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〃Ay。 At Valparaiso； he had a touch of fever； I went ashore to nurse
him； to a merchant's； who took us in for love of our Scottish blood。
Mr。 Ernescliffe made a will there； and left it in his charge。〃
〃Do you think he made Dr。 May my guardian？〃
〃He asked me whether I thought he would dislike it； and I told him；
no。〃
〃That's right！〃 cried Hector。 〃That's like dear old Alan！ I shall
get back to the doctor and Margaret after all。 Mind you write to the
captain； Harry！〃
Hector was quite inspirited and ready to return to the others； but
Harry paused to express a hope that he did not let Tom make such a
fool of himself as he had done to…day。
〃Not he；〃 said Hector。 〃He is liked as much as any one in the house…
…he has been five times sent up for good。 See there in the Eton
list！ He is a real clever fellow。〃
〃Ay； but what's the good of all that； if you let him be a puppy？〃
〃Oh； he'll be cured。 A fellow that has been a sloven always is a
puppy for a bit；〃 said Hector philosophically。
Norman was meantime taking Tom to task for these same airs； and；
hearing it was from the desire to see his brother respectable
Stoneborough men never cared for what they looked like； and he must
have Harry do himself credit。
〃You need not fear；〃 said Norman。 〃He did not require Eton to make
him a gentleman。 How now？ Why； Tom； old man； you are not taking
that to heart？ That's all over long ago。〃
For that black spot in his life had never passed out of the lad's
memory； and it might be from the lurking want of self…respect that
there was about him so much of self…assertion； in attention to
trifles。 He was very reserved； and no one except Norman had ever
found the way to anything like confidence； and Norman had vexed him
by the proposal he had made in the holidays。
He made no answer； but stood looking at Norman with an odd undecided
gaze。
〃Well； what now； old fellow？〃 said Norman； half fearing 〃that〃 might
not be absolutely over。 〃One would think you were not glad to see
Harry。〃
〃I suppose he has made you all the more set upon that mad notion of
yours；〃 said Tom。
〃So far as making me feel that that part of the world has a strong
claim on us；〃 replied Norman。
〃I'm sure you don't look as if you found your pleasure in it；〃 cried
Tom。
〃Pleasure is not what I seek；〃 said Norman。
〃What is the matter with you？〃 said Tom。 〃You said I did not seem
rejoicedyou look worse； I am sure。〃 Tom put his arm on Norman's
shoulder； and looked solicitously at himdemonstrations of affection
very rare with him。
〃I wonder which would really make you happiest； to have your own way；
and go to these black villains〃
〃Remember； that but for others who have done so； Harry〃
〃Pshaw；〃 said Tom； rubbing some invisible dust from his coat sleeve。
〃If it would keep you at home； I would say I never would hear of
doctoring。〃
〃I thought you had said so。〃
〃What's the use of my coming here； if I'm to be a country doctor？〃
〃I have told you I do not mean to victimise you。 If you have a
distaste to it； there's an end of itI am quite ready。〃
Tom gave a great sigh。 〃No；〃 he said； 〃if I must； I must； I don't
mind the part of it that you do。 I only hate the name of it； and the
being tied down to a country place like that； while you go out
thousands of miles off to these savages； but if it is the only thing
to content you； I wont stand in your way。 I can't bear your looking
disconsolate。〃
〃Don't think yourself bound； if you really dislike the profession。〃
〃I don't；〃 said Tom。 〃It is my free choice。 If it were not for
horrid sick people； I should like it。〃
Promising！ it must be confessed！
Perhaps Tom had expected Norman to brighten at once； but it was a
fallacious hope。 The gaining his point involved no pleasant
prospect； and his young brother's moody devotion to him suggested
scruples whether he ought to exact the sacrifice； though； in his own
mind； convinced that it was Tom's vocation； and knowing that would
give him many of the advantages of an eldest son。
Eton fully justified Hector's declaration that it would not regard
the cut of Harry's coat。 The hero of a lost ship and savage isle was
the object of universal admiration and curiosity； and inestimable
were the favours conferred by Hector and Tom in giving introductions
to him； till he had shaken hands with half the school； and departed
amid deafening cheers。
In spite of Harry； the day had been long and heavy to Norman； and
though he chid himself for his depression； he shrank from the sight
of Meta and Sir Henry Walkinghame together； and was ready to plead an
aching head as an excuse for not appearing at the evening party； but；
besides that this might attract notice； he thought himself bound to
take care of Harry in so new a world； where the boy must be at a
great loss。
〃I say； old June；〃 cried a voice at his door； 〃are you ready？〃
〃I have not begun dressing yet。 Will you wait？〃
〃Not I。 The fun is beginning。〃
Norman heard the light foot scampering downstairs； and prepared to
follow； to assume the protection of him。
Music sounded as Norman left his room； and he turned aside to avoid
the stream of company flowing up the flower…decked stairs； and made
his way into the rooms through Flora's boudoir。 He was almost
dazzled by the bright lights； and the gay murmurs of the brilliant
throng。 Young ladies with flowers and velvet streamers down their
backs； old ladies portly and bejewelled； gentlemen looking civil；
abounded wherever he turned his eyes。 He could see Flora's graceful
head bending as she received guest after guest； and the smile with
which she answered congratulations on her brother's return； but Harry
he did not so quickly perceive； and he was trying to discover in what
corner he might have hidden himself； when Meta stood beside him；
asking whether their Eton journey had prospered； and how poor Hector
was feeling at Harry's return。
〃Where is Harry？〃 asked Norman。 〃Is he not rather out of his
element？〃
〃No； indeed；〃 said Meta； smiling。 〃Why； he is the lion of the
night！〃
〃Poor fellow； how he must hate it！〃
〃Come this way； into the front room。 There； look at himis it not
nice to see him； so perfectly simple and at his ease； neither shy nor
elated？ And what a fine…looking fellow he is！〃
Meta might well say so。 The trim； well…knit； broad…chested form； the
rosy embrowned honest face； the shining light…brown curly locks； the
dancing well…opened blue eyes； and merry hearty smile showed to the
best advantage； in array that even Tom would not have spurned； put on
with naval neatness； and his attitude and manner were so full of
manly ease； that it was no wonder that every eye rested on him with
pleasure。 Norman smiled at his own mistake； and asked who were the
lady and gentleman conversing with him。 Meta mentioned one of the
most distinguished of English names； and shared his amusement in
seeing Harry talking to them with the same frank unembarrassed ease
as when he had that morning shaken hands with their son； in the
capacity of Hector Ernescliffe's fag。 No one present inspired him
with a tithe of the awe he felt for a post…captain