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gallant stand for the right； Tom especially； guarding the little
fellows in a way that does one good to hear of。〃
〃'I must express my strong sense of gratitude for his truth；
uprightness； and moral courage；'〃 quoted Meta。
〃Ah； ha！ you have learned it by heart！ I know you copied it out for
Norman； who has the best right to rejoice。〃
〃You have a set of children to be proud of； Richard！〃 exclaimed Mrs。
Arnott。
〃To be surprised atto be thankful for；〃 said Dr。 May； almost
inarticulately。
To see her father so happy with Mrs。 Arnott necessarily drew Ethel's
heart towards her； and； when they had bidden him goodnight； the aunt
instantly assumed a caressing confidence towards Ethel； particularly
comfortable to one consciously backward and awkward； and making her
feel as intimate as if the whole space of her rational life had not
elapsed since their last meeting。
〃Must you go； my dear？〃 said her aunt； detaining her over her fire。
〃I can't tell how to spare you。 I want to hear of your dear father。
He looks aged and thin； Ethel； and yet that sweet expression is the
same as ever。 Is he very anxious about poor Margaret？〃
〃Not exactly anxious；〃 said Ethel mournfully〃there is not much room
for that。〃
〃My dear Ethelyou don't mean？I thought〃
〃I suppose we ought to have written more fully；〃 said Ethel； 〃but it
has been very gradual； and we never say it to ourselves。 She is as
bright； and happy； and comfortable as ever； in general； and； perhaps；
may be so for a long time yet； but each attack weakens her。〃
〃What kind of attack？〃
〃Faintness…sinking。 It is suspended action of the heart。 The injury
to the spine deranged the system； and then the long suspense； and the
shock It is not one thing more than another； but it must go on。
Dr。 Spencer will tell you。 You won't ask papa too much about it？〃
〃No； indeed。 And he bears it〃
〃He bears everything。 Strength comes up out of his great lovingness。
But； oh！ I sometimes long that he may never have any more sorrows。〃
〃My poor child！〃 said Mrs。 Arnott； putting her arm round her niece's
waist。
Ethel rested her head on her shoulder。 〃Aunt Flora！ Aunt Flora！ If
any words could tell what Margaret has been ever since we were left。
Oh； don't make me talk or think of ourselves without her。 It is
wrong to wish。 And when you see her； that dear face of hers will
make you happy in the present。 Then；〃 added Ethel； not able to leave
off with such a subject； 〃you have our Norman to see。〃
〃Ah！ Norman's project is too delightful to us； but I fear what it
may be to your father。〃
〃He gives dear Norman； as his most precious gift； the flower and
pride of us all。〃
〃But； Ethel； I am quite frightened at Miss Rivers's looks。 Is it
possible that〃
〃Aunt Flora；〃 broke in Ethel； 〃don't say a word against it。 The
choicest goods wear the best； and whatever woman can do； Meta Rivers
can。 Norman is a great tall fellow； as clever as possible； but
perfectly feckless。 If you had him there alone； he would be a bee
without a queen。〃
〃Well； but〃
〃Listen；〃 continued Ethel。 〃Meta is a concentration of spirit and
energy； delights in practical matters； is twice the housewife I am；
and does all like an accomplishment。 Between them； they will make a
noble missionary〃
〃But she looks〃
〃Hush；〃 continued the niece。 〃You will think me domineering； but
please don't give any judgment without seeing； for they look to you
as an arbitrator； and casual words will weigh。〃
〃Thank you； Ethel； perhaps you are right。 When does he think of
coming out？〃
〃When he is ordainedsome time next year。〃
〃Does she live with you？〃
〃I suppose she lives with Flora； but we always manage to get her when
Norman is at home。〃
〃You have told me nothing of Flora or Mary。〃
〃I have little real to tell。 Good old Mary！ I dare say Harry talked
to you plentifully of her。 She is aa nice old darling；〃 said Ethel
fondly。 〃We want her again very much； and did not quite bargain for
the succession of smart visits that she has been paying。〃
〃With Flora？〃
〃Yes。 Unluckily George Rivers has taken an aversion to the Grange；
and I have not seen Flora this whole year。〃
Ethel stopped short； and said that she must not keep Margaret
expecting her。 Perhaps her aunt guessed that she had touched the
true chord of anxiety。
The morning brought a cheering account of Margaret； and Mrs。 Arnott
was to see her directly after breakfast。 In the meantime； the firm
limbs； blue eyes； and rosy face of Gertrude seemed a fair
representation of the little bride's…maid； whom she remembered。
A very different niece did she find upstairs； though the smiling；
overflowing eyes； and the fond； eager look of recognition； as if
asking to be taken to her bosom； had in them all the familiarity of
old tenderness。 〃Auntie！ dear auntie！ that you should have come back
to me again！〃
Mrs。 Arnott fondly caressed her； but could not speak at first； for
even her conversation with Ethel had not prepared her for so wasted
and broken an appearance。 Dr。 May spoke briskly of Margaret's having
behaved very well and slept like a good child； told Margaret where he
had to go that morning； and pointed out to Mrs。 Arnott some relics of
herself still remaining； but the nervous tremulousness of manner did
not much comfort her； although Margaret answered cheerfully。 Nothing
was so effectual in composing the aunt as Aubrey's coming headlong in
to announce the gig； and to explain to Margaret his last design for a
cathedraldrawing plans being just now his favourite sport。
〃Architecture is all our rage at present；〃 said Margaret； as her
father hurried away。
〃I am so glad to have come in time for the consecration！〃 said Mrs。
Arnott； following her niece's lead。 〃Is that a model of the church？〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 cried Margaret； lighting up。 〃Richard made it for me。〃
〃May I show it to Aunt Flora？〃 said Aubrey。
〃Bring it here； if you can lift it；〃 said Margaret； and； Aunt Flora
helping； the great cumbersome thing was placed beside her； whilst she
smiled and welcomed it like a child； and began an eager exhibition。
Was it not a beautiful little pierced spire？that was an
extravagance of Dr。 Spencer's own。 Papa said he could not ask
Captain Gordon to sanction itthe model did it no justice； but it
was so very beautiful in the rich creamy stone rising up on the moor；
and the blue sky looking through； and it caught the sunset lights so
beautifully。 So animated was her description； that Mrs。 Arnott could
not help asking； 〃Why； my dear； when have you seen it？〃
〃Never；〃 said Margaret； with her sweet smile。 〃I have never seen
Cocksmoor； but Dr。 Spencer and Meta are always sketching it for me；
and Ethel would not let an effect pass without telling me。 I shall
hear how it strikes you next。〃
〃I hope to see it by and by。 What a comfortable deep porch！ If we
could build such churches in the colonies； Margaret！〃
〃See what little Meta will do for you！ Yes； we had the porch deep
for a shelterthat is copied from the west door of the minster； and
is it not a fine high…pitched roof？ John Taylor； who is to be clerk；
could not understand its being open； he said；