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Ethel believed that he accompanied her merely because his gallantry
would not suffer her to go unescorted； and she was not sorry； for it
was too long a walk for solitude to be very agreeable； when strange
wagoners might be on the road； though she had never let them be
〃lions in the path。〃
The walk was as pleasant as a scorching sun would allow； and by the
time they arrived at the scattered cottages； Ethel had been drawn
into explaining many of her Cocksmoor perplexities。
〃If you could get the land granted； where should you choose to have
it？〃 he asked。 〃You know it will not do to go and say； 'Be pleased
to give me a piece of land；' without specifying what； or you might
chance to have one at the Land's End。〃
〃I see； that was one of the blunders；〃 said Ethel。 〃But I had often
thought of this nice little square place； between two gardens； and
sheltered by the old quarry。〃
〃Ha！ hardly space enough； I should say；〃 replied Dr。 Spencer；
stepping it out。 〃No； that won't do； so confined by the quarry。 Let
us look farther。〃
A surmise crossed Ethel。 Could he be going to take the work on
himself； but that was too wild a suppositionshe knew he had nothing
of his own； only a moderate pension from the East India Company。
〃What do you think of this？〃 he said； coming to the slope of a knoll；
commanding a pretty view of the Abbotstoke woods； clear from houses；
and yet not remote from the hamlet。 She agreed that it would do
well； and he kicked up a bit of turf； and pryed into the soil；
pronouncing it dry； and fit for a good foundation。 Then he began to
step it out； making a circuit that amazed her； but he said； 〃It is
of no use to do it at twice。 Your school can be only the first step
towards a church； and you had better have roomenough at once。 It
will serve as an endowment in the meantime。〃
He would not let her remain in the sun； and she went into school。
She found him； when she came out； sitting in the arbour smoking a
cigar…rather a shock to her feelings； though he threw it away the
instant she appeared； and she excused him for his foreign habits。
In the evening； he brought down a traveller's case of instruments；
and proceeded to draw a beautiful little map of Cocksmoor； where it
seemed that he had taken all his measurements； whilst she was in
school。 He ended by an imaginary plan and elevation for the school；
with a pretty oriel window and bell…gable； that made Ethel sigh with
delight at the bare idea。
Next day； he vanished after dinner； but this he often did； he used to
say he must go and have a holiday of smokinghe could not bear too
much civilised society。 He came back for tea； however； and had not
sat down long before he said； 〃Now； I know all about it。 I shall
pack up my goods； and be off for Vienna to…morrow。〃
〃To Vienna！〃 was the general and dolorous outcry； and Gertrude laid
hold of him and said he should not go。
〃I am coming back；〃 he said； 〃if you will have me。 The college holds
a court at Fordholm on the 3rd； and on the last of this month； I hope
to return。〃
〃College！ Court！ What are you going to do at Vienna？ Where have
you left your senses？〃 asked Dr。 May。
〃I find Sir Henry Walkinghame is there。 I have been on an exploring
expedition to Drydale； found out his man of business； and where he is
to be written to。 The college holds a court at Fordholm； and I hope
to have our business settled。〃
Ethel was too much confounded to speak。 Her father was exclaiming on
the shortness of the time。
〃Plenty of time；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； demonstrating that he should be
able to travel comfortably； and have four days to spare at Viennaa
journey which he seemed to think less of； than did Dr。 May of going
to London。
As to checking him； of that there was no possibility； nor； indeed；
notion； though Ethel did not quite know how to believe in it； nor
that the plan could come to good。 Ethel was much better by this
time： by her vigorous efforts； she had recovered her tone of mind and
interest in what was passing； and though now and then Norman's
letters； carrying sentences of remembrance； made her glow a little；
she was so steady to her resolution that she averted all traffic in
messages through her brother's correspondence； and； in that fear；
allowed it to lapse into Margaret's hands more than she had ever
done。 Indeed； no one greatly liked writing from home； it was
heartless work to say always； 〃No news from the Alcestis and yet they
all declared they were not anxious。
Hector Ernescliffe knelt a great while beside Margaret's sofa； on the
first evening of his holidays； and there was a long low…voiced talk
