,that
may
be
,
she
and
Mr.
Richard
thought
her
ungrateful
;
and
,
she
would
sometimes
beg
,
in
her
phraseology
,
to
go
on
her
bare
knees
to
Stoneborough
,
only
to
see
Miss
Athel
again
.
"
Her
mother
,
I
should
say
,
told
me
the
girl
had
been
half-mad
,
at
not
being
allowed
to
go
and
take
leave
of
Miss
May
;
and
she
had
been
sorry
herself
,
but
her
husband
had
come
home
suddenly
from
the
search
for
work
,
and
,
having
made
his
arrangements
,
removed
them
at
once
,
early
the
next
morning
—
too
early
to
go
to
the
young
lady
—
though
,
she
said
,
Una
did
—
as
they
passed
through
Stoneborough
—
run
down
the
street
before
she
was
aware
,
and
she
found
her
sobbing
,
fit
to
break
her
heart
,
before
the
house
—
"
(
'
Oh
!
why
,
why
was
I
not
up
,
and
at
the
window
!
Oh
,
my
Una
!
to
think
of
that
!
'
)
"
When
I
spoke
of
writing
to
let
Miss
May
hear
how
it
was
,
the
poor
girl
caught
at
the
idea
with
the
utmost
delight
.
Her
weakness
was
too
great
to
allow
her
to
utter
many
words
distinctly
,
when
I
asked
her
what
she
would
have
me
say
,
but
these
were
as
well
as
I
could
understand
:
—
'
The
blessing
of
one
,
that
they
have
brought
peace
unto
.
Tell
them
I
pray
,
and
will
pray
,
that
they
may
walk
in
the
robe
of
glory
—
and
tell
Mr.
Richard
that
I
mind
what
he
said
to
me
,
of
taking
hold
on
the
sure
hope
.
God
crown
all
their
crosses
unto
them
,
and
fulfil
all
their
desires
unto
everlasting
life
.
'
"
I
feel
that
I
am
not
rendering
her
words
with
all
their
fervour
and
beauty
of
Irish
expression
,
but
I
would
that
I
could
fully
retain
and
transmit
them
,
for
,
those
who
have
so
led
her
,
must
,
indeed
,
be
able
to
feel
them
precious
.
I
never
saw
a
more
peaceful
frame
of
penitence
and
joy
.
She
died
last
night
,
sleeping
herself
away
,
without
more
apparent
suffering
,
and
will
be
committed
to
the
earth
on
Sunday
next
,
all
her
fellow-scholars
attending
;
and
,
I
hope
,
profiting
by
the
example
she
has
left
.
"
"
I
have
only
to
add
my
most
earnest
congratulations
to
those
,
whose
labour
of
love
has
borne
such
blessed
fruit
;
and
,
hoping
you
will
pardon
the
liberty
,
etc.
"
Etheldred
finished
the
letter
through
blinding
tears
,
while
rising
sobs
almost
choked
her
.
She
ran
away
to
her
own
room
,
bolted
the
door
,
and
threw
herself
on
her
knees
,
beside
her
bed
—
now
confusedly
giving
thanks
for
such
results
—
now
weeping
bitterly
over
her
own
unworthiness
.
Oh
!
what
was
she
in
the
sight
of
Heaven
,
compared
with
what
this
poor
girl
had
deemed
her
—
with
what
this
Clergyman
thought
her
?
She
,
the
teacher
,
taught
,
trained
,
and
guarded
,
from
her
infancy
,
by
her
wise
mother
,
and
by
such
a
father
!
She
,
to
have
given
way
,
all
day
,
to
pride
,
jealousy
,
anger
,
selfish
love
of
her
own
will
;
when
this
poor
girl
had
embraced
,
and
held
fast
,
the
blessed
hope
,
from
the
very
crumbs
they
had
brought
her
!
Nothing
could
have
so
humbled
the
distrustful
spirit
that
had
been
working
in
Ethel
,
which
had
been
scotched
into
silence
—
not
killed
—
when
she
endured
the
bazaar
,
and
now
had
been
indemnifying
itself
by
repining
at
every
stumbling-block
.
Her
own
scholar
's
blessing
was
the
rebuke
that
went
most
home
to
her
heart
,
for
having
doubted
whether
good
could
be
worked
in
any
way
,
save
her
own
.
She
was
interrupted
by
Mary
,
trying
to
open
the
door
,
and
,
admitting
her
,
heard
her
wonder
at
the
traces
of
her
tears
,
and
ask
what
there
was
about
Una
?
Ethel
gave
her
the
letter
,
and
Mary
's
tears
showered
very
fast
—
they
always
came
readily
.
'
Oh
!
Ethel
!
how
glad
Richard
will
be
!
'
'
Yes
;
it
is
all
Richard
's
doing
.
So
much
more
good
,
and
wise
,
and
humble
,
as
he
is
.
No
wonder
his
teaching
—
'
and
Ethel
sat
down
and
cried
again
.
Mary
pondered
.
'
It
makes
me
very
glad
,
'
she
said
;
'
and
yet
I
do
n't
know
why
one
cries
.
Ethel
,
do
you
think
'
—
she
came
near
,
and
whispered
—
'
that
Una
has
met
dear
mamma
there
?
'
Ethel
kissed
her
.
It
was
almost
the
first
time
Mary
had
spoken
of
her
mother
;
and
she
answered
,
'
Dear
Mary
,
we
cannot
tell
—
we
may
think
.
It
is
all
one
Communion
,
you
know
.
'
Mary
was
silent
,
and
,
next
time
she
spoke
,
it
was
to
hope
that
Ethel
would
tell
the
Cocksmoor
children
about
Una
.
Ethel
was
obliged
to
dress
,
and
go
down-stairs
to
tea
.
Her
father
seemed
to
have
been
watching
for
her
,
with
his
study
door
open
,
for
he
came
to
meet
her
,
took
her
hand
,
and
said
,
in
a
low
voice
,
'
My
dear
child
,
I
wish
you
joy
.
This
will
be
a
pleasant
message
,
to
bid
poor
Ritchie
good
speed
for
his
Ordination
,
will
it
not
?
'
'
That
it
will
,
papa
—
'
'
Why
,
Ethel
,
have
you
been
crying
over
it
all
this
time
?
'
said
he
,
struck
by
the
sadness
of
her
voice
.
'
Many
other
things
,
papa
.
I
am
so
unworthy
—
but
it
was
not
our
doing
—
but
the
grace
—
'
'
No
,
but
thankful
you
may
be
,
to
have
been
the
means
of
awakening
the
grace
!
'
Ethel
's
lips
trembled
.
'
And
,
oh
,
papa
!
coming
to-day
,
when
I
have
been
behaving
so
ill
to
you
,
and
Miss
Bracy
,
and
Flora
,
and
all
.
'
'
Have
you
?
I
did
not
know
you
had
behaved
ill
to
me
.
'
'
About
Miss
Bracy
—
I
thought
wrong
things
,
if
I
did
not
say
them
.
To
her
,
I
believe
,
I
said
what
was
true
,
though
it
was
harsh
of
me
to
say
it
,
and
—
'
'
What
?
about
pride
and
temper
?
It
was
true
,
and
I
hope
it
will
do
her
good
.
Cure
a
piping
turkey
with
a
pepper-corn
sometimes
.
I
have
spoken
to
her
,
and
told
her
to
pluck
up
a
little
spirit
;
not
fancy
affronts
,
and
not
to
pester
you
with
them
.
Poor
child
!
you
have
been
sadly
victimized
to-day
and
yesterday
.
No
wonder
you
were
bored
past
patience
,
with
that
absured
rabble
of
women
!
