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〃At Mr。 Edward Wilmot's？〃
〃No！〃
〃Could it have been at Dr。 May's？ Really； then； you must tell me。〃
〃There I you deserve a good long story； beginning at the beginning；〃
said Meta； clapping her hands； 〃wasn't it curious？ as we were coming
up the last hill； we met some girls in deep mourning； with a lady who
looked like their governess。 I wondered whether they could be Dr。
May's daughters； and so it turned out they were。
Presently there began to fall little square lumps； neither hail； nor
snow； nor rain； it grew very cold； and rain came on。 It would have
been great fun； if I had not been afraid papa would catch cold； and
he said we would canter on to the inn。 But； luckily； there was Dr。
May walking up the street； and he begged us to come into his house。
I was so glad！ We were tolerably wet； and Dr。 May said something
about hoping the girls were at home； well； when he opened the
drawing…room door； there was the poor daughter lying on the sofa。〃
〃Poor girl！ tell me of her。〃
〃Oh！ you must go and see her； you won't look at her without losing
your heart。 Papa liked her so muchsee if he does not talk of her
all the evening。 She looks the picture of goodness and sweetness。
Only think of her having some of the maidenhair and cape jessamine
still in water； that we sent her so long ago。 She ahall have some
flowers every three days。 Well； Dr。 May said； 'There is one at
least； that is sure to be at home。' She felt my habit； and said I
must go and change it； and she called to a little thing of six；
telling her to show me the way to Flora。 She smiled； and said she
wished she could go herself； but Flora would take care of me。 Little
Blanche came and took hold of my hand； chattering away； up we went；
up two staircases； and at the top of the last stood a girl about
seventeen； so pretty！ such deep blue eyes； and such a complexion！
'That's Flora；' little Blanche said； 'Flora； this is Miss Rivers； and
she's wet； and Margaret says you are to take care of her。'〃
〃So that was your introduction？〃
〃Yes； we got acquainted in a minute。 She took me into her roomsuch
a room！ I believe Bellairs would be angry if she had such a one； all
up in the roof； no fire； no carpet； except little strips by the beds；
there were three beds。 Flora used to sleep there till Miss May was
ill； and now she dresses there。 Yet I am sure they are as much
ladies as I am。〃
〃You are an only daughter； my dear； and a petted one；〃 said Mrs。
Larpent； smiling。 〃There are too many of them to make much of； as we
do of our Meta。〃
〃I suppose so； but I did not know gentlewomen lived in such a way；〃
said Meta。 〃There were nice things about； a beautiful inlaid work…
box of Flora's； and a rosewood desk； and plenty of books； and a Greek
book and dictionary were spread open。 I asked Flora if they were
hers； and she laughed and said no； and that Ethel would be much
discomposed that I had see them。 Ethel keeps up with her brother
Normanonly fancy！ and he at the head of the school。 How clever she
must be！〃
〃But； my dear； were you standing in your wet things all this time！〃
〃No； I was trying on their frocks； but they trailed on the ground
upon me； so she asked if I would come and sit by the nursery fire
till my habit was dry； and there was a dear little good…humoured
baby； so fair and pretty。 She is not a bit shy； will go to anybody；
but； they say； she likes no one so well as her brother Norman。〃
〃So you had a regular treat of baby…nursing。〃
〃That I had； I could not part with her； the darling。 Flora thought
we might take her down； and I liked playing with her in the drawing…
room and talking to Miss May； till the fly came to take us home。 I
wanted to have seen Ethel； but； only think； papa has asked Dr。 May to
bring Flora some day； how I hope he will！〃
Little Meta having told her story； and received plenty of sympathy；
proceeded to dress； and； while her maid braided her hair； a musing
fit fell upon her。 〃I have seen something of life to…day；〃 thought
she。 〃I had thought of the great difference between us and the poor；
but I did not know ladies lived in such different ways。 I should be
very miserable without Bellairs； or without a fire in my room。 I
don't know what I should do if I had to live in that cold； shabby
den； and do my own hair； yet they think nothing of it； and they are
cultivated and ladylike！ Is it all fancy； and being brought up to
it？ I wonder if it is right？ Yet dear papa likes me to have these
things； and can afford them。 I never knew I was luxurious before；
