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though the zest of Cocksmoor might be somewhat gone； she called
herself to order； and gave her full attention to all that was planned
by her champion。
Never did man plunge into business more thoroughly than he； when he
had once undertaken it。 He was one of those men who； from gathering
particulars of every practical matter that comes under their notice；
are able to accomplish well whatever they set their hand to； and
building was not new to him； though his former subjectsa church and
mission station in Indiabore little remembrance to the present。
He bought a little round dumpling of a white pony； and trotted all
over the country in search of building materials and builders； he
discovered trees in distant timber…yards； he brought home specimens
of stone； one in each pocket； to compare and analyse； he went to
London to look at model schools； he drew plans each more neat and
beautiful than the last； he compared builders' estimates； and wrote
letters to the National Society； so as to be able to begin in the
spring。
In the meantime he was settling himself； furnishing his new house
with great precision and taste。 He would have no assistance in his
choice； either of servants or furniture； but made numerous journeys
of inspection to Whitford； to Malvern； and to London； and these
seemed to make him the more content with Stoneborough。 Sir Matthew
Fleet had evidently chilled him； and as he found his own few
remaining relations uncongenial； he became the more ready to find a
resting…place in the gray old town； the scene of his school life；
beside the friend of his youth； and the children of her； for whose
sake he had never sought a home of his own。 Though he now and then
talked of seeing America； or of going back to India； in hopes of
assisting his beloved mission at Poonshedagore； these plans were fast
dying away； as he formed habits and attachments； and perceived the
sphere of usefulness open to him。
It was a great step when his packages arrived； and his beautiful
Indian curiosities were arranged； making his drawing…room as pretty a
room as could anywhere be seen； in readiness； as he used to tell
Ethel； for a grand tea…party for all the Ladies' Committee； when he
should borrow her and the best silver teapot to preside。 Moreover；
he had a chemical apparatus； a telescope； and microscope； of great
power； wherewith he tried experiments that were the height of
felicity to Tom and Ethel； and much interested their father。 He made
it his business to have full occupation for himself； with plans；
books； or correspondence； so as not to be a charge on the hands of
the May family； with whom he never spent an evening without special
and earnest invitation。
He gave attendance at the hospital on alternate days； as well as
taking off Dr。 May's hands such of his gratuitous patients as were
not averse to quit their old doctor； and could believe in a physician
in shepherd's plaid； and Panama hat。 Exceedingly sociable； he soon
visited every one far and wide； and went to every sort of party； from
the grand dinners of the 〃county families；〃 to the tea…drinkings of
the Stoneborough ladiesa welcome guest at all； and enjoying each in
his own way。 English life was so new to him that he entered into the
little accessories with the zest of a youth； and there seemed to be a
curious change between the two old fellow students； the elder and
more staid of former days having come back with unencumbered
freshness to enliven his friend； just beginning to grow aged under
the wear of care and sorrows。
It was very droll to hear Dr。 May laughing at Dr。 Spencer's histories
of his adventures； and at the new aspects in which his own well…
trodden district appeared to travelled eyes； and not less amusing was
Dr。 Spencer's resolute defence of all the nine muses； generally and
individually。
He certainly had no reason to think ill of them。 As one woman； they
were led by him； and conformed their opinions。 The only seceder was
Louisa Anderson； who had her brother for her oracle； and； indeed； the
more youthful race； to whom Harvey was the glass of fashion； uttered
disrespectful opinions as to the doctor's age； and would not accede
to his being； as Mrs。 Ledwich declared； 〃much younger than Dr。 May。〃
Harvey Anderson had first attempted patronage； then argument； with
Dr。 Spencer； but found him equally impervious to both。 〃Very clever；
but an old world man；〃 said Harvey。 〃He has made up his bundle of
prejudices。〃
〃Clever sort of lad！〃 said Dr。 Spencer； 〃a cool hand； but very
shallow〃
