,with
the
peril
of
talking
to
her
,
that
he
held
her
in
his
arms
without
a
single
word
,
till
Dr.
May
had
unclosed
his
lips
—
a
sign
would
not
suffice
—
he
must
have
a
sentence
to
assure
him
;
and
then
it
was
such
joy
to
have
her
restored
,
and
his
fondness
and
solicitude
were
so
tender
and
eager
in
their
clumsiness
,
that
his
father-in-law
was
touched
to
the
heart
.
Flora
was
quite
herself
again
,
in
presence
of
mind
and
power
of
dealing
with
him
;
and
Dr.
May
left
them
to
each
other
,
and
went
to
his
own
room
,
for
such
rest
as
sorrow
,
sympathy
,
and
the
wakening
city
,
would
permit
him
.
When
the
house
was
astir
for
the
morning
kept
by
human
creatures
,
and
the
Doctor
had
met
Meta
in
the
breakfast-room
,
and
held
with
her
a
sad
,
affectionate
conversation
,
George
came
down
with
a
fair
report
of
his
wife
,
and
took
her
father
to
see
her
.
That
night
had
been
like
an
illness
to
her
,
and
,
though
perfectly
composed
,
she
was
feeble
and
crushed
,
keeping
the
room
darkened
,
and
reluctant
to
move
or
speak
.
Indeed
,
she
did
not
seem
able
to
give
her
attention
to
anyone
's
voice
,
except
her
husband
's
.
When
Dr.
May
,
or
Meta
,
spoke
to
her
,
she
would
miss
what
they
said
,
beg
their
pardon
,
and
ask
them
to
repeat
it
;
and
,
sometimes
,
even
then
,
become
bewildered
.
They
tried
reading
to
her
,
but
she
did
not
seem
to
listen
,
and
her
half-closed
eye
had
the
expression
of
listless
dejection
,
that
her
father
knew
betokened
that
,
even
as
last
night
,
her
heart
refused
to
accept
promises
of
comfort
as
meant
for
her
.
For
George
,
however
,
her
attention
was
always
ready
,
and
was
perpetually
claimed
.
He
was
forlorn
and
at
a
loss
without
her
,
every
moment
;
and
,
in
the
sorrow
which
he
too
felt
most
acutely
,
could
not
have
a
minute
's
peace
unless
soothed
by
her
presence
;
he
was
dependant
on
her
to
a
degree
which
amazed
and
almost
provoked
the
Doctor
,
who
could
not
bear
to
have
her
continually
harassed
and
disturbed
,
and
yet
was
much
affected
by
witnessing
so
much
tenderness
,
especially
in
Flora
,
always
the
cold
utilitarian
member
of
his
family
.
In
the
middle
of
the
day
,
she
rose
and
dressed
,
because
George
was
unhappy
at
having
to
sit
without
her
,
though
only
in
the
next
room
.
She
sat
in
the
large
arm-chair
,
turned
away
from
the
blinded
windows
,
never
speaking
nor
moving
,
save
when
he
came
to
her
,
to
make
her
look
at
his
letters
and
notes
,
when
she
would
,
with
the
greatest
patience
and
sweetness
,
revise
them
,
suggest
word
or
sentence
,
rouse
herself
to
consider
each
petty
detail
,
and
then
sink
back
into
her
attitude
of
listless
dejection
.
To
all
besides
,
she
appeared
totally
indifferent
;
gently
courteous
to
Meta
and
to
her
father
,
when
they
addressed
her
,
but
otherwise
shewing
little
consciousness
whether
they
were
in
the
room
;
and
yet
,
when
something
was
passing
about
her
father
's
staying
or
returning
,
she
rose
from
her
seat
,
came
up
to
him
before
he
was
aware
,
and
said
,
'
Papa
!
papa
!
you
will
not
leave
me
!
'
in
such
an
imploring
tone
,
that
if
he
had
ever
thought
of
quitting
her
,
he
could
not
have
done
so
.
He
longed
to
see
her
left
to
perfect
tranquillity
,
but
such
could
not
be
in
London
.
Though
theirs
was
called
a
quiet
house
,
the
rushing
stream
of
traffic
wearied
his
country
ears
,
the
door-bell
seemed
ceaselessly
ringing
,
and
though
Meta
bore
the
brunt
of
the
notes
and
messages
,
great
numbers
necessarily
came
up
to
Mr.
Rivers
,
and
of
these
Flora
was
not
spared
one
.
Dr.
May
had
his
share
too
of
messages
and
business
,
and
friends
and
relations
,
the
Rivers
'
kindred
,
always
ready
to
take
offence
with
their
rich
connections
,
and
who
would
not
be
satisfied
with
enquiries
at
the
door
,
but
must
see
Meta
,
and
would
have
George
fetched
down
to
them
—
old
aunts
,
who
wanted
the
whole
story
of
the
child
's
illness
,
and
came
imagining
there
was
something
to
be
hushed
up
;
Lady
Leonora
extremely
polite
,
but
extremely
disgusted
at
the
encounter
with
them
;
George
ready
to
be
persuaded
to
take
everyone
up
to
see
his
wife
,
and
the
prohibition
to
be
made
by
Dr.
May
over
and
over
again
—
it
was
a
most
tedious
,
wearing
afternoon
,
and
at
last
,
when
the
visitors
had
gone
,
and
George
had
hurried
back
to
his
wife
,
Dr.
May
threw
himself
into
an
arm-chair
and
said
,
'
Oh
!
Meta
,
sorrow
weighs
more
heavily
in
town
than
in
the
country
!
'
'
Yes
!
'
said
Meta
.
'
If
one
only
could
go
out
and
look
at
the
flowers
,
and
take
poor
Flora
up
a
nosegay
!
'
'
I
do
n't
think
it
would
make
much
difference
to
her
,
'
sighed
the
Doctor
.
'
Yes
,
I
think
it
would
,
'
said
Meta
;
'
it
did
to
me
.
The
sights
there
speak
of
the
better
sights
.
'
'
The
power
to
look
must
come
from
within
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
thinking
of
his
poor
daughter
.
'
Aye
,
'
said
Meta
,
'
as
Mr.
Ernescliffe
said
,
"
heaven
is
as
near
—
!
"
But
the
skirts
of
heaven
are
more
easily
traced
in
our
mountain
view
,
than
here
,
where
,
if
I
looked
out
of
window
,
I
should
only
see
that
giddy
string
of
carriages
and
people
pursuing
each
other
!
'
'
Well
,
we
shall
get
her
home
as
soon
as
she
is
able
to
move
,
and
I
hope
it
may
soothe
her
.
What
a
turmoil
it
is
!
There
has
not
been
one
moment
without
noise
in
the
twenty-two
hours
I
have
been
here
!
'
'
What
would
you
say
if
you
were
in
the
City
?
'
'
Ah
!
there
's
no
talking
of
it
,
but
if
I
had
been
a
fashionable
London
physician
,
as
my
father-in-law
wanted
to
make
me
,
I
should
have
been
dead
long
ago
!
'
'
No
,
I
think
you
would
have
liked
it
very
much
.
'
'
Why
?
'
'
Love
's
a
flower
that
will
not
die
,
'
repeated
Meta
,
half
smiling
.
'
You
would
have
found
so
much
good
to
do
—
'
'
And
so
much
misery
to
rend
one
's
heart
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
But
,
after
all
,
I
suppose
there
is
only
a
certain
capacity
of
feeling
.
'
'
It
is
within
,
not
without
,
as
you
said
,
'
returned
Meta
.
'
Ha
!
there
's
another
!
'
cried
Dr.
May
,
almost
petulant
at
the
sound
of
the
bell
again
,
breaking
into
the
conversation
that
was
a
great
refreshment
.
