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were quickly made。 The children stood in a long line； and the
baskets were unpacked。 Flora and Ethel called the names； Mary and
Blanche gave the presents； and assuredly the grins； courtesies； and
pulls of the forelock they elicited； could not have been more hearty
for any of Miss Rivers's treasures。 The buns and the kettles of tea
followedit was perfect delight to entertainers and entertained；
except when Mary's dignity was cruelly hurt by Norman's
authoritatively taking a kettle out of her hands； telling her she
would be the death of herself or somebody else； and reducing her to
the mere rank of a bun distributor； which Blanche and Aubrey could do
just as well； while he stalked along with a grave and resigned
countenance； filling up the cups held out to him by timid…looking
children。 Mary next fell in with Granny Hall； who had gone into such
an ecstasy over Blanche and Aubrey； that Blanche did not know which
way to look； and Aubrey； in some fear that the old woman might intend
to kiss him； returned the compliments by telling her she was 〃ugly up
in her face；〃 at which she laughed heartily； and uttered more
vehement benedictions。
Finally； the three best children； boys and girls； were to be made fit
to be seen； and recommended by Mr。 Wilmot to the Sunday…school and
penny club at Stoneborough； and； this being proclaimed and the
children selected； the assembly dispersed； Mr。 Wilmot rejoicing Ethel
and Richard by saying； 〃Well； really； you have made a beginning。
There is an improvement in tone among those children； that is more
satisfactory than any progress they may have made。〃
Ethel's eyes beamed； and she hurried to tell Flora。 Richard coloured
and gave his quiet smile； then turned to put things in order for
their return。
〃Will you drive home； Richard？〃 said Norman； coming up to him。
〃Don't you wish it？〃 said Richard； who had many minor arrangements to
make； and would have preferred walking home independently。
〃No； thank you； I have a headache； and walking may take it off；〃 said
Norman； taking off his hat and passing his fingers through his hair。
〃A headache againI am sorry to hear it。〃
〃It is only that suffocating den of yours。 My head ached from the
moment I looked into it。 How can you take Ethel into such a hole；
Richard？ It is enough to kill her to go on with it for ever。〃
〃It is not so every day；〃 said the elder brother quietly。 〃It is a
warm day； and there was an unusual crowd。〃
〃I shall speak to my father；〃 exclaimed Norman； with somewhat of the
supercilious tone that he had now and then been tempted to address to
his brother。 〃It is not fit that Ethel should give up everything；
health and all； to such a set as these。 They look as if they had
been picked out of the gutterdirt； squalor； everything disgusting；
and summer coming on； too； and that horrid place with no window to
open！ It is utterly unbearable！〃
Richard stooped to pick up a heavy basket； then smiled and said； 〃You
must get over such things as these if you mean to be a clergyman；
Norman。〃
〃Whatever I am to be； it does not concern the girls being in such a
place as this。 I am surprised that you could suffer it。〃
There was no answerRichard was walking off with his basket； and
putting it into the carriage。 Norman was not pleased with himself；
but thought it his duty to let his father know his opinion of Ethel's
weekly resort。 All he wished was to avoid Ethel herself； not liking
to show her his sentiments； and he was glad to see her put into the
gig with Aubrey and Mary。
They rushed into the drawing…room； full of glee； when they came home；
all shouting their news together； and had not at first leisure to
perceive that Margaret had some tidings for them in return。 Mr。
Rivers had been there； with a pressing invitation to his daughter's
school…feast； and it had been arranged that Flora and Ethel should go
and spend the day at the Grange； and their father come to dine； and
fetch them home in the evening。 Margaret had been much pleased with
the manner in which the thing was done。 When Dr。 May； who seemed
reluctant to accept the proposal that related to himself； was called
out of the room； Mr。 Rivers had； in a most kind manner； begged her to
say whether she thought it would be painful to him； or whether it
might do his spirits good。 She decidedly gave her opinion in favour
of the invitation； Mr。 Rivers gained his point； and she had ever
since been persuading her father to like the notion； and assuring him
it need not be made a precedent for the renewal of invitations to
dine out in the town。 He thought the change would be pleasant for
his girls； and had； therefore； consented。
〃Oh； papa； papa！ thank you！〃 cried Ethel； enraptured； as soon as he
came into the room。 〃How very kind of you！ How I have wished to see
the Grange； and all Norman talks about！ Oh； dear！ I am so glad you
are going there too！〃
〃Why； what should you do with me？〃 said Dr。 May； who felt and looked
depressed at this taking up of the world again。
〃Oh； dear！ I should not like it at all without you！ It would be no
fun at all by ourselves。 I wish Flora would come home。 How pleased
she will be！ Papa； I do wish you would look as if you didn't mind
it！ I can't enjoy it if you don't like going。〃
〃I shall when I am there； my dear；〃 said the doctor affectionately；
putting his arm around her as she stood by him。 〃It will be a fine
day's sport for you。〃
〃But can't you like it beforehand； papa？〃
〃Not just this minute； Ethel；〃 said he； with his bright； sad smile。
〃All I like just now is my girl's not being able to do without me；
but we'll do the best we can。 So your flock acquitted themselves
brilliantly？ Who is your Senior Wrangler？〃
Ethel threw herself eagerly into the history of the examination； and
had almost forgotten the invitation till she heard the front door
open。 Then it was not she； but Margaret； who told FloraEthel could
not； as she said； enjoy what seemed to sadden her father。 Flora
received it much more calmly。 〃It will be very pleasant；〃 said she；
〃it was very kind of papa to consent。 You will have Richard and
Norman； Margaret； to be with you in the evening。〃
And； as soon as they went upstairs； Ethel began to write down the
list of prizes in her school journal； while Flora took out the best
evening frocks； to study whether the crape looked fresh enough。
The invitation was a convenient subject of conversation； for Norman
had so much to tell his sisters of the curiosities they must look for
at the Grange； that he was not obliged to mention Cocksmoor。 He did
not like to mortify Ethel by telling her his intense disgust； and he
knew he was about to do what she would think a great injury by
speaking to his father on the subject； but he thought it for her real
welfare； and took the first opportunity of making to his father and
Margaret a most formidable description of Ethel's black…hole。 It
quite alarmed Margaret； but the doctor smiled； saying； 〃Ay； ay； I
know the face Norman puts on if he looks into a cottage。〃
〃Well；〃 said Norman； with some mortification； 〃all I know is； that my
head ached all the rest of the day。〃
〃