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He was heartily delighted at the proposed connection； and his genuine
satisfaction not only gratified Flora； and restored the equanimity
that had been slightly disturbed by her father； but it also reassured
Ethel and Margaret； who could not help trusting in his judgment； and
began to hope that George might be all he thought him。
Ethel； finding that there were two ways of viewing the gentleman；
doubted whether she ought to express her opinion。 It was Flora's
disposition； and the advantages of the match； that weighed most upon
her； and； in spite of her surmise having been treated as so
injurious； she could not rid herself of the burden。
Dr。 May was not so much consoled by Norman's opinion as Ethel
expected。 The corners of his mouth curled up a little with
diversion； and though he tried to express himself glad； and confident
in his son's judgment； there was the same sort of involuntary lurking
misgiving with which he had accepted Sir Matthew Fleet's view of
Margaret's case。
There was no danger that Dr。 May would not be kind and courteous to
the young man himself。 It was not his fault if he were a dunce； and
Dr。 May perceived that his love for Flora was real； though clumsily
expressed。 He explained that he could not sanction the engagement
till he should be better informed of the young gentleman's
antecedents； this was； as George expressed it； a great nuisance； but
his father agreed that it was quite right； in some doubt； perhaps； as
to how Dr。 May might be satisfied。
CHAPTER VII。
Ye cumbrous fashions； crowd not on my head。
Mine be the chip of purest white；
Swan…like； and； as her feathers light；
When on the still wave spread；
And let it wear the graceful dress
Of unadorned simpleness。
Catherine Fanshaw's 'Parody on Grey'。
Nothing transpired to the discredit of Lieutenant Rivers。 He had
spent a great deal of money； but chiefly for want of something else
to do； and； though he was not a subject for high praise； there was no
vice in himno more than in an old donkeyas Dr。 May declared； in
his concluding paroxysm of despair； on finding that； though there was
little to reconcile him to the engagement； there was no reasonable
ground for thwarting his daughter's wishes。 He argued the matter
once more with her； and； finding her purpose fixed； he notified his
consent； and the rest of the family were admitted to a knowledge of
the secret which they had never suspected。
Etheldred could not help being gratified with the indignation it
excited。 With one voice； Mary and Blanche declared that they would
never give up the title of 〃the detestable；〃 and would not make him
any presents； certainly not watch…chains！ Miss Bracy； rather
alarmed； lectured them just enough to make them worse； and Margaret；
overhearing Blanche instructing Aubrey in her own impertinences； was
obliged to call her to her sofa； and assure her that she was unkind
to Flora； and that she must consider Mr。 George Rivers as her
brother。
〃Never my brother like Harry！〃 exclaimed Mary indignantly。
〃No； indeed； nor like Alan！〃 exclaimed Blanche。 〃And I won't call
him George； I am determined； if it is ever so！〃
〃It will not matter to him what such little girls call him；〃 said
Margaret。
Blanche was so annihilated； that the sound of a carriage； and of the
door bell； was a great satisfaction to her。
Meta Rivers came flying into the room； her beautiful eyes dancing；
and her cheeks glowing with pleasure； as； a little timidly； she
kissed Margaret； while Ethel； in a confused way； received Mr。 Rivers；
in pain for her own cold； abrupt manner； in contrast with his gentle；
congratulating politeness。
Meta asked； blushing； and with a hesitating voice； for their dear
Flora； Mary offered to call her； but Meta begged to go herself； and
thus was spared the awkwardness that ensued。 Ethel was almost vexed
with herself； as ungrateful； when she saw Mr。 Rivers so mildly kind；
and so delighted； with the bland courtesy that seemed fully conscious
of the favour that Flora had conferred on his son； and thankful to
the Mays for accepting him。
Margaret answered with more expression of gratification than would
have been sincere in Ethel； but it was a relief when Flora and Meta
came in together； as pretty a contrast as could be seen； the little
dark…eyed fairy； all radiant with joy； clinging to the slender waist
of Flora； whose quiet grace and maidenly dignity were never more
conspicuous than as； with a soft red mantling in her fair cheek； her
eyes cast down； but with a simple； unaffected warmth of confidence