'
'
It
was
all
my
own
selfish
,
distrustful
temper
,
wanting
to
have
Cocksmoor
taken
care
of
in
my
own
way
,
and
angry
at
being
interfered
with
.
I
see
it
now
—
and
here
this
poor
girl
,
that
I
thought
thrown
away
—
'
'
Aye
,
Ethel
,
you
will
often
see
the
like
.
The
main
object
may
fail
or
fall
short
,
but
the
earnest
pains-taking
will
always
be
blessed
some
way
or
other
,
and
where
we
thought
it
most
wasted
,
some
fresh
green
shoot
will
spring
up
,
to
show
it
is
not
we
that
give
the
increase
.
I
suppose
you
will
write
to
Richard
with
this
?
'
'
That
I
shall
.
'
'
Then
you
may
send
this
with
it
.
Tell
him
my
arm
is
tired
and
stiff
to-day
,
or
I
would
have
said
more
.
He
must
answer
the
Clergyman
's
letter
.
'
Dr.
May
gave
Ethel
his
sheet
not
folded
.
His
written
words
were
now
so
few
as
to
be
cherished
amongst
his
children
.
Dear
Richard
,
May
all
your
ministerial
works
be
as
blessed
as
this
,
your
first
labour
of
love
.
I
give
you
hearty
joy
of
this
strengthening
blessing
.
—
Mine
goes
with
it
—
'
only
be
strong
and
of
a
good
courage
!
'
Your
affectionate
Father
,
R
.
May
.
P.S.
Margaret
does
not
gain
ground
this
summer
—
you
must
soon
come
home
and
cheer
her
.
CHAPTER
V.
As
late
,
engaged
by
fancy
's
dream
,
I
lay
beside
a
rapid
stream
,
I
saw
my
first
come
gliding
by
,
Its
airy
form
soon
caught
my
eye
;
Its
texture
frail
,
and
colour
various
,
Like
human
hopes
,
and
life
precarious
.
Sudden
,
my
second
caught
my
ear
,
And
filled
my
soul
with
instant
fear
;
I
quickly
rose
,
and
home
I
ran
,
My
whole
was
hissing
in
the
pan
.
Riddle
.
Flora
revised
the
letter
to
the
Principal
,
and
the
Ladies
'
Committee
approved
,
after
having
proposed
seven
amendments
,
all
of
which
Flora
caused
to
topple
over
by
their
own
weakness
.
After
interval
sufficient
to
render
the
nine
ladies
very
anxious
,
the
Principal
wrote
from
Scotland
,
where
he
was
spending
the
Long
Vacation
,
and
informed
them
that
their
request
should
be
laid
before
the
next
College
meeting
.
After
the
Committee
had
sat
upon
this
letter
,
the
two
sisters
walked
home
in
much
greater
harmony
than
after
the
former
meeting
.
Etheldred
had
recovered
her
candour
,
and
was
willing
to
own
that
it
was
not
art
,
but
good
sense
,
that
gave
her
sister
so
much
ascendancy
.
She
began
to
be
hopeful
,
and
to
declare
that
Flora
might
yet
do
something
even
with
the
ladies
.
Flora
was
gratified
by
the
approval
that
no
one
in
the
house
could
help
valuing
;
'
Positively
,
'
said
Flora
,
'
I
believe
I
may
in
time
.
You
see
there
are
different
ways
of
acting
,
as
an
authority
,
or
as
an
equal
.
'
'
The
authority
can
move
from
without
,
the
equal
must
from
within
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
Just
so
.
We
must
circumvent
their
prejudices
,
instead
of
trying
to
beat
them
down
.
'
'
If
you
only
could
have
the
proper
Catechizing
restored
!
'
'
Wait
;
you
will
see
.
Let
me
feel
my
ground
.
'
'
Or
if
we
could
only
abdicate
into
the
hands
of
the
rightful
power
!
'
'
The
rightful
power
would
not
be
much
obliged
to
you
.
'
'
That
is
the
worst
of
it
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
It
is
sad
to
hear
the
sick
people
say
that
Dr.
May
is
more
to
them
than
any
parson
;
it
shews
that
they
have
so
entirely
lost
the
notion
of
what
their
Clergyman
should
be
.
'
'
Dr
.
May
is
the
man
most
looked
up
to
in
the
town
,
'
said
Flora
,
and
that
gives
weight
to
us
in
the
Committee
,
but
it
is
all
in
the
using
.
'
'
Yes
,
'
said
Ethel
,
hesitating
.
'
You
see
,
we
have
the
prestige
of
better
birth
,
and
better
education
,
as
well
as
of
having
the
chief
property
in
the
town
,
and
of
being
the
largest
subscribers
,
added
to
his
personal
character
,
'
said
Flora
;
'
so
that
everything
conspires
to
render
us
leaders
,
and
our
age
alone
prevented
us
from
assuming
our
post
sooner
.
'
They
were
at
home
by
this
time
,
and
,
entering
the
hall
,
perceived
that
the
whole
party
were
in
the
lawn
.
The
consolation
of
the
children
for
the
departure
of
Hector
and
Tom
,
was
a
bowl
of
soapsuds
and
some
tobacco
pipes
,
and
they
had
collected
the
house
to
admire
and
assist
;
even
Margaret
's
couch
being
drawn
close
to
the
window
.
Bubbles
are
one
of
the
most
fascinating
of
sports
.
There
is
the
soft
foamy
mass
,
like
driven
snow
,
or
like
whipped
cream
.
Blanche
bends
down
to
blow
"
a
honeycomb
,
"
holding
the
bowl
of
the
pipe
in
the
water
;
at
her
gurgling
blasts
there
slowly
heaves
upwards
the
pile
of
larger
,
clearer
bubbles
,
each
reflecting
the
whole
scene
,
and
sparkling
with
rainbow
tints
,
until
Aubrey
ruthlessly
dashes
all
into
fragments
with
his
hand
,
and
Mary
pronounces
it
stiff
enough
,
and
presents
a
pipe
to
little
Daisy
,
who
,
drawing
the
liquid
into
her
mouth
,
throws
it
away
with
a
grimace
,
and
declares
that
she
does
not
like
bubbles
!
But
Aubrey
stands
with
swelled
cheeks
,
gravely
puffing
at
the
sealing-waxed
extremity
.
Out
pours
a
confused
assemblage
of
froth
,
but
the
glassy
globe
slowly
expands
the
little
branching
veins
,
flowing
down
on
either
side
,
bearing
an
enlarging
miniature
of
the
sky
,
the
clouds
,
the
tulip-tree
.
Aubrey
pauses
to
exclaim
!
but
where
is
it
?
Try
again
!
A
proud
bubble
,
as
Mary
calls
it
,
a
peacock
,
in
blended
pink
and
green
,
is
this
transparent
sphere
,
reflecting
and
embellishing
house
,
wall
,
and
shrubs
!
It
is
too
beautiful
!
It
is
gone
!
Mary
undertakes
to
give
a
lesson
,
and
blows
deliberately
without
the
slightest
result
.
Again
!
She
waves
her
disengaged
hand
in
silent
exultation
as
the
airy
balls
detach
themselves
,
and
float
off
on
the
summer
breeze
,
with
a
tardy
,
graceful
uncertain
motion
.
Daisy
rushes
after
them
,
catches
at
them
,
and
looks
at
her
empty
fingers
with
a
puzzled
"
All
gone
!
"
as
plainly
expressed
by
Toby
,
who
snaps
at
them
,
and
shakes
his
head
with
offended
dignity
at
the
shock
of
his
meeting
teeth
,
while
the
kitten
frisks
after
them
,
striking
at
them
with
her
paw
,
amazed
at
meeting
vacancy
.
