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〃natives；〃 went into hysterics on finding that her young lady would
take out no maid but a little hard…working village girl； and though
transferred in the most flattering manner to Mrs。 Rivers's service；
shed a tear for every stitch she set in the trousseau； and assured
her betrothed butler that； if Miss Rivers would only have heard
reason； she would have followed her to the world's end； rather than
that her beautiful hair should never look like anything again。
So the wedding…day came； and grass and trees wore a fitting suit of
crisp hoariness。 Nothing could be quieter。 Meta was arrayed by the
sobbing Bellairs in her simple bridal white； wrapped herself in a
large shawl； took her brother's arm； and walked down the frosty path
with him and Mrs。 Arnott； as if going merely to the daily service。
The time had not been made known； and there was hardly an addition to
the ordinary congregation； except the May family and Dr。 Spencer； but
the Christmas evergreens still adorned aisle and chancel； and over
the altar stood the motto that Meta herself had woven of holly； on
that Christmas Eve of grief and anxiety； without knowing how it would
speak to her。
Fear not； for behold I bring unto you glad tidings of great joy；
that shall be unto you and to all people。
Fear not； for length of voyage； for distance from kindred； for
hardship； privation； misunderstanding； disappointment。 The glad
tidings are to all people； even to the utmost parts of the earth。 Ye
have your portion in the great joyye have freely cast in your lot
with those； whose feet are beautiful on the mountains； who bear the
good tidings。 Fear not； for He is with you； who will never forsake。
Thus Dr。 May read the words with swelling heart； as he looked at his
son's clear； grave； manful look； even as it had been when he made his
Confirmation vowhis natural nervous excitability quelled by a
spirit not his own； and chastened into strong purpose； and the bride；
her young face the more lovely for the depth of enthusiasm restrained
by awe and humility； as she stood without trembling or faltering； the
strength of innocence expressed in the whole bearing of her slight
figure in her white drapery。 Around were the four sisterly bride's…
maids； their black dresses showing that these were still the twilight
days of mourning； and that none would forget her； whose prayers might
still bless their labour of love。
When Margaret Agatha May； on her husband's arm； turned for a last
look at the altar of her own church； 〃Fear not；〃 in evergreen
letters； was the greeting she bore away。
Ethel was left at the Grange for the ensuing fortnighta time of
unusual leisure both to her and to Flora； which they both prized
highly； for it taught them to know each other as they had never done
before。 Flora's confidence to her aunt had been a good thing for
her； though so partial； it opened the way for further unreserve to
one who knew the circumstances better； and； as to dread of Ethel；
that could seldom prevail in her presence； partly from long habit；
partly from her deficiency of manner； and still more from her true
humility and affection。 Gradually she arrived at the perception of
the history of her sister's mind； understood what gloom had once
overshadowed it； and how； since light had once shone upon her； she
shrank not merely from the tasks that had become wearisome to her；
but from the dread of losing among them her present peace。
〃They are your duty；〃 argued Ethel。 〃Duty brings peace。〃
〃They were not；〃 said Flora。
〃They are now；〃 said Ethel。
〃Dinners and parties； empty talk and vain show；〃 said Flora
languidly。 〃Are you come to their defence； Ethel？ If you could
guess how sick one gets of them； and how much worse it is for them
not to be hateful！ And to think of bringing my poor little girl up
to the like； if she is spared！〃
〃If they are not duties； I would not do them；〃 said Ethel。
〃Ethel；〃 cried her sister； raising herself from her couch eagerly； 〃I
will say it to you！ What should you think of George resigning his
seat； and living in peace here？〃
〃Would he？〃 said Ethel。
〃If I wished it。〃
〃But what would he do with himself？〃 said Ethel； not in too
complimentary a strain。
〃Yachting； farming； Cochin…Chineseor something；〃 said Flora。
〃Anything not so wearing as this！〃
〃That abominable candidate of Tomkins's would come in！〃 exclaimed
Ethel。 〃Oh； Flora； that would be horrid！〃
〃That might be guarded against；〃 said Flora。 〃Perhaps Sir Henry
But oh！ let us leave politics in peace while we can。 I thought we
should do some great good； but it is all a maze of confusion。 It is
so hard to know principles from parties； and everything goes wrong！
It is of no use to contend with it！〃
〃It is never vain to contend with evil；〃 said Ethel。
〃We are not generalising；〃 said Flora。 〃There is evil nearer home
than the state of parties； and I can't see that George's being in
Parliamentbeing what he isis anything like the benefit to things
in generalthat it is temptation and plague to me； besides the risk
of London life for the baby； now and hereafter。〃
〃I can't say that I think it is；〃 said Ethel。 〃How nice it would be
to have you here！ I am so glad you are willing to give it up。〃
〃It would have been better to have given it up untastedlike
Norman；〃 sighed Flora。 〃I will talk to George。〃
〃But； Flora；〃 said Ethel； a little startled； 〃you ought not to do
such a thing without advice。〃
〃There will be worry enough before it is done！〃 sighed Flora。 〃No
fear of that！〃
〃Stop a minute；〃 said Ethel； as if poor Flora could have done
anything but lie still on her sofa。 〃I think you ought to consider
well before you set it going。〃
〃Have not I longed for it day and night？ It is an escape from peril
for ourselves and our child。〃
〃I can't be sure！〃 said Ethel。 〃It may be more wrong to make George
desert the post which〃
〃Which I thrust him into；〃 said Flora。 〃My father told me as much。〃
〃I did not mean you to say that！ But it is a puzzle。 It seems as if
it were right to give up such things； yet； when I recollect the
difficulty of carrying an election right at Stoneborough； I think
papa would be very sorry。 I don't think his interest would bring in
any sound man but his son…in…law； and George himself seems to like
his parliamentary life better than anything else。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Flora hesitatingly； for she knew it was truehe liked to
think himself important； and it gave him something to think of； and
regular occupationnot too active or onerous； but she could not tell
Ethel what she herself felt； that all she could do for him could not
prevent him from being held cheap by the men among whom she had
placed him。
〃Then；〃 said Ethel； as she heard her affirmative； 〃I don't think it
is for his dignity； for you to put him into Parliament to please you
and then take him out to please you。〃
〃I'll take care of his dignity；〃 said Flora shortly。
〃I know you would do it well〃
〃I am sick of doing things well！〃 said poor Flora。 〃You little know
how I dread reading up all I must read presently！ I shall lose all I
have scarcely gained。 I cannot find pe