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doing。〃
〃And for the boys？〃
〃There was Norman grave and steadfast； as if he knew what he was
about； and was manfully and calmly readyhe might have been a young
knight； watching his armour。〃
〃And so he is；〃 said Margaret softly。 〃And poor Harry？〃
The doctor could hardly command voice to tell her。 〃Poor Harry； he
was last of all； he turned his back and looked into the corner of the
seat； till all the voices had spoken； and then turned about in haste；
and the two words came on the end of a sob。〃
〃You will not keep him away on Sunday？〃 said Margaret。
〃Far be it from me。 I know not who should come； if he should not。〃
CHAPTER XXVI。
What matter； whether through delight；
Or led through vale of tears；
Or seen at once； or hid from sight；
The glorious way appears？
If step by step the path we see；
That leads； my Saviour； up to Thee！
〃I could not help it；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃that little witch〃
〃Meta Rivers？ Oh！ what； papa？〃
〃It seems that Wednesday is her birthday； and nothing will serve her
but to eat her dinner in the old Roman camp。〃
〃And are we to go？ Oh； which of us？〃
〃Every one of anything like rational years。 Blanche is especially
invited。〃
There were transports till it was recollected that on Thursday
morning school would recommence； and that on Friday Harry must join
his ship。
However； the Roman camp had long been an object of their desires； and
Margaret was glad that the last day should have a brilliancy； so she
would not hear of any one remaining to keep her company； talked of
the profit she should gain by a leisure day； and took ardent interest
in every one's preparations and expectations； in Ethel's researches
into county histories and classical dictionaries； Flora's sketching
intentions； Norman's promises of campanula glomerata； and a secret
whispered into her ear by Mary and Harry。
〃Meta's weather；〃 as they said； when the August sun rose fresh and
joyous； and great was the unnecessary bustle； and happy confusion
from six o'clock till eleven； when Dr。 May； who was going to visit
patients some way farther on the same road； carried off Harry and
Mary； to set them down at the place。
The rest were called for by Mr。 Rivers's carriage and brake。 Mrs。
Charles Wilmot and her little girl were the only additions to the
party； and Meta； putting Blanche into the carriage to keep company
with her contemporary； went herself in the brake。 What a brilliant
little fairy she was； in her pink summer robes； fluttering like a
butterfly； and with the same apparent felicity in basking in joy； all
gaiety； glee； and light…heartedness in making others happy。 On they
went； through honeysuckled lanes； catching glimpses of sunny fields
of corn falling before the reaper； and happy knots of harvest folks
dining beneath the shelter of their sheaves； with the sturdy old
green umbrella sheltering them from the sun。
Snatches of song； peals of laughter； merry nonsense； passed from one
to the other； Norman； roused into blitheness； found wit； the young
ladies found laughter； and Richard's eyes and mouth looked very
pretty； as they smiled their quiet diversion。
At last； his face drawn all into one silent laugh； he directed the
eyes of the rest to a high green mound； rising immediately before
them； where stood two little figures； one with a spy…glass； intently
gazing the opposite way。
At the same time came the halt； and Norman； bounding out； sprang
lightly and nimbly up the side of the mound； and； while the spy…glass
was yet pointed full at Wales； had hold of a pair of stout legs； and
with the words； 〃Keep a good lockout！〃 had tumbled Mr。 May
headforemost down the grassy slope； with Mary rolling after。
Harry's first outcry was for his precious glasshis second was； not
at his fall； but that they should have come from the east； when； by
the compass； Stoneborough was north…north…west。 And then the boys
took to tumbling over one another； while Meta frolicked joyously；
with Nipen after her； up and down the mounds； chased by Mary and
Blanche； who were wild with glee。
By…and…by she joined Ethel； and Norman was summoned to help them to
trace out the old lines of encampment； ditch； rampart； and gates
happy work on those slopes of fresh turf； embroidered with every
minute blossom of the moorthyme； birdsfoot； eyebright； and dwarf
purple thistle； buzzed and hummed over by busy； black…tailed； yellow…
banded dumbledores； the breezy wind blowing softly in their faces；
and the expanse of countrywooded hill； verdant pasture； amber
harvest…field； winding river； smoke…canopied town； and brown moor；
melting grayly away to the mountain heads。
Now in sun； now in shade； the bright young antiquaries surveyed the
old banks； and talked wisely of vallum and fossa； of legion and
cohort； of Agricola and Suetonius； and discussed the delightful
probability； that this might have been raised in the war with
Caractacus； whence； argued Ethel； since Caractacus was certainly
Arviragus； it must have been the very spot where Imogen met Posthumus
again。 Was not yonder the very high…road to Milford Haven； and thus
must not 〃fair Fidele's grassy tomb〃 be in the immediate
neighbourhood？
Then followed the suggestion that the mound in the middle was a good
deal like an ancient tomb； where； as Blanche interposed with some of
the lore lately caught from Ethel's studies； 〃they used to bury their
tears in wheelbarrows；〃 while Norman observed it was the more
probable； as fair Fidele never was buried at all。
The idea of a search enchanted the young ladies。 〃It was the right
sort of vehicle； evidently；〃 said Norman； looking at Harry； who had
been particularly earnest in recommending that it should be explored；
and Meta declared that if they could but find the least trace； her
papa would be delighted to go regularly to work； and reveal all the
treasures。
Richard seemed a little afraid of the responsibility of treasure…
trove； but he was overruled by a chorus of eager voices； and
dispossessed of the trowel； which he had brought to dig up some down…
gentians for the garden。 While Norman set to work as pioneer； some
skipped about in wild ecstasy； and Ethel knelt down to peer into the
hole。
Very soon there was a discoveryan eager outcrysome pottery！
Roman vesselsa red thing that might have been a lamp； another that
might have been a lachrymatory。
〃Well；〃 said Ethel； 〃you know； Norman； I always told you that the
children's pots and pans in the clay ditch were very like Roman
pottery。〃
〃Posthumus's patty pan！〃 said Norman； holding it up。 〃No doubt this
was the bottle filled with the old queen's tears when Cloten was
killed。〃
〃You see it is very small；〃 added Harry； 〃she could not squeeze out
many。〃
〃Come now； I do believe you are laughing at it！〃 said Meta； taking
the derided vessels into her hands。 〃Now； they really are genuine；
and very curious things； are not they； Flora？〃
Flora and Ethel admired and speculated till there was a fresh； and
still more exciting discoverya coin； actually a medal； with the
head of an emperor upon itnot a doubt of his high nose being Roman。
Meta was certain that she knew one exactly