Even
the
grave
Norman
is
drawn
in
.
He
agrees
with
Mary
that
bubbles
used
to
fly
over
the
wall
,
and
that
one
once
went
into
Mrs.
Richardson
's
garret
window
,
when
her
housemaid
tried
to
catch
it
with
a
pair
of
tongs
,
and
then
ran
down-stairs
screaming
that
there
was
a
ghost
in
her
room
;
but
that
was
in
Harry
's
time
,
the
heroic
age
of
the
May
nursery
.
He
accepts
a
pipe
,
and
his
greater
height
raises
it
into
a
favourable
current
of
air
—
the
glistening
balloon
sails
off
.
It
flies
,
it
soars
;
no
,
it
is
coming
down
!
The
children
shout
at
it
,
as
if
to
drive
it
up
,
but
it
wilfully
descends
—
they
rush
beneath
,
they
try
to
waft
it
on
high
with
their
breath
—
there
is
a
collision
between
Mary
and
Blanche
—
Aubrey
perceives
a
taste
of
soapy
water
—
the
bubble
is
no
more
—
it
has
vanished
in
his
open
mouth
!
Papa
himself
has
taken
a
pipe
,
and
the
little
ones
are
mounted
on
chairs
,
to
be
on
a
level
with
their
tall
elders
.
A
painted
globe
is
swimming
along
,
hesitating
at
first
,
but
the
dancing
motion
is
tending
upwards
,
the
rainbow
tints
glisten
in
the
sunlight
—
all
rush
to
assist
it
;
if
breath
of
the
lips
can
uphold
it
,
it
should
rise
,
indeed
!
Up
!
above
the
wall
!
over
Mrs.
Richardson
's
elm
,
over
the
topmost
branch
—
hurra
!
out
of
sight
!
Margaret
adds
her
voice
to
the
acclamations
.
Beat
that
if
you
can
,
Mary
!
That
doubtful
wind
keeps
yours
suspended
in
a
graceful
minuet
;
its
pace
is
accelerated
—
but
earthwards
!
it
has
committed
self-destruction
by
running
foul
of
a
rose-bush
.
A
general
blank
!
'
You
here
,
Ethel
?
'
said
Norman
,
as
the
elders
laughed
at
each
other
's
baffled
faces
.
'
I
am
more
surprised
to
find
you
here
,
'
she
answered
.
'
Excitement
!
'
said
Norman
,
smiling
;
one
cause
is
as
good
as
another
for
it
.
'
'
Very
pretty
sport
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
You
should
write
a
poem
on
it
,
Norman
.
'
'
It
is
an
exhausted
subject
,
'
said
Norman
;
'
bubble
and
trouble
are
too
obvious
a
rhyme
.
'
'
Ha
!
there
it
goes
!
It
will
be
over
the
house
!
That
's
right
!
'
Everyone
joined
in
the
outcry
.
'
Whose
is
it
?
'
'
Blanche
's
—
'
'
Hurrah
for
Blanche
!
Well
done
,
white
Mayflower
,
there
!
'
said
the
Doctor
,
'
that
is
what
I
meant
.
See
the
applause
gained
by
a
proud
bubble
that
flies
!
Do
n't
we
all
bow
down
to
it
,
and
waft
it
up
with
the
whole
force
of
our
lungs
,
air
as
it
is
;
and
when
it
fairly
goes
out
of
sight
,
is
there
any
exhilaration
or
applause
that
surpasses
ours
?
'
'
The
whole
world
being
bent
on
making
painted
bubbles
fly
over
the
house
,
'
said
Norman
,
far
more
thoughtfully
than
his
father
.
'
It
is
a
fair
pattern
of
life
and
fame
.
'
'
I
was
thinking
,
'
continued
Dr.
May
,
'
what
was
the
most
unalloyed
exultation
,
I
remember
.
'
'
Harry
's
,
when
you
were
made
Dux
,
'
whispered
Ethel
to
her
brother
.
'
Not
mine
,
'
said
Norman
,
briefly
.
'
I
believe
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
'
I
never
knew
such
glorification
as
when
Aubrey
Spencer
climbed
the
poor
old
market-cross
.
We
all
felt
ourselves
made
illustrious
for
ever
in
his
person
.
'
'
Nay
,
papa
,
when
you
got
that
gold
medal
must
have
been
the
grandest
time
?
'
said
Blanche
,
who
had
been
listening
.
Dr.
May
laughed
,
and
patted
her
.
'
I
,
Blanche
?
Why
,
I
was
excessively
amazed
,
that
is
all
,
not
in
Norman
's
way
,
but
I
had
been
doing
next
to
nothing
to
the
very
last
,
then
fell
into
an
agony
,
and
worked
like
a
horse
,
thinking
myself
sure
of
failure
,
and
that
my
mother
and
my
uncles
would
break
their
hearts
.
'
'
But
when
you
heard
that
you
had
it
?
'
persisted
Blanche
.
'
Why
,
then
I
found
I
must
be
a
much
cleverer
fellow
than
I
thought
for
!
'
said
he
,
laughing
;
'
but
I
was
ashamed
of
myself
,
and
of
the
authorities
,
for
choosing
such
an
idle
dog
,
and
vexed
that
other
plodding
lads
missed
it
,
who
deserved
it
more
than
I
.
'
'
Of
course
,
'
said
Norman
,
in
a
low
voice
,
'
that
is
what
one
always
feels
.
I
had
rather
blow
soap-bubbles
!
'
'
Where
was
Dr.
Spencer
?
'
asked
Ethel
.
'
Not
competing
.
He
had
been
ready
a
year
before
,
and
had
gained
it
,
or
I
should
have
had
no
chance
.
Poor
Spencer
!
what
would
I
not
give
to
see
him
,
or
hear
of
him
?
'
'
The
last
was
—
how
long
ago
?
'
said
Ethel
.
'
Six
years
,
when
he
was
setting
off
,
to
return
from
Poonshedagore
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
sighing
.
'
I
give
him
up
;
his
health
was
broken
,
and
there
was
no
one
to
look
after
him
.
He
was
the
sort
of
man
to
have
a
nameless
grave
,
and
a
name
too
blessed
for
fame
.
'
Ethel
would
have
asked
further
of
her
father
's
dear
old
friend
,
but
there
were
sounds
,
denoting
an
arrival
,
and
Margaret
beckoned
to
them
,
as
Miss
Rivers
,
and
her
brother
,
were
ushered
into
the
drawing-room
;
and
Blanche
instantly
fled
away
,
with
her
basin
,
to
hide
herself
in
the
school-room
.
Meta
skipped
out
,
and
soon
was
established
on
the
grass
,
an
attraction
to
all
the
live
creatures
,
as
it
seemed
;
for
the
kitten
came
,
and
was
caressed
,
till
her
own
graceful
Nipen
was
ready
to
fight
with
the
uncouth
Toby
,
for
the
possession
of
a
resting-place
on
the
skirt
of
her
habit
,
while
Daisy
nestled
up
to
her
,
as
claiming
a
privilege
,
and
Aubrey
kept
guard
over
the
dogs
.
Meta
enquired
after
a
huge
doll
—
Dr.
Hoxton
's
gift
to
Daisy
,
at
the
bazaar
.
'
She
is
in
Margaret
's
wardrobe
,
'
was
the
answer
,
'
because
Aubrey
tied
her
hands
behind
her
,
and
was
going
to
offer
her
up
on
the
nursery
grate
.
'
'
Oh
!
Aubrey
,
that
was
too
cruel
!
'
'
No
,
'
returned
Aubrey
;
'
she
was
Iphigenia
,
going
to
be
sacrificed
.
