hesaw
it
treated
by
so
good
a
man
,
as
a
mere
form
of
disappointed
love
,
he
felt
himself
reprieved
from
the
hardest
sacrifice
that
he
had
ever
been
called
on
to
make
,
loved
little
Meta
the
better
for
restoring
his
son
,
and
once
more
gave
a
free
course
to
the
aspirations
that
Norman
's
brilliant
boyhood
had
inspired
.
Richard
took
the
same
view
,
and
the
evening
passed
away
in
an
argument
—
as
if
anyone
had
been
disputing
with
them
—
the
father
reasoning
loud
,
the
son
enforcing
it
low
,
that
it
had
become
Norman
's
duty
to
stay
at
home
to
take
care
of
Meta
,
whose
father
would
have
been
horrified
at
his
taking
her
to
the
Antipodes
.
They
saw
mighty
tasks
for
her
fortune
to
effect
in
England
,
they
enhanced
each
other
's
anticipations
of
Norman
's
career
,
overthrew
abuses
before
him
,
heaped
distinctions
upon
him
,
and
had
made
him
Prime
Minister
and
settled
his
policy
,
before
ten
o'clock
brought
their
schemes
to
a
close
.
Mary
gazed
and
believed
;
Margaret
lay
still
and
gently
assented
;
Ethel
was
silent
at
first
,
and
only
when
the
fabric
became
extremely
airy
and
magnificent
,
put
in
her
word
with
a
vehement
dash
at
the
present
abuses
,
which
grieved
her
spirit
above
all
,
and
,
whether
vulnerable
or
not
,
Norman
was
to
dispose
of
,
like
so
many
giants
before
Mr.
Great-heart
.
She
went
upstairs
,
unable
to
analyze
her
sentiments
.
To
be
spared
the
separation
would
be
infinite
relief
—
all
this
prosperity
made
her
exult
—
the
fair
girl
at
the
Grange
was
the
delight
of
her
heart
,
and
yet
there
was
a
sense
of
falling
off
;
she
disliked
herself
for
being
either
glad
or
sorry
,
and
could
have
quarrelled
with
the
lovers
for
perplexing
her
feelings
so
uncomfortably
.
Though
she
sat
up
till
the
arty
returned
,
she
was
inclined
to
be
supposed
in
bed
,
so
as
o
put
off
the
moment
of
meeting
;
but
Margaret
,
who
she
hoped
was
asleep
,
said
from
her
pillow
,
'
Ask
dear
Norman
to
let
met
give
him
one
kiss
.
'
She
ran
down
headlong
,
clutched
Norman
as
he
was
taking
off
his
great-coat
,
told
him
that
Margaret
wanted
him
,
and
dragged
him
up
without
letting
him
go
,
till
she
reached
the
first
,
landing
,
where
she
stood
still
,
saying
breathlessly
,
"
New
Zealand
.
"
'
If
I
wished
to
fail
,
she
would
keep
me
to
it
.
'
'
I
beg
your
pardon
,
'
said
Ethel
,
claiming
heartily
his
caress
.
'
I
was
wrong
to
doubt
either
of
you
.
Now
,
I
know
how
to
feel
!
But
Margaret
must
not
wait
.
'
The
happy
youth
,
in
the
flush
of
love
and
joy
,
bent
gently
,
almost
tearfully
,
down
in
silence
to
the
white
form
,
half-seen
in
the
twilight
,
whose
hopes
had
fleeted
away
from
earth
,
and
who
was
calmly
,
softly
gliding
after
them
.
Hardly
a
word
was
uttered
,
but
of
all
the
many
heartfelt
thoughts
that
had
passed
while
the
face
was
pressed
into
Margaret
's
pillow
,
and
her
sympathizing
arms
round
the
neck
,
surely
none
was
ever
deeper
,
than
was
his
prayer
and
vow
that
his
affection
should
be
like
hers
,
unearthly
,
and
therefore
enduring
.
The
embrace
was
all
;
Margaret
must
not
be
agitated
,
and
,
indeed
,
the
events
of
the
day
had
been
too
much
for
her
,
and
the
ensuing
morning
brought
the
fluttering
of
heart
and
prostration
of
strength
,
no
longer
a
novelty
and
occasion
of
immediate
terror
,
but
the
token
of
the
waning
power
of
life
.
Till
she
was
better
,
her
father
had
no
thoughts
for
aught
else
,
but
,
as
with
many
another
invalid
,
the
relief
from
present
distress
was
as
cheering
as
if
it
had
been
recovery
,
and
ere
night
,
her
placid
look
of
repose
had
returned
,
and
she
was
devising
pretty
greetings
for
her
newest
Daisy
.
Perhaps
the
sobering
effect
of
these
hours
of
anxiety
was
in
Norman
's
favour
,
on
entering
into
conversation
with
his
father
.
Those
visions
,
which
had
had
their
swing
the
night
before
,
belonged
to
the
earlier
,
more
untamed
period
of
Dr.
May
's
life
,
and
had
melted
away
in
the
dim
room
,
made
sacred
by
lingering
mementos
of
his
wife
,
and
in
the
sound
of
that
panting
breath
and
throbbing
heart
.
His
vehemence
had
been
,
after
all
,
chiefly
against
his
own
misgivings
,
and
when
he
heard
of
his
son
's
resolution
,
and
Meta
's
more
than
acquiescence
,
he
was
greatly
touched
,
and
recurred
to
his
kind
,
sorrowful
promise
,
that
he
would
never
be
a
stumbling-block
in
the
path
of
his
children
.
Still
,
he
owned
himself
greatly
allured
by
the
career
proposed
by
Lord
Cosham
,
and
thought
Norman
should
consider
the
opportunities
of
doing
good
in
,
perhaps
,
a
still
more
important
and
extensive
field
,
than
that
which
he
had
chosen
.
'
Time
was
that
I
should
have
grasped
at
such
a
prospect
,
'
said
Norman
;
'
but
I
am
not
the
man
for
it
.
I
have
too
much
ambition
,
and
too
little
humility
.
You
know
,
father
,
how
often
you
have
had
to
come
to
my
rescue
,
when
I
was
running
after
success
as
my
prime
object
.
'
'
Vanity
fair
is
a
dangerous
place
,
but
you
who
have
sound
principles
and
pure
motives
—
'
'
How
long
would
my
motives
be
pure
?
'
said
Norman
.
'
Rivalry
and
party-spirit
make
me
distrust
my
motives
,
and
then
my
principles
feel
the
shock
.
Other
men
are
marked
by
station
for
such
trials
,
and
may
be
carried
through
them
,
but
I
am
not
.
'
'
Yet
some
of
these
men
are
far
from
your
equals
.
'
'
Not
perhaps
in
speechifying
,
'
said
Norman
,
smiling
;
'
but
in
steadiness
of
aim
,
in
patience
,
in
callousness
,
in
seeing
one
side
of
the
question
at
once
.
'
'
You
judge
rightly
for
your
own
peace
,
you
will
be
the
happier
;
I
always
doubted
whether
you
had
nerve
to
make
your
wits
available
.
'
'
It
may
be
cowardice
,
'
said
Norman
,
'
but
I
think
not
.
I
could
burn
for
the
combat
;
and
if
I
had
no
scruples
,
I
could
enjoy
bearing
down
such
as
—
'
Of
course
Dr.
May
burst
in
with
a
political
name
,
and
—
'
I
wish
you
were
at
him
!
'
'
Whether
I
could
is
another
matter
,
'
said
Norman
,
laughing
;
'
but
the
fact
is
,
that
I
stand
pledged
;
and
if
I
embraced
what
to
me
would
be
a
worldly
career
,
I
should
be
running
into
temptation
,
and
could
not
expect
to
be
shielded
from
it
.
