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Stoneborough； combined to bring on his ordinary moody fits； the more；
because his habitual reserve prevented any one from knowing what was
working in his mind。
Finally the Rivers' party announced their intention of going to the
Isle of Wight as soon as Meta had come of age； and the council of
Cocksmoor； meeting at tea at Dr。 May's house； decided that the
foundation stone of the church should be laid on the day after her
birthday； when there would be a gathering of the whole family； as
Margaret wished。 Dr。 Spencer had worked incredibly hard to bring it
forward； and Margaret's sweet smiles； and liquid eyes； expressed how
personally thankful she felt。
〃What a blessing this church has been to that poor girl；〃 said Dr。
Spencer； as he left the house with Mr。 Wilmot。 〃How it beguiles her
out of her grief！ I am glad she has the pleasure of the foundation；
I doubt if she will see the consecration。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Mr。 Wilmot； shocked。 〃Was that attack so serious？〃
〃That recumbent position and want of exercise were certain to produce
organic disease； and suspense and sorrow have hastened it。 The death
of Mrs。 Rivers's poor child was the blow that called it into
activity； and； if it last more than a year； I shall be surprised。〃
〃For such as she is； one cannot presume to wish； but her fatheris
he aware of this？〃
〃He knows there is extensive damage； I think he does not open his
eyes to the result； but he will bear it。 Never was there a man to
whom it came so naturally to live like the fowls of the air； or the
lilies of the field； as it does to dear Dick May；〃 said Dr。 Spencer；
his voice faltering。
〃There is a strength of faith and love in him that carries him
through all；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot。 〃His childlike nature seems to have
the trustfulness that is； in itself； consolation。 You said how
Cocksmoor had been blessed to MargaretI think it is the same with
them allnot only Ethel and Richard； who have been immediately
concerned； but that one object has been a centre and aim to elevate
the whole family； and give force and unity to their efforts。 Even
the good doctor； much as I always looked up to himmuch good as he
did me in my young daysI must confess that he was sometimes very
provoking。〃
〃If you had tried to be his keeper at Cambridge； you might say so！〃
rejoined Dr。 Spencer。
〃He is so much less impetuousmore consistentless desultory； I
dare say you understand me；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot。 〃His good qualities do
not entangle one another as they used to do。〃
〃Exactly so。 He was far more than I looked for when I came home；
though I might have guessed that such a disposition； backed by such
principles and suchcould not but shake off all the dross。〃
〃One thing was；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot； smiling； 〃that a man must take
himself in hand at some time in his life； and Dr。 May only began to
think himself responsible for himself when he lost his wife； who was
wise for both。 She was an admirable person； but not easy to know
well。 I think you knew her at〃
〃I say；〃 interrupted Dr。 Spencer； 〃it strikes me that we could not do
better than get up our S。 P。 G。 demonstration on the day of the
stone〃
Hitherto the Stoneborough subscribers to the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel had been few and far between； but； under
the new dynasty； there was a talk of forming an association； and
having a meeting to bring the subject forward。 Dr。 Spencer's
proposal； however； took the vicar by surprise。
〃Never could there be a better time；〃 he argued。 〃You have naturally
a gathering of clergypeople ought to be liberal on such an
occasion； and； as Cocksmoor is provided for； why not give the benefit
to the missions； in their crying need！〃
〃True； but there is no time to send for any one to make a speech。〃
〃Husband your resources。 What could you have better than young Harry
and his islanders？〃
〃Harry would never make a speech。〃
〃Let him cram Norman。 Young Lake tells me Norman made a great
sensation at the Union at Oxford； and if his heart is in the work； he
must not shrink from the face of his townsmen。〃
〃No doubt he had rather they were savages；〃 said the vicar。 〃And
yourselfyou will tell them of the Indian missions。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said Dr。 Spencer。 〃When my Brahminhee godson
the deacon I told you of； comes to pay me his promised visit； what
doings we shall have！ Seriously； I have just had letters from him
and from others； that speak of such need； that I could feel every
moment wasted that is not spent on their behalf。〃