'
'
Mary
unconsciously
acted
Diana
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
and
bore
the
victim
away
.
'
'
Pray
,
was
Daisy
a
willing
Clytemnestra
?
'
asked
Meta
.
'
Oh
,
yes
,
she
liked
it
,
'
said
Aubrey
,
while
Meta
looked
discomfited
.
'
I
never
could
get
proper
respect
paid
to
dolls
,
'
said
Margaret
;
'
we
deal
too
much
in
their
natural
enemies
.
'
'
Yes
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
my
only
doll
was
like
a
heraldic
lion
,
couped
in
all
her
parts
.
'
'
Harry
and
Tom
once
made
a
general
execution
,
'
said
Flora
;
'
there
was
a
doll
hanging
to
every
baluster
—
the
number
made
up
with
rag
.
'
George
Rivers
burst
out
laughing
—
his
first
sign
of
life
;
and
Meta
looked
as
if
she
had
heard
of
so
many
murders
.
'
'
I
ca
n't
help
feeling
for
a
doll
!
'
she
said
.
'
They
used
to
be
like
sisters
to
me
.
I
feel
as
if
they
were
wasted
on
children
,
that
see
no
character
in
them
,
and
only
call
them
Dolly
.
'
'
I
agree
with
you
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
If
there
had
been
no
live
dolls
,
Richard
and
I
should
have
reared
our
doll
family
as
judiciously
as
tenderly
.
There
are
treasures
of
carpentry
still
extant
,
that
he
made
for
them
.
'
'
Oh
!
I
am
so
glad
!
'
cried
Meta
,
as
if
she
had
found
another
point
of
union
.
'
If
I
were
to
confess
—
there
is
a
dear
old
Rose
in
the
secret
recesses
of
my
wardrobe
.
I
could
as
soon
throw
away
my
sister
—
'
'
Ha
!
'
cried
her
brother
,
laying
hold
of
the
child
,
'
here
,
little
Daisy
,
will
you
give
your
doll
to
Meta
?
'
'
My
name
is
Gertrude
Margaret
May
,
'
said
the
little
round
mouth
.
The
fat
arm
was
drawn
back
,
with
all
a
baby
's
dignity
,
and
the
rosy
face
was
hidden
in
Dr.
May
's
breast
,
at
the
sound
of
George
Rivers
's
broad
laugh
,
and
,
'
Well
done
,
little
one
!
'
Dr.
May
put
his
arm
round
her
,
turned
aside
from
him
,
and
began
talking
to
Meta
about
Mr.
Rivers
.
Flora
and
Norman
made
conversation
for
the
brother
;
and
he
presently
asked
Norman
to
go
out
shooting
with
him
;
but
,
looked
so
amazed
on
hearing
that
Norman
was
no
sportsman
,
that
Flora
tried
to
save
the
family
credit
,
by
mentioning
Hector
's
love
of
a
gun
,
which
caused
their
guest
to
make
a
general
tender
of
sporting
privileges
;
'
Though
,
'
added
he
,
with
a
drawl
,
'
shooting
is
rather
a
nuisance
,
especially
alone
.
'
Meta
told
Ethel
,
a
little
apart
,
that
he
was
so
tired
of
going
out
alone
,
that
he
had
brought
her
here
,
in
search
of
a
companion
.
'
He
comes
in
at
eleven
o'clock
,
poor
fellow
,
quite
tired
with
solitude
,
'
said
she
,
'
and
comes
to
me
to
be
entertained
.
'
'
Indeed
,
'
exclaimed
Ethel
.
'
What
can
you
do
?
'
'
What
I
can
,
'
said
Meta
,
laughing
.
'
Whatever
is
not
"
a
horrid
nuisance
"
to
him
.
'
'
It
would
be
a
horrid
nuisance
to
me
,
'
said
Ethel
,
bluntly
,
'
if
my
brothers
wanted
me
to
amuse
them
all
the
morning
.
'
'
Your
brothers
,
oh
!
'
said
Meta
,
as
if
that
were
very
different
;
'
besides
,
you
have
so
much
more
to
do
.
I
am
only
too
glad
and
grateful
,
when
George
will
come
to
me
at
all
.
You
see
,
I
have
always
been
too
young
to
be
his
companion
,
or
find
out
what
suited
him
,
and
now
he
is
so
very
kind
and
good-natured
to
me
.
'
'
But
what
becomes
of
your
business
?
'
'
I
get
time
,
one
way
or
another
.
There
is
the
evening
,
very
often
,
when
I
have
sung
both
him
and
papa
to
sleep
.
I
had
two
hours
,
all
to
myself
,
yesterday
night
,
'
said
Meta
,
with
a
look
of
congratulation
,
'
and
I
had
a
famous
reading
of
"
Thirlwall
's
Greece
.
"
'
'
I
should
think
that
such
evenings
were
as
bad
as
the
mornings
.
'
'
Come
,
Ethel
,
do
n't
make
me
naughty
.
Large
families
,
like
yours
,
may
have
merry
,
sociable
evenings
;
but
,
I
do
assure
you
,
ours
are
very
pleasant
.
We
are
so
pleased
to
have
George
at
home
;
and
we
really
hope
that
he
is
taking
a
fancy
to
the
dear
Grange
.
You
ca
n't
think
how
delighted
papa
is
,
to
have
him
content
to
stay
quietly
with
us
so
long
.
I
must
call
him
,
to
go
back
now
,
though
,
or
papa
will
be
kept
waiting
.
'
When
Ethel
had
watched
the
tall
,
ponderous
brother
help
the
bright
fairy
sister
to
fly
airily
into
her
saddle
,
and
her
sparkling
glance
,
'
and
wave
of
the
hand
,
as
she
cantered
off
,
contrasting
with
his
slow
bend
,
and
immobility
of
feature
,
she
could
not
help
saying
that
Meta
's
life
certainly
was
not
too
charming
,
with
her
fanciful
,
valetudinarian
father
,
and
that
stupid
,
idealess
brother
.
'
He
is
very
amiable
and
good-natured
,
'
interposed
Norman
.
'
Ha
!
Norman
,
you
are
quite
won
by
his
invitation
to
shoot
!
How
he
despised
you
for
refusing
—
as
much
as
you
despised
him
.
'
'
Speak
for
yourself
,
'
said
Norman
.
'
You
fancy
no
sensible
man
likes
shooting
,
but
you
are
all
wrong
.
Some
of
our
best
men
are
capital
sportsmen
.
Why
,
there
is
Ogilvie
—
you
know
what
he
is
,
When
I
bring
him
down
here
,
you
will
see
that
there
is
no
sort
of
sport
that
he
is
not
keen
after
.
'
'
This
poor
fellow
will
never
be
keen
after
anything
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
I
pity
him
!
Existence
seems
hard
work
to
him
!
'
'
We
shall
have
baby
calling
him
"
the
detestable
"
next
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
What
a
famous
set
down
she
gave
him
.
'
'
She
is
a
thorough
lady
,
and
allows
no
liberties
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
Ah
!
'
said
Margaret
,
'
it
is
a
proof
of
what
I
want
to
impress
on
you
.
We
really
must
leave
off
calling
her
Daisy
,
when
strangers
are
there
.
'
'
It
is
so
much
nicer
,
'
pleaded
Mary
.
'
The
very
reason
,
'
said
Margaret
,
'
fondling
names
should
be
kept
for
our
innermost
selves
,
not
spread
abroad
,
and
made
common
.
I
remember
when
I
used
to
be
called
Peg-top
—
and
Flora
,
Flossy
—
we
were
never
allowed
to
use
the
names
,
when
any
visitor
was
near
;
and
we
were
asked
if
we
could
not
be
as
fond
of
each
other
by
our
proper
names
.