'
'
Your
old
rule
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
Seek
to
be
less
rather
than
more
.
But
there
is
another
choice
.
Why
not
a
parsonage
at
home
?
'
.
'
Pleasant
parishes
are
not
in
the
same
need
,
'
said
Norman
.
'
I
wonder
what
poor
old
Rivers
would
say
to
you
,
if
he
knew
what
you
want
to
do
with
his
daughter
!
Brought
up
as
she
has
been
—
to
expose
her
to
the
roughness
of
a
colonial
life
,
such
as
I
should
hesitate
about
for
your
sisters
.
'
'
It
is
her
own
ardent
desire
.
'
'
True
,
but
are
girlish
enthusiasms
to
be
trusted
?
Take
care
,
Norman
,
take
care
of
her
—
she
is
a
bit
of
the
choicest
porcelain
of
human
kind
,
and
not
to
be
rudely
dealt
with
.
'
'
No
indeed
,
but
she
has
the
brave
enterprising
temper
,
to
which
I
fully
believe
that
actual
work
in
a
good
cause
,
is
far
preferable
to
what
she
calls
idleness
.
I
do
not
believe
that
we
are
likely
to
meet
with
more
hardship
than
she
would
gladly
encounter
,
and
would
almost
—
nay
,
quite
enjoy
.
'
'
You
do
not
know
what
your
aunt
has
had
to
go
through
.
'
'
A
few
years
make
a
great
difference
in
a
colony
.
Still
,
it
may
be
right
for
me
to
go
out
alone
and
judge
for
her
;
but
we
shall
know
more
if
my
aunt
comes
home
.
'
'
Yes
,
I
could
trust
a
good
deal
to
her
.
She
has
much
of
your
mother
's
sense
.
Well
,
you
must
settle
it
as
you
can
with
Meta
's
people
!
I
do
not
think
they
love
the
pretty
creature
better
than
I
have
done
from
the
first
minute
we
saw
her
—
do
n't
you
remember
it
,
Norman
?
'
'
Remember
it
?
Do
I
not
?
From
the
frosted
cedar
downwards
!
It
was
the
first
gem
of
spring
in
that
dreary
winter
.
What
a
Fairyland
the
Grange
was
to
me
!
'
'
You
may
nearly
say
the
same
of
me
,
'
confessed
Dr.
May
,
smiling
;
'
the
sight
of
that
happy
little
sunny
spirit
,
full
of
sympathy
and
sweetness
,
always
sent
me
brighter
on
my
way
.
Wherever
you
may
be
,
Norman
,
I
am
glad
you
have
her
,
being
one
apt
to
need
a
pocket
sunbeam
.
'
'
I
hope
my
tendencies
are
in
no
danger
of
depressing
her
!
'
said
Norman
,
startled
.
'
If
so
—
'
'
No
such
thing
—
she
will
make
a
different
man
of
you
.
You
have
been
depressed
by
—
that
early
shock
,
and
the
gap
at
our
own
fireside
—
all
that
we
have
shared
together
,
Norman
.
To
see
you
begin
on
a
new
score
,
with
a
bright
home
of
your
own
,
is
the
best
in
this
world
that
I
could
wish
for
you
,
though
I
shall
live
over
my
own
twenty-two
years
in
thinking
of
you
,
and
that
sweet
little
fairy
.
But
now
go
,
Norman
—
she
will
be
watching
for
you
and
news
of
Margaret
.
Give
her
all
sorts
of
love
from
me
.
'
Norman
fared
better
with
the
uncle
than
he
had
expected
.
Lord
Cosham
,
as
a
philanthropist
,
could
not
,
with
any
consistency
,
set
his
face
against
missions
,
even
when
the
cost
came
so
near
home
;
and
he
knew
that
opposition
made
the
like
intentions
assume
a
heroic
aspect
that
maintained
them
in
greater
force
.
He
therefore
went
over
the
subject
in
a
calm
dispassionate
manner
,
which
exacted
full
and
grateful
consideration
from
the
young
man
.
The
final
compromise
was
,
that
nothing
should
be
settled
for
a
year
,
during
which
Norman
would
complete
his
course
of
study
,
and
the
matter
might
be
more
fully
weighed
.
Mrs.
Arnott
would
probably
return
,
and
bring
experience
and
judgment
,
which
would
,
or
ought
to
,
decide
the
question
—
though
Meta
had
a
secret
fear
that
it
might
render
it
more
complicated
than
ever
.
However
,
the
engagement
and
the
mission
views
had
both
been
treated
so
much
more
favourably
than
could
have
been
hoped
,
that
they
felt
themselves
bound
to
be
patient
and
forbearing
.
As
Meta
said
,
'
If
they
shewed
themselves
wilful
children
,
they
certainly
did
not
deserve
to
be
trusted
anywhere
.
'
Lord
Cosham
made
his
niece
listen
to
a
kind
exhortation
not
to
press
her
influence
towards
a
decision
that
might
be
repented
,
when
too
late
to
be
repaired
,
without
a
degrading
sense
of
failure
—
putting
her
in
mind
of
the
privations
that
would
lose
romance
by
their
pettiness
,
and
which
money
could
not
remedy
;
and
very
sensibly
representing
that
the
effect
of
these
on
temper
and
health
was
to
be
duly
considered
,
as
a
serious
impediment
to
usefulness
.
'
It
would
be
worse
for
him
alone
,
'
said
Meta
.
'
That
is
not
certain
,
'
said
her
uncle
.
'
A
broken-down
wife
is
a
terrible
drag
.
'
'
I
know
it
is
so
,
'
said
Meta
,
firmly
,
'
but
risks
must
be
run
,
and
he
is
willing
to
take
the
chance
.
I
do
not
think
it
can
be
presumption
,
for
,
you
know
,
I
am
strong
;
and
Dr.
May
would
say
if
he
could
not
warrant
me
.
I
fancy
household
work
would
be
more
satisfactory
,
and
less
tiring
,
than
doing
a
season
thoroughly
;
and
I
mean
to
go
through
a
course
of
Finchley
manuals
in
preparation
.
'
'
I
hope
you
know
what
you
are
doing
,
'
sighed
her
uncle
.
'
You
see
it
all
couleur
de
rose
.
'
'
I
think
not
.
It
is
because
it
is
not
couleur
de
rose
that
I
am
so
much
bent
upon
it
.
I
have
had
plenty
of
that
all
my
life
.
I
expect
much
that
will
be
very
disagreeable
and
not
at
all
heroic
;
but
if
I
can
only
make
Norman
think
it
fun
,
that
will
be
one
purpose
answered
.
I
do
believe
he
will
do
his
work
better
for
having
me
,
and
,
at
least
,
I
shall
pay
his
passage
.
'
Her
uncle
shook
his
head
,
but
did
not
try
to
say
any
more
.
George
had
begun
by
loud
exclamations
against
the
project
,
in
which
he
was
vehemently
abetted
by
Tom
,
who
primed
him
with
all
sorts
of
outrageous
abuse
of
the
niggers
and
cannibals
,
who
would
make
Norman
's
coats
out
of
all
shape
,
and
devour
little
Meta
at
a
mouthful
—
predictions
which
Meta
accepted
most
merrily
,
talking
of
herself
so
resignedly
,
as
bound
upon
a
spit
,
and
calling
out
to
be
roasted
slower
and
faster
,
that
she
safely
conducted
off
their
opposition
by
way
of
a
standing
joke
.
As
to
Norman
's
coats
,
she
threatened
to
make
them
herself
,
and
silenced
Tom
for
ever
by
supposing
,
in
malicious
simplicity
,
that
he
must
be
able
to
teach
her
the
most
unexceptionable
cut
.
Flora
kept
her
opinions
to
herself
.
Only
once
,
when
urged
to
remonstrate
,
she
said
,
'
I
could
not
—
I
would
not
.
