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extraordinarily excited； Ethel would have been much mortified if the
prize had been awarded to any one else； but； as it was； it came
rather as a matter of course。 The doctor was greatly pleased； and
said he should drive round by Abbotstoke to tell the news there； and
then laughed beyond measure to hear that Meta had been in the plot；
saying he should accuse the little humming…bird of being a magpie；
stealing secrets。
By this time the bride and bridegroom were writing that they thought
of soon returning； they had spent the early spring at Paris； had
wandered about in the south of France； and now were at Paris again。
Flora's letters were long； descriptive； and affectionate； and she was
eager to be kept fully informed of everything at home。 As soon as
she heard of Norman's success； she wrote a whole budget of letters；
declaring that she and George would hear of no refusal； they were
going to spend a fortnight at Oxford for the Commemoration； and must
have Meta and Ethel with them to hear Norman's poem in the theatre。
Dr。 May； who already had expressed a hankering to run up for the day
and take Ethel with him； was perfectly delighted at the proposal； and
so was Mr。 Rivers； but the young ladies made many demurs。 Ethel
wanted Mary to go in her stead； and had to be told that this would
not be by any means the same to the other partiesshe could not bear
to leave Margaret； it was a long time since there had been letters
from the Alcestis； and she did not like to miss being at home when
they should come； and Meta； on her side； was so unwilling to leave
her father that； at last； Dr。 May scolded them both for a pair of
conceited； self…important damsels； who thought nothing could go on
without them； and next； compared them to young birds； obliged to be
shoved by force into flying。
Meta consented first； on condition that Ethel would； and Ethel found
that her whole house would be greatly disappointed if she refused； so
she proceeded to be grateful； and then discovered how extremely
delightful the plan was。 Oxford； of which she had heard so much； and
which she had always wished to see！ And Norman's gloryand Meta's
companynay； the very holiday； and going from home； were charms
enough for a girl of eighteen； who had never been beyond Whitford in
her life。 Besides； to crown all； papa promised that； if his patients
would behave well； and not want him too much； he would come up for
the one great day。
Mr。 and Mrs。 George Rivers came to Abbotstoke to collect their party。
They arrived by a railroad； whose station was nearer to Abbotstoke
than to Stoneborough； therefore； instead of their visiting the High
Street by the way； Dr。 May； with Ethel and Mary； were invited to dine
at the Grange； the first eveninga proposal； at least； as new and
exciting to Mary as was the journey to Oxford to her sister。
The two girls went early； as the travellers had intended to arrive
before luncheon； and； though Ethel said few words； but let Mary
rattle on with a stream of conjectures and questions； her heart was
full of longings for her sister； as well as of strange doubts and
fears； as to the change that her new life might have made in her。
〃There！ there！〃 cried Mary。 〃Yes！ it is Flora！ Only she has her
hair done in a funny way！〃
Flora and Meta were both standing on the steps before the
conservatory； and Mary made but one bound before she was hugging
Flora。 Ethel kissed her without so much violence； and then saw that
Flora was looking very well and bright； more decidedly pretty and
elegant than ever； and with certainly no diminution of affection； it
was warmer； though rather more patronising。
〃How natural you look！〃 was her first exclamation； as she held Mary's
hand； and drew Ethel's arm into hers。 〃And how is Margaret？〃
〃Pretty well…but the heat makes her languid〃
〃Is there any letter yet？〃
〃No〃
〃I do not see any cause for alarmletters are so often detained；
but； of course； she will be anxious。 Has she had pain in the back
again？〃
〃Sometimes； but summer always does her good〃
〃I shall see her to…morrowand the Daisy。 How do you all get on？
Have you broken down yet； Ethel？〃
〃Oh！ we do go on；〃 said Ethel； smiling； 〃the worst thing I have done
was expecting James to dress the salads with lamp…oil。〃
〃A Greenland salad！ But don't talk of oilI have the taste still in
my mouth after the Pyrennean cookery！ Oh！ Ethel； you would have been
wild with delight in those places！〃
〃Snowy mountains！ Are they not like a fairy…dream to you now？ You
must have felt at home； as a Scotchwoman's daughter。〃
〃Think of the peaks in the sunrise！ Oh！ I wanted you in the pass of
Roncevalles； to hear the echo of Roland's horn。 And we saw the cleft
made by Roland's sword in the rocks。〃
〃Oh！ how delightfuland Spain too！〃
〃Ay； the Isle of Pheasants； where all the conferences took place。〃
〃Where Louis XIV。 met his bride； and Francois I。 sealed his treason
with his empty flourish〃
〃Well； don't let us fight about Francois I。 now； I want to know how
Tom likes Eton。〃
〃He gets on famously。 I am so glad he is in the same house with
Hector。〃
〃Mr。 Ramsdenhow is he？〃
〃No better； he has not done any duty for weeks。 Tomkins and his set
want to sell the next presentation； but papa hopes to stave that off；
for there is a better set than usual in the Town Council this year。〃
〃Cocksmoor？ And how are our friends the muses？ I found a note from
the secretary telling me that I am elected again。 How have they
behaved？〃
〃Pretty well；〃 said Ethel。 〃Mrs。 Ledwich has been away； so we have
had few meetings； and have been pretty quiet； except for an uproar
about the mistress beating that Franklin's girland what do you
think I did； Flora？ I made bold to say the woman should show her to
papa； to see if she had done her any harm； and he found that it was
all a fabrication from one end to the other。 So it ended in the poor
girl being expelled； and Mary and I have her twice a week； to see if
there is any grace in her。〃
〃To reward her！〃 said Flora。 〃That is always your way〃
〃Why； one cannot give the poor thing quite up；〃 said Ethel。
〃You will manage the ladies at last！〃 cried Flora。
〃Not while Mrs。 Ledwich is there！〃
〃I'll cope with her！ But； come； I want you in my room〃
〃May not I come？〃 said Meta。 〃I must see when〃
Flora held up her hand； and； while signing invitation； gave an arch
look to Meta to be silent。 Ethel here bethought herself of inquiring
after Mr。 Rivers； and then for George。
Mr。 Rivers was pretty wellGeorge； quite well； and somewhere in the
garden； and Meta said that he had such a beard that they would hardly
know him； while Flora added that he was delighted with the Oxford
scheme。 Flora's rooms had been； already； often shown to her sisters；
when Mr。 Rivers had been newly furnishing them； with every luxury and
ornament that taste could devise。 Her dressing…room； with the large
bay window； commanding a beautiful view of Stoneborough； and filled；
but not crowded； with every sort of choice article； was a perfect
exhibition to eyes unaccustomed to such varieties。
Mary could have been still amused by the hour； in