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happy in these visitsmother and child had both prospered so well；
and it was quite a treat to be able to expend his tenderness on
Flora。 His little grandchild seemed to renew his own happy days； and
he delighted to take her from her mother and fondle her。 No sooner
was the baby in his arms than Flora's hands were busy among the
papers； and she begged him to ring for lights。
〃Not yet；〃 he said。 〃Why can't you sit in the dark； and give
yourself a little rest？〃
〃I want you to hear George's address。 Norman has been looking at it；
and I hope you will not think it too strong；〃 and she turned； so that
the light might fall on the paper。
〃Let me see；〃 said Dr。 May； holding out his hand for it。
〃This is a rough copy； too much scratched for you to make out。〃
She read it accordingly； and her father admired it exceedingly
Norman's touches； above all； and Flora's reading had dovetailed all
so neatly together that no one knew where the joins were。 〃I will
copy it fairly；〃 she said； 〃if you will show it to Dr。 Spencer； and
ask whether he thinks it too strong。 Mr。 Dodsley too； he would be
more gratified if he saw it first； in private； and thought himself
consulted。〃
Dr。 May was dismayed at seeing her take up her pen； make a desk of
her blotting…book； and begin her copy by firelight。
〃Flora； my dear；〃 he said； 〃this must not be。 Have I not told you
that you must be content to rest？〃
〃I did not get up till ten o'clock； and have been lying here ever
since。〃
〃But what has this head of yours been doing？ Has it been resting for
ten minutes together？ Now I know what I am saying； FloraI warn
you； that if you will not give yourself needful quiet now； you will
suffer for it by and by。〃
Flora smiled； and said； 〃I thought I had been very good。 But； what
is to be done when one's wits will work； and there is work for them
to do？〃
〃Is not there work enough for them here？〃 said Dr。 May； looking at
the babe。 〃Your mother used to value such a retirement from care。〃
Flora was silent for a minute； then said； 〃Mr。 Esdaile should have
put off his resignation to suit me。 It is an unfortunate time for
the election。〃
〃And you can't let the election alone？〃
She shook her head； and smiled a negative； as if she would； but that
she was under a necessity。
〃My dear； if the election cannot go on without you； it had better not
go on at all。〃
She looked very much hurt； and turned away her head。
Her father was grieved。 〃My dear；〃 he added； 〃I know you desire to
be of use； especially to George； but do you not believe that he would
rather fail； than that you； or his child； should suffer？〃
No answer。
〃Does he stand by his own wish； or yours； Flora？〃
〃He wishes it。 It is his duty；〃 said Flora； collecting her dignity。
〃I can say no more； except to beg him not to let you exert yourself。〃
Accordingly； when George came home； the doctor read him a lecture on
his wife's over…busy brain； and was listened to； as usual； with
gratitude and deference。 He professed that he only wished to do what
was best for her； but she never would spare herself； and； going to
her side； with his heavy； fond solicitude； he made her promise not to
hurt herself； and she laughed and consented。
The promise was easily given； for she did not believe she was hurting
herself； and； as to giving up the election； or ceasing secretly to
prompt George； that was absolutely out of the question。 What could
be a greater duty than to incite her husband to usefulness？〃
Moreover it was but proper to invite Meta's aunt and cousin to see
her； and to project a few select dinners for their amusement and the
gratification of her neighbours。 It was only grateful and cousinly
likewise； to ask the 〃Master of Glenbracken〃； and as she saw the
thrill of colour on Ethel's cheeks； at the sight of the address to
the Honourable Norman Ogilvie； she thought herself the best of
sisters。 She even talked of Ogilvie as a second Christian name； but
Meta observed that old Aunt Dorothy would call it Leonorar Rogilvie
Rivers； and thus averted it； somewhat to Ethel's satisfaction。
Ethel scolded herself many times for wondering whether Mr。 Ogilvie
would come。 What was it to her？ Suppose he should； suppose the
rest。 What a predicament！ How unreasonable and conceited； even to
think of such a thing； when her mind was made up。 What could result；
save tossings to and fro； a passing gratification set against
infinite pain； and strife with her own heart and with her father's
unselfishness！ Had he but come before Flora's marriage！ No； Ethel
