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Christian Year。
Hector and Tom finished their holidays by a morning's shooting at the
Grange； Dr。 May promising to meet them； and let them drive him home。
Meta was out when he arrived； and； repairing to the library； he found
Mr。 Rivers sitting by a fire； though it was early in September； with
the newspaper before him； but not reading。 He looked depressed； and
seemed much disappointed at having heard that George and Flora had
accepted some further invitations in Scotland； and did not intend to
return for another month。 Dr。 May spoke cheerfully of the
hospitality and kindness they had met； but failed to enliven him；
and； as if trying to assign some cause for his vexation； he lamented
over fogs and frosts； and began to dread an October in Scotland for
Flora； almost as if it were the Arctic regions。
He grew somewhat more animated in praising Flora； and speaking of the
great satisfaction he had in seeing his son married to so admirable a
person。 He only wished it could be the same with his daughter。
〃You are a very unselfish father；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃I cannot imagine
you without your little fairy。〃
〃It would be hard to part；〃 said Mr。 Rivers； sighing； 〃yet I should
be relieved to see her in good hands； so pretty and engaging as she
is； and something of an heiress。 With our dear Flora； she is secure
of a happy home when I am gone； but still I should be glad to have
seen〃 and he broke off thoughtfully。
〃She is so sensible； that we shall see her make a good choice；〃 said
Dr。 May； smiling； 〃that is； if she choose at all； for I do not know
who is worthy of her。〃
〃I am quite indifferent as to fortune；〃 continued Mr。 Rivers。 〃She
will have enough of her own。〃
〃Enough not to be dependent； which is the point；〃 said Dr。 May；
〃though I should have few fears for her any way。〃
〃It would be a comfort；〃 harped on Mr。 Rivers； dwelling on the
subject； as if he wanted to say something； 〃if she were only safe
with a man who knew how to value her and make her happy。 Such a
young man as your Norman； nowI have often thought〃
Dr。 May would not seem to hear； but he could not prevent himself from
blushing as crimson as if he had been the very Norman； as he
answered； going on with his own speech； as if Mr。 Rivers's had been
unmade； 〃She is the brightest little creature under the sun； and the
sparkle is down so deep within； that however it may turn out； I
should never fear for her happiness。〃
〃Flora is my great reliance；〃 proceeded Mr。 Rivers。 〃Her aunt； Lady
Leonora； is very kind； but somehow she does not seem to suit with
Meta。〃
〃Oh； ho；〃 thought the doctor； 〃have you made that discovery； my good
friend？〃
The voices of the two boys were heard in the hall； explaining their
achievements to Meta； and Dr。 May took his departure； Hector driving
him； and embarking in a long discourse on his own affairs as if he
had quite forgotten that the doctor was not his father； and going on
emphatically； in spite of the absence of mind now and then betrayed
by his auditor； who； at Dr。 Spencer's door； exclaimed； 〃Stop； Hector；
let me out herethank you；〃 and presently brought out his friend
into the garden； and sat down on the grass； talking low and earnestly
over the disease with which Mr。 Rivers had been so long affected； for
though Dr。 May could not perceive any positively unfavourable
symptom； he had been rendered vaguely uneasy by the unusual heaviness
and depression of manner。 So long did they sit conversing； that
Blanche was sent out； primed with an impertinent message； that two
such old doctors ought to be ashamed of themselves for sitting so
late in the dew。
Dr。 Spencer was dragged in to drink tea； and the meal had just been
merrily concluded； when the door bell rang； and a message was brought
in。 〃The carriage from the Grange； sir； Miss Rivers would be much
obliged if you would come directly。〃
〃There！〃 said Dr。 May； looking at Dr。 Spencer； as if to say； I told
you so； in the first triumph of professional sagacity； but the next
moment exclaiming； 〃Poor little Meta！〃 he hurried away。
A gloom fell on those who remained； for； besides their sympathy for
Meta； and their liking for her kind old father； there was that one
unacknowledged heartache； which； though in general bravely combated；
lay in wait always ready to prey on them。 Hector stole round to sit
by Margaret； and Dr。 Spencer muttered； 〃This will never do；〃 and sent
Tom to fetch some papers lying on his table； whence he read them some
curious accounts that he had just received from his missionary
friends in India。
They were interested； but in a listening mood； that caused a
universal start when the bell again sounded。 This time； James
reported that the servant from the Grange said his master was very
illhe had brought a letter to post for Mr。 George Rivers； and here
was a note for Miss Ethel。 It was the only note Ethel had ever
received from her father； and contained these few words：
〃DEAR E。；
〃I believe this attack will be the last。 Come to Meta； and bring my
things。
R。 M。〃
Ethel put her hands to her forehead。 It was as if she had been again
plunged into the stunned dream of misery of four years ago； and her
sensation was of equal bewilderment and uselessness； but it was but
for a momentthe next she was in a state of over…bustle and
eagerness。 She wanted to fly about and hasten to help Meta； and
could hardly obey the word and gesture by which Margaret summoned her
to her side。
〃Dear Ethel； you must calm yourself； or you will not be of use。〃
〃I？ I can't be of any use！ Oh； if you could go！ If Flora were but
here！ But I must go； Margaret。〃
〃I will put up your father's things；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； in a soothing
tone。 〃The carriage cannot be ready in a moment； so that there will
be full time。〃
Mary and Miss Bracy prepared Ethel's own goods； which she would
otherwise have forgotten； and Margaret； meanwhile； detained her by
her side； trying to calm and encourage her with gentle words of
counsel； that might hinder her from giving way to the flurry of
emotion that had seized her； and prevent her from thinking herself
certain to be useless。
Adams was to drive her thither in the gig； and it presently came to
the door。 Dr。 Spencer wrapped her up well in cloaks and shawls； and
spoke words of kindly cheer in her ear as she set off。 The fresh
night air blew pleasantly on her； the stars glimmered in full glory
overhead； and now and then her eye was caught by the rocket…like
track of a shooting…star。 Orion was rising slowly far in the east；
and bringing to her mind the sailor…boy under the southern sky； if；
indeed； he were not where sun and stars no more are the light。 It
was strange that the thought came more as soothing than as acute
pain； she could bear to think of him thus in her present frame； as
long as she had not to talk of him。 Under those solemn stars； the
life everlasting seemed to overpower the sense of this mortal life；
and Ethel's agitation was calmed away。
The old cedar…tree stood up in stately blackness against the sky； and
the lights in the house glance