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dinner…parties； which； by her good management； even George； at the
bottom of the table； could not make heavy。 Dr。 Spencer enjoyed them
greatly； and was an unfailing resource for conversation； and as to
the Hoxtons； Flora felt herself amply repaying the kindness she had
received in her young lady days； when she walked down to the dining…
room with the portly headmaster； or saw his good lady sit serenely
admiring the handsome rooms。 〃A very superior person； extremely
pleasing and agreeable；〃 was the universal verdict on Mrs。 Rivers。
Lady Leonora struck up a great friendship with her； and was delighted
that she meant to take Meta to London。 The only fault that could be
found with her was that she had so many brothers； and Flora；
recollecting that her ladyship mistrusted those brothers； avoided
encouraging their presence at the Grange； and took every precaution
against any opening for the suspicion that she threw them in the way
of her little sister…in…law。
Nor had Flora forgotten the Ladies' Committee； or Cocksmoor。 As to
the muses； they gave no trouble at all。 Exemplary civilities about
the chair passed between the Member's lady and Mrs。 Ledwich； ending
in Flora's insisting that priority in office should prevail； feeling
that she could well afford to yield the post of honour； since
anywhere she was the leader。 She did not know how much more
conformable the ladies had been ever since they had known Dr。
Spencer's opinion； and yet he only believed that they were grateful
for good advice； and went about among them； easy； good…natured； and
utterly unconscious that for him sparkled Mrs。 Ledwich's bugles； and
for him waved every spinster's ribbon； from Miss Rich down to Miss
Boulder。
The point carried by their united influence was Charity Elwood's
being sent for six months' finish at the Diocesan Training School；
while a favourite pupil…teacher from Abbotstoke took her place at
Cocksmoor。 Dr。 Spencer looked at the Training School； and talked
Mrs。 Ledwich into magnanimous forgiveness of Mrs。 Elwood。 Cherry
dreaded the ordeal； but she was willing to do anything that was
thought right； and likely to make her fitter for her office。
CHAPTER XIV。
'Twas a long doubt； we never heard
Exactly how the ship went down。ARCHER GURNEY。
The tidings came at last； came when the heart…sickness of hope
deferred had faded into the worse heart…sickness of fear deferred；
and when spirits had been fain to rebel； and declare that they would
be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair。
The Christmas holidays had come to an end； and the home party were
again alone； when early in the forenoon； there was a tap at the
drawing…room door； and Dr。 Spencer called； 〃Ethel； can you come and
speak to me？〃
Margaret started as if those gentle tones had been a thunderclap。
〃Go！ go； Ethel；〃 she said； 〃don't keep me waiting。〃
Dr。 Spencer stood in the hall with a newspaper in his hand。 Ethel
said； 〃Is it？〃 and he made a sorrowful gesture。 〃Both？〃 she asked。
〃Both；〃 he repeated。 〃The ship burnedthe boat lost。〃
〃Ethel； come！〃 hoarsely called Margaret。
〃Take it；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； putting the paper into her hand； 〃I will
wait。〃
She obeyed。 She could not speak； but kneeling down by her sister；
they read the paragraph together； Ethel； with one eye on the words；
the other on Margaret。
No doubt was left。 Captain Gordon had returned； and this was his
official report。 The names of the missing stood below； and the list
began thus：
Lieutenant A。 H。 Ernescliffe。
Mr。 Charles Owen； Mate。
Mr。 Harry May； Midshipman。
The Alcestis had taken fire on the 12th of April of the former year。
There had been much admirable conduct； and the intrepid coolness of
Mr。 Ernescliffe was especially recorded。 The boats had been put off
without loss； but they were scantily provisioned； and the nearest
land was far distant。 For five days the boats kept together； then
followed a night of storms； and； when morning dawned； the second
cutter； under command of Mr。 Ernescliffe； had disappeared。 There
could be no doubt that she had sunk； and the captain could only
record his regrets for the loss the service had experienced in the
three brave young officers and their gallant seamen。 After infinite
toil and suffering； the captain； with the other boats' crews； had
reached Tahiti； whence they had made their way home。
〃Oh； Margaret； Margaret！〃 cried Ethel。
Margaret raised herself； and the colour came into her face。
〃I did not write the letter！〃 she said。
〃What letter？〃 said Ethel； alarmed。
〃Richard prevented me。 The letter that would have parted us。 Now
all is well。〃
〃All is well； I know； if we could but feel it。〃
〃He never had the pain。 It is unbroken！〃 continued Margaret； her
eyes brightening； but her breath； in long…drawn gasps that terrified
Ethel into calling Dr。 Spencer。
Mary was standing before him； with bloodless face and dilated eyes；
but； as Ethel approached； she turned and rushed upstairs。
Dr。 Spencer entered the drawing…room with Ethel； who tried to read
his face as he saw Margaretrestored； as it seemed； to all her
girlish bloom； and her eyes sparkling as they were lifted up； far
beyond the present scene。 Ethel had a moment's sense that his
expression was as if he had seen a death…blow struck； but it was gone
in a moment； as he gently shook Margaret by the hand； and spoke a
word of greeting； as though to recall her。
〃Thank you；〃 she said； with her own grateful smile。
〃Where is your father？〃 he asked of Ethel。
〃Either at the hospital； or at Mr。 Ramsden's；〃 said Ethel； with a
ghastly suspicion that he thought Margaret in a state to require him。
〃Papa！〃 said Margaret。 〃If he were but here！ Butah！ I had
forgotten。〃
She turned aside her head； and hid her face。 Dr。 Spencer signed
Ethel nearer to him。 〃This is a more natural state；〃 he said。
〃Don't be afraid for her。 I will find your father； and bring him
home。〃 Pressing her hand he departed。
Margaret was weeping tranquillyEthel knelt down beside her； without
daring at first to speak； but sending up intense mental prayers to
Him； who alone could bear her or her dear father through their
affliction。 Then she ventured to take her hand； and Margaret
returned the caress； but began to blame herself for the momentary
selfishness that had allowed her brother's loss and her father's
grief to have been forgotten in her own。 Ethel's 〃oh！ no！ no！〃 did
not console her for this which seemed the most present sorrow； but
the flow of tears was so gentle； that Ethel trusted that they were a
relief。 Ethel herself seemed only able to watch her； and to fear for
her father； not to be able to think for herself。
The front door opened； and they heard Dr。 May's step hesitating in
the hall； as if he could not bear to come in。
〃Go to him！〃 cried Margaret； wiping off her tears。 Ethel stood a
moment in the doorway； then sprang to him； and was clasped in his
arms。
〃You know it？〃 he whispered。
〃Dr。 Spencer told us。 Did not you meet him？〃
〃No。 I read it at Bramshaw's office。 How〃 He could not say the
words； but he looked towar