hated herself for the wish that arose for the moment。 Far better he
should keep away； if； perhaps； without the slightest inclination
towards her； his mere name could stir up such a tumultall； it might
be； founded in vanity。 Rebellious feelings and sense of tedium had
once been subduedwhy should they be roused again？
The answer came。 Norman Ogilvie was setting off for Italy； and
regretted that he could not take Abbotstoke on his way。 He desired
his kind remembrances and warm Christmas wishes to all his cousins。
If Ethel breathed more freely； there was a sense that tranquillity is
uninteresting。 It was； it must be confessed； a flat end to a
romance； that all the permanent present effect was a certain
softening； and a degree more attention to her appearance； and after
all； this might； as Flora averred； be ascribed to the Paris outfit
having taught her to wear clothes； as well as to that which had
awakened the feminine element； and removed that sense of not being
like other women； which sometimes hangs painfully about girls who
have learned to think themselves plain or awkward。
There were other causes why it should be a dreary winter to Ethel；
under the anxiety that strengthened by duration； and the strain of
acting cheerfulness for Margaret's sake。 Even Mary was a care。 Her
round rosy childhood had worn into height and sallowness； and her
languor and indifference fretted Miss Bracy； and was hunted down by
Ethel； till Margaret convinced her that it was a case for patience
and tenderness； which； thenceforth； she heartily gave； even
encountering a scene with Miss Bracy； who was much injured by the
suggestion that Mary was oppressed by perspective。 Poor Mary； no one
guessed the tears nightly shed over Harry's photograph。
Nor could Ethel quite fathom Norman。 He wore the dispirited；
burdened expression that she knew too well； but he would not； as
formerly； seek relief in confidence to her； shunning the being alone
with her； and far too much occupied to offer to walk to Cocksmoor。
When the intelligence came that good old Mr。 Wilmot of Settlesham had
peacefully gone to his rest； after a short and painless illness； Tom
was a good deal affected； in his peculiar silent and ungracious
fashion； but Norman did not seek to talk over the event； and the
feelings he had entertained two years agohe avoided the subject；
and threw himself into the election matters with an excitement
foreign to his nature。
He was almost always at Abbotstoke； or attending George Rivers at the
committee…room at the Swan； talking； writing； or consulting；
concocting squibs； and perpetrating bons mots； that were the delight
of friends and the confusion of foes。 Flora was delighted； George
adored him； Meta's eyes danced whenever he came near； Dr。 Spencer
admired him； and Dr。 Hoxton prophesied great things of him； but Ethel
did not feel as if he were the veritable Norman； and had an undefined
sensation of discomfort； when she heard his brilliant repartees； and
the laughter with which he accompanied them； so unlike his natural
rare and noiseless laugh。 She knew it was false excitement； to drive
away the suspense that none dared to avow； but which did not press on
them the less heavily for being endured in silence。 Indeed； Dr。 May
could not help now and then giving way to outbursts of despondency；
of which his friend； Dr。 Spencer； who made it his special charge to
try to lighten his troubles； was usually the kind recipient。
And though the bustle of the election was incongruous； and seemed to
make the leaden weight the more heavy； there was a compensation in
the tone of feeling that it elicited； which gave real and heartfelt
pleasure。
Dr。 May had undergone numerous fluctuations of popularity。 He had
always been the same man； excellent in intention； though hasty in
action； and heeding neither praise nor censure； and while the main
tenor of his course never varied； making many deviations by flying to
the reverse of the wrong； most immediately before him； still his
personal character gained esteem every year； and though sometimes his
merits； and sometimes his failings； gave violent umbrage； he had
steadily risen in the estimation of his fellow…townsmen； as much as
his own inconsistencies and theirs would allow； and every now and
then was the favourite with all； save with the few who abused him for
tyranny； because he prevented them from tyrannising。
He was just now on the top of the wave； and his son…in…law had
nothing to do but to float in on the tide of his favour。 The
opposite faction attempted a contest； but only rendered the triumph
more co