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opposite faction attempted a contest； but only rendered the triumph
more complete； and gave the gentlemen the pleasure of canvassing； and
hearing； times without number； that the constituents only wished the
candidate were Dr。 May himself。 His sons and daughters were full of
exultationDr。 Spencer； much struck； rallied 〃Dick〃 on his
influenceand Dr。 May； the drops of warm emotion trembling on his
eyelashes； smiled； and bade his friend see him making a church…rate。
The addresses and letters that came from the Grange were so
admirable； that Dr。 May often embraced Norman's steady opinion that
George was a very wise man。 If Norman was unconscious how much he
contributed to these compositions； he knew far less how much was
Flora's。 In his ardour； he crammed them both； and conducted George
when Flora could not be at his side。 George himself was a personable
man； wrote a good bold hand； would do as he was desired； and was not
easily put out of countenance； he seldom committed himself by
talking； and when a speech was required； was brief； and to the
purpose。 He made a very good figure； and in the glory of victory；
Ethel herself began to grow proud of him； and the children's great
object in life was to make the jackdaws cry； 〃Rivers for ever！〃
Flora had always declared that she would be at Stoneborough for the
nomination。 No one believed her； until three days before； she
presented herself and her daughter before the astonished Margaret；
who was too much delighted to be able to scold。 She had come away on
her own responsibility； and was full of triumph。 To come home in
this manner； after having read 〃Rivers for ever！〃 on all the dead
walls； might be called that for which she had lived。 She made no
stayshe had only come to show her child； and establish a precedent
for driving out； and Margaret had begun to believe the apparition a
dream； when the others came in； some from Cocksmoor； others from the
committee…room at the Swan。
〃So she brought the baby；〃 exclaimed Ethel。 〃I should have thought
she would not have taken her out before her christening。〃
〃Ethel；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； 〃permit me to make a suggestion。 When
relations live in the same neighbourhood； there is no phrase to be
more avoided than 'I should have thought'〃
The nomination…day brought Flora； Meta； baby and all to be very
quiet； as was said； but how could that be？ when every boy in the
house was frantic； and the men scarcely less so。 Aubrey and
Gertrude； and the two jackdaws； each had a huge blue and orange
rosette； and the two former went about roaring 〃Rivers for ever！〃
without the least consideration for the baby； who would have been
decked in the same manner； if Ethel would have heard of it without
indignation； at her wearing any colour before her christening white；
as to Jack and Jill； though they could say their lesson； they were
too much distressed by their ornaments to do ought but lurk in
corners； and strive to peck them off。
Flora comported herself in her usual quiet way； and tried to talk of
other things； though a carnation spot in each cheek showed her
anxiety and excitement。 She went with her sisters to look out from
Dr。 Spencer's windows towards the Town Hall。 Her husband gave her
his arm as they went down the garden； and Ethel saw her talking
earnestly to him； and pressing his arm with her other hand to enforce
her words； but if she did tutor him； it was hardly visible； and he
was very glad of whatever counsel she gave。
She spoke not a word after the ladies were left with Aubrey； who was
in despair at not being allowed to follow Hector and Tom； but was
left； as his prematurely classical mind expressed it； like the
Gaulish women with the impedimenta in the marsheswhereas Tom had
added insult to injury； by a farewell to 〃Jack among the maidens。〃
Meta tried to console him； by persuading him that he was their
protector； and he began to think there was need of a guard； when a
mighty cheer caused him to take refuge behind Ethel。 Even when
assured that it was anything but terrific； he gravely declared that
he thought Margaret would want him； but he could not cross the garden
without Meta to protect him。
She would not allow any one else to relieve her from the doughty
champion； and thereby she missed the spectacle。 It might be that she
did not regret it； for though it would have been unkind to refuse to
come in with her brother and sister； her wound was still too fresh
for crowds； turmoil； and noisy rejoicing to be congenial。 She did
