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know； Ethel； I shall always think of those two first days； before
anybody came； with you and Dr。 May； as something veryvery
precious；〃 she said at last； with the tears rising。
〃I am sure I shall；〃 said Ethel。
〃I don't know how it is； but there is something even in this
affliction that makes it likea strange sort of happiness；〃 said
Meta musingly。
〃I know what it is！〃 said Ethel。
〃That He is so very good？〃 said Meta reverently。
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel； almost rebuked for the first thought； namely； that
it was because Meta was so very good。
〃It does make one feel more confidence；〃 said Meta。
〃'It is good for me to have been in trouble；'〃 repeated Ethel。
〃Yes；〃 said Meta。 〃I hope it is not wrong or unkind in me to feel
it； for I think dear papa would wish it； but I do not feel as if
miss him always as I shallthe spring of life were gone from me。 I
don't think it can； for I know no more pain or trouble can reach him；
and there isdon't you think； Ethel； that I may think so？especial
care for the orphan； like a compensation。 And there is hope； and
work here。 And I am very thankful！ How much worse it would have
been； if George had not been married！ Dear Flora！ Will you tell
her； Ethel； how really I do wish her to take the command of me？ Tell
her it will be the greatest kindness in the world to make me useful
to her。〃
〃I will；〃said Ethel。
〃And please tell her that I am afraid I may forget； and take upon me；
as if I were still lady of the house。 Tell her I do not mean it； and
I hope that she will check it。〃
〃I think there is no fear of her forgetting that；〃 said Ethel；
regretting the words before they were out of her mouth。
〃I hope I shall not；〃 said Meta。 〃If I do； I shall drive myself away
to stay with Aunt Leonora； and I don't want to do that at all。 So
please to make Flora understand that she is head； and I am ready to
be hand and foot；〃 and Meta's bright smile shone out； with the
pleasure of a fresh and loving service。
Ethel understood the force of her father's words； that it was a
brave； vigorous spirit。
Dr。 May came back with George； and stayed to dinner； after which he
talked over business with Flora； whose sagacity continually amazed
him； and who undertook to make her husband understand； and do what
was needed。
Meta meanwhile cross…questioned her brother on the pretty village by
the Thames； of which she had a fond； childish remembrance； and heard
from him of the numerous kind messages from all her relations。 There
were various invitations； but George repeated them unwillingly。
〃You won't go； Meta；〃 he said。 〃It would be a horrid nuisance to
part with you。〃
〃As long as you think so； dear George。 When I am in your way； or
Flora's〃
〃That will never be！ I say； Flora； will she ever be in our way？〃
〃No； indeed！ Meta and I understand that；〃 said Flora； looking up。
〃Well； I suppose Bruce can't be trusted to value the books and
prints。〃
Dr。 May thought it a great relief that Meta had a home with Flora；
for； as he said to Ethel as they went home together； 〃Certainly；
except Lord Cosham； I never saw such an unpresentable crew as their
relations。 You should have heard the boys afterwards！ There was
Master Tom turning up his Eton nose at them； and pronouncing that
there never were such a set of snobs； and Norman taking him to task
as I never heard him do beforetelling him that he would never have
urged his going to Eton； if he had thought it would make him despise
respectable folks； probably better than himself； and that this was
the last time in the world for such observationswhereat poor Tommy
was quite annihilated； for a word from Norman goes further with him
than a lecture from any one else。〃
〃Well； I think Norman was right as to the unfitness of the time。〃
〃So he was。 But we had a good deal of them； waiting in the inn
parlour。 People make incongruities when they will have such things
done in state。 It could not be helped here； to be sure； but I always
feel； at a grand undertaker's display like this； that； except the
service itself； there is little to give peace or soothing。 I hate
what makes a talk！ Better be little folk。〃
〃One would rather think of our own dear cloister； and those who cared
so much；〃 said Ethel。
〃Ah！ you were happy to be there！〃 said Dr。 May。 〃But it all comes to
the same。〃 Pausing； he looked from the window； then signed to Ethel
to do the sameOrion glittered in the darkness。
〃One may sleep sound without the lullaby；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃and the
waves〃
〃Oh！ don't； papa。 You don't give up hope！〃
〃I believe we ought； Ethel。 Don't tell her； but I went to the
Admirality to…day。〃
〃And what did you hear there？〃
〃Great cause for fearbut they do not give up。 My poor Margaret！
But those stars tell us they are in the same Hand。〃
CHAPTER XIII。
Shall I sit alone in my chamber；
And set the chairs by the wall；
While you sit with lords and princes；
Yet have not a thought at all？
Shall I sit alone in my chamber；
And duly the table lay；
Whilst you stand up in the diet；
And have not a word to say？Old Danish Ballad。
〃Oh； Norman； are you come already？〃 exclaimed Margaret； as her
brother opened the door； bringing in with him the crisp breath of
December。
〃Yes； I came away directly after collections。 How are you；
Margaret？〃
〃Pretty brave； thank you；〃 but the brother and sister both read on
each other's features that the additional three months of suspense
had told。 There were traces of toil and study on Norman's brow； the
sunken look about his eyes； and the dejected outline of his cheek；
Margaret knew betokened discouragement； and though her mild serenity
was not changed； she was almost transparently thin and pale。 They
had long ago left off asking whether there were tidings； and seldom
was the subject adverted to； though the whole family seemed to be
living beneath a dark shadow。
〃How is Flora？〃 he next asked。
〃Going on beautifully； except that papa thinks she does too much in
every way。 She declares that she shall bring the baby to show me in
another week； but I don't think it will be allowed。〃
〃And the little lady prospers？〃
〃Capitally； though I get rather contradictory reports of her。 First；
papa declared her something surpassingexactly like Flora； and so I
suppose she is； but Ethel and Meta will say nothing for her beauty；
and Blanche calls her a fright。 But papa is her devoted admirerhe
does so enjoy having a sort of property again in a baby！〃
〃And George Rivers？〃 said Norman； smiling。
〃Poor George！ he is very proud of her in his own way。 He has just
been here with a note from Flora； and actually talked！ Between her
and the election； he is wonderfully brilliant。〃
〃The election？ Has Mr。 Esdaile resigned？〃
〃Have you not heard？ He intends it； and George himself is going to
stand。 The only danger is that Sir Henry Walkinghame should think of
it。〃
〃Rivers in Parliament！ Well； sound men are wanted。〃
〃Fancy Flora； our member's wife。 How well she will become her
position。〃
〃How soon is it likely to be？〃
〃Quickly； I fancy。 Dr。 Spencer； who knows all kinds of news （papa
says h