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〃Gentle little women。〃
〃Oh！ it is only Mrs。 Ledwich that stirs them up。 I hope you are
prepared for that encounter。〃
Mrs。 Ledwich came to tea； sparkling with black bugles； and was very
patronising and amiable。 Her visits were generally subjects of great
dread； for she talked unceasingly； laid down the law； and overwhelmed
Margaret with remedies； but to…night Dr。 Spencer took her in hand。
It was not that he went out of his ordinary self； he was always the
same simple…mannered； polished gentleman； but it was this that told
she was evidently somewhat in awe of himthe refinement kept her in
check。 She behaved very quietly all the evening； admired the plans；
consented to everything； and was scarcely Mrs。 Ledwich！
〃You will get on now； Ethel；〃 said Dr。 May afterwards。 〃Never fear
but that he will get the Ladies' Committee well in hand。〃
〃Why do you think so； papa？〃
〃Never you fear。〃
That was all she could extract from him； though he looked very arch。
The Ladies' Committee accepted of their representatives with full
consent； and the indefatigable Dr。 Spencer next had to hunt up the
fellow trustee。 He finally contrived to collect every one he wanted
at Fordholm； the case was laid before the Collegethe College was
propitious； and by four o'clock in the evening； Dr。 Spencer laid
before Ethel the promise of the piece of land。
Mary's joy was unbounded； and Ethel blushed； and tried to thank。
This would have been the summit of felicity a year ago； and she was
vexed with herself for feeling that though land and money were both
in such safe hands； she could not care sufficiently to feel the
ecstasy the attainment of her object would once have given to her。
Then she would have been frantic with excitement； and heedless of
everything； now she took it so composedly as to annoy herself。
〃To think of that one week at Oxford having so entirely turned this
head of mine！〃
Perhaps it was the less at home； because she had just heard that
George and Flora had accepted an invitation to Glenbracken； but
though the zest of Cocksmoor might be somewhat gone； she called
herself to order； and gave her full attention to all that was planned
by her champion。
Never did man plunge into business more thoroughly than he； when he
had once undertaken it。 He was one of those men who； from gathering
particulars of every practical matter that comes under their notice；
are able to accomplish well whatever they set their hand to； and
building was not new to him； though his former subjectsa church and
mission station in Indiabore little remembrance to the present。
He bought a little round dumpling of a white pony； and trotted all
over the country in search of building materials and builders； he
discovered trees in distant timber…yards； he brought home specimens
of stone； one in each pocket； to compare and analyse； he went to
London to look at model schools； he drew plans each more neat and
beautiful than the last； he compared builders' estimates； and wrote
letters to the National Society； so as to be able to begin in the
spring。
In the meantime he was settling himself； furnishing his new house
with great precision and taste。 He would have no assistance in his
choice； either of servants or furniture； but made numerous journeys
of inspection to Whitford； to Malvern； and to London； and these
seemed to make him the more content with Stoneborough。 Sir Matthew
Fleet had evidently chilled him； and as he found his own few
remaining relations uncongenial； he became the more ready to find a
resting…place in the gray old town； the scene of his school life；
beside the friend of his youth； and the children of her； for whose
sake he had never sought a home of his own。 Though he now and then
talked of seeing America； or of going back to India； in hopes of
assisting his beloved mission at Poonshedagore； these plans were fast
dying away； as he formed habits and attachments； and perceived the
sphere of usefulness open to him。
It was a great step when his packages arrived； and his beautiful
Indian curiosities were arranged； making his drawing…room as pretty a
room as could anywhere be seen； in readiness； as he used to tell
Ethel； for a grand tea…party for all the Ladies' Committee； when he
should borrow her and the best silver teapot to preside。 Moreover；
he had a chemical apparatus； a telescope； and microscope； of great
power； wherewith he tried experiments that were the height of
felicity to Tom and Ethel； and much interested their father。 He made
it his business to have full occupation for himself； with plans；
books； or correspondence； so as not to be a charge on the hands of
the May family； with whom he never spent an evening without special
and earnest invitation。
He gave attendance at the hospital on alternate days； as well as
taking off Dr。 May's hands such of his gratuitous patients as were
not averse to quit their old doctor； and could believe in a physician
in shepherd's plaid； and Panama hat。 Exceedingly sociable； he soon
visited every one far and wide； and went to every sort of party； from
the grand dinners of the 〃county families；〃 to the tea…drinkings of
the Stoneborough ladiesa welcome guest at all； and enjoying each in
his own way。 English life was so new to him that he entered into the
little accessories with the zest of a youth； and there seemed to be a
curious change between the two old fellow students； the elder and
more staid of former days having come back with unencumbered
freshness to enliven his friend； just beginning to grow aged under
the wear of care and sorrows。
It was very droll to hear Dr。 May laughing at Dr。 Spencer's histories
of his adventures； and at the new aspects in which his own well…
trodden district appeared to travelled eyes； and not less amusing was
Dr。 Spencer's resolute defence of all the nine muses； generally and
individually。
He certainly had no reason to think ill of them。 As one woman； they
were led by him； and conformed their opinions。 The only seceder was
Louisa Anderson； who had her brother for her oracle； and； indeed； the
more youthful race； to whom Harvey was the glass of fashion； uttered
disrespectful opinions as to the doctor's age； and would not accede
to his being； as Mrs。 Ledwich declared； 〃much younger than Dr。 May。〃
Harvey Anderson had first attempted patronage； then argument； with
Dr。 Spencer； but found him equally impervious to both。 〃Very clever；
but an old world man；〃 said Harvey。 〃He has made up his bundle of
prejudices。〃
〃Clever sort of lad！〃 said Dr。 Spencer； 〃a cool hand； but very
shallow〃
Ethel wondered to hear thus lightly disposed of； the powers of
argument that had been thought fairly able to compete with Norman；
and which had taxed him so severely。 She did not know how
differently abstract questions appear to a mature mind； confirmed in
principle by practice； and to one young； struggling in self…
formation； and more used to theories than to realities。
CHAPTER XII。
The heart may ache； but may not burst；
Heaven will not leave thee； nor forsake。
Christian Year。
Hector and Tom finished their holidays by a mornin