"She has hardly ever named him to me."
"I don't know why; for to me she used to talk of him perpetually. I have seen so little of her this week, and I think she forgets a great deal now. Still, if you don't mind, I should like to be able to tell her something if she asks me again."
He put his head again between his hands, and did not answer her for some time.
"What does she want to know?" said he, at last. "Does she know that Osborne is coming soon—any day?"
"Yes. But she wants to know where he is."
"I can't tell you. I don't exactly know. I believe he's abroad, but I'm not sure."
"But you've sent papa's letter to him?"
"I've sent it to a friend of his who will know better than I do where he's to be found. You must know that he isn't free from creditors, Molly. You can't have been one of the family, like a child of the house almost, without knowing that much. For that and for other reasons I don't exactly know where he is."
"I will tell her so. You are sure he will come?"
"Quite sure. But, Molly, I think my mother may live some time yet; don't you? Dr. Nicholls said so yesterday when he was here with your father. He said she had rallied more than he had ever expected. You're not afraid of any change that makes you so anxious for Osborne's coming?"