not withdraw her hand； which Aubrey squeezed harder at each
resounding shout； nor object to his conducting her to see his museum
in the dark corner of the attics； most remote from the tumult。
The loss was not great。 The others could hear nothing distinctly；
and see only a wilderness of heads； but the triumph was complete。
Dr。 May had been cheered enough to satisfy even Hector； George Rivers
had made a very fair speech； and hurrahs had covered all
deficiencies； Hector had shouted till he was as hoarse as the
jackdaws； the opposite candidate had never come forward at all；
Tomkins was hiding his diminished head； and the gentlemen had nothing
to report but success； and were in the highest spirits。
By and by Blanche was missing； and Ethel； going in quest of her；
spied a hem of blue merino peeping out under all the cloaks in the
hall cupboard； and found the poor little girl sobbing in such
distress； that it was long before any explanation could be extracted；
but at last it was revealedwhen the door had been shut； and they
stood in the dark； half stifled among the cloaks； that George's
spirits had taken his old facetious style with Blanche； and in the
very hearing of Hector！ The misery of such jokes to a sensitive
child； conscious of not comprehending their scope； is incalculable；
and Blanche having been a baby…coquette； was the more susceptible。
She hid her face again from the very sound of her own confession； and
resisted Ethel's attempts to draw her out of the musty cupboard；
declaring that she could never see either of them again。 Ethel； in
vain； assured her that George was gone to the dinner at the Swan；
nothing was effectual but being told that for her to notice what had
passed was the sure way to call Hector's attention thereto； when she
bridled； emerged； and begged to know whether she looked as if she had
been crying。 Poor child； she could never again be unconscious； but；
at least； she was rendered peculiarly afraid of a style of notice；
that might otherwise have been a temptation。
Ethel privately begged Flora to hint to George to alter his style of
wit； and the suggestion was received better than the blundering
manner deserved； Flora was too exulting to take offence； and her
patronage of all the world was as full…blown as her ladylike nature
allowed。 Ethel； she did not attempt to patronise； but she promised
all the sights in London to the children； and masters to Mary and
Blanche； and she perfectly overwhelmed Miss Bracy with orphan asylums
for her sisters。 She would have liked nothing better than dispersing
cards； with Mrs。 Rivers prominent among the recommenders of the case。
〃A fine coming…out for you； little lady；〃 said she to her baby； when
taking leave that evening。 〃If it was good luck for you to make your
first step in life upwards； what is this？〃
〃Excelsior？〃 said Ethel； and Flora smiled； well pleased； but she had
not caught half the meaning。 〃May it be the right excelsior〃 added
Ethel； in a low voice that no one heard； and she was glad they did
not。 They were all triumphant； and she could not tell why she had a
sense of sadness； and thought of Flora's story long ago； of the girl
who ascended Mont Blanc； and for what？
All she had to do at present was to listen to Miss Bracy； who was
sure that Mrs。 Rivers thought Mary and Blanche were not improved； and
was afraid she was ungrateful for all the intended kindness to her
sister。
Ethel had more sympathy here； for she had thought that Flora was
giving herself airs； and she laughed and said her sister was pleased
to be in a position to help her friends； and tried to turn it off；
but ended by stumbling into allowing that prosperity was apt to make
people over…lavish of offers of kindness。
〃Dear Miss Ethel； you understand so perfectly。 There is no one like
you！〃 cried Miss Bracy； attempting to kiss her hand。
If Ethel had not spoken rightly of her sister； she was sufficiently
punished。
What she did was to burst into a laugh； and exclaim； 〃Miss Bracy！
Miss Bracy！ I can't have you sentimental。 I am the worst person in
the world for it。〃
〃I have offended。 You cannot feel with me！〃
〃Yes； I can； when it is sense； but please don't treat me like a
heroine。 I am sure there is quite enough in the world that is
worrying； without picking shades of manner to pieces。 It is the sure
way to make an old crab of me； and so I am going off。 Only； one
parting piece of advice； Miss Bracyread 'Frank Fairlegh'； and put
everybody out of your head。〃
And； thinking she had been savage about her hand； Ethel turned back；
and kissed the little governess's forehead； wished her goodnight； and
ran away。
She had learn