按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
brothers at the same age； meat was repugnant to him。 In her vehement
manner she flew off to fetch him some pudding； and hurrying up； as
she thought； to Mr。 Charles Wilmot； who had been giving it out； she
thrust her plate between him and the dish； and had begun her
explanation when she perceived it was a stranger； and she stood；
utterly discomfited； not saying； 〃I beg your pardon；〃 but only
blushing； awkward and confused； as he spoke to her； in a good…
natured； hospitable manner； which showed her it must be Mr。 Rivers。
She obtained her pudding； and； turning hastily； retreated。
〃Meta；〃 said Mr。 Rivers； as his daughter came out of the school with
him； for； open and airy as it was； the numbers and the dinner made
him regard it as Norman had viewed the Cocksmoor room； 〃was that one
of the Miss Mays？〃
〃Yes； papa； Ethel； the third； the clever one。〃
〃I thought she must be one of them from her dress； but what a
difference between her and the others！〃
Mr。 Rivers was a great admirer of beauty； and Meta； brought up to be
the same； was disappointed； but consoled herself by admiring Flora。
Ethel； after the awkwardness was over； thought no more of the matter；
but went on in full enjoyment f the feast。 The eating finished； the
making of presents commenced； and choice ones they were。 The smiles
of Meta and of the children were a pretty sight； and Ethel thought
she had never seen anything so like a beneficent fairy。 Mr。 and Mrs。
Wilmot said their words of counsel and encouragement； and； by five
o'clock； all was over。
〃Oh； I am sorry！〃 said Meta； 〃Easter won't come again for a whole
year； and it has been so delightful。 How that dear little Annie
smiled and nursed her doll！ I wish I could see her show it to her
mother！ Oh； how nice it is！ I am so glad papa brought me to live in
the country。 I don't think anything can be so charming in all the
world as seeing little children happy！〃
Ethel could not think how the Wilmots could have found it in their
heart to regret the liberality of this sweet damsel； on whom she
began to look with Norman's enthusiastic admiration。
There was time for a walk round the grounds； Meta doing the honours
to Flora； and Ethel walking with Mrs。 Larpent。 Both pairs were very
good friends； and the two sisters admired and were charmed with the
beauty of the gardens and conservatoriesEthel laying up a rich
store of intelligence for Margaret； but still she was not entirely
happy； her papa was more and more on her mind。 He had looked
dispirited at breakfast； he had a long hard day's work before him；
and she was increasingly uneasy at the thought that it would be a
painful effort to him to join them in the evening。 Her mind was full
of it when she was conducted； with Flora； to the room where they were
to dress； and when Flora began to express her delight； her answer was
only that she hoped it was not very unpleasant to papa。
〃It is not worth while to be unhappy about that； Ethel。 If it is an
effort； it will be good for him when he is once here。 I know he will
enjoy it。〃
〃Yes； I should think he wouldI hope he will。 He must like you to
have such a friend as Miss Rivers。 How pretty she is！〃
〃Now； Ethel； it is high time to dress。 Pray make yourself look nice…
…don't twist up your hair in that any…how fashion。〃
Ethel sighed； then began talking fast about some hints on school…
keeping which she had picked up for Cocksmoor。
Flora's glossy braids were in full order； while Ethel was still
struggling to get her plait smooth； and was extremely beholden to her
sister for taking it into her own hands and doing the best with it
that its thinness and roughness permitted。 And then Flora pinched
and pulled and arranged Ethel's frock； in vain attempts to make it
sit like her ownthose sharp high bones resisted all attempts to
disguise them。 〃Never mind； Flora； it is quite tidy； I am sure；
theredo let me be in peace。 You are like old nurse。〃
〃So those are all the thanks I get？〃
〃Well； thank you very much； dear Flora。 You are a famous person。
How I wish Margaret could see that lovely mimosa！〃
〃And； Ethel； do take care。 Pray don't poke and spy when you come
into the room； and don't frown when you are trying to see。 I hope
you won't have anything to help at dinner。 Take care how you
manage。〃
〃I'll try；〃 said Ethel meekly； though a good deal tormented； as Flora
went on with half a dozen more injunctions； closed by Meta's coming
to fetch them。 Little Meta did not like to show them her own
bedroomshe pitied them so much when she thought of the contrast。
She would have liked to put Flora's arm through her's； but she
thought； it would look neglectful of Ethel； so she only showed the
way downstairs。 Ethel forgot all her sister's orders； for there
stood her father； and she looked most earnestly at his face。 It was
cheerful； and his voice sounded well pleased as he greeted Meta； then
resumed an animated talk with Mr。 Rivers。 Ethel drew as near him as
she could； she had a sense of protection； and could open to full
enjoyment when she saw him bright。 At the first pause in the
conversation； the gentlemen turned to the young ladies。 Mr。 Rivers
began talking to Flora； and Dr。 May； after a few pleasant words to
Meta； went back to Ethel。 He wanted her to see his favourite
pictureshe led her up to them； made her put on his spectacles to
see them better； and showed her their special merits。 Mr。 Rivers and
the others joined them； Ethel said little； except a remark or two in
answer to her papa； but she was very happyshe felt that he liked to
have her with him； and Meta； too； was struck by the soundness of her
few sayings； and the participation there seemed to be in all things
between the father and daughter。
At dinner Ethel went on pretty well。 She was next to her father； and
was very glad to find the dinner so grand； that no side…dish fell to
her lot to be carved。 There was a great deal of pleasant talk； such
as the girls could understand； though they did not join much in it；
except that now and then Dr。 May turned to Ethel as a reference for
names and dates。 To make up for silence at dinner； there was a most
confidential chatter in the drawing…room。 Flora and Meta on one
side； hand in hand； calling each other by their Christian names； Mrs。
Larpent and Ethel on the other。 Flora dreaded only that Ethel was
talking too much； and revealing too much in how different style they
lived。 Then came the gentlemen； Dr。 May begging Mr。 Rivers to show
Ethel one of his prints； when Ethel stooped more than ever； as if her
eyelashes were feelers； but she was in transports of delight； and her
embarrassment entirely at an end in her admiration； as she exclaimed
and discussed with her papa； and by her hearty appreciation made Mr。
Rivers for the time forget her plainness。 Music followed； Flora
played nicely； Meta like a well…taught girl； Ethel went on musing
over the engravings。 The carriage was announced； and so ended the
day in Norman's fairy…land。 Ethel went home； leaning hard against
her papa； talking to him of Raphael's Madonnas； and looking out at
the stars； and thinking how the heavenly beauty of those fa