.It
was
like
firing
a
train
.
You
would
have
wondered
to
see
how
it
excited
her
,
who
usually
shows
her
feelings
so
little
.
She
has
been
so
much
occupied
with
it
,
and
so
anxious
that
George
should
be
ready
to
take
the
field
at
once
,
that
papa
was
afraid
of
its
hurting
her
,
and
Ethel
comes
home
declaring
that
the
election
is
more
to
her
than
her
baby
.
'
'
Ethel
is
apt
to
be
a
little
hard
on
Flora
.
They
are
too
unlike
to
understand
each
other
.
'
'
Ethel
is
to
be
godmother
though
,
and
Flora
means
to
ask
Mr.
Ogilvie
to
come
and
stand
.
'
'
I
think
he
will
be
gone
abroad
,
or
I
should
have
asked
him
to
fulfil
his
old
promise
of
coming
to
us
.
'
'
I
believe
he
must
be
lodged
here
,
if
he
should
come
.
Flora
will
have
her
house
full
,
for
Lady
Leonora
is
coming
.
The
baby
is
to
be
called
after
her
.
'
'
Indeed
!
'
exclaimed
Norman
.
'
Yes
,
I
thought
it
unnecessary
,
as
she
is
not
George
's
aunt
,
but
Flora
is
grateful
to
her
for
much
kindness
,
and
she
is
coming
to
see
Meta
.
I
am
afraid
papa
is
a
little
hurt
,
that
any
name
but
one
should
have
been
chosen
.
'
'
Has
Meta
been
comfortable
?
'
'
Dear
little
thing
!
Everyone
says
how
beautifully
she
has
behaved
.
She
brought
all
her
housekeeping
books
to
Flora
at
once
,
and
only
begged
to
be
made
helpful
in
whatever
way
might
be
most
convenient
.
She
explained
,
what
we
never
knew
before
,
how
she
had
the
young
maids
in
to
read
with
her
,
and
asked
leave
to
go
on
.
Very
few
could
have
been
set
aside
so
simply
and
sweetly
in
their
own
house
.
'
'
Flora
was
sensible
of
it
,
I
hope
.
'
'
O
yes
.
She
took
the
management
of
course
,
but
Meta
is
charmed
with
her
having
the
girls
in
from
the
village
,
in
turn
,
to
help
in
the
scullery
.
They
have
begun
family
prayers
too
,
and
George
makes
the
stable
men
go
to
Church
—
a
matter
which
had
been
past
Meta
,
as
you
may
guess
,
though
she
had
been
a
wonderful
little
manager
,
and
Flora
owned
herself
quite
astonished
.
'
'
I
wonder
only
at
her
being
astonished
.
'
'
Meta
owned
to
Ethel
that
what
had
been
worst
of
all
to
her
was
the
heart
sinking
,
at
finding
herself
able
to
choose
her
occupations
,
with
no
one
to
accommodate
them
to
.
But
she
would
not
give
way
—
she
set
up
more
work
for
herself
at
the
school
,
and
has
been
talking
of
giving
singing
lessons
at
Cocksmoor
;
and
she
forced
herself
to
read
,
though
it
was
an
effort
.
She
has
been
very
happy
lately
in
nursing
Flora
.
'
'
Is
Ethel
there
?
'
'
No
;
she
is
,
as
usual
,
at
Cocksmoor
.
There
are
great
councils
about
sending
Cherry
to
be
trained
for
her
new
school
.
'
'
Would
Flora
be
able
to
see
me
,
if
I
were
to
ride
over
to
the
Grange
?
'
'
You
may
try
;
and
,
if
papa
is
not
there
,
I
dare
say
she
will
.
'
At
least
,
I
shall
see
Meta
,
and
she
may
judge
.
I
want
to
see
Rivers
too
,
so
I
will
ask
if
the
bay
is
to
be
had
.
Ah
!
you
have
the
Claude
,
I
see
.
'
'
Yes
,
it
is
too
large
for
this
room
;
but
papa
put
it
here
that
I
might
enjoy
it
,
and
it
is
almost
a
companion
.
The
sky
improves
so
in
the
sunset
light
.
Norman
was
soon
at
Abbotstoke
;
and
,
as
he
drew
his
rein
,
Meta
's
bright
face
nodded
to
him
from
Flora
's
sitting-room
window
;
and
,
as
he
passed
the
conservatory
,
the
little
person
met
him
,
with
a
summons
,
at
once
,
to
his
sister
.
He
found
Flora
on
the
sofa
,
with
a
table
beside
her
,
covered
with
notes
and
papers
.
She
was
sitting
up
writing
;
and
,
though
somewhat
pale
,
was
very
smiling
and
animated
.
'
Norman
,
how
kind
to
come
to
me
the
first
thing
!
'
'
Margaret
encouraged
me
to
try
whether
you
would
be
visible
.
'
'
They
want
to
make
a
regular
prisoner
of
me
,
'
said
Flora
,
laughing
.
'
Papa
is
as
bad
as
the
old
nurse
!
But
he
has
not
been
here
to-day
,
so
I
have
had
my
own
way
.
Did
you
meet
George
?
'
'
No
;
but
Margaret
said
he
had
been
with
her
.
'
'
I
wish
he
would
come
.
We
expect
the
second
post
to
bring
the
news
that
Mr.
Esdaile
has
accepted
the
Chiltern
Hundreds
.
If
he
found
it
so
,
he
meant
to
go
and
talk
to
Mr.
Bramshaw
;
for
,
though
he
is
so
dull
,
we
must
make
him
agent
.
'
'
Is
there
any
danger
of
opposition
?
'
'
None
at
all
,
if
we
are
soon
enough
in
the
field
.
Papa
's
name
will
secure
us
,
and
there
is
no
one
else
on
the
right
side
to
come
forward
,
so
that
it
is
an
absolute
rescue
of
the
seat
.
'
'
It
is
the
very
moment
when
men
of
principle
are
most
wanted
,
'
said
Norman
.
'
The
questions
of
the
day
are
no
light
matters
;
and
it
is
an
immense
point
to
save
Stoneborough
from
being
represented
by
one
of
the
Tomkins
'
set
.
'
'
Exactly
so
,
'
said
Flora
.
'
I
should
feel
it
a
crime
to
say
one
word
to
deter
George
,
at
a
time
when
every
effort
must
be
made
to
support
the
right
cause
.
One
must
make
sacrifices
when
the
highest
interests
are
at
stake
.
'
Flora
seemed
to
thrive
upon
her
sacrifice
—
she
had
never
appeared
more
brilliant
and
joyous
.
Her
brother
saw
,
in
her
,
a
Roman
matron
;
and
the
ambition
that
was
inherent
in
his
nature
,
began
to
find
compensation
for
being
crushed
,
as
far
as
regarded
himself
,
by
soaring
for
another
.
He
eagerly
answered
that
he
fully
agreed
with
her
,
and
that
she
would
never
repent
urging
her
husband
to
take
on
himself
the
duties
incumbent
on
all
who
had
the
power
.
Highly
gratified
,
she
asked
him
to
look
at
a
copy
of
George
's
intended
address
,
which
was
lying
on
the
table
.
He
approved
of
the
tenor
,
but
saw
a
few
phrases
susceptible
of
a
better
point
.
'
Give
it
,
'
she
said
,
putting
a
pen
into
his
hand
;
and
he
began
to
interline
and
erase
her
fair
manuscript
,
talking
earnestly
,
and
working
up
himself
and
the
address
at
the
same
time
,
till
it
had
grown
into
a
composition
far
superior
to
the
merely
sensible
affair
it
had
been
.
Eloquence
and
thought
were
now
in
the
language
,
and
substance
—
and
Flora
was
delighted
.
'
I
have
been
very
disrespectful
to
my
niece
all
this
time
,
'
said
Norman
,
descending
from
the
clouds
of
patriotism
.
