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and so far drawn away from her own family； that when the Alcestis was
absolutely gone beyond all reach of letters for the present； Margaret
could not help feeling somewhat of a void； and as if the home
concerns were not so entire an occupation for her mind as formerly。
She would fain have thrown herself into them again； but she became
conscious that there was a difference。 She was still the object of
her father's intense tenderness and solicitude； indeed she could not
be otherwise； but it came over her sometimes that she was less
necessary to him than in the first year。 He was not conscious of any
change； and； indeed； it hardly amounted to a change； and yet
Margaret； lying inactive and thoughtful； began to observe that the
fullness of his confidence was passing to Ethel。 Now and then it
would appear that he fancied he had told Margaret little matters；
when he had really told them to Ethel； and it was Ethel who would
linger with him in the drawing…room after the others had gone up at
night； or who would be late at the morning's reading； and disarm Miss
Winter； by pleading that papa had been talking to her。 The secret
they shared together was； of course； the origin of much of this； but
also Ethel was now more entirely the doctor's own than Margaret could
be after her engagement； and there was a likeness of mind between the
father and daughter that could not but develop more in this year；
than in all Ethel's life； when she had made the most rapid progress。
Perhaps； too； the doctor looked on Margaret rather as the authority
and mistress of his house； while Ethel was more of a playfellow； and
thus； without either having the least suspicion that the one sister
was taking the place of the other； and without any actual neglect of
Margaret； Ethel was his chief companion。
〃How excited and anxious Norman looks！〃 said Margaret； one day； when
he had rushed in at the dinner…hour； asking for his father； and； when
he could not find him； shouting out for Ethel。 〃I hope there is
nothing amiss。 He has looked thin and worn for some time； and yet
his work at school is very easy to him。〃
〃I wish there maybe nothing wrong there again；〃 said Flora。 〃There！
there's the front door banging！ He is off！ Ethel！〃 stepping to
the door； and calling in her sister； who came from the street door；
her hair blowing about with the wind。 〃What did Norman want？〃
〃Only to know whether papa had left a note for Dr。 Hoxton；〃 said
Ethel； looking very confused and very merry。
〃That was not all；〃 said Flora。 〃Now don't be absurd； EthelI hate
mysteries。〃
〃Last time I had a secret you would not believe it；〃 said Ethel；
laughing。
〃Come！〃 exclaimed Flora； 〃why cannot you tell us at once what is
going on？〃
〃Because I was desired not；〃 said Ethel。 〃You will hear it soon
enough；〃 and she capered a little。
〃Let her alone； Flora；〃 said Margaret。 〃I see there is nothing
wrong。〃
〃If she is desired to be silent； there is nothing to be said；〃
replied Flora； sitting down again； while Ethel ran away to guard her
secret。
〃Absurd！〃 muttered Flora。 〃I cannot imagine why Ethel is always
making mysteries！〃
〃She cannot help other people having confidence in her；〃 said
Margaret gently。
〃She need not be so important； then；〃 said Flora〃always having
private conferences with papa！ I do not think it is at all fair on
the rest。〃
〃Ethel is a very superior person；〃 said Margaret； with half a sigh。
Flora might toss her head； but she attempted no denial in words。
〃And；〃 continued Margaret； 〃if papa does find her his best companion
and friend we ought to be glad of it。〃
〃I do not call it just；〃 said Flora。
〃I do not think it can be helped；〃 said Margaret： 〃the best must be
preferred。
〃As to that； Ethel is often very ridiculous and silly。〃
〃She is improving every day； and you know dear mamma always thought
her the finest character amongst us。〃
〃Then you are ready to be left out； and have your third sister always
put before you？〃
〃No； Flora； that is not the case。 Neither she nor papa would ever be
unfair； but； as she would say herself； what they can't help； they
can't help； and； as she grows older； she must surpass me more and
more。〃
〃And you like it？ 〃
〃I like itwhenwhen I think of papa； and of his dear； noble Ethel。
I do like it； when I am not selfish。〃
Margaret turned away her head； but presently looked up again。
〃Only； Flora；〃 she said； 〃pray do not say one word of this； on any
account； to Ethel。 She is so happy with papa； and I would not for
anything have her think I feel neglected； or had any jealousy。〃
〃Ah；〃 thought Flora； 〃you can give up sweetly； but you have Alan to
fall back upon。 Now I； who certainly have the best right； and a
great deal more practical sense〃
Flora took Margaret's advice； and did not reproach Ethel； for a
little reflection convinced her that she should make a silly figure
in so doing； and she did not like altercations。
It was the same evening that Norman came in from school with his
hands full of papers； and； with one voice； his father and Ethel
exclaimed； 〃You have them？〃
〃Yes；〃 and he gave the letter to his father； while Blanche； who had a
very inquisitive pair of eyes； began to read from a paper he placed
on the table。
〃'Norman Walter； son of Richard and Margaret May； High Street； Doctor
of Medicine； December 21st； 18。 Thomas Ramsden。'〃
〃What is that for； Norman？〃 and； as he did not attend； she called
Mary to share her speculations； and spell out the words。
〃Ha！〃 cried Dr。 May； 〃this is capital！ The old doctor seems not to
know how to say enough for you。 Have you read it？〃
〃No； he only told me he had said something in my favour； and wished
me all success。〃
〃Success！〃 cried Mary。 〃Oh； Norman； you are not going to sea too？〃
〃No； no！〃 interposed Blanche knowingly〃 he is going to be married。
I heard nurse wish her brother success when he was going to marry the
washerwoman with a red face。〃
〃No；〃 said Mary； 〃people never are married till they are twenty。〃
〃But I tell you；〃 persisted Blanche； 〃people always write like this；
in a great book in church； when they are married。 I know； for we
always go into church with Lucy and nurse when there is a wedding。〃
〃Well； Norman； I wish you success with the bride you are to court；〃
said Dr。 May； much diverted with the young ladies' conjectures。
〃But is it really？〃 said Mary； making her eyes as round as full
moons。
〃Is it really？〃 repeated Blanche。 〃Oh； dear！ is Norman going to be
married？ I wish it was to be Meta Rivers； for then I could always
ride her dear little white pony。〃
〃Tell them；〃 whispered Norman； a good deal out of countenance； as he
leaned over Ethel； and quitted the room。
Ethel cried； 〃Now then！〃 and looked at her father； while Blanche and
Mary reiterated inquiriesmarriage； and going to sea； being the only
events that； in their imagination； the world could furnish。 Going to
try for a Balliol scholarship！ It was a sad falling off； even if
they understood what it meant。 The doctor's explanations to Margaret
had a tone of apology for having kept her in ignorance； and Flora
said few words； but felt hersel