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was proud affection； eager congratulation； for him； but it was Ethel
to whom he wanted to tell everything that had passed during her
absencewhom he treated as if they were meeting after a tedious
separation。
They dined rather early； and went out afterwards； to walk down the
High Street to Christchurch Meadow。 Norman and Ethel had been
anxious for this； they thought it would give their father the best
idea of the tout ensemble of Oxford； and were not without hopes of
beating him by his own confession； in that standing fight between him
and his sons； as to the beauties of Oxford and Cambridgea fight in
which； hitherto； they had been equally matchedneither partisan
having seen the rival University。
Flora stayed at home； she owned herself fairly tired by her arduous
duties of following the two young ladies about； and was very glad to
give her father the keeping of them。 Dr。 May held out his arm to
EthelNorman secured his peculiar property。 Ethel could have
preferred that it should be otherwiseNorman would have no companion
but George Rivers； how bored he would be！
All through the streets； while she was telling her father the names
of the buildings； she was not giving her whole attention； she was
trying to guess； from the sounds behind； whether Mr。 Ogilvie were
accompanying them。 They entered the meadowsNorman turned round；
with a laugh； to defy the doctor to talk of the Cam； on the banks of
the Isis。 The party stood stillthe other two gentlemen came up。
They amalgamated againall the Oxonians conspiring to say spiteful
things of the Cam； and Dr。 May making a spirited defence； in which
Ethel found herself impelled to join。
In the wide gravelled path； they proceeded in threes； George attached
himself to his sister and Norman。 Mr。 Ogilvie came to Ethel's other
side； and began to point out all the various notabilities。 Ethel was
happy again； her father was so much pleased and amused； with him； and
he with her father； that it was a treat to look on。
Presently Dr。 May； as usual； always meeting with acquaintances； fell
in with a county neighbour； and Ethel had another pleasant aside；
until her father claimed her； and Mr。 Ogilvie was absorbed among
another party； and lost to her sight。
He came to tea； but； by that time； Dr。 May had established himself in
the chair which had hitherto been appropriated to her cousin； a chair
that cut her nook off from the rest of the world； and made her the
exclusive possession of the occupant。 There was a most interesting
history for her to hear； of a meeting with the Town Council； which
she had left pending； when Dr。 May had been battling to save the next
presentation of the living from being sold。
Few subjects could affect Ethel more nearly； yet she caught herself
missing the thread of his discourse； in trying to hear what Mr。
Ogilvie was saying to Flora about a visit to Glenbracken。
The time came for the two Balliol men to take their leave。 Norman
May had been sitting very silent all the evening； and Meta； who was
near him； respected his mood。 When he said good…night； he drew Ethel
outside the door。 〃Ethel；〃 he said； 〃only one thing： do ask my
father not to put on his spectacles
to…morrow。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Ethel； half smiling； 〃Richard did not mind them。〃
〃Richard has more humilityI shall break down if he looks at me！ I
wish you were all at home。〃
〃Thank you。〃
The other Norman came out of the sitting…room at the moment； and
heard the last words。
〃Never mind；〃 said he to Ethel； 〃I'll take care of him。 He shall
comport himself as if you were all at Nova Zembla。 A pretty fellow
to talk of despising fame； and then get a fit of stage…fright！〃
〃Well； good…night；〃 said Norman； sighing。 〃It will be over to…
morrow； only remember the spectacles。〃
Dr。 May laughed a good deal at the request； and asked if the rest of
the party were to be blindfolded。 Meta wondered that Ethel should
have mentioned the request so publicly； she was a good deal touched
by it； and she thought Dr。 May ought to be so。
Good…night was said； and Dr。 May put his arm round Ethel； and gave
her the kiss that she had missed for seven nights。 It was very
homelike； and it brought a sudden flash of thought across Ethel！
What had she been doing？ She had been impatient of her father's
monopoly of her！
She parted with Flora； and entered the room she shared with Meta；
where Bellairs waited to attend her little mistress。 Few words
passed between the two girls； and those chiefly on the morrow's
dress。 Meta had some fixed ideasshe should wear pink。 Norman had
said he liked her pink bonnet； and then she could put down her white
veil； so that he could be certain that she was not looking； Ethel
vaguely believed Flora meant to wearsomething
Bellairs went away； and Meta gave expression to her eager hope that
Norman would go through it well。 If he would only read it as he did
last Easter to her and Ethel。
〃He will；〃 said Ethel。 〃This nervousness always wears off when it
comes to the point； and he warms with his subject。〃
〃Oh！ but think of all the eyes looking at him！〃
〃Our's are all that he really cares for； and he will think of none of
them； when he begins。 No； Meta； you must not encourage him in it。
Papa says； if he did not think it half morbidthe result of the
shock to his nerveshe should be angry with it as a sort of
conceit！〃
〃I should have thought that the last thing to be said of Norman！〃
said Meta； with a little suppressed indignation。
〃It was once in his nature；〃 said Ethel； 〃and I think it is the fault
he most beats down。 There was a time； before you knew him； when he
would have been vain and ambitious。〃
〃Then it is as they say； conquered faults grow to be the opposite
virtues！〃 said Meta。 〃How very good he is； Ethel； one sees it more
when he is with other people； and one hears all these young men's
stories！〃
〃Everything Norman does not do； is not therefore wrong；〃 said Ethel；
with her usual lucidity of expression。
〃Don't you like him the better for keeping out of all these follies？〃
〃Norman does not call them so； I am sure。〃
〃No； he is too good to condemn〃
〃It is not only that；〃 said Ethel。 〃I know papa thinks that the
first grief； coming at his age； and in the manner it did； checked and
subdued his spirits； so that he has little pleasure in those things。
And he always meant to be a clergyman； which acted as a sort of
consecration on him； but many things are innocent； and I do believe
papa would like it better； if Norman were less grave。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Meta； remembering the Sunday talk； 〃but still； he would
not be all he isso different from others〃
〃Of course； I don't mean less good； only； less grave；〃 said Ethel；
〃and certainly less nervous。 But； perhaps； it is a good thing； dear
mamma thought his talents would have been a greater temptation than
they seem to be； subdued as he has been。 I only meant that you must
not condemn all that Norman does not do。 Now； goodnight。〃
Very different were the feelings with which those two young girls
stretched themselves in their beds that night。 Margaret Rivers's
innocent； happy little heart was taken up in on