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which was most upon their minds； since she had never before witnessed
one of the seizures； that were only too ordinary matters in the eyes
of the home party。 No one but Dr。 May and Ethel should go。 Richard
undertook to tell the rest； and the gig making its appearance； Ethel
felt that the peculiarly kind manner with which the bishop pressed
her hand； and gave them all good wishes； was like a continuation of
his blessing to aid her in her home scene of trial。
Perhaps； it was well for her that her part in the consecration
festivities should end here； at least so thought Mr。 Wilmot； who；
though very sorry for the cause； could not wish her to have been
present at the luncheon。 She had not thought of self hitherto； the
church was the gift of Alan and Margaret； the work of preparing the
people belonged to all alike； and she did not guess that； in the
sight of others； she was not the nobody that she believed herself。
Her share in the work at Cocksmoor was pretty well known； and Dr。
Hoxton could not allow a public occasion to pass without speeches；
such as must either have been very painful； or very hurtful to her。
The absence of herself and her father； however； permitted a more free
utterance to the general feeling； and things were said； that did
indeed make the rest of the family extremely hot and uncomfortable；
but which gave them extreme pleasure。 Norman was obliged to spare
Richard the answer； and said exactly what he ought； and so
beautifully； that Meta could not find it in her heart to echo the
fervent wish； which he whispered as he sat down； that speechifying
could be abolished by Act of Parliament。
Mrs。 Arnott began to perceive that her nephew was something to be
proud of； and to understand how much was sacrificed； while George
Rivers expressed his opinion to her that Norman would be a crack
speaker in the House； and he hoped she would say everything to hinder
his going out； for it was a regular shame to waste him on the
niggers。
Owing to George having constituted himself her squire； Mrs。 Arnott
had not arrived at an understanding of the state of affairs at home；
but； as soon as they rose up from luncheon； and she learned the truth
from Richard and Mary； nothing would hinder her from walking home at
once to see whether she could be useful。 Mary was easily persuaded
to remain； for she was accustomed to Margaret's having these attacks；
and had always been kept out of her room the while； so she had little
uneasiness to prevent her from being very happy； in receiving in her
own simple； good…humoured way all the attentions that lapsed upon her
in the place of her elder sisters。
〃Cocksmoor really has a church！〃 was note enough of joy for her； and
no one could look at her round face without seeing perfect happiness。
Moreover； when after evening service； the November mist turned into
decided rain； she was as happy as a queen in her foresight； which had
provided what seemed an unlimited supply of cloaks and umbrellas。
She appeared to have an original genius for making the right people
give a lift in their carriages to the distressed； and； regarding the
Abbotstoke britska as her own； packed in Mrs。 Anderson and Fanny； in
addition to all their own little ones； Meta thrusting Miss Bracy into
the demi…corner destined for herself at the last minute； and；
remaining with Mary； the only ladies obliged to walk back to
Stoneborough。 So delighted were they 〃at the fun；〃 that it might
have been thought the most charming of adventures； and they laughed
all the more at the lack of umbrellas。 They went to Mrs。 Elwood's；
divested themselves of all possible finery； and tucked up the rest；
Meta was rolled up from head to foot in a great old plaid shawl of
Mrs。 Elwood's； and Mary had a cloak of Richard's； the one took
Norman's arm； the other Dr。 Spencer's； and they trudged home through
the darkness and the mud in the highest glee； quite sorry when the
carriage met them half…way。
It was the last mirth that they enjoyed for many weeks。 When they
reached home； a sense of self…reproach for their glee thrilled over
them； when they found a sort of hush pervading the drawing…room； and
saw the faces of awe and consternation； worn by Blanche and George
Rivers。
〃It was a much worse attack than usual； and it did not go off；〃 was
all that Blanche knew； but her father had desired to be told when Dr。
Spencer came home； and she went up with the tidings。
This brought Flora down； looking dreadfully pale； and with her voice
sunk away as it had been when she lost her child。 Her husband
