pleased,
'
was
all
Ethel
could
say
.
'
I
thought
she
would
be
,
'
said
Richard
,
approaching
.
'
Captain
Gordon
seemed
quite
vexed
that
no
special
token
of
remembrance
was
left
to
her
.
'
Margaret
smiled
in
a
peculiar
way
.
'
If
he
only
knew
how
glad
I
am
there
was
not
.
'
And
Ethel
knew
that
the
Church
was
his
token
to
Margaret
,
and
that
any
"
fading
frail
memorial
"
would
have
lessened
the
force
of
the
signification
.
Ethel
could
speak
better
to
her
brother
than
to
her
sister
.
'
O
Richard
!
Richard
!
Richard
!
'
she
cried
,
and
a
most
unusual
thing
with
both
,
she
flung
her
arms
round
his
neck
.
'
It
is
come
at
last
!
If
it
had
not
been
for
you
,
this
would
never
have
been
.
How
little
likely
it
seemed
,
that
dirty
day
,
when
I
talked
wildly
,
and
you
checked
me
!
'
'
You
had
faith
and
perseverance
,
'
said
Richard
,
'
or
—
'
'
You
are
right
,
'
said
Margaret
,
as
Ethel
was
about
to
disclaim
.
'
It
was
Ethel
's
steadiness
that
brought
it
before
Alan
's
mind
.
If
she
had
yielded
when
we
almost
wished
it
,
in
the
time
of
the
distress
about
Mrs.
Green
,
I
do
believe
that
all
would
have
died
away
!
'
'
I
did
n't
keep
steady
—
I
was
only
crazy
.
You
and
Ritchie
and
Mr.
Wilmot
—
'
said
Ethel
,
half-crying
;
then
,
as
if
unable
to
stay
,
she
exclaimed
with
a
sort
of
petulance
,
'
And
there
's
Harry
playing
all
sorts
of
rigs
with
Aubrey
!
I
sha
n't
get
any
more
sense
out
of
him
to-day
!
'
And
away
she
rushed
to
the
wayfaring
dust
of
her
life
of
labour
,
to
find
Aubrey
and
Daisy
half-way
up
the
tulip
tree
,
and
Harry
mischievously
unwilling
to
help
them
down
again
,
assuring
her
that
such
news
deserved
a
holiday
,
and
that
she
was
growing
a
worse
Tartar
than
Miss
Winter
.
She
had
better
let
the
poor
children
alone
,
put
on
her
bonnet
,
and
come
with
him
to
tell
Mr.
Wilmot
.
Whereat
Ethel
was
demurring
,
when
Dr.
May
came
forth
,
and
declared
he
should
take
her
himself
.
Poor
Mr.
Wilmot
laboured
under
a
great
burthen
of
gratitude
,
which
no
one
would
receive
from
him
.
Dr.
May
and
Ethel
repudiated
thanks
almost
with
terror
;
and
,
when
he
tried
them
with
the
Captain
,
he
found
very
doubtful
approval
of
the
whole
measure
,
so
that
Harry
alone
was
a
ready
acceptant
of
a
full
meed
of
acknowledgments
for
his
gallant
extraction
of
the
will
.
No
one
was
more
obliged
to
him
than
Hector
Ernescliffe
,
who
wrote
to
Margaret
that
it
would
be
very
jolly
to
come
home
again
,
and
that
he
was
delighted
that
the
Captain
could
not
hinder
either
that
or
Cocksmoor
Church
.
'
And
as
to
Maplewood
,
I
shall
not
hate
it
so
much
,
if
that
happens
which
I
hope
will
happen
.
'
Of
which
oracular
sentence
,
Margaret
could
make
nothing
.
The
house
of
May
felt
more
at
their
ease
when
the
uncongenial
Captain
had
departed
,
although
he
carried
off
Harry
with
him
.
There
was
the
better
opportunity
for
a
tea-drinking
consultation
with
Dr.
Spencer
and
Mr.
Wilmot
,
when
Margaret
lay
on
her
sofa
,
looking
better
than
for
months
past
,
and
taking
the
keenest
interest
in
every
arrangement
.
Dr.
Spencer
,
whose
bright
eyes
glittered
at
every
mention
of
the
subject
,
assumed
that
he
was
to
be
the
architect
,
while
Dr.
May
was
assuring
him
that
it
was
a
maxim
that
no
one
unpaid
could
be
trusted
;
and
when
he
talked
of
beautiful
German
Churches
with
pierced
spires
,
declared
that
the
building
must
not
make
too
large
a
hole
in
the
twenty
thousand
,
at
the
expense
of
future
Curates
,
because
Richard
was
the
first
.
'
I
'll
be
prudent
,
Dick
,
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
.
'
Trust
me
not
to
rival
the
Minster
.
'
'
We
shall
find
work
next
for
you
there
,
'
said
Mr.
Wilmot
.
'
Aye
,
we
shall
have
May
out
of
his
family
packing-box
before
many
years
are
over
his
head
.
'
'
Do
n't
mention
it
,
'
said
Dr.
May
;
'
I
know
what
I
exposed
myself
to
in
bringing
Wilmot
here
.
'
'
Yes
,
'
said
Dr.
Spencer
,
'
we
shall
put
you
in
the
van
when
we
attack
the
Corporation
pen
.
'
'
I
shall
hold
by
the
good
old
cause
.
As
if
the
galleries
had
not
been
there
before
you
were
born
!
'
'
As
if
poor
people
had
a
right
to
sit
in
their
own
Church
!
'
said
Ethel
.
'
Sit
,
you
may
well
say
,
'
said
Mr.
Wilmot
.
'
As
if
anyone
could
do
otherwise
,
with
those
ingenious
traps
for
hindering
kneeling
.
'
'
Well
,
well
,
I
know
the
people
must
have
room
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
cutting
short
several
further
attacks
which
he
saw
impending
.
'
Yes
,
you
would
like
to
build
another
blue
gallery
,
blocking
up
another
window
,
and
with
Richard
May
and
Christopher
Tomkins
,
Churchwardens
,
on
it
,
in
orange-coloured
letters
—
the
Rivers
'
colours
.
No
disrespect
to
your
father
,
Miss
May
,
but
,
as
a
general
observation
,
it
is
a
property
of
Town
Councillors
to
be
conservative
only
where
they
ought
not
.
'
'
I
brought
you
here
to
talk
of
building
a
Church
,
not
of
pulling
one
to
pieces
.
'
Poor
Dr.
May
,
he
knew
it
was
inevitable
and
quite
right
,
but
his
affectionate
heart
and
spirit
of
perpetuity
,
which
had
an
association
connected
with
every
marble
cloud
,
green-baize
pew
,
and
square-headed
panel
,
anticipated
tortures
in
the
general
sweep
,
for
which
his
ecclesiastical
taste
and
sense
of
propriety
would
not
soon
compensate
.
Margaret
spared
his
feelings
by
bringing
the
Cocksmoor
subject
back
again
;
Dr.
Spencer
seemed
to
comprehend
the
ardour
with
which
she
pressed
it
on
,
as
if
it
were
very
near
her
heart
that
there
should
be
no
delay
.
He
said
he
could
almost
promise
her
that
the
first
stone
should
be
laid
before
the
end
of
the
summer
,
and
she
thanked
him
in
her
own
warm
sweet
way
,
hoping
that
it
would
be
while
Hector
and
Harry
were
at
home
.
Harry
soon
returned
,
having
gone
through
the
Court
Martial
with
the
utmost
credit
,
been
patronized
by
Captain
Gordon
in
an
unheard-of
manner
,
asked
to
dine
with
the
Admiral
,
and
promised
to
be
quickly
afloat
again
.