'
She
was
gently
and
touchingly
considerate
towards
the
lovers
,
silently
but
unobtrusively
obviating
all
that
could
jar
on
their
feelings
,
and
employing
her
exquisite
tact
in
the
kindest
manner
.
She
released
Meta
from
the
expedition
to
Ryde
,
silencing
scruples
on
the
one
hand
,
by
a
suggestion
of
'
poor
Sir
Henry
,
'
and
,
on
the
other
,
by
offering
to
exchange
her
for
Mary
.
The
first
proposal
made
Mary
take
such
a
spring
in
her
chair
,
with
eyes
so
round
,
and
cheeks
so
red
,
and
such
a
shriek
about
Harry
and
the
Bucephalus
,
that
no
one
could
have
borne
to
say
one
word
in
opposition
,
even
if
it
had
not
been
the
opinion
of
the
Council
that
sea
air
would
best
repair
Mary
's
strength
.
Ethel
had
some
private
fears
of
a
scene
,
since
it
was
one
of
Miss
Bracy
's
idiosyncracies
to
be
hurt
whenever
Mary
was
taken
out
of
her
hands
;
and
she
went
to
announce
the
design
,
in
dread
lest
this
shock
should
destroy
the
harmony
that
had
prevailed
for
many
months
;
nay
,
she
almost
believed
,
since
the
loss
of
the
Alcestis
had
been
known
.
She
was
agreeably
surprised
.
Miss
Bracy
thought
Mary
in
need
of
the
change
,
and
discussed
both
her
and
Blanche
in
so
pleasant
and
sensible
a
manner
,
that
Ethel
was
quite
relieved
.
She
partook
in
Mary
's
anticipations
of
pleasure
,
forwarded
her
preparations
,
and
was
delighted
with
her
promise
of
letters
—
promises
that
Mary
bestowed
so
largely
,
in
the
fulness
of
her
heart
,
that
there
were
fears
lest
her
whole
time
should
be
spent
in
writing
.
Her
soft
heart
indulged
in
a
shower
of
tears
when
she
wished
them
all
good-bye
;
and
Ethel
and
Blanche
found
the
house
was
very
empty
without
her
;
but
that
was
only
till
Meta
came
in
from
a
walk
with
Norman
,
and
,
under
the
plea
of
trying
to
supply
Mary
's
place
,
did
the
work
of
five
Maries
,
and
a
great
deal
besides
.
Nothing
could
be
happier
than
Meta
's
visit
,
brightening
the
house
so
that
the
Mays
thought
they
had
never
known
half
her
charms
,
helping
whatever
was
going
on
,
yet
ready
to
play
with
Daisy
,
tell
stories
to
Aubrey
,
hear
Tom
's
confidences
,
talk
to
Margaret
,
read
with
Norman
,
and
teach
Richard
singing
for
his
school-children
.
The
only
vexation
was
,
that
everyone
could
not
always
engross
her
entirely
;
and
Dr.
May
used
to
threaten
that
they
should
never
spare
her
to
that
long-legged
fellow
,
Norman
.
She
had
persuaded
Bellairs
to
go
and
take
care
of
Flora
and
Mary
,
instead
of
the
French
maid
—
a
plan
which
greatly
satisfied
Margaret
,
who
had
never
liked
the
looks
of
Coralie
,
and
which
Meta
held
to
be
a
grand
emancipation
.
She
persuaded
old
nurse
to
teach
her
to
be
useful
,
and
Margaret
used
to
declare
that
she
witnessed
scenes
as
good
as
a
play
in
her
room
,
where
the
little
dextrous
scholar
,
apparently
in
jest
,
but
really
in
sober
earnest
,
wiled
instruction
from
the
old
woman
;
and
made
her
experiments
,
between
smiles
and
blushes
,
and
merrily
glorying
in
results
that
promised
that
she
would
be
a
notable
housewife
.
Whether
it
were
novelty
or
not
,
she
certainly
had
an
aptitude
and
delight
in
domestic
details
,
such
as
Ethel
never
could
attain
;
and
,
as
Dr.
May
said
,
the
one
performed
by
a
little
finger
what
the
other
laboured
at
with
a
great
mind
.
In
the
school-room
,
Meta
was
as
highly
appreciated
.
She
found
an
hour
for
helping
Blanche
in
her
music
,
and
for
giving
,
what
was
still
more
useful
,
an
interest
and
spirit
to
studies
,
where
,
it
must
be
owned
,
poor
good
Mary
had
been
a
dead
weight
.
She
enlivened
Miss
Bracy
so
much
,
and
so
often
contrived
a
walk
or
a
talk
with
her
,
that
the
saucy
Blanche
told
Hector
that
she
thought
Ethel
would
be
quite
second-fiddle
with
Miss
Bracy
.
No
such
thing
.
Miss
Bracy
's
great
delight
was
in
having
a
listener
for
her
enthusiasm
about
Miss
Ethel
.
She
had
been
lately
having
a
correspondence
with
a
former
school-fellow
,
who
was
governess
in
a
family
less
considerate
than
the
Mays
,
and
who
poured
out
,
in
her
letters
,
feelings
much
like
those
with
which
Miss
Bracy
had
begun
.
Nothing
could
be
more
salutary
than
to
find
herself
repeating
all
Ethel
's
pieces
of
advice
;
and
,
one
day
,
when
her
friend
had
been
more
distressed
than
usual
,
she
called
Ethel
herself
,
to
consult
on
her
answer
,
owning
how
much
she
was
reminded
of
herself
.
'
Indeed
,
'
she
added
,
'
I
am
afraid
it
would
only
tease
you
to
hear
how
much
I
am
indebted
to
your
decision
and
kindness
—
'
'
Nay
,
'
said
Ethel
,
laughing
her
awkward
laugh
.
'
You
have
often
had
to
forget
my
savage
ways
.
'
'
Pray
do
n't
say
that
—
'
'
I
think
,
'
said
Ethel
,
breaking
in
,
'
the
philosophy
is
this
:
I
believe
that
it
is
a
trying
life
.
I
know
teaching
takes
a
great
deal
out
of
one
;
and
loneliness
may
cause
tendencies
to
dwell
on
fancied
slights
in
trifles
,
that
might
otherwise
be
hurried
over
.
But
I
think
the
thing
is
,
to
pass
them
over
,
and
make
a
conscience
of
turning
one
's
mind
to
something
fresh
—
'
'
As
you
made
me
do
,
when
you
brought
me
amusing
books
,
and
taught
me
botany
—
'
'
And
,
still
more
,
when
you
took
to
working
for
the
Infant
School
.
Yes
,
I
think
the
way
to
be
happy
and
useful
is
to
get
up
many
interests
,
so
as
to
be
fresh
and
vigorous
,
and
think
not
at
all
of
personalities
.
There
's
a
truism
!
'
'
Very
true
,
though
,
'
said
Miss
Bracy
.
'
Indeed
,
all
your
kindness
and
consideration
would
never
have
done
me
half
the
good
they
have
,
dear
Miss
Ethel
,
if
you
had
not
taught
me
that
referring
all
to
one
's
own
feelings
and
self
is
the
way
to
be
unhappy
.
'
'
Just
so
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
It
is
the
surest
way
for
anyone
to
be
miserable
.
'
'
If
I
could
only
persuade
poor
dear
Ellen
to
think
that
even
if
a
slight
were
real
,
it
ought
to
be
borne
forgivingly
,
and
not
brooded
over
.
Ah
!
you
are
laughing
;
perhaps
you
have
said
the
same
of
me
.
'
'
You
would
forgive
it
now
,
I
think
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
I
never
thought
I
did
not
forgive
.
I
did
not
see
that
brooding
over
vexations
was
not
pardoning
them
.
