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〃What do you mean？ Speak； Ethel。〃
〃He has gone past itthe place；〃 whispered she。
The doctor made a sound of sorrowful assent； as if much struck； then
said； 〃you don't mean he has never been there since？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel； 〃he has always gone round Randall's alley or the
garden； he has said nothing； but has contrived to avoid it。〃
〃Well；〃 said Dr。 May； after a pause； 〃I hoped none of us knew the
exact spot。〃
〃We don't； he never told us； but he was there。〃
〃Was he？〃 exclaimed her father； 〃I had no notion of that。 How came
he there？〃
〃He went on with Mr。 Ernescliffe； and saw it all；〃 said Ethel； as her
father drew out her words； apparently with his eye； 〃and then came up
to my room so faint that he was obliged to lie on the floor ever so
long。〃
〃Fainthow long did it last？〃 said her father； examining her without
apparent emotion； as if it had been an indifferent patient。
〃I don't know； things seemed so long that evening。 Till after dark
at least； and it came on in the morningno； the Monday。 I believe
it was your armfor talking of going to see you always brought it
on； till Mr。 Ward gave him a dose of brandy…and…water； and that
stopped it。〃
〃I wish I had known this before。 Derangement of the nervous system；
no doubta susceptible boy like thatI wonder what sort of nights
he has been having。〃
〃Terrible ones；〃 said Ethel； 〃I don't think he ever sleeps quietly
till morning； he has dreams； and he groans and talks in his sleep；
Harry can tell you all that。〃
〃Bless me！〃 cried Dr。 May； in some anger； 〃what have you all been
thinking about to keep this to yourselves all this time？〃
〃He could not bear to have it mentioned；〃 said Ethel timidly； 〃and I
didn't know that it signified so much； does it？〃
〃It signifies so much； that I had rather have given a thousand pounds
than have let him go on all this time； to be overworked at school；
and wound up to that examination！〃
〃Oh； dear！ I am sorry！〃 said Ethel； in great dismay。 〃If you had but
been at home when Cheviot wanted Harry to have sent for youbecause
he did not think him fit for it！〃 And Ethel was much relieved by
pouring out all she knew； though her alarm was by no means lessened
by the effect it produced on her father； especially when he heard of
the 〃funny state。〃
〃A fine state of things；〃 he said； 〃I wonder it has not brought on a
tremendous illness by this time。 A boy of that sensitive temperament
meeting with such a shocknever looked afterthe quietest and most
knocked down of all； and therefore the most neglectedhis whole
system disorderedand then driven to school to be harassed and
overworked； if we had wanted to occasion brain fever we could not
have gone a better way to set about it。 I should not wonder if
health and nerves were damaged for life！〃
〃Oh！ papa； papa！〃 cried Ethel； in extreme distress； 〃what shall I do！
I wish I had told you； but〃
〃I'm not blaming you； Ethel； you knew no better； but it has been
grievous neglect。 It is plain enough there is no one to see after
you；〃 said the doctor； with a low groan。
〃We may be taking it in time；〃 said Margaret's soft voice〃it is
very well it has gone on no longer。〃
〃Three months is long enough；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃I suppose；〃 continued Margaret； 〃it will be better not to let dear
Norman know we are uneasy about him。〃
〃No； no； certainly not。 Don't say a word of this to him。 I shall
find Harry； and ask about these disturbed nights； and then watch him；
trusting it may not have gone too far； but there must be dreadful
excitability of brain！〃
He went away； leaving Margaret to comfort Ethel as well as she could；
by showing her that he had not said the mischief was done； putting
her in mind that he was wont to speak strongly； and trying to make
her thankful that her brother would now have such care as might avert
all evil results。
〃But； oh；〃 said Ethel； 〃his success has been dearly purchased！〃
CHAPTER XII。
〃It hath do me mochil woe。〃
〃Yea hath it？ Use；〃 quod he； 〃this medicine；
Every daie this Maie or that thou dine；
Go lokin in upon the freshe daisie；
And though thou be for woe in poinct to die；
That shall full gretly lessen thee of thy pine。〃
CHAUCER。
That night Norman started from； what was not so much sleep； as a
trance of oppression and suffering； and beheld his father's face
watching him attentively。
〃Papa！ What's the matter？〃 said he； starting up。 〃Is any one ill？〃
〃No； no one； lie down again；〃 said Dr。 May； possessing himself of a