Ere
many
days
had
passed
,
he
was
appointed
to
one
of
the
finest
vessels
in
the
fleet
,
commanded
by
a
Captain
to
whom
Captain
Gordon
had
introduced
him
,
and
,
who
"
seemed
to
have
taken
a
fancy
to
him
,
"
as
he
said
.
The
Bucephalus
,
now
the
object
of
his
pride
,
was
refitting
,
and
his
sisters
hoped
to
see
a
good
deal
of
him
before
he
should
again
sail
.
Besides
,
Flora
would
be
at
Ryde
before
the
end
of
July
.
It
was
singular
that
Ethel
's
vision
should
have
been
fulfilled
simultaneously
with
Flora
's
having
obtained
a
position
so
far
beyond
what
could
have
been
anticipated
.
She
was
evidently
extremely
happy
and
valuable
,
much
admired
and
respected
,
and
with
full
exercise
for
the
energy
and
cleverness
,
which
were
never
more
gratified
than
by
finding
scope
for
action
.
Her
husband
was
devotedly
attached
to
her
,
and
was
entirely
managed
by
her
,
and
though
her
good
judgment
kept
her
from
appearing
visibly
in
matters
not
pertaining
to
her
own
sphere
,
she
was
,
in
fact
,
his
understanding
.
She
read
,
listened
,
and
thought
for
him
,
imbued
him
with
her
own
views
,
and
composed
his
letters
for
him
;
ruling
his
affairs
,
both
political
and
private
,
and
undeniably
making
him
fill
a
position
,
which
,
without
her
,
he
would
have
left
vacant
;
nor
was
there
any
doubt
that
he
was
far
happier
for
finding
himself
of
consequence
,
and
being
no
longer
left
a
charge
upon
his
own
hands
.
He
seemed
fully
to
suffice
to
her
as
a
companion
,
although
she
was
so
far
superior
in
power
;
for
it
was
,
perhaps
,
her
nature
to
love
best
that
which
depended
upon
her
,
and
gave
her
a
sense
of
exercising
protection
;
as
she
had
always
loved
Margaret
better
than
Ethel
.
"
Mrs.
Rivers
was
an
admirable
woman
.
"
So
everyone
felt
,
and
her
youthful
beauty
and
success
in
the
fashionable
world
,
made
her
qualities
,
as
a
wife
and
mistress
of
a
household
,
the
more
appreciated
.
She
never
set
aside
her
religious
habits
or
principles
,
was
an
active
member
of
various
charitable
associations
,
and
found
her
experience
of
the
Stoneborough
Ladies
'
Committee
applicable
among
far
greater
names
.
Indeed
,
Lady
Leonora
thought
dear
Flora
Rivers
'
only
fault
,
her
over
strictness
,
which
encouraged
Meta
in
the
same
,
but
there
were
points
that
Flora
could
not
have
yielded
on
any
account
,
without
failing
in
her
own
eyes
.
She
made
time
for
everything
,
and
though
,
between
business
and
fashion
,
she
seemed
to
undertake
more
than
mortal
could
accomplish
,
it
was
all
effected
,
and
excellently
.
She
did
,
indeed
,
sigh
over
the
briefness
of
the
time
that
she
could
bestow
on
her
child
or
on
home
correspondence
,
and
declared
that
she
should
rejoice
in
rest
;
but
,
at
the
same
time
,
her
achievements
were
a
positive
pleasure
to
her
.
Meta
,
in
the
meantime
,
had
been
living
passively
on
the
most
affectionate
terms
with
her
brother
and
sister
,
and
though
often
secretly
yearning
after
the
dear
old
father
,
whose
darling
she
had
been
,
and
longing
for
power
of
usefulness
,
she
took
it
on
trust
that
her
present
lot
had
been
ordered
for
her
,
and
was
thankful
,
like
the
bird
of
Dr.
May
's
fable
,
for
the
pleasures
in
her
path
—
culling
sweet
morals
,
and
precious
thoughts
out
of
book
,
painting
or
concert
,
occasions
for
Christian
charities
in
each
courtesy
of
society
,
and
opportunities
for
cheerful
selfdenial
and
submission
,
whenever
any
little
wish
was
thwarted
.
So
Norman
said
she
had
turned
into
a
fine
lady
!
It
was
a
sudden
and
surprising
intimation
,
and
made
a
change
in
the
usually
bright
and
calm
current
of
her
thoughts
.
She
was
not
aware
that
there
had
been
any
alteration
in
herself
,
and
it
was
a
revelation
that
set
her
to
examine
where
she
had
changed
—
poor
little
thing
!
She
was
not
angry
,
she
did
not
resent
the
charge
,
she
took
it
for
granted
that
,
coming
from
such
a
source
,
it
must
be
true
and
reasonable
—
and
what
did
it
mean
?
Did
they
think
her
too
gay
,
or
neglectful
of
old
friends
?
What
had
they
been
saying
to
Harry
about
her
?
'
Ah
!
'
thought
Meta
,
'
I
understand
it
.
I
am
living
a
life
of
ease
and
uselessness
,
and
with
his
higher
aims
and
nobler
purposes
,
he
shrinks
from
the
frivolities
among
which
I
am
cast
.
I
saw
his
saddened
countenance
among
our
gaieties
,
and
I
know
that
to
deep
minds
there
is
heaviness
in
the
midst
of
display
.
He
withdraws
from
the
follies
that
have
no
charms
for
him
,
and
I
—
ought
I
to
be
able
to
help
being
amused
?
I
do
n't
seek
these
things
,
but
,
perhaps
,
I
ought
to
avoid
them
more
than
I
do
—
If
I
could
be
quite
clear
what
is
right
,
I
should
not
care
what
effort
I
made
.
But
I
was
born
to
be
one
of
those
who
have
trial
of
riches
,
and
such
blessed
tasks
are
not
my
portion
.
But
if
he
sees
the
vanities
creeping
into
my
heart
,
I
should
be
grateful
for
that
warning
.
'
So
meditated
Meta
,
as
she
copied
one
of
her
own
drawings
of
the
Grange
,
for
her
dear
old
governess
,
Mrs.
Larpent
,
while
each
line
and
tint
recalled
the
comments
of
her
fond
amateur
father
,
and
the
scenery
carried
her
home
,
in
spite
of
the
street
sounds
,
and
the
scratching
of
Flora
's
pen
,
coursing
over
note
paper
.
Presently
,
Sir
Henry
Walkinghame
called
,
bringing
a
beautiful
bouquet
.
'
Delicious
,
'
cried
Meta
.
'
See
,
Flora
,
it
is
in
good
time
,
for
those
vases
were
sadly
shabby
.
'
She
began
at
once
to
arrange
the
flowers
,
a
task
that
seemed
what
she
was
born
for
,
and
the
choice
roses
and
geraniums
acquired
fresh
grace
as
she
placed
them
in
the
slender
glasses
and
classic
vases
;
but
Flora
's
discerning
eyes
perceived
some
mortification
on
the
part
of
the
gentleman
,
and
,
on
his
departure
,
playfully
reproached
Meta
for
ingratitude
.
'
Did
we
not
thank
him
?
I
thought
I
did
them
all
due
honour
,
actually
using
the
Dresden
bowl
.
'
'
You
little
wretch
!
quite
insensible
to
the
sentiment
of
the
thing
.
'
'
Sentiment
!
One
would
think
you
had
been
reading
about
the
language
of
flowers
!
'
'
Whatever
there
was
,
poor
Sir
Henry
did
not
mean
it
for
the
Dresden
bowl
,
or
Bohemian
glass
.
'
'
Flora
!
do
pray
tell
me
whether
you
are
in
fun
?
'
'
You
ridiculous
child
!
