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running in my headsomething about time to mend and time to mourn。〃
〃These？〃 said Ethel
〃He that lacks time to mourn； lacks time to mend。
Eternity mourns that。〃
〃I never had time before for either；〃 said Flora。 〃You cannot think
how I used to be haunted by those； when I was chased from one thing
to another； all these long； long eighteen months。 I am in no haste
to take up work again。〃
〃Mending as well as mourning；〃 said Ethel thoughtfully。
Flora sighed。
〃And now you have that dear little Christmas gift to〃 Ethel paused。
〃She is not nearly so fine and healthy as her sister was；〃 said
Flora； 〃poor little dear。 You know； Ethel； even now； I shall have
very little time with her in that London life。 Her papa wants me so
much； and I must leave her toto the nurses。〃 Flora's voice
trembled again。
〃Our own dear old nurse；〃 said Ethel。
〃Oh！ I wanted to thank you all for sparing her to us；〃 said Flora。
〃George wished it so much。 But how does poor little Daisy bear it？〃
〃Very magnanimously；〃 said Ethel； smiling。 〃In fact； nurse has had
but little to do with Daisy of late； and would have been very forlorn
at home。 It is better for Aubrey and for her； not to return to be
babies to comfort poor nurse。 I have been breaking up the nursery；
and taking Gertrude to live with me。〃
〃Have you gone back there again？〃
〃It would not have been better for waiting；〃 said Ethel； 〃and
Gertrude was so proud to come to me。 I could not have done it
without her； but papa must not have vacancy next to him。〃
〃It has been hard on you for me to engross him；〃 said Flora； 〃but oh；
Ethel； I could not spare him。 I don't think even you can tell what
papa is。〃
〃You have found it out；〃 said Ethel； in an odd； dry manner； which in
sound； though not in feeling； was a contrast to the soft； whispering；
tearful murmurs of her sister。
〃And my aunt！〃 continued Flora 〃that I should have taken up such a
great piece of her short visit！〃
〃Ah！ it is coming to an end very fast；〃 said Ethel； sighing； 〃but you
had the best right to her； and she and Meta have seen so much of each
other。 She tells me she is quite satisfied about Meta now。〃
〃I am sorry to see Meta looking out of spirits；〃 said Flora。 〃I
almost made her cry by saying something about Norman。 Is there
anything going wrong？〃
Ethel； as usual； blundered into the subject。 〃Only about Norman's
going out。〃
Flora asked further questions； and she was obliged to explain。 It
roused Flora's energies at once。
〃This will never do！〃 she said。 〃They must marry； and go with my
aunt。〃
Ethel was aghast。 〃They would not hear of it now！〃
〃They must。 It is the only reasonable thing。 Why； Norman would be
miserable； and as to Meta Imagine his going out and returninga
year's work； such an expense and loss of time； besides the missing
Aunt Flora。〃
〃If it were not wrong〃
〃The waste would be the wrong thing。 Besides〃 and she told of
Margaret's wishes。
〃But； Flora； thinkthe last week in Februaryand you so ill！〃
〃I am not to marry them；〃 said Flora； smiling。 〃If it could be in a
fortnight； they could go and get their outfit afterwards； and come
back to us when I am stronger。 Let me seethere need be no fuss
about settlementsMr。 Rivers's will arranges everything for her。〃
〃It would be a good thing to get rid of a fine wedding；〃 said Ethel；
〃but they will never consent！〃
〃Yes； they will； and be grateful。〃
〃Papa would be happier about Norman；〃 said Ethel； 〃but I cannot fancy
his liking it。 And youyou can't spare Meta； for Aunt Flora must go
to the Arnotts' in a week or two more。〃
〃Suppose papa was to let me have you；〃 said Flora。 〃If he wants you；
he must come after you。〃
Ethel gasped at the thought that her occupation at home was gone； but
she said； 〃If I am not too awkward for you； dear Flora。 You will
miss Meta terribly。〃
〃I can't keep the humming…bird caged； with her heart far away；〃 said
Flora。
Dr。 May came in to break up the conversation； and Ethel quickly
guessed from his manner that Norman had been talking to him。 Flora
told him that she had been agreeing with Ethel that Meta had much
better not miss this opportunity。 He was far less startled than
Ethel had expected； indeed； the proposal was rather a relief to his
mind； and his chief objection was the fear that Flora would be
fatigued by the extra bustle； but she promised not to trouble herself
about it； otherwise than that if Norman could not persuade Meta； she
would。 The sisters parted； much more comfortable than before。 Ethel
felt as if she had found something like a dim reflection of Margaret；
and Flora's fear of Ethel had fled away from the mere force of
sisterhood。
As to Norman； he declared that he had not the audacity to make the
proposal to Meta； though he was only too grateful； so his father
carried it to the humming…bird； and； as soon as she found that it was
not improper； nor would hurt any one's feelings； she gave ready
consentonly begging that it might be as best suited every one；
especially Flora； and ending by a whisper to her dear fatherly
friend； owning that she was 〃very gladshe meant she was very glad
there would be nobody there。〃
So Norman and Meta settled their plans as they walked home together
from evening service； after listening to the prophecies of the
blessings to be spread into the waste and desolate places； which
should yet become the heritage of the Chosen； and with the evening
star shining on them； like a faint reflex of the Star of the East；
Who came to be a Light to lighten the Gentiles。
CHAPTER XXVII。
Euna delle facolta singolari ed incommunicabili della religione
Cristiana questa； di poter dare indirizzo e quiete a chiunoque； in
qualsivoglia congiuntura； a qualsivoglia termine； ricorra ad essa。
Se al passato v'e rimedio； essa lo prescrive； lo somministra； presta
lume e vigore per metterlo in opera a qualunque costo； se non v'e；
essa da il； modo di fare realmento e in effeto； cio che 1' uom dice
in proverbio； della necessita virtu。 Insegna a continuare con
sapienza cio che e stato intrapreso per leggerezza； piega l'animo ad
abbracciare con propensione cio che e stato imposto dalla prepotenza；
e da ad un elezione che fu temeraria； ma che e irrevocabile； tutta la
santita； tutto il consiglio； diciamolo pur francamenta； tutte le
gioje della vocazione。MANZONI。
The wedding…day was fixed for the 20th of January； since it was less
risk to Flora as an absolute invalid； than as convalescent enough to
take any share in the doings。
Meta managed her correspondence with her own relatives； and obtained
her uncle's kind approval； since he saw there could be nothing else；
while her aunt treated her as an infatuated victim； but wished； for
her mother's sake； to meet her in London before she sailed。
The worst stroke of all was to Bellairs； who had never chosen to
believe that her mistress could move without her； and though mortally
afraid in crossing to the Isle of Wight； and utterly abhorring all
〃natives；〃 went into hysterics on finding that her young lady would
take out no maid but a little hard…working village gi