Mr。 Wilmot was drawn into Dr。 Spencer's house； and heard the letters；
till his heart burned within him。
The meeting was at once decided upon； though Ethel could not see why
people could not give without speechifying； and her two younger
brothers declared it was humbugTom saying； he wished all
blackamoors were out of creation； and Harry； that he could not stand
palaver about his friend David。 Dr。 May threatened him with being
displayed on the platform as a living instance of the effects of
missions； at which he took alarm； and so seriously declared that he
should join the Bucephalus at once； that they pacified him by
promising that he should do as he pleased。
The archdeacon promised a sermon； and the active Dr Spencer worked
the nine muses and all the rest of the town and neighbourhood into a
state of great enthusiasm and expectation。 He went to the Grange； as
he said； to collect his artillery； primed Flora that she might prime
the M。 P。； made the willing Meta promise to entrap the uncle； who was
noted for philanthropical speeches； and himself captured Sir Henry
Walkinghame； who looked somewhat rueful at what he found incumbent on
him as a country gentleman； though there might be some compensation
in the eagerness of Miss Rivers。
Norman had hardly set foot in Stoneborough before he was told what
was in store for him； and； to the general surprise； submitted as if
it were a very simple matter。 As Dr。 Spencer told him； it was only a
foretaste of the penalty which every missionary has to pay for coming
to England。 Norman was altogether looking much better than when he
had been last at home； and his spirits were more even。 He had turned
his whole soul to the career he had chosen； cast his disappointment
behind him； or； more truly； made it his offering； and gathered
strength and calmness； with which to set out on tasks of working for
others； with thoughts too much absorbed on them； to give way to the
propensity of making himself the primary object of study and
contemplation。 The praise of God； and love of man； were the best
cures for tendencies like his； and he had found it out。 His calm；
though grave cheerfulness； came as a refreshment to those who had
been uneasy about him； and mournfully watching poor Flora。
〃Yes；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； 〃you have taken the best course for your own
happiness。〃
Norman coloured； as if he understood more than met the ear。 Mary and
Blanche were very busy preparing presents for Meta Rivers； and every
one was anxious to soften to her the thought of this first birthday
without her father。 Each of the family contributed some pretty
little trifle； choice in workmanship or kind in device； and each was
sealed and marked with the initials of the giver； and packed up by
Mary； to be committed to Flora's charge。 Blanche had； however； much
trouble in extracting a gift from Norman； and he only yielded at
last； on finding that all his brothers had sent something； so that
his omission would be marked。 Then he dived into the recesses of his
desk； and himself sealed up a little parcel； of which he would not
allow his sisters to inspect the contents。
Ethel had a shrewd guess。 She remembered his having； in the flush of
joy at Margaret's engagement； rather prematurely caused a seal to be
cut with a daisy； and 〃Pearl of the meadow〃 as the motto； and his
having said that he should keep it as a wedding present。 She could
understand that he was willing to part with it without remark。
Flora met Meta in her sitting…room； on the morning of the day； which
rose somewhat sadly upon the young girl； as she thought of past
affection and new responsibilities。 If the fondness of a sister
could have compensated for what she had lost； Meta received it in no
scanty measure from Flora； who begged to call George； because he
would be pleased to see the display of gifts。
His own was the only costly onealmost all the rest were homemade
treasures of the greater price； because the skill and fondness of the
maker were evident in their construction； and Meta took home the
kindness as it was meant； and felt the affection that would not let
her feel herself lonely。 She only wished to go and thank them all at
once。
〃Do then；〃 said Flora。 〃If Lord Cosham will spare you； and your
business should be over in time； you could drive in； and try to bring
papa home with you。〃
〃Oh； thank you； Flora。 That is a kind treat； in case the morning
should be very awful！〃
Margaret Agatha Rivers signed her documents； listened to
explanations； and was complimented by her uncle on not thinking it
necessary to be senseless on money matters； like her cousin； Agatha
Langdale。
Stil