按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
make them eat at the Swindon Station； asking for impossible things；
and wishing them so often to change for something better； that； if
they had been submissive； they would have had no luncheon at all；
and； as it was； Flora was obliged to whisk into the carriage with her
last sandwich in her hand。
〃I am the more sorry；〃 said he； after grumbling at the allotted ten
minutes； 〃as we shall dine so late。 You desired Norman to bring any
friend he liked； did you not； Flora？〃
〃Yes； and he spoke of bringing our old friend； Charles Cheviot； and
Mr。 Ogilvie；〃 said Flora。
〃Mr。 Ogilvie！〃 said Ethel； 〃the Master of Glenbracken！ Oh！ I am so
glad！ I have wanted so much to see him！〃
〃Ah！ he is a great hero of yours？〃 said Flora。
〃Do you know him？〃 said Meta。
〃No； but he is a great friend of Norman's； and a Scottish cousin
Norman Ogilvie。 Norman has his name from the Ogilvies。〃
〃Our grandmother； Mrs。 Mackenzie； was a daughter of Lord
Glenbracken；〃 said Flora。
〃This man might be called the Master of Glenbracken at home；〃 said
Ethel。 〃It is such a pretty title； and there is a beautiful history
belonging to them。 There was a Master of Glenbracken who carried
James IV。's standard at Flodden； and would not yield； and was killed
with it wrapped round his body； and the Lion was dyed with his blood。
Mamma knew some scraps of a ballad about him。 Then they were out
with Montrose； and had their castle burned by the Covenanters； and
since that they have been Jacobites； and one barely escaped being
beheaded at Carlisle！ I want to hear the rights of it。 Norman is to
go； some time or other； to stay at Glenbracken。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Flora； 〃coming down to times present； this young heir
seems worthy of his race。 They are pattern peoplehave built a
church； and have all their tenantry in excellent order。 This is the
only son； and very good and cleverhe preferred going to Balliol；
that he might work； but he is a great sportsman； George；〃 added she；
〃you will get on with him very well； about fishing； and grouse
shooting； I dare say。〃
Norman met them at the station； and there was great excitement at
seeing his long nose under his college cap。 He looked rather thin
and worn； but brightened at the sight of the party。 After the
questionwhether there had been any letters from Harry？ he asked
whether his father were coming？and Ethel thought he seemed nervous
at the idea of this addition to his audience。 He saw them to their
hotel； and； promising them his two guests； departed。
Ethel watched collegiate figures passing in the street； and
recollected the gray buildings； just glimpsed at in her driveit was
dreamy and confused； and she stood musing； not discovering that it
was time to dress； till Flora and her Frenchwoman came in； and laid
violent hands on her。
The effect of their manipulations was very successful。 Ethel was
made to look well…dressed； and； still more； distinguished。 Her
height told well； when her lankiness was overcome； and her hair was
disposed so as to set off her features to advantage。 The glow of
amusement and pleasure did still more for her； and Norman； who was in
the parlour when the sisters appeared； quite started with surprise
and satisfaction at her aspect。
〃Well done。 Flora！〃 he said。 〃Why！ I have been telling Ogilvie that
one of my sisters was very plain！〃
〃Then； I hope we have been preparing an agreeable surprise for him；〃
said Flora。 〃Ethel is very much obliged to you。 By the bye；〃 she
said； in her universal amity； 〃I must ask Harvey Anderson to dinner
one of these days？〃 Norman started； and his face said 〃Don't。〃
〃Oh； very well； it is as you please。 I thought it would please
Stoneborough； and that Edward was a protege of yours。 What has he
been doing？ Did we not hear he had been distinguishing himself？ Dr。
Hoxton was boasting of his two scholars。〃
〃Ask him；〃 said Norman hurriedly。 〃At least；〃 said he； 〃do not let
anything from me prevent you。〃
〃Has he been doing anything wrong？〃 reiterated Flora。
〃Not that I know of；〃 was the blunt answer； and； at the same instant；
Mr。 Ogilvie arrived。 He was a pleasant； high…bred looking gentleman；
brown…complexioned； and dark…eyed； with a brisk and resolute cast of
countenance； that； Ethel thought； might have suited the Norman of
Glenbracken； who died on the ruddy Lion of Scotland； and speaking
with the very same slight degree of Scottish intonation as she
remembered in her mother； making a most home…like sound in her ears。
Presently； the rest of their own party came down； and； soon after；
Charles Cheviot appeared； looking as quiet and tame； as he used to be
in the schoolboy days； when Norman would bring him home； and he used
to be too shy to speak a word。
However； he had learned the use of his tongue by this time； though it
was a very soft one； and he stood by Ethel； asking many questions
about Stoneborough； while something； apparently very spirited and
amusing； was going on between the others。
The dinner went off wellthere were few enough for the conversation
to be general。 The young men began to strike out sparks of wit
against each otherFlora put in a word or twoEthel grew so much
interested in the discussion； that her face lighted up； and she
joined in it； as if it had been only between her father and brother
keen； clear； and droll。 After that； she had her full share in the
conversation； and enjoyed it so much that； when she left the dinner…
table； she fetched her writing…case to sketch the colloquy for
Margaret and her father。
Flora exclaimed at her for never allowing any one to think of rest。
Meta said she should like to do the same； but it was impossible now；
she did not know how she should ever settle down to write a letter。
Ethel was soon interruptedthe gentlemen entered； and Mr。 Ogilvie
came to the window； where she was sitting； and began to tell her how
much obliged to her he and his college were； for having insisted on
her brother's sending in his poem。 〃Thanks are due； for our being
spared an infliction next week；〃 he said。
〃Have you seen it？〃 she asked； and she was amused by the quick
negative movement of his head。
〃I read my friend's poems？ But our lungs are prepared！ Will you
give me my cueit is of no use to ask him when we are to deafen you。
One generally knows the crack passagessomething beginning with 'Oh；
woman！' but it is well to be in readinessif you would only forewarn
me of the telling hits？〃
〃If they cannot tell themselves；〃 said Ethel； smiling； 〃I don't think
they deserve the name。〃
〃Perhaps you think what does tell on the undergraduates；
collectively； is not always what ought to tell on them。〃
〃I don't know。 I dare say the same would not be a favourite with
them and with me。〃
〃I should like to know which are your favourites。 No doubt you have
a copy heremade by yourself；〃 and he looked towards her paper…case。
There was the copy； and she took it out； peering to see whether
Norman were looking。
〃Let me see；〃 he said； as she paused to open the MS。； 〃he told
me the thoughts were more yours than his own。〃
〃Did he？ That was not fair。 One thought was an old one； long ago
talked over betwe