—that
no
earthly
object
should
be
placed
between
her
and
her
father
.
The
ebullition
of
feeling
seemed
to
have
restored
Dr.
May
's
calmness
,
and
he
rose
,
saying
,
'
I
must
go
to
my
work
;
the
man
is
coming
here
this
afternoon
.
'
'
Where
shall
you
see
him
?
'
Margaret
asked
.
'
In
my
study
,
I
suppose
.
I
fear
there
is
no
chance
of
Flora
's
changing
her
mind
first
.
Or
do
you
think
one
of
you
could
talk
to
her
,
and
get
her
fairly
to
contemplate
the
real
bearings
of
the
matter
—
'
and
,
with
these
words
,
he
left
the
room
.
Margaret
and
Ethel
glanced
at
each
other
;
and
both
felt
the
impenetrability
of
Flora
's
nature
,
so
smooth
,
that
all
thrusts
glided
off
.
'
It
will
be
of
no
use
,
'
said
Ethel
;
'
and
,
what
is
more
,
she
will
not
have
it
done
.
'
'
Pray
try
;
a
few
of
your
forcible
words
would
set
it
in
a
new
light
.
'
'
Why
!
Do
you
think
she
will
attend
to
me
,
when
she
has
not
chosen
to
heed
papa
?
'
said
Ethel
,
with
an
emphasis
of
incredulity
.
'
No
;
whatever
Flora
does
,
is
done
deliberately
,
and
unalterably
.
'
'
Still
,
I
do
n't
know
whether
it
is
not
our
duty
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
More
yours
than
mine
,
'
said
Ethel
.
Margaret
flushed
up
.
'
Oh
,
no
,
I
cannot
!
'
she
said
,
always
timid
,
and
slightly
defective
in
moral
courage
.
She
looked
so
nervous
and
shaken
by
the
bare
idea
of
a
remonstrance
with
Flora
,
that
Ethel
could
not
press
her
;
and
,
though
convinced
that
her
representation
would
be
useless
,
she
owned
that
her
conscience
would
rest
better
,
after
she
had
spoken
.
'
But
there
is
Flora
,
walking
in
the
garden
with
Norman
,
'
she
said
.
'
No
doubt
,
he
is
doing
it
.
'
So
Ethel
let
it
rest
,
and
attended
to
the
children
's
lessons
,
during
which
Flora
came
into
the
drawing-room
,
and
practised
her
music
,
as
if
nothing
had
happened
.
Before
the
morning
was
over
,
Ethel
contrived
to
visit
Norman
,
in
the
dining-room
,
where
he
was
wont
to
study
,
and
asked
him
whether
he
had
made
any
impression
on
Flora
.
'
What
impression
do
you
mean
?
'
'
Why
,
about
this
concern
,
'
said
Ethel
;
'
this
terrible
man
,
that
makes
papa
so
unhappy
.
'
'
Papa
unhappy
!
Why
,
what
does
he
know
against
him
?
I
thought
the
Riverses
were
his
peculiar
pets
.
'
'
The
Riverses
!
As
if
,
because
one
liked
the
sparkling
stream
,
one
must
like
a
muddy
ditch
.
'
'
What
harm
do
you
know
of
him
?
'
said
Norman
,
with
much
surprise
,
and
anxiety
,
as
if
he
feared
that
he
had
been
doing
wrong
,
in
ignorance
.
'
Harm
!
Is
he
not
a
regular
oaf
?
'
'
My
dear
Ethel
,
if
you
wait
to
marry
till
you
find
some
one
as
clever
as
yourself
,
you
will
wait
long
enough
.
'
I
do
n't
think
it
right
for
a
woman
to
marry
a
man
decidedly
her
inferior
.
'
'
We
have
all
learnt
to
think
much
too
highly
of
talent
,
'
said
Norman
,
gravely
.
'
I
do
n't
care
for
mere
talent
—
people
are
generally
more
sensible
without
it
;
but
,
one
way
or
other
,
there
ought
to
be
superiority
on
the
man
's
side
.
'
Well
,
who
says
there
is
not
?
'
'
My
dear
Norman
!
Why
,
this
George
Rivers
is
really
below
the
average
!
you
cannot
deny
that
!
Did
you
ever
meet
anyone
so
stupid
?
'
'
Really
!
'
said
Norman
,
considering
;
and
,
speaking
very
innocently
,
'
I
cannot
see
why
you
think
so
.
I
do
not
see
that
he
is
at
all
less
capable
of
sustaining
a
conversation
than
Richard
.
'
Ethel
sat
down
,
perfectly
breathless
with
amazement
and
indignation
.
Norman
saw
that
he
had
shocked
her
very
much
.
'
I
do
not
mean
,
'
he
said
,
'
that
we
have
not
much
more
to
say
to
Richard
;
all
I
meant
to
say
was
,
merely
as
to
the
intellect
.
'
'
I
tell
you
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
it
is
not
the
intellect
.
Richard
!
why
,
you
know
how
we
respect
,
and
look
up
to
him
.
Dear
old
Ritchie
!
with
his
goodness
,
and
earnestness
,
and
right
judgment
—
to
compare
him
to
that
man
!
Norman
!
Norman
!
I
never
thought
it
of
you
!
'
'
You
do
not
understand
me
,
Ethel
.
I
only
cited
Richard
,
as
a
person
who
proves
how
little
cleverness
is
needed
to
insure
respect
.
'
'
And
,
I
tell
you
,
that
cleverness
is
not
the
point
.
'
'
It
is
the
only
objection
you
have
put
forward
.
'
'
I
did
wrong
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
It
is
not
the
real
one
.
It
is
earnest
goodness
that
one
honours
in
Richard
.
Where
do
we
find
it
in
this
man
?
who
has
never
done
anything
but
yawn
over
his
self-in-dulgence
.
'
'
Now
,
Ethel
,
you
are
working
yourself
up
into
a
state
of
foolish
prejudice
.
You
,
and
papa
,
have
taken
a
dislike
to
him
;
and
you
are
over-looking
a
great
deal
of
good
safe
sense
,
and
right
thinking
.
I
know
his
opinions
are
sound
,
and
his
motives
right
.
He
has
been
under-educated
,
we
all
see
,
and
is
not
very
brilliant
or
talkative
;
but
,
I
respect
Flora
for
perceiving
his
solid
qualities
.
'
'
Very
solid
and
weighty
,
indeed
!
'
said
Ethel
,
ironically
.
'
I
wonder
if
she
would
have
seen
them
in
a
poor
Curate
.
'
'
Ethel
!
you
are
allowing
yourself
to
be
carried
,
by
prejudice
,
a
great
deal
too
far
.
Are
such
imputations
to
be
made
,
wherever
there
is
inequality
of
means
?
It
is
very
wrong
!
very
unjust
!
'
'
So
papa
said
,
'
replied
Ethel
,
as
she
looked
sorrowfully
down
.
'
He
was
very
angry
with
me
for
saying
so
.
I
wish
I
could
help
feeling
as
if
that
were
the
temptation
.
'
'
You
ought
,
'
said
Norman
.
'
You
will
be
sorry
,
if
you
set
yourself
,
and
him
,
against
it
.
'
'
I
only
wish
you
to
know
what
I
feel
;
and
,
I
think
,
Margaret
and
papa
do
,
'
said
Ethel
,
humbly
,
'
and
then
you
will
not
think
us
more
unjust
than
we
are
.
We
cannot
see
anything
so
agreeable
or
suitable
in
this
man
,
as
to
account
for
Flora
's
liking
,
and
we
do
not
feel
convinced
of
his
being
good
for
much
.
That
makes
papa
greatly
averse
to
it
,
though
he
does
not
know
any
positive
reason
for
refusing
;
and
we
cannot
feel
certain
that
she
is
doing
quite
right
,
or
for
her
own
happiness
.
