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〃No； I remember now； not where it was justly due。 Papa；〃 she said；
pausing； as to recall her recollection； 〃what did I do？ I must have
done something very unkind to make him go away and leave me。〃
〃I insisted on his leaving you； my dear。 You seemed oppressed； and
his affectionate ways were doing you harm； so I was hardhearted； and
turned him out； sadly against his will。〃
〃Poor George！〃 said Flora； 〃has he been left to bear it alone all
this time？ How much distressed he must have been。 I must have vexed
him grievously。 You don't guess how fond he was of her。 I must go
to him at once。〃
〃That is right； my dear。〃
〃Don't praise me；〃 said she； as if she could not bear it。 〃All that
is left for me is to do what I can for him。〃
Dr。 May felt cheered。 He was sure that hope must again rise out of
unselfish love and duty。
Their return awoke George； who started； half sitting up； wondering
why he was spending the night in so unusual a manner； and why Flora
looked so pale； in the morning light； with her loosened； drooping
hair。
She went straight to him； and； kneeling by his side； said； 〃George；
forgive！〃 The same moment he had caught her to his bosom； but so
impressed was his tardy mind with the peril of talking to her； that
he held her in his arms without a single word； till Dr。 May had
unclosed his lipsa sign would not sufficehe must have a sentence
to assure him； and then it was such joy to have her restored； and his
fondness and solicitude were so tender and eager in their clumsiness；
that his father…in…law was touched to the heart。
Flora was quite herself again； in presence of mind and power of
dealing with him； and Dr。 May left them to each other； and went to
his own room； for such rest as sorrow； sympathy； and the wakening
city； would permit him。
When the house was astir in the morning； and the doctor had met Meta
in the breakfast…room； and held with her a sad； affectionate
conversation； George came down with a fair report of his wife； and
took her father to see her。
That night had been like an illness to her； and； though perfectly
composed； she was feeble and crushed； keeping the room darkened； and
reluctant to move or speak。 Indeed； she did not seem able to give
her attention to any one's voice； except her husband's。 When Dr。
May； or Meta； spoke to her； she would miss what they said； beg their
pardon； and ask them to repeat it； and sometimes； even then； become
bewildered。 They tried reading to her； but she did not seem to
listen； and her half…closed eye had the expression of listless
dejection； that her father knew betokened that； even as last night；
her heart refused to accept promises of comfort as meant for her。
For George； however； her attention was always ready； and was
perpetually claimed。 He was forlorn and at a loss without her； every
moment； and； in the sorrow which he too felt most acutely； could not
have a minute's peace unless soothed by her presence； he was
dependent on her to a degree which amazed and almost provoked the
doctor； who could not bear to have her continually harassed and
disturbed； and yet was much affected by witnessing so much
tenderness； especially in Flora； always the cold utilitarian member
of his family。
In the middle of the day she rose and dressed； because George was
unhappy at having to sit without her； though only in the next room。
She sat in the large arm…chair； turned away from the blinded windows；
never speaking nor moving； save when he came to her； to make her look
at his letters and notes； when she would； with the greatest patience
and sweetness； revise them； suggest word or sentence； rouse herself
to consider each petty detail； and then sink back into her attitude
of listless dejection。 To all besides； she appeared totally
indifferent； gently courteous to Meta and to her father； when they
addressed her； but otherwise showing little consciousness whether
they were in the room； and yet； when something was passing about her
father's staying or returning； she rose from her seat； came up to him
before he was aware； and said； 〃Papa！ papa！ you will not leave me！〃
in such an imploring tone； that if he had ever thought of quitting
her； he could not have done so。
He longed to see her left to perfect tranquillity； but such could not
be in London。 Though theirs was called a quiet house； the rushing
stream of traffic wearied his country ears； the door bell seemed
ceaselessly ringing； and though Meta bore the brunt of the notes and
messages； great numbers necessarily came up to Mr。 Rivers； and of
these Flora was not spared one。 Dr。 May had his share too of
