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beauty？〃
It was one of the round Bruce brooches； of dark pebble； with a silver
fern…leaf lying across it； the dots of small Cairngorm stones。 〃The
Glenbracken badge； you know；〃 continued Flora。
Ethel twisted it about in her fingers； and said； 〃Was not it meant
for you？〃
〃It was to oblige me； if you choose so to regard it；〃 said Flora；
smiling。 〃He gave me no injunctions； but； you see； you must wear it
now。 I shall not wear coloured brooches for a year。〃
Ethel sighed。 She felt as if her black dress ought； perhaps； to be
worn for a nearer cause。 She had a great desire to keep that
Glenbracken brooch； and surely it could not be wrong。 To refuse it
would be much worse； and would only lead to Flora's keeping it； and
not caring for it。
〃Then it is your present； Flora？〃
〃If you like better to call it so； my dear。 I find Norman Ogilvie is
going abroad in a few months。 I think we ought to ask him here on
his way。〃
〃Flora； I wish you would not talk about such things！〃
〃Do you really and truly； Ethel？〃
〃Certainly not； at such a time as this；〃 said Ethel。
Flora was checked a little； and sat down to write to Marjorie
Ogilvie。 〃Shall I say you like the brooch； Ethel？〃 she asked
presently。
〃Say what is proper；〃 said Ethel impatiently。 〃You know what I mean；
in the fullest sense of the word。〃
〃Do I？〃 said Flora。
〃I mean；〃 said Ethel； 〃that you may say； simply and rationally； that
I like the thing； but I won't have it said as a message； or that I
take it as his present。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Flora； 〃the whole affair is simple enough； if you
would not be so conscious； my dear。〃
〃Flora； I can't stand your calling me my dear！〃
〃I am very much obliged to you；〃 said Flora； laughing； more than she
would have liked to be seen； but recalled by her sister's look。
Ethel was sorry at once。〃
Flora； I beg your pardon； I did not mean to be cross； only please
don't begin about that； indeed； I think you had better leave out
about the brooch altogether。 No one will wonder at your passing it
over in such a return as this。〃
〃You are right；〃 said Flora thoughtfully。
Ethel carried the brooch to her own room； and tried to keep herself
from speculating what had been Mr。 Ogllvie's views in procuring it；
and whether he remembered showing her； at Woodstock； which sort of
fern was his badge； and how she had abstained from preserving the
piece shut up in her guide…book。
Meta's patient sorrow was the best remedy for proneness to such
musings。 How happy poor little Meta had been！ The three sisters sat
together that long day； and Ethel read to the others； and by and by
went to walk in the garden with them； till； as Flora was going in；
Meta asked； 〃Do you think it would be wrong for me to cross the park
to see that little burned girl； as Mr。 Wilmot is away to…day； and she
has no one to go to her？〃
Flora could see no reason against it； and Meta and Ethel left the
garden； and traversed the green park； in its quiet home beauty； not
talking much； except that Meta said； 〃Well！ I think there is quite
as much sweetness as sadness in this evening。〃
〃Because of this calm autumn sunset beauty？〃 said Ethel。 〃Look at
the golden light coming in under the branches of the trees。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Meta； 〃one cannot help thinking how much more
beautiful it must be〃
The two girls said no more； and came to the cottage； where so much
gratitude was expressed at seeing Miss Rivers； that it was almost too
much for her。 She left Ethel to talk； and only said a few soft
little words to her sick scholar； who seemed to want her voice and
smile to convince her that the small mournful face； under all that
black crape； belonged to her own dear bright teacher。
〃It is odd；〃 said Meta； as they went back； 〃it is seeing other people
that makes one know it is all sad and alteredit seems so
bewildering； though they are so kind。〃
〃I know what you mean；〃 said Ethel。
〃One ought not to wish it to go on； because there are other people
and other duties；〃 said Meta； 〃but quietness is so peaceful。 Do you
know； Ethel； I shall always think of those two first days； before
anybody came； with you and Dr。 May； as something veryvery
precious；〃 she said at last； with the tears rising。
〃I am sure I shall；〃 said Ethel。
〃I don't know how it is； but there is something even in this
affliction that makes it likea strange sort of happiness；〃 said
Meta musingly。
〃I know what it is！〃 said Ethel。
〃That He is so very good？〃 said Meta reverently。