'
'
You
will
be
convinced
,
'
said
Norman
,
cheerfully
.
'
You
will
find
out
the
good
that
is
under
the
surface
,
when
you
have
seen
more
of
him
.
I
have
had
a
good
deal
of
talk
with
him
.
'
A
good
deal
of
talk
to
him
would
have
been
more
correct
,
if
Norman
had
but
been
aware
of
it
.
He
had
been
at
the
chief
expense
of
the
conversation
with
George
Rivers
,
and
had
taken
the
sounds
of
assent
,
which
he
obtained
,
as
evidences
of
his
appreciation
of
all
his
views
.
Norman
had
been
struggling
so
long
against
his
old
habit
of
looking
down
on
Richard
,
and
exalting
intellect
;
and
had
seen
,
in
his
Oxford
life
,
so
many
ill-effects
of
the
knowledge
that
puffeth
up
,
that
he
had
come
to
have
a
certain
respect
for
dullness
,
per
se
,
of
which
George
Rivers
easily
reaped
the
benefit
,
when
surrounded
by
the
halo
,
which
everything
at
Abbotstoke
Grange
bore
in
the
eyes
of
Norman
.
He
was
heartily
delighted
at
the
proposed
connexion
,
and
his
genuine
satisfaction
not
only
gratified
Flora
,
and
restored
the
equanimity
that
had
been
slightly
disturbed
by
her
father
,
but
it
also
reassured
Ethel
and
Margaret
,
who
could
not
help
trusting
in
his
judgment
,
and
began
to
hope
that
George
might
be
all
he
thought
him
.
Ethel
,
finding
that
there
were
two
ways
of
viewing
the
gentleman
,
doubted
whether
she
ought
to
express
her
opinion
.
It
was
Flora
's
disposition
,
and
the
advantages
of
the
match
,
that
weighed
most
upon
her
,
and
,
in
spite
of
her
surmise
having
been
treated
as
so
injurious
,
she
could
not
rid
herself
of
the
burthen
.
Dr.
May
was
not
so
much
consoled
by
Norman
's
opinion
,
as
Ethel
expected
.
The
corners
of
his
mouth
curled
up
a
little
with
diversion
,
and
though
he
tried
to
express
himself
glad
,
and
confident
in
his
son
's
judgment
,
there
was
the
same
sort
of
involuntary
lurking
misgiving
,
with
which
he
had
accepted
Sir
Matthew
Fleet
's
view
of
Margaret
's
case
.
There
was
no
danger
that
Dr.
May
would
not
be
kind
and
courteous
to
the
young
man
himself
.
It
was
not
his
fault
if
he
were
a
dunce
,
and
Dr.
May
perceived
that
his
love
for
Flora
was
real
,
though
clumsily
expressed
.
He
explained
that
he
could
not
sanction
the
engagement
till
he
should
be
better
informed
of
the
young
gentleman
's
antecedents
;
this
was
,
as
George
expressed
it
,
a
great
nuisance
,
but
his
father
agreed
that
it
was
quite
right
,
in
some
doubt
,
perhaps
,
as
to
how
Dr.
May
might
be
satisfied
.
CHAPTER
VII
.
Ye
cumbrous
fashions
,
crowd
not
on
my
head
,
Mine
be
the
chip
of
purest
white
,
Swan-like
;
and
,
as
her
feathers
light
,
When
on
the
still
wave
spread
;
And
let
it
wear
the
graceful
dress
Of
unadorned
simpleness
.
Catherine
Fanshawe
's
Parody
on
Grey
.
Nothing
transpired
to
the
discredit
of
Lieutenant
Rivers
.
He
had
spent
a
great
deal
of
money
,
but
chiefly
for
want
of
something
else
to
do
,
and
,
though
he
was
not
a
subject
for
high
praise
,
there
was
no
vice
in
him
—
no
more
than
in
an
old
donkey
—
as
Dr.
May
declared
,
in
his
concluding
paroxysm
of
despair
,
on
finding
that
,
though
there
was
little
to
reconcile
him
to
the
engagement
,
there
was
no
reasonable
ground
for
thwarting
his
daughter
's
wishes
.
He
argued
the
matter
once
more
with
her
,
and
,
finding
her
purpose
fixed
,
he
notified
his
consent
,
and
the
rest
of
the
family
were
admitted
to
a
knowledge
of
the
secret
which
they
had
never
suspected
.
Etheldred
could
not
help
being
gratified
with
the
indignation
it
excited
.
With
one
voice
,
Mary
and
Blanche
declared
that
they
would
never
give
up
the
title
of
"
the
detestable
,
"
and
would
not
make
him
any
presents
;
certainly
,
not
watch-chains
!
Miss
Bracy
,
rather
alarmed
,
lectured
them
just
enough
to
make
them
worse
;
and
Margaret
,
overhearing
Blanche
instructing
Aubrey
in
her
own
impertinences
,
was
obliged
to
call
her
to
her
sofa
,
and
assure
her
that
she
was
unkind
to
Flora
,
and
that
she
must
consider
Mr.
George
Rivers
as
her
brother
.
'
Never
my
brother
like
Harry
!
'
exclaimed
Mary
,
indignantly
.
'
No
,
indeed
;
nor
like
Alan
!
'
exclaimed
Blanche
.
'
And
I
wo
n't
call
him
George
,
I
am
determined
,
if
it
is
ever
so
!
'
'
It
will
not
matter
to
him
what
such
little
girls
call
him
,
'
said
Margaret
.
Blanche
was
so
annihilated
,
that
the
sound
of
a
carriage
,
and
of
the
door
bell
,
was
a
great
satisfaction
to
her
.
Meta
Rivers
came
flying
into
the
room
,
her
beautiful
eyes
dancing
,
and
her
cheeks
glowing
with
pleasure
,
as
,
a
little
timidly
,
she
kissed
Margaret
;
while
Ethel
,
in
a
confused
way
,
received
Mr.
Rivers
,
in
pain
for
her
own
cold
,
abrupt
manner
,
in
contrast
with
his
gentle
,
congratulating
politeness
.
Meta
asked
,
blushing
,
and
with
a
hesitating
voice
,
for
their
dear
Flora
;
Mary
offered
to
call
her
,
but
Meta
begged
to
go
herself
,
and
thus
was
spared
the
awkwardness
that
ensued
.
Ethel
was
almost
vexed
with
herself
,
as
ungrateful
,
when
she
saw
Mr.
Rivers
so
mildly
kind
,
and
so
delighted
,
with
the
bland
courtesy
that
seemed
fully
conscious
of
the
favour
that
Flora
had
conferred
on
his
son
,
and
thankful
to
the
Mays
for
accepting
him
.
Margaret
answered
with
more
expression
of
gratification
,
than
would
have
been
sincere
in
Ethel
;
but
it
was
a
relief
,
when
Flora
and
Meta
came
in
together
,
as
pretty
a
contrast
as
could
be
seen
;
the
little
dark-eyed
fairy
,
all
radiant
with
joy
,
clinging
to
the
slender
waist
of
Flora
,
whose
quiet
grace
,
and
maidenly
dignity
,
were
never
more
conspicuous
,
than
,
as
with
a
soft
red
mantling
in
her
fair
cheek
,
her
eyes
cast
down
,
but
with
a
simple
,
unaffected
warmth
of
confidence
and
gratitude
,
she
came
forward
to
receive
Mr.
Rivers
's
caressing
affectionate
greeting
.
Stiffness
was
over
when
she
came
in
,
and
Dr.
May
,
who
presently
made
his
appearance
,
soon
was
much
more
at
his
ease
than
could
have
been
hoped
,
after
his
previous
declarations
that
he
should
never
be
able
to
be
moderately
civil
about
it
to
Mr.
