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looking straight up； and she drew down her veil； and took hold of
Flora's hand； and Ethel flushed like a hot coal。 Nevertheless； all
contrived to see a tall figure； with face much flushed； and hands
moving nervously。 The world was tired； and people were departing； so
that the first lines were lost； perhaps a satisfaction to Norman； but
his voice soon cleared and became louder； his eyes lighted； and Ethel
knew the 〃funny state〃 had come to his reliefpeople's attention was
arrestedthere was no more going away。
It was well that Norman was ignorant of the fears for Harry； for four
lines had been added since Ethel had seen the poem； saying how self…
sacrifice sent forth the sailor…boy from home； to the lone watch； the
wave and storm； his spirit rising high； ere manhood braced his form。
Applause did not come where Ethel had expected it； and； at first；
there was silence at the close； but suddenly the acclamations rose
with deafening loudness； though hardly what greets some poems with
more to catch the popular ear。
Ethel's great excitement was over； and presently she found herself
outside of the theatre； a shower falling； and an umbrella held over
her by Mr。 Ogilvie； who was asking her if it was not admirable； and
declaring the poem might rank with Heber's 'Palestine'； or Milman's
'Apollo'。
They were bound for a great luncheon at one of the colleges； where
Ethel might survey the Principal with whom Miss Rich had
corresponded。 Mr。 Ogilvie sat next to her； told her all the names；
and quizzed the dignitaries； but she had a sense of depression； and
did not wish to enter into the usual strain of banter。 He dropped
his lively tone； and drew her out about Harry； till she was telling
eagerly of her dear sailor brother； and found him so sympathising and
considerate； that she did not like him less； though she felt her
intercourse with him a sort of intoxication； that would only make it
the worse for her by…and…by。
During that whole luncheon； and their walk through the gardens； where
there was a beautiful horticultural show； something was always
prompting her to say； while in this quasi…privacy； that she was on
the eve of departure； but she kept her resolution against itshe
thought it would have been an unwarrantable experiment。 When they
returned to their inn they found Norman looking fagged； but relieved；
half asleep on the sofa； with a novel in his hand。 He roused himself
as they came in； and； to avoid any compliments on his own
performance； began； 〃Well； Ethel； are you ready for the ball？〃
〃We shall spare her the ball；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃there is a report about
the Alcestis in the newspaper that may make Margaret uncomfortable；
and this good sister will not stay away from her。〃
Norman started up crying； 〃What； papa？〃
〃It is a mere nothing in reality；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃only what we knew
before；〃 and he showed his son the paragraph； which Norman read as a
death warrant； the colour ebbed from his lips and cheeks； he trembled
so that he was obliged to sit down； and； without speaking； he kept
his eyes fixed on the words； 〃Serious apprehensions are entertained
with regard to H。 M。 S。 Alcestis； Captain Gordon〃
〃If you had seen as many newspaper reports come to nothing； as I
have； you would not take this so much to heart；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃I
expect to hear that this very mail has brought letters。〃
And Meta added that； at luncheon； she had been seated next to one of
the honorary doctorsa naval captainwho had been making
discoveries in the South Sea； and that he had scouted the notion of
harm befalling the Alcestis； and given all manner of reassuring
suppositions as to her detention； adding besides； that no one
believed the Australian paper whence the report was taken。 He had
seen the Alcestis； knew Captain Gordon； and spoke of him as one of
the safest people in the world。 Had his acquaintance extended to
lieutenants and midshipmen； it would have been perfect； as it was；
the tidings brought back the blood to Norman's cheek； and the light
to his eye。
〃When do we set off？〃 was Norman's question。
〃At five；〃 said Ethel。 〃You mean it； papa？〃
〃I did intend it； if I had gone alone； but I shall not take you till
eight； nor you； Norman； at all。〃
Norman was bent on returning； but his father and Flora would not hear
of it。 Flora could not spare him； and Dr。 May was afraid of the
effect of anxiety on nerves and spirits so sensitive。 While this was
going on； Mr。 Ogilvie looked at Ethel in consternation； and said；
〃Are you really going home？〃
〃Yes； my eldest sister must not be left alone when she hears this。〃
He looked downEthel had the resolution to walk away。 Flora could
not give up the ball； and Meta found that she must go； but both the
Normans spent a quiet evening with Dr。 May and Ethel。 Norman May had
a bad headache； which he was allowed to have justly earned； Dr。 May
was very happy reviving all his Scottish recollections； and talking
to young Ogilvie about Edinburgh。 Once； there was a private
consultation。 Ethel was provoked and ashamed at the throbs that it
would excite。 What！ on a week's acquaintance？
When alone with her father； she began to nerve herself for something
heroic； and great was her shame when she heard only of her cousin's
kind consideration for her brother； whom he wished to take home with
him； and thence to see the Highlands； so as to divert his anxiety for
Harry； as well as to call him off from the studies with which he had
this term overworked himself even more than usual。 Dr。 May had given
most grateful consent； and he spoke highly in praise of the youth；
but there was no more to come； and Ethel could have beaten herself
for the moment of anticipation。
Meta came home； apologising for wakening Ethel； but Ethel had not
been asleep。 The ball had not； it seemed； been as charming to her as
most events were； and Ethel heard a sigh as the little lady lay down
in her bed。
Late as it was when she went to rest； Meta rose to see the travellers
off； she sent hosts of messages to her father； and wished she might
go with them。 George and Flora were not visible； and Dr。 May was
leaving messages for them； and for Norman； in her charge； when the
two Balliol men walked in。
Ethel had hoped it was over； yet she could not be sorry that the two
youths escorted them to the station； and； as Ethel was placed in the
carriage； she believed that she heard something of never forgetting
happiest weekbut in the civilities which the other occupant of the
carriage was offering for the accommodation of their lesser luggage；
she lost the exact words； and the last she heard were； 〃Good…bye； I
hope you will find letters at home。〃
CHAPTER X。
True to the kindred points of Heaven and home。
WORDSWORTH。
Etheldred's dream was over。 She had wakened to the inside of a Great
Western carriage； her father beside her； and opposite a thin；
foreign…looking gentleman。 Her father； to whom her life was to be
devoted！ She looked at his profile； defined against the window； and
did not repent。 In a sort of impulse to do something for him； she
took his hat from his hand； and