I
think
it
was
felt
that
there
was
a
want
of
reserve
,
in
publishing
our
pet
words
to
other
people
.
'
'
Quite
true
,
'
said
Dr.
May
;
'
baby-names
never
ought
to
go
beyond
home
.
It
is
the
fashion
to
use
them
now
;
and
,
besides
the
folly
,
it
seems
,
to
me
,
an
absolute
injury
to
a
girl
,
to
let
her
grow
up
,
with
a
nick-name
attached
to
her
.
'
'
Aye
!
'
chimed
in
Norman
,
'
I
hear
men
talking
of
Henny
,
and
Loo
,
and
the
like
;
and
you
ca
n't
think
how
glad
I
have
been
,
that
my
sisters
could
not
be
known
by
any
absurd
word
!
'
'
It
is
a
case
,
where
self-respect
would
make
others
behave
properly
,
'
said
Flora
.
'
True
,
'
said
Dr.
May
;
'
but
if
girls
wo
n't
keep
up
their
own
dignity
,
their
friends
'
duty
is
to
do
it
for
them
.
The
mischief
is
in
the
intimate
friends
,
who
blazon
the
words
to
everyone
.
'
'
And
then
they
call
one
formal
,
for
trying
to
protect
the
right
name
,
'
said
Flora
.
'
It
is
,
one-half
of
it
,
silliness
,
and
,
the
other
,
affectation
of
intimacy
.
'
'
Now
,
I
know
,
'
said
Mary
,
'
why
you
are
so
careful
to
call
Meta
Miss
Rivers
,
to
all
the
people
here
.
'
'
I
should
hope
so
!
'
cried
Norman
,
indignantly
.
'
Why
,
yes
,
Mary
,
'
said
Margaret
,
'
I
should
hope
lady-like
feeling
would
prevent
you
from
calling
her
Meta
before
—
'
'
The
Andersons
!
'
cried
Ethel
,
laughing
.
'
Margaret
was
just
going
to
say
it
.
We
only
want
Harry
,
to
exact
the
forfeit
!
Poor
dear
little
humming
bird
!
It
gives
one
an
oppression
on
the
chest
,
to
think
of
her
having
that
great
do-nothing
brother
on
her
hands
all
day
.
'
'
Thank
you
,
said
Norman
,
'
I
shall
know
where
I
am
not
to
look
when
I
want
a
sister
.
'
'
Aye
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
when
you
come
yawning
to
me
to
find
amusement
for
you
,
you
will
see
what
I
shall
do
!
'
'
Stand
over
me
with
a
stick
while
I
print
A
B
C
for
Cocksmoor
,
I
suppose
,
'
said
Norman
.
'
Well
!
why
not
?
People
are
much
better
doing
something
than
nothing
.
'
'
What
,
you
wo
n't
even
let
me
blow
bubbles
!
'
said
Norman
.
'
That
is
too
intellectual
,
as
papa
makes
it
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
By-the-by
,
Norman
,
'
she
added
,
as
she
had
now
walked
with
him
a
little
apart
,
'
it
always
was
a
bubble
of
mine
that
you
should
try
for
the
Newdigate
Prize
.
Ha
?
'
as
the
colour
rushed
into
his
cheeks
,
'
you
really
have
begun
!
'
'
I
could
not
help
it
,
when
I
heard
the
subject
given
out
for
next
year
.
Our
old
friend
,
Decius
Mus
.
'
'
Have
you
finished
?
'
'
By
no
means
,
but
it
brought
a
world
of
notions
into
my
head
,
such
as
I
could
not
but
set
down
.
Now
,
Ethel
,
do
oblige
me
,
do
write
another
,
as
we
used
in
old
times
.
'
'
I
had
better
not
,
'
said
Ethel
,
standing
thoughtful
.
'
If
I
throw
myself
into
it
,
I
shall
hate
everything
else
,
and
my
wits
will
be
wool-gathering
.
I
have
neither
time
nor
poetry
enough
.
'
'
You
used
to
write
English
Verse
.
'
'
I
was
cured
of
it
.
'
'
How
?
'
'
I
wanted
money
for
Cocksmoor
,
and
,
after
persuading
papa
,
I
got
leave
to
send
a
ballad
about
a
little
girl
,
and
a
white
rose
,
to
that
school
magazine
.
I
do
n't
think
papa
liked
it
,
but
there
were
some
verses
that
touched
him
,
and
one
had
seen
worse
.
It
was
actually
inserted
,
and
I
was
in
high
feather
,
till
,
oh
!
Norman
!
imagine
Richard
getting
hold
of
this
unlucky
thing
,
without
a
notion
where
it
came
from
.
Margaret
put
it
before
him
,
to
see
what
he
would
say
to
it
.
'
'
I
am
afraid
it
was
not
like
a
young
lady
's
anonymous
composition
in
a
story
.
'
'
By
no
means
.
Imagine
Ritchie
picking
my
poor
metaphors
to
pieces
,
and
weighing
every
sentimental
line
!
And
all
in
his
dear
old
simplicity
,
because
he
wanted
to
understand
it
,
seeing
that
Margaret
liked
it
.
He
had
not
the
least
intention
of
hurting
my
feelings
,
but
never
was
I
so
annihilated
!
I
thought
he
was
doing
it
on
purpose
,
till
I
saw
how
distressed
he
was
when
he
found
it
out
;
and
,
worse
than
all
was
,
his
saying
at
the
end
,
that
he
supposed
it
was
very
fine
,
but
he
could
not
understand
it
.
'
'
Let
me
see
it
.
'
'
Some
time
or
other
;
but
let
me
see
Decius
.
'
'
Did
you
give
up
verses
because
Richard
could
not
understand
them
?
'
'
No
;
because
I
had
other
fish
to
fry
.
And
I
have
not
given
them
up
altogether
.
I
do
scrabble
down
things
that
tease
me
by
running
in
my
head
,
when
I
want
to
clear
my
brains
,
and
know
what
I
mean
;
but
I
ca
n't
do
it
without
sitting
up
at
night
,
and
that
stupifies
me
before
breakfast
.
And
as
to
making
bubbles
of
them
,
Ritchie
has
cured
me
of
that
!
'
'
It
is
a
pity
!
'
said
Norman
.
'
Nonsense
,
let
me
see
Decius
.
I
know
he
is
splendid
.
'
'
I
wish
you
would
have
tried
,
for
all
my
best
ideas
are
stolen
from
you
.
'
Ethel
prevailed
by
following
her
brother
to
his
room
,
and
perching
herself
on
the
window-sill
,
while
he
read
his
performance
from
many
slips
of
paper
.
The
visions
of
those
boyish
days
had
not
been
forgotten
,
the
Vesuvius
scenery
was
much
as
Ethel
had
once
described
it
,
but
with
far
more
force
and
beauty
;
there
was
Decius
'
impassioned
address
to
the
beauteous
land
he
was
about
to
leave
,
and
the
remembrances
of
his
Roman
hearth
,
his
farm
,
his
children
,
whom
he
quitted
for
the
pale
shadows
of
an
uncertain
Elysium
.
There
was
a
great
hiatus
in
the
middle
,
and
Norman
had
many
more
authorities
to
consult
,
but
the
summing
up
was
nearly
complete
,
and
Ethel
thought
the
last
lines
grand
,
as
they
spoke
of
the
noble
consul
's
name
living
for
evermore
,
added
to
the
examples
that
nerve
ardent
souls
to
devote
life
,
and
all
that
is
precious
,
to
the
call
of
duty
.
Fame
is
not
their
object
.
