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sometimes laughed at themselves for their speculations； and so
October began； and Ethel laughed； as she questioned whether the
Grange would feel the Hussar's return to his quarters； as much as
home would the departure of their scholar for Balliol。
CHAPTER VI。
So； Lady Flora； take my lay；
And if you find a meaning there；
Oh！ whisper to your glass； and say；
What wonder； if he thinks me fair。Tennyson。
Flora and Norman were dining with one of their county acquaintance；
and Dr。 May had undertaken to admit them on their return。 The fire
shone red and bright； as it sank calmly away； and the timepiece and
clock on the stairs had begun their nightly duet of ticking； the
crickets chirped in the kitchen； and the doctor sat alone。 His book
lay with unturned pages； as he sat musing； with eyes fixed on the
fire； living over again his own life； the easy bright days of his
youth； when； without much pains on his own part； the tendencies of
his generous affectionate disposition； and the influences of a warm
friendship； and an early attachment； had guarded him from evilthen
the period when he had been perfectly happy； and the sobering power
of his position had been gradually working on him； but though always
religious and highly principled； the very goodness of his natural
character preventing him from perceiving the need of self…control；
until the shock that changed the whole tenor of his life； and left
him； for the first time； sensible of his own responsibility； but with
inveterate habits of heedlessness and hastiness that love alone gave
him force to combat。 He was now a far gentler man。 His younger
children had never seen； his elder had long since forgotten； his
occasional bursts of temper； but he suffered keenly from their
effects； especially as regarded some of his children。 Though
Richard's timidity had been overcome； and Tom's more serious failures
had been remedied； he was not without anxiety； and had a strange
unsatisfactory feeling as regarded Flora。 He could not feel that he
fathomed her！ She reminded him of his old Scottish father…in…law；
Professor Mackenzie； whom he had never understood； nor； if the truth
were known； liked。 Her dealings with the Ladies' Committee were so
like her grandfather's canny ways in a public meeting； that he
laughed over thembut they were not congenial to him。 Flora was a
most valuable person； all that she undertook prospered； and he
depended entirely on her for household affairs； and for the care of
Margaret； but； highly as he esteemed her； he was a little afraid of
her cool prudence； she never seemed to be in any need of him； nor to
place any confidence in him； and seemed altogether so much older and
wiser than he could feel himselfpretty girl as she wasand very
pretty were her fine blue eyes and clear skin； set off by her dark
brown hair。 There arose the vision of eyes as blue； skin as clear；
but of light blonde locks； and shorter； rounder； more dove…like form；
open； simple； loving face； and serene expression； that had gone
straight to his heart； when he first saw Maggie Mackenzie making tea。
He heard the wheels； and went out to unbolt the door。 Those were a
pair for a father to be proud ofNorman； of fine stature and noble
looks； with his high brow； clear thoughtful eye； and grave
intellectual eagle face； lighting into animation with his rare； sweet
smile； and Flora； so tall and graceful； and in her white dress；
picturesquely half concealed by her mantle； with flowers in her hair；
and a deepened colour in her cheek； was a fair vision； as she came in
from the darkness。
〃Well！ was it a pleasant party？〃
Norman related the circumstances； while his sister remained silently
leaning against the mantel…piece； looking into the fire； until he
took up his candle； and bade them good…night。 Dr。 May was about to
do the same； when she held out her hand。 〃One moment； if you please；
dear papa；〃 she said； 〃I think you ought to know it。〃 〃
What； my dear？〃
〃Mr。 George Rivers； papa〃
〃Ha！〃 said Dr。 May； beginning to smile。 〃So that is what he is at；
is it？ But what an opportunity to take。〃
〃It was in the conservatory；〃 said Flora； a little hurt； as her
father discovered by her tone。 〃The music was going on； and I don't
know that there could have been〃
〃A better opportunity； eh？〃 said Dr。 May； laughing； 〃well； I should
have thought it awkward； was he very much discomposed？〃
〃I thought；〃 said Flora； looking down and hesitating； 〃that he had
better come to you。〃
〃Indeed！ so you shifted the ungracious office to me。 I am very glad
to spare you； my dear； but it was hard on him to raise his hopes。〃
〃I thought；〃 faltered Flora； 〃that you could not disapprove〃
〃Flora〃 and he paused； completely confounded； while his daughter
was no less surprised at the manner in which her news was received。
Each waited for the other to speak； and Flora turned away； resting
her head against the mantel…piece。
〃Surely；〃 said he； laying his hand on her shoulder； 〃you do not mean
that you like this man？〃
〃I did not think that you would be against it；〃 said Flora； in a
choked voice； her face still averted。
〃Heaven knows； I would not be against anything for your happiness； my
dear；〃 he answered； 〃but have you considered what it would be to
spend your life with a man that has not three ideas！ not a resource
for occupying himselfa regular prey to ennuione whom you could
never respect！〃 He had grown more and more vehement； and Flora put
her handkerchief to her eyes； for tears of actual disappointment were
flowing。
〃Come； come；〃 he said； touched； but turning it off by a smile； 〃we
will not talk of it any more to…night。 It is your first offer； and
you are flattered； but we know
'Colours seen by candle…light；
Will not bear the light of day。'
There； good…night； Flora； my dearwe will have a…tete…a…tete in the
study before breakfast； when you have had time to look into your own
mind。〃
He kissed her affectionately； and went upstairs with her； stopping at
her door to give her another embrace； and to say 〃Bless you； my dear
child； and help you to come to a right decision〃
Flora was disappointed。 She had been too highly pleased at her
conquest to make any clear estimation of the prize； individually
considered。 Her vanity magnified her achievement； and she had come
home in a flutter of pleasure； at having had such a position in
society offered to her； and expecting that her whole family would
share her triumph。 Gratified by George Rivers's admiration； she
regarded him with favour and complacency； and her habit of
considering herself as the most sensible person in her sphere made
her so regard his appreciation of her； that she was blinded to his
inferiority。 It must be allowed that he was less dull with her than
with most others。
And； in the midst of her glory； when she expected her father to be
delighted and gratefulto be received as a silly girl； ready to
accept any proposal； her lover spoken of with scorn； and the
advantages of the match utterly passed over； was almost beyond
endurance。 A physician； with eleven children dependent on his
practic