'
I
do
not
mean
to
inflict
her
mercilessly
on
her
relations
,
'
said
Flora
,
but
I
should
like
you
to
see
her
.
She
is
so
like
Blanche
.
'
The
little
girl
was
brought
in
,
and
Flora
made
a
very
pretty
young
mother
,
as
she
held
her
in
her
arms
,
with
so
much
graceful
pride
.
Norman
was
perfectly
entranced
—
he
had
never
seen
his
sister
so
charming
or
so
admirable
,
between
her
delight
in
her
infant
,
and
her
self-devotion
to
the
good
of
her
husband
and
her
country
—
acting
so
wisely
,
and
speaking
so
considerately
;
and
praising
her
dear
Meta
with
so
much
warmth
.
He
would
never
have
torn
himself
away
,
had
not
the
nurse
hinted
that
Mrs.
Rivers
had
had
too
much
excitement
and
fatigue
already
to-day
;
and
,
besides
,
he
suspected
that
he
might
find
Meta
in
the
drawing-room
,
where
he
might
discuss
the
whole
with
her
,
and
judge
for
himself
of
her
state
of
spirits
.
Flora
's
next
visitor
was
her
father
,
who
came
as
the
twilight
was
enhancing
the
comfortable
red
brightness
of
the
fire
.
He
was
very
happy
in
these
visits
—
mother
and
child
had
both
prospered
so
well
,
and
it
was
quite
a
treat
to
be
able
to
expend
his
tenderness
on
Flora
.
His
little
grandchild
seemed
to
renew
his
own
happy
days
,
and
he
delighted
to
take
her
from
her
mother
,
and
fondle
her
.
No
sooner
was
the
baby
in
his
arms
,
than
Flora
's
hands
were
busy
among
the
papers
,
and
she
begged
him
to
ring
for
lights
.
'
Not
yet
,
'
he
said
.
'
Why
ca
n't
you
sit
in
the
dark
,
and
give
yourself
a
little
rest
?
'
'
I
want
you
to
hear
George
's
address
.
Norman
has
been
looking
at
it
,
and
I
hope
you
will
not
think
it
too
strong
,
'
and
she
turned
,
so
that
the
light
might
fall
on
the
paper
.
'
Let
me
see
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
holding
out
his
hand
for
it
.
'
This
is
a
rough
copy
,
too
much
scratched
for
you
to
make
out
.
'
She
read
it
accordingly
,
and
her
father
admired
it
exceedingly
—
Norman
's
touches
,
above
all
;
and
Flora
's
reading
had
dovetailed
all
so
neatly
together
that
no
one
knew
where
the
joins
were
.
'
I
will
copy
it
fairly
,
'
she
said
,
'
if
you
will
shew
it
to
Dr.
Spencer
,
and
ask
whether
he
thinks
it
too
strong
.
Mr.
Dodsley
too
;
he
would
be
more
gratified
if
he
saw
it
first
,
in
private
,
and
thought
himself
consulted
.
'
Dr.
May
was
dismayed
at
seeing
her
take
up
her
pen
,
make
a
desk
of
her
blotting-book
,
and
begin
her
copy
by
firelight
.
'
Flora
,
my
dear
,
'
he
said
,
'
this
must
not
be
.
Have
I
not
told
you
that
you
must
be
content
to
rest
?
'
'
I
did
not
get
up
till
ten
o'clock
,
and
have
been
lying
here
ever
since
.
'
'
But
what
has
this
head
of
yours
been
doing
?
Has
it
been
resting
for
ten
minutes
together
?
Now
,
I
know
what
I
am
saying
,
Flora
—
I
warn
you
,
that
if
you
will
not
give
yourself
needful
quiet
now
,
you
will
suffer
for
it
by-and-by
.
'
Flora
smiled
,
and
said
,
'
I
thought
I
had
been
very
good
.
But
,
what
is
to
be
done
when
one
's
wits
will
work
,
and
there
is
work
for
them
to
do
?
'
'
Is
not
there
work
enough
for
them
here
?
'
said
Dr.
May
,
looking
at
the
babe
.
'
Your
mother
used
to
value
such
a
retirement
from
care
.
'
Flora
was
silent
for
a
minute
,
then
said
,
'
Mr
.
Esdaile
should
have
put
off
his
resignation
to
suit
me
.
It
is
an
unfortunate
time
for
the
election
.
'
And
you
ca
n't
let
the
election
alone
?
'
She
shook
her
head
,
and
smiled
a
negative
,
as
if
she
would
,
but
that
she
was
under
a
necessity
.
'
My
dear
,
if
the
election
cannot
go
on
without
you
,
it
had
better
not
go
on
at
all
.
'
She
looked
very
much
hurt
,
and
turned
away
her
head
.
Her
father
was
grieved
.
'
My
dear
,
'
he
added
,
'
I
know
you
desire
to
be
of
use
,
especially
to
George
;
but
do
you
not
believe
that
he
would
rather
fail
,
than
that
you
,
or
his
child
,
should
suffer
?
'
No
answer
.
'
Does
he
stand
by
his
own
wish
,
or
yours
,
Flora
?
'
'
He
wishes
it
.
It
is
his
duty
,
'
said
Flora
,
collecting
her
dignity
.
'
I
can
say
no
more
,
except
to
beg
him
not
to
let
you
exert
yourself
.
'
Accordingly
,
when
George
came
home
,
the
Doctor
read
him
a
lecture
on
his
wife
's
over-busy
brain
;
and
was
listened
to
,
as
usual
,
with
gratitude
and
deference
.
He
professed
that
he
only
wished
to
do
what
was
best
for
her
,
but
she
never
would
spare
herself
;
and
,
going
to
her
side
,
with
his
heavy
,
fond
solicitude
,
he
made
her
promise
not
to
hurt
herself
,
and
she
laughed
and
consented
.
The
promise
was
easily
given
,
for
she
did
not
believe
she
was
hurting
herself
;
and
,
as
to
giving
up
the
election
,
or
ceasing
secretly
to
prompt
George
,
that
was
absolutely
out
of
the
question
.
What
could
be
a
greater
duty
than
to
incite
her
husband
to
usefulness
?
'
Moreover
it
was
but
proper
to
invite
Meta
's
aunt
and
cousin
to
see
her
,
and
to
project
a
few
select
dinners
for
their
amusement
,
and
the
gratification
of
her
neighbours
.
It
was
only
grateful
and
cousinly
likewise
,
to
ask
the
"
Master
of
Glenbracken
;
"
and
as
she
saw
the
thrill
of
colour
on
Ethel
's
cheeks
,
at
the
sight
of
the
address
to
the
Honorable
Norman
Ogilvie
,
she
thought
herself
the
best
of
sisters
.
She
even
talked
of
Ogilvie
as
a
second
Christian
name
,
but
Meta
observed
that
old
aunt
Dorothy
would
call
it
Leonorar
Rogilvie
Rivers
,
and
thus
averted
it
,
somewhat
to
Ethel
's
satisfaction
.
Ethel
scolded
herself
many
times
for
wondering
whether
Mr.
Ogilvie
would
come
.
What
was
it
to
her
?
Suppose
he
should
;
suppose
the
rest
.
What
a
predicament
!
How
unreasonable
and
conceited
,
even
to
think
of
such
a
thing
,
when
her
mind
was
made
up
.
What
could
result
,
save
tossings
to
and
fro
,
a
passing
gratification
set
against
infinite
pain
,
and
strife
with
her
own
heart
,
and
with
her
father
's
unselfishness
!
Had
he
but
come
before
Flora
's
marriage
!
No
;
Ethel
hated
herself
for
the
wish
that
arose
for
the
moment
.
Far
better
he
should
keep
away
,
if
,
perhaps
,
without
the
slightest
inclination
towards
her
,
his
mere
name
could
stir
up
such
a
tumult
—
all
,
it
might
be
,
founded
in
vanity
.
