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jackdaws； the opposite candidate had never come forward at all；
Tomkins was hiding his diminished head； and the gentlemen had nothing
to report but success； and were in the highest spirits。
By and by Blanche was missing； and Ethel； going in quest of her；
spied a hem of blue merino peeping out under all the cloaks in the
hall cupboard； and found the poor little girl sobbing in such
distress； that it was long before any explanation could be extracted；
but at last it was revealedwhen the door had been shut； and they
stood in the dark； half stifled among the cloaks； that George's
spirits had taken his old facetious style with Blanche； and in the
very hearing of Hector！ The misery of such jokes to a sensitive
child； conscious of not comprehending their scope； is incalculable；
and Blanche having been a baby…coquette； was the more susceptible。
She hid her face again from the very sound of her own confession； and
resisted Ethel's attempts to draw her out of the musty cupboard；
declaring that she could never see either of them again。 Ethel； in
vain； assured her that George was gone to the dinner at the Swan；
nothing was effectual but being told that for her to notice what had
passed was the sure way to call Hector's attention thereto； when she
bridled； emerged； and begged to know whether she looked as if she had
been crying。 Poor child； she could never again be unconscious； but；
at least； she was rendered peculiarly afraid of a style of notice；
that might otherwise have been a temptation。
Ethel privately begged Flora to hint to George to alter his style of
wit； and the suggestion was received better than the blundering
manner deserved； Flora was too exulting to take offence； and her
patronage of all the world was as full…blown as her ladylike nature
allowed。 Ethel； she did not attempt to patronise； but she promised
all the sights in London to the children； and masters to Mary and
Blanche； and she perfectly overwhelmed Miss Bracy with orphan asylums
for her sisters。 She would have liked nothing better than dispersing
cards； with Mrs。 Rivers prominent among the recommenders of the case。
〃A fine coming…out for you； little lady；〃 said she to her baby； when
taking leave that evening。 〃If it was good luck for you to make your
first step in life upwards； what is this？〃
〃Excelsior？〃 said Ethel； and Flora smiled； well pleased； but she had
not caught half the meaning。 〃May it be the right excelsior〃 added
Ethel； in a low voice that no one heard； and she was glad they did
not。 They were all triumphant； and she could not tell why she had a
sense of sadness； and thought of Flora's story long ago； of the girl
who ascended Mont Blanc； and for what？
All she had to do at present was to listen to Miss Bracy； who was
sure that Mrs。 Rivers thought Mary and Blanche were not improved； and
was afraid she was ungrateful for all the intended kindness to her
sister。
Ethel had more sympathy here； for she had thought that Flora was
giving herself airs； and she laughed and said her sister was pleased
to be in a position to help her friends； and tried to turn it off；
but ended by stumbling into allowing that prosperity was apt to make
people over…lavish of offers of kindness。
〃Dear Miss Ethel； you understand so perfectly。 There is no one like
you！〃 cried Miss Bracy； attempting to kiss her hand。
If Ethel had not spoken rightly of her sister； she was sufficiently
punished。
What she did was to burst into a laugh； and exclaim； 〃Miss Bracy！
Miss Bracy！ I can't have you sentimental。 I am the worst person in
the world for it。〃
〃I have offended。 You cannot feel with me！〃
〃Yes； I can； when it is sense； but please don't treat me like a
heroine。 I am sure there is quite enough in the world that is
worrying； without picking shades of manner to pieces。 It is the sure
way to make an old crab of me； and so I am going off。 Only； one
parting piece of advice； Miss Bracyread 'Frank Fairlegh'； and put
everybody out of your head。〃
And； thinking she had been savage about her hand； Ethel turned back；
and kissed the little governess's forehead； wished her goodnight； and
ran away。
She had learned that； to be rough and merry； was the best way of
doing Miss Bracy good in the end； and so she often gave herself the
present pain of knowing that she was being supposed careless and
hard…hearted； but the violent affection for her proved that the
feeling did not last。
Ethel was glad to sit by the fire at bed…time； and think over the
day； outwardly so gay； inwardly so fretting and perplexing。
It was the first time that she had seen much of her little niece。
She was no great baby…handler； nor had she any of the phrases adapted
to the infant mind； but that pretty little serene blue…eyed girl had
been her chief thought all day； and she was abashed by recollecting
how little she had dwelt on her own duties as her sponsor； in the
agitations excited by the doubts about her coadjutor。
She took out her Prayer…book； and read the Service for Baptism；
recollecting the thoughts that had accompanied her youngest sister's
orphaned christening； 〃The vain pomp and glory of the world； and all
covetous desires of the same。〃 They seemed far enough off then； and
nowpoor little Leonora！
Ethel knew that she judged her sister hardly； yet she could not help
picturing to herself the futurea young lady； trained for
fashionable life； serious teaching not omitted； but right made the
means of rising in the world； taught to strive secretly； but not
openly； for admirationa scheming for her marriagea career like
Flora's own。 Ethel could scarcely feel that it would not be a
mockery to declare； on her behalf； that she renounced the world。
But； alas！ where was not the world？ Ethel blushed at having censured
others； when； so lately； she had herself been oblivious of the higher
duty。 She thought of the prayer； including every Christian in holy
and loving intercession〃I pray not that Thou wouldest take them out
of the world； but that Thou wouldest keep them from the evil。〃
〃Keep her from the evilthat shall be my prayer for my poor little
Leonora。 His grace can save her； were the surrounding evil far worse
than ever it is likely to be。 The intermixture with good is the
trial； and is it not so everywhereever since the world and the
Church have seemed fused together？ But she will soon be the child of
a Father who guards His own； and； at least； I can pray for her； and
her dear mother。 May I only live better； that so I may pray better；
and act better； if ever I should have to act。〃
There was a happy family gathering on the New Year's Day； and Flora；
who had kindly felt her way with Meta； finding her not yet ready to
enjoy a public festivity for the village； added a supplement to the
Christmas beef； that a second dinner might be eaten at home； in
honour of Miss Leonora Rivers。
Lady Leonora was highly satisfied with her visit； which impressed her
far more in favour of the Abbotstoke neighbourhood than in the days
of poor old Mr。 Rivers。 Flora knew every one； and gave little select
dinner…parties； which； by her good management； even George； at the
bottom of the table； could