'
It
was
Sir
Henry
Walkinghame
's
ring
,
'
said
Meta
.
'
It
is
always
his
time
of
day
.
'
The
Doctor
did
not
like
it
the
better
.
Sir
Henry
sent
up
a
message
to
ask
whether
he
could
see
Mr.
or
Miss
Rivers
.
'
I
suppose
we
must
,
'
said
Meta
,
looking
at
the
Doctor
.
'
Lady
Walkinghame
must
be
anxious
about
Flora
.
'
She
blushed
greatly
,
fancying
that
Dr.
May
was
putting
his
own
construction
on
the
heightened
colour
which
she
could
not
control
.
Sir
Henry
came
in
,
just
what
he
ought
to
be
,
kindly
anxious
,
but
not
overwhelming
,
and
with
a
ready
,
pleased
recognition
of
the
Doctor
,
as
an
old
acquaintance
of
his
boyhood
.
He
did
not
stay
many
minutes
;
but
there
was
a
perceptible
difference
between
his
real
sympathy
and
friendly
regard
only
afraid
of
obtruding
,
and
the
oppressive
curiosity
of
their
former
visitors
.
Dr.
May
felt
it
due
,
both
from
kindness
and
candour
,
to
say
something
in
his
praise
when
he
was
gone
.
'
That
is
a
sensible
superior
man
,
'
he
said
.
'
He
will
be
an
acquisition
when
he
takes
up
his
abode
at
Drydale
.
'
'
Yes
,
'
said
Meta
—
a
very
simple
yes
—
from
which
nothing
could
be
gathered
.
The
funeral
was
fixed
for
Monday
,
the
next
day
but
one
,
at
the
Church
where
Mr.
Rivers
had
been
buried
.
No
one
was
invited
to
be
present
;
Ethel
wrote
that
,
much
as
she
wished
it
,
she
could
not
leave
Margaret
,
and
,
as
the
whole
party
were
to
return
home
on
the
following
day
,
they
should
soon
see
Flora
.
Flora
had
laid
aside
all
privileges
of
illness
after
the
first
day
;
she
came
down-stairs
to
breakfast
and
dinner
,
and
though
looking
wretchedly
ill
,
and
speaking
very
low
and
feebly
,
she
was
as
much
as
ever
the
mistress
of
her
house
.
Her
father
could
never
draw
her
into
conversation
again
,
on
the
subject
nearest
his
heart
,
and
could
only
draw
the
sad
conclusion
that
her
state
of
mind
was
unchanged
,
from
the
dreary
indifference
with
which
she
allowed
every
word
of
cheer
to
pass
by
unheeded
,
as
if
she
could
not
bear
to
look
beyond
the
grave
.
He
had
some
hope
in
the
funeral
,
which
she
was
bent
on
attending
,
and
more
in
the
influence
of
Margaret
,
and
the
counsel
of
Richard
,
or
of
Mr.
Wilmot
.
The
burial
,
however
,
failed
to
bring
any
peaceful
comfort
to
the
mourning
mother
.
Meta
's
tears
flowed
freely
,
as
much
for
her
father
as
for
her
little
niece
;
and
George
's
sobs
were
deep
and
choking
;
but
Flora
,
externally
,
only
seemed
absorbed
in
helping
him
to
go
through
with
it
;
she
,
herself
,
never
lost
her
fixed
,
composed
,
hopeless
look
.
After
her
return
,
she
went
up
to
the
nursery
,
and
deliberately
set
apart
and
locked
up
every
possession
of
her
child
's
,
then
,
coming
down
,
startled
Meta
by
laying
her
hand
on
her
shoulder
and
saying
,
'
Meta
,
dear
,
Preston
is
in
the
housekeeper
's
room
.
Will
you
go
and
speak
to
her
for
a
moment
,
to
reassure
her
before
I
come
?
'
'
Oh
!
Flora
!
'
'
I
sent
for
her
,
'
said
Flora
,
in
answer
.
'
I
thought
it
would
be
a
good
opportunity
while
George
is
out
.
Will
you
be
kind
enough
to
prepare
her
,
my
dear
?
'
Meta
wondered
how
Flora
had
known
whither
to
send
,
but
she
could
not
but
obey
.
Poor
Preston
was
an
ordinary
sort
of
woman
,
kind-hearted
,
and
not
without
a
conscience
;
but
her
error
had
arisen
from
the
want
of
any
high
religious
principle
to
teach
her
obedience
,
or
sincerity
.
Her
grief
was
extreme
,
and
she
had
been
so
completely
overcome
by
the
forbearance
and
consideration
shewn
to
her
,
that
she
was
even
more
broken-hearted
by
the
thought
of
them
,
than
by
the
terrible
calamity
she
had
occasioned
.
Kind-hearted
Mrs.
Larpent
had
tried
to
console
her
,
as
well
as
to
turn
the
misfortune
to
the
best
account
,
and
Dr.
May
had
once
seen
her
,
and
striven
gently
to
point
out
the
true
evil
of
the
course
she
had
pursued
.
She
was
now
going
to
her
home
,
and
they
augured
better
of
her
,
that
she
had
been
as
yet
too
utterly
downcast
to
say
one
word
of
that
first
thought
with
a
servant
,
her
character
.
Meta
found
her
sobbing
uncontrollably
at
the
associations
of
her
master
's
house
,
and
dreadfully
frightened
at
hearing
that
she
was
to
see
Mrs.
Rivers
;
she
began
to
entreat
to
the
contrary
with
the
vehemence
of
a
person
unused
to
any
self-government
;
but
,
in
the
midst
,
the
low
calm
tones
were
heard
,
and
her
mistress
stood
before
her
—
her
perfect
stillness
of
demeanour
,
far
more
effective
in
repressing
agitation
,
than
had
been
Meta
's
coaxing
attempts
to
soothe
.
'
You
need
not
be
afraid
to
see
me
,
Preston
,
'
said
Flora
,
kindly
.
'
I
am
very
sorry
for
you
—
you
knew
no
better
,
and
I
should
not
have
left
so
much
to
you
.
'
'
Oh
!
ma'am
—
so
kind
—
the
dear
,
dear
little
darling
—
I
shall
never
forgive
myself
.
'
'
I
know
you
did
love
her
,
'
continued
Flora
.
'
I
am
sure
you
intended
no
harm
,
and
it
was
my
leaving
her
that
made
her
fretful
.
'
Preston
tried
to
thank
.
'
Only
remember
henceforth
—
'
and
the
clear
tone
grew
fainter
than
ever
with
internal
anguish
,
though
still
steady
,
'
Remember
strict
obedience
and
truth
henceforth
;
the
want
of
them
will
have
worse
results
by-and-by
than
even
this
.
Now
,
Preston
,
I
shall
always
wish
you
well
.
I
ought
not
,
I
believe
,
to
recommend
you
to
the
like
place
,
without
saying
why
you
left
me
,
but
for
any
other
I
will
give
you
a
fair
character
.
I
will
see
what
I
can
do
for
you
,
and
if
you
are
ever
in
any
distress
,
I
hope
you
will
let
me
know
.
Have
your
wages
been
paid
?
'
There
was
a
sound
in
the
affirmative
,
but
poor
Preston
could
not
speak
.
'
Good-bye
then
,
'
and
Flora
took
her
hand
and
shook
it
.
'
Mind
you
let
me
hear
if
you
want
help
.
Keep
this
.
'
Meta
was
a
little
disappointed
to
see
sovereigns
,
instead
of
a
book
.
Flora
turned
to
go
,
and
put
her
hand
out
to
lean
on
her
sister
as
for
support
;
she
stood
still
to
gather
strength
before
ascending
the
stairs
,
and
a
groan
of
intense
misery
was
wrung
from
her
.