I
have
told
her
so
now
;
and
,
oh
!
if
she
could
but
have
seen
how
true
sorrows
are
borne
here
,
she
would
be
cured
,
like
me
,
of
making
imaginary
ones
.
'
'
None
could
help
being
better
for
living
with
papa
,
'
said
Ethel
.
Ethel
made
Miss
Bracy
happy
by
a
kiss
before
she
left
her
.
It
was
a
cheering
belief
that
,
whatever
the
future
trials
of
her
life
might
be
,
the
gentle
little
lady
would
meet
them
with
a
healthier
mind
,
more
vigorous
in
overlooking
troubles
,
and
without
punctilious
sensitiveness
on
the
look-out
for
affronts
.
"
Believing
all
things
,
bearing
all
things
,
hoping
all
things
,
enduring
all
things
,
"
would
be
to
her
the
true
secret
of
serenity
of
spirits
.
Ethel
might
not
have
been
blameless
or
consistent
in
her
dealings
in
this
difficult
intercourse
,
but
her
kind
heart
,
upright
intention
,
and
force
of
character
,
had
influence
far
beyond
her
own
perception
.
Indeed
,
she
knew
not
that
she
had
personal
influence
at
all
,
but
went
on
in
her
own
straight-forward
humility
.
CHAPTER
XXIV
.
'
Enough
of
foresight
sad
,
too
much
Of
retrospect
have
I
;
And
well
for
me
,
that
I
,
sometimes
,
Can
put
those
feelings
by
.
'
'
There
speaks
the
man
we
knew
of
yore
,
'
Well
pleased
,
I
hear
them
say
;
'
Such
was
he
,
in
his
lighter
moods
,
Before
our
heads
were
grey
.
Buoyant
he
was
in
spirit
,
quick
Of
fancy
,
light
of
heart
;
And
care
,
and
time
,
and
change
have
left
Untouch
'd
his
better
part
.
'
Southey
.
Etheldred
May
and
Meta
Rivers
were
together
in
the
drawing-room
.
The
time-piece
pointed
towards
ten
o'clock
,
but
the
tea-things
were
on
the
table
,
prepared
for
a
meal
,
the
lamp
shone
with
a
sort
of
consciousness
,
and
Ethel
moved
restelessly
about
,
sometimes
settling
her
tea
equipage
,
sometimes
putting
away
a
stray
book
,
or
resorting
by
turns
to
her
book
,
or
to
work
a
red
and
gold
scroll
on
coarse
canvas
,
on
the
other
end
of
which
Meta
was
employed
.
'
Nervous
,
Ethel
?
'
said
Meta
,
looking
up
with
a
merry
provoking
smile
,
knowing
how
much
the
word
would
displease
.
'
That
is
for
you
,
'
retorted
Ethel
,
preferring
to
carry
the
war
into
the
enemy
's
quarters
.
'
What
,
do
n't
you
know
that
prudent
people
say
that
your
fate
depends
on
her
report
?
'
'
At
least
,
'
said
Meta
,
laughing
;
'
she
is
a
living
instance
that
everyone
is
not
eaten
up
,
and
we
shall
see
if
she
fulfils
Tom
's
prediction
,
of
being
tattooed
,
or
of
having
a
slice
out
of
the
fattest
part
of
her
cheek
.
'
'
I
know
very
well
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
the
worse
she
said
it
would
be
,
the
more
you
would
go
.
'
'
Not
quite
that
,
'
said
Meta
,
blushing
,
and
looking
down
.
'
Come
!
do
n't
be
deceitful
!
'
said
Ethel
.
'
You
know
very
well
that
you
are
still
more
bent
on
it
than
you
were
last
year
.
'
'
To
be
sure
I
am
!
'
said
Meta
,
looking
up
with
a
sudden
beamy
flash
of
her
dark
eyes
.
'
Norman
and
I
know
each
other
so
much
better
now
,
'
she
added
,
rather
falteringly
.
'
Aye
!
I
know
you
are
ready
to
go
through
thick
and
thin
,
and
that
is
why
I
give
my
consent
and
approbation
.
You
are
not
to
be
stopped
for
nonsense
.
'
'
Not
for
nonsense
,
certainly
,
'
said
Meta
,
'
but
—
'
and
her
voice
became
tremulous
—
'
if
Dr.
May
deliberately
said
it
would
be
wrong
,
and
that
I
should
be
an
encumbrance
and
perplexity
,
I
am
making
up
my
mind
to
the
chance
.
'
'
But
what
would
you
do
?
'
asked
Ethel
.
'
I
do
n't
know
.
You
should
not
ask
such
questions
,
Ethel
.
'
'
Well
!
it
wo
n't
happen
,
so
it
is
no
use
to
talk
about
it
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
Fancy
my
having
made
you
cry
!
'
'
Very
silly
of
me
,
'
said
Meta
,
brightening
and
laughing
,
but
sighing
.
'
I
am
only
afraid
Mrs.
Arnott
may
think
me
individually
unfit
for
the
kind
of
life
,
as
if
I
could
not
do
what
other
women
can
.
Do
I
look
so
?
'
'
You
look
as
if
you
were
meant
to
be
put
under
a
glass
case
!
'
said
Ethel
,
surveying
the
little
elegant
figure
,
whose
great
characteristic
was
a
look
of
exquisite
finish
,
not
only
in
the
features
and
colouring
,
the
turn
of
the
head
,
and
the
shape
of
the
small
rosy-tipped
fingers
,
but
in
everything
she
wore
,
from
the
braids
of
black
silk
hair
,
to
the
little
shoe
on
her
foot
,
and
even
in
the
very
lightness
and
gaiety
of
her
movements
.
'
Oh
!
Ethel
!
'
cried
Meta
,
springing
up
in
dismay
,
and
looking
at
herself
in
the
glass
.
'
What
is
the
matter
with
me
?
Do
tell
me
!
'
'
You
'll
never
get
rid
of
it
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
unless
you
get
yourself
tattooed
!
Even
separation
from
Bellairs
has
n't
answered
.
And
,
after
all
,
I
do
n't
think
it
would
be
any
satisfaction
to
Norman
,
or
papa
.
I
assure
you
,
Meta
,
whatever
you
may
think
of
it
,
it
is
not
so
much
bother
to
be
prettier
than
needful
,
as
it
is
to
be
uglier
than
needful
.
'
'
What
is
needful
?
'
said
Meta
,
much
amused
.
'
I
suppose
to
be
like
Mary
,
so
that
nobody
should
take
notice
of
one
,
but
that
one
's
own
people
may
have
the
satisfaction
of
saying
,
"
she
is
pleasing
,
"
or
"
she
is
in
good
looks
.
"
I
think
Gertrude
will
come
to
that
.
That
's
one
comfort
.
'
'
That
is
your
own
case
,
Ethel
.
I
have
heard
those
very
things
said
of
you
.
'
'
Of
my
hatchet
face
!
'
said
Ethel
,
contemptuously
.
'
Some
one
must
have
been
desperately
bent
on
flattering
the
Member
's
family
.
'
'
I
could
repeat
more
,
'
said
Meta
,
'
if
I
were
to
go
back
to
the
Commemoration
,
and
to
the
day
you
went
home
.
'
Ethel
crimsoned
,
and
made
a
sign
with
her
hand
,
exclaiming
,
'
Hark
!
'
'
It
went
past
.
'
'
It
was
the
omnibus
.
She
must
be
walking
down
!
'
Ethel
breathed
short
,
and
wandered
aimlessly
about
—
Meta
put
her
arm
round
her
waist
.
'
I
did
not
think
this
would
be
so
much
to
you
,
'
she
said
.
'
O
Meta
,
it
seems
like
dear
mamma
coming
to
see
how
we
have
been
going
on
.
And
then
papa
!