hand； with a burning spot in the palm； and a throbbing pulse。
〃But what made you come here？ Have I disturbed any one？ Have I been
talking？〃
〃Only mumbling a little； but you looked very uncomfortable。〃
〃But I'm not illwhat are you feeling my pulse for？〃 said Norman
uneasily。
〃To see whether that restless sleep has quickened it。〃
Norman scarcely let his father count for a moment； before he asked；
〃What o'clock is it？〃
〃A little after twelve。〃
〃What does make you stay up so late； papa？〃
〃I often do when my arm seems likely to keep me awake。 Richard has
done all I want。〃
〃Pray don't stay here in the cold；〃 said Norman； with feverish
impatience； as he turned upwards the cool side of his pillow。
〃Good…night！〃
〃No hurry；〃 said his father； still watching him。
〃There's nothing the matter；〃 repeated the boy。
〃Do you often have such unquiet nights？〃
〃Oh； it does not signify。 Good…night；〃 and he tried to look settled
and comfortable。
〃Norman；〃 said his father； in a voice betraying much grief； 〃it will
not do to go on in this way。 If your mother was here； you would not
close yourself against her。〃
Norman interrupted him in a voice strangled with sobs： 〃It is no good
saying itI thought it would only make it worse for you； but that's
it。 I cannot bear the being without her。〃
Dr。 May was glad to see that a gush of tears followed this
exclamation； as Norman hid his face under the coverings。
〃My poor boy；〃 said he； hardly able to speak； 〃only One can comfort
you truly； but you must not turn from me； you must let me do what I
can for you； though it is not the same。〃
〃I thought it would grieve you more；〃 said Norman； turning his face
towards him again。
〃What； to find my children； feeling with me； and knowing what they
have lost？ Surely not； Norman。〃
〃And it is of no use；〃 added Norman； hiding his face again； 〃no one
can comfort〃
〃There you are wrong；〃 said Dr。 May； with deep feeling； 〃there is
much comfort in everything； in everybody； in kindness； in all around；
if one can only open one's mind to it。 But I did not come to keep
you awake with such talk： I saw you were not quite well； so I came up
to see about you； and now； Norman； you will not refuse to own that
something is the matter。〃
〃I did not know it；〃 said Norman； 〃I really believe I am well； if I
could get rid of these horrible nights。 I either lie awake； tumbling
and tossing； or I get all sorts of unbearable dreams。〃
〃Ay； when I asked master Harry about you； all the answer I could get
was； that he was quite used to it； and did not mind it at all。 As if
I asked for his sake！ How fast that boy sleepshe is fit for a
midshipman's berth！〃
〃But do you think there is anything amiss with me？〃
〃I shall know more about that to…morrow morning。 Come to my room as
soon as you are up； unless I come to you。 Now； I have something to
read before I go to bed； and I may as well try if it will put you to
sleep。〃
Norman's last sight that night was of the outline of his father's
profile； and he was scarcely awake the next morning before Dr。 May
was there again。
Unwilling as he had been to give way； it was a relief to relinquish
the struggle to think himself well； and to venture to lounge and
dawdle； rest his heavy head； and stretch his inert limbs without fear
of remark。 His father found him after breakfast lying on the sofa in
the drawing…room with a Greek play by his side； telling Ethel what
words to look out。
〃At it again！〃 exclaimed Dr。 May。 〃Carry it away； Ethel。 I will
have no Latin or Greek touched these holidays。〃
〃You know；〃 said Norman； 〃if I don't sap； I shall have no chance of
keeping up。〃
〃You'll keep nowhere if you don't rest。〃
〃It is only Euripides； and I can't do anything else；〃 said Norman
languidly。
〃Very likely； I don't care。 You have to get well first of all； and
the Greek will take care of itself。 Go up to Margaret。 I put you in
her keeping； while I am gone to Whitford。 After that； I dare say
Richard will be very glad to have a holiday； and let you drive me to
Abbotstoke。〃
Norman rose； and wearily walked upstairs； while his sister lingered
to excuse herself。 〃Papa； I did not think Euripides would hurt him
he knows it all so well； and he said he could not read anything
else。〃
〃Just so； Ethel。 Poor fellow； he has not spirits or energy for
anything： his mind was forced into those classicalities when it
wanted rest； and now it has not spring enough to turn back again。〃
〃Do you think him so very ill？〃
〃Not exactly； but there's low fever hanging about him； and we must
look after him w