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she said； in a stammering whisper； 〃Oh； pleaseif you would tell me…
…do you thinkis papa very ill？〃
Dr。 May answered in his softest； most reassuring tones： 〃You need not
be alarmed about him； I assure you。 You must keep him from too much
business；〃 he added； smiling； 〃make him ride with you； and not let
him tire himself； and I am sure you can be his best doctor。〃
〃But do you think；〃 said Meta； earnestly looking up〃do you think he
will be quite well again？〃
〃You must not expect doctors to be absolute oracles；〃 said he。 〃I
will tell you what I told himI hardly think his will ever be sound
health again； but I see no reason why he should not have many years
of comfort； and there is no cause for you to disquiet yourself on his
accountyou have only to be careful of him。〃
Meta tried to say 〃thank you；〃 but not succeeding； looked imploringly
at her governess； who spoke for her。 〃Thank you； it is a great
relief to have an opinion； for we were not at all satisfied about Mr。
Rivers。〃
A few words more； and Meta was skipping about like a sprite finding a
basket for the flowersshe had another shake of the hand； another
grateful smile； and 〃thank you；〃 from the doctor； and then； as the
carriage disappeared； Mrs。 Larpent exclaimed； 〃What a very nice
intelligent boy that was。〃
〃Particularly gentlemanlike；〃 said Mr。 Rivers。 〃Very cleverthe head
of the school； as his father tells meand so modest and unassuming
though I see his father is very proud of him。〃
〃Oh； I am sure they are so fond of each other；〃 said Meta： 〃didn't
you see his attentive ways to his father at luncheon！ And； papa； I
am sure you must like Dr。 May； Mr。 Wilmot's doctor； as much as I said
you would。〃
〃He is the most superior man I have met with for a long time；〃 said
Mr。 Rivers。 〃It is a great acquisition to find a man of such taste
and acquirements in this country neighbourhood； when there is not
another who can tell a Claude from a Poussin。 I declare； when once
we began talking； there was no leaving offI have not met a person
of so much conversation since I left town。 I thought you would like
to see him； Meta。〃
〃I hope I shall know the Miss Mays some time or other。〃
〃That is the prettiest little fairy I ever did see！〃 was Dr。 May's
remark； as Norman drove from the door。
〃How good…natured they are！〃 said Norman； 〃I just said something
about Margaret； and she gave me all these flowers。 How Margaret will
be delighted！ I wish the girls could see it all！〃
〃So you got on well with the ladies； did you？〃
〃They were very kind to me。 It was very pleasant！〃 said Norman； with
a tone of enjoyment that did his father's heart good。
〃I was glad you should come in。 Such a curiosity shop is a sight；
and those pictures were some of them well worth seeing。 That was a
splendid Titian。〃
〃That cast of the Pallas of the Parthenonhow beautiful it wasI
knew it from the picture in Smith's dictionary。 Mr。 Rivers said he
would show me all his antiques if you would bring me again。〃
〃I saw he liked your interest in them。 He is a good； kind…hearted
dilettante sort of old man； he has got all the talk of the literary；
cultivated society in London； and must find it dullish work here。〃
〃You liked him； didn't you？〃
〃He is very pleasant； I found he knew my old friend； Benson； whom I
had not seen since we were at Cambridge together； and we got on that
and other matters； London people have an art of conversation not
learned here； and I don't know how the time slipped away； but you
must have been tolerably tired of waiting。〃
〃Not to signify；〃 said Norman。 〃I only began to think he must be
very ill； I hope there is not much the matter with him。〃
〃I can't say。 I am afraid there is organic disease； but I think it
may be kept quiet a good while yet； and he may have a pleasant life
for some time to come； arranging his prints； and petting his pretty
daughter。 He has plenty to fall back upon。〃
〃Do you go there again？〃
〃Yes； next week。 I am glad of it。 I shall like to have another look
at that little Madonna of hisit is the sort of picture that does
one good to carry away in one's eye。 Whay！ Stop。 There's an old
woman in here。 It is too late for Fordholm； but these cases won't
wait。〃
He went into the cottage； and soon returned； saying； 〃Fine new
blankets； and a great kettle of soup； and such praises of the ladies
at the Grange！〃 And； at the next house； it was the same story。
〃Well； 'tis no mockery now to tell the poor creatures they want
nourishing food。 Slices of meat and bottles of port wine rain down
on Abbotstoke。〃
A far more talkative journey than usual ensued； the discussion of the
paintings and antiques was almost equally delightful to the father
and son； and lasted till； about a mile from Stoneborough； they
descried three figures in the twilight。
〃Ha！ How are you； Wilmot？ So you braved the rain； Ethel。 Jump in；〃
called the doctor； as Norman drew up。
〃I shall crowd youI shall hurt your arm； papa； thank you。〃
〃No； you won'tjump inthere's room for three thread…papers in one
gig。 Why； Wilmot； your brother has a very jewel of a squire！ How
did you fare？〃
〃Very well on the whole；〃 was Mr。 Wllmot's answer； while Ethel
scrambled in； and tried to make herself small； an art in which she
was not very successful； and Norman gave an exclamation of horrified
warning； as she was about to step into the flower…basket； then she
nearly tumbled out again in dismay； and was relieved to find herself
safely wedged in； without having done any harm； while her father
called out to Mr。 Wilmot； as they started； 〃I say！ You are coming
back to tea with us。〃
That cheerful tone； and the kindness to herself； were a refreshment
and revival to Ethel； who was still sobered and shocked by her
yesterday's adventure； and by the sense of her father's sorrowful
displeasure。 Expecting further to be scolded for getting in so
awkwardly； she did not venture to volunteer anything； and even when
he kindly said； 〃I hope you were prosperous in your expedition；〃 she
only made answer； in a very grave voice； 〃Yes； papa； we have taken a
very nice tidy room。〃
〃What do you pay for it？〃
〃Fourpence for each time。〃
〃Well； here's for you；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃It is only two guineas to…day；
that banker at the Grange beguiled us of our time； but you had better
close the bargain for him； Ethelhe will be a revenue for you； for
this winter at least。〃
〃Oh； thank you； papa；〃 was all Ethel could say； overpowered by his
kindness； and more repressed by what she felt so unmerited； than she
would have been by coldness； she said few words； and preferred
listening to Norman； who began to describe their adventures at the
Grange。
All her eagerness revived； however； as she sprang out of the
carriage； full of tidings for Margaret； and it was almost a race
between her and Norman to get upstairs； and unfold their separate
budgets。
Margaret's lamp had just been lighted； when they made their entrance；
Norman holding the flowers on high。
〃Oh； how beautiful！ how delicious！ For me？ Where did you get them？〃
〃From Abbotstoke Grange； Miss Rivers sent them to you。〃
〃How very kind！ Wh