Rivers
.
People
of
ready
sympathy
,
such
as
Dr.
May
and
Margaret
,
have
a
great
deal
of
difficulty
with
their
sincerity
spared
them
,
by
being
carried
along
with
the
feelings
of
others
.
Ethel
could
not
feel
the
same
,
and
was
bent
on
avoiding
any
expression
of
opinion
;
she
hoped
that
Meta
's
ecstacies
would
all
be
bestowed
upon
her
future
sister-in-law
;
but
Meta
was
eager
for
an
interview
with
Ethel
herself
,
and
,
as
usual
,
gained
her
point
.
'
Now
then
,
you
are
property
of
my
own
!
'
she
cried
.
'
May
I
not
take
you
all
for
sisters
?
'
Ethel
had
not
thought
of
this
as
a
convenience
of
the
connection
,
and
she
let
Meta
kiss
her
,
and
owned
that
it
was
very
nice
.
'
Ethel
,
'
said
Meta
,
'
I
see
,
and
I
wanted
to
talk
to
you
.
You
do
n't
think
poor
George
good
enough
for
Flora
.
'
'
I
never
meant
to
shew
it
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
You
need
not
mind
,
'
said
Meta
,
smiling
;
'
I
was
very
much
surprised
myself
,
and
thought
it
all
a
mistake
.
But
I
am
so
very
glad
,
for
I
know
it
will
make
such
a
difference
to
him
,
poor
fellow
.
I
should
like
to
tell
you
all
about
him
,
for
no
one
else
can
very
well
,
and
you
will
like
him
better
,
perhaps
.
You
know
my
grandfather
made
his
own
fortune
,
and
you
would
think
some
of
our
relations
very
queer
.
My
aunt
Dorothy
once
told
me
all
about
it
—
papa
was
made
to
marry
the
partner
's
daughter
,
and
I
fancy
she
could
not
have
been
much
of
a
lady
.
I
do
n't
think
he
could
have
been
very
happy
with
her
,
but
she
soon
died
,
and
left
him
with
this
one
son
,
whom
those
odd
old
aunts
brought
up
their
own
way
.
By-and-by
,
you
know
,
papa
came
to
be
in
quite
another
line
of
society
,
but
when
he
married
again
,
poor
George
had
been
so
spoilt
by
these
aunts
,
and
was
so
big
,
and
old
,
that
my
mother
did
not
know
what
to
make
of
him
.
'
'
A
great
lubberly
boy
,
'
Ethel
said
,
rather
repenting
the
next
moment
.
'
He
is
thirteen
years
older
than
I
am
,
'
said
Meta
,
'
and
you
see
it
has
been
hard
on
him
altogether
;
he
had
not
the
education
that
papa
would
have
given
him
if
he
had
been
born
later
;
and
he
ca
n't
remember
his
mother
,
and
has
always
been
at
a
loss
when
with
clever
people
.
I
never
understood
it
till
within
the
last
two
or
three
years
,
nor
knew
how
trying
it
must
be
to
see
such
a
little
chit
as
me
made
so
much
of
—
almost
thrusting
him
aside
.
But
you
cannot
think
what
a
warm-hearted
good
fellow
he
is
—
he
has
never
been
otherwise
than
so
very
kind
to
me
,
and
he
was
so
very
fond
of
his
old
aunt
.
Hitherto
,
he
has
had
such
disadvantages
,
and
no
real
,
sensible
woman
,
has
taken
him
in
hand
;
he
does
not
care
for
papa
's
tastes
,
and
I
am
so
much
younger
,
that
I
never
could
get
on
with
him
at
all
,
till
this
time
;
but
I
do
know
that
he
has
a
real
good-temper
,
and
all
sorts
of
good
qualities
,
and
that
he
only
needs
to
be
led
right
,
to
go
right
.
Oh
!
Flora
may
make
anything
of
him
,
and
we
are
so
thankful
to
her
for
having
found
it
out
!
'
'
Thank
you
for
telling
me
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
It
is
much
more
satisfactory
to
have
no
shamming
.
'
Meta
laughed
,
for
Ethel
's
sham
was
not
too
successful
;
she
continued
,
'
dear
Dr.
May
,
I
thought
he
would
think
his
beautiful
Flora
not
exactly
matched
—
but
tell
him
,
Ethel
,
for
if
he
once
is
sorry
for
poor
George
,
he
will
like
him
.
And
it
will
really
be
the
making
of
George
,
to
be
thrown
with
him
and
your
brothers
.
Oh
!
we
are
so
glad
!
But
I
wo
n't
teaze
you
to
be
so
.
'
'
I
can
like
it
better
now
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
You
know
Norman
thinks
very
highly
of
your
brother
,
and
declares
that
it
will
all
come
out
by-and-by
.
'
Meta
clapped
her
hands
,
and
said
that
she
should
tell
her
father
,
and
Ethel
parted
with
her
,
liking
her
,
at
least
,
better
than
ever
.
There
was
a
comical
scene
between
her
and
the
Doctor
,
trying
to
define
what
relations
they
should
become
to
each
other
,
which
Ethel
thought
did
a
good
deal
to
mollify
her
father
.
The
history
of
George
's
life
did
more
;
he
took
to
pitying
him
,
and
pity
was
,
indeed
,
akin
to
love
in
the
good
Doctor
's
mind
.
In
fact
,
George
was
a
man
who
could
be
liked
,
when
once
regarded
as
a
belonging
—
a
necessity
,
not
a
choice
;
for
it
was
quite
true
that
there
was
no
harm
in
him
,
and
a
great
deal
of
good-nature
.
His
constant
kindness
,
and
evident
liking
for
Margaret
,
stood
him
in
good
stead
;
he
made
her
a
sort
of
confidante
,
bestowing
on
her
his
immeasurable
appreciation
of
Flora
's
perfections
,
and
telling
her
how
well
he
was
getting
on
with
"
the
old
gentleman
"
—
a
name
under
which
she
failed
to
recognize
her
father
.
As
to
Tom
,
he
wrote
his
congratulations
to
Ethel
,
that
she
might
make
a
wedding
present
of
her
Etruscan
vases
,
the
Cupids
on
which
must
have
been
put
there
by
anticipation
.
Richard
heard
none
of
the
doubts
,
and
gave
kind
,
warm
congratulations
,
promising
to
return
home
for
the
wedding
;
and
Mary
and
Blanche
no
sooner
heard
a
whisper
about
bridesmaids
,
than
all
their
opposition
faded
away
,
in
a
manner
that
quite
scandalized
Ethel
,
while
it
set
Margaret
on
reminiscences
of
her
having
been
a
six-year
old
bridesmaid
to
Flora
's
godmother
,
Mrs.
Arnott
.
As
to
the
gossip
in
the
town
,
Ethel
quite
dreaded
the
sight
of
everyone
without
Flora
to
protect
her
,
and
certainly
,
Flora
's
unaffected
,
quiet
manner
,
was
perfection
,
and
kept
off
all
too
forward
congratulations
,
while
it
gratified
those
whom
she
was
willing
to
encourage
.
There
was
no
reason
for
waiting
,
and
Mr.
Rivers
was
as
impatient
as
his
son
,
so
an
understanding
arose
that
the
wedding
should
take
place
near
the
end
of
the
Christmas
holidays
.
Flora
shewed
herself
sensible
and
considerate
.
Always
openhanded
,
her
father
was
inclined
to
do
everything
liberally
,
and
laid
no
restrictions
on
her
preparations
,
but
she
had
too
much
discretion
to
be
profuse
,
and
had
a
real
regard
for
the
welfare
of
the
rest
.
She
laughed
with
Ethel
at
the
anticipations
of
the
Stoneborough
ladies
that
she
must
be
going
to
London
,
and
,
at
the
requests
,
as
a
great
favour
,
that
they
might
be
allowed
the
sight
of
her
trousseau
.
