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reminded them。
There was something curious and affecting in their manner to each
other。 Often it was the easy bantering familiarity of the two youths
they had once been together； with somewhat of elder brotherhood on
Dr。 Spencer's sideand of looking up on Dr。 May'sand just as they
had recurred to these terms； some allusion would bring back to Dr。
Spencer； that the heedless； high…spirited 〃Dick；〃 whom he had always
had much ado to keep out of scrapes； was a householder； a man of
weight and influence； a light which would at first strike him as most
ludicrous； and then mirth would end in a sigh； for there was yet
another aspect！ After having thought of him so long as the happy
husband of Margaret Mackenzie； he found her place vacant； and the
trace of deep grief apparent on the countenance； once so gaythe
oppression of anxiety marked on the brow； formerly so joyous； the
merriment almost more touching than gravity would have been； for the
former nature seemed rather shattered than altered。 In merging
towards this side； there was a tender respect in Dr。 Spencer's manner
that was most beautiful； though this evening such subjects were
scrupulously kept at the utmost distance； by the constant interchange
of new and old jokes and stories。
Only when bed…time had come； and Margaret had been carried offdid a
silence fall on the two friends； unbroken till Dr。 May rose and
proposed going upstairs。 When he gave his hand to wish good…night；
Dr。 Spencer held it this time most carefully； and said； 〃Oh； May！ I
did not expect this！〃
〃I should have prepared you；〃 said his host； 〃but I never recollected
that you knew nothing〃
〃I had dwelt on your happiness！〃
〃There never were two happier creatures for twenty…two years；〃 said
Dr。 May； his voice low with emotion。 〃Sorrow spared her！ Yes； think
of her always in undimmed brightnessalways smiling as you remember
her。 She was happy。 She is；〃 he concluded。 His friend had turned
aside and hidden his face with his hands； then looked up for a
moment； 〃And you； Dick；〃 he said briefly。
〃Sorrow spared her；〃 was Dr。 May's first answer。 〃And hers are very
good children！〃
There was a silence again； ending in Dr。 May's saying； 〃What do you
think of my poor girl？〃
They discussed the nature of the injury： Dr。 Spencer could not feel
otherwise than that it was a very hopeless matter。 Her father owned
that he had thought so from the first； and had wondered at Sir
Matthew Fleet's opinion。 His subdued tone of patience and
resignation； struck his guest above all； as changed from what he had
once been。
〃You have been sorely tried；〃 he said； when they parted at his room
door。
〃I have received much good！〃 simply answered Dr。 May。 〃Goodnight！ I
am glad to have you hereif you can bear it。〃
〃Bear it？ Dick！ how like that girl is to you！ She is yourself！〃
〃Such a self as I never was！ Good…night。〃
Ethel overcame the difficulty of giving the account of the newspaper
alarm with tolerable success； by putting the story of Meta's
conversation foremost。 Margaret did not take it to heart as much as
she had feared； nor did she appear to dwell on it afterwards。 The
truth was perhaps that Dr。 Spencer's visit was to every one more of
an excitement and amusement than it was to Ethel。 Not that she did
not like him extremely； but after such a week as she had been
spending； the home…world seemed rather stale and unprofitable。
Miss Bracy relapsed into a state of 〃feelings；〃 imagining that Ethel
had distrusted her capabilities； and therefore returned； or as Ethel
herself sometimes feared； there might be irritability in her own
manner that gave cause of annoyance。 The children were inclined to
be riotous with their new friend； who made much of them continually；
and especially patronised Aubrey； Mary was proud of showing how much
she had learned to do for Margaret in her sister's absence； Dr。 May
was so much taken up with his friend； that Ethel saw less of him than
usual； and she began to believe that it had been all a mistake that
every one was so dependent on her； for； in fact； they did much better
without her。
Meantime； she heard of the gaieties which the others were enjoying；
and she could not feel heroic when they regretted her。 At the end of
a week； Meta Rivers was escorted home from Warwick by two servants；
and came to Stoneborough； giving a lively description of all the
concluding pleasures； but declaring that Ethel's departure had taken
away the zest of the whole； and Mr。 Ogilvie had been very
disconsolate。 Margaret had not been prepared to hear that Mr。
Ogilvie had been so constant a companion； and was struck by finding
that Ethel had passed over one who had evidently been so great an
ingredient in the delights of the expedition。 Meta had； however
observed nothingshe was a great deal too simple and too much
engrossed for such notions to have crossed her mind； but Margaret
inferred something； and hoped to learn more when she should see
Flora。 This would not be immediately。 George and his wife were gone
to London； and thence intended to pay a round of visits； and Norman
had accompanied his namesake to Glenbracken。
Ethel fought hard with her own petulance and sense of tedium at home；
which was； as she felt； particularly uncalled for at present； when
Dr。 Spencer was enlivening them so much。 He was never in the way； he
was always either busy in the dining…room in the morning with books
and papers； or wandering about his old school…boy haunts in the town；
or taking Adam's place； and driving out Dr。 May； or sometimes joining
the children in a walk； to their supreme delight。 His sketches； for
he drew most beautifully； were an endless pleasure to Margaret； with
his explanations of themshe even tried to sit up to copy them； and
he began to teach Blanche to draw。 The evenings； when there was
certain to be some entertaining talk going on between the two
doctors； were very charming； and Margaret seemed quite revived by
seeing her father so happy with his friend。 Ethel knew she ought to
be happy also； and if attention could make her so； she had it； for
kind and courteous as Dr。 Spencer was to all； she seemed to have a
double charm for him。 It was as if he found united in her the quaint
brusquerie； that he had loved in her father； with somewhat of her
mother； for though Ethel had less personal resemblance to Mrs。 May
than any other of the family； Dr。 Spencer transferred to her much of
the chivalrous distant devotion； with which he had regarded her
mother。 Ethel was very little conscious of it； but he was certainly
her sworn knight； and there was an eagerness in his manner of
performing every little service for her； a deference in his way of
listening to her； over and above his ordinary polish of manner。
Ethel lighted up； and enjoyed herself when talking was going onher
periods of ennui were when she had to set about any home employment
when Aubrey's lessons did not go wellwhen she wanted to speak to
her father； and could not catch him； and even when she had to go to
Cocksmoor。
She did not seem to make any progress therethe room was very full；
and very close； the children were dul