'
Dearest
Flora
,
it
has
been
too
much
!
'
'
No
,
'
said
Flora
,
gently
.
'
Poor
thing
,
I
am
glad
for
her
sake
.
But
might
she
not
have
a
book
—
a
Bible
?
'
'
You
may
give
her
one
,
if
you
like
.
I
could
not
.
'
Flora
reached
her
own
room
,
went
in
,
and
bolted
the
door
.
CHAPTER
XXI
.
'
O
,
where
dwell
ye
,
my
ain
sweet
bairns
?
I
'm
woe
and
weary
grown
!
O
,
Lady
,
we
live
were
woe
never
is
,
In
a
land
to
flesh
unknown
.
'
Allan
Cunningham
.
It
had
been
with
a
gentle
sorrow
that
Etheldred
had
expected
to
go
and
lay
in
her
resting-place
,
the
little
niece
,
who
had
been
kept
from
the
evil
of
the
world
,
in
a
manner
of
which
she
had
little
dreamt
.
Poor
Flora
!
she
must
be
ennobled
,
she
thought
,
by
having
a
child
where
hers
is
,
when
she
is
able
to
feel
anything
but
the
first
grief
;
and
Ethel
's
heart
yearned
to
be
trying
,
at
least
,
to
comfort
her
,
and
to
be
with
her
father
,
who
had
loved
his
grandchild
so
fondly
.
It
was
not
to
be
.
Margaret
had
borne
so
many
shocks
with
such
calmness
,
that
Ethel
had
no
especial
fears
for
her
;
but
there
are
some
persons
who
have
less
fortitude
for
others
than
for
themselves
,
and
she
was
one
of
these
.
Flora
had
been
her
own
companion-sister
,
and
the
baby
had
been
the
sunbeam
of
her
life
,
during
the
sad
winter
and
spring
.
In
the
middle
of
the
night
,
Ethel
knocked
at
Richard
's
door
.
Margaret
had
been
seized
with
faintness
,
from
which
they
could
not
bring
her
back
;
and
,
even
when
Richard
had
summoned
Dr.
Spencer
,
it
was
long
ere
his
remedies
took
effect
;
but
,
at
last
,
she
revived
enough
to
thank
them
,
and
say
she
was
glad
that
papa
was
not
there
.
Dr.
Spencer
sent
them
all
to
bed
,
and
the
rest
of
the
night
was
quiet
;
but
Margaret
could
not
deny
,
in
the
morning
,
that
she
felt
terribly
shattered
,
and
she
was
depressed
in
spirits
to
a
degree
such
as
they
had
never
seen
in
her
before
.
Her
whole
heart
was
with
Flora
;
she
was
unhappy
at
being
at
a
distance
from
her
,
almost
fretfully
impatient
for
letters
,
and
insisting
vehemently
on
Ethel
's
going
to
London
.
Ethel
had
never
felt
so
helpless
and
desolate
,
as
with
Margaret
thus
changed
and
broken
,
and
her
father
absent
.
'
My
dear
,
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
,
'
nothing
can
be
better
for
both
parties
than
that
he
should
be
away
.
If
he
were
here
,
he
ought
to
leave
all
attendance
to
me
,
and
she
would
suffer
from
the
sight
of
his
distress
.
'
'
I
cannot
think
what
he
will
do
or
feel
?
'
sighed
Ethel
.
'
Leave
it
to
me
.
I
will
write
to
him
,
and
we
shall
see
her
better
before
post
time
.
'
'
You
will
tell
him
exactly
how
it
was
,
or
I
shall
,
'
said
Ethel
,
abruptly
,
not
to
say
fiercely
.
'
Ho
!
you
do
n't
trust
me
?
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
,
smiling
,
so
that
she
was
ashamed
of
her
speech
.
'
You
shall
speak
for
yourself
,
and
I
for
myself
;
and
I
shall
say
that
nothing
would
so
much
hurt
her
as
to
have
others
sacrificed
to
her
.
'
'
That
is
true
,
'
said
Ethel
;
'
but
she
misses
papa
.
'
'
Of
course
she
does
;
but
,
depend
on
it
,
she
would
not
have
him
leave
your
sister
,
and
she
is
under
less
restraint
without
him
.
'
I
never
saw
her
like
this
!
'
'
The
drop
has
made
it
overflow
.
She
has
repressed
more
than
was
good
for
her
,
and
now
that
her
guard
is
broken
down
,
she
gives
way
under
the
whole
weight
.
'
'
Poor
Margaret
!
I
am
pertinacious
;
but
,
if
she
is
not
better
by
post
time
,
papa
will
not
bear
to
be
away
.
'
'
I
'll
tell
you
what
I
think
of
her
by
that
time
.
Send
up
your
brother
Richard
,
if
you
wish
to
do
her
good
.
Richard
would
be
a
much
better
person
to
write
than
yourself
.
I
perceive
that
he
is
the
reasonable
member
of
the
family
.
'
'
Did
not
you
know
that
before
?
'
'
All
I
knew
of
him
,
till
last
night
,
was
,
that
no
one
could
,
by
any
possibility
,
call
him
Dick
.
'
Dr.
Spencer
was
glad
to
have
dismissed
Ethel
smiling
;
and
she
was
the
better
able
to
bear
with
poor
Margaret
's
condition
of
petulance
.
She
had
never
before
experienced
the
effects
of
bodily
ailments
on
the
temper
,
and
she
was
slow
to
understand
the
change
in
one
usually
so
patient
and
submissive
.
She
was
,
by
turns
,
displeased
with
her
sister
and
with
her
own
abruptness
;
but
,
though
she
knew
it
not
,
her
bluntness
had
a
bracing
effect
.
She
thought
she
had
been
cross
in
declaring
it
was
nonsense
to
harp
on
her
going
to
London
;
but
it
made
Margaret
feel
that
she
had
been
unreasonable
,
and
keep
silence
.
Richard
managed
her
much
better
,
being
gentle
and
firm
,
and
less
ready
to
speak
than
Ethel
,
and
he
succeeded
in
composing
her
into
a
sleep
,
which
restored
her
balance
,
and
so
relieved
Ethel
,
that
she
not
only
allowed
Dr.
Spencer
to
say
what
he
pleased
,
but
herself
made
light
of
the
whole
attack
,
little
knowing
how
perilous
was
any
shock
to
that
delicate
frame
.
Margaret
's
whole
purpose
was
to
wind
herself
up
for
the
first
interview
with
Flora
;
and
,
though
she
had
returned
to
her
usual
state
,
she
would
not
go
down-stairs
on
the
evening
the
party
were
expected
,
believing
it
would
be
more
grateful
to
her
sister
's
feelings
to
meet
her
without
witnesses
.
The
travellers
arrived
,
and
Dr.
May
hurried
up
to
her
.
She
barely
replied
to
his
caresses
and
enquiries
in
her
eagerness
to
hear
of
Flora
,
and
to
convince
him
that
he
must
not
forbid
the
meeting
.
Nor
had
he
any
mind
so
to
do
.
'
Surely
,
'
said
he
,
when
he
had
seen
the
spiritualized
look
of
her
glistening
blue
eyes
,
the
flush
on
her
transparent
cheeks
,
and
her
hands
clasped
over
her
breast
,
'
surely
poor
Flora
must
feel
as
though
an
angel
were
waiting
to
comfort
her
.
'
Flora
came
,
but
there
was
sore
disappointment
.
Fond
and
tender
she
was
as
ever
,
but
,
neither
by
word
nor
gesture
,
would
she
admit
the
most
remote
allusion
to
her
grief
.
She
withdrew
her
hand
when
Margaret
's
pressure
became
expressive
;
she
avoided
her
eye
,
and
spoke
incessantly
of
indifferent
subjects
.
