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endurance。 A physician； with eleven children dependent on his
practice； to despise an offer from the heir of such a fortune！ But
that was his customary romance！ She forgave him； when it occurred to
her that she was too important； and valuable； to be easily spared；
and a tenderness thrilled through her； as she looked at the sleeping
Margaret's pale face； and thought of surrendering her and little
Daisy to Ethel's keeping。 And what would become of the housekeeping？
She decided； however； that feelings must not sway herout of six
sisters some must marry； for the good of the rest。 Blanche and Daisy
should come and stay with her； to be formed by the best society； and；
as to poor dear Ethel； Mrs。 Rivers would rule the Ladies' Committee
for her with a high hand； and； perhaps； provide Cocksmoor with a
school at her sole expense。 What a useful； admirable woman she would
be！ The doctor would be the person to come to his senses in the
morning； when he remembered Abbotstoke； Mr。 Rivers； and Meta。
So Flora met her father； the next morning； with all her ordinary
composure； in which he could not rival her； after his sleepless；
anxious night。 His looks of affectionate solicitude disconcerted
what she had intended to say； and she waited； with downcast eyes； for
him to begin。
〃Well； Flora；〃 he said at last； 〃have you thought？〃
〃Do you know any cause against it？〃 said Flora； still looking down。
〃I know almost nothing of him。 I have never heard anything of his
character or conduct。 Those would be a subject of inquiry； if you
wish to carry this on〃
〃I see you are averse；〃 said Flora。 〃I would do nothing against your
wishes〃
〃My wishes have nothing to do with it；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃The point is…
…that I must do right； as far as I can； as well as try to secure your
happiness； and I want to be sure that you know what you are about。〃
〃I know he is not clever；〃 said Flora； 〃but there may be many solid
qualities without talent。〃
〃I am the last person to deny it； but where are these solid
qualities？ I cannot see the recommendation！〃
〃I place myself in your hands；〃 said Flora； in a submissive tone；
which had the effect of making him lose patience。
〃Flora； Flora！ why will you talk as if I were sacrificing you to some
dislike or prejudice of my own！ Don't you think I should only
rejoice to have such a prosperous home offered to you； if only the
man were worthy？〃
〃If you do not think him so； of course there is an end of it；〃 said
Flora； and her voice showed suppressed emotion。
〃It is not what I think； in the absence of proof； but what you think；
Flora。 What I want you to do is thisto consider the matter fairly。
Compare him withI'll not say with Normanbut with Richard； Alan；
Mr。 Wilmot。 Do you think you could rely on himcome to him for
advice？〃 （Flora never did come to any one for advice。） 〃Above all
do you think him likely to be a help； or a hindrance； in doing
right？〃
〃I think you underrate him；〃 said Flora steadily； 〃but； of course； if
you dislike itthough； I think； you would change your mind if you
knew him better〃
〃Well；〃 he said； as if to himself； 〃it is not always the most
worthy；〃 then continued； 〃I have no dislike to him。 Perhaps I may
find that you are right。 Since your mind is made up； I will do this：
first； we must be assured of his father's consent； for they may very
fairly object； since what I can give you is a mere nothing to them。
Next； I shall find out what character he bears in his regiment； and
watch him well myself； and； if nothing appear seriously amiss； I will
not withhold my consent。 But； Flora； you should still consider
whether he shows such principle and right feeling as you can trust
to。〃
〃Thank you； papa。 I know you will do all that is kind。〃
〃Mind； you must not consider it an engagement； unless all be
satisfactory。〃
〃I will do as you please。〃
Ethel perceived that something was in agitation； but the fact did not
break upon her till she came to Margaret； after the schoolroom
reading； and heard Dr。 May declaiming away in the vehement manner
that always relieved him。
〃Such a cub！〃 These were the words that met her ear； and she would
have gone away； but he called her。 〃Come in； Ethel； Margaret says
you guessed at this affair！〃
〃At what affair！〃 exclaimed Ethel。 〃Oh； it is about Flora。 Poor
man； has he done it？〃
〃Poor！ He is not the one to be pitied！〃 said her father。
〃You don't mean that she likes him？〃
〃She does though！ A fellow with no more brains than a turnip
lantern！〃
〃She does not mean it？〃 said Ethel。
〃Yes； she does！ Very submissive； and proper spoken； of course； but
bent on having him； so there is nothing left for me but to consent
provided Mr。 Rivers does； and he should turn out not to have done
anything outrageous； but there's no hope of thathe has not the
energy。 What can possess her？ What can she see to admire？〃
〃He is good…natured；〃 said Margaret； 〃and rather good…looking〃
〃Flora has more sense。 What on earth can be the attraction？〃
〃I am afraid it is partly the grandeur〃 said Ethel。 She broke off
short； quite dismayed at the emotion she had xcited。 Dr。 May stepped
towards her； almost as if he could have shaken her。
〃Ethel；〃 he cried； 〃I won't have such motives ascribed to your
sister！〃
Ethel tried to recollect what she had said that was so shocking； for
the idea of Flora's worldly motives was no novelty to her。 They had
appeared in too many instances； and； though frightened at his anger；
she stood still； without unsaying her words。
Margaret began to explain away。 〃Ethel did not mean； dear papa〃
〃No；〃 said Dr。 May； his passionate manner giving way to dejection。
〃The truth is； that I have made home so dreary； that my girls are
ready to take the first means of escaping。〃
Poor Margaret's tears sprang forth； and； looking up imploringly； she
exclaimed； 〃Oh； papa； papa！ it was no want of happiness！ I could not
help it。 You know he had come before〃
Any reproach to her had been entirely remote from his thoughts； and
he was at once on his knee beside her； soothing and caressing；
begging her pardon； and recalling whatever she could thus have
interpreted。 Meanwhile； Ethel stood unnoticed and silent； making no
outward protestation； but with lips compressed； as in her heart of
hearts she passed the resolutionthat her father should never feel
this pain on her account。 Leave him who might； she would never
forsake him； nothing but the will of Heaven should part them。 It
might be hasty and venturesome。 She knew not what it might cost her；
but； where Ethel had treasured her resolve to work for Cocksmoor；
there she also laid up her secret vowthat no earthly object should
be placed between her and her father。
The ebullition of feeling seemed to have restored Dr。 May's calmness；
and he rose； saying； 〃I must go to my work； the man is coming here
this afternoon。〃
〃Where shall you see him？〃 Margaret asked。
〃In my study； I suppose。 I fear there is no chance of Flora's
changing her mind first。 Or do you think one of you could talk to
her； and get her fairly to contemplate the real bearings of the
matter？〃 And； with these