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privilege； and Aubrey kept guard over the dogs。
Meta inquired after a huge dollDr。 Hoxton's gift to Daisy； at the
bazaar。
〃She is in Margaret's wardrobe；〃 was the answer； 〃because Aubrey tied
her hands behind her； and was going to offer her up on the nursery
grate。〃
〃Oh； Aubrey； that was too cruel！〃
〃No；〃 returned Aubrey； 〃she was Iphigenia； going to be sacrificed。〃
〃Mary unconsciously acted Diana；〃 said Ethel； 〃and bore the victim
away。〃
〃Pray； was Daisy a willing Clytemnestra？〃 asked Meta。
〃Oh； yes； she liked it；〃 said Aubrey； while Meta looked discomfited。
〃I never could get proper respect paid to dolls；〃 said Margaret； 〃we
deal too much in their natural enemies。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel； 〃my only doll was like a heraldic lion； couped in
all her parts。〃
〃Harry and Tom once made a general execution；〃 said Flora； 〃there was
a doll hanging to every balusterthe number made up with rag。〃
George Rivers burst out laughinghis first sign of life； and Meta
looked as if she had heard of so many murders。
〃I can't help feeling for a doll！〃 she said。 〃They used to be like
sisters to me。 I feel as if they were wasted on children； that see
no character in them； and only call them Dolly。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 said Margaret。 〃If there had been no live dolls；
Richard and I should have reared our doll family as judiciously as
tenderly。 There are treasures of carpentry still extant； that he
made for them。〃
〃Oh； I am so glad！〃 cried Meta； as if she had found another point of
union。 〃If I were to confessthere is a dear old Rose in the secret
recesses of my wardrobe。 I could as soon throw away my sister〃
〃Ha！〃 cried her brother； laying hold of the child； 〃here； little
Daisy； will you give your doll to Meta？〃
〃My name is Gertrude Margaret May；〃 said the little round mouth。 The
fat arm was drawn back； with all a baby's dignity； and the rosy face
was hidden in Dr。 May's breast； at the sound of George Rivers's broad
laugh and 〃Well done； little one！〃
Dr。 May put his arm round her； turned aside from him； and began
talking to Meta about Mr。 Rivers。
Flora and Norman made conversation for the brother； and he presently
asked Norman to go out shooting with him； but looked so amazed on
hearing that Norman was no sportsman that Flora tried to save the
family credit by mentioning Hector's love of a gun； which caused
their guest to make a general tender of sporting privileges；
〃Though；〃 added he； with a drawl； 〃shooting is rather a nuisance；
especially alone。〃
Meta told Ethel； a little apart； that he was so tired of going out
alone； that he had brought her here； in search of a companion。
〃He comes in at eleven o'clock； poor fellow； quite tired with
solitude；〃 said she； 〃and comes to me to be entertained。〃
〃Indeed；〃 exclaimed Ethel。 〃What can you do？〃
〃What I can；〃 said Meta； laughing。 〃Whatever is not 'a horrid
nuisance' to him。〃
〃It would be a horrid nuisance to me；〃 said Ethel bluntly； 〃if my
brothers wanted me to amuse them all the morning。〃
〃Your brothers； oh！〃 said Meta； as if that were very different；
〃besides； you have so much more to do。 I am only too glad and
grateful when George will come to me at all。 You see I have always
been too young to be his companion； or find out what suited him； and
now he is so very kind and good…natured to me。〃
〃But what becomes of your business？〃
〃I get time； one way or another。 There is the evening； very often；
when I have sung both him and papa to sleep。 I had two hours； all to
myself； yesterday night；〃 said Meta； with a look of congratulation；
〃and I had a famous reading of Thirlwall's 'Greece。'〃
〃I should think that such evenings were as bad as the mornings。〃
〃Come〃； Ethel； don't make me naughty。 Large families； like yours；
may have merry； sociable evenings； but； I do assure you； ours are
very pleasant。 We are so pleased to have George at home； and we
really hope that he is taking a fancy to the dear Grange。 You can't
think how delighted papa is to have him content to stay quietly with
us so long。 I must call him to go back now； though； or papa will be
kept waiting。〃
When Ethel had watched the tall； ponderous brother help the bright
fairy sister to fly airily into her saddle； and her sparkling glance；
and wave of the hand； as she cantered off； contrasting with his slow
bend； and immobility of feature； she could not help saying that
Meta's life certainly was not too charming； with her fanciful；
valetudinarian father； and that stupid； idealess brother。
〃He is very amiable and good…natured；〃 interposed Norman。
〃Ha！ Norman； you are quite won by his invitation to shoot！ How he
despised you for refusingas much as you despised
him。〃
〃Speak for yourself；〃 said Norman。 〃You fancy no sensible man likes
shooting； but you are all wrong。 Some of our best men are capital
sportsmen。 Why； there is Ogilvieyou know what he is。 When I bring
him down here； you will see that there is no sort of sport that he is
not keen after。〃
〃This poor fellow will never be keen after anything；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃I pity him！ Existence seems hard work to him！〃
〃We shall have baby calling him 'the detestable' next；〃 said Ethel。
〃What a famous set down she gave him。〃
〃She is a thorough lady； and allows no liberties；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃Ah！〃 said Margaret； 〃it is a proof of what I want to impression you。
We really must leave off calling her Daisy when strangers are there。〃
〃It is so much nicer；〃 pleaded Mary。
〃The very reason；〃 said Margaret； 〃fondling names should be kept for
our innermost selves； not spread abroad； and made common。 I remember
when I used to be called Peg…topand Flora； Flossywe were never
allowed to use the names when any visitor was near； and we were asked
if we could not be as fond of each other by our proper names。 I
think it was felt that there was a want of reserve in publishing our
pet words to other people。〃
〃Quite true；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃baby…names never ought to go beyond
home。 It is the fashion to use them now； and； besides the folly； it
seems； to me； an absolute injury to a girl； to let her grow up； with
a nickname attached to her。〃
〃Ay！〃 chimed in Norman； 〃I hear men talking of Henny； and Loo； and
the like； and you can't think how glad I have been that my sisters
could not be known by any absurd word！〃
〃It is a case where self…respect would make others behave properly；〃
said Flora。
〃True；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃but if girls won't keep up their own dignity；
their friends' duty is to do it for them。 The mischief is in the
intimate friends； who blazon the words to every one。〃
〃And then they call one formal； for trying to protect the right
name；〃 said Flora。 〃It is； one…half of it； silliness； and； the
other； affectation of intimacy。〃
〃Now； I know；〃 said Mary； 〃why you are so careful to call Meta Miss
Rivers； to all the people here。〃
〃I should hope so！〃 cried Norman indignantly。
〃Why； yes； Mary；〃 said Margaret； 〃I should hope lady…like feelings
would prevent you from calling her Meta before〃
〃The Andersons！〃 cried Ethel； laughing。 〃Margaret was just going to
say it。 We only want Harry； to exact the forfeit！ Poor dear