I
wish
I
had
gone
up
to
the
station
with
him
.
'
'
He
has
Richard
.
'
'
Aye
,
but
I
am
afraid
Margaret
is
listening
and
will
be
restless
,
and
have
a
palpitation
,
and
I
ca
n't
go
and
see
,
or
I
shall
disturb
her
.
O
,
I
wish
it
were
over
.
'
Meta
stroked
her
,
and
soothed
her
,
and
assured
her
that
all
would
do
well
,
and
presently
they
heard
the
click
of
the
door
.
Ethel
flew
into
the
hall
,
where
she
stopped
short
,
her
heart
beating
high
at
the
sound
of
overpoweringly
familiar
accents
.
She
was
almost
relieved
by
detecting
otherwise
little
resemblance
;
the
height
was
nearly
the
same
,
but
there
was
not
the
plump
softness
of
outline
.
Mrs.
Arnott
was
small
,
thin
,
brisk
and
active
,
with
a
vivacious
countenance
,
once
evidently
very
fair
and
pretty
,
but
aged
and
worn
by
toil
,
not
trouble
,
for
the
furrows
were
the
traces
of
smiles
around
her
merry
mouth
,
and
beautiful
blue
eyes
,
that
had
a
tendency
to
laugh
and
cry
both
at
once
.
Dr.
May
,
who
had
led
her
into
the
light
,
seemed
to
be
looking
her
all
over
,
while
Richard
was
taking
her
wraps
from
her
,
and
Ethel
tried
to
encourage
herself
to
go
forward
.
'
Aye
!
said
the
Doctor
,
'
kissing
her
.
'
I
see
you
Flora
now
.
I
have
found
you
again
.
'
'
I
found
you
as
soon
as
I
heard
your
voice
,
Richard
,
'
said
she
.
'
And
now
for
the
bairnies
.
'
'
Here
is
one
,
but
there
is
but
a
poor
show
forthcoming
to-night
.
Do
you
know
her
?
'
There
was
an
unspeakable
joy
in
being
pressed
in
aunt
Flora
's
arms
,
like
a
returning
beam
from
the
sunshine
of
seven
years
ago
.
'
This
must
be
Ethel
!
My
dear
,
how
you
tower
above
me
—
you
that
I
left
in
arms
!
And
,
'
as
she
advanced
into
the
drawing-room
—
'
why
,
surely
this
is
not
Margaret
.
'
'
A
Margaret
—
not
the
Margaret
.
I
wish
I
were
,
'
said
Meta
,
as
Mrs.
Arnott
stood
with
an
arm
on
her
shoulder
,
in
the
midst
of
an
embrace
,
Dr.
May
enjoying
her
perplexity
and
Meta
's
blushes
.
'
See
,
Flora
,
these
black
locks
never
belonged
to
Calton
Hill
daisies
,
yet
a
daisy
of
my
own
she
is
—
Ca
n't
you
guess
?
'
'
Miss
Rivers
!
'
exclaimed
Mrs.
Arnott
;
and
though
she
kissed
her
cordially
,
Meta
suspected
a
little
doubt
and
disappointment
.
'
Yes
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
We
change
Mary
for
this
little
woman
as
Flora
's
lady-in-waiting
,
when
she
and
her
husband
go
out
yachtting
and
shooting
.
'
'
Flora
and
her
husband
!
There
's
a
marvellous
sound
!
Where
are
they
?
'
'
They
are
staying
at
Eccleswood
Castle
,
'
said
Ethel
;
'
and
Mary
with
them
.
They
would
have
been
at
home
to
receive
you
,
but
your
note
yesterday
took
us
all
by
surprise
.
Norman
is
away
too
,
at
a
College
meeting
.
'
'
And
Margaret
—
my
Margaret
!
Does
not
she
come
down-stairs
?
'
'
Ah
!
poor
dear
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
'
she
has
not
been
in
this
room
since
that
sultry
day
in
July
.
'
'
The
eighteenth
,
'
said
Richard
;
the
precision
of
the
date
marking
but
too
well
the
consciousness
that
it
was
an
epoch
.
'
We
can
keep
her
quieter
up-stairs
,
'
said
Dr.
May
;
'
but
you
must
not
see
her
to-night
.
She
will
enjoy
you
very
much
to-morrow
;
but
excitement
at
night
always
does
her
harm
,
so
we
put
her
to
bed
,
and
told
her
to
think
about
no
one
.
'
Mrs.
Arnott
looked
at
him
as
if
longing
,
but
dreading
,
to
ask
further
,
and
allowed
her
nephew
and
nice
to
seat
her
at
the
table
,
and
attend
to
her
wants
,
before
she
spoke
again
.
'
Then
the
babies
.
'
'
We
do
n't
keep
babies
,
Gertrude
would
tell
you
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
There
are
three
great
creatures
,
whom
Ethel
barbarously
ordered
off
to
bed
.
Ethel
is
master
here
,
you
must
know
,
Flora
—
we
all
mind
what
she
says
.
'
'
O
papa
,
'
pleaded
Ethel
,
distressed
,
'
you
know
it
was
because
I
thought
numbers
might
be
oppressive
.
'
'
I
never
dispute
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
We
bow
to
a
beneficial
despotism
,
and
never
rebel
,
do
we
,
Meta
?
'
Seeing
that
Ethel
took
the
imputation
to
heart
,
Meta
rejoined
.
'
You
are
making
Mrs.
Arnott
think
her
the
strong
minded
woman
of
the
family
,
who
winds
up
the
clock
and
cuts
the
bread
.
'
'
No
;
that
she
makes
you
do
,
when
the
boys
are
away
.
'
'
Of
course
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
I
ca
n't
be
vituperated
about
hunches
of
bread
.
I
have
quite
enough
to
bear
on
the
score
of
tea
.
'
'
Your
tea
is
very
good
,
'
said
Richard
.
'
See
how
they
propitiate
her
,
'
maliciously
observed
the
Doctor
.
'
Not
at
all
;
it
is
Richard
standing
up
for
his
pupil
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
It
is
all
very
well
now
,
with
people
who
know
the
capacities
of
mortal
tea
;
but
the
boys
expect
it
to
last
from
seven
o'clock
to
ten
,
through
an
unlimited
number
of
cups
,
till
I
have
announced
that
a
teapot
must
be
carved
on
my
tombstone
,
with
an
epitaph
,
"
Died
of
unreasonable
requirements
.
"
'
Mrs.
Arnott
looked
from
one
to
the
other
,
amused
,
observant
,
and
perceiving
that
they
were
all
under
that
form
of
shyness
,
which
brings
up
family
wit
to
hide
embarrassment
or
emotion
.
'
Is
Harry
one
of
these
unreasonable
boys
?
'
she
asked
.
'
My
dear
Harry
—
I
presume
Ethel
has
not
sent
him
to
bed
.
Is
there
any
hope
of
my
seeing
him
?
'
'
Great
hope
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
He
has
been
in
the
Baltic
fleet
,
a
pretty
little
summer
trip
,
from
which
we
expect
him
to
return
any
day
.
My
old
Lion
!
I
am
glad
you
had
him
for
a
little
while
,
Flora
.
'
'
Dear
fellow
!
his
only
fault
was
being
homesick
,
and
making
me
catch
the
infection
.
'
'
I
am
glad
you
did
not
put
off
your
coming
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
gravely
.
'
You
are
in
time
for
the
Consecration
,
'
said
Richard
.
'
Ah
!
Cocksmoor
!
When
will
it
take
place
?
'
'
Oh
St.
Andrew
's
day
.
It
is
St.
Andrew
's
Church
,
and
the
Bishop
fixed
the
day
,
otherwise
it
is
a
disappointment
that
Hector
cannot
be
present
.
'
'
Hector
?
