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consciousness in the agonised throbs of her pulse。
He became excessively distressed at being thus repelled； and； at
last； yielded to the impatient signals of Dr。 May； who drew him into
the next room； and； with brief； strong； though most affectionate and
pitying words； enforced on him that Flora's brainnay； her life； was
risked； and that he must leave her alone to his care for the present。
Meta coming back at the same moment； Dr。 May put him in her charge；
with renewed orders to impress on him how much depended on
tranquillity。
Dr。 May went back； with his soft； undisturbing； physician's footfall；
and stood at the side of the bed； in such intense anxiety as those
only can endure who know how to pray； and to pray in resignation and
faith。
All was still in the darkening twilight； but the distant roar of the
world surged without； and a gaslight shone flickering through the
branches of the trees； and fell on the rich dress spread on the
couch； and the ornaments on the toilet…table。 There was a sense of
oppression； and of being pursued by the incongruous world； and Dr。
May sighed to silence all around； and see his poor daughter in the
calm of her own country air； but she had chosen for herself； and here
she lay； stricken down in the midst of the prosperity that she had
sought。
He could hear every respiration； tightened and almost sobbing； and he
was hesitating whether to run the risk of addressing her； when； as if
it had occurred to her suddenly that she was alone and deserted； she
raised up her head with a startled movement； but； as she saw him； she
again hid her face； as if his presence were still more intolerable
than solitude。
〃Flora！ my own； my dearestmy poor child！ you should not turn from
me。 Do I not carry with me the like self…reproachful conviction？〃
Flora let him turn her face towards him and kiss her forehead。 It
was burning； and he brought water and bathed it； now and then
speaking a few fond； low； gentle words； which； though she did not
respond； evidently had some soothing effect； for she admitted his
services； still； however； keeping her eyes closed； and her face
turned towards the darkest side of the room。 When he went towards
the door； she murmured； 〃Papa！〃 as if to detain him。
〃I am not going； darling。 I only wanted to speak to George。〃
〃Don't let him come！〃 said Flora。
〃Not till you wish it； my dear。〃
George's step was heard； his hand was on the lock； and again Dr。 May
was conscious of the sudden rush of blood through all her veins。 He
quickly went forward； met him； and shut him out； persuading him； with
difficulty； to remain outside； and giving him the occupation of
sending out for an anodynesince the best hope； at present； lay in
encouraging the torpor that had benumbed her crushed faculties。
Her father would not even venture to rouse her to be undressed； he
gave her the medicine； and let her lie still； with as little movement
as possible； standing by till her regular breathings showed that she
had sunk into a sleep； when he went into the other room and found
that George had also forgotten his sorrows in slumber on the sofa；
while Meta sat sadly presiding over the tea equipage。
She came up to meet him； her question expressed in her looks。
〃Asleep；〃 he said； 〃I hope the pulses are quieter。 All depends on
her wakening。〃
〃Poor； poor Flora！〃 said Meta； wiping away her tears。
〃What have you done with the woman？〃
〃I sent her to Mrs。 Larpent's。 I knew she would receive her and keep
her till she could write to her friends。 Bellairs took her； but I
could hardly speak to her〃
〃She did it ignorantly；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃I could never be so merciful and forbearing as you；〃 said Meta。
〃Ah！ my dear； you will never have the same cause！〃
They could say no more； for George awoke； and the argument of his
exclusion had to be gone through again。 He could not enter into it
by any means； and when Dr。 May would have made him understand that
poor Flora could not acquit herself of neglect； and that even his
affection was too painful for her in the present state； he broke into
a vehement angry defence of her devotion to her child； treating Dr。
May as if the accusation came from him； and when the doctor and Meta
had persuaded him out of this； he next imagined that his father…in…
law feared that he was going to reproach his wife； and there was no
making him comprehend more than that； if she were not kept quiet； she
might have a serious illness。
Even then he insisted on going to look at her； and Dr。 May could not
prevent him from pressing his lips to her forehead。 She half opened
her eyes； and murmured 〃good…night；〃 and by this he was a little
comforted； but he would hear of nothing but sitting up； and Meta
would have done the same； but for an absolute decree of the doctor。
It was a relief to Dr。 May that George's vigil soon became a sound
repose on the sofa in the dressing…room； and he was left to read and
muse uninterruptedly。
It was far past two o'clock before there was any movement； then Flora
drew a long breath； stirred； and； as her father came and drew her
hand into his； before she was well awake； she gave a long； wondering
whisper； 〃Oh； papa！ papa！〃 then sitting up； and passing her hand over
her eyes； 〃Is it all true？〃
〃It is true； my own poor dear；〃 said Dr。 May； supporting her； as she
rested against his arm； and hid her face on his shoulder； while her
breath came short； and she shivered under the renewed perception
〃she is gone to wait for you。〃
〃Hush！ Oh； don't！ papa！〃 said Flora； her voice shortened by anguish。
〃Oh； think why〃
〃Nay； Flora； do not； do not speak as if that should exclude peace or
hope！〃 said Dr。 May entreatingly。 〃Besides； it was no wilful
neglectyou had other duties〃
〃You don't know me； papa；〃 said Flora； drawing her hands away from
him； and tightly clenching them in one another； as thoughts far too
terrible for words swept over her。
〃If I do not； the most Merciful Father does；〃 said Dr。 May。 Flora
sat for a minute or two； her hands locked together round her knees；
her head bowed down； her lips compressed。 Her father was so far
satisfied that the bodily dangers he had dreaded were averted； but
the agony of mind was far more terrible； especially in one who
expressed so little； and in whom it seemed； as it were； pent up。
〃Papa！〃 said Flora presently； with a resolution of tone as if she
would prevent resistance； 〃I must see her！〃
〃You shall； my dear；〃 said the doctor at once； and she seemed
grateful not to be opposed； speaking more gently； as she said； 〃May
it be nowwhile there is no daylight？〃
〃If you wish it；〃 said Dr。 May。
The dawn； and a yellow waning moon； gave sufficient light for moving
about； and Flora gained her feet； but she was weak and trembling； and
needed the support of her father's arm； though hardly conscious of
receiving it； as she mounted the same stairs； that she had so often
lightly ascended in the like doubtful morning light； for never； after
any party； had she omitted her visit to the nursery。
The door was locked； and she looked piteously at her father as her
weak push met the resistance； and he was somewhat