and yet I think I must be！ One thing I do wish； and that is； that I
was of as much use as those girls。 I ought to be。 I am a motherless
girl like them； and I ought to be everything to papa； just as Miss
May is； even lying on the sofa there； and only two years older than I
am。 I don't think I am of any use at all； he is fond of me； of
course； dear papa； and if I died； I don't know what would become of
him； but that's only because I am his daughterhe has only George
besides to care for。 But； really and truly； he would get on as well
without me。 I never do anything for him； but now and then playing to
him in the evening； and that not always； I am afraid； when I want to
be about anything else。 He is always petting me； and giving me all I
want； but I never do anything but my lessons； and going to the
school； and the poor people； and that is all pleasure。 I have so
much that I never miss what I give away。 I wonder whether it is all
right！ Leonora and Agatha have not so much money to do as they
please withthey are not so idolised。 George said； when he was
angry； that papa idolises me； but they have all these comforts and
luxuries； and never think of anything but doing what they like。 They
never made me consider as these Mays do。 I should like to know them
more。 I do so much want a friend of my own age。 It is the only want
I have。 I have tried to make a friend of Leonora； but I cannot； she
never cares for what I do。 If she saw these Mays she would look down
on them。 Dear Mrs。 Larpent is better than any one； but then she is
so much older。 Flora May shall be my friend。 I'll make her call me
Meta as soon as she comes。 When will it be？ The day after
tomorrow？〃
But little Meta watched in vain。 Dr。 May always came with either
Richard or the groom； to drive him； and if Meta met him and hoped he
would bring Flora next time； he only answered that Flora would like
it very much； and he hoped soon to do so。
The truth was； it was no such everyday matter as Meta imagined。 The
larger carriage had been broken； and the only vehicle held only the
doctorhis charioteerand in a very minute appendage behind； a
small son of the gardener； to open gates； and hold the horse。
The proposal had been one of those general invitations to be
fulfilled at any time； and therefore easily set aside； and Dr。 May；
though continually thinking he should like to take his girls to
Abbotstoke； never saw the definite time for so doing； and Flora
herself； though charmed with Miss Rivers； and delighted with the
prospect of visiting her； only viewed it as a distant prospect。
There was plenty of immediate interest to occupy them at home； to say
nothing of the increasing employment that Cocksmoor gave to thoughts；
legs； and needles。 There was the commencement of the half…year； when
Tom's schoolboy life was to begin； and when it would be proved
whether Norman were able to retain his elevation。
Margaret had much anxiety respecting the little boy about to be sent
into a scene of temptation。 Her great confidence was in Richard； who
told her that boys did many more wrong things than were known at
home； and yet turned out very well； and that Tom would be sure to
right himself in the end。 Richard had been blameless in his whole
school course； but though never partaking of the other boys' evil
practices； he could not form an independent estimate of character；
and his tone had been a little hurt； by sharing the school public
opinion of morality。 He thought Stoneborough and its temptations
inevitable； and only wished to make the best of it。 Margaret was
afraid to harass her father by laying the case before him。 All her
brothers had gone safely through the school； and it never occurred to
her that it was possible that； if her father knew the bias of Tom's
disposition； he might choose； for the present； at least； some other
mode of education。
She talked earnestly to Tom； and he listened impatiently。 There is
an age when boys rebel against female rule； and are not yet softened
by the chivalry of manhood； and Tom was at this time of life。 He did
not like to be lectured by a sister； secretly disputed her right；
and； proud of becoming a schoolboy； had not the generous deference
for her weakness felt by his elder brothers； he was all the time
peeling a stick； as if to show that he was not attending； and he
raised up his shoulder pettishly whenever she came to a mention of
the religious duty of sincerity。 She did not long continue her
advice； and； much disappointed and concerned； tried to console
herself with hoping that he might have heeded more than he seemed to
do。
He