'
'
Hector
Ernescliffe
—
poor
Alan
's
brother
,
whom
we
do
n't
well
know
from
ourselves
.
'
'
And
you
are
Curate
,
Ritchie
?
'
said
his
aunt
,
'
if
I
may
still
call
you
so
.
You
are
not
a
bit
altered
from
the
mouse
you
used
to
be
.
'
'
Church
mouse
to
Cocksmoor
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
'
nearly
as
poor
.
We
are
to
invest
his
patrimony
in
a
parsonage
,
as
soon
as
our
architect
in
ordinary
can
find
time
for
it
.
Spencer
—
you
remember
him
?
'
'
I
remember
how
you
and
he
used
to
be
inseparable
!
And
he
has
settled
down
,
at
last
,
by
your
side
?
'
'
The
two
old
Doctors
hope
to
bolster
each
other
up
till
Mr.
Tom
comes
down
with
modern
science
in
full
force
.
That
boy
will
do
great
things
—
he
has
as
clear
a
head
as
I
ever
knew
.
'
'
And
more
—
'
said
Ethel
.
'
Aye
,
as
sound
a
heart
.
I
must
find
you
his
tutor
's
letter
,
Flora
.
They
have
had
a
row
in
his
tutor
's
house
at
Eton
,
and
our
boys
made
a
gallant
stand
for
the
right
,
Tom
especially
,
guarding
the
little
fellows
,
in
a
way
that
does
one
good
to
hear
of
.
'
'
"
I
must
express
my
strong
sense
of
gratitude
for
his
truth
,
uprightness
,
and
moral
courage
,
"
'
quoted
Meta
.
'
Ah
,
ha
!
you
have
learnt
it
by
heart
!
I
know
you
copied
it
out
for
Norman
,
who
has
the
best
right
to
rejoice
.
'
'
You
have
a
set
of
children
to
be
proud
of
,
Richard
!
'
exclaimed
Mrs.
Arnott
.
'
To
be
surprised
at
—
to
be
thankful
for
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
almost
inarticulately
.
To
see
her
father
so
happy
with
Mrs.
Arnott
necessarily
drew
Ethel
's
heart
towards
her
;
and
,
when
they
had
bidden
him
good
night
,
the
aunt
instantly
assumed
a
caressing
confidence
towards
Ethel
,
particularly
comfortable
to
one
consciously
backward
and
awkward
,
and
making
her
feel
as
intimate
as
if
the
whole
space
of
her
rational
life
had
not
elapsed
since
their
last
meeting
.
'
Must
you
go
,
my
dear
?
'
said
her
aunt
,
detaining
her
over
her
fire
.
'
I
ca
n't
tell
how
to
spare
you
.
I
want
to
hear
of
your
dear
father
.
He
looks
aged
and
thin
,
Ethel
,
and
yet
that
sweet
expression
is
the
same
as
ever
.
Is
he
very
anxious
about
poor
Margaret
?
'
'
Not
exactly
anxious
,
'
said
Ethel
,
mournfully
—
'
there
is
not
much
room
for
that
.
'
'
My
dear
Ethel
—
you
do
n't
mean
?
—
I
thought
—
'
'
I
suppose
we
ought
to
have
written
more
fully
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
but
it
has
been
very
gradual
,
and
we
never
say
it
to
ourselves
.
She
is
as
bright
,
and
happy
,
and
comfortable
as
ever
,
in
general
,
and
,
perhaps
,
may
be
so
for
a
long
time
yet
,
but
each
attack
weakens
her
.
'
'
What
kind
of
attack
?
'
'
Faintness
—
sinking
.
It
is
suspended
action
of
the
heart
.
The
injury
to
the
spine
deranged
the
system
,
and
then
the
long
suspense
,
and
the
shock
—
It
is
not
one
thing
more
than
another
,
but
it
must
go
on
.
Dr.
Spencer
will
tell
you
.
You
wo
n't
ask
papa
too
much
about
it
?
'
'
No
,
indeed
.
And
he
bears
it
—
'
'
He
bears
everything
.
Strength
comes
up
out
of
his
great
lovingness
.
But
,
oh
!
I
sometimes
long
that
he
may
never
have
any
more
sorrows
.
'
'
My
poor
child
!
'
said
Mrs.
Arnott
,
putting
her
arm
round
her
niece
's
waist
.
Ethel
rested
her
head
on
her
shoulder
.
'
Aunt
Flora
!
aunt
Flora
!
If
any
words
could
tell
what
Margaret
has
been
ever
since
we
were
left
.
O
,
do
n't
make
me
talk
or
think
of
ourselves
without
her
.
It
is
wrong
to
wish
.
And
when
you
see
her
,
that
dear
face
of
her
's
will
make
you
happy
in
the
present
.
Then
,
'
added
Ethel
,
not
able
to
leave
off
with
such
a
subject
,
'
you
have
our
Norman
to
see
.
'
'
Ah
!
Norman
's
project
is
too
delightful
to
us
;
but
I
fear
what
it
may
be
to
your
father
.
'
'
He
gives
dear
Norman
,
as
his
most
precious
gift
,
the
flower
and
pride
of
us
all
.
'
'
But
,
Ethel
,
I
am
quite
frightened
at
Miss
Rivers
's
looks
.
Is
it
possible
that
—
'
'
Aunt
Flora
,
'
broke
in
Ethel
,
'
do
n't
say
a
word
against
it
.
The
choicest
goods
wear
the
best
;
and
whatever
woman
can
do
,
Meta
Rivers
can
.
Norman
is
a
great
tall
fellow
,
as
clever
as
possible
,
but
perfectly
feckless
.
If
you
had
him
there
alone
,
he
would
be
a
bee
without
a
queen
—
'
'
Well
,
but
—
'
'
Listen
,
'
continued
Ethel
.
'
Meta
is
a
concentration
of
spirit
and
energy
,
delights
in
practical
matters
,
is
twice
the
housewife
I
am
,
and
does
all
like
an
accomplishment
.
Between
them
,
they
will
make
a
noble
missionary
—
'
'
But
she
looks
—
'
'
Hush
,
'
continued
the
niece
.
You
will
think
me
domineering
;
but
please
do
n't
give
any
judgment
without
seeing
;
for
they
look
to
you
as
an
arbitrator
,
and
casual
words
will
weigh
.
'
'
Thank
you
,
Ethel
;
perhaps
you
are
right
.
When
does
he
think
of
coming
out
?
'
'
When
he
is
ordained
—
some
time
next
year
.
'
'
Does
she
live
with
you
?
'
'
I
suppose
she
lives
with
Flora
;
but
we
always
manage
to
get
her
when
Norman
is
at
home
.
'
'
You
have
told
me
nothing
of
Flora
or
Mary
.
'
'
I
have
little
real
to
tell
.
Good
old
Mary
!
I
dare
say
Harry
talked
to
you
plentifully
of
her
.
She
is
a
—
a
nice
old
darling
,
'
said
Ethel
,
fondly
.
'
We
want
her
again
very
much
,
and
did
not
quite
bargain
for
the
succession
of
smart
visits
that
she
has
been
paying
.
'
'
With
Flora
?
'
'
Yes
.
Unluckily
George
Rivers
has
taken
an
aversion
to
the
Grange
,
and
I
have
not
seen
Flora
this
whole
year
.
'
Ethel
stopped
short
,
and
said
that
she
must
not
keep
Margaret
expecting
her
.
Perhaps
her
aunt
guessed
that
she
had
touched
the
true
chord
of
anxiety
.
The
morning
brought
a
cheering
account
of
Margaret
;
and
Mrs.
Arnott
was
to
see
her
directly
after
breakfast
.
In
the
meantime
,
the
firm
limbs
,
blue
eyes
,
and
rosy
face
of
Gertrude
seemed
a
fair
representation
of
the
little
bridesmaid
,
whom
she
remembered
.