'
said
Flora
,
kissing
her
earnest
forehead
,
inging
the
bell
,
and
gathering
up
her
papers
,
as
she
walked
out
of
the
room
,
and
gave
her
notes
to
the
servant
.
'
What
does
she
mean
?
Is
it
play
?
O
no
,
a
hint
would
be
far
more
like
her
.
But
I
hope
it
is
nonsense
.
He
is
very
kind
and
constant
,
and
I
should
not
know
what
to
do
.
'
Instances
of
his
complaisance
towards
herself
rose
before
her
,
so
as
to
excite
some
warmth
and
gratitude
.
Her
lonely
heart
thrilled
at
the
idea
of
being
again
the
best
beloved
,
and
her
energetic
spirit
bounded
at
the
thought
of
being
no
longer
condemned
to
a
life
of
idle
ease
.
Still
it
was
too
new
a
light
to
her
to
be
readily
accepted
,
after
she
had
looked
on
him
so
long
,
merely
as
a
familiar
of
the
house
,
attentive
to
her
,
because
she
fell
to
his
share
,
when
Flora
was
occupied
.
She
liked
him
,
decidedly
;
she
could
possibly
do
more
;
but
she
was
far
more
inclined
to
dread
,
than
to
desire
,
any
disturbance
of
their
present
terms
of
intercourse
.
'
However
,
'
thought
she
,
'
I
must
see
my
way
.
If
he
should
have
any
such
thing
in
his
head
,
to
go
on
as
we
do
now
would
be
committing
myself
,
and
I
will
not
do
that
,
unless
I
am
sure
it
is
right
.
O
papa
!
you
would
settle
it
for
me
!
But
I
will
have
it
out
with
Flora
.
She
will
find
out
what
I
cannot
—
how
far
he
is
a
man
for
whom
one
ought
to
care
.
I
do
not
think
Norman
liked
him
,
but
then
Norman
has
so
keen
a
sense
of
the
world-touched
.
I
suppose
I
am
that
!
If
any
other
life
did
but
seem
appointed
for
me
,
but
one
cannot
tell
what
is
thwarting
providential
leading
,
and
if
this
be
as
good
a
man
as
—
What
would
Ethel
say
?
If
I
could
but
talk
to
Dr.
May
!
But
Flora
I
will
catch
,
before
I
see
him
again
,
that
I
may
know
how
to
behave
.
'
Catching
Flora
was
not
the
easiest
thing
in
the
world
,
among
her
multifarious
occupations
;
but
Meta
was
not
the
damsel
to
lose
an
opportunity
for
want
of
decision
.
Flora
saw
what
was
coming
,
and
was
annoyed
with
herself
for
having
given
the
alarm
;
but
,
after
all
,
it
must
have
come
some
time
or
other
,
though
she
had
rather
that
Meta
had
been
more
involved
first
.
It
should
be
premised
that
Mrs.
Rivers
had
no
notion
of
the
degree
of
attachment
felt
by
her
brother
for
Meta
;
she
only
knew
that
Lady
Leonora
had
a
general
distrust
of
her
family
,
and
she
felt
it
a
point
of
honour
to
promote
no
dangerous
meetings
,
and
to
encourage
Sir
Henry
—
a
connection
who
would
be
most
valuable
,
both
as
conferring
importance
upon
George
in
the
county
,
and
as
being
himself
related
to
persons
of
high
influence
,
whose
interest
might
push
on
her
brothers
.
Preferment
for
Richard
;
promotion
for
Harry
;
nay
,
diplomatic
appointments
for
Tom
,
came
floating
before
her
imagination
,
even
while
she
smiled
at
her
Alnaschar
visions
.
But
the
tone
of
Meta
,
as
she
drew
her
almost
forcibly
into
her
room
,
shewed
her
that
she
had
given
a
great
shock
to
her
basket
.
'
Flora
,
if
you
would
only
give
me
a
minute
,
and
would
tell
me
—
'
'
What
?
'
asked
Flora
,
not
inclined
to
spare
her
blushes
.
'
Whether
,
whether
you
meant
anything
in
earnest
?
'
'
My
dear
little
goose
,
did
no
one
ever
make
an
innocent
joke
in
their
lives
before
?
'
'
It
was
very
silly
of
me
,
'
said
Meta
;
but
you
gave
me
a
terrible
fright
.
'
Was
it
so
very
terrible
,
poor
little
bird
?
'
said
Flora
,
in
commiseration
.
'
Well
then
,
you
may
safely
think
of
him
as
a
man
tame
about
the
house
.
It
was
much
prettier
of
you
not
to
appropriate
the
flowers
,
as
any
other
damsel
would
have
done
.
'
'
Do
you
really
and
truly
think
—
'
began
Meta
;
but
,
from
the
colour
of
her
cheek
,
and
the
timid
resolution
of
her
tone
,
Flora
thought
it
safest
not
to
hear
the
interrogation
,
and
answered
,
'
I
know
what
he
comes
here
for
—
it
is
only
as
a
refuge
from
his
mother
's
friend
,
old
Lady
Drummond
,
who
would
give
the
world
to
catch
him
for
her
daughters
—
that
's
all
.
Put
my
nonsense
out
of
your
head
,
and
be
yourself
,
my
sweet
one
.
'
Flora
had
never
gone
so
near
an
untruth
,
as
when
she
led
Meta
to
believe
this
was
the
sole
reason
.
But
,
after
all
,
what
did
Flora
herself
know
to
the
contrary
?
'
Meta
recovered
her
ease
,
and
Flora
marked
,
as
weeks
passed
on
,
that
she
grew
more
accustomed
to
Sir
Henry
's
attentions
.
A
little
while
,
and
she
would
find
herself
so
far
bound
by
the
encouragement
she
had
given
,
that
she
could
not
reject
him
.
'
My
dear
,
'
said
George
,
'
when
do
you
think
of
going
down
to
take
the
baby
to
the
Grange
?
She
looks
dull
,
I
think
.
'
'
Really
,
I
think
it
is
hardly
worth
while
to
go
down
en
masse
,
'
said
Flora
.
'
These
last
debates
may
be
important
,
and
it
is
a
bad
time
to
quit
one
's
post
.
Do
n't
you
think
so
?
'
'
As
you
please
—
the
train
is
a
great
bore
.
'
'
And
we
will
send
the
baby
down
the
last
day
before
we
go
to
Ryde
,
with
Preston
and
Butts
to
take
care
of
her
.
We
ca
n't
spare
him
to
take
them
down
,
till
we
shut
up
the
house
.
It
is
so
much
easier
for
us
to
go
to
Portsmouth
from
hence
.
'
The
lurking
conviction
was
,
that
one
confidential
talk
with
Ethel
,
would
cause
the
humming-bird
to
break
the
toils
that
were
being
wound
invisibly
round
her
.
Ethel
and
her
father
knew
nothing
of
the
world
,
and
were
so
unreasonable
in
their
requirements
!
Meta
would
consult
them
all
,
and
all
her
scruples
would
awaken
,
and
perhaps
Dr.
Spencer
might
be
interrogated
on
Sir
Henry
's
life
abroad
,
where
Flora
had
a
suspicion
that
gossip
had
best
not
be
raked
up
.
Not
that
she
concealed
anything
positively
known
to
her
,
or
that
she
was
not
acting
just
as
she
would
have
done
by
her
own
child
.
She
found
herself
happily
married
to
one
whom
home
notions
would
have
rejected
,
and
she
believed
Meta
would
be
perfectly
happy
with
a
man
of
decided
talent
,
honour
,
and
unstained
character
,
even
though
he
should
not
come
up
to
her
father
's
or
Ethel
's
standard
.
If
Meta
were
to
marry
as
they
would
approve
,
she
would
have
far
to
seek
among
"
desirable
connections
.
