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Norman； taking off his hat and passing his fingers through his hair。
〃A headache againI am sorry to hear it。〃
〃It is only that suffocating den of yours。 My head ached from the
moment I looked into it。 How can you take Ethel into such a hole；
Richard？ It is enough to kill her to go on with it for ever。〃
〃It is not so every day；〃 said the elder brother quietly。 〃It is a
warm day； and there was an unusual crowd。〃
〃I shall speak to my father；〃 exclaimed Norman； with somewhat of the
supercilious tone that he had now and then been tempted to address to
his brother。 〃It is not fit that Ethel should give up everything；
health and all； to such a set as these。 They look as if they had
been picked out of the gutterdirt； squalor； everything disgusting；
and summer coming on； too； and that horrid place with no window to
open！ It is utterly unbearable！〃
Richard stooped to pick up a heavy basket； then smiled and said； 〃You
must get over such things as these if you mean to be a clergyman；
Norman。〃
〃Whatever I am to be； it does not concern the girls being in such a
place as this。 I am surprised that you could suffer it。〃
There was no answerRichard was walking off with his basket； and
putting it into the carriage。 Norman was not pleased with himself；
but thought it his duty to let his father know his opinion of Ethel's
weekly resort。 All he wished was to avoid Ethel herself； not liking
to show her his sentiments； and he was glad to see her put into the
gig with Aubrey and Mary。
They rushed into the drawing…room； full of glee； when they came home；
all shouting their news together； and had not at first leisure to
perceive that Margaret had some tidings for them in return。 Mr。
Rivers had been there； with a pressing invitation to his daughter's
school…feast； and it had been arranged that Flora and Ethel should go
and spend the day at the Grange； and their father come to dine； and
fetch them home in the evening。 Margaret had been much pleased with
the manner in which the thing was done。 When Dr。 May； who seemed
reluctant to accept the proposal that related to himself； was called
out of the room； Mr。 Rivers had； in a most kind manner； begged her to
say whether she thought it would be painful to him； or whether it
might do his spirits good。 She decidedly gave her opinion in favour
of the invitation； Mr。 Rivers gained his point； and she had ever
since been persuading her father to like the notion； and assuring him
it need not be made a precedent for the renewal of invitations to
dine out in the town。 He thought the change would be pleasant for
his girls； and had； therefore； consented。
〃Oh； papa； papa！ thank you！〃 cried Ethel； enraptured； as soon as he
came into the room。 〃How very kind of you！ How I have wished to see
the Grange； and all Norman talks about！ Oh； dear！ I am so glad you
are going there too！〃
〃Why； what should you do with me？〃 said Dr。 May； who felt and looked
depressed at this taking up of the world again。
〃Oh； dear！ I should not like it at all without you！ It would be no
fun at all by ourselves。 I wish Flora would come home。 How pleased
she will be！ Papa； I do wish you would look as if you didn't mind
it！ I can't enjoy it if you don't like going。〃
〃I shall when I am there； my dear；〃 said the doctor affectionately；
putting his arm around her as she stood by him。 〃It will be a fine
day's sport for you。〃
〃But can't you like it beforehand； papa？〃
〃Not just this minute； Ethel；〃 said he； with his bright； sad smile。
〃All I like just now is my girl's not being able to do without me；
but we'll do the best we can。 So your flock acquitted themselves
brilliantly？ Who is your Senior Wrangler？〃
Ethel threw herself eagerly into the history of the examination； and
had almost forgotten the invitation till she heard the front door
open。 Then it was not she； but Margaret； who told FloraEthel could
not； as she said； enjoy what seemed to sadden her father。 Flora
received it much more calmly。 〃It will be very pleasant；〃 said she；
〃it was very kind of papa to consent。 You will have Richard and
Norman； Margaret； to be with you in the evening。〃
And； as soon as they went upstairs； Ethel began to write down the
list of prizes in her school journal； while Flora took out the best
evening frocks； to study whether the crape looked fresh enough。
The invitation was a convenient subject of conversation； for Norman
had so much to tell his sisters of the curiosities they must look for
at the Grange； that he was not obliged to mention Cocksmoor。 He did
