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gathered。
The funeral was fixed for Monday； the next day but one； at the church
where Mr。 Rivers had been buried。 No one was invited to be present；
Ethel wrote that； much as she wished it； she could not leave
Margaret； and； as the whole party were to return home on the
following day； they should soon see Flora。
Flora had laid aside all privileges of illness after the first day；
she came downstairs to breakfast and dinner； and though looking
wretchedly ill； and speaking very low and feebly； she was as much as
ever the mistress of her house。 Her father could never draw her into
conversation again on the subject nearest his heart； and could only
draw the sad conclusion that her state of mind was unchanged； from
the dreary indifference with which she allowed every word of cheer to
pass by unheeded； as if she could not bear to look beyond the grave。
He had some hope in the funeral； which she was bent on attending； and
more in the influence of Margaret； and the counsel of Richard； or of
Mr。 Wllmot。
The burial； however； failed to bring any peaceful comfort to the
mourning mother。 Meta's tears flowed freely； as much for her father
as for her little niece； and George's sobs were deep and choking； but
Flora； externally； only seemed absorbed in helping him to go through
with it； she； herself； never lost her fixed； composed； hopeless look。
After her return； she went up to the nursery； and deliberately set
apart and locked up every possession of her child's； then； coming
down； startled Meta by laying her hand on her shoulder and saying；
〃Meta； dear； Preston is in the housekeeper's room。 Will you go and
speak to her for a moment； to reassure her before I come？〃
〃Oh； Flora！〃
〃I sent for her；〃 said Flora； in answer。 〃I thought it would be a
good opportunity while George is out。 Will you be kind enough to
prepare her； my dear？〃
Meta wondered how Flora had known whither to send； but she could not
but obey。 Poor Preston was an ordinary sort of woman； kind…hearted；
and not without a conscience； but her error had arisen from the want
of any high religious principle to teach her obedience； or sincerity。
Her grief was extreme； and she had been so completely overcome by the
forbearance and consideration shown to her； that she was even more
broken…hearted by the thought of them； than by the terrible calamity
she had occasioned。
Kind…hearted Mrs。 Larpent had tried to console her； as well as to
turn the misfortune to the best account； and Dr。 May had once seen
her； and striven gently to point out the true evil of the course she
had pursued。 She was now going to her home； and they augured better
of her； that she had been as yet too utterly downcast to say one word
of that first thought with a servant； her character。
Meta found her sobbing uncontrollably at the associations of her
master's house； and dreadfully frightened at hearing that she was to
see Mrs。 Rivers； she began to entreat to the contrary with the
vehemence of a person unused to any self…government； but； in the
midst； the low calm tones were heard； and her mistress stood before
herher perfect stillness of demeanour far more effective in
repressing agitation； than had been Meta's coaxing attempts to
soothe。
〃You need not be afraid to see me； Preston；〃 said Flora kindly。 〃I
am very sorry for youyou knew no better； and I should not have left
so much to you。〃
〃Oh； ma'amso kindthe dear； dear little darlingI shall never
forgive myself。〃
〃I know you did love her；〃 continued Flora。 〃I am sure you intended
no harm； and it was my leaving her that made her fretful。〃
Preston tried to thank。
〃Only remember henceforth〃and the clear tone grew fainter than ever
with internal anguish； though still steady〃remember strict
obedience and truth henceforth； the want of them will have worse
results by and by than even this。 Now； Preston； I shall always wish
you well。 I ought not； I believe； to recommend you to the like
place； without saying why you left me； but for any other I will give
you a fair character。 I will see what I can do for you； and if you
are ever in any distress； I hope you will let me know。 Have your
wages been paid？〃
There was a sound in the affirmative； but poor Preston could not
speak。 〃Good…bye； then；〃 and Flora took her hand and shook it。
〃Mind you let me hear if you want help。 Keep this。〃
Meta was a little disappointed to see sovereigns instead of a book。
Flora turned to go； and put her hand out to lean on her sister as for
support； she stood still to gather strength before ascending the
stairs； and a groan of intense misery was wrung from her。
〃Dearest Flora； it has been too much！〃
〃No；〃 said Flora gently。
〃Poor thing； I am glad for her sake。 But might she not have a book
a Bible？〃
〃You may give her one； if you like。 I could not。〃
Flora reached her own room； went in； and bolted the door。
CHAPTER XXI。
Oh； where dwell ye； my ain sweet bairns？
I'm woe and weary grown！
Oh； Lady； we live where woe never is；
In a land to flesh unknown。ALLAN CUNNINGHAM。
It had been with a gentle sorrow that Etheldred had expected to go
and lay in her resting…place； the little niece； who had been kept
from the evil of the world； in a manner of which she had little
dreamt。 Poor Flora！ she must be ennobled； she thought； by having a
child where hers is； when she is able to feel anything but the first
grief； and Ethel's heart yearned to be trying； at least； to comfort
her； and to be with her father； who had loved his grandchild so
fondly。
It was not to be。 Margaret had borne so many shocks with such
calmness； that Ethel had no especial fears for her； but there are
some persons who have less fortitude for others than for themselves；
and she was one of these。 Ethel had been her own companion…sister；
and the baby had been the sunbeam of her life； during the sad winter
and spring。
In the middle of the night； Ethel knocked at Richard's door。
Margaret had been seized with faintness； from which they could not
bring her back； and； even when Richard had summoned Dr。 Spencer； it
was long ere his remedies took effect； but； at last； she revived
enough to thank them； and say she was glad that papa was not there。
Dr。 Spencer sent them all to bed； and the rest of the night was
quiet； but Margaret could not deny； in the morning； that she felt
terribly shattered； and she was depressed in spirits to a degree such
as they had never seen in her before。 Her whole heart was with
Flora； she was unhappy at being at a distance from her； almost
fretfully impatient for letters； and insisting vehemently on Ethel's
going to London。
Ethel had never felt so helpless and desolate； as with Margaret thus
changed and broken； and her father absent。
〃My dear；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； 〃nothing can be better for both parties
than that he should be away。 If he were here； he ought to leave all
attendance to me； and she would suffer from the sight of his
distress。〃
〃I cannot think what he will do or feel！〃 sighed Ethel。
〃Leave it to me。 I will write to him； and we shall see her better
before post time。〃
〃You will tell him exactly how it was； or I sha