and gratitude； she came forward to receive Mr。 Rivers's caressing
affectionate greeting。
Stiffness was over when she came in； and Dr。 May； who presently made
his appearance； soon was much more at his ease than could have been
hoped； after his previous declarations that he should never be able
to be moderately civil about it to Mr。 Rivers。 People of ready
sympathy； such as Dr。 May and Margaret； have a great deal of
difficulty with their sincerity spared them； by being carried along
with the feelings of others。 Ethel could not feel the same； and was
bent on avoiding any expression of opinion； she hoped that Meta's
ecstasies would all be bestowed upon her future sister…in…law； but
Meta was eager for an interview with Ethel herself； and； as usual；
gained her point。
〃Now then； you are property of my own！〃 she cried。 〃May I not take
you all for sisters？〃
Ethel had not thought of this as a convenience of the connection； and
she let Meta kiss her； and owned that it was very nice。
〃Ethel；〃 said Meta； 〃I see； and I wanted to talk to you。 You don't
think poor George good enough for Flora。〃
〃I never meant to show it；〃 said Ethel。
〃You need not mind；〃 said Meta； smiling。 〃I was very much surprised
myself； and thought it all a mistake。 But I am so very glad； for I
know it will make such a difference to him； poor fellow。 I should
like to tell you all about him； for no one else can very well； and
you will like him better； perhaps。 You know my grandfather made his
own fortune； and you would think some of our relations very queer。
My Aunt Dorothy once told me all about itpapa was made to marry the
partner's daughter； and I fancy she could not have been much of a
lady。 I don't think he could have been very happy with her； but she
soon died； and left him with this one son； whom those odd old aunts
brought up their own way。 By and by； you know； papa came to be in
quite another line of society； but when he married again； poor George
had been so spoiled by these aunts； and was so big； and old； that my
mother did not know what to make of him。〃
〃A great lubberly boy；〃 Ethel said； rather repenting the next moment。
〃He is thirteen years older than I am；〃 said Meta； 〃and you see it
has been hard on him altogether； he had not the education that papa
would have given him if he had been born later： and he can't remember
his mother； and has always been at a loss when with clever people。 I
never understood it till within the last two or three years； nor knew
how trying it must be to see such a little chit as me made so much
ofalmost thrusting him aside。 But you cannot think what a warm…
hearted good fellow he ishe has never been otherwise than so very
kind to me； and he was so very fond of his old aunt。 Hitherto； he
has had such disadvantages； and no real； sensible woman has taken him
in hand； he does not care for papa's tastes； and I am so much
younger； that I never could get on with him at all； till this time；
but I do know that he has a real good temper； and all sorts of good
qualities； and that he only needs to be led right； to go right。 Oh！
Flora may make anything of him； and we are so thankful to her for
having found it out！〃
〃Thank you for telling me；〃 said Ethel。 〃It is much more
satisfactory to have no shamming。〃
Meta laughed； for Ethel's sham was not too successful； she continued；
〃Dear Dr。 May； I thought he would think his beautiful Flora not
exactly matchedbut tell him； Ethel； for if he once is sorry for
poor George； he will like him。 And it will really be the making of
George； to be thrown with him and your brothers。 Oh！ we are so glad！
But I won't tease you to be so。〃
〃I can like it better now；〃 said Ethel。 〃You know Norman thinks very
highly of your brother； and declares that it will all come out by and
by。〃
Meta clapped her hands； and said that she should tell her father； and
Ethel parted with her； liking her； at least； better than ever。 There
was a comical scene between her and the doctor； trying to define what
relations they should become to each other； which Ethel thought did a
good deal to mollify her father。
The history of George's life did more； he took to pitying him； and
pity was； indeed； akin to love in the good doctor's mind。 In fact；
George was a man who could be liked； when once regarded as a
belonginga necessity； not a choice； for it was quite true that
there was no harm in him； and a great deal of good nature。 His
constant kindness； and evident liking for Margaret； stood him in good
stead； he made her a sort of confidante； bestowing on her his
immeas