Rebellious
feelings
and
sense
of
tedium
had
once
been
subdued
—
why
should
they
be
roused
again
?
The
answer
came
.
Norman
Ogilvie
was
setting
off
for
Italy
,
and
regretted
that
he
could
not
take
Abbotstoke
on
his
way
.
He
desired
his
kind
remembrances
and
warm
Christmas
wishes
to
all
his
cousins
.
If
Ethel
breathed
more
freely
,
there
was
a
sense
that
tranquillity
is
uninteresting
.
It
was
,
it
must
be
confessed
,
a
flat
end
to
a
romance
,
that
all
the
permanent
present
effect
was
a
certain
softening
,
and
a
degree
more
attention
to
her
appearance
;
and
after
all
,
this
might
,
as
Flora
averred
,
be
ascribed
to
the
Paris
outfit
having
taught
her
to
wear
clothes
;
as
well
as
to
that
which
had
awakened
the
feminine
element
,
and
removed
that
sense
of
not
being
like
other
women
,
which
sometimes
hangs
painfully
about
girls
who
have
learnt
to
think
themselves
plain
or
awkward
.
There
were
other
causes
why
it
should
be
a
dreary
winter
to
Ethel
,
under
the
anxiety
that
strengthened
by
duration
,
and
the
strain
of
acting
cheerfulness
for
Margaret
's
sake
.
Even
Mary
was
a
care
.
Her
round
rosy
childhood
had
worn
into
height
and
sallowness
,
and
her
languor
and
indifference
fretted
Miss
Bracy
,
and
was
hunted
down
by
Ethel
,
till
Margaret
convinced
her
that
it
was
a
case
for
patience
and
tenderness
,
which
,
thenceforth
,
she
heartily
gave
,
even
encountering
a
scene
with
Miss
Bracy
,
who
was
much
injured
by
the
suggestion
that
Mary
was
oppressed
by
perspective
.
Poor
Mary
,
no
one
guessed
the
tears
nightly
shed
over
Harry
's
photograph
.
Nor
could
Ethel
quite
fathom
Norman
.
He
wore
the
dispirited
,
burthened
expression
that
she
knew
too
well
,
but
he
would
not
,
as
formerly
,
seek
relief
in
confidence
to
her
,
shunning
the
being
alone
with
her
,
and
far
too
much
occupied
to
offer
to
walk
to
Cocksmoor
.
When
the
intelligence
came
that
good
old
Mr.
Wilmot
of
Settlesham
had
peacefully
gone
to
his
rest
,
after
a
short
and
painless
illness
,
Tom
was
a
good
deal
affected
,
in
his
peculiar
silent
and
ungracious
fashion
;
but
Norman
did
not
seek
to
talk
over
the
event
,
and
the
feelings
he
had
entertained
two
years
ago
—
he
avoided
the
subject
,
and
threw
himself
into
the
election
matters
with
an
excitement
,
foreign
to
his
nature
.
He
was
almost
always
at
Abbotstoke
,
or
attending
George
Rivers
at
the
committee
room
at
the
Swan
,
talking
,
writing
,
or
consulting
,
concocting
squibs
,
and
perpetrating
bon
mots
,
that
were
the
delight
of
friends
and
the
confusion
of
foes
.
Flora
was
delighted
,
George
adored
him
,
Meta
's
eyes
danced
whenever
he
came
near
,
Dr.
Spencer
admired
him
,
and
Dr.
Hoxton
prophesied
great
things
of
him
;
but
Ethel
did
not
feel
as
if
he
were
the
veritable
Norman
,
and
had
an
undefined
sensation
of
discomfort
,
when
she
heard
his
brilliant
repartees
,
and
the
laughter
with
which
he
accompanied
them
,
so
unlike
his
natural
rare
and
noiseless
laugh
.
She
knew
it
was
false
excitement
,
to
drive
away
the
suspense
that
none
dared
to
avow
,
but
which
did
not
press
on
them
the
less
heavily
,
for
being
endured
in
silence
.
Indeed
,
Dr.
May
could
not
help
now
and
then
giving
way
to
outbursts
of
despondency
,
of
which
his
friend
,
Dr.
Spencer
,
who
made
it
his
special
charge
to
try
to
lighten
his
troubles
,
was
usually
the
kind
recipient
.
And
though
the
bustle
of
the
election
was
incongruous
,
and
seemed
to
make
the
leaden
weight
the
more
heavy
,
there
was
a
compensation
in
the
tone
of
feeling
that
it
elicited
,
which
gave
real
and
heartfelt
pleasure
.
Dr.
May
had
undergone
numerous
fluctuations
of
popularity
.
He
had
always
been
the
same
man
,
excellent
in
intention
,
though
hasty
in
action
,
and
heeding
neither
praise
nor
censure
;
and
while
the
main
tenor
of
his
course
never
varied
,
making
many
deviations
by-flying
to
the
reverse
of
the
wrong
,
most
immediately
before
him
;
still
his
personal
character
gained
esteem
every
year
;
and
though
sometimes
his
merits
,
and
sometimes
his
failings
,
gave
violent
umbrage
,
he
had
steadily
risen
in
the
estimation
of
his
fellow-townsmen
,
as
much
as
his
own
inconsistencies
and
theirs
would
allow
,
and
every
now
and
then
was
the
favourite
with
all
,
save
with
the
few
who
abused
him
for
tyranny
,
because
he
prevented
them
from
tyrannizing
.
He
was
just
now
on
the
top
of
the
wave
,
and
his
son-in-law
had
nothing
to
do
but
to
float
in
on
the
tide
of
his
favour
.
The
opposite
faction
attempted
a
contest
,
but
only
rendered
the
triumph
more
complete
,
and
gave
the
gentlemen
the
pleasure
of
canvassing
,
and
hearing
,
times
without
number
,
that
the
constituents
only
wished
the
candidate
were
Dr.
May
himself
.
His
sons
and
daughters
were
full
of
exultation
—
Dr.
Spencer
,
much
struck
,
rallied
"
Dick
"
on
his
influence
—
and
Dr.
May
,
the
drops
of
warm
emotion
trembling
on
his
eye-lashes
,
smiled
,
and
bade
his
friend
see
him
making
a
Church-rate
.
The
addresses
and
letters
that
came
from
the
Grange
were
so
admirable
,
that
Dr.
May
often
embraced
Norman
's
steady
opinion
,
that
George
was
a
very
wise
man
.
If
Norman
was
unconscious
how
much
he
contributed
to
these
compositions
,
he
knew
far
less
how
much
was
Flora
's
.
In
his
ardour
,
he
crammed
them
both
,
and
conducted
George
when
Flora
could
not
be
at
his
side
.
George
himself
was
a
personable
man
,
wrote
a
good
bold
hand
,
would
do
as
he
was
desired
,
and
was
not
easily
put
out
of
countenance
;
he
seldom
committed
himself
by
talking
;
and
when
a
speech
was
required
,
was
brief
,
and
to
the
purpose
.
He
made
a
very
good
figure
,
and
in
the
glory
of
victory
,
Ethel
herself
began
to
grow
proud
of
him
,
and
the
children
's
great
object
in
life
was
to
make
the
jackdaws
cry
,
"
Rivers
for
ever
!
"
Flora
had
always
declared
that
she
would
be
at
Stoneborough
for
the
nomination
.
No
one
believed
her
,
until
three
days
before
,
she
presented
herself
and
her
daughter
before
the
astonished
Margaret
,
who
was
too
much
delighted
to
be
able
to
scold
.
She
had
come
away
on
her
own
responsibility
,
and
was
full
of
triumph
.
To
come
home
in
this
manner
,
after
having
read
"
Rivers
for
ever
!
"
on
all
the
dead
walls
,
might
be
called
that
for
which
she
had
lived
.