Her
wedding-dress
,
white
silk
,
with
a
white
cashmere
mantle
,
was
,
indeed
,
ordered
from
Meta
's
London
dress-maker
;
but
,
for
the
rest
,
she
contented
herself
with
an
expedition
to
Whitford
,
accompanied
by
Miss
Bracy
and
her
two
enchanted
pupils
,
and
there
laid
in
a
stock
of
purchases
,
unpretending
and
in
good
taste
,
aiming
only
at
what
could
be
well
done
,
and
not
attempting
the
decorative
wardrobe
of
a
great
lady
.
Ethel
was
highly
amused
when
the
Miss
Andersons
came
for
their
inspection
,
to
see
their
concealed
disappointment
at
finding
no
under
garments
trimmed
with
Brussels
,
lace
,
nor
pocket
handkerchiefs
all
open-work
,
except
a
centre
of
the
size
of
a
crown-piece
,
and
the
only
thing
remarkable
,
was
Margaret
's
beautiful
marking
in
embroidery
.
There
was
some
compensation
in
the
costly
wedding
presents
—
Flora
had
reaped
a
whole
harvest
from
friends
of
her
own
,
grateful
patients
of
her
father
,
and
the
whole
Rivers
and
Langdale
connection
;
but
,
in
spite
of
the
brilliant
uselessness
of
most
of
these
,
the
young
ladies
considered
themselves
ill-used
,
thought
Dr.
May
never
would
have
been
shabby
,
and
were
of
opinion
that
,
when
Miss
Ward
had
married
her
father
's
surgical
pupil
,
her
outfit
had
been
a
far
more
edifying
spectacle
.
The
same
moderation
influenced
Flora
's
other
arrangements
.
Dr.
May
was
resigned
to
whatever
might
be
thought
most
proper
,
stipulating
only
that
he
should
not
have
to
make
a
speech
;
but
Flora
felt
that
,
in
their
house
,
a
grand
breakfast
would
be
an
unsuccessful
and
melancholy
affair
.
If
the
bride
had
been
anyone
else
,
she
could
have
enjoyed
making
all
go
off
well
,
but
,
under
present
circumstances
,
it
would
be
great
pain
to
her
father
and
Margaret
,
a
misery
to
Ethel
,
and
something
she
dared
not
think
of
to
the
guests
.
She
had
no
difficulty
in
having
it
dispensed
with
.
George
was
glad
to
avoid
"
a
great
nuisance
.
"
Mr.
Rivers
feared
the
fatigue
,
and
,
with
his
daughter
,
admired
Flora
for
her
amiability
,
and
,
as
to
the
home
party
,
no
words
could
express
their
gratitude
to
her
for
letting
them
off
.
Mary
and
Blanche
did
,
indeed
,
look
rather
blank
,
but
Blanche
was
consoled
,
by
settling
with
Hector
,
the
splendours
in
store
for
Alan
and
Margaret
,
and
Mary
cared
the
less
,
as
there
would
be
no
Harry
to
enjoy
the
fun
.
The
bride-maiden
's
glory
was
theirs
by
right
,
though
Ethel
was
an
unsatisfactory
chief
,
for
such
as
desired
splendour
.
She
protested
against
anything
incongruous
with
January
,
or
that
could
not
be
useful
afterwards
,
and
Meta
took
her
part
,
laughing
at
the
cruel
stroke
they
were
preparing
for
Bellairs
.
Ethel
begged
for
dark
silks
and
straw
bonnets
,
and
Flora
said
that
she
had
expected
to
hear
of
brown
stuff
and
grey
duffle
,
but
owned
that
they
had
better
omit
the
ordinary
muslin
garb
in
the
heart
of
winter
.
The
baby
bridesmaid
was
,
at
last
,
the
chief
consideration
.
Margaret
suggested
how
pretty
she
and
Blanche
would
look
in
sky-blue
merino
,
trimmed
with
swan's-down
.
Meta
was
charmed
with
the
idea
,
and
though
Ethel
stuck
out
her
shoulder-blades
and
poked
out
her
head
,
and
said
she
should
look
like
the
ugly
duckling
,
she
was
clamorously
reminded
that
the
ugly
duckling
ended
by
being
a
swan
,
and
promised
that
she
should
be
allowed
a
bonnet
of
a
reasonable
size
,
trimmed
with
white
,
for
Mr.
Rivers
'
good
taste
could
endure
,
as
little
as
Dr.
May
's
sense
of
propriety
,
the
sight
of
a
daughter
without
shade
to
her
face
.
Ethel
,
finally
,
gave
in
,
on
being
put
in
mind
that
her
papa
had
a
penchant
for
swan's-down
;
and
,
on
Margaret
's
promising
to
wear
a
dress
of
the
same
as
theirs
.
Ethel
was
pleased
and
satisfied
by
Flora
's
dislike
of
parade
,
and
attention
to
the
feelings
of
all
.
Passing
over
the
one
great
fact
;
the
two
sisters
were
more
of
one
mind
than
usual
,
probably
because
all
latent
jealousy
of
Ethel
had
ceased
in
Flora
's
mind
.
Hitherto
,
she
had
preferred
the
being
the
only
practically
useful
person
in
the
family
,
and
had
encouraged
the
idea
of
Ethel
's
gaucherie
;
but
now
she
desired
to
render
her
sister
able
to
take
her
place
,
and
did
all
in
her
power
to
put
her
in
good
heart
.
For
Etheldred
was
terrified
at
the
prospect
of
becoming
responsible
housekeeper
.
Margaret
could
only
serve
as
an
occasional
reference
.
Her
morning
powers
became
too
uncertain
to
be
depended
on
for
any
regular
,
necessary
duty
,
and
it
would
have
oppressed
her
so
much
to
order
the
dinners
,
which
she
never
saw
,
that
,
though
she
offered
to
resume
the
office
,
Flora
would
not
hear
of
Ethel
's
consenting
.
If
it
were
her
proper
business
,
Ethel
supposed
she
could
do
it
,
but
another
hour
of
her
leisure
was
gone
,
and
what
would
become
of
them
all
,
with
her
,
a
proverb
for
heedlessness
,
and
ignorance
of
ordinary
details
.
She
did
not
know
that
these
were
more
proverbial
than
actual
,
and
,
having
a
bad
name
,
she
believed
in
it
herself
.
However
,
Flora
made
it
her
business
to
persuade
her
,
that
her
powers
were
as
good
for
household
matters
,
as
for
books
,
or
Cocksmoor
;
instructed
her
in
her
own
methodical
plans
,
and
made
her
keep
house
for
a
fortnight
,
with
so
much
success
,
that
she
began
to
be
hopeful
.
In
the
attendance
on
Margaret
,
the
other
great
charge
,
old
nurse
was
the
security
;
and
Ethel
,
who
had
felt
herself
much
less
unhandy
than
before
,
was
to
succeed
to
the
abode
,
in
her
room
—
Blanche
being
promoted
,
from
the
nursery
,
to
the
old
attic
.
'
And
,
'
said
Flora
,
consolingly
,
'
if
dear
Margaret
ever
should
be
ill
,
you
may
reckon
on
me
.
'
Miss
Flora
May
made
her
last
appearance
at
the
Ladies
'
Committee
,
to
hear
the
reply
from
the
Principal
of
the
College
.
It
was
a
civil
letter
,
but
declined
taking
any
steps
in
the
matter
,
without
more
certain
intelligence
of
the
wishes
of
the
Incumbent
of
the
parish
,
or
of
the
holders
of
the
land
in
question
.
The
Ladies
abused
all
Colleges
—
as
prejudiced
old
Bodies
,
and
feared
that
it
would
be
impossible
to
ask
Mrs.
