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〃We don't keep babies； Gertrude would tell you；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃There are three great creatures； whom Ethel barbarously ordered off
to bed。 Ethel is master here； you must know； Florawe all mind what
she says。〃
〃Oh； papa；〃 pleaded Ethel； distressed； 〃you know it was because I
thought numbers might be oppressive。〃
〃I never dispute；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃We bow to a beneficial despotism；
and never rebel； do we； Meta？〃
Seeing that Ethel took the imputation to heart； Meta rejoined； 〃You
are making Mrs。 Arnott think her the strong…minded woman of the
family； who winds up the clock and cuts the bread。〃
〃No； that she makes you do； when the boys are away。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Ethel； 〃I can't be vituperated about hunches of
bread。 I have quite enough to bear on the score of tea。〃
〃Your tea is very good；〃 said Richard。
〃See how they propitiate her；〃 maliciously observed the doctor。
〃Not at all； it is Richard standing up for his pupil；〃 said Ethel。
〃It is all very well now； with people who know the capacities of
mortal tea； but the boys expect it to last from seven o'clock to ten；
through an unlimited number of cups； till I have announced that a
teapot must be carved on my tombstone； with an epitaph； 'Died of
unreasonable requirements。'〃
Mrs。 Arnott looked from one to the other； amused； observant； and
perceiving that they were all under that form of shyness which brings
up family wit to hide embarrassment or emotion。
〃Is Harry one of these unreasonable boys？〃 she asked。 〃My dear
HarryI presume Ethel has not sent him to bed。 Is there any hope of
my seeing him？〃
〃Great hope；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃He has been in the Baltic fleet； a
pretty little summer trip； from which we expect him to return any
day。 My old Lion！ I am glad you had him for a little while； Flora。
〃Dear fellow！ his only fault was being homesick； and making me catch
the infection。〃
〃I am glad you did not put off your coming；〃 said Dr。 May gravely。
〃You are in time for the consecration；〃 said Richard。
〃Ah！ Cocksmoor！ When will it take place？〃
〃On St。 Andrew's Day。 It is St。 Andrew's Church； and the bishop
fixed the day； otherwise it is a disappointment that Hector cannot be
present。〃
〃Hector？〃
〃Hector Ernescliffepoor Alan's brother； whom we don't well know
from ourselves。〃
〃And you are curate； Ritchie？〃 said his aunt〃if I may still call
you so。 You are not a bit altered from the mouse you used to be。〃
〃Church mouse to Cocksmoor；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃nearly as poor。 We are
to invest his patrimony in a parsonage as soon as our architect in
ordinary can find time for it。 Spenceryou remember him？〃
〃I remember how you and he used to be inseparable！ And he has
settled down； at last； by your side？〃
〃The two old doctors hope to bolster each other up till Mr。 Tom comes
down with modern science in full force。 That boy will do great
thingshe has as clear a head as I ever knew。〃
〃And more〃 said Ethel。
〃Ay； as sound a heart。 I must find you his tutor's letter； Flora。
They have had a row in his tutor's house at Eton； and our boys made a
gallant stand for the right； Tom especially； guarding the little
fellows in a way that does one good to hear of。〃
〃'I must express my strong sense of gratitude for his truth；
uprightness； and moral courage；'〃 quoted Meta。
〃Ah； ha！ you have learned it by heart！ I know you copied it out for
Norman； who has the best right to rejoice。〃
〃You have a set of children to be proud of； Richard！〃 exclaimed Mrs。
Arnott。
〃To be surprised atto be thankful for；〃 said Dr。 May； almost
inarticulately。
To see her father so happy with Mrs。 Arnott necessarily drew Ethel's
heart towards her； and； when they had bidden him goodnight； the aunt
instantly assumed a caressing confidence towards Ethel； particularly
comfortable to one consciously backward and awkward； and making her
feel as intimate as if the whole space of her rational life had not
elapsed since their last meeting。
〃Must you go； my dear？〃 said her aunt； detaining her over her fire。
〃I can't tell how to spare you。 I want to hear of your dear father。
He looks aged and thin； Ethel； and yet that sweet expression is the
same as ever。 Is he very anxious about poor Margaret？〃
〃Not exactly anxious；〃 said Ethel mournfully〃there is not much room
for that。〃
〃My dear Ethelyou don't mean？I thought〃
〃I suppose we ought to have written more fully；〃 said Ethel； 〃but it
has been very gradual； and we never say it to ourselves。 She is as