She
made
no
stay
—
she
had
only
come
to
show
her
child
,
and
establish
a
precedent
for
driving
out
,
and
Margaret
had
begun
to
believe
the
apparition
a
dream
,
when
the
others
came
in
,
some
from
Cocksmoor
,
others
from
the
Committee-room
at
the
Swan
.
'
So
she
brought
the
baby
,
'
exclaimed
Ethel
.
'
I
should
have
thought
she
would
not
have
taken
her
out
before
her
Christening
.
'
'
Ethel
,
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
,
'
permit
me
to
make
a
suggestion
.
When
relations
live
in
the
same
neighbourhood
,
there
is
no
phrase
to
be
more
avoided
than
"
I
should
have
thought
—
"
'
The
nomination-day
brought
Flora
,
Meta
,
baby
and
all
to
be
very
quiet
,
as
was
said
;
but
how
could
that
be
?
when
every
boy
in
the
house
was
frantic
,
and
the
men
scarcely
less
so
.
Aubrey
and
Gertrude
,
and
the
two
jackdaws
,
each
had
a
huge
blue
and
orange
rosette
,
and
the
two
former
went
about
roaring
"
Rivers
for
ever
!
"
without
the
least
consideration
for
the
baby
,
who
would
have
been
decked
in
the
same
manner
,
if
Ethel
would
have
heard
of
it
without
indignation
,
at
her
wearing
any
colour
before
her
Christening
white
;
as
to
Jack
and
Jill
,
though
they
could
say
their
lesson
,
they
were
too
much
distressed
by
their
ornaments
to
do
ought
but
lurk
in
corners
,
and
strive
to
peck
them
off
.
Flora
comported
herself
in
her
usual
quiet
way
,
and
tried
to
talk
of
other
things
,
though
a
carnation
spot
in
each
cheek
shewed
her
anxiety
and
excitement
.
She
went
with
her
sisters
to
look
out
from
Dr.
Spencer
's
windows
towards
the
Town
Hall
.
Her
husband
gave
her
his
arm
as
they
went
down
the
garden
,
and
Ethel
saw
her
talking
earnestly
to
him
,
and
pressing
his
arm
with
her
other
hand
to
enforce
her
words
,
but
if
she
did
tutor
him
,
it
was
hardly
visible
,
and
he
was
very
glad
of
whatever
counsel
she
gave
.
She
spoke
not
a
word
after
the
ladies
were
left
with
Aubrey
,
who
was
in
despair
at
not
being
allowed
to
follow
Hector
and
Tom
,
but
was
left
,
as
his
prematurely
classical
mind
expressed
it
,
like
the
Gaulish
women
with
the
impedimenta
in
the
marshes
—
whereas
Tom
had
added
insult
to
injury
,
by
a
farewell
to
"
Jack
among
the
maidens
.
"
Meta
tried
to
console
him
,
by
persuading
him
that
he
was
their
protector
,
and
he
began
to
think
there
was
need
of
a
guard
,
when
a
mighty
cheer
caused
him
to
take
refuge
behind
Ethel
.
Even
when
assured
that
it
was
anything
but
terrific
,
he
gravely
declared
that
he
thought
Margaret
would
want
him
,
but
—
he
could
not
cross
the
garden
without
Meta
to
protect
him
.
She
would
not
allow
anyone
else
to
relieve
her
from
the
doughty
champion
,
and
thereby
she
missed
the
spectacle
.
It
might
be
that
she
did
not
regret
it
,
for
though
it
would
have
been
unkind
to
refuse
to
come
in
with
her
brother
and
sister
,
her
wound
was
still
too
fresh
for
crowds
,
turmoil
,
and
noisy
rejoicing
to
be
congenial
.
She
did
not
withdraw
her
hand
,
which
Aubrey
squeezed
harder
at
each
resounding
shout
,
nor
object
to
his
conducting
her
to
see
his
museum
in
the
dark
corner
of
the
attics
,
most
remote
from
the
tumult
.
The
loss
was
not
great
.
The
others
could
hear
nothing
distinctly
,
and
see
only
a
wilderness
of
heads
;
but
the
triumph
was
complete
.
Dr.
May
had
been
cheered
enough
to
satisfy
even
Hector
;
George
Rivers
had
made
a
very
fair
speech
,
and
hurrahs
had
covered
all
deficiencies
;
Hector
had
shouted
till
he
was
as
hoarse
as
the
jackdaws
;
the
opposite
candidate
had
never
come
forward
at
all
;
Tomkins
was
hiding
his
diminished
head
;
and
the
gentlemen
had
nothing
to
report
but
success
,
and
were
in
the
highest
spirits
.
By-and-by
Blanche
was
missing
,
and
Ethel
,
going
in
quest
of
her
,
spied
a
hem
of
blue
merino
peeping
out
under
all
the
cloaks
in
the
hall
cupboard
,
and
found
the
poor
little
girl
sobbing
in
such
distress
,
that
it
was
long
before
any
explanation
could
be
extracted
,
but
at
last
it
was
revealed
—
when
the
door
had
been
shut
,
and
they
stood
in
the
dark
,
half
stifled
among
the
cloaks
,
that
George
's
spirits
had
taken
his
old
facetious
style
with
Blanche
,
and
in
the
very
hearing
of
Hector
!
The
misery
of
such
jokes
to
a
sensitive
child
,
conscious
of
not
comprehending
their
scope
,
is
incalculable
,
and
Blanche
having
been
a
baby-coquette
,
was
the
more
susceptible
.
She
hid
her
face
again
from
the
very
sound
of
her
own
confession
,
and
resisted
Ethel
's
attempts
to
draw
her
out
of
the
musty
cupboard
,
declaring
that
she
could
never
see
either
of
them
again
.
Ethel
,
in
vain
,
assured
her
that
George
was
gone
to
the
dinner
at
the
Swan
;
nothing
was
effectual
but
being
told
that
,
for
her
to
notice
what
had
passed
,
was
the
sure
way
to
call
Hector
's
attention
thereto
,
when
she
bridled
,
emerged
,
and
begged
to
know
whether
she
looked
as
if
she
had
been
crying
.
Poor
child
,
she
could
never
again
be
unconscious
,
but
,
at
least
,
she
was
rendered
peculiarly
afraid
of
a
style
of
notice
,
that
might
otherwise
have
been
a
temptation
.
Ethel
privately
begged
Flora
to
hint
to
George
to
alter
his
style
of
wit
,
and
the
suggestion
was
received
better
than
the
blundering
manner
deserved
;
Flora
was
too
exulting
to
take
offence
,
and
her
patronage
of
all
the
world
was
as
full-blown
as
her
ladylike
nature
allowed
.
Ethel
,
she
did
not
attempt
to
patronize
,
but
she
promised
all
the
sights
in
London
to
the
children
,
and
masters
to
Mary
and
Blanche
,
and
she
perfectly
overwhelmed
Miss
Bracy
with
orphan
asylums
for
her
sisters
.
She
would
have
liked
nothing
better
than
dispersing
cards
,
with
Mrs.
Rivers
prominent
among
the
recommenders
of
the
case
.
'
A
fine
coming-out
for
you
,
little
lady
,
'
said
she
to
her
baby
,
when
taking
leave
that
evening
.
'
If
it
was
good
luck
for
you
to
make
your
first
step
in
life
upwards
,
what
is
this
?
'
'
Excelsior
?
'
said
Ethel
,
and
Flora
smiled
,
well-pleased
,
but
she
had
not
caught
half
the
meaning
.
'
May
it
be
the
right
excelsior
,
'
added
Ethel
,
in
a
low
voice
,
that
no
one
heard
,
and
she
was
glad
they
did
not
.
They
were
all
triumphant
,
and
she
could
not
tell
why
she
had
a
sense
of
sadness
,
and
thought
of
Flora
's
story
long
ago
,
of
the
girl
who
ascended
Mont
Blanc
,
and
for
what
?