All
the
time
,
her
voice
was
low
and
hollow
,
her
face
had
a
settled
expression
of
wretchedness
,
and
her
glances
wandered
drearily
and
restlessly
anywhere
but
to
Margaret
's
face
;
but
her
steadiness
of
manner
was
beyond
her
sister
's
power
to
break
,
and
her
visit
was
shortened
on
account
of
her
husband
.
Poor
George
had
quite
given
way
at
the
sight
of
Gertrude
,
whom
his
little
girl
had
been
thought
to
resemble
;
and
,
though
Dr.
May
had
soothed
him
almost
like
a
child
,
no
one
put
any
trust
in
his
self-control
,
and
all
sat
round
,
fearing
each
word
or
look
,
till
Flora
came
down-stairs
,
and
they
departed
.
Richard
and
Ethel
each
offered
to
go
with
them
;
they
could
not
bear
to
think
of
their
spending
that
first
evening
in
their
childless
home
,
but
Flora
gently
,
but
decidedly
refused
;
and
Dr.
May
said
that
,
much
as
he
wished
to
be
with
them
,
he
believed
that
Flora
preferred
having
no
one
but
Meta
.
'
I
hope
I
have
done
Margaret
no
harm
,
'
were
Flora
's
last
words
to
him
,
and
they
seemed
to
explain
her
guarded
manner
;
but
he
found
Margaret
weeping
as
she
had
never
wept
for
herself
,
and
palpitation
and
faintness
were
the
consequence
.
Ethel
looked
on
at
Flora
as
a
sad
and
perplexing
mystery
during
the
weeks
that
ensued
.
There
were
few
opportunities
of
being
alone
together
,
and
Flora
shrank
from
such
as
there
were
—
nay
,
she
checked
all
expression
of
solicitude
,
and
made
her
very
kisses
rapid
and
formal
.
The
sorrow
that
had
fallen
on
the
Grange
seemed
to
have
changed
none
of
the
usual
habits
there
—
visiting
,
riding
,
driving
,
dinners
,
and
music
,
went
on
with
little
check
.
Flora
was
sure
to
be
found
the
animated
,
attentive
lady
of
the
house
,
or
else
sharing
her
husband
's
pursuits
,
helping
him
with
his
business
,
or
assisting
him
in
seeking
pleasure
,
spending
whole
afternoons
at
the
coachmaker
's
,
over
a
carriage
that
they
were
building
,
and
,
it
was
reported
,
playing
ecarté
in
the
evening
.
Had
grief
come
to
be
forgotten
and
cast
aside
without
effecting
any
mission
?
Yet
Ethel
could
not
believe
that
the
presence
of
the
awful
messenger
was
unfelt
,
when
she
heard
poor
George
's
heavy
sigh
,
or
when
she
looked
at
Flora
's
countenance
,
and
heard
the
peculiar
low
,
subdued
tone
of
her
voice
,
which
,
when
her
words
were
most
cheerful
,
always
seemed
to
Ethel
the
resigned
accent
of
despair
.
Ethel
could
not
talk
her
over
with
Margaret
,
for
all
seemed
to
make
it
a
point
that
Margaret
should
believe
the
best
.
Dr.
May
turned
from
the
subject
with
a
sort
of
shuddering
grief
,
and
said
,
'
Do
n't
talk
of
her
,
poor
child
—
only
pray
for
her
!
'
Ethel
,
though
shocked
by
the
unwonted
manner
of
his
answer
,
was
somewhat
consoled
by
perceiving
that
a
double
measure
of
tenderness
had
sprung
up
between
her
father
and
his
poor
daughter
.
If
Flora
had
seemed
,
in
her
girlhood
,
to
rate
him
almost
cheaply
,
this
was
at
an
end
now
;
she
met
him
as
if
his
embrace
were
peace
,
the
gloom
was
lightened
,
the
attention
less
strained
,
when
he
was
beside
her
,
and
she
could
not
part
with
him
without
pressing
for
a
speedy
meeting
.
Yet
,
she
treated
him
with
the
same
reserve
;
since
that
one
ghastly
revelation
of
the
secrets
of
her
heart
,
the
veil
had
been
closely
drawn
,
and
he
could
not
guess
whether
it
had
been
but
a
horrible
thought
,
or
were
still
an
abiding
impression
.
Ethel
could
gather
no
more
than
that
her
father
was
very
unhappy
about
Flora
,
and
that
Richard
understood
why
;
for
Richard
had
told
her
that
he
had
written
to
Flora
,
to
try
to
persuade
her
to
cease
from
this
reserve
,
but
that
he
had
no
reply
.
Norman
was
not
at
home
;
he
had
undertaken
the
tutorship
of
two
school-boys
for
the
holidays
;
and
his
father
owned
,
with
a
sigh
,
that
he
was
doing
wisely
.
As
to
Meta
,
she
was
Ethel
's
chief
consolation
,
by
the
redoubled
assurances
,
directed
to
Ethel
's
unexpressed
dread
,
lest
Flora
should
be
rejecting
the
chastening
Hand
.
Meta
had
the
most
absolute
certainty
that
Flora
's
apparent
cheerfulness
was
all
for
George
's
sake
,
and
that
it
was
a
most
painful
exertion
.
'
If
Ethel
could
only
see
how
she
let
herself
sink
together
as
it
were
,
and
her
whole
countenance
relax
,
as
soon
as
he
was
out
of
sight
,
'
Meta
said
,
'
she
could
not
doubt
what
misery
these
efforts
were
to
her
.
'
'
Why
does
she
go
on
with
them
?
'
said
Ethel
.
'
George
,
'
said
Meta
.
'
What
would
become
of
him
without
her
?
If
he
misses
her
for
ten
minutes
,
he
roams
about
lost
,
and
he
cannot
enjoy
anything
without
her
.
I
cannot
think
how
he
can
help
seeing
what
hard
work
it
is
,
and
how
he
can
be
contented
with
those
dreadful
sham
smiles
;
but
as
long
as
she
can
give
him
pleasure
,
poor
Flora
will
toil
for
him
.
'
'
It
is
very
selfish
,
'
Ethel
caught
herself
saying
.
'
No
,
no
,
it
is
not
,
'
cried
Meta
.
'
It
is
not
that
he
will
not
see
,
but
that
he
cannot
see
.
Good
honest
fellow
,
he
really
thinks
it
does
her
good
and
pleases
her
.
I
was
so
sorry
one
evening
when
I
tried
to
take
her
place
at
that
perpetual
ecarté
,
and
told
him
it
teased
her
;
he
went
so
wistfully
to
her
,
and
asked
whether
it
did
,
and
she
exerted
herself
into
such
painful
enjoyment
to
persuade
him
to
the
contrary
;
and
afterwards
she
said
to
me
,
"
Let
me
alone
,
dearest
—
is
the
only
thing
left
me
.
"
'
'
There
is
something
in
being
husband
and
wife
that
one
cannot
understand
,
'
slowly
said
Ethel
,
so
much
in
her
quaint
way
,
that
Meta
laughed
.
Had
it
not
been
for
Norman
's
absence
,
Ethel
would
,
in
the
warm
sympathy
and
accustomed
manner
of
Meta
Rivers
,
have
forgotten
all
about
the
hopes
and
fears
that
,
in
brighter
days
,
had
centred
on
that
small
personage
;
until
one
day
,
as
she
came
home
from
Cocksmoor
,
she
found
"
Sir
Henry
Walkinghame
's
"
card
on
the
drawingroom
table
.
'
I
should
like
to
bite
you
!
Coming
here
,
are
you
?
'
was
her
amiable
reflection
!
Meta
,
in
her
riding-habit
,
peeped
out
of
Margaret
's
room
.
