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voices in the drawing…room； and he found a sort of council there；
Alan Ernescliffe； the surgeon； and Mr。 Wilmot。 They turned as he
came in； and Mr。 Wilmot held out his hand with a look of affection
and kindness that went to his heart； making room for him on the sofa；
while going on with what he was saying。 〃Then you think it would be
better for me not to sit up with him。〃
〃I should decidedly say so；〃 replied Mr。 Ward。 〃He has recognised Mr。
Ernescliffe； and any change might excite him； and lead him to ask
questions。 The moment of his full consciousness is especially to be
dreaded。〃
〃But you do not call him insensible？〃
〃No； but he seems stunnedstupified by the shock； and by pain。 He
spoke to Miss Flora when she brought him some tea。〃
〃And admirably she managed；〃 said Alan Ernescliffe。 〃I was much
afraid of some answer that would rouse him； but she kept her self…
possession beautifully； and seemed to compose him in a moment。〃
〃She is valuable indeedso much judgment and activity；〃 said Mr。
Ward。 〃I don't know what we should have done without her。 But we
ought to have Mr。 Richardhas no one sent to him？〃
Alan Ernescliffe and Norman looked at each other。
〃Is he at Oxford； or at his tutor's？〃 asked Mr。 Wilmot。
〃At Oxford； he was to be there to…day； was he not； Norman？〃
〃What o'clock is it？ Is the post gonesevenno； it is all safe；〃
said Mr。 Ward。
Poor Norman！ he knew he was the one who ought to write； but his icy
trembling hand seemed to shake more helplessly than ever； and a
piteous glance fell upon Mr。 Wilmot。
〃The best plan would be；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot； 〃for me to go to him at
once and bring him home。 If I go by the mail…train； I shall get to
him sooner than a letter could。〃
〃And it will be better for him；〃 said Mr。 Ward。 〃He will feel it
dreadfully； poor boy。 But we shall all do better when we have him。
You can get back to…morrow evening。〃
〃Sunday；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot； 〃I believe there is a train at four。〃
〃Oh！ thank you； sir；〃 said Norman。
〃Since that is settled； perhaps I had better go up to the doctor；〃
said Alan； 〃I don't like leaving Flora alone with him；〃 and he was
gone。
〃How fortunate that that youth is here；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot〃he seems
to be quite taking Richard's place。〃
〃And to feel it as much；〃 said Mr。 Ward。 〃He has been invaluable
with his sailor's resources and handiness。〃
〃Well； what shall I tell poor Richard？〃 asked Mr。 Wilmot。
〃Tell him there is no reason his father should not do very well； if
we can keep him from agitationbut there's the point。 He is of so
excitable a constitution； that his faculties being so far confused is
the best thing； perhaps； that could be。 Mr。 Ernescliffe manages him
very wellused to illness on that African coast； and the doctor is
very fond of him。 As to Miss May； one can't tell what to say about
her yetthere's no fracture； at leastit must be a work of time to
judge。〃
Flora at that moment half…opened the door； and called Mr。 Ward；
stopping for a moment to say it was for nothing of any consequence。
Mr。 Wilmot and Norman were left together。 Norman put his hands over
his face and groanedhis master looked at him with kind anxiety； but
did not feel as if it were yet time to speak of consolation。
〃God bless and support you； and turn this to your good； my dear boy；〃
said he affectionately； as he pressed his hand； 〃I hope to bring your
brother to…morrow。〃
〃Thank you； sir；〃 was all Norman could say； and as Mr。 Wilmot went
out by the front door； he slowly went up again； and； lingering on the
landing…place； was met by Mr。 Ward； who told him to his relieffor
the mere thinking of it renewed the faint sensationthat he had
better not go to his father's room。
There was nothing to be done but to return to Ethel and Harry； and
tell them all； with some humiliation at being helpless； where Flora
was doing so much； and to leave their father to be watched by a
stranger。 If he had been wanted； Norman might have made the effort；
but being told that he would be worse than useless； there was nothing
for him but to give way。
They sat together in Ethel's room till somewhere between eight and
nine o'clock； when good old nurse； having put her younger ones to
bed； came in search of them。 〃Dear； dear！ poor darlings；〃 said she；
as she found them sitting in the dark； she felt their cold hands； and
made them all come into the nursery； where Mary was already； and；
fondling them； one by one； as they passively obeyed her； she set them
down on their little old stools round the fire； took away the high
fender； and gave them each a cup of tea。 Harry and Mary ate enough
to satisfy her； from a weary craving feeling； and for want of
employment； Norman sat with his elbow on his knee； and a very aching
head resting on his hand； glad of drink； but unable to eat； Ethel
could be persuaded to do neither； till she found old nurse would let
her have no peace。
The nurse sent them all to bed； taking the two girls to their own
room； undressing them； and never leaving them until Mary was in a
fair way of crying herself to sleepfor saying her prayers had
brought the tears； while Ethel lay so wide awake that it was of no
use to wait for her； and then she went to the boys； tucked them each
in； as when they were little children； and saying； 〃Bless your dear
hearts！〃 bestowed on each of them a kiss which came gratefully to
Norman's burning brow； and which even Harry's boyish manliness could
not resist。
Flora was in Margaret's room； too useful to be spared。
So ended that dreadful Saturday。
CHAPTER IV。
They may not mar the deep repose
Of that immortal flower：
Though only broken hearts are found
To watch her cradle by；
No blight is on her slumbers found；
No touch of harmful eye。
LYRA INNOCENTIUM。
Such a strange sad Sunday！ No going to church； but all the poor
children moving in awe and oppression about the house； speaking under
their breath； as they gathered in the drawing…room。 Into the study
they might not go； and when Blanche would have asked why； Tom pressed
her hand and shuddered。
Etheldred was allowed to come and look at Margaret； and even to sit
in the room for a little while； to take the place of Miss Winter； but
she was not sensible of sufficient usefulness to relieve the burden
of fear and bewilderment in the presence of that still； pale form；
and； what was almost worse； the sight of the familiar objects； the
chair by the fire； the sofa； the books； the work…basket； the letter…
case； the dressing things； all these were too oppressive。 She sat
crouched up； with her face hidden in her hands； and the instant she
was released； hastened back to Norman。 She was to tell him that he
might go into the room； but he did not move； and Mary alone went in
and out with messages。
Dr。 May was not to be visited； for he was in the same half…conscious
state； apparently sensible only of bodily suffering； though he
answered when addressed； and no one was trusted to speak to him but
Flora and Ernescliffe。
The rest wore through the day as best they might。 Harry slept a good
deal； Ethel read to herself； and tried to g