visit and becomes the person who confirms Cynthia's engagement and receives his parting request. She witnesses the depth of his suffering.
  • Roger seeks Molly's approval as an attractive woman and feels jealousy at Charles's familiarity. Her explanation supplies the protective arrangement he had mistaken for an engagement, while he withholds his own pleasure in her promised visit.
  • Roger's hurt at Molly's distance accompanies concealed efforts to please her. Her reassurance and gift of a rose renew his hope that she could accept his love, while Molly understands the exchange as restored friendship.
  • Roger becomes certain that Molly alone can make him happy, and their distant farewell sustains their attachment. The reported intended continuation carries this through renewed uncertainty, a declaration using her preserved flower and marriage; those later developments are projected rather than completed narrative.

• Roger hopes Aimée will remain at Hamley Hall with his father, but her future residence remains unsettled.

  • Roger actively seeks reconciliation between Aimée and his father so that she can remain with him, particularly because Roger expects to live elsewhere.
  • Roger helps secure nearby lodgings for Aimée and her child, preserving proximity to his father rather than establishing continued residence at the Hall.

• Clare takes control of informing Cynthia about Roger's return and deliberately omits his request for an interview.

• Clare seeks to cajole Cynthia into compliance with her wishes and presses her to accept Henderson.

• Henderson seeks an immediate marriage and a journey abroad; the Kirkpatricks offer to host the wedding, and the Gibson household accepts their invitation.

  • Public congratulations and Lady Cumnor's gift mark active wedding preparations, and Gibson confirms his willingness to give Cynthia away. Molly's illness changes the family's attendance arrangements; the marriage itself remains ahead.
  • Cynthia and Henderson marry and depart on their wedding journey; Cynthia subsequently writes from Paris.
  • Cynthia and Henderson have married and are travelling together; their holiday subsequently includes a proposed visit home.

• Clare promises Mrs. Kirkpatrick confidentiality concerning her disclosure about Roger.

• Lady Cumnor seeks Gibson's help in persuading Roger to visit the Towers after he declines an earlier invitation; Clare promises Gibson's cooperation.

• Harriet arranges Molly's convalescence at the Towers, with Parkes attending her and daily reports to Gibson so that he can prolong his holiday. Gibson approves, and Molly takes up the visit.

  • Molly completes her convalescent stay and returns home with visibly improved health, greater social ease and a changed understanding of the Towers.

• Harriet and Cynthia grow closer through Cynthia's visible affection for Molly and gratitude for Harriet's care of her.

• Cynthia reaffirms that Molly is to be her first visitor after her marriage.

• Enlisted by Harriet to provide undemanding companionship, Sir Charles Morton becomes Molly's friendly protector, and she begins comfortably relying on him.

  • Charles continues his assigned protection of Molly from fatigue and rescues her from exhausting conversation; Molly explains the arrangement to Roger.

• Molly undertakes to visit Hamley Hall next week, with Clare promising to support the visit.

  • Molly makes the promised visit to Hamley Hall and returns home.

• Roger seeks Molly's help in reconciling Aimée and his father over the child before his departure.

  • Molly undertakes the reconciliation and works with Roger on ways to resolve Aimée and the Squire's difficulties; no settlement is established.
  • Shared fear for the child brings Aimée and the Squire closer, and a practical residence arrangement emerges without establishing Molly's participation.

• Roger intends to leave again in September for six months and does not expect to make Hamley Hall his home again.

  • Roger's intended six-month return to the Cape is confirmed as a promise to Hollingford; departure remains ahead.
  • Roger maintains his intended return to Africa and postpones courtship until his return. His farewell occurs, while the African return is explicitly reported as intended continuation.

• Gibson agrees to have another room built for Clare.

• Molly asserts that she will choose her own husband if she wishes to marry, resisting unsolicited discussion of her prospects.

• Goodenough's insinuation that the Hamley visit serves matchmaking makes Molly constrain her behaviour toward Roger. He feels hurt by her withdrawals, while she conceals their cause; their farewell restores her sense of friendship without revealing their differing hopes.

  • Roger misreads Molly's withdrawal as rejection of his supposedly inconstant love. Friendship resumes, but their misunderstanding remains; Molly regrets hurting him and finds comfort in their distant farewell.

• Molly and Aimée form an affectionate friendship through Aimée's grateful welcome, shared memories of Osborne and Molly's growing understanding of her difficulties.

• Aimée's authority over her son conflicts with the Squire's indulgence, while his comparison of her with Molly deepens her sense of isolation.

  • The child's illness softens their estrangement and apparently makes the Squire recognize that Aimée cannot happily leave her son; their disagreement over parental authority is not explicitly settled.

• The Squire proposes refurbishing the library and considers putting the five-acre into grass, inviting Roger to inspect it with him.

• The Squire urges Roger to marry Molly. Roger repeatedly refuses and pledges never to court her, but subsequently reopens the possibility of her accepting his love.

  • Roger supersedes his refusal to court Molly with a firm intention to seek her after returning safely from Africa, encouraged by Gibson's approval.

• The Squire's disclosure of Roger's refusal mortifies Molly, who interprets it as personal rejection and feels displaced at Hamley Hall.

• When Aimée's son becomes ill, Molly undertakes to leave immediately and find Gibson to attend him.

  • Gibson has attended the child, identified suspected scarlet fever and undertaken treatment.

• The child's suspected scarlet fever threatens his life and requires quarantine, preventing Molly and Roger from meeting before his departure; he survives the immediate danger but remains ill.

• Gibson and Roger arrange lodgings at Jennings' farm for Aimée and her child, with Mrs. Jennings promising attentive care.

• Gibson recognizes Roger's love for Molly and explicitly welcomes him as her prospective husband; he subsequently infers Molly's answering attachment.

• Cynthia and Henderson plan to spend the remaining fortnight of their holiday visiting the Gibsons because their own house is unfinished.

• Clare seeks a new dinner service and new gowns for Cynthia and Henderson's visit, while Molly wants to receive them without disguising the household's ordinary circumstances.

• In the author's intended continuation, Gibson takes a professional partner and plans occasional London stays with Molly for respite from Clare.

Places

Towers, France, London, Paris, Hollingford nursery, Cambridge, England, Hamley Hall, Newport, The Continent, Maidenhead, Eton, Ashcombe, Boulogne, The Towers park, High Street, Canonbury, Russia, Bath, Upton Common, Belgium, Dover, Library at Hamley Hall, Australia, Alsace, Germany, Coreham, Somerton, Winchester, Hyde Park, Metz, Hurst Wood, The county town, West Spinney, Combermere, Rome, Strasbourg, Prestham, Holly Farm, Havre, George, Moscow, Abyssinia, Academy Exhibition, Spa, Heath Lane, Africa, Shire Oak, Henwick, Stratford, Russell Square, Arracuoba, Barford Road, Malvern Hills, Croston Heath, Bishopsfield, Home Farm, Waterloo House, The Cape, Hollingford Church, Feversham, Hamley Arms, Cape Town, Cumnor Grange, Sussex Place, Calais