She
may
crown
their
pale
brows
,
but
for
the
good
of
others
,
not
their
own
,
a
beacon
light
to
the
world
.
Self
is
no
object
of
theirs
,
and
it
is
the
casting
self
behind
that
wins
—
not
always
the
visible
earthly
strife
,
but
the
combat
between
good
and
evil
.
They
are
the
true
victors
,
and
whether
chronicled
,
or
forgotten
,
true
glory
rests
on
their
heads
,
the
sole
true
glory
that
man
can
attain
,
namely
,
the
reflected
beams
that
crown
them
as
shadowy
types
of
Him
whom
Decius
knew
not
—
the
Prince
who
gave
himself
for
His
people
,
and
thus
rendered
death
,
for
Truth
's
sake
,
the
highest
boon
to
mortal
man
.
'
Norman
,
you
must
finish
it
!
When
will
it
be
given
in
?
'
'
Next
spring
,
if
at
all
,
but
keep
the
secret
,
Ethel
.
I
cannot
have
my
father
's
hopes
raised
.
'
'
I
'll
tell
you
of
a
motto
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
Do
you
remember
Mrs.
Hemans
mention
of
a
saying
of
Sir
Walter
Scott
—
"
Never
let
me
hear
that
brave
blood
has
been
shed
in
vain
.
It
sends
a
roaring
voice
down
through
all
time
.
"
'
'
If
—
'
said
Norman
,
rather
ashamed
of
the
enthusiasm
which
,
almost
approaching
to
the
so-called
"
funny
state
,
"
of
his
younger
days
,
had
trembled
in
his
voice
,
and
kindled
his
eye
,
'
if
you
wo
n't
let
me
put
"
nascitur
ridiculus
mus
.
"
'
Too
obvious
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
Depend
upon
it
every
undergraduate
has
thought
of
it
already
.
'
Ethel
was
always
very
happy
over
Norman
's
secrets
,
and
went
about
smiling
over
Decius
,
and
comparing
her
brother
with
such
a
one
as
poor
Meta
was
afflicted
with
;
wasting
some
superfluous
pity
and
contempt
on
the
weary
weight
that
was
inflicted
on
the
Grange
.
'
What
do
you
think
of
me
?
'
said
Margaret
,
one
afternoon
.
'
I
have
had
Mr.
George
Rivers
here
for
two
hours
.
'
'
Alone
!
what
could
bring
him
here
?
'
'
I
told
him
that
everyone
was
out
,
but
he
chose
to
sit
down
,
and
seemed
to
be
waiting
.
'
'
How
could
you
get
on
?
'
'
Oh
!
we
asked
a
few
questions
,
and
brought
out
remarks
,
with
great
difficulty
,
at
long
intervals
.
He
asked
me
if
lying
here
was
not
a
great
nuisance
,
and
,
at
last
,
he
grew
tired
of
twisting
his
moustache
,
and
went
away
.
'
'
I
trust
it
was
a
call
to
take
leave
.
'
'
No
,
he
thinks
he
shall
sell
out
,
for
the
army
is
a
great
nuisance
.
'
'
You
seem
to
have
got
into
his
confidence
.
'
'
Yes
,
he
said
he
wanted
to
settle
down
,
but
living
with
one
's
father
was
such
a
nuisance
.
'
'
By-the-by
!
'
cried
Ethel
,
laughing
.
'
Margaret
,
it
strikes
me
that
this
is
a
Dumbiedikes
'
courtship
!
'
'
Of
yourself
?
'
said
Margaret
,
slyly
.
'
No
,
of
Flora
.
You
know
,
she
has
often
met
him
at
the
Grange
and
other
places
,
and
she
does
contrive
to
amuse
him
,
and
make
him
almost
animated
.
I
should
not
think
he
found
her
a
great
nuisance
.
'
'
Poor
man
!
I
am
sorry
for
him
!
'
said
Margaret
.
'
Oh
!
rejection
will
be
very
good
for
him
,
and
give
him
something
to
think
of
.
'
'
Flora
will
never
let
it
come
to
that
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
But
not
one
word
about
it
,
Ethel
!
'
Margaret
and
Etheldred
kept
their
eyes
open
,
and
sometimes
imagined
,
sometimes
laughed
at
themselves
for
their
speculations
,
and
so
October
began
;
and
Ethel
laughed
,
as
she
questioned
whether
the
Grange
would
feel
the
Hussar
's
return
to
his
quarters
,
as
much
as
home
would
the
departure
of
their
scholar
for
Balliol
.
CHAPTER
VI
.
So
,
Lady
Flora
,
take
my
lay
,
And
if
you
find
a
meaning
there
,
Oh
!
whisper
to
your
glass
,
and
say
,
What
wonder
,
if
he
thinks
me
fair
.
Tennyson
.
Flora
and
Norman
were
dining
with
one
of
their
county
acquaintance
,
and
Dr.
May
had
undertaken
to
admit
them
on
their
return
.
The
fire
shone
red
and
bright
,
as
it
sank
calmly
away
,
and
the
time-piece
and
clock
on
the
stairs
had
begun
their
nightly
duett
off
ticking
,
the
crickets
chirped
in
the
kitchen
,
and
the
Doctor
sat
alone
.
His
book
lay
with
unturned
pages
,
as
he
sat
musing
,
with
eyes
fixed
on
the
fire
,
living
over
again
his
own
life
,
the
easy
bright
days
of
his
youth
,
when
,
without
much
pains
on
his
own
part
,
the
tendencies
of
his
generous
affectionate
disposition
,
and
the
influences
of
a
warm
friendship
,
and
an
early
attachment
,
had
guarded
him
from
evil
—
then
the
period
when
he
had
been
perfectly
happy
,
and
the
sobering
power
of
his
position
had
been
gradually
working
on
him
;
but
though
always
religious
and
highly
principled
,
the
very
goodness
of
his
natural
character
preventing
him
from
perceiving
the
need
of
self-control
,
until
the
shock
that
changed
the
whole
tenor
of
his
life
,
and
left
him
,
for
the
first
time
,
sensible
of
his
own
responsibility
,
but
,
with
inveterate
habits
of
heedlessness
and
hastiness
,
that
love
alone
gave
him
force
to
combat
.
He
was
now
a
far
gentler
man
.
His
younger
children
had
never
seen
,
his
elder
had
long
since
forgotten
,
his
occasional
bursts
of
temper
,
but
he
suffered
keenly
from
their
effects
,
especially
as
regarded
some
of
his
children
.
Though
Richard
's
timidity
had
been
overcome
,
and
Tom
's
more
serious
failures
had
been
remedied
,
he
was
not
without
anxiety
,
and
had
a
strange
unsatisfactory
feeling
as
regarded
Flora
.
He
could
not
feel
that
he
had
fathomed
her
!
She
reminded
him
of
his
old
Scottish
father-in-law
,
Professor
Mackenzie
,
whom
he
had
never
understood
,
nor
,
if
the
truth
were
known
,
liked
.
Her
dealings
with
the
Ladies
'
Committee
were
so
like
her
grandfather
's
canny
ways
in
a
public
meeting
,
that
he
laughed
over
them
—
but
they
were
not
congenial
to
him
.
Flora
was
a
most
valuable
person
;
all
that
she
undertook
prospered
,
and
he
depended
entirely
on
her
for
household
affairs
,
and
for
the
care
of
Margaret
;
but
,
highly
as
he
esteemed
her
,
he
was
a
little
afraid
of
her
cool
prudence
;
she
never
seemed
to
be
in
any
need
of
him
,
nor
to
place
any
confidence
in
him
,
and
seemed
altogether
,
so
much
older
and
wiser
than
he
could
feel
himself
—
pretty
girl
as
she
was
—
and
very
pretty
were
her
fine
blue
eyes
and
clear
skin
,
set
off
by
her
dark
brown
hair
.
