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The rest wore through the day as best they might。 Harry slept a good
deal； Ethel read to herself； and tried to get Norman to look at
passages which she liked； Mary kept the little ones from being
troublesome； and at last took them to peep behind the school…room
blinds for Richard's coming。
There was a simultaneous shout when； at four o'clock； they caught
sight of him； and though； at Ethel's exclamation of wonder； Mary and
Tom hung their heads at having forgotten themselves； the association
of gladness in seeing Richard was refreshing； the sense of being
desolate and forsaken was relieved； and they knew that now they had
one to rely on and to comfort them。
Harry hastened to open the front door； and Richard； with his small
trim figure； and fresh； fair young face； flushed； though not
otherwise agitated； was among them； almost devoured by the younger
ones； and dealing out quiet caresses to them； as he caught from the
words and looks of the others that at least his father and sister
were no worse。 Mr。 Wilmot had come with him； but only stayed to hear
the tidings。
〃Can I see papa？〃 were Richard's first audible wordsall the rest
had been almost dumb show。
Ethel thought not； but took him to Margaret's room； where he stood
for many minutes without speaking； then whispered to Flora that he
must go to the others； she should call him ifand went down；
followed by Ethel。
Tom and Blanche had fallen into teasing tricks； a sort of melancholy
play to relieve the tedium。 They grew cross。 Norman was roused to
reprove sharply； and Blanche was beginning to cry。 But Richard's
entrance set all at peacehe sat down among them； and； with soft
voice and arm round Blanche； as she leaned against him； made her good
in a moment； and she listened while he talked over with Norman and
Ethel all they could bear to speak of。
Late in the day Flora came into her father's room； and stood gazing
at him； as he lay with eyes closed； breathing heavily； and his brows
contracted by pain。 She watched him with piteous looks； as if
imploring him to return to his children。 Poor girl； to…day's quiet；
after the last evening's bustle； was hard to bear。 She had then been
distracted from thought by the necessity of exertion； but it now
repaid itself； and she knew not how to submit to do nothing but wait
and watch。
〃No change？〃 enquired Alan Ernescliffe； looking kindly in her face。
〃No；〃 replied she in a low； mournful tone。 〃She only once said；
thank you。〃
A voice which she did not expect； asked inquiringly； 〃Margaret？〃 and
her heart beat as if it would take away her breath； as she saw her
father's eyes intently fixed on her。 〃Did you speak of her？〃 he
repeated。
〃Yes； dear papa；〃 said Flora； not losing presence of mind； though in
extreme fear of what the next question might be。 〃She is quiet and
comfortable； so don't be uneasy； pray。〃
〃Let me hear；〃 he said； and his whole voice and air showed him to be
entirely roused。 〃There is injury？ What is it〃
He continued his inquiries till Flora was obliged fully to explain
her sister's condition； and then he dismayed her by saying he would
get up and go to see her。 Much distressed； she begged him not to
think of it； and appealed to Alan； who added his entreaties that he
would at least wait for Mr。 Ward； but the doctor would not relinquish
his purpose； and sent her to give notice that he was coming。
Mr。 Ernescliffe followed her out of the room； and tried to console
her； as she looked at him in despair。
〃You see he is quite himself； quite collected；〃 he said； 〃you heard
now clear and coherent his questions were。〃
〃Can't it be helped？ Do try to stop him till I can send to Mr。
Ward。〃
〃I will try； but I think he is in a state to judge for himself。
I do； upon my word； and I believe trying to prevent him would be more
likely to do him harm than letting him satisfy himself。 I really
think you need not be alarmed。〃
〃But you know；〃 said Flora； coming nearer； and almost gasping as she
whispered and signed towards the door； 〃she is thereit is mamma's
room； that will tell all。〃
〃I believe he knows；〃 said Alan。 〃It was that which made him faint
after the accident； for he had his perceptions fully at first。 I
have suspected all day that he was more himself than he seemed； but
I think he could not bear to awaken his mind to understand it； and
that he was afraid to hear about heryour sister； so that our
mention of her was a great relief； and did him good。 I am convinced
he knows the rest。 Only go on； be calm； as you have been； and we
shall do very well。〃
Flora went to prepare。 Ethel eagerly undertook to send to Mr。 Ward；
and hastened from the room； as if in a sort of terror； shrinking
perhaps from what might lead to an outburst of grief。 She longed to
have seen her father； but was frightened at the chance of meeting
him。 When she had sent her message； and told her brothers what was
passing； she went and lingered on the stairs and in the passage for
tidings。 After what seemed a long time； Flora came out； and hastened
to the nursery； giving her intelligence on the way。
〃Better than could be hoped； he walked alone into the room； and was
quite calm and composed。 Oh！ if this will not hurt him； if the
seeing baby was but over！〃
〃Does he want her？〃
〃Yes； he would have come up here himself； but I would not let him。
Nurse； do you hear？ Papa wants baby； let me have her。〃
〃Bless me； Miss Flora； you can't hold her while you are all of a
tremble！ And he has been to Miss Margaret？〃
〃Yes； nurse； and he was only rather stiff and lame。〃
〃Did Margaret seem to know him？〃 said Ethel。
〃She just answered in that dreamy way when he spoke to her。 He says
he thinks it is as Mr。 Ward believes； and that she will soon come to
herself。 He is quite able to consider〃
〃And he knows all？〃
〃I am sure he does。 He desired to see baby； and he wants you； nurse。
Only mind you command yourselfdon't say a word you can helpdo
nothing to agitate him。〃
Nurse promised； but the tears came so fast； and sobs with them； as
she approached her master's room； that Flora saw no composure could
be expected from her； and taking the infant from her； carried it in；
leaving the door open for her to follow when wanted。 Ethel stood by
listening。 There was silence at first； then some sounds from the
baby； and her father's voice soothing it； in his wonted caressing
phrases and tones； so familiar that they seemed to break the spell；
drive away her vague terrors； and restore her father。 Her heart
bounded； and a sudden impulse carried her to the bedside； at once
forgetting all dread of seeing him； and chance of doing him harm。
He lay； holding the babe close to him； and his face was not altered；
so that there was nothing in the sight to impress her with the need
of caution； and； to the consternation of the anxious Flora； she
exclaimed； abruptly and vehemently； 〃Papa！ should not she be
christened？〃
Dr。 May looked up at Ethel； then at the infant； 〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃at
once。〃 Then added feebly and languidly； 〃Some one must see to it。〃
There was a pause； while Flora looked reproachfully at her sister；
and Ethel becam