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herself。 Norman said little； but that little was so deep and
fervent； that after a time Meta could not help saying； when Ethel was
seen in the distance； and their talk was nearly over； 〃Oh； Norman；
these things are no mirage！〃
〃It is the world that is the mirage；〃 he answered。 Ethel came up；
and Dr。 May also； in good time for the post。 He was obliged to
become very busy； using Norman for his secretary； till he saw his
son's eyes so heavy； that he remembered the two nights that he had
been up； and ordered him to go home and go to bed as soon as tea was
over。
〃May I come back to…morrow？〃
〃WhyyesI think you may。 No； no；〃 he added； recollecting himself；
〃I think you had better not；〃 and he did not relent； though Norman
looked disappointed。
Meta had already expressed her belief that her father would be buried
at the suburban church； where lay her mother； and Dr。 May； having
been desired to seek out the will and open it； found it was so； and
fixed the day and hour with Meta； who was as submissive and
reasonable as possible； though much grieved that he thought she could
not be present。
Ethel； after going with Meta to her room at night； returned as usual
to talk matters over with him； and again say how good Meta was。
〃And I think Norman's coming did her a great deal of good；〃 said
Ethel。
〃Ha！ yes；〃 said the doctor thoughtfully。
〃She thinks so much of Mr。 Rivers having been fond of him。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the doctor； 〃he was。 I find； in glancing over the will；
which was newly made on Flora's marriage； that he has remembered
Normanleft him ？00 and his portfolio of prints by Raffaelle。〃
〃Has he； indeed？how very kind； how much Norman will value it。〃
〃It is remarkable；〃 said Dr。 May； and then； as if he could not help
it； told Ethel what Mr。 Rivers had said of his wishes with regard to
his daughter。 Ethel blushed and smiled； and looked so much touched
and delighted； that he grew alarmed and said； 〃You know； Ethel； this
must be as if it never had been mentioned。〃
〃What！ you will not tell Norman？〃
〃No； certainly not； unless I see strong cause。 They are very fond of
each other； certainly； but they don't know； and I don't know； whether
it is not like brother and sister。 I would not have either of them
guess at this； or feel bound in any way。 Why； Ethel； she has thirty
thousand pounds； and I don't know how much more。〃
〃Thirty thousand！〃 said Ethel； her tone one of astonishment； while
his had been almost of objection。
〃It would open a great prospect；〃 continued Dr。 May complacently；
〃with Norman's talents； and such a lift as that； he might be one of
the first men in England； provided he had nerve and hardness enough；
which I doubt。〃
〃He would not care for it；〃 said Ethel。
〃No； but the field of usefulness； but what an old fool I am； after
all my resolutions not to be ambitious for that boy； to be set a…
going by such a thing as this！ Still Norman is something out of the
common way。 I wonder what Spencer thinks of him。〃
〃And you never mean them to hear of it？〃
〃If they settle it for themselves；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃that sanction will
come in to give double value to mine； or if I should see poor Norman
hesitating as to the inequality； I might smooth the way； but you see；
Ethel； this puts us in a most delicate situation towards this pretty
little creature。 What her father wanted was only to guard her from
fortune…hunters； and if she should marry suitably elsewherewhy； we
will be contented。〃
〃I don't think I should be；〃 said Ethel。
〃She is the most winning of humming…birds； and what we see of her
now； gives one double confidence in her。 She is so far from the
petted； helpless girl that he； poor man； would fain have made her！
And she has a bright； brave temper and elastic spirits that would be
the very thing for him； poor boy； with that morbid sensitivenesshe
would not hurt her； and she would brighten him。 It would be a very
pretty thingbut we must never think about it again。〃
〃If we can help it；〃 said Ethel。
〃Ah！ I am sorry I have put it into your head too。 We shall not so
easily be unconscious now； when they talk about each other in the
innocent way they do。 We have had a lesson against being pleased at
match…making！〃 But； turning away from the subject； 〃You shall not
lose your Cocksmoor income； Ethel〃
〃I had never thought of that。 You have taken no fees here since we
have been all one family。〃
〃Well； he has been good enough to leave me ？00； and Cocksmoor can
have the interest； if you like。〃
〃Oh； thank you； papa。〃
〃It is only its due； for I suppose that is for attendance。
Personally； to myself； he has left that beautiful Claude which he
knew I admired so much。 He has been very kind！ But； after all； we
ought not to be talking of all thisI should not have known it； if I
had not been forced to read the will。 Well； so we are in Flora's
house； Ethel！ I wonder how poor dear little Meta will feel the being
a guest here； instead of the mistress。 I wish that boy were three or
four years older！ I should like to take her straight home with usI
should like to have her for a daughter。 I shall always look on her
as one。〃
〃As a Daisy！〃 said Ethel。
〃Don't talk of it！〃 said Dr。 May hastily； 〃this is no time for such
things。 After all； I am glad that the funeral is not hereFlora and
Meta might be rather overwhelmed with these three incongruous sets of
relations。 By their letters； those Riverses must be quite as queer a
lot as George's relations。 After all； if we have nothing else；
Ethel； we have the best of it； in regard to such relations as we
have。〃
〃There is Lord Cosham；〃 said Ethel。
〃Yes； he is Meta's guardian； as well as her brother； but he could not
have her to live with him。 She must depend upon Flora。 But we shall
see。〃
Ethel felt confident that Flora would be very kind to her little
sister…in…law； and yet one of those gleams of doubt crossed her；
whether Flora would not be somewhat jealous of her own authority。
Late the next evening； the carriage drove to the door； and George and
Flora appeared in the hall。 Their sisters went out to meet them； and
George folded Meta in his arms； and kissing her again and again；
called her his poor dear little sister； and wept bitterly； and even
violently。 Flora stood beside Ethel； and said； in a low voice； that
poor George felt it dreadfully； and then came forward； touched him
gently； and told him that he must not overset Meta； and； drawing her
from him； kissed her； and said what a grievous time this had been for
her； and how sorry they had been to leave her so long； but they knew
she was in the best hands。
〃Yes； I should have been so sorry you had been over…tired。 I was
quite well off；〃 said Meta。
〃And you must look on us as your home；〃 added Flora。
〃How can she？〃 thought Ethel。 〃This is taking possession； and making
Meta a guest already！〃
However； Meta did not seem so to feel itshe replied by caresses；
and turned again to her brother。 Poor George was by far the most
struck down of all the mourners； and his whole demeanour gave his new
relations a much warmer feeling towards him than they could ever have
hoped t