There
arose
the
vision
of
eyes
as
blue
,
skin
as
clear
,
but
of
light
blonde
locks
,
and
shorter
,
rounder
,
more
dove-like
form
,
open
simple
loving
face
,
and
serene
expression
,
that
had
gone
straight
to
his
heart
,
when
he
first
saw
Maggie
Mackenzie
making
tea
.
He
heard
the
wheels
,
and
went
out
to
unbolt
the
door
.
Those
were
a
pair
for
a
father
to
be
proud
of
—
Norman
,
of
fine
stature
,
and
noble
looks
,
with
his
high
brow
,
clear
thoughtful
eye
,
and
grave
intellectual
eagle
face
,
lighting
into
animation
with
his
rare
,
sweet
smile
;
and
Flora
,
so
tall
and
graceful
,
and
in
her
white
dress
,
picturesquely
half-concealed
by
her
mantle
,
with
flowers
in
her
hair
,
and
a
deepened
colour
in
her
cheek
,
was
a
fair
vision
,
as
she
came
in
from
the
darkness
.
'
Well
!
was
it
a
pleasant
party
?
'
Norman
related
the
circumstances
,
while
his
sister
remained
silently
leaning
against
the
mantel-piece
;
looking
into
the
fire
,
until
he
took
up
his
candle
,
and
bade
them
good
night
.
Dr.
May
was
about
to
do
the
same
,
when
she
held
out
her
hand
.
'
One
moment
,
if
you
please
,
dear
papa
,
'
she
said
—
'
I
think
you
ought
to
know
it
.
'
'
What
,
my
dear
?
'
'
Mr
.
George
Rivers
,
papa
—
'
'
Ha
!
'
said
Dr.
May
,
beginning
to
smile
.
'
So
that
is
what
he
is
at
,
is
it
?
But
what
an
opportunity
to
take
.
'
'
It
was
in
the
conservatory
,
'
said
Flora
—
a
little
hurt
,
as
her
father
discovered
by
her
tone
.
'
The
music
was
going
on
,
and
I
do
n't
know
that
there
could
have
been
—
'
'
A
better
opportunity
,
eh
?
'
said
Dr.
May
,
laughing
;
'
well
,
I
should
have
thought
it
awkward
;
was
he
very
much
discomposed
?
'
'
I
thought
,
'
said
Flora
,
looking
down
and
hesitating
,
'
that
he
had
better
come
to
you
.
'
'
Indeed
!
so
you
shifted
the
ungracious
office
to
me
.
I
am
very
glad
to
spare
you
,
my
dear
;
but
it
was
hard
on
him
to
raise
his
hopes
.
'
'
I
thought
,
'
faltered
Flora
,
'
that
you
could
not
disapprove
—
'
'
Flora
—
'
and
he
paused
completely
confounded
,
while
his
daughter
was
no
less
surprised
at
the
manner
in
which
her
news
was
received
.
Each
waited
for
the
other
to
speak
,
and
Flora
turned
away
,
resting
her
head
against
the
mantel-piece
.
'
Surely
,
'
said
he
,
laying
his
hand
on
her
shoulder
,
'
you
do
not
mean
that
you
like
this
man
.
'
'
I
did
not
think
that
you
would
be
against
it
,
'
said
Flora
,
in
a
choked
voice
,
her
face
still
averted
.
'
Heaven
knows
,
I
would
not
be
against
anything
for
your
happiness
,
my
dear
,
'
he
answered
;
'
but
have
you
considered
what
it
would
be
to
spend
your
life
with
a
man
that
has
not
three
ideas
;
not
a
resource
for
occupying
himself
—
a
regular
prey
to
ennui
—
one
whom
you
could
never
respect
!
'
He
had
grown
more
and
more
vehement
—
and
Flora
put
her
handkerchief
to
her
eyes
,
for
tears
of
actual
disappointment
were
flowing
.
'
Come
,
come
,
'
he
said
,
touched
,
but
turning
it
off
by
a
smile
,
'
we
will
not
talk
of
it
any
more
to-night
.
—
It
is
your
first
offer
,
and
you
are
flattered
,
but
we
know
"
Colours
seen
by
candle-light
,
Will
not
bear
the
light
of
day
.
"
There
,
good
night
,
Flora
,
my
dear
—
we
will
have
a
tête
à
tête
in
the
study
before
breakfast
,
when
you
have
had
time
to
look
into
your
own
mind
.
'
He
kissed
her
affectionately
,
and
went
up-stairs
with
her
,
stopping
at
her
door
to
give
her
another
embrace
,
and
to
say
,
'
Bless
you
,
my
dear
child
,
and
help
you
to
come
to
a
right
decision
—
'
Flora
was
disappointed
.
She
had
been
too
highly
pleased
at
her
conquest
to
make
any
clear
estimation
of
the
prize
,
individually
considered
.
Her
vanity
magnified
her
achievement
,
and
she
had
come
home
in
a
flutter
of
pleasure
,
at
having
had
such
a
position
in
society
offered
to
her
,
and
expecting
that
her
whole
family
would
share
her
triumph
.
Gratified
by
George
Rivers
's
admiration
,
she
regarded
him
with
favour
and
complacency
;
and
her
habit
of
considering
herself
as
the
most
sensible
person
in
her
sphere
,
made
her
so
regard
his
appreciation
of
her
,
that
she
was
blinded
to
his
inferiority
.
It
must
be
allowed
,
that
he
was
less
dull
with
her
than
with
most
others
.
And
,
in
the
midst
of
her
glory
,
when
she
expected
her
father
to
be
delighted
and
grateful
—
to
be
received
as
a
silly
girl
,
ready
to
accept
any
proposal
,
her
lover
spoken
of
with
scorn
,
and
the
advantages
of
the
match
utterly
passed
over
,
was
almost
beyond
endurance
.
A
physician
,
with
eleven
children
dependent
on
his
practice
,
to
despise
an
offer
from
the
heir
of
such
a
fortune
!
But
that
was
his
customary
romance
!
She
forgave
him
,
when
it
occurred
to
her
that
she
was
too
important
,
and
valuable
,
to
be
easily
spared
;
and
a
tenderness
thrilled
through
her
,
as
she
looked
at
the
sleeping
Margaret
's
pale
face
,
and
thought
of
surrendering
her
and
little
Daisy
to
Ethel
's
keeping
.
And
what
would
become
of
the
house-keeping
?
She
decided
,
however
,
that
feelings
must
not
sway
her
—
out
of
six
sisters
some
must
marry
,
for
the
good
of
the
rest
.
Blanche
and
Daisy
should
come
and
stay
with
her
,
to
be
formed
by
the
best
society
;
and
,
as
to
poor
dear
Ethel
,
Mrs.
Rivers
would
rule
the
Ladies
'
Committee
for
her
with
a
high
hand
,
and
,
perhaps
,
provide
Cocksmoor
with
a
school
at
her
sole
expense
.
What
a
useful
,
admirable
woman
she
would
be
!
The
Doctor
would
be
the
person
to
come
to
his
senses
in
the
morning
,
when
he
remembered
Abbotstoke
,
Mr.
Rivers
,
and
Meta
.
So
Flora
met
her
father
,
the
next
morning
,
with
all
her
ordinary
composure
,
in
which
he
could
not
rival
her
,
after
his
sleepless
,
anxious
night
.
His
looks
of
affectionate
solicitude
disconcerted
what
she
had
intended
to
say
,
and
she
waited
,
with
downcast
eyes
,
for
him
to
begin
.