All
she
had
to
do
at
present
was
to
listen
to
Miss
Bracy
,
who
was
sure
that
Mrs.
Rivers
thought
Mary
and
Blanche
were
not
improved
,
and
was
afraid
she
was
ungrateful
for
all
the
intended
kindness
to
her
sister
.
Ethel
had
more
sympathy
here
,
for
she
had
thought
that
Flora
was
giving
herself
airs
,
and
she
laughed
and
said
her
sister
was
pleased
to
be
in
a
position
to
help
her
friends
;
and
tried
to
turn
it
off
,
but
ended
by
stumbling
into
allowing
that
prosperity
was
apt
to
make
people
over
lavish
of
offers
of
kindness
.
'
Dear
Miss
Ethel
,
you
understand
so
perfectly
.
There
is
no
one
like
you
!
'
cried
Miss
Bracy
,
attempting
to
kiss
her
hand
.
If
Ethel
had
not
spoken
rightly
of
her
sister
,
she
was
sufficiently
punished
.
What
she
did
was
to
burst
into
a
laugh
,
and
exclaim
,
'
Miss
Bracy
!
Miss
Bracy
!
I
ca
n't
have
you
sentimental
.
I
am
the
worst
person
in
the
world
for
it
.
'
'
I
have
offended
.
You
cannot
feel
with
me
!
'
'
Yes
,
I
can
,
when
it
is
sense
;
but
please
do
n't
treat
me
like
a
heroine
.
I
am
sure
there
is
quite
enough
in
the
world
that
is
worrying
,
without
picking
shades
of
manner
to
pieces
.
It
is
the
sure
way
to
make
an
old
crab
of
me
,
and
so
I
am
going
off
.
Only
,
one
parting
piece
of
advice
,
Miss
Bracy
—
read
'
Frank
Fairlegh
,
'
and
put
everybody
out
of
your
head
.
'
And
,
thinking
she
had
been
savage
about
her
hand
,
Ethel
turned
back
,
and
kissed
the
little
governess
's
forehead
,
wished
her
good-night
,
and
ran
away
.
She
had
learnt
that
,
to
be
rough
and
merry
,
was
the
best
way
of
doing
Miss
Bracy
good
in
the
end
;
and
so
she
often
gave
herself
the
present
pain
of
knowing
that
she
was
being
supposed
careless
and
hard-hearted
;
but
the
violent
affection
for
her
proved
that
the
feeling
did
not
last
.
Ethel
was
glad
to
sit
by
the
fire
at
bed-time
,
and
think
over
the
day
,
outwardly
so
gay
,
inwardly
so
fretting
and
perplexing
.
It
was
the
first
time
that
she
had
seen
much
of
her
little
niece
.
She
was
no
great
baby-handler
,
nor
had
she
any
of
the
phrases
adapted
to
the
infant
mind
;
but
that
pretty
little
serene
blue-eyed
girl
had
been
her
chief
thought
all
day
,
and
she
was
abashed
by
recollecting
how
little
she
had
dwelt
on
her
own
duties
as
her
sponsor
,
in
the
agitations
excited
by
the
doubts
about
her
coadjutor
.
She
took
out
her
Prayer-book
,
and
read
the
service
for
Baptism
,
recollecting
,
the
thoughts
that
had
accompanied
her
youngest
sister
's
orphaned
Christening
,
'
The
vain
pomp
and
glory
of
the
world
,
and
all
covetous
desires
of
the
same
.
'
They
seemed
far
enough
off
then
,
and
now
—
poor
little
Leonora
!
Ethel
knew
that
she
judged
her
sister
hardly
;
yet
she
could
not
help
picturing
to
herself
the
future
—
a
young
lady
,
trained
for
fashionable
life
,
serious
teaching
not
omitted
,
but
right
made
the
means
of
rising
in
the
world
;
taught
to
strive
secretly
,
but
not
openly
,
for
admiration
—
a
scheming
for
her
marriage
—
a
career
like
Flora
's
own
.
Ethel
could
scarcely
feel
that
it
would
not
be
a
mockery
to
declare
,
on
her
behalf
,
that
she
renounced
the
world
.
But
,
alas
!
where
was
not
the
world
?
Ethel
blushed
at
having
censured
others
,
when
,
so
lately
,
she
had
herself
been
oblivious
of
the
higher
duty
.
She
thought
of
the
prayer
,
including
every
Christian
in
holy
and
loving
intercession
—
'
I
pray
not
that
Thou
wouldest
take
them
out
of
the
world
,
but
that
Thou
wouldest
keep
them
from
the
evil
.
'
"
Keep
her
from
the
evil
—
that
shall
be
my
prayer
for
my
poor
little
Leonora
.
His
Grace
can
save
her
,
were
the
surrounding
evil
far
worse
than
ever
it
is
likely
to
be
.
The
intermixture
with
good
is
the
trial
,
and
is
it
not
so
everywhere
—
ever
since
the
world
and
the
Church
have
seemed
fused
together
?
But
she
will
soon
be
the
child
of
a
Father
who
guards
His
own
;
and
,
at
least
,
I
can
pray
for
her
,
and
her
dear
mother
.
May
I
only
live
better
,
that
so
I
may
pray
better
,
and
act
better
,
if
ever
I
should
have
to
act
.
"
There
was
a
happy
family
gathering
on
the
New
Year
's
Day
,
and
Flora
,
who
had
kindly
felt
her
way
with
Meta
,
finding
her
not
yet
ready
to
enjoy
a
public
festivity
for
the
village
,
added
a
supplement
to
the
Christmas
beef
;
that
a
second
dinner
might
be
eaten
at
home
,
in
honour
of
Miss
Leonora
Rivers
.
Lady
Leonora
was
highly
satisfied
with
her
visit
,
which
impressed
her
far
more
in
favour
of
the
Abbotstoke
neighbourhood
than
in
the
days
of
poor
old
Mr.
Rivers
.
Flora
knew
everyone
,
and
gave
little
select
dinner
parties
,
which
,
by
her
good
management
,
even
George
,
at
the
bottom
of
the
table
,
could
not
make
heavy
.
Dr.
Spencer
enjoyed
them
greatly
,
and
was
an
unfailing
resource
for
conversation
;
and
as
to
the
Hoxtons
,
Flora
felt
herself
amply
repaying
the
kindness
she
had
received
in
her
young
lady
days
,
when
she
walked
down
to
the
dining-room
with
the
portly
head
master
,
or
saw
his
good
lady
sit
serenely
admiring
the
handsome
rooms
.
'
A
very
superior
person
,
extremely
pleasing
and
agreeable
,
'
was
the
universal
verdict
on
Mrs.
Rivers
.
Lady
Leonora
struck
up
a
great
friendship
with
her
,
and
was
delighted
that
she
meant
to
take
Meta
to
London
.
The
only
fault
that
could
be
found
with
her
was
that
she
had
so
many
brothers
;
and
Flora
,
recollecting
that
her
Ladyship
mistrusted
those
brothers
,
avoided
encouraging
their
presence
at
the
Grange
,
and
took
every
precaution
against
any
opening
for
the
suspicion
that
she
threw
them
in
the
way
of
her
little
sister-in-law
.
Nor
had
Flora
forgotten
the
Ladies
'
Committee
,
or
Cocksmoor
.
As
to
the
Muses
,
they
gave
no
trouble
at
all
.
Exemplary
civilities
about
the
chair
passed
between
the
Member
's
lady
and
Mrs.
Ledwich
,
ending
in
Flora
's
insisting
that
priority
in
office
should
prevail
,
feeling
that
she
could
well
afford
to
yield
the
post
of
honour
,
since
anywhere
she
was
the
leader
.
She
did
not
know
how
much
more
conformable
the
ladies
had
been
ever
since
they
had
known
Dr.
