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he had no time to observe the disobedience； and saying that he hoped
she was with Margaret； sent Ethel into the drawing…room。
Flora was not there； only Margaret lay on her sofa； and Ethel
hesitated； shy； curious； and alarmed； but； as she approached； she was
relieved to see the blue eyes more serene even than usual； while a
glow of colour spread over her face； making her like the blooming
Margaret of old times； her expression was full of peace； but became
somewhat amused at Ethel's timid； awkward pauses； as she held out her
hands； and said； 〃Come； dear Ethel。〃
〃Oh； Margaret； Margaret！〃
And Ethel was drawn into her sister's bosom。 Presently she drew
back； gazed at her sister inquiringly； and said in an odd； doubtful
voice； 〃Then you are glad？〃
Margaret nearly laughed at the strange manner； but spoke with a
sorrowful tone； 〃Glad in one way； dearest； almost too glad； and
grateful。〃
〃Oh； I am so glad！〃 again said Ethel； 〃I thought it was making
everybody unhappy。〃
〃I don't believe I could be that； now he has come； now I know；〃 and
her voice trembled。 〃There must be doubt and uncertainty；〃 she
added； 〃but I cannot dwell on them just yet。 They will settle what
is right； I know； and； happen what may； I have always this to
remember。〃
〃Oh； that is right！ Papa will be so relieved！ He was afraid it had
only been distress。〃
〃Poor papa！ Yes； I did not command myself at first； I was not sure
whether it was right to see him at all。〃
〃Oh； Margaret； that was too bad！〃
〃It did not seem right to encourage any suchsuch；〃 the word was
lost； 〃to such a poor helpless thing as I am。 I did not know what to
do； and I am afraid I behaved like a silly child； and did not think
of dear papa's feelings。 But I will try to be good； and leave it all
to them。〃
〃And you are going to be happy？〃 said Ethel wistfully。
〃For the present； at least。 I cannot help it；〃 said Margaret。 〃Oh；
he is so kind； and so unselfish； and so beautifully gentleand to
think of his still caring！ But there； dear Ethel； I am not going to
cry； do call papa； or he will think me foolish again。 I want him to
be quite at ease about me before he comes。〃
〃Then he is coming？〃
〃Yes； at tea…timeso run； dear Ethel； and tell Jane to get his room
ready。〃
The message quickened Ethel； and after giving it； and reporting
consolingly to her father； she went up to Flora； who had been a
voluntary prisoner upstairs all this time； and was not peculiarly
gratified at such tidings coming only through the medium of Ethel。
She had before been sensible that； superior in discretion and
effectiveness as she was acknowledged to be； she did not share so
much of the confidence and sympathy as some of the others； and she
felt mortified and injured； though in this case it was entirely her
own fault。 The sense of alienation grew upon her。
She dressed quickly； and hurried down； that she might see Margaret
alone； but the room was already prepared for tea； and the children
were fast assembling。 Ethel came down a few minutes after； and found
Blanche claiming Alan Ernescliffe as her lawful property； dancing
round him； chattering； and looking injured if he addressed a word to
any one else。
How did lovers look？ was a speculation which had； more than once；
occupied Ethel； and when she had satisfied herself that her father
was at ease； she began to study it； as soon as a shamefaced
consciousness would allow her； after Alan's warm shake of the hand。
Margaret looked much as usual； only with more glow and brightness
Mr。 Ernescliffe； not far otherwise； he was as pale and slight as on
his last visit； with the same soft blue eyes； capable； however； of a
peculiar； keen； steady glance when he was listening； and which now
seemed to be attending to Margaret's every word or look； through all
the delighted uproar which Aubrey； Blanche； and Mary kept up round
him； or while taking his share in the general conversation； telling
of Harry's popularity and good conduct on board the Alcestis； or
listening to the history of Norman's school adventures； which he had
heard； in part； from Harry； and how young Jennings was entered in the
flag…ship； as a boy； though not yet to sail with his father。
After the storm of the day the sky seemed quite clear； and Ethel
could not see that being lovers made much difference； to be sure papa
displeased Blanche； by calling her away to his side； when she would
squeeze her chair in between Alan's and the sofa； and Alan took all
the waiting on Margaret exclusively to himself。 Otherwise； there was
nothing remarkable； and he was very much the same Mr。 Ernescliffe
whom they had received a year ago。
In truth； the next ten days were very happy。 The future was left to
rest； and Alan spent his mornings in the drawing…room alone with
Margaret； and looked ever more brightly placid； while； with the rest；
he was more than the former kind playfellow； for he now took his
place as the affectionate elder brother； entering warmly into all
their schemes and pleasures； and winning for himself a full measure
of affection from all； even his little god…daughter began to know
him； and smile at his presence。 Margaret and Ethel especially
delighted in the look of enjoyment with which their father sat down
to enter on the evening's conversation after the day's work； and
Flora was well pleased that Mrs。 Hoxton should find Alan in the
drawing…room； and ask afterwards about his estate； and that Meta
Rivers； after being certified that this was their Mr。 Ernescliffe；
pronounced that her papa thought him particularly pleasing and
gentlemanlike。 There was something dignified in having a sister on
the point of being engaged。
CHAPTER XXVIII。
Sail forth into the sea； thou ship；
Through breeze and cloud； right onward steer；
The moistened eye； the trembling lip；
Are not the signs of doubt or fear！LONGFELLOW。
Tranquility only lasted until Mr。 Ernescliffe found it necessary to
understand on what terms he was to stand。 Every one was tender of
conscience； anxious to do right； and desirous to yield to the opinion
that nobody could； or would give。 While Alan begged for a positive
engagement； Margaret scrupled to exchange promises that she might
never be able to fulfil； and both agreed to leave all to her father；
who； in every way； ought to have the best ability to judge whether
there was unreasonable presumption in such a betrothal； but this very
ability only served to perplex the poor doctor more and more。 It is
far easier for a man to decide when he sees only one bearing of a
case； than when； like Dr。 May； he not only sees them； but is rent by
them in his inmost heart。 Sympathising in turn with each lover；
bitterly accusing his own carelessness as the cause of all their
troubles； his doubts contending with his hopes； his conviction
clashing with Sir Matthew Fleet's opinion； his conscientious
sincerity and delicacy conflicting with his affection and eagerness；
he was perfectly incapable of coming to a decision； and suffered so
cruelly； that Margaret was doubly distressed for his sake； and Alan
felt himself guilty of having rendered everybody miserable。
Dr。 May could n