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was at the Austrian Ambassador's ball； and came home at two； but she
was up by eightshe always manages to get through her housekeeping
matters before breakfast。 At nine； breakfast； and babyby the bye；
you have never inquired for our niece。〃
〃I have not come to believe in her yet；〃 said Harry。
〃Seeing is believing；〃 said Meta； 〃but no； I won't take an unfair
advantage over her mamma； and she will be fast asleep； I never knew a
child sleep as she does。 So to go on with our day。 The papers come；
and Miss Leonora is given over to me； for you must know we are
wonderful politicians。 Flora studies all the debates till George
finds out what he has heard in the House； and baby and I profit。
Baby goes out walking； and the post comes。 Flora always goes to the
study with George； and writes； and does all sorts of things for him。
She is the most useful wife in the world。 At twelve； we had our
singing lesson〃
〃Singing lesson！〃 exclaimed Harry。
〃Yes； you know she has a pretty voice； and she is glad to cultivate
it。 It is very useful at parties； but it takes up a great deal of
time； and with all I can do to save her in note…writing； the morning
is gone directly。 After luncheon； she had to ride with George； and
came back in a hurry to make some canvassing calls about the orphan
asylum； and Miss Bracy's sister。 If we get her in at all； it will be
Flora's diplomacy。 And there was shopping to do； and when we came in
hoping for time for our letters； there were the Walkinghames； who
stayed a long time； so that Flora could only despatch the most
important notes； before George came in and wanted her。 She was
reading something for him all the time she was dressing； but； as I
say； this is quite a quiet day。〃
〃Stop！〃 cried Harry； with a gesture of oppression； 〃it sounds harder
than cleaning knives； like Aunt Flora！ And what is an unquiet day
like？〃
〃You will see； for we have a great evening party to…morrow。〃
〃Do you always stay at home？〃 asked Harry。
〃Not always； but I do not go to large parties or balls this year；〃
said Meta； glancing at her deep mourning； 〃I am very glad of a little
time at home。〃
〃So you don't like it。〃
〃Oh； yes！ it is very pleasant；〃 said Meta。 〃It is so entertaining
when we talk it over afterwards； and I like to hear how Flora is
admired； and called the beauty of the season。 I tell George； and we
do so gloat over it together！ There was an old French marquis the
other night； a dear old man； quite of the ancien regime； who said she
was exactly like the portraits of Madame de Maintenon； and produced a
beautiful miniature on a snuff…box； positively like that very pretty
form of face of hers。 The old man even declared that Mistress Rivers
was worthy to be a Frenchwoman。〃
〃I should like to kick him！〃 amiably responded Harry。
〃I hope you won't to…morrow！ But don't let us waste our time over
this； I want so much to hear about New Zealand。〃
Meta was well read in Australasian literature； and drew out a great
deal more information from Harry than Norman had yet heard。 She made
him talk about the Maori pah near his uncle's farm； where the Sunday
services were conducted by an old gentleman tattooed elegantly in the
face； but dressed like an English clergyman； and tell of his aunt's
troubles about the younger generation； whom their elders； though
Christians themselves； could not educate； and who she feared would
relapse into heathenism； for want of instruction； though with
excellent dispositions。
〃How glad you must be that you are likely to go！〃 exclaimed Meta to
Norman； who had sat silently listening。
The sound of the door bell was the first intimation that Harry's
histories had occupied them until long past twelve o'clock。
〃Now； then！〃 cried Meta； springing forward； as if intending to meet
Flora with the tidings； but checking herself； as if she ought not to
be the first。 There was a pause。 Flora was hearing downstairs that
Mr。 Norman May and another gentleman had arrived； and； while vexed at
her own omission； and annoyed at Norman's bringing friends without
waiting for permission； she was yet prepared to be courteous and
amiable。 She entered in her rich black watered silk； deeply trimmed
with lace； and with silver ornaments in her dark hair； so graceful
and distinguished…looking； that Harry stood suspended； hesitating；
for an instant； whether he beheld his own sister； especially as she
made a dignified inclination towards him； offering her hand to
Norman； as she said； 〃Meta has told you〃 But there she broke off；
exclaiming； 〃Ha！ is it possible！ No； surely it cannot be〃
〃Miss Walkinghame？〃 said the sailor； who had felt at home with her at
the first word； and she flew into his great rough arms。
〃Harry！ this is dear Harry！ our own dear sailor come back；〃 cried
she； as her husband stood astonished； and； springing towards him； she
put Harry's hand into his； 〃My brother Harry！ our dear lost one。〃
〃YourbrotherHarry；〃 slowly pronounced George； as he instinctively
gave the grasp of greeting〃your brother that was lost？ Upon my
word；〃 as the matter dawned fully on him； and he became eager； 〃I am
very glad to see you。 I never was more rejoiced in my life。〃
〃When did you come？ Have you been at home？〃 asked Flora。
〃I came home yesterdayMary wrote to tell you。〃
〃Poor dear old Mary！ There's a lesson against taking a letter on
trust。 I thought it would be all Cocksmoor； and would wait for a
quiet moment！ How good to come to me so soon； you dear old
shipwrecked mariner！〃
〃I was forced to come to report myself；〃 said Harry； 〃or I could not
have come away from my father so soon。〃
The usual questions and their sad answers ensued； and while Flora
talked to Harry； fondly holding his hand； Norman and Meta explained
the history to George； who no sooner comprehended it； that he opined
it must have been a horrid nuisance； and that Harry was a gallant
fellow； then striking him over the shoulder； welcomed him home with
all his kind heart； told him he was proud to receive him； and falling
into a state of rapturous hospitality； rang the bell； and wanted to
order all sorts of eatables and drinkables； but was sadly baffled to
find him already satisfied。
There was more open joy than even at home； and Flora was supremely
happy as she sat between her brothers； listening and inquiring till
far past one o'clock； when she perceived poor George dozing off；
awakened every now and then by a great nod； and casting a wishful
glance of resigned remonstrance； as if to appeal against sitting up
all night。
The meeting at breakfast was a renewal of pleasure。 Flora was proud
and happy in showing off her little girl； a model baby； as she called
her； a perfect doll for quietness； so that she could be brought in at
family prayers； 〃and；〃 said Flora； 〃I am the more glad that she keeps
no one away； because we can only have evening prayers on Sunday。 It
is a serious thing to arrange for such a household。〃
〃She is equal to anything；〃 said George。
The long file of servants marched in； George read sonorously； and
Flora rose from her knees； highly satisfied at the impression
produced upon her brothers。
〃I