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tighter。 〃I could not bear to keep back a soldier。 If this were
last year； and I had any tie or duty here； it would be very hard。
But no one needs me； and if the health I have always had be continued
to me； I don't think I shall be much in the way。 There；〃drawing
back a little； and trying to laugh off her feeling〃only tell me at
once if you think me still too much of a fine lady。〃
〃Iyoua fine lady！ Did anything ever give you the impression that
I did？〃
〃I shall not get poor Harry into a scrape； shall I？ He told me that
you said so； last spring； and I feared you judged me too truly。〃
After a few exclamations of utter surprise； it flashed on Norman。 〃I
know； I knowHarry interpreted my words in his own blunt fashion！〃
〃Then you did say something like it？〃
〃No； butbut In short； Meta； these sailors' imaginations go to
great lengths。 Harry had guessed more than I knew myself； before he
had sailed； and taxed me with it。 It was a subject I could not bear
then； and I answered that you were too far beyond my hopes。〃
〃Six years ago！〃 said Meta slowly； blushing deeper and deeper。 〃Some
eyes saw it all that time； and youand；〃 she added； laughing； though
rather tearfully； 〃I should never have known it； if Tom had not taken
me through the plantations！〃
〃Not if I had not discovered that your preferences did not lie〃
〃Among boudoirs and balls？〃 said Meta。 〃Harry was right。 You
thought me a fine lady after all。〃
The gay taunt was cut short by a tap at the door； and Flora looked
in。
〃Dr。 Spencer has brought your things； Norman。 I am sorry to disturb
youbut come down； MetaI ran away very uncivilly to fetch you。 I
hope it is not too cruel；〃 as she drew Meta's arm into her own； and
added； 〃I have not been able speak to George。〃
Meta suspected that； in the wish to spare her； Flora had abstained
from seeking him。
The evening went off like any other eveningpeople ate and talked；
thought Mrs。 Rivers looking very ill； and Miss Rivers very pretty
Flora forced herself into being very friendly to Sir Henry；
commiserating the disappointment to which she had led him； and she
hoped that he suspected the state of affairs； though Tom； no longer
supplanted by his elder brother； pursued Meta into the sheltered
nook； where Flora had favoured her seclusion； to apologise for having
left her to the guidance of poor Norman； whose head was with the
blackamoors。 It was all Harry's fault。
〃Nonsense； Tom；〃 said Harry； 〃don't you think Norman is better
company than you any day？〃
〃Then why did you not walk him off instead of me？〃 said Tom； turning
round sharply。
〃Out of consideration for Meta。 She will tell you that she was very
much obliged to me〃
Harry checked himself； for Meta was colouring so painfully that his
own sunburned face caught the glow。 He pushed Tom's slight figure
aside with a commanding move of his broad hand； and said； 〃I beg your
pardon； upon my word； though I don't know what for。〃
〃Nor I；〃 said Meta； rallying herself； and smiling。 〃You have no
pardon to beg。 You will know it all to…morrow。〃
〃Then I know it now；〃 said Harry； sheltering his face by leaning over
the back of a chair； and taming the hearty gaiety of his voice。
〃Well done； Meta； there's nothing like old June in all the world！
You may take my word for it； and I knew you would have the sense to
find it out。〃
They were well out of sight； and Meta only answered by a good tight
squeeze of his kind hand between both her own。 Tom； suddenly
recovering from his displeasure at being thrust aside； whisked round；
dropped on a footstool before Meta； locked up in her face； and said；
〃Hallo！〃 in such utter amazement that there was nothing for it but to
laugh more uncontrollably than was convenient。 〃Come along； Tom；〃
said Harry； pulling him up by force； 〃she does not want any of your
nonsense。 We will not plague her now。〃
〃Thank you； Harry；〃 said Meta。 〃I cannot talk rationally just yet。
Don't think me unkind； Tom。〃
Tom sat in a sort of trance all the rest of the evening。
Lord Cosham talked to Norman； who felt as if he were being patronised
on false pretences； drew into his shell； and displayed none of his
〃first…rate abilities。〃
Dr。 Spencer discussed his architecture with the archdeacon； but his
black eyes roamed heedfully after the young gentleman and lady； in
the opposite corners of the room； and； as he drove home afterwards
with the youths； he hummed scraps of Scottish songs； and indulged in
silent smiles。
Those at home had been far more demonstrative。 Dr。 May had arrived；
declaring himself the proudest doctor in her Majesty's dominions； and
Ethel needed nothing but his face to explain why； and tell her that
dear old June's troubles were over； and their pretty little Meta was
their owna joy little looked for to attend their foundation…stone。
The dreaded conference with Lord Cosham had proved highly gratifying。
There might be something in the fact that he could not help it； which
assisted in his ready acquiescence； but he was also a sensible right…
minded man； who thought that the largeness of Meta's fortune was no
reason that it should be doubled； considered that； in the matter of
connection； the May family had the advantage； and saw in Norman； a
young man whom any one might have pleasure in bringing forward。
Oxford had established confidence both in his character and talents；
and his speech had been such as to impress an experienced man； like
Lord Cosham； with an opinion of his powers； that prepared a welcome
for him； such as no one could have dared to expect。 His lordship
thought his niece not only likely to be happier； but to occupy a more
distinguished position with such a man as Norman May； than with most
persons of ready…made rank and fortune。
The blushing and delighted Dr。 May had thought himself bound to speak
of his son's designs； but he allowed that the project had been formed
under great distress of mind； and when he saw it treated by so good a
man； as a mere form of disappointed love； he felt himself reprieved
from the hardest sacrifice that he had ever been called on to make；
loved little Meta the better for restoring his son； and once more
gave a free course to the aspirations that Norman's brilliant boyhood
had inspired。 Richard took the same view； and the evening passed
away in an argumentas if any one had been disputing with themthe
father reasoning loud； the son enforcing it low； that it had become
Norman's duty to stay at home to take care of Meta； whose father
would have been horrified at his taking her to the Antipodes。 They
saw mighty tasks for her fortune to effect in England； they enhanced
each other's anticipations of Norman's career； overthrew abuses
before him； heaped distinctions upon him； and had made him Prime
Minister and settled his policy； before ten o'clock brought their
schemes to a close。
Mary gazed and believed； Margaret lay still and gently assented；
Ethel was silent at first； and only when the fabric became extremely
airy and magnificent； put in her word with a vehement dash at the
present abuses； which grieved her spirit above all； and； whether
vulnerable or not； Norman was to