'
Well
,
Flora
,
'
he
said
,
at
last
,
'
have
you
thought
?
'
'
Do
you
know
any
cause
against
it
?
'
said
Flora
,
still
looking
down
.
'
I
know
almost
nothing
of
him
.
I
have
never
heard
anything
of
his
character
,
or
conduct
.
Those
would
be
a
subject
of
enquiry
,
if
you
wish
to
carry
this
on
—
'
'
I
see
you
are
averse
,
'
said
Flora
.
'
I
would
do
nothing
against
your
wishes
—
'
'
My
wishes
have
nothing
to
do
with
it
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
The
point
is
—
that
I
must
do
right
,
as
far
as
I
can
,
as
well
as
try
to
secure
your
happiness
;
and
I
want
to
be
sure
that
you
know
what
you
are
about
.
'
'
I
know
he
is
not
clever
,
'
said
Flora
;
'
but
there
may
be
many
solid
qualities
without
talent
.
'
'
I
am
the
last
person
to
deny
it
;
but
where
are
these
solid
qualities
?
I
cannot
see
the
recommendation
!
'
'
I
place
myself
in
your
hands
,
'
said
Flora
,
in
a
submissive
tone
,
which
had
the
effect
of
making
him
lose
patience
.
'
Flora
,
Flora
!
why
will
you
talk
as
if
I
were
sacrificing
you
to
some
dislike
or
prejudice
of
my
own
!
Do
n't
you
think
I
should
only
rejoice
,
to
have
such
a
prosperous
home
offered
to
you
,
if
only
the
man
were
worthy
?
'
'
If
you
do
not
think
him
so
,
of
course
,
there
is
an
end
of
it
,
'
said
Flora
,
and
her
voice
shewed
suppressed
emotion
.
'
It
is
not
what
I
think
,
in
the
absence
of
proof
,
but
what
you
think
,
Flora
.
What
I
want
you
to
do
is
this
—
to
consider
the
matter
fairly
.
Compare
him
with
—
I
'll
not
say
with
Norman
—
but
with
Richard
,
Alan
,
Mr.
Wilmot
.
Do
you
think
you
could
rely
on
him
—
come
to
him
for
advice
?
'
(
Flora
never
did
come
to
anyone
for
advice
)
.
'
Above
all
—
do
you
think
him
likely
to
be
a
help
,
or
a
hindrance
,
in
doing
right
?
'
'
I
think
you
under-rate
him
,
'
said
Flora
,
steadily
;
'
but
,
of
course
,
if
you
dislike
it
—
though
,
I
think
,
you
would
change
your
mind
,
if
you
knew
him
better
—
'
'
Well
!
'
he
said
,
as
if
to
himself
,
'
It
is
not
always
the
most
worthy
—
'
then
continued
,
'
I
have
no
dislike
to
him
.
Perhaps
I
may
find
that
you
are
right
.
Since
your
mind
is
made
up
,
I
will
do
this
:
first
,
we
must
be
assured
of
his
father
's
consent
,
for
they
may
very
fairly
object
,
since
,
what
I
can
give
you
,
is
a
mere
nothing
to
them
.
Next
,
I
shall
find
out
what
character
he
bears
in
his
regiment
,
and
watch
him
well
myself
;
and
,
if
nothing
appear
seriously
amiss
,
I
will
not
withhold
my
consent
.
But
,
Flora
,
you
should
still
consider
whether
he
shows
such
principle
,
and
right
feeling
,
as
you
can
trust
to
.
'
'
Thank
you
,
papa
.
I
know
you
will
do
all
that
is
kind
.
'
'
Mind
,
you
must
not
consider
it
an
engagement
,
unless
all
be
satisfactory
.
'
'
I
will
do
as
you
please
.
'
Ethel
perceived
that
something
was
in
agitation
,
but
the
fact
did
not
break
upon
her
till
she
came
to
Margaret
,
after
the
school-room
reading
,
and
heard
Dr.
May
declaiming
away
,
in
the
vehement
manner
,
that
always
relieved
him
.
'
Such
a
cub
!
'
These
were
the
words
that
met
her
ear
;
and
she
would
have
gone
away
,
but
he
called
her
—
'
Come
in
,
Ethel
;
Margaret
says
,
you
guessed
at
this
affair
!
'
'
At
what
affair
!
'
exclaimed
Ethel
.
'
Oh
,
it
is
about
Flora
.
Poor
man
;
has
he
done
it
?
'
'
Poor
!
He
is
not
the
one
to
be
pitied
!
'
said
her
father
.
'
You
do
n't
mean
that
she
likes
him
?
'
'
She
does
though
!
A
fellow
with
no
more
brains
than
a
turnip
lantern
!
'
'
She
does
not
mean
it
?
'
said
Ethel
.
'
Yes
she
does
!
Very
submissive
,
and
proper
spoken
,
of
course
,
but
bent
on
having
him
;
so
there
is
nothing
left
for
me
but
to
consent
—
provided
Mr.
Rivers
does
,
and
he
should
turn
out
not
to
have
done
anything
outrageous
;
but
there
's
no
hope
of
that
—
he
has
not
the
energy
.
What
can
possess
her
?
What
can
she
see
to
admire
?
'
'
He
is
good-natured
,
'
said
Margaret
,
'
and
rather
good-looking
—
'
'
Flora
has
more
sense
.
What
on
earth
can
be
the
attraction
?
'
'
I
am
afraid
it
is
partly
the
grandeur
—
'
said
Ethel
.
She
broke
off
short
,
quite
dismayed
at
the
emotion
she
had
excited
.
Dr.
May
stepped
towards
her
,
almost
as
if
he
could
have
shaken
her
.
'
Ethel
!
'
he
cried
,
'
I
wo
n't
have
such
motives
ascribed
to
your
sister
!
'
Ethel
tried
to
recollect
what
she
had
said
that
was
so
shocking
,
for
the
idea
of
Flora
's
worldly
motives
was
no
novelty
to
her
.
They
had
appeared
in
too
many
instances
;
and
,
though
frightened
at
his
anger
,
she
stood
still
,
without
unsaying
her
words
.
Margaret
began
to
explain
away
.
'
Ethel
did
not
mean
,
dear
papa
—
'
'
No
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
his
passionate
manner
giving
way
to
dejection
.
'
The
truth
is
,
that
I
have
made
home
so
dreary
,
that
my
girls
are
ready
to
take
the
first
means
of
escaping
.
'
Poor
Margaret
's
tears
sprang
forth
,
and
,
looking
up
imploringly
,
she
exclaimed
,
'
Oh
,
papa
,
papa
!
it
was
no
want
of
happiness
!
I
could
not
help
it
.
You
know
he
had
come
before
—
'
Any
reproach
to
her
had
been
entirely
remote
from
his
thoughts
,
and
he
was
at
once
on
his
knee
beside
her
,
soothing
and
caressing
,
begging
her
pardon
,
and
recalling
whatever
she
could
thus
have
interpreted
.
Meanwhile
,
Ethel
stood
unnoticed
and
silent
,
making
no
outward
protestation
,
but
with
lips
compressed
,
as
in
her
heart
of
hearts
,
she
passed
the
resolution
—
that
her
father
should
never
feel
this
pain
on
her
account
.
Leave
him
who
might
,
she
would
never
forsake
him
;
nothing
but
the
will
of
Heaven
should
part
them
.
It
might
be
hasty
and
venturesome
.
She
knew
not
what
it
might
cost
her
;
but
,
where
Ethel
had
treasured
her
resolve
to
work
for
Cocksmoor
,
there
she
also
laid
up
her
secret
vow