"
Meantime
,
was
not
Flora
acting
with
exemplary
judgment
and
selfdenial
?
So
she
wrote
that
she
could
not
come
home
;
Margaret
was
much
disappointed
,
and
so
was
Meta
,
who
had
looked
to
Ethel
to
unravel
the
tangles
of
her
life
.
'
No
,
no
,
little
Miss
,
'
said
Flora
to
herself
;
'
you
do
n't
talk
to
Ethel
till
your
fate
is
irrevocable
.
Why
,
if
I
had
listened
to
her
,
I
should
be
thankful
to
be
singing
at
Mrs.
Hoxton
's
parties
at
this
minute
!
and
,
as
for
herself
,
look
at
Norman
Ogilvie
!
No
,
no
,
after
six
weeks
'
yachting
—
moonlight
,
sea
,
and
sympathy
—
I
defy
her
to
rob
Sir
Henry
of
his
prize
!
And
,
with
Meta
lady
of
Cocksmoor
,
even
Ethel
herself
must
be
charmed
!
'
CHAPTER
XX
.
'
We
barter
life
for
pottage
,
sell
true
bliss
For
wealth
or
power
,
for
pleasure
or
renown
;
Thus
,
Esau-like
,
our
Father
's
blessing
miss
,
Then
wash
with
fruitless
tears
our
faded
crown
.
'
Christian
Year
.
'
Papa
,
here
is
a
message
from
Flora
for
you
,
'
said
Margaret
,
holding
up
a
letter
;
'
she
wants
to
know
whom
to
consult
about
the
baby
.
'
'
Ha
!
what
's
the
matter
?
'
Margaret
read
—
'
Will
you
ask
papa
whom
I
had
better
call
in
to
see
the
baby
.
There
does
not
seem
to
be
anything
positively
amiss
,
but
I
am
not
happy
about
her
.
There
is
a
sleepiness
about
her
which
I
do
not
understand
,
and
,
when
roused
,
she
is
fretful
,
and
will
not
be
amused
.
There
is
a
look
in
her
eyes
which
I
do
not
like
,
and
I
should
wish
to
have
some
advice
for
her
.
Lady
Leonora
recommends
Mr.
—
,
but
I
always
distrust
people
who
are
very
much
the
rage
,
and
I
shall
send
for
no
one
without
papa
's
advice
.
'
'
Let
me
see
!
'
said
Dr.
May
,
startled
,
and
holding
out
his
hand
for
the
letter
.
—
'
A
look
about
the
eyes
!
I
shall
go
up
and
see
her
myself
.
Why
has
not
she
brought
her
home
?
'
'
It
would
have
been
far
better
,
'
said
Margaret
.
'
Sleepy
and
dull
!
She
was
as
lively
a
child
when
they
took
her
away
,
as
I
ever
saw
.
What
!
is
there
no
more
about
her
?
The
letter
is
crammed
with
somebody
's
fête
—
vote
of
want
of
confidence
—
debate
last
night
.
What
is
she
about
?
She
fancies
she
knows
everything
,
and
,
the
fact
is
,
she
knows
no
more
about
infants
—
I
could
see
that
,
when
the
poor
little
thing
was
a
day
old
!
'
'
Do
you
think
there
is
cause
for
fear
?
'
said
Margaret
,
anxiously
.
'
I
ca
n't
tell
.
With
a
first
child
,
one
ca
n't
guess
what
may
be
mamma
's
fancy
,
or
what
may
be
serious
.
But
Flora
is
not
too
fanciful
,
and
I
must
see
her
for
my
own
satisfaction
.
Let
some
one
write
,
and
say
I
will
come
up
to-morrow
by
the
twelve
o'clock
train
—
and
mind
she
opens
the
letter
.
'
Dr.
May
kept
his
word
,
and
the
letter
had
evidently
not
been
neglected
;
for
George
was
watching
for
him
at
the
station
,
and
thanked
him
so
eagerly
for
coming
,
that
Dr.
May
feared
that
he
was
indeed
needed
,
and
inquired
anxiously
.
'
Flora
is
uneasy
about
her
—
she
seems
heavy
,
and
cries
when
she
is
disturbed
,
'
replied
George
.
'
Flora
has
not
left
her
to-day
,
and
hardly
yesterday
.
'
'
Have
you
had
no
advice
for
her
?
'
'
Flora
preferred
waiting
till
you
should
come
.
'
Dr.
May
made
an
impatient
movement
,
and
thought
the
way
long
,
till
they
were
set
down
in
Park
Lane
.
Meta
came
to
meet
them
on
the
stairs
,
and
said
that
the
baby
was
just
the
same
,
and
Flora
was
in
the
nursery
,
and
thither
they
hastily
ascended
.
'
O
papa
!
I
am
so
glad
you
are
come
!
'
said
Flora
,
starting
up
from
her
low
seat
,
beside
the
cradle
.
Dr.
May
hardly
paused
to
embrace
his
daughter
,
and
she
anxiously
led
him
to
the
cradle
,
and
tried
to
read
his
expression
,
as
his
eyes
fell
on
the
little
face
,
somewhat
puffed
,
but
of
a
waxy
whiteness
,
and
the
breathing
seeming
to
come
from
the
lips
.
'
How
long
has
she
been
so
?
'
he
asked
,
in
a
rapid
,
professional
manner
.
'
For
about
two
or
three
hours
.
She
was
very
fretful
before
,
but
I
did
not
like
to
call
in
anyone
,
as
you
were
coming
.
Is
it
from
her
teeth
?
'
said
Flora
,
more
and
more
alarmed
by
his
manner
.
'
Her
complexion
is
always
like
that
—
she
cannot
bear
to
be
disturbed
—
'
added
she
,
as
the
child
feebly
moaned
,
on
Dr.
May
beginning
to
take
her
from
her
cradle
;
but
,
without
attending
to
the
objection
,
he
lifted
her
up
,
so
that
she
lay
as
quietly
as
before
,
on
his
arm
.
Flora
had
trusted
that
hope
and
confidence
would
come
with
him
;
but
,
on
the
contrary
,
every
lurking
misgiving
began
to
rush
wildly
over
her
,
as
she
watched
his
countenance
,
while
he
carried
his
little
grand-daughter
towards
the
light
,
studied
her
intently
,
raised
her
drooping
eyelids
,
and
looked
into
her
eyes
,
scarcely
eliciting
another
moan
.
Flora
dared
not
ask
a
question
,
but
looked
on
with
eyes
open
,
as
it
were
,
stiffened
.
'
This
is
the
effect
of
opium
!
'
were
Dr.
May
's
first
words
,
breaking
on
all
with
startling
suddenness
;
but
,
before
anyone
could
speak
,
he
added
,
'
We
must
try
some
stimulant
,
directly
;
'
then
looking
round
the
room
,
'
What
have
you
nearest
?
'
'
Godfrey
's
Cordial
,
sir
,
'
quickly
suggested
the
nurse
.
'
Aye
—
anything
to
save
time
—
she
is
sinking
for
want
of
the
drug
that
has
—
'
he
broke
off
to
apportion
the
dose
,
and
to
hold
the
child
in
a
position
to
administer
it
—
Flora
tried
to
give
it
—
the
nurse
tried
—
in
vain
.
'
Do
not
torment
her
further
,
'
said
the
Doctor
,
as
Flora
would
have
renewed
the
trial
—
'
it
cannot
be
done
.
What
have
you
all
been
doing
?
'
cried
he
,
as
,
looking
up
,
his
face
changed
from
the
tender
compassion
with
which
he
had
been
regarding
his
little
patient
,
into
a
look
of
strong
indignation
,
and
one
of
his
sentences
of
hasty
condemnation
broke
from
him
,
as
it
would
not
have
done
,
had
Flora
been
less
externally
calm
.