started up； exclaiming at her aspect； she let him support her to the
sofa； and gave the few particulars。 Margaret had been as placid and
comfortable as usual； till nurse came to dress her； but the first
move had brought on the faintness and loss of breath。 It did not
yield to remedies； and she had neither looked nor spoken since； only
moaned。 Flora thought her father much alarmed； and then； after an
interval； she began to entreat that they might stay there； sending
Miss Bracy and the children to the Grange to make room。
Meantime； Dr。 Spencer had come to the sick…room； but he could only
suggest remedies that were already in course of application to the
insensible sufferer。 Mrs。 Arnott and Ethel were watching； and trying
everything to relieve her； but with little effect； and Ethel
presently stood by the fire with her father； as Dr。 Spencer turned
towards him； and he said； in a very low； but calm voice； 〃It won't
doI believe it is the death…stroke。〃
〃Not immediate；〃 said Dr。 Spencer。
〃No；〃 said Dr。 May； and he quietly spoke of what the disease had
effected； and what yet remained for it to do； ere the silver bowl
should be broken。
Dr。 Spencer put in a word of agreement。
〃Will there be no rally？〃 said Ethel； in the same tone。
〃Probably not；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃the brain is generally reached at this
stage。 I have seen it coming for a long time。 The thing was done
seven years ago。 There was a rally for a time when youth was strong；
but suspense and sorrow accelerated what began from the injury to the
spine。〃
Dr。 Spencer bowed his head； and looked at him anxiously； saying； 〃I
do not think there will be much acute suffering。〃
〃I fear it may be as trying；〃 said Dr。 May； sighing； and then turning
to Ethel； and throwing his arm round her； 〃May God make it easy to
her； and grant us 'patient hearts。' We will not grudge her to all
that she loves best； my Ethel。〃
Ethel clung to him； as if to derive strength from him。 But the
strength that was in them then did not come from earth。 Dr。 Spencer
wrung his hand； and stepped back to the bed to try another resource。
Vain again； they only seemed to be tormenting her； and the silent
helplessness prevailed again。 Then Dr。 May went down to Flora； told
her the true state of the case； and urged on her to give up her plan
of remaining。 George joined with him； and she yielded submissively；
but would not be refused going up once again and kissing her sister；
standing beside her gazing at her； till her father came softly and
drew her away。 〃I shall be here to…morrow；〃 she said to Ethel； and
went。
The morrow； however； brought no Flora。 The agitation and distress of
that day had broken her down completely； and she was so ill as to be
unable to move。 Her aunt went at once to see her； and finding that
her presence at the Grange relieved some of Dr。 May's anxieties；
chiefly devoted herself to her。 Flora was grateful and gentle； but
as silent and impenetrable as ever； while day after day she lay on
her couch； uncomplaining and undemonstrative； visited by her father；
and watched over by her aunt and sister…in…law； who began to know
each other much better； though Flora less than ever； in that deep
fixed grief。 She only roused herself to return her husband's
affection； or to listen to the daily reports of Margaret。 Poor
George； he was very forlorn； though Meta did her best to wait on him；
and he rode over twice a day to inquire at Stoneborough。
The doctors were right； and the consecration morning was her last of
full consciousness。 From the hour when she had heard the sound of
Alan's bells； her ears were closed to earthly sounds。 There was very
little power of intercourse with her； as she lingered on the borders
of the land very far away； where skill and tenderness could not
either reach body or spirit。 Often the watchers could not tell
whether she was conscious； or only incapacitated from expression； by
the fearful weight on her breath； which caused a restlessness most
piteous in the exhausted helpless frame； wasted till the softest
touch was anguish。 Now and then came precious gleams when a familiar
voice； or some momentary alleviation would gain a smile； or thanks；
and they thought her less restless when Richard read prayers beside
her； but words were very rare； only now and then a name； and when in
most distress； 〃it will be soon over；〃 〃it will soon be over；〃
occurred so often； that they began to think it once her solace； and
now repeated habitually without a meaning。
They could not follow her into the valley of the shadow of death； but
could only watch the frail earthly prison…house