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She thought it light…minded； though she could not help it； to look
forward to the daily studies where she might lose her sad thoughts
and be as if everything were as usual。 But suppose she should be to
blame； where would now be the gentle discipline？ Poor Ethel's
feelings were not such as to deserve the imputation of levity； when
this thought came over her； but her buoyant mind； always seeking for
consolation； recurred to Margaret's improvement； and she fixed her
hopes on her。
Margaret was more alive to surrounding objects； and； when roused； she
knew them all； answered clearly when addressed； had even； more than
once； spoken of her own accord； and shown solicitude at the sight of
her father's bandaged； helpless arm； but he soon soothed this away。
He was more than ever watchful over her； and could scarcely be
persuaded to leave her for one moment； in his anxiety to be at hand
to answer； when first she should speak of her mother； a moment
apprehended by all the rest； almost as much for his sake as for hers。
So clear had her perceptions been； and so much more awake did she
appear； on this evening； that he expected the inquiry to come every
moment； and lingered in her room； till she asked the hour； and begged
him to go to bed。
As he bent over her； she looked up in his face； and said softly；
〃Dear papa。〃
There was that in her tone which showed she perceived the truth； and
he knelt by her side kissing her； but not daring to relax his
restraint of feeling。
〃Dear papa；〃 she said again； 〃I hope I shall soon be better； and be
some comfort to you。〃
〃My bestmy ownmy comfort；〃 he murmured； all he could say without
giving way。〃
〃Babyis she well？〃
〃Yes； thank Heaven； she has not suffered at all。〃
〃I heard her this morning； I must see her to…morrow。 But don't stay；
dear； dear papa； it is late； and I am sure you are not at all well。
Your armis it very much hurt？〃
〃It is nothing you need think about； my dear。 I am much better than
I could have imagined possible。〃
〃And you have been nursing me all the time！ Papa； you must let me
take care of you now。 Do pray go to bed at once； and get up late。
Nurse will take good care of me。 Good…night； dear papa。〃
When Dr。 May had left her； and tried to tell Richard how it had been；
the tears cut him short； and had their free course； but there was
much of thankfulness； for it might be looked on as the restoration of
his daughter； the worst was over； and the next day he was able to
think of other things； had more attention to spare for the rest； and
when the surgeon came； took some professional interest in the
condition of his own arm； inquired after his patients； and even
talked of visiting them。
In the meantime； Margaret sent for her eldest brother； begging him to
tell her the whole； and it was heard as calmly and firmly as it was
told。 Her bodily state lulled her mind； and besides it was not new；
she had observed much while her faculties were still too much
benumbed for her to understand all； or to express her feelings。 Her
thoughts seemed chiefly occupied with her father。 She made Richard
explain to her the injury he had suffered； and begged to know whether
his constant attendance on her could do him harm。 She was much
rejoiced when her brother assured her that nothing could be better
for him； and she began to say； with a smile； that very likely her
being hurt had been fortunate。 She asked who had taken care of him
before Richard's arrival； and was pleased to hear that it was Mr。
Ernescliffe。 A visit from the little Gertrude Margaret was happily
accomplished； and； on the whole； the day was most satisfactoryshe
herself declaring that she could not see that there was anything the
matter with her； except that she felt lazy； and did not seem able to
move。
Thus the next Sunday morning dawned with more cheerfulness。 Dr。 May
came downstairs for the first time； in order to go to church with his
whole flock； except the two Margarets。 He looked very wan and
shattered； but they clustered gladly round him； when he once more
stood among them； little Blanche securing his hand； and nodding
triumphantly to Mr。 Ernescliffe； as much as to say； 〃Now I have him；
I don't want you。〃
Norman alone was missing； but he was in his place at church among the
boys。 Again； in returning； he slipped out of the party； and was at
home the first； and when this recurred in the afternoon Ethel began
to understand his motive。 The High Street led past the spot where
the accident had taken place； though neither she nor any of the
others knew exactly where it was； except Norman； on whose mind the
scene was branded indelibly； she guessed that it was to avoid it that
he went along what was called Randall's Alley； his usual short cut to
school。
The Sunday brought back to the children that there was no one to hear
their hymns； but Richard was a great comfort； watching over the
little ones more like a sister than a brother。 Ethel was ashamed of
herself when she saw him taking thought for them； tying Blanche's
bonnet； putting Aubrey's gloves on； teaching them to put away their
Sunday toys； as if he meant them to be as neat and precise as
himself。
Dr。 May did not encounter the family dinner； nor attempt a second
going to church； but Blanche was very glorious as she led him down to
drink tea； and； before going up again； he had a conversation with
Alan Ernescliffe； who felt himself obliged to leave Stoneborough
early on the morrow。
〃I can endure better to go now；〃 said he； 〃and I shall hear of you
often； Hector will let me know； and Richard has promised to write。〃
〃Ay； you must let us often have a line。 I should guess you were a
letter…writing man。〃
〃I have hitherto had too few friends who cared to hear of me to write
much； but the pleasure of knowing that any interest is taken in me
here〃
〃Well；〃 said the doctor； 〃mind that a letter will always be welcome；
and when you are coming southwards； here are your old quarters。 We
cannot lose sight of you anyway； especially〃and his voice quivered…
…〃after the help you gave my poor boys and girls in their distress。〃
〃It would be the utmost satisfaction to think I had been of the
smallest use；〃 said Alan； hiding much under these commonplace words。
〃More than I know；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃too much to speak of。 Well； we
shall see you again； though it is a changed place； and you must come
and see your god…daughterpoor childmay she only be brought up as
her sisters were！ They will do their best； poor things； and so must
I； but it is sad work！〃
Both were too much overcome for words； but the doctor was the first
to continue； as he took off his dimmed spectacles。 He seemed to wish
to excuse himself for giving way； saying； with a look that would fain
have been a smile； 〃The world has run so light and easy with me
hitherto； that you see I don't know how to bear with trouble。 All
thinking and managing fell to my Maggie's share； and I had as little
care on my hands as one of my own boyspoor fellows。 I don't know
how it is to turn out； but of all the men on earth to be left with
eleven children； I should choose myself as the worst。〃
Alan tried to sa