'
I
tell
you
this
child
has
been
destroyed
with
opium
!
'
They
all
recoiled
;
the
father
turned
fiercely
round
on
the
nurse
,
with
a
violent
exclamation
,
but
Dr.
May
checked
him
.
'
Hush
!
This
is
no
presence
for
the
wrath
of
man
.
'
The
solemn
tone
seemed
to
make
George
shrink
into
an
awestruck
quiescence
;
he
stood
motionless
and
transfixed
,
as
if
indeed
conscious
of
some
overwhelming
presence
.
Flora
had
come
near
,
with
an
imploring
gesture
,
to
take
the
child
in
her
own
arms
;
but
Dr.
May
,
by
a
look
of
authority
,
prevented
it
;
for
,
indeed
,
it
would
have
been
harassing
and
distressing
the
poor
little
sufferer
again
to
move
her
,
as
she
lay
with
feeble
gasps
on
his
arm
.
So
they
remained
,
for
what
space
no
one
knew
—
not
one
word
was
uttered
—
not
a
limb
moved
,
and
the
street
noises
sounded
far
off
.
Dr.
May
stooped
his
head
closer
to
the
babe
's
face
,
and
seemed
listening
for
a
breath
,
as
he
once
more
touched
the
little
wrist
—
he
took
away
his
finger
,
he
ceased
to
listen
,
he
looked
up
.
Flora
gave
one
cry
—
not
loud
,
not
sharp
,
but
'
an
exceeding
bitter
cry
'
—
she
would
have
moved
forward
,
but
reeled
,
and
her
husband
's
arms
supported
her
as
she
sank
into
a
swoon
.
'
Carry
her
to
her
room
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
I
will
come
'
—
and
,
when
George
had
borne
her
away
,
he
kissed
the
lifeless
cheek
,
and
reverently
placed
the
little
corpse
in
the
cradle
;
but
,
as
he
rose
from
doing
so
,
the
sobbing
nurse
exclaimed
,
'
Oh
!
sir
!
oh
!
sir
,
indeed
,
I
never
did
—
'
'
Never
did
what
?
'
said
Dr.
May
,
sternly
.
'
I
never
gave
the
dear
baby
anything
to
do
her
harm
,
'
cried
Preston
,
vehemently
.
'
You
gave
her
this
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
pointing
to
the
bottle
of
Godfrey
's
Cordial
.
He
could
say
no
more
,
for
her
master
was
hurrying
back
into
the
room
.
Anger
was
the
first
emotion
that
possessed
him
,
and
he
hardly
gave
an
answer
to
Dr.
May
's
question
about
Flora
.
'
Meta
is
with
her
!
Where
is
that
woman
?
Have
you
given
her
up
to
the
police
?
'
Preston
shrieked
and
sobbed
,
made
incoherent
exclamations
,
and
was
much
disposed
to
cling
to
the
Doctor
.
'
Silence
!
'
said
Dr.
May
,
lifting
his
hand
,
and
assuming
a
tone
and
manner
that
awed
them
both
,
by
reminding
them
that
death
was
present
in
the
chamber
;
and
,
taking
his
son-in-law
out
,
and
shutting
the
door
,
he
said
,
in
a
low
voice
,
'
I
believe
this
is
no
case
for
the
police
—
have
mercy
on
the
poor
woman
.
'
'
Mercy
—
I
'll
have
no
mercy
on
my
child
's
murderer
!
You
said
she
had
destroyed
my
child
.
'
'
Ignorantly
.
'
'
I
do
n't
care
for
ignorance
!
She
destroyed
her
—
I
'll
have
justice
,
'
said
George
,
doggedly
.
'
You
shall
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
laying
his
hand
on
his
arm
;
'
but
it
must
be
investigated
,
and
you
are
in
no
state
to
investigate
.
Go
down-stairs
—
do
not
do
anything
till
I
come
to
you
.
'
His
peremptory
manner
imposed
on
George
,
who
,
nevertheless
,
turned
round
as
he
went
,
saying
,
with
a
fierce
glare
in
his
eyes
,
'
You
will
not
let
her
escape
.
'
'
No
.
Go
down
—
be
quiet
.
'
Dr.
May
returned
to
Preston
,
and
had
to
assure
her
that
Mr.
Rivers
was
not
gone
to
call
the
police
,
before
he
could
bring
her
to
any
degree
of
coherence
.
She
regarded
him
as
her
only
friend
,
and
soon
undertook
to
tell
the
whole
truth
,
and
he
perceived
that
it
was
,
indeed
,
the
truth
.
She
had
not
known
that
the
cordial
was
injurious
,
deeming
it
a
panacea
against
fretfulness
,
precious
to
nurses
,
but
against
which
ladies
always
had
a
prejudice
,
and
,
therefore
,
to
be
kept
secret
.
Poor
little
Leonora
had
been
very
fretful
and
uneasy
when
Flora
's
many
avocations
had
first
caused
her
to
be
set
aside
,
and
Preston
had
had
recourse
to
the
remedy
which
,
lulling
her
successfully
,
was
applied
with
less
moderation
and
judgment
than
would
have
been
shewn
by
a
more
experienced
person
,
till
gradually
the
poor
child
became
dependant
on
it
for
every
hour
of
rest
.
When
her
mother
,
at
last
,
became
aware
of
her
unsatisfactory
condition
,
and
spent
her
time
in
watching
her
,
the
nurse
being
prevented
from
continuing
her
drug
,
she
was
,
of
course
,
so
miserable
without
it
,
that
Preston
had
ventured
on
proposing
it
,
to
which
Mrs.
Rivers
had
replied
with
displeasure
sufficient
to
prevent
her
from
declaring
how
much
she
had
previously
given
.
Preston
was
in
an
agony
of
distress
for
her
little
charge
,
as
well
as
of
fear
for
herself
,
and
could
hardly
understand
what
her
error
had
been
.
Dr.
May
soon
saw
that
,
though
not
highly
principled
,
her
sorrow
was
sincere
,
and
that
she
still
wept
bitterly
over
the
consequences
of
her
treatment
,
when
he
told
her
that
she
had
nothing
to
fear
from
the
law
,
and
that
he
would
protect
her
from
Mr.
Rivers
.
Her
confession
was
hardly
over
,
when
Meta
knocked
at
the
door
,
pale
and
frightened
.
'
Oh
!
Dr.
May
,
do
come
to
poor
Flora
!
I
do
n't
know
what
to
do
,
and
George
is
in
such
a
state
!
'
Dr.
May
made
a
sound
of
sorrow
and
perplexity
,
and
Meta
,
as
she
went
down
before
him
,
asked
,
in
a
low
,
horror-stricken
whisper
,
'
Did
Preston
really
—
'
'
Not
knowingly
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
It
is
the
way
many
children
have
gone
;
but
I
never
thought
—
'
They
had
come
to
Flora
's
dressing-room
.
Her
bed-room
door
was
open
,
and
George
was
pacing
heavily
up
and
down
the
length
of
both
apartments
,
fiercely
indignant
.
'
Well
!
'
said
he
,
advancing
eagerly
on
Dr.
May
,
'
has
she
confessed
?
'
'
But
Flora
!
'
said
Dr.
May
,
instead
of
answering
him
.
Flora
lay
on
her
bed
,
her
face
hidden
on
her
pillow
,
only
now
and
then
moaning
.
'
Flora
!
my
poor
,
poor
child
!
'
said
her
father
,
bending
down
to
raise
her
,
and
taking
her
hand
.