'
O
Ethel
,
there
you
are
!
It
is
such
a
boon
that
you
did
not
come
home
sooner
,
or
we
should
have
had
to
ride
home
with
him
!
I
heard
him
asking
for
the
Miss
Mays
!
And
now
I
am
in
hopes
that
he
will
go
home
without
falling
in
with
Flora
and
George
.
'
'
I
did
not
know
he
was
in
these
parts
.
'
'
He
came
to
Drydale
last
week
,
but
the
place
is
forlorn
,
and
George
gave
him
a
general
invitation
to
the
Grange
.
'
'
Do
you
like
him
?
'
said
Ethel
,
while
Margaret
looked
on
,
amazed
at
her
audacity
.
'
I
liked
him
very
much
in
London
,
'
said
Meta
;
'
he
is
pleasant
enough
to
talk
to
,
but
somehow
,
he
is
not
congruous
here
—
if
you
understand
me
.
And
I
think
his
coming
oppresses
Flora
—
she
turned
quite
pale
when
he
was
announced
,
and
her
voice
was
lower
than
ever
when
she
spoke
to
him
.
'
'
Does
he
come
often
?
'
said
Ethel
.
'
I
do
n't
think
he
has
anything
else
to
do
,
'
returned
Meta
,
'
for
our
house
cannot
be
as
pleasant
as
it
was
;
but
he
is
very
kind
to
George
,
and
for
that
we
must
be
grateful
.
One
thing
I
am
afraid
of
,
that
he
will
persuade
us
off
to
the
yachtting
after
all
.
'
'
Oh
!
'
was
the
general
exclamation
.
'
Yes
,
'
said
Meta
.
'
George
seemed
to
like
the
plan
,
and
I
very
much
fear
that
he
is
taking
a
dislike
to
the
dear
old
Grange
.
I
heard
him
say
,
"
anything
to
get
away
.
"
'
'
Poor
George
,
I
know
he
is
restless
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
At
least
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
you
ca
n't
go
till
after
your
birthday
,
Miss
Heiress
.
'
'
No
,
uncle
Cosham
is
coming
,
'
said
Meta
.
'
Margaret
,
you
must
have
your
stone
laid
before
we
go
!
'
'
Dr
.
Spencer
promises
it
before
Hector
's
holidays
are
over
,
'
said
Margaret
,
blushing
,
as
she
always
did
,
with
pleasure
,
when
they
talked
of
the
Church
.
Hector
Ernescliffe
had
revived
Margaret
wonderfully
.
She
was
seldom
down-stairs
before
the
evening
,
and
Ethel
thought
his
habit
of
making
her
apartment
his
sitting-room
,
must
be
as
inconvenient
to
her
,
as
it
was
to
herself
;
but
Hector
could
not
be
de
trop
for
Margaret
.
She
exerted
herself
to
fulfil
for
him
all
the
little
sisterly
offices
that
,
with
her
brothers
,
had
been
transferred
to
Ethel
and
Mary
;
she
threw
herself
into
all
his
schemes
,
tried
to
make
him
endure
Captain
Gordon
,
and
she
even
read
his
favourite
book
of
Wild
Sports
,
though
her
feelings
were
constantly
lacerated
by
the
miseries
of
the
slaughtered
animals
.
Her
couch
was
to
him
as
a
home
,
and
he
had
awakened
her
bright
soft
liveliness
which
had
been
only
dimmed
for
a
time
.
The
Church
was
her
other
great
interest
,
and
Dr.
Spencer
humoured
her
by
shewing
her
all
his
drawings
,
consulting
her
on
every
ornament
,
and
making
many
a
perspective
elevation
,
merely
that
she
might
see
the
effect
.
Richard
and
Tom
made
it
their
recreation
to
construct
a
model
of
the
Church
as
a
present
for
her
,
and
Tom
developed
a
genius
for
carving
,
which
proved
a
beneficial
interest
to
keep
him
from
surliness
.
He
had
voluntarily
propounded
his
intended
profession
to
his
father
,
who
had
been
so
much
pleased
by
his
choice
,
that
he
could
not
but
be
gratified
;
though
now
and
then
ambitious
fancies
,
and
discontent
with
Stoneborough
,
combined
to
bring
on
his
ordinary
moody
fits
,
the
more
,
because
his
habitual
reserve
prevented
anyone
from
knowing
what
was
working
in
his
mind
.
Finally
,
the
Rivers
'
party
announced
their
intention
of
going
to
the
Isle
of
Wight
as
soon
as
Meta
had
come
of
age
;
and
the
council
of
Cocksmoor
,
meeting
at
tea
at
Dr.
May
's
house
,
decided
that
the
Foundation
Stone
of
the
Church
should
be
laid
on
the
day
after
her
birthday
,
when
there
would
be
a
gathering
of
the
whole
family
,
as
Margaret
wished
.
Dr.
Spencer
had
worked
incredibly
hard
to
bring
it
forward
,
and
Margaret
's
sweet
smiles
,
and
liquid
eyes
,
expressed
how
personally
thankful
she
felt
.
'
What
a
blessing
this
Church
has
been
to
that
poor
girl
,
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
,
as
he
left
the
house
with
Mr.
Wilmot
.
'
How
it
beguiles
her
out
of
her
grief
!
I
am
glad
she
has
the
pleasure
of
the
foundation
;
I
doubt
if
she
will
see
the
Consecration
.
'
'
Indeed
!
'
said
Mr.
Wilmot
,
shocked
.
'
Was
that
attack
so
serious
?
'
'
That
recumbent
position
and
want
of
exercise
were
certain
to
produce
organic
disease
,
and
suspense
and
sorrow
have
hastened
it
.
The
death
of
Mrs.
Rivers
'
poor
child
was
the
blow
that
called
it
into
activity
,
and
,
if
it
last
more
than
a
year
,
I
shall
be
surprised
.
'
'
For
such
as
she
is
,
one
cannot
presume
to
wish
,
but
her
father
—
Is
he
aware
of
this
?
'
'
He
knows
there
is
extensive
damage
;
I
think
he
does
not
open
his
eyes
to
the
result
,
but
he
will
bear
it
.
Never
was
there
a
man
to
whom
it
came
so
naturally
to
live
like
the
the
fowls
of
the
air
,
or
the
lilies
of
the
field
,
as
it
does
to
dear
Dick
May
,
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
,
his
voice
faltering
.
'
There
is
a
strength
of
faith
and
love
in
him
,
that
carries
him
through
all
,
'
said
Mr.
Wilmot
.
'
His
childlike
nature
seems
to
have
the
trustfulness
that
is
,
in
itself
,
consolation
.
You
said
how
Cocksmoor
had
been
blessed
to
Margaret
—
I
think
it
is
the
same
with
them
all
—
not
only
Ethel
and
Richard
,
who
have
been
immediately
concerned
;
but
that
one
object
has
been
a
centre
and
aim
to
elevate
the
whole
family
,
and
give
force
and
unity
to
their
efforts
.
Even
the
good
Doctor
,
much
as
I
always
looked
up
to
him
—
much
good
as
he
did
me
in
my
young
days
—
I
must
confess
that
he
was
sometimes
very
provoking
.
'
'
If
you
had
tried
to
be
his
keeper
at
Cambridge
,
you
might
say
so
!
'
rejoined
Dr.
Spencer
.
'
He
is
so
much
less
impetuous
—
more
consistent
—
less
desultory
;
I
dare
say
you
understand
me
,
'
said
Mr.
Wilmot
.
'
His
good
qualities
do
not
entangle
one
another
as
they
used
to
do
.
'
'
Exactly
so
.
He
was
far
more
than
I
looked
for
when
I
came
home
,
though
I
might
have
guessed
that
such
a
disposition
,
backed
by
such
principles
and
such
—
could
not
but
shake
off
all
the
dross
.