Perkinson
's
niece
to
take
the
school
,
while
there
was
neither
room
nor
lodging
.
So
Miss
Rich
recorded
the
correspondence
,
and
the
vote
of
censure
,
by
which
it
was
to
be
hoped
the
Ladies
'
Committee
of
Market
Stoneborough
,
inflicted
a
severe
blow
on
the
Principal
and
Fellows
of
M
—
College
.
'
Never
mind
,
Ethel
,
'
said
Flora
.
'
I
shall
meet
Sir
Henry
Walkinghame
in
London
,
and
will
talk
to
him
.
We
shall
yet
astonish
the
Muses
.
If
we
can
get
the
land
without
them
,
we
shall
be
able
to
manage
it
our
own
way
,
without
obligations
.
'
'
You
forget
the
money
!
'
'
We
will
keep
them
from
dissipating
it
—
or
that
might
be
no
harm
!
A
hundred
pounds
will
be
easily
found
,
and
we
should
then
have
it
in
our
own
hands
.
Besides
,
you
know
,
I
do
n't
mean
to
give
up
.
I
shall
write
a
polite
note
to
Mrs.
Ledwich
,
begging
to
subscribe
on
my
own
account
,
and
to
retain
my
seat
!
and
you
will
see
what
we
shall
do
.
'
'
You
mean
to
come
down
with
the
external
authority
,
'
said
Ethel
,
smiling
.
'
True
!
and
though
my
driving
in
with
a
pair
of
horses
may
make
little
difference
to
you
,
Ethel
,
depend
upon
it
,
Mrs.
Ledwich
will
be
the
more
amenable
.
Whenever
I
want
to
be
particularly
impressive
,
I
shall
bring
in
that
smelling-bottle
,
with
the
diamond
stopper
that
wo
n't
come
out
,
and
you
will
find
that
carries
all
before
it
.
'
A
talisman
!
'
said
Ethel
laughing
.
'
But
I
had
rather
they
yielded
to
a
sense
of
right
!
'
'
So
had
I
,
'
said
Flora
.
'
Perhaps
you
will
rule
them
that
way
?
'
'
Not
I
!
'
cried
Ethel
,
terrified
.
'
Then
you
must
come
to
me
,
and
secondary
motives
.
Seriously
—
I
do
mean
that
George
should
do
something
for
Stoneborough
;
and
,
in
a
position
of
influence
,
I
hope
to
be
able
to
be
useful
to
my
poor
old
town
.
Perhaps
we
shall
have
the
Minster
restored
.
'
Flora
did
wish
it
.
She
did
love
Stoneborough
,
and
was
sincerely
interested
for
Cocksmoor
.
She
thought
she
worked
earnestly
for
them
,
and
that
her
situation
would
be
turned
to
their
profit
;
but
there
was
something
,
for
which
she
worked
more
earnestly
.
Had
Flora
never
heard
of
the
two
masters
,
whom
we
cannot
serve
at
the
same
time
?
Richard
came
home
for
'
a
Parson
's
week
,
'
so
as
to
include
the
wedding
.
He
looked
very
fresh
and
youthful
;
but
his
manner
,
though
still
gentle
and
retiring
,
had
lost
all
that
shrinking
diffidence
,
and
had
,
now
,
a
very
suitable
grave
composure
.
Everybody
was
delighted
to
have
him
;
and
Ethel
,
more
than
anyone
,
except
Margaret
.
What
floods
of
Cocksmoor
histories
were
poured
upon
him
;
and
what
comparing
of
notes
about
his
present
school
children
!
He
could
not
enter
into
the
refinements
of
her
dread
of
the
Ladies
'
Committee
,
and
thought
she
might
be
thankful
if
the
school
were
built
by
any
proper
means
;
for
,
if
Cherry
Elwood
were
retained
,
and
the
ladies
prevented
from
doing
harm
,
he
did
not
understand
why
Ethel
should
wish
to
reject
all
assistance
,
that
did
not
come
in
a
manner
she
admired
.
He
never
would
comprehend
—
so
Ethel
gave
it
up
—
feared
she
was
again
jealous
and
self-sufficient
,
and
contented
herself
with
the
joy
that
his
presence
produced
at
Cocksmoor
,
where
the
children
smiled
,
blushed
,
and
tittered
,
with
ecstacy
,
whenever
he
even
looked
at
one
of
them
.
Richard
was
not
allowed
to
have
a
Sunday
of
rest
.
His
father
apologized
for
having
made
an
engagement
for
him
—
as
Mr.
Ramsden
was
unwell
,
and
the
school
Clergy
were
all
absent
,
so
that
he
could
do
no
otherwise
than
assist
in
the
service
.
Richard
coloured
,
and
said
that
he
had
brought
no
sermon
;
and
he
was
,
in
fact
,
deprived
of
much
of
his
sisters
'
company
,
for
composition
was
not
easy
to
him
,
and
the
quantity
of
time
he
spent
on
it
,
quite
alarmed
Norman
and
Ethel
,
who
both
felt
rather
nervous
on
the
Sunday
morning
,
but
agreed
that
preaching
was
not
everything
.
Ethel
could
not
see
well
,
as
far
as
the
reading
desk
,
but
she
saw
her
father
glance
up
,
take
off
his
spectacles
,
wipe
them
,
and
put
them
away
;
and
she
could
not
be
displeased
,
though
she
looked
reproof
at
Blanche
's
breathless
whisper
,
'
Oh
,
he
looks
so
nice
!
'
Those
white
folds
did
truly
suit
well
,
with
the
meek
,
serious
expression
of
the
young
Deacon
's
fair
face
,
and
made
him
,
as
his
sisters
afterwards
said
,
like
one
of
the
solemnly
peaceful
angel-carvings
of
the
earlier
ages
.
His
voice
was
sweet
and
clear
,
and
his
reading
full
of
quiet
simplicity
and
devotion
,
such
as
was
not
often
heard
by
that
congregation
,
who
were
too
much
used
,
either
to
carelessness
,
or
to
pomposity
.
The
sermon
made
his
brother
and
sister
ashamed
of
their
fears
.
It
was
an
exposition
of
the
Gospel
for
the
day
,
practical
and
earnest
,
going
deep
,
and
rising
high
,
with
a
clearness
and
soberness
,
yet
with
a
beauty
and
elevation
,
such
as
Norman
and
Ethel
had
certainly
not
expected
—
or
,
rather
,
they
forgot
all
their
own
expectations
,
and
Richard
himself
,
and
only
recollected
their
own
hearts
,
and
the
great
future
before
them
.
Even
Blanche
and
Aubrey
told
Margaret
a
great
deal
about
it
,
and
declared
that
,
if
Richard
preached
every
Sunday
,
they
should
like
going
to
Church
much
better
.
When
Dr.
May
came
in
,
some
time
after
,
he
was
looking
much
pleased
.
'
So
,
Mr.
Ritchie
,
'
he
said
,
'
you
have
made
quite
a
sensation
—
everyone
shaking
me
by
the
hand
,
and
thanking
me
for
my
son
's
sermon
.
You
will
be
a
popular
preacher
at
last
!
'
Richard
blushed
distressfully
,
and
quoted
the
saying
,
that
it
would
be
the
true
comfort
to
hear
that
people
went
home
,
thinking
of
themselves
,
rather
than
of
the
sermon
.
This
put
an
end
to
the
subject
;
but
the
Doctor
went
over
it
again
,
most
thoroughly
,
with
his
other
children
,
who
were
greatly
delighted
.
Flora
's
last
home
Sunday
!
She
was
pale
and
serious
,
evidently
feeling
much
,
though
seeking
no
tête
à
têtes
,
and
chiefly
engrossed
with
waiting
on
Margaret
,
or
fondling
little
Gertrude
.