She
moved
away
,
so
as
to
bury
her
face
more
completely
,
but
there
was
life
in
the
movement
,
and
he
was
sufficiently
reassured
on
her
situation
to
be
able
to
attend
to
George
,
who
was
only
impatient
to
rush
off
to
take
his
revenge
.
He
led
him
into
the
outer
room
,
where
Meta
was
waiting
,
and
forced
upon
his
unwilling
conviction
that
it
was
no
case
for
the
law
.
The
child
had
not
been
killed
by
any
one
dose
,
but
had
rather
sunk
from
the
want
of
stimulus
,
to
which
she
had
been
accustomed
.
As
to
any
pity
for
the
woman
,
George
would
not
hear
of
it
.
She
was
still
,
in
his
eyes
,
the
destroyer
of
his
child
;
and
,
when
he
found
the
law
would
afford
him
no
vengeance
,
he
insisted
that
she
should
be
turned
out
of
his
house
at
once
.
'
George
!
'
called
a
hollow
voice
from
the
next
room
,
and
,
hurrying
back
,
they
saw
Flora
sitting
up
,
and
,
as
well
as
trembling
limbs
allowed
,
endeavouring
to
rise
to
her
feet
,
while
burning
spots
were
in
her
cheeks
.
'
George
,
turn
me
out
of
the
house
too
!
If
Preston
killed
her
,
I
did
!
'
and
she
gave
a
ghastly
laugh
.
George
threw
his
arms
round
her
,
and
laid
her
on
her
bed
again
,
with
many
fond
words
,
and
strength
which
she
had
not
power
to
withstand
.
Dr.
May
,
in
the
meantime
,
spoke
quickly
to
Meta
,
in
the
doorway
.
'
She
must
go
.
They
cannot
see
her
again
;
but
has
she
any
friends
in
London
?
'
'
I
think
not
.
'
'
Find
out
.
She
must
not
be
sent
adrift
.
Send
her
to
the
Grange
,
if
nothing
better
offers
.
You
must
judge
.
'
He
felt
that
he
could
confide
in
Meta
's
discretion
and
promptitude
,
and
returned
to
the
parents
.
'
Is
she
gone
?
'
said
George
,
in
a
whisper
,
which
he
meant
should
be
unheard
by
his
wife
,
who
had
sunk
her
face
in
her
pillows
again
.
'
Going
.
Meta
is
seeing
to
it
.
'
'
And
that
woman
gets
off
free
!
'
cried
George
,
'
while
my
poor
little
girl
—
'
and
,
no
longer
occupied
by
the
hope
of
retribution
,
he
gave
way
to
an
overpowering
burst
of
grief
.
His
wife
did
not
rouse
herself
to
comfort
him
,
but
still
lay
motionless
,
excepting
for
a
convulsive
movement
,
that
passed
over
her
frame
at
each
sound
from
him
,
and
her
father
felt
her
pulse
bound
at
the
same
time
with
corresponding
violence
,
as
if
each
of
his
deep-drawn
sobs
were
a
mortal
thrust
.
Going
to
him
,
Dr.
May
endeavoured
to
repress
his
agitation
,
and
lead
him
from
the
room
;
but
he
could
not
,
at
first
,
prevail
on
him
to
listen
or
understand
,
still
less
,
to
quit
Flora
.
The
attempt
to
force
on
him
the
perception
that
his
uncontrolled
sorrow
was
injuring
her
,
and
that
he
ought
to
bear
up
for
her
sake
,
only
did
further
harm
;
for
,
when
he
rose
up
and
tried
to
caress
her
,
there
was
the
same
torpid
,
passive
resistance
,
the
same
burying
her
face
from
the
light
,
and
the
only
betrayal
of
consciousness
in
the
agonized
throbs
of
her
pulse
.
He
became
excessively
distressed
at
being
thus
repelled
,
and
,
at
last
,
yielded
to
the
impatient
signals
of
Dr.
May
,
who
drew
him
into
the
next
room
,
and
,
with
brief
,
strong
,
though
most
affectionate
and
pitying
words
,
enforced
on
him
that
Flora
's
brain
—
nay
,
her
life
,
was
risked
,
and
that
he
must
leave
her
alone
to
his
care
for
the
present
.
Meta
coming
back
at
the
same
moment
,
Dr.
May
put
him
in
her
charge
,
with
renewed
orders
to
impress
on
him
how
much
depended
on
tranquillity
.
Dr.
May
went
back
,
with
his
soft
,
undisturbing
,
physician
's
footfall
,
and
stood
at
the
side
of
the
bed
,
in
such
intense
anxiety
as
those
only
can
endure
who
know
how
to
pray
,
and
to
pray
in
resignation
and
faith
.
All
was
still
in
the
darkening
twilight
;
but
the
distant
roar
of
the
world
surged
without
,
and
a
gas-light
shone
flickering
through
the
branches
of
the
trees
,
and
fell
on
the
rich
dress
spread
on
the
couch
,
and
the
ornaments
on
the
toilette-table
.
There
was
a
sense
of
oppression
,
and
of
being
pursued
by
the
incongruous
world
,
and
Dr.
May
sighed
to
silence
all
around
,
and
see
his
poor
daughter
in
the
calm
of
her
own
country
air
;
but
she
had
chosen
for
herself
,
and
here
she
lay
,
stricken
down
in
the
midst
of
the
prosperity
that
she
had
sought
.
He
could
hear
every
respiration
,
tightened
and
almost
sobbing
,
and
he
was
hesitating
whether
to
run
the
risk
of
addressing
her
;
when
,
as
if
it
had
occurred
to
her
suddenly
that
she
was
alone
and
deserted
,
she
raised
up
her
head
with
a
startled
movement
,
but
,
as
she
saw
him
,
she
again
hid
her
face
,
as
if
his
presence
were
still
more
intolerable
than
solitude
.
'
Flora
!
my
own
,
my
dearest
—
my
poor
child
!
you
should
not
turn
from
me
.
Do
I
not
carry
with
me
the
like
self-reproachful
conviction
?
'
Flora
let
him
turn
her
face
towards
him
and
kiss
her
forehead
.
It
was
burning
,
and
he
brought
water
and
bathed
it
,
now
and
then
speaking
a
few
fond
,
low
,
gentle
words
,
which
,
though
she
did
not
respond
,
evidently
had
some
soothing
effect
;
for
she
admitted
his
services
,
still
,
however
,
keeping
her
eyes
closed
,
and
her
face
turned
towards
the
darkest
side
of
the
room
.
When
he
went
towards
the
door
,
she
murmured
,
'
Papa
!
'
as
if
to
detain
him
.
'
I
am
not
going
,
darling
.
I
only
wanted
to
speak
to
George
.
'
'
Do
n't
let
him
come
!
'
said
Flora
.
'
Not
till
you
wish
it
,
my
dear
.
'
George
's
step
was
heard
;
his
hand
was
on
the
lock
,
and
again
Dr.
May
was
conscious
of
the
sudden
rush
of
blood
through
all
her
veins
.
He
quickly
went
forward
,
met
him
,
and
shut
him
out
,
persuading
him
,
with
difficulty
,
to
remain
outside
,
and
giving
him
the
occupation
of
sending
out
for
an
anodyne
—
since
the
best
hope
,
at
present
,
lay
in
encouraging
the
torpor
that
had
benumbed
her
crushed
faculties
.
Her
father
would
not
even
venture
to
rouse
her
to
be
undressed
;
he
gave
her
the
medicine
,
and
let
her
lie
still
,
with
as
little
movement
as
possible
,
standing
by
till
her
regular
breathings
shewed
that
she
had
sunk
into
a
sleep
;
when
he
went
into
the
other
room
and
found
that
George
had
also
forgotten
his
sorrows
in
slumber
on
the
sofa
,
while
Meta
sat
sadly
presiding
over
the
tea
equipage
.