Ethel wondered to hear thus lightly disposed of； the powers of
argument that had been thought fairly able to compete with Norman；
and which had taxed him so severely。 She did not know how
differently abstract questions appear to a mature mind； confirmed in
principle by practice； and to one young； struggling in self…
formation； and more used to theories than to realities。
CHAPTER XII。
The heart may ache； but may not burst；
Heaven will not leave thee； nor forsake。
Christian Year。
Hector and Tom finished their holidays by a morning's shooting at the
Grange； Dr。 May promising to meet them； and let them drive him home。
Meta was out when he arrived； and； repairing to the library； he found
Mr。 Rivers sitting by a fire； though it was early in September； with
the newspaper before him； but not reading。 He looked depressed； and
seemed much disappointed at having heard that George and Flora had
accepted some further invitations in Scotland； and did not intend to
return for another month。 Dr。 May spoke cheerfully of the
hospitality and kindness they had met； but failed to enliven him；
and； as if trying to assign some cause for his vexation； he lamented
over fogs and frosts； and began to dread an October in Scotland for
Flora； almost as if it were the Arctic regions。
He grew somewhat more animated in praising Flora； and speaking of the
great satisfaction he had in seeing his son married to so admirable a
person。 He only wished it could be the same with his daughter。
〃You are a very unselfish father；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃I cannot imagine
you without your little fairy。〃
〃It would be hard to part；〃 said Mr。 Rivers； sighing； 〃yet I should
be relieved to see her in good hands； so pretty and engaging as she
is； and something of an heiress。 With our dear Flora； she is secure
of a happy home when I am gone； but still I should be glad to have
seen〃 and he broke off thoughtfully。
〃She is so sensible； that we shall see her make a good choice；〃 said
Dr。 May； smiling； 〃that is； if she choose at all； for I do not know
who is worthy of her。〃
〃I am quite indifferent as to fortune；〃 continued Mr。 Rivers。 〃She
will have enough of her own。〃
〃Enough not to be dependent； which is the point；〃 said Dr。 May；
〃though I should have few fears for her any way。〃
〃It would be a comfort；〃 harped on Mr。 Rivers； dwelling on the
subject； as if he wanted to say something； 〃if she were only safe
with a man who knew how to value her and make her happy。 Such a
young man as your Norman； nowI have often thought〃
Dr。 May would not seem to hear； but he could not prevent himself from
blushing as crimson as if he had been the very Norman； as he
answered； going on with his own speech； as if Mr。 Rivers's had been
unmade； 〃She is the brightest little creature under the sun； and the
sparkle is down so deep within； that however it may turn out； I
should never fear for her happiness。〃
〃Flora is my great reliance；〃 proceeded Mr。 Rivers。 〃Her aunt； Lady
Leonora； is very kind； but somehow she does not seem to suit with
Meta。〃
〃Oh； ho；〃 thought the doctor； 〃have you made that discovery； my good
friend？〃
The voices of the two boys were heard in the hall； explaining their
achievements to Meta； and Dr。 May took his departure； Hector driving
him； and embarking in a long discourse on his own affairs as if he
had quite forgotten that the doctor was not his father； and going on
emphatically； in spite of the absence of mind now and then betrayed
by his auditor； who； at Dr。 Spencer's door； exclaimed； 〃Stop； Hector；
let me out herethank you；〃 and presently brought out his friend
into the garden； and sat down on the grass； talking low and earnestly
over the disease with which Mr。 Rivers had been so long affected； for
though Dr。 May could not perceive any positively unfavourable
symptom； he had been rendered vaguely uneasy by the unusual heaviness
and depression of manner。 So long did they sit conversing； that
Blanche was sent out； primed with an impertinent message； that two
such old doctors ought to be ashamed of themselves for sitting so
late in the dew。
Dr。 Spencer was dragged in to drink tea； and the meal had just been
merrily concluded； when the door bell rang； and a message was brought
in。 〃The carriage from the Grange； sir； Miss Rivers would be much
obliged if you would come directly。〃
〃There！〃 said Dr。 May； looking at Dr。 Spencer； as if to say； I told
you so； in the first triumph of professional sagacity； but the next
moment exclaiming； 〃Poor little Meta！〃 he hurried away。
A gloom fell on those who remained； for； besides their sym