No
one
saw
the
inside
of
her
mind
—
probably
,
she
did
not
herself
.
On
the
outside
was
a
very
suitable
pensiveness
,
and
affection
for
all
that
she
was
leaving
.
The
only
one
in
the
family
,
to
whom
she
talked
much
,
was
Norman
,
who
continued
to
see
many
perfections
in
George
,
and
contrived
,
by
the
force
of
his
belief
,
to
impress
the
same
on
the
others
;
and
to
make
them
think
his
great
talent
for
silence
,
such
a
proof
of
his
discretion
,
that
they
were
not
staggered
,
even
by
his
shy
blundering
exclamation
,
that
his
wedding
would
be
a
great
nuisance
—
a
phrase
which
,
as
Dr.
May
observed
,
was
,
to
him
,
what
Est
il
possible
was
to
his
namesake
of
Denmark
.
Nobody
wished
for
any
misgivings
,
so
Richard
was
never
told
of
any
,
though
there
was
a
careful
watch
kept
,
to
see
what
were
his
first
impressions
.
None
transpired
,
except
something
about
good
nature
,
but
it
was
shrewdly
believed
that
Richard
and
George
,
being
much
alike
in
shy
unwillingness
to
speak
,
had
been
highly
satisfied
with
the
little
trouble
they
had
caused
to
each
other
,
and
so
had
come
to
a
tacit
esteem
.
There
was
very
little
bustle
of
preparation
.
Excepting
the
packing
,
everything
went
on
much
as
usual
,
till
the
Thursday
morning
,
and
then
the
children
were
up
early
,
refreshing
the
Christmas
hollies
,
and
working
up
their
excitement
,
only
to
have
it
damped
by
the
suppressed
agitation
of
their
elders
at
the
breakfast-table
.
Dr.
May
did
not
seem
to
know
what
he
was
about
;
and
Flora
looked
paler
and
paler
.
She
went
away
before
the
meal
was
over
,
and
,
when
Ethel
went
to
the
bed-room
,
shortly
after
,
she
found
that
she
had
fairly
broken
down
,
and
was
kneeling
beside
Margaret
's
sofa
,
resting
her
head
on
her
sister
's
bosom
,
and
sobbing
—
as
Ethel
had
never
seen
her
weep
,
except
on
that
dreadful
night
,
after
their
mother
's
death
.
In
a
person
ordinarily
of
such
self-command
as
Flora
,
weeping
was
a
terrible
thing
,
and
Margaret
was
much
distressed
and
alarmed
;
but
the
worst
had
passed
before
Ethel
came
up
,
and
Flora
was
able
to
speak
.
'
Oh
!
Margaret
!
I
cannot
leave
you
!
Oh
!
how
happy
we
have
been
—
'
'
You
are
going
to
be
happier
,
we
trust
,
dearest
,
'
said
Margaret
,
fondly
.
'
Oh
!
what
have
I
done
?
It
is
not
worth
it
!
'
Ethel
thought
she
caught
those
words
;
but
,
no
more
,
Mary
's
step
was
heard
,
and
Flora
was
on
her
feet
,
instantly
,
composing
herself
rapidly
.
She
shed
no
more
tears
,
but
her
eyelids
were
very
heavy
,
and
her
face
softened
,
in
a
manner
that
,
though
she
was
less
pretty
than
usual
,
was
very
becoming
under
her
bridal
veil
.
She
recovered
calmness
,
and
even
cheerfulness
,
while
reversing
the
usual
order
of
things
,
and
dressing
her
bridemaids
,
who
would
never
have
turned
out
fit
to
be
seen
,
but
for
the
exertions
of
herself
,
Margaret
,
and
Miss
Bracy
.
Ethel
's
long
Scotch
bones
,
and
Mary
's
round
,
dumpy
shapelessness
,
were
,
in
their
different
ways
,
equally
hard
to
overcome
;
and
the
one
was
swelled
out
with
a
fabulous
number
of
petticoats
,
and
the
other
pinched
in
,
till
she
gasped
and
screamed
for
mercy
,
while
Blanche
and
Gertrude
danced
about
,
beautiful
to
behold
,
under
their
shady
hats
;
and
presently
,
with
a
light
tap
at
the
door
,
Meta
Rivers
stepped
in
,
looking
so
pretty
,
that
all
felt
,
that
to
try
to
attain
to
such
an
appearance
,
was
vain
.
Timid
in
her
affection
,
she
hardly
dared
to
do
more
than
kiss
them
,
and
whisper
her
pretty
caressing
words
to
each
.
There
was
no
more
time
—
Dr.
Hoxton
's
carriage
was
come
to
take
up
the
bride
.
Ethel
did
as
she
was
told
,
without
much
volition
of
her
own
;
and
she
quitted
the
carriage
,
and
was
drawn
into
her
place
by
Norman
,
trusting
that
Meta
would
not
let
her
do
wrong
,
and
relieved
that
,
just
in
front
of
her
,
were
the
little
ones
,
over
whose
heads
she
could
see
her
father
,
with
Flora
's
veiled
bending
figure
.
That
pause
,
while
the
procession
was
getting
into
order
,
the
slow
movement
up
the
centre
aisle
,
the
week-day
atmosphere
of
the
Church
,
brought
back
to
her
thoughts
a
very
different
time
,
and
one
of
those
strange
echoings
on
the
mind
,
repeated
in
her
ears
the
words
,
'
For
man
walketh
in
a
vain
shadow
,
and
disquieteth
himself
in
vain
—
'
There
was
a
little
pause
—
George
did
not
seem
to
be
forthcoming
,
and
Meta
turned
round
,
rather
uneasily
,
and
whispered
something
about
his
having
been
so
nervous
.
However
,
there
he
was
,
looking
exceedingly
red
,
and
very
sheepish
,
and
disposed
to
fall
back
on
his
best-man
,
Norman
,
whose
countenance
was
at
the
brightest
—
and
almost
handsome
.
Dr.
Hoxton
performed
the
ceremony
,
"
assisted
by
"
Richard
.
It
had
been
Flora
's
choice
;
and
his
loud
sonorous
voice
was
thought
very
impressive
.
Blanche
stood
the
nearest
,
and
looked
happy
,
and
important
,
with
Flora
's
glove
.
Gertrude
held
Mary
's
hand
,
and
gazed
straight
up
into
the
fretted
roof
,
as
if
that
were
to
her
the
chief
marvel
.
Ethel
stood
and
knelt
,
but
did
not
seem
,
to
herself
,
to
have
the
power
of
thinking
,
or
feeling
.
She
saw
and
heard
—
that
was
all
;
she
could
not
realize
.
They
drew
her
forward
,
when
it
was
over
,
to
sign
her
name
,
as
witness
.
She
took
up
the
pen
,
looked
at
the
Flora
May
,
written
for
the
last
time
,
and
found
her
hand
so
trembling
,
that
she
said
,
half-smiling
,
that
she
could
not
write
.
Mary
was
only
too
well
pleased
to
supply
the
deficiency
.
Dr.
May
looked
at
her
anxiously
,
and
asked
whether
she
felt
overcome
.
'
No
,
papa
.
I
did
not
know
my
hand
was
shaky
.
'
He
took
it
into
his
,
and
pressed
it
.
Ethel
knew
,
then
,
how
much
had
been
undeveloped
in
her
own
mind
,
catching
it
,
as
it
were
,
from
his
touch
,
and
look
.
The
thought
of
his
past
joy
—
the
sad
fading
of
hope
for
Margaret
—
the
fear
and
doubt
for
their
present
bride
—
above
all
,
the
sense
that
the
fashion
of
this
world
passeth
away
;
and
that
it
is
not
the
outward
scene
,
but
our
bearing
in
it
,
that
is
to
last
for
ever
.