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel； almost rebuked for the first thought； namely； that
it was because Meta was so very good。
〃It does make one feel more confidence；〃 said Meta。
〃'It is good for me to have been in trouble；'〃 repeated Ethel。
〃Yes；〃 said Meta。 〃I hope it is not wrong or unkind in me to feel
it； for I think dear papa would wish it； but I do not feel as if
miss him always as I shallthe spring of life were gone from me。 I
don't think it can； for I know no more pain or trouble can reach him；
and there isdon't you think； Ethel； that I may think so？especial
care for the orphan； like a compensation。 And there is hope； and
work here。 And I am very thankful！ How much worse it would have
been； if George had not been married！ Dear Flora！ Will you tell
her； Ethel； how really I do wish her to take the command of me？ Tell
her it will be the greatest kindness in the world to make me useful
to her。〃
〃I will；〃said Ethel。
〃And please tell her that I am afraid I may forget； and take upon me；
as if I were still lady of the house。 Tell her I do not mean it； and
I hope that she will check it。〃
〃I think there is no fear of her forgetting that；〃 said Ethel；
regretting the words before they were out of her mouth。
〃I hope I shall not；〃 said Meta。 〃If I do； I shall drive myself away
to stay with Aunt Leonora； and I don't want to do that at all。 So
please to make Flora understand that she is head； and I am ready to
be hand and foot；〃 and Meta's bright smile shone out； with the
pleasure of a fresh and loving service。
Ethel understood the force of her father's words； that it was a
brave； vigorous spirit。
Dr。 May came back with George； and stayed to dinner； after which he
talked over business with Flora； whose sagacity continually amazed
him； and who undertook to make her husband understand； and do what
was needed。
Meta meanwhile cross…questioned her brother on the pretty village by
the Thames； of which she had a fond； childish remembrance； and heard
from him of the numerous kind messages from all her relations。 There
were various invitations； but George repeated them unwillingly。
〃You won't go； Meta；〃 he said。 〃It would be a horrid nuisance to
part with you。〃
〃As long as you think so； dear George。 When I am in your way； or
Flora's〃
〃That will never be！ I say； Flora； will she ever be in our way？〃
〃No； indeed！ Meta and I understand that；〃 said Flora； looking up。
〃Well； I suppose Bruce can't be trusted to value the books and
prints。〃
Dr。 May thought it a great relief that Meta had a home with Flora；
for； as he said to Ethel as they went home together； 〃Certainly；
except Lord Cosham； I never saw such an unpresentable crew as their
relations。 You should have heard the boys afterwards！ There was
Master Tom turning up his Eton nose at them； and pronouncing that
there never were such a set of snobs； and Norman taking him to task
as I never heard him do beforetelling him that he would never have
urged his going to Eton； if he had thought it would make him despise
respectable folks； probably better than himself； and that this was
the last time in the world for such observationswhereat poor Tommy
was quite annihilated； for a word from Norman goes further with him
than a lecture from any one else。〃
〃Well； I think Norman was right as to the unfitness of the time。〃
〃So he was。 But we had a good deal of them； waiting in the inn
parlour。 People make incongruities when they will have such things
done in state。 It could not be helped here； to be sure； but I always
feel； at a grand undertaker's display like this； that； except the
service itself； there is little to give peace or soothing。 I hate
what makes a talk！ Better be little folk。〃
〃One would rather think of our own dear cloister； and those who cared
so much；〃 said Ethel。
〃Ah！ you were happy to be there！〃 said Dr。 May。 〃But it all comes to
the same。〃 Pausing； he looked from the window； then signed to Ethel
to do the sameOrion glittered in the darkness。
〃One may sleep sound without the lullaby；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃and the
waves〃
〃Oh！ don't； papa。 You don't give up hope！〃
〃I believe we ought； Ethel。 Don't tell her； but I went to the
Admirality to…day。〃
〃And what did you hear there？〃
〃Great cause for fearbut they do not give up。 My poor Margaret！
But those stars tell us they are in the same Hand。〃
CHAPTER XIII。
Shall I sit alone in my chamber；
And set the chairs by the wall；
While you sit with lords and princes；
Yet have not a thought at all？
Shall I sit alone in my chamber；
And duly the table lay；
Whilst you stand up in the diet；
And have not a word to say？Old Danish Ballad。