messages and business； and friends and relations； the Rivers'
kindred； always ready to take offence with their rich connections；
and who would not be satisfied with inquiries； at the door； but must
see Meta； and would have George fetched down to themold aunts； who
wanted the whole story of the child's illness； and came imagining
there was something to be hushed up； Lady Leonora extremely polite；
but extremely disgusted at the encounter with them； George ready to
be persuaded to take every one up to see his wife； and the
prohibition to be made by Dr。 May over and over againit was a most
tedious； wearing afternoon； and at last； when the visitors had gone；
and George had hurried back to his wife； Dr。 May threw himself into
an arm…chair and said； 〃Oh； Meta； sorrow weighs more heavily in town
than in the country！〃
〃Yes！〃 said Meta。 〃If one only could go out and look at the flowers；
and take poor Flora up a nosegay！〃
〃I don't think it would make much difference to her；〃 sighed the
doctor。
〃Yes； I think it would；〃 said Meta； 〃it did to me。 The sights there
speak of the better sights。〃
〃The power to look must come from within；〃 said Dr。 May； thinking of
his poor daughter。
〃Ay；〃 said Meta； 〃as Mr。 Ernescliffe said； 'heaven is as near！'
But the skirts of heaven are more easily traced in our mountain view
than here； where； if I looked out of window； I should only see that
giddy string of carriages and people pursuing each other！〃
〃Well； we shall get her home as soon as she is able to move； and I
hope it may soothe her。 What a turmoil it is！ There has not been
one moment without noise in the twenty…two hours I have been here！〃
〃What would you say if you were in the city？〃
〃Ah！ there's no talking of it； but if I had been a fashionable London
physician； as my father…in…law wanted to make me； I should have been
dead long ago！〃
〃No； I think you would have liked it very much。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Love's a flower that will not die；〃 repeated Meta； half smiling。
〃You would have found so much good to do〃
〃And so much misery to rend one's heart；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃But； after
all； I suppose there is only a certain capacity of feeling。〃
〃It is within； not without； as you said；〃 returned Meta。
〃Ha； there's another！〃 cried Dr。 May； almost petulant at the sound of
the bell again； breaking into the conversation that was a great
refreshment。
〃It was Sir Henry Walkinghame's ring；〃 said Meta。 〃It is always his
time of day。〃
The doctor did not like it the better。
Sir Henry sent up a message to ask whether he could see Mr。 or Miss
Rivers。
〃I suppose we must；〃 said Meta； looking at the doctor。 〃Lady
Walkinghame must be anxious about Flora。〃
She blushed greatly； fancying that Dr。 May was putting his own
construction on the heightened colour which she could not control。
Sir Henry came in； just what he ought to be； kindly anxious； but not
overwhelming； and with a ready； pleased recognition of the doctor； as
an old acquaintance of his boyhood。 He did not stay many minutes；
but there was a perceptible difference between his real sympathy and
friendly regard only afraid of obtruding； and the oppressive
curiosity of their former visitors。 Dr。 May felt it due； both from
kindness and candour； to say something in his praise when he was
gone。
〃That is a sensible superior man；〃 he said。 〃He will be an
acquisition when he takes up his abode at Drydale。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Meta； a very simple yes； from which nothing could be
gathered。
The funeral was fixed for Monday； the next day but one； at the church
where Mr。 Rivers had been buried。 No one was invited to be present；
Ethel wrote that； much as she wished it； she could not leave
Margaret； and； as the whole party were to return home on the
following day； they should soon see Flora。
Flora had laid aside all privileges of illness after the first day；
she came downstairs to breakfast and dinner； and though looking
wretchedly ill； and speaking very low and feebly； she was as much as
ever the mistress of her house。 Her father could never draw her into
conversation again on the subject nearest his heart； and could only
draw the sad conclusion that her state of mind was unchanged； from
the dreary indifference with which she allowed every word of cheer to
pass by unheeded； as if she could not bear to look beyond the grave。
He had some hope in the funeral； which she was bent on attending； and
more in the influence of Margaret； and the counsel of Richard； or of
Mr。 Wllmot。
The burial； however； failed to bring any peaceful comfort to the