'
'
One
thing
was
,
'
said
Mr.
Wilmot
,
smiling
,
'
that
a
man
must
take
himself
in
hand
,
at
some
time
in
his
life
,
and
Dr.
May
only
began
to
think
himself
responsible
for
himself
,
when
he
lost
his
wife
,
who
was
wise
for
both
.
She
was
an
admirable
person
,
but
not
easy
to
know
well
.
I
think
you
knew
her
at
—
'
'
I
say
,
'
interrupted
Dr.
Spencer
,
'
it
strikes
me
that
we
could
not
do
better
than
get
up
our
S.
P.
G
.
demonstration
on
the
day
of
the
stone
—
'
Hitherto
the
Stoneborough
subscribers
to
the
Society
for
the
Propagation
of
the
Gospel
had
been
few
and
far
between
;
but
,
under
the
new
dynasty
,
there
was
a
talk
of
forming
an
association
,
and
having
a
meeting
to
bring
the
subject
forward
.
Dr.
Spencer
's
proposal
,
however
,
took
the
Vicar
by
surprise
.
'
Never
could
there
be
a
better
time
,
'
he
argued
.
You
have
naturally
a
gathering
of
Clergy
—
people
ought
to
be
liberal
on
such
an
occasion
,
and
,
as
Cocksmoor
is
provided
for
,
why
not
give
the
benefit
to
the
missions
,
in
their
crying
need
.
'
'
True
,
but
there
is
no
time
to
send
for
anyone
to
make
a
speech
.
'
'
Husband
your
resources
.
What
could
you
have
better
than
young
Harry
and
his
islanders
?
'
'
Harry
would
never
make
a
speech
.
'
'
Let
him
cram
Norman
.
Young
Lake
tells
me
Norman
made
a
great
sensation
at
the
Union
at
Oxford
,
and
if
his
heart
is
in
the
work
,
he
must
not
shrink
from
the
face
of
his
townsmen
.
'
'
No
doubt
,
he
had
rather
they
were
savages
,
'
said
the
Vicar
.
'
And
yourself
—
you
will
tell
them
of
the
Indian
Missions
.
'
'
With
all
my
heart
,
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
.
'
When
my
Brahminhee
Godson
—
the
Deacon
I
told
you
of
,
comes
to
pay
me
his
promised
visit
,
what
doings
we
shall
have
!
Seriously
,
I
have
just
had
letters
from
him
and
from
others
,
that
speak
of
such
need
,
that
I
could
feel
every
moment
wasted
that
is
not
spent
on
their
behalf
.
'
Mr.
Wilmot
was
drawn
into
Dr.
Spencer
's
house
,
and
heard
the
letters
,
till
his
heart
burnt
within
him
.
The
meeting
was
at
once
decided
upon
,
though
Ethel
could
not
see
why
people
could
not
give
without
speechifying
,
and
her
two
younger
brothers
declared
it
was
humbug
—
Tom
saying
,
he
wished
all
blackamoors
were
out
of
creation
,
and
Harry
,
that
he
could
not
stand
palaver
about
his
friend
David
.
Dr.
May
threatened
him
with
being
displayed
on
the
platform
as
a
living
instance
of
the
effects
of
Missions
,
at
which
he
took
alarm
,
and
so
seriously
declared
that
he
should
join
the
Bucephalus
at
once
,
that
they
pacified
him
by
promising
that
he
should
do
as
he
pleased
.
The
Archdeacon
promised
a
Sermon
,
and
the
active
Dr.
Spencer
worked
the
Nine
Muses
and
all
the
rest
of
the
town
and
neighbourhood
into
a
state
of
great
enthusiasm
and
expectation
.
He
went
to
the
Grange
,
as
he
said
,
to
collect
his
artillery
;
primed
Flora
that
she
might
prime
the
M
.
P.
;
made
the
willing
Meta
promise
to
entrap
the
uncle
,
who
was
noted
for
philanthropical
speeches
;
and
himself
captured
Sir
Henry
Walkinghame
,
who
looked
somewhat
rueful
at
what
he
found
incumbent
on
him
as
a
country
gentleman
,
though
there
might
be
some
compensation
in
the
eagerness
of
Miss
Rivers
.
Norman
had
hardly
set
foot
in
Stoneborough
before
he
was
told
what
was
in
store
for
him
,
and
,
to
the
general
surprise
,
submitted
as
if
it
were
a
very
simple
matter
.
As
Dr.
Spencer
told
him
,
it
was
only
a
foretaste
of
the
penalty
which
every
Missionary
has
to
pay
for
coming
to
England
.
Norman
was
altogether
looking
much
better
than
when
he
had
been
last
at
home
,
and
his
spirits
were
more
even
.
He
had
turned
his
whole
soul
to
the
career
he
had
chosen
,
cast
his
disappointment
behind
him
,
or
,
more
truly
,
made
it
his
offering
,
and
gathered
strength
and
calmness
,
with
which
to
set
out
on
tasks
of
working
for
others
,
with
thoughts
too
much
absorbed
on
them
,
to
give
way
to
the
propensity
of
making
himself
the
primary
object
of
study
and
contemplation
.
The
praise
of
God
,
and
love
of
man
,
were
the
best
cures
for
tendencies
like
his
,
and
he
had
found
it
out
.
His
calm
,
though
grave
cheerfulness
,
came
as
a
refreshment
to
those
who
had
been
uneasy
about
him
,
and
mournfully
watching
poor
Flora
.
'
Yes
,
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
,
'
you
have
taken
the
best
course
for
your
own
happiness
.
Norman
coloured
,
as
if
he
understood
more
than
met
the
ear
.
Mary
and
Blanche
were
very
busy
preparing
presents
for
Meta
Rivers
,
and
everyone
was
anxious
to
soften
to
her
the
thought
of
this
first
birthday
without
her
father
.
Each
of
the
family
contributed
some
pretty
little
trifle
,
choice
in
workmanship
or
kind
in
device
,
and
each
was
sealed
and
marked
with
the
initials
of
the
giver
,
and
packed
up
by
Mary
,
to
be
committed
to
Flora
's
charge
.
Blanche
had
,
however
,
much
tronble
in
extracting
a
gift
from
Norman
,
and
he
only
yielded
at
last
,
on
finding
that
all
his
brothers
had
sent
something
,
so
that
his
omission
would
be
marked
.
Then
he
dived
into
the
recesses
of
his
desk
,
and
himself
sealed
up
a
little
parcel
,
of
which
he
would
not
allow
his
sisters
to
inspect
the
contents
.
Ethel
had
a
shrewd
guess
.
She
remembered
his
having
,
in
the
flush
of
joy
at
Margaret
's
engagement
,
rather
prematurely
caused
a
seal
to
be
cut
with
a
Daisy
,
and
"
Pearl
of
the
meadow
"
as
the
motto
;
and
his
having
said
that
he
should
keep
it
as
a
wedding
present
.
She
could
understand
that
he
was
willing
to
part
with
it
without
remark
.
Flora
met
Meta
in
her
sitting
room
,
on
the
morning
of
the
day
,
which
rose
somewhat
sadly
upon
the
young
girl
,
as
she
thought
of
past
affection
and
new
responsibilities
.
If
the
fondness
of
a
sister
could
have
compensated
for
what
she
had
lost
,
Meta
received
it
in
no
scanty
measure
from
Flora
,
who
begged
to
call
George
,
because
he
would
be
pleased
to
see
the
display
of
gifts
.
His
own
was
the
only
costly
one
—
almost
all
the
rest
were
homemade
treasures
of
the
greater
price
,
because
the
skill
and
fondness
of
the
maker
were
evident
in
their
construction
;
and
Meta
took
home
the
kindness
as
it
was
meant
,
and
felt
the
affection
that
would
not
let
her
feel
herself
lonely
.