She
came
up
to
meet
him
,
her
question
expressed
in
her
looks
.
'
Asleep
,
'
he
said
;
'
I
hope
the
pulses
are
quieter
.
All
depends
on
her
wakening
.
'
'
Poor
,
poor
Flora
,
'
said
Meta
,
wiping
away
her
tears
.
'
What
have
you
done
with
the
woman
?
'
'
I
sent
her
to
Mrs.
Larpent
's
.
I
knew
she
would
receive
her
and
keep
her
till
she
could
write
to
her
friends
.
Bellairs
took
her
,
but
I
could
hardly
speak
to
her
—
'
'
She
did
it
ignorantly
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
'
I
could
never
be
so
merciful
and
forbearing
as
you
,
'
said
Meta
.
'
Ah
!
my
dear
,
you
will
never
have
the
same
cause
!
'
They
could
say
no
more
,
for
George
awoke
,
and
the
argument
of
his
exclusion
had
to
be
gone
through
again
.
He
could
not
enter
into
it
by
any
means
;
and
when
Dr.
May
would
have
made
him
understand
that
poor
Flora
could
not
acquit
herself
of
neglect
,
and
that
even
his
affection
was
too
painful
for
her
in
the
present
state
;
he
broke
into
a
vehement
angry
defence
of
her
devotion
to
her
child
,
treating
Dr.
May
as
if
the
accusation
came
from
him
;
and
when
the
Doctor
and
Meta
had
persuaded
him
out
of
this
,
he
next
imagined
that
his
father-in-law
feared
that
he
was
going
to
reproach
his
wife
;
and
there
was
no
making
him
comprehend
more
than
,
that
if
she
were
not
kept
quiet
,
she
might
have
a
serious
illness
.
Even
then
,
he
insisted
on
going
to
look
at
her
,
and
Dr.
May
could
not
prevent
him
from
pressing
his
lips
to
her
forehead
.
She
half-opened
her
eyes
,
and
murmured
"
good-night
,
"
and
by
this
he
was
a
little
comforted
;
but
he
would
hear
of
nothing
but
sitting
up
,
and
Meta
would
have
done
the
same
,
but
for
an
absolute
decree
of
the
Doctor
.
It
was
a
relief
to
Dr.
May
,
that
George
's
vigil
soon
became
a
sound
repose
on
the
sofa
in
the
dressing-room
;
and
he
was
left
to
read
and
muse
uninterruptedly
.
It
was
far
past
two
o'clock
before
there
was
any
movement
;
then
Flora
drew
a
long
breath
,
stirred
,
and
,
as
her
father
came
and
drew
her
hand
into
his
,
before
she
was
well
awake
,
she
gave
a
long
,
wondering
whisper
—
'
Oh
!
papa
!
papa
!
'
then
sitting
up
,
and
passing
her
hand
over
her
eyes
,
'
Is
it
all
true
?
'
'
It
is
true
,
'
my
own
poor
dear
,
'
said
Dr.
May
,
supporting
her
,
as
she
rested
against
his
arm
,
and
hid
her
face
on
his
shoulder
,
while
her
breath
came
short
,
and
she
shivered
under
the
renewed
perception
,
'
She
is
gone
to
wait
for
you
.
'
'
Hush
!
Oh
do
n't
!
papa
!
'
said
Flora
,
her
voice
shortened
by
anguish
.
'
O
,
think
why
—
'
'
Nay
,
Flora
,
do
not
,
do
not
speak
as
if
that
should
exclude
peace
,
or
hope
!
'
said
Dr.
May
,
entreatingly
.
'
Besides
,
it
was
no
wilful
neglect
—
you
had
other
duties
—
'
'
You
do
n't
know
me
,
papa
!
'
said
Flora
,
drawing
her
hands
away
from
him
,
and
tightly
clenching
them
in
one
another
,
as
thoughts
far
too
terrible
for
words
swept
over
her
.
'
If
I
do
not
,
the
most
Merciful
Father
does
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
Flora
sat
for
a
minute
or
two
,
her
hands
locked
together
round
her
knees
,
her
head
bowed
down
,
her
lips
compressed
.
Her
father
was
so
far
satisfied
,
that
the
bodily
dangers
he
had
dreaded
,
were
averted
;
but
the
agony
of
mind
was
far
more
terrible
,
especially
in
one
who
expressed
so
little
,
and
in
whom
it
seemed
,
as
it
were
,
pent
up
.
'
Papa
!
'
said
Flora
,
presently
,
with
a
resolution
of
tone
as
if
she
would
prevent
resistance
;
'
I
must
see
her
!
'
'
You
shall
,
my
dear
,
'
said
the
Doctor
,
at
once
;
and
she
seemed
grateful
not
to
be
opposed
,
speaking
more
gently
,
as
she
said
,
'
May
it
be
now
?
While
there
is
no
daylight
!
'
'
If
you
wish
it
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
The
dawn
,
and
a
yellow
waning
moon
,
gave
sufficient
light
for
moving
about
,
and
Flora
gained
her
feet
;
but
she
was
weak
and
trembling
,
and
needed
the
support
of
her
father
's
arm
,
though
hardly
conscious
of
receiving
it
,
as
she
mounted
the
same
stairs
,
that
she
had
so
often
lightly
ascended
in
the
like
doubtful
morning
light
;
for
never
,
after
any
party
,
had
she
omitted
her
visit
to
the
nursery
.
The
door
was
locked
,
and
she
looked
piteously
at
her
father
as
her
weak
push
met
the
resistance
,
and
he
was
somewhat
slow
in
turning
the
key
with
his
left
hand
.
The
whitewashed
,
slightly
furnished
room
,
reflected
the
light
,
and
the
moonbeams
shewed
the
window-frame
in
pale
and
dim
shades
on
the
blinds
,
the
dewy
air
breathed
in
coolly
from
the
park
,
and
there
was
a
calm
solemnity
in
the
atmosphere
—
no
light
,
no
watcher
present
to
tend
the
babe
.
Little
Leonora
needed
such
no
more
;
she
was
with
the
Keeper
,
who
shall
neither
slumber
nor
sleep
.
So
it
thrilled
across
her
grandfather
,
as
he
saw
the
little
cradle
drawn
into
the
middle
of
the
room
,
and
,
on
the
coverlet
,
some
pure
white
rosebuds
and
lilies
of
the
valley
,
gathered
in
the
morning
by
Mary
and
Blanche
,
little
guessing
the
use
that
Meta
would
make
of
them
ere
nightfall
.
The
mother
sank
on
her
knees
,
her
hands
clasped
over
her
breast
,
and
rocking
herself
to
and
fro
uneasily
,
with
a
low
,
irrepressible
moaning
.
'
Will
you
not
see
her
face
?
'
whispered
Dr.
May
.
'
I
may
not
touch
her
,
'
was
the
answer
,
in
the
hollow
voice
;
and
,
with
the
wild
eye
that
had
before
alarmed
him
,
but
trusting
to
the
soothing
power
of
the
mute
face
of
the
innocent
,
he
drew
back
the
covering
.
The
sight
was
such
as
he
anticipated
,
sadly
lovely
,
smiling
and
tranquil
—
all
oppression
and
suffering
fled
away
for
ever
.
It
stilled
the
sounds
of
pain
,
and
the
restless
motion
;
the
compression
of
the
hands
became
less
tight
,
and
he
began
to
hope
that
the
look
was
passing
into
her
heart
.
He
let
her
kneel
on
without
interruption
,
only
once
he
said
,
"
Of
such
is
the
kingdom
of
Heaven
!
"
She
made
no
immediate
answer
,
and
he
had
had
time
to
doubt
whether
he
ought
to
let
her
continue
in
that
exhausting
attitude
any
longer
,
when
she
looked
up
and
said
,
'
You
will
all
be
with
her
there
.