A
very
different
niece
did
she
find
up-stairs
,
though
the
smiling
,
overflowing
eyes
,
and
the
fond
,
eager
look
of
recognition
,
as
if
asking
to
be
taken
to
her
bosom
,
had
in
them
all
the
familiarity
of
old
tenderness
.
'
Auntie
!
dear
auntie
!
that
you
should
have
come
back
to
me
again
!
'
Mrs.
Arnott
fondly
caressed
her
,
but
could
not
speak
at
first
,
for
even
her
conversation
with
Ethel
had
not
prepared
her
for
so
wasted
,
and
broken
an
appearance
.
Dr.
May
spoke
briskly
of
Margaret
's
having
behaved
very
well
,
and
slept
like
a
good
child
,
told
Margaret
where
he
had
to
go
that
morning
,
and
pointed
out
to
Mrs.
Arnott
some
relics
of
herself
still
remaining
;
but
the
nervous
tremulousness
of
manner
did
not
much
comfort
her
,
although
Margaret
answered
cheerfully
.
Nothing
was
so
effectual
in
composing
the
aunt
,
as
Aubrey
's
coming
headlong
in
to
announce
the
gig
,
and
to
display
to
Margaret
his
last
design
for
a
Cathedral
—
drawing
plans
being
just
now
his
favourite
sport
.
'
Architecture
is
all
our
rage
at
present
,
'
said
Margaret
,
as
her
father
hurried
away
.
'
I
am
so
glad
to
have
come
in
for
the
Consecration
!
'
said
Mrs.
Arnott
,
following
her
niece
's
lead
.
'
Is
that
a
model
of
the
Church
?
'
'
Oh
!
yes
,
'
cried
Margaret
,
lighting
up
.
'
Richard
made
it
for
me
.
'
'
May
I
shew
it
to
aunt
Flora
?
'
said
Aubrey
.
'
Bring
it
here
,
if
you
can
lift
it
,
'
said
Margaret
;
and
,
aunt
Flora
helping
,
the
great
cumbersome
thing
was
placed
beside
her
,
whilst
she
smiled
and
welcomed
it
like
a
child
,
and
began
an
eager
exhibition
.
Was
it
not
a
beautiful
little
pierced
spire
?
—
that
was
an
extravagance
of
Dr.
Spencer
's
own
.
Papa
said
he
could
not
ask
Captain
Gordon
to
sanction
it
—
the
model
did
it
no
justice
,
but
it
was
so
very
beautiful
in
the
rich
creamy
stone
rising
up
on
the
moor
,
and
the
blue
sky
looking
through
,
and
it
caught
the
sunset
lights
so
beautifully
.
So
animated
was
her
description
,
that
Mrs.
Arnott
could
not
help
asking
,
'
Why
,
my
dear
,
when
have
you
seen
it
?
'
'
Never
,
'
said
Margaret
,
with
her
sweet
smile
.
'
I
have
never
seen
Cocksmoor
;
but
Dr.
Spencer
and
Meta
are
always
sketching
it
for
me
,
and
Ethel
would
not
let
an
effect
pass
without
telling
me
.
I
shall
hear
how
it
strikes
you
next
.
'
'
I
hope
to
see
it
by-and-by
.
What
a
comfortable
deep
porch
!
If
we
could
build
such
Churches
in
the
Colonies
,
Margaret
!
'
'
See
what
little
Meta
will
do
for
you
!
Yes
,
we
had
the
porch
deep
for
a
shelter
—
that
is
copied
from
the
west-door
of
the
Minster
,
and
is
it
not
a
fine
high-pitched
roof
?
John
Taylor
,
who
is
to
be
clerk
,
could
not
understand
its
being
open
;
he
said
,
when
he
saw
the
timbers
,
that
a
man
and
his
family
might
live
up
among
them
.
They
are
noble
oak
beams
;
we
would
not
have
any
sham
—
here
Aubrey
,
take
off
the
roof
,
and
auntie
will
see
the
shape
.
'
'
Like
the
ribs
of
a
ship
,
'
explained
Aubrey
,
unconscious
that
the
meaning
was
deeper
than
his
sister
could
express
,
and
he
continued
:
'
Such
fine
oak
beams
!
I
rode
with
Dr.
Spencer
one
day
last
year
to
choose
them
.
It
is
a
two-aisled
Church
,
you
see
,
that
a
third
may
be
added
.
'
Ethel
came
up
as
Aubrey
began
to
absorb
the
conversation
.
'
Lessons
,
Aubrey
,
'
she
said
.
'
So
,
Margaret
,
you
are
over
your
dear
model
?
'
'
Not
forestalling
you
too
much
I
hope
,
Ethel
,
dear
,
'
said
Margaret
;
'
as
you
will
shew
her
the
Church
itself
.
'
'
You
have
the
best
right
,
'
said
Ethel
;
'
but
come
,
Aubrey
,
we
must
not
dawdle
.
'
'
I
will
shew
you
the
stones
I
laid
myself
,
aunt
Flora
,
'
said
Aubrey
,
running
off
without
much
reluctance
.
'
Ethel
has
him
in
excellent
order
,
'
said
Mrs.
Arnott
.
'
That
she
has
;
she
brings
him
on
beautifully
,
and
makes
him
enjoy
it
.
She
teaches
him
arithmetic
in
some
wonderful
scientific
way
that
nobody
can
understand
but
Norman
,
and
he
not
the
details
;
but
he
says
it
is
all
coming
right
,
and
will
make
him
a
capital
mathematical
scholar
,
though
he
cannot
add
up
pounds
shillings
and
pence
.
'
I
expected
to
be
struck
with
Ethel
,
'
said
Mrs.
Arnott
;
'
and
—
'
'
Well
,
'
said
Margaret
,
waiting
.
'
Yes
,
she
does
exceed
my
expectations
.
There
is
something
curiously
winning
in
that
quaint
,
quick
,
decisive
manner
of
hers
.
There
is
so
much
soul
in
the
least
thing
she
does
,
as
if
she
could
not
be
indifferent
for
a
moment
.
'
'
Exactly
—
exactly
so
,
'
said
Margaret
,
delighted
.
'
It
is
really
doing
everything
with
all
her
might
.
Little
,
simple
,
everyday
matters
did
not
come
naturally
to
her
as
to
other
people
,
and
the
having
had
to
make
them
duties
has
taught
her
to
do
them
with
that
earnest
manner
,
as
if
there
were
a
right
and
wrong
to
her
in
each
little
mechanical
household
office
.
'
'
Harry
described
her
to
me
thus
,
'
said
Mrs.
Arnott
,
smiling
:
'
"
As
to
Ethel
,
she
is
an
odd
fish
;
but
Cocksmoor
will
make
a
woman
of
her
after
all
.
"
'
'
Quite
true
!
'
cried
Margaret
.
'
I
should
not
have
thought
Harry
had
so
much
discernment
in
those
days
.
Cocksmoor
gave
the
stimulus
,
and
made
Ethel
what
she
is
.
Look
there
—
over
the
mantel-piece
,
are
the
designs
for
the
painted
glass
,
all
gifts
,
except
the
East
window
.
That
one
of
St.
Andrew
introducing
the
lad
with
the
loaves
and
fishes
is
Ethel
's
window
.
It
is
the
produce
of
the
hoard
she
began
this
time
seven
years
,
when
she
had
but
one
sovereign
in
the
world
.
She
kept
steadily
on
with
it
,
spending
nothing
on
herself
that
she
could
avoid
,
always
intending
it
for
the
Church
,
and
it
was
just
enough
to
pay
for
this
window
.
'
'
Most
suitable
,
'
said
Mrs.
Arnott
.
'
Yes
;
Mr.