not like to mortify Ethel by telling her his intense disgust； and he
knew he was about to do what she would think a great injury by
speaking to his father on the subject； but he thought it for her real
welfare； and took the first opportunity of making to his father and
Margaret a most formidable description of Ethel's black…hole。 It
quite alarmed Margaret； but the doctor smiled； saying； 〃Ay； ay； I
know the face Norman puts on if he looks into a cottage。〃
〃Well；〃 said Norman； with some mortification； 〃all I know is； that my
head ached all the rest of the day。〃
〃Very likely； but your head is not Ethel's； and there were twice as
many people as the place was intended to hold。〃
〃A stuffy hole； full of peat…smoke； and with a window that can't open
at the best of times。〃
〃Peat…smoke is wholesome；〃 said Dr。 May； looking provoking。
〃You don't know what it is； papa； or you would never let Ethel spend
her life there。 It is poisonous！〃
〃I'll take care of Ethel；〃 said Dr。 May； walking off； and leaving
Norman in a state of considerable annoyance at being thus treated。
He broke out into fresh exclamations against the horrors of
Cocksmoor； telling Margaret she had no idea what a den it was。
〃But； Norman； it can't be so very bad； or Richard would not allow
it。〃
〃Richard is deluded！〃 said Norman； 〃but if he chooses to run after
dirty brats； why should he take Ethel there？〃
〃My dear Norman； you know it is all Ethel's doing。〃
〃Yes； I know she has gone crazy after them； and given up all her
Greek for it。 It is past endurance！〃 said Norman； who had worked
himself up into great indignation。
〃Well； but surely； Norman； it is better they should do what they can
for those poor creatures； than for Ethel to learn Greek。〃
〃I don't know that。 Let those who are fit for nothing else go and
drone over A B C with ragged children； if they like。 It is just
their vocation； but there is an order in everything； Margaret； and
minds of a superior kind are intended for higher purposes； not to be
wasted in this manner。〃
〃I don't know whether they are wasted；〃 said Margaret； not quite
liking Norman's tone； though she had not much to say to his
arguments。
〃Not wasted？ Not in doing what any one can do？ I know what you'll
say about the poor。 I grant it； but high ability must be given for a
purpose； not to be thrown away。 It is common…sense； that some one
must be meant to do the dirty work。〃
〃I see what you mean； Norman； but I don't quite like that to be
called by such a name。 I think〃 she hesitated。 〃Don't you think
you dislike such things more than〃
〃Any one must abominate dirt and slovenliness。 I know what you mean。
My father thinks 'tis all nonsense in me； but his profession has made
him insensible to such things； and he fancies every one else is the
same！ Now； Margaret； am I unreasonable？〃
〃I am sure I don't know； dear Norman；〃 said Margaret； hesitating； and
feeling it her duty to say something； 〃I dare say it was very
disagreeable。〃
〃And you think； too； that I made a disturbance for nothing？〃
〃No； indeed I don't； nor does dear papa。 I have no doubt he will see
whether it is proper for Ethel。 All I think he meant is； that
perhaps your not being well last winter has made you a little more
sensitive in such things。〃
Norman paused； and coloured。 He remembered the pain it had given him
to find himself incapable of being of use to his father； and that he
had resolved to conquer the weakness of nerve of which he was
ashamed； but he did not like to connect this with his fastidious
feelings of refinement。 He would not own to himself that they were
over nice； and； at the bottom of all this justification； rankled
Richard's saying； that he who cared for such things was unfit for a
clergyman。 Norman's secret thought was； it was all very well for
those who could only aspire to parish work in wretched cottages
people who could distinguish themselves were more useful at the
university； forming minds； and opening new discoveries in learning。
Was Norman quite proof against the consciousness of daily excelling
all his competitors？ His superiority had become even more manifest
this Easter； when Cheviot and Forder； the two elder boys whom he had
outstripped； left the school； avowedly； because it was not worth
while for them to stay； since they had so little chance of the
Randall scholarship。 Norman had now only to walk over the course； no
one even approaching him but Harvey Anderson。
Meta Rivers always said that fine weather came at her call； and so it
didglowing sunshine streaming over the shaven turf； and penetrating
even th