'
She
has
flown
on
to
point
your
aim
more
stedfastly
,
'
said
Dr.
May
.
Flora
shuddered
,
but
spoke
calmly
—
'
No
,
I
shall
not
meet
her
.
'
'
My
child
!
'
he
exclaimed
,
'
do
you
know
what
you
are
saying
?
'
'
I
know
,
I
am
not
in
the
way
,
'
said
Flora
,
still
in
the
same
fearfully
quiet
,
matter-of-fact
,
tone
.
'
I
never
have
been
'
—
and
she
bent
over
her
child
,
as
if
taking
her
leave
for
eternity
.
His
tongue
almost
clave
to
the
roof
of
his
mouth
,
as
he
heard
the
words
—
words
elicited
by
one
of
those
hours
of
true
reality
that
,
like
death
,
rend
aside
every
wilful
cloak
of
self-deceit
,
and
self-approbation
.
He
had
no
power
to
speak
at
first
;
when
he
recovered
it
,
his
reply
was
not
what
his
heart
had
,
at
first
,
prompted
.
'
Flora
!
How
has
this
dear
child
been
saved
?
'
he
said
.
'
What
has
released
her
from
the
guilt
she
inherited
through
you
,
through
me
,
through
all
?
Is
not
the
Fountain
open
?
'
'
She
never
wasted
grace
,
'
said
Flora
.
'
My
child
!
my
Flora
!
'
he
exclaimed
,
losing
the
calmness
he
had
gained
by
such
an
effort
;
'
You
must
not
talk
thus
—
it
is
wrong
!
Only
your
own
morbid
feeling
can
treat
this
—
this
—
as
a
charge
against
you
,
and
if
it
were
,
indeed
'
—
he
sank
his
voice
—
that
such
consequences
destroyed
hope
,
oh
Flora
!
where
should
I
be
?
'
'
No
,
'
said
Flora
,
'
this
is
not
what
I
meant
.
It
is
that
I
have
never
set
my
heart
right
.
I
am
not
like
you
nor
my
sisters
.
I
have
seemed
to
myself
,
and
to
you
,
to
be
trying
to
do
right
,
but
it
was
all
hollow
,
for
the
sake
of
praise
and
credit
.
I
know
it
,
now
it
is
too
late
;
and
He
has
let
me
destroy
my
child
here
,
lest
I
should
have
destroyed
her
Everlasting
Life
,
like
my
own
.
'
The
most
terrible
part
of
this
sentence
was
to
Dr.
May
,
that
Flora
spoke
as
if
she
knew
it
all
as
a
certainty
,
and
without
apparent
emotion
,
with
all
the
calmness
of
despair
.
What
she
had
never
guessed
before
had
come
clearly
and
fully
upon
her
now
,
and
without
apparent
novelty
,
or
,
perhaps
,
there
had
been
misgivings
in
the
midst
of
her
complacent
self-satisfaction
.
She
did
not
even
seem
to
perceive
how
dreadfully
she
was
shocking
her
father
,
whose
sole
comfort
was
in
believing
her
language
the
effect
of
exaggerated
self-reproach
.
His
profession
had
rendered
him
not
new
to
the
sight
of
despondency
,
and
,
dismayed
as
he
was
,
he
was
able
at
once
to
speak
to
the
point
.
'
If
it
were
indeed
so
,
her
removal
would
be
the
greatest
blessing
.
'
'
Yes
,
'
said
her
mother
,
and
her
assent
was
in
the
same
tone
of
resigned
despair
,
owning
it
best
for
her
child
to
be
spared
a
worldly
education
,
and
loving
her
truly
enough
to
acquiesce
.
'
I
meant
the
greatest
blessing
to
you
,
'
continued
Dr.
May
,
'
if
it
be
sent
to
open
your
eyes
,
and
raise
your
thoughts
upwards
.
Oh
!
Flora
,
are
not
afflictions
tokens
of
infinite
love
?
'
She
could
not
accept
the
encouragement
,
and
only
formed
,
with
her
lips
,
the
words
,
'
Mercy
to
her
—
wrath
to
me
!
'
The
simplicity
and
hearty
piety
which
,
with
all
Dr.
May
's
faults
,
had
always
been
part
of
his
character
,
and
had
borne
him
,
in
faith
and
trust
,
through
all
his
trials
,
had
never
belonged
to
her
.
Where
he
had
been
sincere
,
erring
only
from
impulsiveness
,
she
had
been
double-minded
and
calculating
;
and
,
now
that
her
delusion
had
been
broken
down
,
she
had
nothing
to
rest
upon
.
Her
whole
religious
life
had
been
mechanical
,
deceiving
herself
more
than
even
others
,
and
all
seemed
now
swept
away
,
except
the
sense
of
hypocrisy
,
and
of
having
cut
herself
off
,
for
ever
,
from
her
innocent
child
.
Her
father
saw
that
it
was
vain
to
argue
with
her
,
and
only
said
,
'
You
will
think
otherwise
by-and-by
,
my
dear
.
Now
,
shall
I
say
a
prayer
before
we
go
down
?
'
As
she
made
no
reply
,
he
repeated
the
Lord
's
Prayer
,
but
she
did
not
join
;
and
then
he
added
a
broken
,
hesitating
intercession
for
the
mourners
,
which
caused
her
to
bury
her
face
deeper
in
her
hands
,
but
her
dull
wretchedness
altered
not
.
Rising
,
he
said
,
authoritatively
,
'
Come
,
Flora
,
you
must
go
to
bed
.
See
,
it
is
morning
.
'
'
You
have
sat
up
all
night
with
me
!
'
said
Flora
,
with
somewhat
of
her
anxious
,
considerate
self
.
'
So
has
George
.
He
had
just
dropped
asleep
on
the
sofa
when
you
awoke
.
'
'
I
thought
he
was
in
anger
,
'
said
she
.
'
Not
with
you
,
dearest
.
'
'
Not
,
I
remember
now
,
not
where
it
was
justly
due
.
Papa
,
'
she
said
,
pausing
,
as
to
recall
her
recollection
,
'
what
did
I
do
?
I
must
have
done
something
very
unkind
to
make
him
go
away
and
leave
me
.
'
'
I
insisted
on
his
leaving
you
,
my
dear
.
You
seemed
oppressed
,
and
his
affectionate
ways
were
doing
you
harm
;
so
I
was
hard-hearted
,
and
turned
him
out
,
sadly
against
his
will
.
'
'
Poor
George
!
'
said
Flora
,
'
has
he
been
left
to
bear
it
alone
all
this
time
?
How
much
distressed
he
must
have
been
.
I
must
have
vexed
him
grievously
.
You
do
n't
guess
how
fond
he
was
of
her
.
I
must
go
to
him
at
once
.
'
'
That
is
right
,
my
dear
.
'
'
Do
n't
praise
me
,
'
said
she
,
as
if
she
could
not
bear
it
.
'
All
that
is
left
for
me
is
to
do
what
I
can
for
him
.
'
Dr.
May
felt
cheered
.
He
was
sure
that
hope
must
again
rise
out
of
unselfish
love
and
duty
.
Their
return
awoke
George
,
who
started
,
half-sitting
up
,
wondering
why
he
was
spending
the
night
in
so
unusual
a
manner
,
and
why
Flora
looked
so
pale
,
in
the
morning
light
,
with
her
loosened
,
drooping
hair
.
She
went
straight
to
him
,
and
,
kneeling
by
his
side
,
said
,
'
George
,
forgive
!
'
The
same
moment
he
had
caught
her
to
his
bosom
;
but
so
impressed
was
his
tardy
mind