bright； and happy； and comfortable as ever； in general； and； perhaps；
may be so for a long time yet； but each attack weakens her。〃
〃What kind of attack？〃
〃Faintness…sinking。 It is suspended action of the heart。 The injury
to the spine deranged the system； and then the long suspense； and the
shock It is not one thing more than another； but it must go on。
Dr。 Spencer will tell you。 You won't ask papa too much about it？〃
〃No； indeed。 And he bears it〃
〃He bears everything。 Strength comes up out of his great lovingness。
But； oh！ I sometimes long that he may never have any more sorrows。〃
〃My poor child！〃 said Mrs。 Arnott； putting her arm round her niece's
waist。
Ethel rested her head on her shoulder。 〃Aunt Flora！ Aunt Flora！ If
any words could tell what Margaret has been ever since we were left。
Oh； don't make me talk or think of ourselves without her。 It is
wrong to wish。 And when you see her； that dear face of hers will
make you happy in the present。 Then；〃 added Ethel； not able to leave
off with such a subject； 〃you have our Norman to see。〃
〃Ah！ Norman's project is too delightful to us； but I fear what it
may be to your father。〃
〃He gives dear Norman； as his most precious gift； the flower and
pride of us all。〃
〃But； Ethel； I am quite frightened at Miss Rivers's looks。 Is it
possible that〃
〃Aunt Flora；〃 broke in Ethel； 〃don't say a word against it。 The
choicest goods wear the best； and whatever woman can do； Meta Rivers
can。 Norman is a great tall fellow； as clever as possible； but
perfectly feckless。 If you had him there alone； he would be a bee
without a queen。〃
〃Well； but〃
〃Listen；〃 continued Ethel。 〃Meta is a concentration of spirit and
energy； delights in practical matters； is twice the housewife I am；
and does all like an accomplishment。 Between them； they will make a
noble missionary〃
〃But she looks〃
〃Hush；〃 continued the niece。 〃You will think me domineering； but
please don't give any judgment without seeing； for they look to you
as an arbitrator； and casual words will weigh。〃
〃Thank you； Ethel； perhaps you are right。 When does he think of
coming out？〃
〃When he is ordainedsome time next year。〃
〃Does she live with you？〃
〃I suppose she lives with Flora； but we always manage to get her when
Norman is at home。〃
〃You have told me nothing of Flora or Mary。〃
〃I have little real to tell。 Good old Mary！ I dare say Harry talked
to you plentifully of her。 She is aa nice old darling；〃 said Ethel
fondly。 〃We want her again very much； and did not quite bargain for
the succession of smart visits that she has been paying。〃
〃With Flora？〃
〃Yes。 Unluckily George Rivers has taken an aversion to the Grange；
and I have not seen Flora this whole year。〃
Ethel stopped short； and said that she must not keep Margaret
expecting her。 Perhaps her aunt guessed that she had touched the
true chord of anxiety。
The morning brought a cheering account of Margaret； and Mrs。 Arnott
was to see her directly after breakfast。 In the meantime； the firm
limbs； blue eyes； and rosy face of Gertrude seemed a fair
representation of the little bride's…maid； whom she remembered。
A very different niece did she find upstairs； though the smiling；
overflowing eyes； and the fond； eager look of recognition； as if
asking to be taken to her bosom； had in them all the familiarity of
old tenderness。 〃Auntie！ dear auntie！ that you should have come back
to me again！〃
Mrs。 Arnott fondly caressed her； but could not speak at first； for
even her conversation with Ethel had not prepared her for so wasted
and broken an appearance。 Dr。 May spoke briskly of Margaret's having
behaved very well and slept like a good child； told Margaret where he
had to go that morning； and pointed out to Mrs。 Arnott some relics of
herself still remaining； but the nervous tremulousness of manner did
not much comfort her； although Margaret answered cheerfully。 Nothing
was so effectual in composing the aunt as Aubrey's coming headlong in
to announce the gig； and to explain to Margaret his last design for a
cathedraldrawing plans being just now his favourite sport。
〃Architecture is all our rage at present；〃 said Margaret； as her
father hurried away。
〃I am so glad to have come in time for the consecration！〃 said Mrs。
Arnott； following her niece's lead。 〃Is that a model of the church？〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 cried Margaret； lighting up。 〃Richard made it for me。〃
〃May I show it to Aunt Flora？〃 said Aubrey。
〃Bring it here； if you can lift it；〃 said Margaret； and； Aunt Flora
helping； the great cumbersome thing was placed beside her； whilst she
smiled and welcomed it like a child； and began an eager exhibi