She
only
wished
to
go
and
thank
them
all
at
once
.
'
Do
then
,
'
said
Flora
.
'
If
Lord
Cosham
will
spare
you
,
and
your
business
should
be
over
in
time
,
you
could
drive
in
,
and
try
to
bring
papa
home
with
you
.
'
'
O
thank
you
,
Flora
.
That
is
a
kind
treat
,
in
case
the
morning
should
be
very
awful
!
'
Margaret
Agatha
Rivers
signed
her
documents
,
listened
to
explanations
,
and
was
complimented
by
her
uncle
on
not
thinking
it
necessary
to
be
senseless
on
money
matters
,
like
her
cousin
,
Agatha
Langdale
.
Still
she
looked
a
little
oppressed
,
as
she
locked
up
the
tokens
of
her
wealth
,
and
the
sunshine
of
her
face
did
not
beam
out
again
till
she
arrived
at
Stoneborough
,
and
was
dispensing
her
pretty
thanks
to
the
few
she
found
at
home
.
'
Ethel
out
and
Norman
?
His
seal
is
only
too
pretty
—
'
'
They
are
all
helping
Dr.
Spencer
at
Cocksmoor
.
'
'
What
a
pity
!
But
it
is
so
very
kind
of
him
to
treat
me
as
a
Daisy
.
In
some
ways
I
like
his
present
for
that
the
best
of
all
,
'
said
Meta
.
'
I
will
tell
him
so
,
'
said
Mary
.
'
Yes
—
no
'
—
said
Meta
.
'
I
am
not
pretending
to
be
anything
half
so
nice
.
Mary
and
Blanche
fell
upon
her
for
calling
herself
anything
but
the
nicest
flower
in
the
world
;
and
she
contended
that
she
was
nothing
better
than
a
parrot-tulip
,
stuck
up
in
a
parterre
;
and
just
as
the
discussion
was
becoming
a
game
at
romps
,
Dr.
May
came
in
,
and
the
children
shouted
to
him
to
say
whether
his
humming-bird
were
a
Daisy
or
a
Tulip
.
'
That
is
as
she
comports
herself
,
'
he
said
,
playfully
.
'
Which
means
that
you
do
n't
think
her
quite
done
for
,
'
said
Meta
.
'
Not
quite
,
'
said
the
Doctor
,
with
a
droll
intonation
;
'
but
I
have
not
seen
what
this
morning
may
have
done
to
her
.
'
'
Come
and
see
,
then
,
'
said
Meta
.
'
Flora
told
me
to
bring
you
home
—
and
it
is
my
birthday
,
you
know
.
Never
mind
waiting
to
tell
Ethel
.
Margaret
will
let
her
know
that
I
'll
keep
you
out
of
mischief
.
'
As
usual
,
Dr.
May
could
not
withstand
her
—
and
she
carried
him
off
in
triumph
in
her
pony
carriage
.
'
Then
you
do
n't
give
me
up
yet
?
'
was
the
first
thing
she
said
,
as
they
were
off
the
stones
.
'
What
have
you
been
doing
to
make
me
?
'
said
he
.
'
Doing
or
not
doing
—
one
or
the
other
,
'
she
said
.
'
But
indeed
I
wanted
to
have
you
to
myself
.
I
am
in
a
great
puzzle
!
'
'
Sir
Henry
!
I
hope
she
wo
n't
consult
me
!
'
thought
Dr.
May
,
as
he
answered
,
'
Well
,
my
dear
.
'
'
I
fear
it
is
a
lasting
puzzle
,
'
she
said
.
'
What
shall
I
do
with
all
this
money
?
'
'
Keep
it
in
the
Bank
,
or
buy
railway
shares
?
'
said
Dr.
may
,
looking
arch
.
'
Thank
you
.
That
's
question
for
my
cousins
in
the
City
.
I
want
you
to
answer
me
as
no
one
else
can
do
.
I
want
to
know
what
is
my
duty
now
that
I
have
that
I
have
my
means
in
my
own
hands
?
'
'
There
is
need
enough
around
—
'
'
I
do
not
mean
only
giving
a
little
here
and
there
,
but
I
want
you
to
hear
a
few
of
my
thoughts
.
Flora
and
George
are
kindness
itself
—
but
,
you
see
,
I
have
no
duties
.
They
are
obliged
to
live
a
gay
sort
of
life
—
it
is
their
position
;
but
I
cannot
make
out
whether
it
is
mine
.
I
do
n't
see
that
I
am
like
those
girls
who
have
to
go
out
as
a
matter
of
obedience
.
'
Dr.
May
considered
,
but
could
only
say
,
'
You
are
very
young
.
'
'
Too
young
to
be
independent
,
'
sighed
Meta
.
'
I
must
grow
old
enough
to
be
trusted
alone
,
and
in
the
mean
time
—
'
'
Probably
an
answer
will
be
found
,
'
said
the
Doctor
.
You
and
your
means
will
find
their
—
thier
vocation
.
'
'
Marriage
,
'
said
Meta
,
calmly
speaking
the
word
that
he
had
avoided
.
'
I
think
not
.
'
'
Why
?
'
—
he
began
.
'
I
do
not
think
good
men
like
heiresses
.
'
He
became
strongly
interested
in
a
corn-field
,
and
she
resumed
,
'
Perhaps
I
should
only
do
harm
.
It
may
be
my
duty
to
wait
.
All
I
wish
to
know
is
,
whether
it
is
?
'
'
I
see
you
are
not
like
girls
who
know
their
duty
,
and
are
restless
,
because
it
is
not
the
duty
they
like
.
'
'
Oh
!
I
like
everything
.
It
is
my
liking
it
so
much
that
makes
me
afraid
.
'
Even
going
to
Ryde
?
'
'
Do
n't
I
like
the
sailing
?
and
seeing
Harry
too
?
I
do
n't
feel
as
if
that
were
waste
,
because
I
can
sometimes
spare
poor
Flora
a
little
.
We
could
not
let
her
go
alone
.
'
'
You
need
never
fear
to
be
without
a
mission
of
comfort
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
Your
'
spirit
full
of
glee
'
was
given
you
for
something
.
Your
presence
is
far
more
to
my
poor
Flora
than
you
or
she
guess
.
'
'
I
never
meant
to
leave
her
now
,
'
said
Meta
,
earnestly
.
'
I
only
wished
to
be
clear
whether
I
ought
to
seek
for
my
work
.
'
'
It
will
seek
you
,
when
the
time
comes
.
'
'
And
meantime
I
must
do
what
comes
to
hand
,
and
take
it
as
humiliation
that
it
is
not
in
the
more
obviously
blessed
tasks
!
A
call
might
come
,
as
Cocksmoor
did
to
Ethel
.
But
,
oh
!
my
money
!
Ought
it
to
be
laid
up
for
myself
?
'
'
For
your
call
,
when
it
comes
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
smiling
—
then
gravely
,
'
There
are
but
too
many
calls
for
the
interest
.
The
principal
is
your
trust
,
till
the
time
comes
.
'
Meta
smiled
,
and
was
pleased
to
think
that
her
first-fruits
would
be
offered
to-morrow
.
CHAPTER
XXII
.
'
O
dear
!
'
sighed
Etheldred
,
as
she
fastened
her
white
muslin
,
'
I
'm
afraid
it
is
my
nature
to
hate
my
neighbour
!
'
'
My
dear
Ethel
,
what
is
coming
next
?
'
said
Margaret
.
'
I
like
my
neighbour
at
home
,
and
whom
I
have
to
work
for
,
very
much
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
but
oh
!
my
neighbour
that
I
have
to
be
civil
to
!
