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〃Norman is wiser than you are； Ethel；〃 said Flora。 〃He knows that
Stoneborough would be up in arms at any neglect from us to one of the
Andersons； and； considering the rivalship； it is the more graceful；
and becoming。〃
〃I do not think it right；〃 said Ethel stoutly； 〃I believe that a line
ought to be drawn； and that we ought not to associate with people who
openly tamper with their faith。〃
〃Never fear；〃 smiled Flora； 〃I promise you that there shall be no
debates at my table。〃
Ethel felt the force of the pronoun； and； as Flora walked out of the
room； she went up to Norman； who had been resting his brow against
the window。
〃It is vain to argue with her；〃 she said； 〃but； Norman； do not you
think it is clearly wrong to seek after men who desert and deny〃
She stopped short； frightened at his pale look。
He spoke in a low clear tone that seemed to thrill her with a sort of
alarm。 〃If the secrets of men's hearts were probed； who could cast
the first stone？〃
〃I don't want to cast stones；〃 she began； but he made a gesture as if
he would not hear； and； at the same moment； Mr。 Ogilvie entered the
room。
Had Ethel been at home； she would have pondered much over her
brother's meaninghere she had no leisure。 Not only was she fully
occupied with the new scenes around her； but her Scottish cousin took
up every moment open to conversation。 He was older than Norman； and
had just taken his degree； and he talked with that superior aplomb；
which a few years bestow at their time of life； without conceit； but
more hopeful and ambitious； and with higher spirits than his cousin。
Though industrious and distinguished； he had not avoided society or
amusement； was a great cricketer and tennis…player； one of the
〃eight〃 whose success in the boat races was one of Norman's prime
interests； and he told stories of frolics that reminded Ethel of her
father's old Cambridge adventures。
He was a new variety in her eyes； and entertained her greatly。 Where
the bounds of banter ended； was not easy to define； but whenever he
tried a little mystification； she either entered merrily into the
humour； or threw it over with keen wit that he kept constantly on the
stretch。 They were always discovering odd； unexpected bits of
knowledge in each other； and a great deal more accordance in views
and opinions than appealed on the surface； for his enthusiasm usually
veiled itself in persiflage on hers； though he was too good and
serious to carry it too far。
At Blenheim； perhaps he thought he had given an overdose of nonsense；
and made her believe； as Meta really did； that the Duchess Sarah was
his model woman； for as they walked in the park in search of Phoebe
Mayflower's well； he gathered a fern leaf； to show her the
Glenbracken badge； and talked to her of his home； his mother； and his
sister Marjorie； and the little church in the rocky glen。 He gave
the history of the stolen meetings of the little knot of churchmen
during the days of persecution； and showed a heart descended straight
from the
Ogilvie who was 〃out with Montrose；〃 now that the upper structure of
young England was for a little while put aside。
After this； she took his jokes much more coolly； and made thrusts
beneath them； which he seemed to enjoy； and caused him to unfold
himself the more。 She liked him all the better for finding that he
thought Norman had been a very good friend to him； and that he
admired her brother heartily； watching tenderly over his tendencies
to make himself unhappy。 He confided to her that； much as he
rejoiced in the defeats of Anderson； he feared that the reading and
thought consequent on the discussions； had helped to overstrain
Norman's mind； and he was very anxious to carry him away from all
study； and toil； and make his brains rest； and his eyes delight
themselves upon Scottish mountains。
Thereupon came vivid descriptions of the scenery； especially his own
glen with the ruined tower； and ardent wishes that his cousin Ethel
could see them also； and know Marjorie。 She could quite echo the
wish； Edinburgh and Loch Katrine had been the visions of her life；
and now that she had once taken the leap and left home； absence did
not seem impossible； and； with a start of delight； she hailed her own
conviction that he intended his mother to invite the party to
Glenbracken。
After Norman's visit； Mr。 Ogilvie declared that he must come home
with him and pay his long…promised visit to Stoneborough。 He should
have come long ago。 He had been coming last winter； but the wedding
had prevented him； he had always wished to know Dr。 May； whom his
father well remembered； and now nothing should keep him away！
Flora looked on amused and pleased at Ethel's developmenther
abruptness softened into piquancy； and her countenance so
embellished； that the irregularity only added to the expressiveness。
There was no saying what Ethel would come to！ She had not said that
she would not go to the intended ball； and her grimaces at the
mention of it were growing fainter every day。
The discussion about Harvey Anderson was never revived； Flora sent
the invitation without another wordhe came with half a dozen other
gentlemenEthel made him a civil greeting； but her head was full of
boats and the procession day； about which Mr。 Ogilvie was telling
her； and she thought of him no more。
〃A lucky step！〃 thought Flora。 〃A grand thing for Ethela capital
connection for us all。 Lady Glenbracken will not come too much into
my sphere either。 Yes； I am doing well by my sisters。〃
It would make stay…at…home people giddy to record how much pleasure；
how much conversation and laughter were crowded into those ten days；
and with much thought and feeling beside them； for these were not
girls on whom grave Oxford could leave no impression but one of
gaiety。
The whole party was very full of merriment。 Norman May； especially；
on whom Flora contrived to devolve that real leadership of
conversation that should rightly have belonged to George Rivers； kept
up the ball with wit and drollery far beyond what he usually put
forth； enlivened George into being almost an agreeable man； and drew
out little Meta's vivacity into sunny sparkles。
Meta generally had Norman for her share； and seemed highly contented
with his lionisings； which were given much more quietly and copiously
than those which his cousin bestowed upon his sister。 Or if there
were anything enterprising to be done； any tower to be mounted； or
anything with the smallest spice of danger in it； Meta was charmed；
and with her lightness and airiness of foot and figure； and perfectly
feminine ways； showed a spirit of adventure that added to the general
diversion。 But if she were to be helped up or down anywhere； she
certainly seemed to find greater security in Norman May's assistance；
though it was but a feather…like touch that she ever used to aid her
bounding step。
Both as being diffident； and； in a manner at home； Norman was not as
constantly her cavalier as was Mr。 Ogilvie to his sister； and； when
supplanted； his wont was either to pioneer for Flora； or； if she did
not need him； to walk alone； grave and abstracted。 There was a