The
bells
struck
up
,
each
peal
ending
with
a
crash
,
that
gave
Ethel
some
vague
idea
of
fatality
;
and
they
all
came
back
to
the
house
,
where
Margaret
was
ready
,
in
the
drawing-room
,
to
receive
them
,
looking
very
pretty
,
in
her
soft
blue
dress
,
which
especially
became
her
fair
complexion
,
and
light
brown
hair
.
Ethel
did
not
quite
like
the
pink
colour
on
her
cheeks
,
and
feared
that
she
had
been
shaken
by
Flora
's
agitation
,
in
the
morning
;
but
she
was
very
calm
and
bright
,
in
the
affectionate
greeting
with
which
she
held
out
her
hands
to
the
bride
and
bridegroom
,
as
they
came
in
.
Mr.
Rivers
and
Meta
were
the
only
guests
,
and
,
while
Meta
was
seized
by
the
children
,
Margaret
lay
talking
to
Mr.
Rivers
,
George
standing
upright
and
silent
behind
her
sofa
,
like
a
sentinel
.
Flora
was
gone
to
change
her
dress
,
not
giving
way
,
but
nervous
and
hurried
,
as
she
reiterated
parting
directions
about
household
comforts
to
Ethel
,
who
stood
by
the
toilette-table
,
sticking
a
pin
into
the
pincushion
and
drawing
it
out
again
,
as
if
solely
intent
on
making
it
always
fit
into
the
same
hole
,
while
Mary
dressed
Flora
,
packed
,
flew
about
,
and
was
useful
.
As
they
came
down
stairs
,
Ethel
found
that
Flora
was
trembling
from
head
to
foot
,
and
leaning
on
her
;
Dr.
May
stood
at
the
foot
of
the
stairs
,
and
folded
his
daughter
in
a
long
embrace
;
Flora
gave
herself
up
to
it
as
if
she
would
never
bear
to
leave
it
.
Did
a
flash
come
over
her
then
,
what
the
father
was
,
whom
she
had
held
cheaply
?
what
was
the
worth
of
that
for
which
she
had
exchanged
such
a
home
?
She
spoke
not
a
word
,
she
only
clung
tightly
—
if
her
heart
failed
her
—
it
was
too
late
"
Bless
you
!
my
child
!
"
he
said
at
last
.
"
Only
be
what
your
mother
was
!
"
A
coming
tread
warned
them
to
part
.
There
was
a
tray
of
luncheon
for
the
two
who
were
about
to
depart
,
and
the
great
snow-white
cake
was
waiting
for
Flora
to
cut
it
.
She
smiled
,
accomplished
that
feat
steadily
,
and
Norman
continuing
the
operation
,
Aubrey
guided
Gertrude
in
handing
round
the
slices
.
George
did
full
justice
thereto
,
as
well
as
to
the
more
solid
viands
.
Flora
could
taste
nothing
,
but
she
contrived
to
smile
and
say
it
was
too
early
.
She
was
in
haste
to
have
it
over
now
,
and
,
as
soon
as
George
had
finished
,
she
rose
up
,
still
composed
and
resolved
,
the
last
kisses
were
given
—
Gertrude
was
lifted
up
to
her
,
after
she
was
in
the
carriage
for
the
very
last
,
when
George
proposed
to
run
away
with
her
also
,
whereupon
Daisy
kicked
and
screamed
,
and
was
taken
back
in
haste
.
The
door
was
shut
,
and
they
drove
off
,
bound
for
the
Continent
,
and
then
Mary
,
as
if
the
contingency
of
losing
Flora
had
only
for
the
first
time
occurred
to
her
as
the
consequence
of
the
wedding
,
broke
out
into
a
piteous
fit
of
sobbing
—
rather
too
unrestrained
,
considering
her
fourteen
years
.
Poor
Mary
,
she
was
a
very
child
still
!
They
pulled
her
into
the
study
,
out
of
the
way
of
Mr.
Rivers
,
and
Meta
had
no
sooner
said
how
Flora
would
soon
come
home
and
live
at
the
Grange
,
and
talked
of
the
grand
school-feast
,
to
which
she
was
at
once
going
to
take
her
friends
,
than
the
round
rosy
face
drew
out
of
its
melancholy
puckers
into
smiles
,
as
Mary
began
to
tell
the
delight
caused
by
the
invitations
which
she
had
conveyed
.
That
was
to
be
a
feast
indeed
—
all
the
Abbotstoke
children
—
all
Flora
's
class
at
Stoneborough
,
and
as
many
Cocksmoor
scholars
as
could
walk
so
far
,
were
to
dine
on
Christmas
fare
,
at
one
o'clock
,
at
the
Grange
,
and
Meta
was
in
haste
to
be
at
home
to
superintend
the
feast
.
Mary
,
Blanche
,
and
Aubrey
went
with
her
,
under
the
keeping
of
Miss
Bracy
,
the
boys
were
to
follow
.
She
had
hoped
for
Ethel
,
but
on
looking
at
her
,
ceased
her
coaxing
importunity
.
'
I
see
,
'
she
said
,
kindly
;
'
even
school
children
will
not
be
so
good
for
you
as
peace
.
'
'
Thank
you
,
'
said
Ethel
,
'
I
should
like
to
be
quiet
till
the
evening
,
if
you
will
let
me
off
.
It
is
very
kind
in
you
.
'
'
I
ought
to
know
how
to
pity
you
,
'
said
Meta
,
'
I
who
have
gained
what
you
have
lost
.
'
'
I
want
to
think
too
,
'
said
Ethel
.
'
It
is
the
beginning
to
me
of
a
new
life
,
and
I
have
not
been
able
to
look
at
it
yet
.
'
'
Besides
,
Margaret
will
want
you
.
Poor
Margaret
—
has
it
been
very
trying
to
her
?
'
'
I
fear
so
,
but
I
shall
keep
out
of
her
way
,
and
leave
her
to
a
quiet
afternoon
with
Richard
.
It
will
be
the
greatest
treat
to
those
two
to
be
together
.
'
'
Very
well
,
I
will
carry
off
the
children
,
and
leave
the
house
quiet
.
'
And
quiet
it
was
in
another
hour
—
Gertrude
walking
with
the
nurses
,
Dr.
May
gone
to
his
patients
,
and
all
the
rest
at
Abbotstoke
,
except
Richard
and
Margaret
down-stairs
;
and
Ethel
,
who
,
while
arranging
her
properties
in
her
new
room
,
had
full
leisure
to
lay
out
before
herself
the
duties
that
had
devolved
on
her
,
and
to
grapple
with
them
.
She
recalled
the
many
counsels
that
she
had
received
from
Flora
,
and
they
sounded
so
bewildering
,
that
she
wished
it
had
been
Conic
sections
,
and
then
she
looked
at
a
Hebrew
grammar
that
Norman
had
given
her
,
and
gave
a
sigh
as
she
slipped
it
into
the
shelf
of
the
seldom
used
.
She
looked
about
the
room
,
cleared
out
the
last
piece
of
brown
paper
,
and
burnt
the
last
torn
envelope
,
that
no
relic
of
packing
and
change
might
distress
Margaret
's
eyes
for
order
—
then
feeling
at
once
desolate
and
intrusive
,
she
sat
down
in
Flora
's
fire-side
chair
,
opened
her
desk
,
and
took
out
her
last
time-table
.
She
looked
at
it
for
some
minutes
,
laid
it
aside
,
and
rising
,
knelt
down
.
Again
seating
herself
,
she
resumed
her
paper
,
took
a
blank
one
,
ruled
it
,
and
wrote
her
rules
for
each
hour
of
each
day
in
the
week
.