between them。 Ethel wished that she had warned him off； for Margaret
looked much more harassed and anxious； after having heard the
outpouring of all that was on his mind。
Dr。 Spencer thought her looking worse； when he came； as come he did；
on the appointed day。 He had brought Sir Henry Walkinghame's full
consent to the surrender of the land； drawn up in such form as could
be acted upon； and a letter to his man of business。 But Nicolson！
He was a worse dragon nearer home； hating all schools； especially
hating Dr。 May。
However； said Dr。 Spencer； in eastern form； 〃Have I encountered
Rajahs； and smoked pipes with three…tailed Pachas； that I should
dread the face of the father of quarrymen。〃
What he did with the father of quarrymen was not known； whether he
talked him over； or bought him offMargaret hoped the former； Dr。
May feared the latter； the results were certain； Mr。 Nicolson had
agreed that the land should be given
up。
The triumphant Dr。 Spencer sat down to write a statement to be shown
to the college authorities； when they should come to hold their
court。
〃The land must be put into the hands of trustees；〃 he said。 〃The
incumbent of course？〃
〃Then yourself； and we must have another。 Your son…in…law？〃
〃You； I should think；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃I！ Why； I am going。〃
〃Going； but not gone；〃 said his friend。
〃I must go！ I tell you； Dick； I must have a place of my own to smoke
my pipe in。〃
〃Is that all？〃 said Dr。 May。 〃I think you might be accommodated
here； unless you wished to be near your sister。〃
〃My sister is always resorting to watering…places。 My nieces do
nothing but play on the piano。 No； I shall perhaps go off to
America； the only place I have not seen yet； and I more than half
engaged to go and help at Poonshedagore。〃
〃Better order your coffin then；〃 muttered Dr。 May。
〃I shall try lodgings in London； near the old hospital； perhapsand
go and turn over the British Museum library。〃
〃Look you here； Spencer； I have a much better plan。 Do you know that
scrap of a house of mine； by the back gate； just big enough for you
and your pipe？ Set up your staff there。 Ethel will never get her
school built without you。〃
〃Oh！ that would be capital！〃 cried Ethel。
〃It would be the best speculation for me。 You would pay rent； and
the last old woman never did；〃 continued Dr。 May。 〃A garden the
length of this one〃
〃But I sayI want to be near the British Museum。〃
〃Take a season…ticket； and run up once a week。〃
〃I shall teach your boys to smoke！〃
〃I'll see to that！〃
〃You have given Cocksmoor one lift；〃 said Ethel； 〃and it will never
go on without you。〃
〃It is such a nice house！〃 added the children； in chorus； 〃it would
be such fun to have you there。〃
〃Daisy will never be able to spare her other doctor；〃 said Margaret；
smiling。
〃Run to Mrs。 Adams； Tom； and get the key；〃 said Dr。 May。
There was a putting on of hats and bonnets； and the whole party
walked down the garden to inspect the housea matter of curiosity to
somefor it was where the old lady had resided on whom Harry had
played so many tricks； and the subject of many myths hatched between
him and George Larkins。
It was an odd； little narrow slip of a house； four stories； of two
rooms all the way up； each with a large window； with a marked white
eyebrow。 Dr。 May eagerly pointed out all the conveniences； parlour；
museum； smoking den； while Dr。 Spencer listened； and answered
doubtfully； and the children's clamorous anxiety seemed to render him
the more silent。
Hector Ernescliffe discovered a jackdaw's nest in the chimney；
whereupon the whole train rushed off to investigate； leaving the two
doctors and Ethel standing together in the empty parlour； Dr。 May
pressing； Dr。 Spencer raising desultory objections； but so evidently
against his own wishes； that Ethel said； 〃Now； indeed； you must not
disappoint us all。〃
〃No；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃it is a settled thing。〃
〃No； no； thanks； thanks to you all； but it cannot be。 Let me go；〃
and he spoke with emotion。 〃You are very kind； but it is not to be
thought of。〃
〃Why not？〃 said Dr。 May。 〃Spencer； stay with me；〃 and he spoke with
a pleading； almost dependent air。 〃Why should you go？〃
〃It is of no use to talk about it。 You are very kind； but it will
not do to encumber you with a lone man； growing old。〃
〃We have been young together；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃And you must not leave papa；〃 added Ethel。
〃No；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃Trouble may be at hand。 Help us through with
it。 Remember； these children have no uncles。〃
〃