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eleven children； I should choose myself as the worst。〃
Alan tried to say somewhat of 〃Confidenceaffectiondaughters；〃 and
broke down； but it did as well as if it had been connected。
〃Yes； yes；〃 said the doctor； 〃they are good children every one of
them。 There's much to be thankful for； if one could only pluck up
heart to feel it。〃
〃And you are convinced that Margathat Miss May is recovering。〃
〃She has made a great advance today。 The head is right； at least；〃
but the doctor looked anxious and spoke low as he said； 〃I am not
satisfied about her yet。 That want of power over the limbs； is more
than the mere shock and debility； as it seems to me； though Ward
thinks otherwise； and I trust he is right； but I cannot tell yet as
to the spine。 If this should not soon mend I shall have Fleet to see
her。 He was a fellow…student of mine very clever； and I have more
faith in him than in any one else in that line。〃
〃By all means Yes；〃 said Alan； excessively shocked。 〃But you will
let me know how she goes onRichard will be so kind。〃
〃We will not fail；〃 said Dr May more and more touched at the sight of
the young sailor struggling in vain to restrain his emotion； 〃you
shall hear。 I'll write myself as soon as I can use my hand； but I
hope she may be all right long before that is likely to be。〃
〃Your kindness〃 Alan attempted to say； but began again。 〃Feeling
as I must〃 then interrupting himself。 〃I beg your pardon； 'tis no
fit time； nor fit But you'll let me hear。〃
〃That I will；〃 said Dr May； and as Alan hastily left the room； he
continued； half aloud； to himself； 〃Poor boy！ poor fellow。 I see。
No wonder！ Heaven grant I have not been the breaking of their two
young hearts； as well as my own！ Maggie looked doubtfulas much as
she ever did when my mind was set on a thing； when I spoke of
bringing him here。 But after all； she liked him as much as the rest
of us didshe could not wish it otherwisehe is one of a thousand；
and worthy of our Margaret。 That he is！ and Maggie thinks so。 If he
gets on in his profession； why then we shall see〃 but the sigh of
anguish of mind here showed that the wound had but been forgotten for
one moment。
〃Pshaw！ What am I running on to？ I'm all astray for want of her！
My poor girl〃
Mr Ernescliffe set out before sunrise。 The boys were up to wish him
good…bye； and so were Etheldred and Mary； and some one else； for
while the shaking of hands was going on in the hall there was a call；
〃Mr Ernthcliffe；〃 and over the balusters peeped a little rough curly
head； a face glowing with carnation deepened by sleep； and a round；
plump； bare arm and shoulder； and down at Alan's feet there fell a
construction of white and pink paper； while a voice lisped out； 〃Mr
Ernthcliffe； there's a white rothe for you。〃
An indignant 〃Miss Blanche！〃 was heard behind and there was no
certainty that any thanks reached the poor little heroine； who was
evidently borne off summarily to the nursery； while Ethel gave way to
a paroxysm of suppressed laughter； joined in； more or less； by all
the rest； and thus Alan； promising faithfully to preserve the
precious token； left Dr May's door； not in so much outward sorrow as
he had expected。
Even their father laughed at the romance of the white 〃rothe；〃 and
declared Blanche was a dangerous young lady； but the story was less
successful with Miss Winter； who gravely said it was no wonder since
Blanche's elder sister had been setting her the example of
forwardness in coming down in this way after Mr。 Ernescliffe。 Ethel
was very angry； and was only prevented from vindicating herself by
remembering there was no peacemaker now； and that she had resolved
only to think of Miss Winter's late kindness； and bear with her
tiresome ways。
Etheldred thought herself too sorrowful to be liable to her usual
faults which would seem so much worse now； but she found herself more
irritable than usual； and doubly heedless； because her mind was
preoccupied。 She hated herself； and suffered more from sorrow than
even at the first moment； for now she felt what it was to have no one
to tame her； no eye over her； she found herself going a tort et a
travers all the morning； and with no one to set her right。 Since it
was so the first day； what would follow？
Mary was on the contrary so far subdued； as to be exemplary in
goodness and diligence； and Blanche was always steady。 Flora was too
busy to think of the school…room； for the whole house was on her
hands； besides the charge of Margaret； while Dr。 May went to the
hospital； and to sundry patients； and they thought he seemed the
better for the occupation； as well as gratified and affected by the
sympathy he everywhere met with from high and low。
The boys were at school； unseen except when at the dinner play…hour
Norman ran home to ask after his father and sister； but the most
trying time was at eight in the evening； when they came home。 That
was wont to be the merriest part of the whole day； the whole family
collected； papa at leisure and ready for talk or for play； mamma
smiling over her work…basket； the sisters full of chatter； the
brothers full of fun； all the tidings of the day discussed； and
nothing unwelcome but bedtime。 How different now！ The doctor was
with Margaret； and though Richard tried to say something cheerful as
his brothers entered； there was no response； and they sat down on the
opposite sides of the fire； forlorn and silent； till Richard； who was
printing some letters on card…board to supply the gaps in Aubrey's
ivory Alphabet； called Harry to help him； but Ethel； as she sat at
work； could only look at Norman； and wish she could devise anything
likely to gratify him。
After a time Flora came down； and laying some sheets of closely
written note…paper before her sister； said； 〃Here is dear mamma's
unfinished letter to Aunt Flora。 Papa says we elder ones are to read
it。 It is a description of us all； and very much indeed we ought to
learn from it。 I shall keep a copy of it。〃
Flora took up her work； and began to consult with Richard； while
Ethel moved to Norman's side； and kneeling so as to lean against his
shoulder； as he sat on a low cushion； they read their mother's last
letter by the fire…light； with indescribable feelings； as they went
through the subjects that had lately occupied them； related by her
who would never be among them again。 After much of this kind； for
her letters to Mrs。 Arnott were almost journals； came；
〃You say it is long since you had a portrait gallery of the chicken
daisies； and if I do not write in these leisure days； you will hardly
get it after I am in the midst of business again。 The new Daisy is
like Margaret at the same agemay she continue like her！ Pretty
creature； she can hardly be more charming than at present。 Aubrey；
the moon…faced； is far from reconciled to his disposition from
babyhood； he is a sober； solemn gentleman； backward in talking； and
with such a will of his own； as will want much watching； very
different from Blanche； who is Flora over again； perhaps prettier and
more fairy…like； unless this is only one's admiration for the buds of
the present season。 None of