That
first
hour
after
breakfast
,
when
hitherto
she
had
been
free
,
was
one
sacrifice
—
it
must
go
now
,
to
ordering
dinner
,
seeing
after
stores
,
watching
over
the
children
's
clothes
,
and
the
other
non-descripts
,
which
,
happily
for
her
,
Flora
had
already
reduced
to
method
.
The
other
loss
was
the
spare
time
between
the
walk
and
tea
;
she
must
not
spend
that
in
her
own
room
now
,
or
there
would
be
no
one
to
sit
with
Margaret
,
or
keep
the
little
ones
from
being
troublesome
to
her
.
Ethel
had
often
had
to
give
up
this
space
before
,
when
Flora
went
out
in
the
evening
,
and
she
had
seldom
felt
otherwise
than
annoyed
.
Give
it
up
for
good
!
that
was
the
cure
for
temper
,
but
it
had
been
valuable
as
something
of
her
own
!
She
would
have
been
thankful
could
she
have
hoped
to
keep
regularly
to
her
own
rules
,
but
that
she
knew
was
utterly
improbable
—
boys
,
holidays
,
callers
,
engagements
,
Dr.
May
,
would
all
conspire
to
turn
half
her
days
upside
down
,
and
Cocksmoor
itself
must
often
depend
not
only
on
the
weather
,
but
on
home
doings
.
Two
or
three
notes
she
wrote
at
the
foot
of
her
paper
.
N
.
B
.
These
are
a
standard
—
not
a
bed
of
Procrustes
.
Musts
—
To
be
first
consulted
.
—
Mays
—
last
.
Ethel
May
's
last
of
all
.
If
I
cannot
do
everything
—
omit
the
self-chosen
.
Mem
.
—
Neither
hurry
when
it
depends
on
myself
,
nor
fidget
when
it
depends
on
others
.
Keep
a
book
going
,
to
pacify
myself
.
Her
rules
drawn
up
,
Ethel
knelt
once
more
.
Then
she
drew
a
long
sigh
,
and
wondered
where
Flora
was
;
and
next
,
as
she
was
fairly
fagged
,
mind
and
body
,
she
threw
herself
back
in
the
armchair
,
took
up
a
railway
novel
that
Hector
had
brought
home
,
and
which
they
had
hidden
from
the
children
,
and
repaired
herself
with
the
luxury
of
an
idle
reading
.
Margaret
and
Richard
likewise
spent
a
peaceful
,
though
pensive
afternoon
.
Margaret
had
portions
of
letters
from
Alan
to
read
to
him
,
and
a
consultation
to
hold
.
The
hope
of
her
full
recovery
had
so
melted
away
,
that
she
had
,
in
every
letter
,
striven
to
prepare
Mr.
Ernescliffe
for
the
disappointment
,
and
each
that
she
received
in
return
was
so
sanguine
and
affectionate
,
that
the
very
fondness
was
as
much
grief
as
joy
.
She
could
not
believe
that
he
took
in
the
true
state
of
the
case
,
or
was
prepared
to
perceive
that
she
could
never
be
his
wife
,
and
she
wanted
Richard
to
write
one
of
his
clear
,
dispassionate
statements
,
such
as
carried
full
conviction
,
and
to
help
to
put
a
final
end
to
the
engagement
.
'
But
why
,
'
said
Richard
—
'
why
should
you
wish
to
distress
him
?
'
'
Because
I
cannot
bear
that
he
should
be
deceived
,
and
should
feed
on
false
hopes
.
'
Do
you
think
it
right
,
Richard
?
'
'
I
will
write
to
him
,
if
you
like
,
'
said
Richard
;
'
but
I
think
he
must
pretty
well
know
the
truth
from
all
the
letters
to
Harry
and
to
himself
.
'
'
It
would
be
so
much
better
for
him
,
to
settle
his
mind
at
once
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
Perhaps
he
would
not
think
so
—
'
There
was
a
pause
,
while
Margaret
saw
that
her
brother
was
thinking
.
At
last
,
he
said
,
'
Margaret
,
will
you
pardon
me
?
I
do
think
that
this
is
a
little
restlessness
.
The
truth
has
not
been
kept
from
him
,
and
I
do
not
see
that
we
are
called
to
force
it
on
him
.
He
is
sensible
and
reasonable
,
and
will
know
how
to
judge
when
he
comes
home
.
'
'
It
was
to
try
to
save
him
the
pang
,
'
murmured
Margaret
.
'
Yes
;
but
it
will
be
worse
far
away
than
near
.
I
do
not
mean
that
we
should
conceal
the
fact
,
but
you
have
no
right
to
give
him
up
before
he
comes
home
.
The
whole
engagement
was
for
the
time
of
his
voyage
.
'
'
Then
you
think
I
ought
not
to
break
it
off
before
his
return
?
'
'
Certainly
not
.
'
'
It
will
be
pain
spared
—
unless
it
should
be
worse
by-and-by
.
'
'
I
do
not
suppose
we
ought
to
look
to
by-and-by
,
'
said
Richard
.
'
How
so
.
'
'
Do
the
clearly
right
thing
,
for
the
present
,
I
mean
,
'
he
said
,
'
without
anxiety
for
the
rest
.
How
do
we
—
any
of
us
—
know
what
may
be
the
case
in
another
year
?
'
'
Do
not
flatter
me
with
hopes
,
'
said
Margaret
,
sadly
smiling
;
'
I
have
had
too
many
of
them
.
'
'
No
,
'
said
Richard
;
'
I
do
not
think
you
will
ever
get
well
.
But
so
much
may
happen
—
'
'
I
had
rather
have
my
mind
made
up
once
for
all
,
and
resign
myself
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
His
will
is
sometimes
that
we
should
be
uncertain
,
'
said
Richard
.
'
And
that
is
the
most
trying
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
Just
so
—
'
and
he
paused
tenderly
.
'
I
feel
how
much
has
been
right
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
This
wedding
has
brought
my
real
character
before
me
.
I
feel
what
I
should
have
been
.
You
have
no
notion
how
excited
and
elated
I
can
get
about
a
little
bit
of
dress
out
of
the
common
way
for
myself
,
or
others
,
'
said
she
,
smiling
—
'
and
then
all
the
external
show
and
things
belonging
to
station
—
I
naturally
care
much
more
for
them
than
even
Flora
does
.
Ethel
would
bear
all
those
things
as
if
they
did
not
exist
—
I
could
not
.
'
'
They
would
be
a
temptation
?
'
'
They
would
once
have
been
.
Yes
,
they
would
now
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
And
government
,
and
management
,
and
influence
—
you
would
not
guess
what
dreams
I
used
to
waste
on
them
,
and
now
here
am
I
set
aside
from
it
all
,
good
for
nothing
but
for
all
you
dear
ones
to
be
kind
to
.
'
'
They
would
not
say
so
,
'
said
Richard
,
kindly
.
'
Not
say
it
,
but
I
feel
it
.
Papa
and
Ethel
are
all
the
world
to
each
other
—
Richard
,
I
may
say
it
to
you
—
There
has
been
only
one
thing
more
hard
to
bear
than
that
—
Do
n't
suppose
there
was
a
moment
's
neglect
,
or
disregard
;
but
when
first
I
understood
that
Ethel
could
be
more
to
him
than
I
—
then
I
could
not
always
feel
rightly
.
It
was
the
punishment
for
always
wanting
to
be
first
.
'
'
My
father
would
be
grieved
that
you
had
the
notion
.
You
should
not
keep
it
.
'
'
He
does
not
know
it
is
so
,
'
said
Margaret
;
'
I
am
his
first
care
,
I
fear
,
his
second
grief
;
but
it
is
not
in
the
nature
of
things
that
Ethel
should
not
be
more
his
comfort
and
companion
.
Oh
!
I
am
glad
it
was
not
she
who
married
!
What
shall
we
do
when
she
goes
?
'
This
came
from
Margaret
's
heart
,
so
as
