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oneself。〃
〃It is harder； I think； to feel so about those we care for；〃 said
Margaret； 〃but after all； this is just what will show whether our
pride in Norman is the right true loving pride； or whether it is only
the family vanity of triumphing over the Andersons。〃
Ethel hung her head。 〃There's some of that；〃 she said； 〃but it is not
all。 NoI don't want to triumph over them； nobody would do that。〃
〃Not outwardly perhaps； but in their hearts。〃
〃I can't tell；〃 said Ethel； 〃but it is the being triumphed over that
I cannot bear。〃
〃Perhaps this is all a lesson in humility for us；〃 said Margaret 〃It
is teaching us； 'Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased； and he
that humbleth himself shall be exalted。'〃
Ethel was silent for some little space； then suddenly exclaimed； 〃And
you think he will really be put down？〃
Margaret seemed to have been talking with little effect； but she kept
her patience； and answered； 〃I cannot guess； Ethel； but I'll tell you
one thing…桰 think there's much more chance if he comes to his work
fresh and vigorous after a rest； than if he went on dulling himself
with it all this time。〃
With which Ethel was so far appeased that she promised to think as
little as she could of the Andersons； and a walk with Richard to
Cocksmoor turned the current of her thoughts。 They had caught some
more Sunday…school children by the help of Margaret's broth； but it
was uphill work； the servants did not like such guests in the
kitchen； and they were still less welcome at school。
〃What do you think I heard； Ethel？〃 said Flora； the next Sunday； as
they joined each other in the walk from school to church； 〃I heard
Miss Graves say to Miss Boulder； 'I declare I must remonstrate。 I
undertook to instruct a national； not a ragged school；' and then Miss
Boulder shook out her fine watered silk and said； 〃It positively is
improper to place ladies in contact with such squalid objects。'〃
〃Ladies！〃 cried Ethel。 〃A stationer's daughter and a banker's
clerk's！ Why do they come to teach at school at all？〃
〃Because our example makes it genteel；〃 said Flora。
〃I hope you did something more in hopes of making it genteel。〃
〃I caught one of your ragged regiment with her frock gaping behind；
and pinned it up。 Such rags as there were under it！ Oh； Ethel！〃
〃Which was it？〃
〃That merry Irish…looking child。 I don't know her name。〃
〃Oh！ it is a real charming Irish name； Una M'Carthy。 I am so glad
you did it； Flora。 I hope they were ashamed。〃
〃I doubt whether it will do good。 We are sure of our station and can
do anything？they are struggling to be ladies。〃
〃But we ought not to talk of them any more； Flora； here we are almost
at the churchyard。〃
The Tuesday of this week was appointed for the visit of the London
surgeon； Sir Matthew Fleet； and the expectation caused Dr。 May to
talk much to Margaret of old times； and the days of is courtship；
when it had been his favourite project that his friend and fellow…
student should marry Flora Mackenzie； and there had been a promising
degree of liking； but 〃Mat〃 had been obliged to be prudent； and had
ended by never marrying at all。 This the doctor； as well as his
daughters； believed was for the sake of Aunt Flora； and thus the
girls were a good deal excited about his coming； almost as much on
his own account； as because they considered him as the arbiter of
Margaret's fate。 He only came in time for a seven o'clock dinner；
and Margaret did not see him that night； but heard enough from her
sisters； when they came up to tell the history of their guest； and of
the first set dinner when Flora had acted as lady of the house。 The
dinner it appeared had gone off very well。 Flora had managed
admirably； and the only mishap was some awkward carving of Ethel's
which had caused the dish to be changed with Norman。 As to the
guest； Flora said he was very good…looking and agreeable。 Ethel
abruptly pronounced； 〃I am very glad Aunt Flora married Uncle Arnott
instead。〃
〃I can't think why；〃 said Flora。 〃I never saw a person of pleasanter
manners。〃
〃Did they talk of old times？〃 said Margaret。
〃No；〃 said Ethel； 〃that was the thing。〃
〃You would not have them talk of those matters in the middle of
dinner；〃 said Flora。
〃No；〃 again said Ethel； 〃but papa has a waydon't you know；
Margaret； how one can tell in a moment if it is company talk。〃
〃What was the conversation about？〃 said Margaret。
〃They talked over some of their fellow…students；〃 said Flora。
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel； 〃and then when papa told him that beautiful
history of Dr。 Spencer going to take care of those poor emigrants in
the fever； what do you think he said？ 'Yes； Spencer was always doing
extravagant things。' Fancy that to papa； who can hardly speak of it
without having to wipe his spectacles； and who so longs to hear of
Dr。 Spencer。〃
〃And what did he say？〃
〃Nothing； so Flora and Sir Matthew got to pictures and all that sort
of thing； and it was all company talk after that。〃
〃Most entertaining in its kind；〃 said Flora： 〃butoh； Norman！〃 as he
entered〃why； they are not out of the dining…room yet！〃
〃No； they are talking of some new invention； and most likely will not
come for an hour。〃
〃Are you going to bed？〃
〃Papa followed me out of the dining…room to tell me to do so after
tea。〃
〃Then sit down there； and I'll go and make some； and let it come up
with Margaret's。 Come； Ethel。 Good…night； Norman。 Is your head
aching to…night？〃
〃Not much； now I have got out of the dining…room。〃
〃It would have been wiser not to have gone in；〃 said Flora； leaving
the room。
〃It was not the dinner； but the man；〃 said Norman。 〃It is
incomprehensible to me how my father could take to him。 I'd as soon
have Harvey Anderson for a friend！〃
〃You are like me；〃 said Ethel； 〃in being glad he is not our
uncle。〃
〃He presume to think of falling in love with Aunt Flora！〃 cried
Norman indignantly。
〃Why； what is the matter with him？〃 asked Margaret。 〃I can't find
much ground for Ethel's dislike； and Flora is pleased。〃
〃She did not hear the worst； nor you either； Ethel；〃 said Norman。 〃I
could not stand the cold hard way he spoke of hospital patients。 I
am sure he thinks poor people nothing but a study； and rich ones
nothing but a profit。 And his half sneers！ But what I hated most
was his way of avoiding discussions。 When he saw he had said what
would not go down with papa； he did not honestly stand up to the
point； and argue it out； but seemed to have no mind of his own； and
to be only talking to please papabut not knowing how to do it。
He understand my father indeed！〃
Norman's indignation had quite revived him； and Margaret was much
entertained with the conflicting opinions。 The next was Richard's；
when he came in late to wish her good…night； after he had been
attending on Sir Matthew's examination of his father's arm。 He did
nothing but admire the surgeon's delicacy of touch and understanding
of the case； his view agreeing much better with Dr。 May's own than
that with Mr。 Ward's。 Dr。 May had never been entirely satisfied with
the present mode of treatment； and Richard was much struck by hearing