Spencer
's
opinion
;
and
yet
he
only
believed
that
they
were
grateful
for
good
advice
,
and
went
about
among
them
,
easy
,
good-natured
,
and
utterly
unconscious
,
that
for
him
,
sparkled
Mrs.
Ledwich
's
bugles
,
and
for
him
waved
every
spinster
's
ribbon
,
from
Miss
Rich
down
to
Miss
Boulder
.
The
point
carried
by
their
united
influence
was
Charity
Elwood
's
being
sent
for
six
months
'
finish
at
the
Diocesan
Training
School
;
while
a
favourite
pupil
teacher
from
Abbotstoke
took
her
place
at
Cocksmoor
.
Dr.
Spencer
looked
at
the
Training
School
,
and
talked
Mrs.
Ledwich
into
magnanimous
forgiveness
of
Mrs.
Elwood
.
Cherry
dreaded
the
ordeal
,
but
she
was
willing
to
do
anything
that
was
thought
right
,
and
likely
to
make
her
fitter
for
her
office
.
CHAPTER
XIV
.
'
Twas
a
long
doubt
;
we
never
heard
Exactly
how
the
ship
went
down
.
Archer
Gurney
.
The
tidings
came
at
last
,
came
when
the
heart-sickness
of
hope-deferred
had
faded
into
the
worse
heart-sickness
of
fear
deferred
,
and
when
spirits
had
been
fain
to
rebel
,
and
declare
that
they
would
be
almost
glad
to
part
with
the
hope
that
but
kept
alive
despair
.
The
Christmas
holidays
had
come
to
an
end
,
and
the
home
party
were
again
alone
,
when
early
in
the
forenoon
,
there
was
a
tap
at
the
drawing-room
door
,
and
Dr.
Spencer
called
,
'
Ethel
,
can
you
come
and
speak
to
me
?
'
Margaret
started
as
if
those
gentle
tones
had
been
a
thunderclap
.
Go
!
go
,
Ethel
,
'
she
said
,
'
do
n't
keep
me
waiting
.
'
Dr.
Spencer
stood
in
the
hall
with
a
newspaper
in
his
hand
.
Ethel
said
,
'
Is
it
?
'
and
he
made
a
sorrowful
gesture
.
'
Both
?
'
she
asked
.
'
Both
,
'
he
repeated
.
'
The
ship
burnt
—
the
boat
lost
.
'
'
Ethel
,
come
!
'
hoarsely
called
Margaret
.
'
Take
it
,
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
,
putting
the
paper
into
her
hand
;
'
I
will
wait
.
'
She
obeyed
.
She
could
not
speak
,
but
kneeling
down
by
her
sister
,
they
read
the
paragraph
together
;
Ethel
,
with
one
eye
on
the
words
,
the
other
on
Margaret
.
No
doubt
was
left
.
Captain
Gordon
had
returned
,
and
this
was
his
official
report
.
The
names
of
the
missing
stood
below
,
and
the
list
began
thus
—
Lieutenant
A
.
H
.
Ernescliffe
.
Mr.
Charles
Owen
,
Mate
.
Mr.
Harry
May
,
Midshipman
.
The
Alcestis
had
taken
fire
on
the
12th
of
April
of
the
former
year
.
There
had
been
much
admirable
conduct
,
and
the
intrepid
coolness
of
Mr.
Ernescliffe
was
especially
recorded
.
The
boats
had
been
put
off
without
loss
,
but
they
were
scantily
provisioned
,
and
the
nearest
land
was
far
distant
.
For
five
days
the
boats
kept
together
,
then
followed
a
night
of
storms
,
and
,
when
morning
dawned
,
the
second
cutter
,
under
command
of
Mr.
Ernescliffe
,
had
disappeared
.
There
could
be
no
doubt
that
she
had
sunk
,
and
the
captain
could
only
record
his
regrets
for
the
loss
the
service
had
experienced
in
the
three
brave
young
officers
and
their
gallant
seamen
.
After
infinite
toil
and
suffering
,
the
captain
,
with
the
other
boats
'
crews
,
had
reached
Tahiti
,
whence
they
had
made
their
way
home
.
'
O
Margaret
,
Margaret
!
'
cried
Ethel
.
Margaret
raised
herself
,
and
the
colour
came
into
her
face
.
'
I
did
not
write
the
letter
!
'
she
said
.
'
What
letter
?
'
said
Ethel
,
alarmed
.
'
Richard
prevented
me
.
The
letter
that
would
have
parted
us
.
Now
all
is
well
.
'
'
All
is
well
,
I
know
,
if
we
could
but
feel
it
.
'
'
He
never
had
the
pain
.
It
is
unbroken
!
'
continued
Margaret
,
her
eyes
brightening
,
but
her
breath
,
in
long-drawn
gasps
that
terrified
Ethel
into
calling
Dr.
Spencer
.
Mary
was
standing
before
him
,
with
bloodless
face
and
dilated
eyes
;
but
,
as
Ethel
approached
,
she
turned
and
rushed
up-stairs
.
Dr.
Spencer
entered
the
drawing-room
with
Ethel
,
who
tried
to
read
his
face
as
he
saw
Margaret
—
restored
,
as
it
seemed
,
to
all
her
girlish
bloom
,
and
her
eyes
sparkling
as
they
were
lifted
up
,
far
beyond
the
present
scene
.
Ethel
had
a
moment
's
sense
that
his
expression
was
as
if
he
had
seen
a
death-blow
struck
,
but
it
was
gone
in
a
moment
,
as
he
gently
shook
Margaret
by
the
hand
,
and
spoke
a
word
of
greeting
,
as
though
to
recall
her
.
'
Thank
you
,
'
she
said
,
with
her
own
grateful
smile
.
'
Where
is
your
father
?
'
he
asked
of
Ethel
.
'
Either
at
the
hospital
,
or
at
Mr.
Ramsden
's
,
'
said
Ethel
,
with
a
ghastly
suspicion
,
that
he
thought
Margaret
in
a
state
to
require
him
.
'
Papa
!
'
said
Margaret
.
'
If
he
were
but
here
!
But
—
ah
!
I
had
forgotten
.
'
She
turned
aside
her
head
,
and
hid
her
face
.
Dr.
Spencer
signed
Ethel
nearer
to
him
.
'
This
is
a
more
natural
state
,
'
he
said
.
'
Dont
be
afraid
for
her
.
I
will
find
your
father
,
and
bring
him
home
.
'
Pressing
her
hand
he
departed
.
Margaret
was
weeping
tranquilly
—
Ethel
knelt
down
beside
her
,
without
daring
at
first
to
speak
,
but
sending
up
intense
mental
prayers
to
Him
,
who
alone
could
bear
her
or
her
dear
father
through
their
affliction
.
Then
she
ventured
to
take
her
hand
,
and
Margaret
returned
the
caress
,
but
began
to
blame
herself
for
the
momentary
selfishness
that
had
allowed
her
brother
's
loss
and
her
father
's
grief
to
have
been
forgotten
in
her
own
.
—
Ethel
's
"
oh
!
no
!
no
!
"
did
not
console
her
for
this
which
seemed
the
most
present
sorrow
,
but
the
flow
of
tears
was
so
gentle
,
that
Ethel
trusted
that
they
were
a
relief
.
Ethel
herself
seemed
only
able
to
watch
her
,
and
to
fear
for
her
father
,
not
to
be
able
to
think
for
herself
.
The
front
door
opened
,
and
they
heard
Dr.
May
's
step
hesitating
in
the
hall
,
as
if
he
could
not
bear
to
come
in
.
'
Go
to
him
!
'
cried
Margaret
,
wiping
off
her
tears
.
Ethel
stood
a
moment
in
the
door-way
,
then
sprang
to
him
,
and
was
clasped
in
his
arms
.
'
You
know
it
?
'
he
whispered
.
'
Dr
.
Spencer
told
us
.
Did
not
you
meet
him
?
