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〃Where have you been living； then？〃
〃Alan sent me to school at Miss Lawler's when my mother died； and
there I have been ever since； while he has been these three years and
a half on the African station。〃
〃What； is he in the navy？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the boy proudly； 〃Lieutenant Ernescliffe。 He got his
promotion last week。 My father was in the battle of Trafalgar； and
Alan has been three years in the West Indies； and then he was in the
Mediterranean； and now on the coast of Africa； in the Atalantis。 You
must have heard about him； for it was in the newspaper； how； when he
was mate； he had the command of the Santa Isabel； the slaver they
captured。〃
The boy would have gone on for ever； if Dr。 May had not recalled him
to his brother's present condition； and proceeded to take every
measure for the welfare and comfort of the forlorn pair。 He learned
from other sources that the Ernescliffes were well connected。 The
father had been a distinguished officer； but had been ill able to
provide for his sons； indeed； he died； without ever having seen
little Hector； who was born during his absence on a voyagehis last；
and Alan's first。 Alan； the elder by thirteen years； had been like a
father to the little boy； showing judgment and self…denial that
marked him of a high cast of character。 He had distinguished himself
in encounters with slave ships； and in command of a prize that he had
had to conduct to Sierra Leone； he had shown great coolness and
seamanship； in several perilous conjunctures； such as a sudden storm；
and an encounter with another slaver； when his Portuguese prisoners
became mutinous； and nothing but his steadiness and intrepidity had
saved the lives of himself and his few English companions。 He was；
in fact； as Dr。 May reported； pretty much of a hero。 He had not； at
the time； felt the effects of the climate； but； owing to sickness and
death among the other officers； he had suffered much fatigue and
pressure of mind and body。 Immediately on his return； had followed
his examination； and though he had passed with great credit； and it
had been at once followed by well…earned promotion； his nervous
excitable frame had been overtasked； and the consequence was a long
and severe illness。
The Swan Inn was not forty yards from Dr。 May's back gate； and； at
every spare moment； he was doing the part of nurse as well as doctor；
professionally obliged to Alan Ernescliffe for bringing him a curious
exotic specimen of fever； and requiting him by the utmost care and
attention； while； for their own sakes； he delighted in the two boys
with all the enthusiasm of his warm heart。 Before the first week was
at an end； they had learned to look on the doctor as one of the
kindest friends it had been their lot to meet with； and Alan knew
that if he died； he should leave his little brother in the hands of
one who would comfort him as a father。
No sooner was young Ernescliffe able to sit up； than Dr。 May insisted
on conveying him to his own house； as his recovery was likely to be
tedious in solitude at the Swan。 It was not till he had been drawn
in a chair along the sloping garden； and placed on the sofa to rest；
that he discovered that the time the good doctor had chosen for
bringing a helpless convalescent to his house； was two days after an
eleventh child had been added to his family。
Mrs。 May was too sorry for the solitary youth； and too sympathising
with her husband； to make any objection； though she was not fond of
strangers； and had some anxieties。 She had the utmost dependence on
Margaret's discretion； but there was a chance of awkward situations；
which papa was not likely to see or guard against。 However； all
seemed to do very well； and no one ever came into her room without
some degree of rapture about Mr。 Ernescliffe。 The doctor reiterated
praises of his excellence； his principle； his ability and talent； his
amusing talk； the girls were always bringing reports of his
perfections； Norman retracted his grumbling at having his evenings
spoiled； and 〃the boys〃 were bursting with the secret that he was
teaching them to rig a little ship that was to astonish mamma on her
first coming downstairs； and to be named after the baby； while
Blanche did all the coquetry with him； from which Margaret abstained。
The universal desire was for mamma to see him； and when the time
came； she owned that papa's swan had not turned out a goose。
There were now no grounds for prolonging his stay； but it was very
hard to go； and he was glad to avail himself of the excuse of
remaining for the christening； when he was to represent the absent
godfather。 After that； he must go； he had written to his Scottish
cousins to offer a visit； and he had a promise that he should soon be
afloat again。 No place would ever seem to him so like home as Market
Stoneborough。 He was quite like one of themselves； and took a full
share in the discussions on the baby's name； which； as all the old
family appellations had been used up； was an open question。 The
doctor protested against Alice and Edith； which he said were the
universal names in the present day。 The boys hissed every attempt of
their sisters at a romantic name； and then Harry wanted it to be
Atalantis！ At last Dr。 May announced that he should have her named
Dowsabel if they did not agree； and Mrs。 May advised all the parties
concerned to write their choice on a slip of paper； and little Aubrey
should draw two out of her bag； trusting that Atalantis Dowsabel
would not come out； as Harry confidently predicted。
However； it was even worse； Aubrey's two lots were Gertrude and
Margaret。 Ethel and Mary made a vehement uproar to discover who
could have written Margaret； and at last traced it home to Mr。
Ernescliffe； who replied that Flora； without saying why； had desired
him to set down his favourite name。 He was much disconcerted； and
did not materially mend the matter by saying it was the first name
that came into his head。
CHAPTER II。
Meadows trim with daisies pied。MILTON。
Ethel's navigation lesson was interrupted by the dinner…bell。 That
long table was a goodly sight。 Few ever looked happier than Dr。 and
Mrs。 May； as they sat opposite to each other； presenting a
considerable contrast in appearance as in disposition。 She was a
little woman； with that smooth pleasant plumpness that seems to
belong to perfect content and serenity； her complexion fair and
youthful； her face and figure very pretty； and full of quiet grace
and refinement； and her whole air and expression denoting a serene；
unruffled； affectionate happiness； yet with much authority in her
mildnesswarm and open in her own family； but reserved beyond it；
and shrinking from general society。
The doctor； on the contrary； had a lank； bony figure； nearly six feet
high； and looking more so from his slightness； a face sallow； thin；
and strongly marked； an aquiline nose； highly developed forehead； and
peculiar temples； over which the hair strayed in thin curling flakes。
His eyes were light coloured； and were seldom seen without his near…
sighted spectacles； but the expressions of the Mouth were everything…
…so varying； so brig