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relations a much warmer feeling towards him than they could ever have
hoped to entertain。 His gentle refined father had softly impressed
his duller nature； and his want of attention and many extravagances
came back upon him acutely now； in his changed home。 He could hardly
bear to look at his little orphan sister； and lavished every mark of
fondness upon her； nor could he endure to sit at the bottom of his
table； but when they had gone in to dinner； he turned away from the
chair and hid his face。 He was almost like a child in his want of
self…restraint； and with all Dr。 May's kind soothing manner； he could
not bring him to attend to any of the necessary questions as to
arrangements； and was obliged to refer to Flora； whose composed good
sense was never at fault。
Ethel was surprised to find that it would be a great distress to Meta
to part with her until the funeral was over； though she would hardly
express a wish lest Ethel should be needed at home。 As soon as Flora
perceived this； she begged her sister to stay； and again Ethel felt
unpleasantly that Meta might have seen； if she had chosen； that Flora
took the invitation upon herself。
So； while Dr。 May； with George； Norman； and Tom； went to London； she
remained； though not exactly knowing what good she was doing； unless
by making the numbers rather less scanty； but both sisters declared
her to be the greatest comfort possible； and when Meta shut herself
up in her own room； where she had long learned to seek strength in
still communing with her own heart； Flora seemed to find it a relief
to call her sister to hers； and talk over ordinary subjects； in a
tone that struck on Ethel's ear as a little incongruousbut then
Flora had not been here from the first； and the impression could not
be as strong。 She was very kind； and her manner； when with others；
was perfect； from its complete absence of affectation； but； alone
with Ethel； there was a little complacency sometimes betrayed； and
some curiosity whether her father had read the will。 Ethel allowed
what she had heard of the contents to be extracted from her； and it
certainly did not diminish Flora's secret satisfaction in being
'somebody'。
She told the whole history of her visits； first； how cordial Lady
Leonora Langdale had been； and then； how happy she had been at
Glenbracken。 The old Lord and Lady； and Marjorie； all equally
charming in their various ways； and Norman Ogilvie so good a son； and
so highly thought of in his own country。
〃Did I tell you； Ethel； that he desired to be remembered to you？〃
〃Yes； you said so。〃
〃What has Coralie done with it？〃 continued Flora； seeking in her
dressing…case。 〃She must have put it away with my brooches。 Oh； no；
here it is。 I had been looking for Cairngorm specimens in a shop；
saying I wanted a brooch that you would wear； when Norman Ogilvie
came riding after the carriage； looking quite hot and eager。 He had
been to some other place； and hunted this one up。 Is it not a
beauty？〃
It was one of the round Bruce brooches； of dark pebble； with a silver
fern…leaf lying across it； the dots of small Cairngorm stones。 〃The
Glenbracken badge； you know；〃 continued Flora。
Ethel twisted it about in her fingers； and said； 〃Was not it meant
for you？〃
〃It was to oblige me； if you choose so to regard it；〃 said Flora；
smiling。 〃He gave me no injunctions； but； you see； you must wear it
now。 I shall not wear coloured brooches for a year。〃
Ethel sighed。 She felt as if her black dress ought； perhaps； to be
worn for a nearer cause。 She had a great desire to keep that
Glenbracken brooch； and surely it could not be wrong。 To refuse it
would be much worse； and would only lead to Flora's keeping it； and
not caring for it。
〃Then it is your present； Flora？〃
〃If you like better to call it so； my dear。 I find Norman Ogilvie is
going abroad in a few months。 I think we ought to ask him here on
his way。〃
〃Flora； I wish you would not talk about such things！〃
〃Do you really and truly； Ethel？〃
〃Certainly not； at such a time as this；〃 said Ethel。
Flora was checked a little； and sat down to write to Marjorie
Ogilvie。 〃Shall I say you like the brooch； Ethel？〃 she asked
presently。
〃Say what is proper；〃 said Ethel impatiently。 〃You know what I mean；
in the fullest sense of the word。〃
〃Do I？〃 said Flora。
〃I mean；〃 said Ethel； 〃that you may say； simply and rationally； that
I like the thing； but I won't have it said as a message； or that I
take it as his present。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Flora； 〃the whole affair is simple enough； if you
would not be so conscious； my dear。〃
〃Flora； I can't stand your calling me my dear！〃
〃I am very much obliged to you；〃 said Flora； laughing； more than she
would have liked to be seen； but recalled by her sister's look。
Ethel was sorry at once。〃
Flora； I beg your pardon； I did not mean to be cross； only please
don't begin about that； indeed； I think you had better leave out
about the brooch altogether。 No one will wonder at your passing it
over in such a return as this。〃
〃You are right；〃 said Flora thoughtfully。
Ethel carried the brooch to her own room； and tried to keep herself
from speculating what had been Mr。 Ogllvie's views in procuring it；
and whether he remembered showing her； at Woodstock； which sort of
fern was his badge； and how she had abstained from preserving the
piece shut up in her guide…book。
Meta's patient sorrow was the best remedy for proneness to such
musings。 How happy poor little Meta had been！ The three sisters sat
together that long day； and Ethel read to the others； and by and by
went to walk in the garden with them； till； as Flora was going in；
Meta asked； 〃Do you think it would be wrong for me to cross the park
to see that little burned girl； as Mr。 Wilmot is away to…day； and she
has no one to go to her？〃
Flora could see no reason against it； and Meta and Ethel left the
garden； and traversed the green park； in its quiet home beauty； not
talking much； except that Meta said； 〃Well！ I think there is quite
as much sweetness as sadness in this evening。〃
〃Because of this calm autumn sunset beauty？〃 said Ethel。 〃Look at
the golden light coming in under the branches of the trees。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Meta； 〃one cannot help thinking how much more
beautiful it must be〃
The two girls said no more； and came to the cottage； where so much
gratitude was expressed at seeing Miss Rivers； that it was almost too
much for her。 She left Ethel to talk； and only said a few soft
little words to her sick scholar； who seemed to want her voice and
smile to convince her that the small mournful face； under all that
black crape； belonged to her own dear bright teacher。
〃It is odd；〃 said Meta； as they went back； 〃it is seeing other people
that makes one know it is all sad and alteredit seems so
bewildering； though they are so kind。〃
〃I know what you mean；〃 said Ethel。
〃One ought not to wish it to go on； because there are other people
and other duties；〃 said Meta； 〃but quietness is so peaceful。 Do you
know； Ethel； I shall always think of those two first days； before
anybody came； with you and Dr。 May； as something very