'
'
No
.
I
read
it
at
Bramshaw
's
office
.
How
—
'
He
could
not
say
the
words
,
but
he
looked
towards
the
room
,
and
wrung
the
hand
he
held
.
'
Quiet
.
Like
herself
.
Come
.
'
He
threw
one
arm
round
Ethel
,
and
laid
his
hand
on
her
head
,
'
How
much
there
is
to
be
thankful
for
!
'
he
said
,
then
advancing
,
he
hung
over
Margaret
,
calling
her
his
own
poor
darling
.
'
Papa
,
you
must
forgive
me
.
You
said
,
sending
him
to
sea
was
giving
him
up
.
'
'
Did
I
.
Well
,
Margaret
,
he
did
his
duty
.
That
is
all
we
have
to
live
for
.
Our
yellow-haired
laddie
made
a
gallant
sailor
,
and
—
'
Tears
choked
his
utterance
—
Margaret
gently
stroked
his
hand
.
'
It
falls
hard
on
you
,
my
poor
girl
,
'
he
said
.
'
No
,
papa
,
'
said
Margaret
,
'
I
am
content
and
thankful
.
He
is
spared
pain
and
perplexity
.
'
'
You
are
right
,
I
believe
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
He
would
have
been
grieved
not
to
find
you
better
.
'
'
I
ought
to
grieve
for
my
own
selfishness
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
I
cannot
help
it
!
I
cannot
be
sorry
the
link
is
unbroken
,
and
that
he
had
not
to
turn
to
anyone
else
.
'
'
He
never
would
!
'
cried
Dr.
May
,
almost
angrily
.
'
I
tried
to
think
he
ought
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
His
life
would
have
been
too
dreary
.
But
it
is
best
as
it
is
.
'
'
It
must
be
,
'
said
the
Doctor
.
'
Where
are
the
rest
,
Ethel
?
Call
them
all
down
.
'
Poor
Mary
,
Ethel
felt
as
if
she
had
neglected
her
!
She
found
her
hanging
over
the
nursery
fire
,
alternating
with
old
nurse
in
fond
reminiscences
of
Harry
's
old
days
,
sometimes
almost
laughing
at
his
pranks
,
then
crying
again
,
while
Aubrey
sat
between
them
,
drinking
in
each
word
.
Blanche
and
Gertrude
came
from
the
school-room
,
where
Miss
Bracy
seemed
to
have
been
occupying
them
,
with
much
kindness
and
judgment
.
She
came
to
the
door
to
ask
Ethel
anxiously
for
the
Doctor
and
Miss
May
,
and
looked
so
affectionate
and
sympathizing
,
that
Ethel
gave
her
a
hearty
kiss
.
'
Dear
Miss
Ethel
!
if
you
can
only
let
me
help
you
.
'
'
Thank
you
,
'
said
Ethel
with
all
her
heart
,
and
hurried
away
.
Nothing
was
more
in
favour
of
Miss
Bracy
,
than
that
there
should
be
a
hurry
.
Then
she
could
be
warm
,
and
not
morbid
.
Dr.
May
gathered
his
children
round
him
,
and
took
out
the
great
Prayer-book
.
He
read
a
Psalm
and
a
prayer
from
the
Burial
Service
,
and
the
sentence
for
funerals
at
sea
.
Then
he
touched
each
of
their
heads
,
and
,
in
short
broken
sentences
,
gave
thanks
for
those
still
left
to
him
,
and
for
the
blessed
hope
they
could
feel
for
those
who
were
gone
;
and
he
prayed
that
they
might
so
follow
in
their
footsteps
,
as
to
come
to
the
same
Holy
place
,
and
in
the
meantime
realize
the
Communion
of
Saints
.
Then
they
said
the
Lord
's
Prayer
,
he
blessed
them
,
and
they
arose
.
'
Mary
,
my
dear
,
'
he
said
,
'
you
have
a
photograph
.
'
She
put
the
case
into
his
hands
,
and
ran
away
.
He
went
to
the
study
,
where
he
found
Dr.
Spencer
awaiting
him
.
'
I
am
only
come
to
know
where
I
shall
go
for
you
.
'
'
Thank
you
,
Spencer
.
Thank
you
for
taking
care
of
my
poor
girls
.
'
'
They
took
care
of
themselves
.
They
have
the
secret
of
strength
.
'
'
They
have
—
'
He
turned
aside
,
and
burst
out
,
'
Oh
,
Spencer
!
you
have
been
spared
a
great
deal
.
If
you
missed
a
great
deal
of
joy
,
you
have
missed
almost
as
much
sorrow
!
'
And
,
covering
his
face
,
he
let
his
grief
have
a
free
course
.
'
Dick
!
dear
old
Dick
,
you
must
bear
up
.
Think
what
treasures
you
have
left
.
'
'
I
do
.
I
try
to
do
so
,
'
said
poor
Dr.
May
;
'
but
,
Spencer
,
you
never
saw
my
yellow-haired
laddie
,
with
his
lion
look
!
He
was
the
flower
of
them
all
!
Not
one
of
these
other
boys
came
near
him
in
manliness
,
and
with
such
a
loving
heart
!
An
hour
ago
,
I
thought
any
certainty
would
be
gain
,
but
now
I
would
give
a
lifetime
to
have
back
the
hope
that
I
might
see
my
boy
's
face
again
!
O
,
Spencer
!
this
is
the
first
time
I
could
rejoice
that
his
mother
is
not
here
!
'
'
She
would
have
been
your
comforter
,
'
sighed
his
friend
,
as
he
felt
his
inability
to
contend
with
such
grief
.
'
There
,
I
can
be
thankful
,
'
Dr.
May
said
,
and
he
looked
so
.
'
She
has
had
her
brave
loving
boy
with
her
all
this
time
,
while
we
little
thought
—
but
there
are
others
.
My
poor
Margaret
—
'
'
Her
patience
must
be
blessed
,
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
.
'
I
think
she
will
be
better
.
Now
that
the
suspense
no
longer
preys
on
her
,
there
will
be
more
rest
.
'
'
Rest
,
'
repeated
Dr.
May
,
supporting
his
head
on
his
hand
;
and
,
looking
up
dreamily
—
'
there
remaineth
a
rest
—
'
The
large
Bible
lay
beside
him
,
on
the
table
,
and
Dr.
Spencer
thought
that
he
would
find
more
rest
there
than
in
his
words
.
Leaving
him
,
therefore
,
his
friend
went
to
undertake
his
day
's
work
,
and
learn
,
once
more
,
in
the
anxious
enquiries
,
and
saddened
countenances
of
the
patients
and
their
friends
,
how
great
an
amount
of
love
and
sympathy
that
Dr.
May
had
won
by
his
own
warmth
of
heart
.
The
patients
seemed
to
forget
their
complaints
in
sighs
for
their
kind
Doctors
troubles
;
and
the
gouty
Mayor
of
Stoneborough
kept
Dr.
Spencer
half-an-hour
to
listen
to
his
recollections
of
the
bright-faced
boy
's
droll
tricks
,
and
then
to
the
praises
of
the
whole
May
family
,
and
especially
of
the
mother
.
Poor
Dr.
Spencer
!
he
heard
her
accident
described
so
many
times
in
the
course
of
the
day
,
that
his
visits
were
one
course
of
shrinking
and
suffering
;
and
his
only
satisfaction
was
in
knowing
how
his
friend
would
be
cheered
,
by
hearing
of
the
universal
feeling
for
him
and
his
children
.
Ethel
wrote
letters
to
her
brothers
;
and
Dr.
May
added
a
few
lines
,
begging
Richard
to
come
home
,
if
only
for
a
few
days
.
Margaret
would
not
be
denied
writing
to
Hector
Ernescliffe
,
though
she
cried
over
her
letter
so
much
,
that
her
father
could
almost
have
taken
her
pen
away
;
but
she
said
it
did
her
good
.