Wilmot
and
I
persuaded
her
into
it
;
but
I
do
not
think
she
would
have
allowed
it
,
if
she
had
seen
the
application
we
made
of
it
—
the
gift
of
her
girlhood
blessed
and
extended
.
Dear
King
Etheldred
,
it
is
the
only
time
I
ever
cheated
her
.
'
'
This
is
a
beautiful
east
window
.
And
this
little
one
—
St.
Margaret
I
see
.
'
'
Ah
!
papa
would
not
be
denied
choosing
that
for
his
subject
.
We
reproached
him
with
legendary
saints
,
and
overwhelmed
him
with
antiquarianism
,
to
shew
that
the
Margaret
of
the
dragon
was
not
the
Margaret
of
the
daisy
;
but
he
would
have
it
;
and
said
we
might
thank
him
for
not
setting
his
heart
on
St.
Etheldreda
.
'
'
This
one
?
'
'
That
is
mine
,
'
said
Margaret
,
very
low
;
and
her
aunt
abstained
from
remark
,
though
unable
to
look
,
without
tears
,
at
the
ship
of
the
Apostles
,
the
calming
of
the
storm
,
and
the
scroll
,
with
the
verse
—
'
He
bringeth
them
unto
the
haven
where
they
would
be
.
'
Beneath
were
the
initials
,
'
A
.
H
.
E
.
,
'
and
the
date
of
the
year
,
the
only
memorials
of
the
founder
.
Margaret
next
drew
attention
to
St.
Andrew
with
his
Cross
—
Meta
's
gift
.
'
And
,
besides
,
'
she
said
,
'
George
Rivers
made
us
a
beautiful
present
,
which
Meta
hunted
up
.
Old
Mr.
Rivers
,
knowing
no
better
,
once
bought
all
the
beautiful
carved
fittings
of
a
Chapel
in
France
,
meaning
to
fit
up
a
library
with
them
;
but
,
happily
,
he
never
did
,
and
a
happy
notion
came
into
Meta
's
head
,
so
she
found
them
out
,
and
Dr.
Spencer
has
adapted
them
,
and
set
them
all
to
rights
;
and
they
are
most
exquisite
.
You
never
saw
such
foliage
.
'
Thus
Margaret
proceeded
with
the
description
of
everything
in
the
Church
,
and
all
the
little
adventures
of
the
building
,
as
if
she
could
not
turn
away
from
the
subject
;
and
her
aunt
listened
and
wondered
,
and
,
when
called
away
,
that
Margaret
might
rest
before
nurse
came
to
dress
her
,
she
expressed
her
wonder
to
Meta
.
'
Yes
,
'
was
the
answer
;
'
it
is
her
chief
occupation
and
interest
.
I
do
not
mean
that
she
has
not
always
her
own
dear
full
sympathy
for
everyone
's
concerns
,
but
Cocksmoor
is
her
concern
,
almost
more
than
even
Ethel
's
.
I
think
she
could
chronicle
every
stage
in
the
building
better
than
Dr.
Spencer
himself
,
and
it
is
her
daily
delight
to
hear
his
histories
of
his
progress
.
And
not
only
with
the
Church
but
the
people
;
she
knows
all
about
every
family
;
Richard
and
Ethel
tell
her
all
their
news
;
she
talks
over
the
school
with
the
mistress
every
Sunday
,
and
you
cannot
think
what
a
feeling
there
is
for
her
at
Cocksmoor
.
A
kind
message
from
Miss
May
has
an
effect
that
the
active
workers
cannot
always
produce
.
'
Mrs.
Arnott
saw
that
Meta
was
right
,
when
,
in
the
afternoon
,
she
walked
,
with
her
nieces
,
to
see
Cocksmoor
.
It
was
not
a
desolate
sight
as
in
old
times
,
for
the
fair
edifice
,
rising
on
the
slope
,
gave
an
air
of
protection
to
the
cottages
,
which-seemed
now
to
have
a
centre
of
unity
,
instead
of
lying
forlorn
and
scattered
.
Nor
were
they
as
wretched
in
themselves
,
for
the
impulse
of
civilization
had
caused
windows
to
be
mended
and
railings
to
be
tidied
,
and
Richard
promoted
,
to
the
utmost
,
cottage
gardening
,
so
that
,
though
there
was
an
air
of
poverty
,
there
was
no
longer
an
appearance
of
reckless
destitution
and
hopeless
neglect
.
In
the
cottages
,
Mrs.
Taylor
had
not
entirely
ceased
to
speak
with
a
piteous
voice
,
even
though
she
told
of
the
well-doing
of
her
girls
at
service
;
but
Granny
Hall
's
merry
content
had
in
it
something
now
of
principle
,
and
Sam
had
married
a
young
Fordholm
wife
,
who
promised
to
be
a
pattern
for
Cocksmoor
.
Everyone
asked
after
Miss
May
,
with
a
tenderness
and
affection
that
Mrs.
Arnott
well
appreciated
;
and
when
they
went
into
the
large
fresh
school
,
where
Richard
was
hearing
a
class
,
Cherry
Elwood
looked
quite
cheered
and
enlivened
by
hearing
that
she
had
been
able
to
enjoy
seeing
her
aunt
.
Mrs.
Arnott
was
set
to
enlighten
the
children
about
the
little
brown
girls
whom
she
was
wont
to
teach
,
and
came
away
with
a
more
brilliant
impression
of
their
intelligence
than
she
might
have
had
,
if
she
had
not
come
to
them
fresh
from
the
Antipodes
.
She
had
to
tell
Margaret
all
her
impressions
on
her
return
,
and
very
pretty
smiles
repaid
her
commendations
.
She
understood
better
the
constant
dwelling
on
the
subject
,
as
she
perceived
how
little
capable
Margaret
was
of
any
employment
.
The
book
,
the
writing
materials
,
and
work-basket
were
indeed
placed
by
her
side
,
but
very
seldom
did
the
feeble
fingers
engage
in
any
of
the
occupations
once
so
familiar
—
now
and
then
a
pencilled
note
would
be
sent
to
Flora
,
or
to
Hector
Ernescliffe
,
or
a
few
stitches
be
set
in
her
work
,
or
a
page
or
two
turned
of
a
book
,
but
she
was
far
more
often
perfectly
still
,
living
,
assuredly
in
no
ordinary
sphere
of
human
life
,
but
never
otherwise
than
cheerful
,
and
open
to
the
various
tidings
and
interests
which
,
as
Ethel
had
formerly
said
,
shifted
before
her
like
scenes
in
a
magic
lantern
,
and
,
perhaps
,
with
less
of
substance
than
in
those
earlier
days
,
when
her
work
among
them
was
not
yet
done
,
and
she
was
not
,
as
it
were
,
set
aside
from
them
.
They
were
now
little
more
than
shadows
reflected
from
the
world
whence
she
was
passing
.
Yet
her
home
was
not
sad
.
When
Dr.
Spencer
came
in
the
evening
,
and
old
Edinburgh
stories
were
discussed
,
Dr.
May
talked
with
spirit
,
and
laughed
with
the
merry
note
that
Mrs.
Arnott
so
well
remembered
,
and
Meta
Rivers
chimed
in
with
her
gay
,
saucy
repartees
,
nor
,
though
Richard
was
always
silent
,
and
Ethel
's
brow
seemed
to
bear
a
weight
of
thought
,
did
it
seem
as
if
their
spirits
were
depressed
;
while
there
was
certainly
no
restraint
on
the
glee
of
Blanche
,
Aubrey
,
and
Gertrude
,
who
were
running
into
Margaret
's
room
,
and
making
as
much
noise
there
as
they
chose
.
Mrs.
Arnott
was
at
home
with
the
whole
family
from
the
first
,
and
in
everyone
's
confidence
;
but
what
she
enjoyed
above
all
was
,
