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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 words； he left the room。
Margaret and Ethel glanced at each other； and both felt the
impenetrability of Flora's nature； so smooth； that all thrusts glided
off。
〃It will be of no use；〃 said Ethel； 〃and； what is more； she will not
have it done。〃
〃Pray try； a few of your forcible words would set it in a new light。〃
〃Why！ Do you think she will attend to me； when she has not chosen to
heed papa？〃 said Ethel； with an emphasis of incredulity。 〃No；
whatever Flora does； is done deliberately； and unalterably。〃
〃Still； I don't know whether it is not our duty；〃 said Margaret。
〃More yours than mine；〃 said Ethel。
Margaret flushed up。 〃Oh； no； I cannot！〃 she said； always timid； and
slightly defective in moral courage。 She looked so nervous and
shaken by the bare idea of a remonstrance with Flora； that Ethel
could not press her； and； though convinced that her representation
would be useless； she owned that her conscience would rest better
after she had spoken。 〃But there is Flora； walking in the garden
with Norman；〃 she said。 〃No doubt he is doing it。〃
So Ethel let it rest； and attended to the children's lessons； during
which Flora came into the drawing…room； and practised her music； as
if nothing had happened。
Before the morning was over； Ethel contrived to visit Norman in the
dining…room； where he was wont to study； and asked him whether he had
made any impression on Flora。
〃What impression do you mean？〃
〃Why； about this concern；〃 said Ethel； 〃this terrible man； that makes
papa so unhappy。〃
〃Papa unhappy！ Why； what does he know against him？ I thought the
Riverses were his peculiar pets。〃
〃The Riverses！ As if； because one liked the sparkling stream； one
must like a muddy ditch。〃
〃What harm do you know of him？〃 said Norman； with much surprise and
anxiety； as if he feared that he had been doing wrong； in ignorance。
〃Harm！ Is he not a regular oaf？〃
〃My dear Ethel； if you wait to marry till you find some one as clever
as yourself； you will wait long enough。〃
〃I don't think it right for a woman to marry a man decidedly her
inferior。〃
〃We have all learned to think much too highly of talent；〃 said Norman
gravely。
〃I don't care for mere talentpeople are generally more sensible
without it； but； one way or other； there ought to be superiority on
the man's side。〃
〃Well； who says there is not？〃
〃My dear Norman！ Why； this George Rivers is really below the
average！ you cannot deny that！ Did you ever meet any one so stupid？〃
〃Really！〃 said Norman； considering； and； speaking very innocently； 〃I
cannot see why you think so。 I do not see that he is at all less
capable of sustaining a conversation than Richard。〃
Ethel sat down； perfectly breathless with amazement and indignation。
Norman saw that he had shocked her very much。 〃I do not mean；〃 he
said； 〃that we have not much more to say to Richard； all I meant to
say was； merely as to the intellect。〃
〃I tell you；〃 said Ethel； 〃it is not the intellect。 Richard！ why；
you know how we respect； and look up to him。 Dear old Ritchie！ with
his goodness； and earnestness； and right judgmentto compare him to
that man！ Norman； Norman； I never thought it of you！〃
〃You do not understand me； Ethel。 I only cited Richard； as a person
who proves how little cleverness is needed to insure respect。〃
〃And； I tell you； that cleverness is not the point。〃
〃It is the only objection you have put forward。〃
〃I did wrong；〃 said Ethel。 〃It is not the real one。 It is earnest
goodness that one honours in Richard。 Where do we find it in this
man； who has never done anything but yawn over his self indulgence？〃
〃Now； Ethel； you are working yourself up into a state of foolish
prejudice。 You and papa have taken a dislike to him； and you are
overlooking a great deal of good safe sense and right thinking。 I
know his opinions are sound； and his motives right。 He has been
undereducated； we all see； and is not very brilliant or talkative；
but I respect Flora for perceiving his solid qualities。〃
〃Very solid and weighty； indeed！〃 said Ethel ironically。 〃I wonder if
she would have seen them in a poor curate。〃
〃Ethel； you are allowing yourself to be carried； by prejudice； a
great deal too far。 Are such imputations to be made； wherever there
is inequality of means？ It is very wrong！ very unjust！〃
〃So papa said；〃 replied Ethel； as she looked sorrowfully down。 〃He
was very angry with me for saying so。 I wish I could help feeling as
if that were the temptation。〃
〃You ought；〃 said Norman。 〃You will be sorry； if you set yourself；
and him； against it。〃
〃I only wish you to know what I feel； and； I think； Margaret and papa
do；〃 said Ethel humbly； 〃and then you will not think us more unjust
than we are。 We cannot see anything so agreeable or suitable in this
man as to account for Flora's liking； and we do not feel convinced of
his being good for much。 That makes papa greatly averse to it；
though he does not know any positive reason for refusing； and we
cannot feel certain that she is doing quite right； or for her own
happiness。〃
〃You will be convinced；〃 said Norman cheerfully。 〃You will find out
the good that is under the surface when you have seen more of him。 I
have had a good deal of talk with him。〃
A good deal of talk to him would have been more correct； if Norman
had but been aware of it。 He had been at the chief expense of the
conversation with George Rivers； and had taken the sounds of assent；
which he obtained； as evidences of his appreciation of all his views。
Norman had been struggling so long against his old habit of looking
down on Richard； and exalting intellect； and had seen； in his Oxford
life； so many ill…effects of the knowledge that puffeth up； that he
had come to have a certain respect for dullness； per se； of which
George Rivers easily reaped the benefit； when surrounded by the halo；
which everything at Abbotstoke Grange bore in the eyes of Norman。
He was heartily delighted at the proposed connection； and his genuine
satisfaction not only gratified Flora； and restored the equanimity
that had been slightly disturbed by her father； but it also reassured
Ethel and Margaret； who could not help trusting in his judgment； and
began to hope that George might be all he thought him。
Ethel； finding that there were two ways of viewing the gentleman；
doubted whether she ought to express her opinion。 It was Flora's
disposition； and the advantages of the match； that weighed most upon
her； and； in spite of her surmise having been treated as so
injurious； she could not rid herself of the burden。
Dr。 May was not so much consoled by Norman's opinion as Ethel
expected。 The corners of his mouth curled up a little with
diversion； and though he tried to express himself glad； and confident
in his son's judgment； there was the same sort of involuntary lurking
misgiving with which he had accepted Sir Matthew Fleet's view of
Margaret's case。
There was no danger that Dr。 May would not be kind