'
'
Poor
old
King
!
I
am
afraid
your
day
will
be
spoilt
with
all
your
toils
as
lady
of
the
house
.
I
wish
I
could
help
you
.
'
'
Let
me
have
my
grumble
out
,
and
you
will
!
'
said
Ethel
.
'
Indeed
I
am
sorry
you
have
this
bustle
,
and
so
many
to
entertain
,
when
I
know
you
would
rather
have
the
peaceful
feelings
belonging
to
the
day
undisturbed
.
I
should
like
to
shelter
you
up
here
.
'
'
It
is
very
ungrateful
of
me
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
when
Dr.
Spencer
works
so
hard
for
us
,
not
to
be
willing
to
grant
anything
to
him
.
'
'
And
—
but
then
I
have
none
of
the
trouble
of
it
—
I
ca
n't
help
liking
the
notion
of
sending
out
the
Church
to
the
island
whence
the
Church
came
home
to
us
.
'
'
Yes
—
'
said
Ethel
,
'
if
we
could
do
it
without
holding
forth
!
'
'
Come
,
Ethel
,
it
is
much
better
than
the
bazaar
—
it
is
no
field
for
vanity
.
'
'
Certainly
not
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
What
a
mess
everyone
will
make
!
O
if
I
could
but
stay
away
,
like
Harry
!
There
will
be
Dr.
Hoxton
being
sonorous
and
prosy
,
and
Mr.
Lake
will
stammer
,
and
that
will
be
nothing
to
the
misery
of
our
own
people
's
work
.
George
will
flounder
,
and
look
at
Flora
,
and
she
will
sit
with
her
eyes
on
the
ground
,
and
Dr.
Spencer
will
come
out
of
his
proper
self
,
and
be
complimentary
to
people
who
deserve
it
no
more
!
—
And
Norman
—
I
wish
I
could
run
away
!
'
'
Richard
says
we
do
not
guess
how
well
Norman
speaks
.
'
'
Richard
thinks
Norman
can
do
anything
he
ca
n't
do
himself
!
It
is
all
chance
—
he
may
do
very
well
,
if
he
gets
into
his
"
funny
state
,
"
but
he
always
suffers
for
that
,
and
he
will
certainly
put
one
into
an
agony
at
the
outset
.
I
wish
Dr.
Spencer
would
have
let
him
alone
!
And
then
there
will
be
that
Sir
Henry
,
whom
I
ca
n't
abide
!
Oh
!
I
wish
I
were
more
charitable
,
like
Miss
Bracy
and
Mary
,
who
will
think
all
so
beautiful
.
'
'
So
will
you
,
when
you
come
home
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
If
I
could
only
be
talking
to
Cherry
,
and
Dame
Hall
!
I
think
the
school
children
enter
into
it
very
nicely
,
Margaret
.
Did
I
tell
you
how
nicely
Ellen
Reid
answered
about
the
Hymn
,
"
From
Greenland
's
icy
mountains
.
"
She
did
not
seem
to
have
made
it
a
mere
geographical
lesson
,
like
Fanny
Grigg
—
'
Ethel
's
misanthropy
was
happily
conducted
off
via
the
Cocksmoor
children
,
and
any
lingering
remains
were
dissipated
by
her
amusement
at
Dr.
Spencer
's
ecstacy
on
seeing
Dr.
May
assume
his
red
robe
of
office
,
to
go
to
the
Minster
in
state
,
with
the
Town
Council
.
He
walked
round
and
round
his
friend
,
called
him
Nicholas
Randall
redivivus
,
quoted
Dogberry
,
and
affronted
Gertrude
,
who
had
a
dim
idea
that
he
was
making
game
of
papa
!
Ethel
was
one
of
those
to
whom
representation
was
such
a
penance
,
that
a
festival
,
necessitating
hospitality
to
guests
of
her
own
rank
,
was
burthen
enough
seriously
to
disturb
the
repose
of
thankfulness
for
the
attainment
of
her
object
,
and
to
render
difficult
the
recueillement
which
she
needed
for
the
praise
and
prayer
that
she
felt
due
from
her
,
and
which
seemed
to
oppress
her
heart
,
by
a
sense
of
the
inadequacy
of
her
partial
expression
.
It
was
well
for
her
that
the
day
began
with
the
calm
service
in
the
Minster
,
where
it
was
her
own
fault
if
cares
haunted
her
,
and
she
could
confess
the
sin
of
her
irritated
sensations
,
and
wishes
to
have
all
her
own
way
,
and
then
,
as
ever
,
be
led
aright
into
thanksgiving
for
the
unlooked
for
crowning
of
her
labours
.
The
Archdeacon
's
sermon
amplified
what
Margaret
had
that
morning
expressed
,
so
as
to
carry
on
her
sense
of
appropriateness
in
the
offerings
of
the
day
being
bestowed
on
distant
lands
.
But
the
ordeal
was
yet
to
come
,
and
though
blaming
herself
,
she
was
anything
but
comfortable
,
as
the
world
repaired
to
the
Town-hall
,
the
room
where
the
same
faces
so
often
met
for
such
diverse
purposes
—
now
an
orrery
displayed
by
a
conceited
lecturer
,
now
a
ball
,
now
a
magistrates
'
meeting
,
a
concert
or
a
poultry
shew
,
where
rival
Hamburg
and
Dorking
uplifted
their
voices
in
the
places
of
Mario
and
Grisi
,
all
beneath
the
benignant
portrait
of
Nicholas
Randall
,
ruffed
,
robed
,
square-toed
,
his
endowment
of
the
scholarship
in
his
hand
,
and
a
chequered
pavement
at
his
feet
.
Who
knows
not
an
S.
P.
G
.
meeting
?
the
gaiety
of
the
serious
,
and
the
first
public
spectacle
to
the
young
,
who
,
like
Blanche
and
Aubrey
,
gaze
with
admiration
at
the
rows
of
bonnets
,
and
with
awe
at
the
black
coats
on
the
platform
,
while
the
relations
of
the
said
black
coats
suffer
,
like
Ethel
,
from
nervous
dread
of
the
public
speaking
of
their
best
friends
.
Her
expectations
were
realized
by
the
Archdeacon
's
speech
,
which
went
round
in
a
circle
,
as
if
he
could
not
find
his
way
out
of
it
.
Lord
Cosham
was
fluent
,
but
a
great
many
words
went
to
very
small
substance
;
and
no
wonder
,
thought
Ethel
,
when
all
they
had
to
propose
and
second
was
the
obvious
fact
that
Missions
were
very
good
things
.
Dr.
Hoxton
pompously
,
Sir
Henry
Walkinghame
creditably
,
assisted
the
ladies
and
gentlemen
to
resolve
that
the
S.
P.
G
.
wanted
help
;
Mr.
Lake
made
a
stammering
,
and
Mr.
Rivers
,
with
his
good-natured
face
,
hearty
manner
,
and
good
voice
,
came
in
well
after
him
,
with
a
straightforward
speech
,
so
brief
,
that
Ethel
gave
Flora
credit
for
the
best
she
had
yet
heard
.
Mr.
Wilmot
said
something
which
the
sharpest
ears
in
the
front
row
might
,
perhaps
,
have
heard
,
and
which
resulted
in
Dr.
Spencer
standing
up
.
Ethel
hardly
would
have
known
who
was
speaking
had
her
eyes
been
shut
.
His
voice
was
so
different
,
when
raised
and
pitched
,
so
as
to
shew
its
power
and
sweetness
;
the
fine
polish
of
his
manner
was
redoubled
,
and
every
sentence
had
the
most
graceful
turn
.
It
was
like
listening
to
a
well-written
book
,
so
smooth
and
so
fluent
,
and
yet