When
Flora
came
in
the
afternoon
,
Ethel
was
able
to
leave
Margaret
to
her
,
and
attend
to
Mary
,
with
whom
Miss
Bracy
's
kindness
had
been
inefficacious
.
If
she
was
cheered
for
a
few
minutes
,
some
association
,
either
with
the
past
,
or
the
vanished
future
,
soon
set
her
off
sobbing
again
.
'
If
I
only
knew
where
dear
,
dear
Harry
is
lying
,
'
she
sobbed
,
'
and
that
it
had
not
been
very
bad
indeed
,
I
could
bear
it
better
.
'
The
ghastly
uncertainty
was
too
terrible
for
Ethel
to
have
borne
to
contemplate
it
.
She
knew
that
it
would
haunt
their
pillows
,
and
she
was
trying
to
nerve
herself
by
faith
.
'
Mary
,
'
she
said
,
'
that
is
the
worst
;
but
,
after
all
,
God
willed
that
we
should
not
know
.
We
must
bear
it
like
His
good
children
.
It
makes
no
difference
to
them
now
—
'
'
I
know
,
'
said
Mary
,
trying
to
check
her
sobs
.
'
And
,
you
know
,
we
are
all
in
the
same
keeping
.
The
sea
is
a
glorious
great
pure
thing
,
you
know
,
that
man
cannot
hurt
or
defile
.
It
seems
,
to
me
,
'
said
Ethel
,
looking
up
,
'
as
if
resting
there
was
like
being
buried
in
our
Baptism-tide
over
again
,
till
the
great
new
Birth
.
It
must
be
the
next
best
place
to
a
Churchyard
.
Any
where
,
they
are
as
safe
as
among
the
daisies
in
our
own
Cloister
.
'
Say
it
again
—
what
you
said
about
the
sea
,
'
said
Mary
,
more
comforted
than
if
Ethel
had
been
talking
down
to
her
.
By-and-by
,
Ethel
discovered
that
the
sharpest
trouble
to
the
fond
simple
girl
,
was
the
deprivation
of
her
precious
photograph
.
It
was
like
losing
Harry
over
again
,
to
go
to
bed
without
it
,
though
she
would
not
for
the
world
seem
to
grudge
it
to
her
father
.
Ethel
found
an
opportunity
of
telling
him
of
this
distress
,
and
it
almost
made
him
smile
.
'
Poor
Mary
,
'
he
said
,
'
is
she
so
fond
of
it
?
It
is
rather
a
libel
than
a
likeness
.
'
'
Do
n't
say
so
to
her
,
pray
,
papa
.
It
is
all
the
world
to
her
.
Three
strokes
on
paper
would
have
been
the
same
,
if
they
had
been
called
by
his
name
.
'
'
Yes
;
a
loving
heart
has
eyes
of
its
own
,
and
she
is
a
dear
good
girl
!
'
He
did
not
forget
to
restore
the
treasure
with
gratitude
proportionate
to
what
the
loan
had
cost
Mary
.
With
a
trembling
voice
,
she
proffered
it
to
him
for
the
whole
day
,
and
every
day
,
if
she
might
only
have
it
at
night
;
and
she
even
looked
blank
when
he
did
not
accept
the
proposal
.
'
It
is
exactly
like
—
'
said
she
.
'
It
ca
n't
help
being
so
,
in
a
certain
sense
,
'
he
answered
kindly
,
'
but
after
all
,
Mary
dear
,
he
did
not
pout
out
his
chin
in
that
way
.
'
Mary
was
somewhat
mortified
,
but
she
valued
her
photograph
more
than
ever
,
because
no
one
else
would
admire
it
,
except
Daisy
,
whom
she
had
taught
to
regard
it
with
unrivalled
veneration
.
A
letter
soon
arrived
from
Captain
Gordon
,
giving
a
fuller
account
of
the
loss
of
his
ship
,
and
of
the
conduct
of
his
Officers
,
speaking
in
the
highest
terms
of
Alan
Ernescliffe
,
for
whom
he
said
he
mourned
as
for
his
own
son
,
and
,
with
scarcely
less
warmth
,
of
Harry
,
mentioning
the
high
esteem
all
had
felt
for
the
boy
,
and
the
good
effect
which
the
influence
of
his
high
and
truthful
spirit
had
produced
on
the
other
youngsters
,
who
keenly
regretted
him
.
Captain
Gordon
added
that
the
will
of
the
late
Captain
Ernescliffe
had
made
him
guardian
of
his
sons
,
and
that
he
believed
poor
Alan
had
died
intestate
.
He
should
therefore
take
upon
himself
the
charge
of
young
Hector
,
and
he
warmly
thanked
Dr.
May
and
his
family
for
all
the
kindness
that
the
lad
had
received
.
Though
the
loss
of
poor
Hector
's
visits
was
regretted
,
it
was
,
on
the
whole
,
a
comforting
letter
,
and
would
give
still
more
comfort
in
future
time
.
Richard
contrived
to
come
home
through
Oxford
and
see
Norman
,
whom
he
found
calm
,
and
almost
relieved
by
the
cessation
from
suspense
;
not
inclined
,
as
his
father
had
feared
,
to
drown
sorrow
in
labour
,
but
regarding
his
grief
as
an
additional
call
to
devote
himself
to
ministerial
work
.
In
fact
,
the
blow
had
fallen
when
he
first
heard
the
rumour
of
danger
,
and
could
not
recur
with
the
same
force
.
Richard
was
surprised
to
find
that
Margaret
was
less
cast
down
than
he
could
have
dared
to
hope
.
It
did
not
seem
like
an
affliction
to
her
.
Her
countenance
wore
the
same
gentle
smile
,
and
she
was
as
ready
to
participate
in
all
that
passed
,
finding
sympathy
for
the
little
pleasures
of
Aubrey
and
Gertrude
,
and
delighting
in
Flora
's
baby
;
as
well
as
going
over
Cocksmoor
politics
with
a
clearness
and
accuracy
that
astonished
him
,
and
asking
questions
about
his
parish
and
occupations
,
so
as
fully
to
enjoy
his
short
visit
,
which
she
truly
called
the
greatest
possible
treat
.
If
it
had
not
been
for
the
momentary
consternation
that
she
had
seen
upon
Dr.
Spencer
's
face
,
Ethel
would
have
been
perfectly
satisfied
;
but
she
could
not
help
sometimes
entertaining
a
dim
fancy
that
this
composure
came
from
a
sense
that
she
was
too
near
Alan
to
mourn
for
him
.
Could
it
be
true
that
her
frame
was
more
wasted
,
that
there
was
less
capability
of
exertion
,
that
her
hours
became
later
in
the
morning
,
and
that
her
nights
were
more
wakeful
?
Would
she
fade
away
?
Ethel
longed
to
know
what
her
father
thought
,
but
she
could
neither
bear
to
inspire
him
with
the
apprehension
,
nor
to
ask
Dr.
Spencer
's
opinion
,
lest
she
should
be
confirmed
in
her
own
.
The
present
affliction
altered
Dr.
May
more
visibly
than
the
death
of
his
wife
,
perhaps
,
because
there
was
not
the
same
need
of
exertion
.
If
he
often
rose
high
in
faith
and
resignation
,
he
would
also
sink
very
low
under
the
sense
of
bereavement
and
disappointment
.
Though
Richard
was
his
stay
,
and
Norman
his
pride
,
there
was
something
in
Harry
more
congenial
to
his
own
temper
,
and
he
could
not
but
be
bowed
down
by
the
ruin
of
such
bright
hopes
.
With
all
his
real
submission
,
he
was
weak
,
and
gave
way
to
outbursts
of
grief
,
for
which
he
blamed
himself
as
unthankful
;
and
his
whole
demeanour
was
so
saddened
and
depressed
,
that
Ethel
and
Dr.
Spencer
