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and making Stoneborough what it ought to be。
As Dr。 May lay awake in the summer's morning； meditating on his
address to Dr。 Hoxton； he heard the unwelcome sound of a ring at the
bell； and； in a few minutes； a note was brought to him。
〃Tell Adams to get the gig readyI'll let him know whether he is to
go with me。〃
And； in a few minutes； the doctor opened Norman's door； and found him
dressed； and standing by the window； reading。 〃What； up already；
Norman？ I came to tell you that our affairs must wait till the
afternoon。 It is very provoking； for Hoxton may be gone out； but Mr。
Lake's son； at Groveswood； has an attack on the head； and I must go
at once。 It is a couple of dozen miles off or more。 I have hardly
ever been there； and it may keep me all day。〃
〃Shall you go in the gig？ Shall I drive you？〃 said Norman； looking
rather blank。
〃That's what I thought of； if you like it。 I thought you would
sooner be out of the way。〃
〃Thank youyes； papa。 Shall I come and help you to finish
dressing？〃
〃Yes； do； thank you； it will hasten matters。 Only； first order in
some breakfast。 What makes you up so early？ Have not you slept？〃
〃Not muchit has been such a hot night。〃
〃And you have a headache。 Well； we will find a cure for that before
the day is over。 I have settled what to say to old Hoxton。〃
Before another quarter of an hour had passed； they were driving
through the deep lanes； the long grass thickly laden with morning
dew； which beaded the webs of the spiders and rose in clouds of mist
under the influence of the sun's rays。 There was stillness in the
air at first； then the morning sounds； the labourer going forth； the
world wakening to life； the opening houses； the children coming out
to school。 In spite of the tumult of feeling； Norman could not but
be soothed and refreshed by the new and fair morning scene； and both
minds quitted the school politics； as Dr。 May talked of past
enjoyment of walks or drives home in early dawn； the more delicious
after a sad watch in a sick…room； and told of the fair sights he had
seen at such unwonted hours。
They had far to go； and the heat of the day had come on before they
entered the place of their destination。 It was a woodland village；
built on a nook in the side of the hill； sloping greenly to the
river； and shut in by a white gate； which seemed to gather all in one
the little old…fashioned church； its yard； shaded with trees； and
enclosed by long white rails； the parsonage； covered with climbing
plants and in the midst of a gay garden； and one or two cottages。
The woods cast a cool shadow； and； in the meadows by the river rose
cocks of new…made hay； there was an air of abiding serenity about the
whole place； save that there stood an old man by the gate； evidently
watching for the physician's carriage； and where the sun fell on that
parsonage…house was a bedroom window wide open； with the curtains
drawn。
〃Thank Heaven you are come； sir；〃 said the old man； 〃he is fearfully
bad。〃
Norman knew young Lake； who had been a senior boy when he first went
to school； was a Randall scholar； and had borne an excellent
character； and highly distinguished himself at the university。 And
now； by all accounts； he seemed to be dyingin the height of honour
and general esteem。 Dr。 May went into the house； the old man took
the horse； and Norman lingered under the trees in the churchyard；
watching the white curtains now and then puffed by the fitful summer
breeze； as he lay on the turf in the shade； under the influence of
the gentle sadness around； resting； mind and body； from the tossing
tumultuous passionate sensations that had kept him restless and
miserable through the hot night。
He waited longone hour； two hours had passed away； but he was not
impatient； and hardly knew how long the time had been before his
father and Mr。 Lake came out of the house together； and； after they
parted； Dr。 May summoned him。 He of course asked first for the
patient。 〃Not quite so hopeless as at first；〃 and the reasons for
having been kept so long were detailed； with many circumstances of
the youth's illness； and the parents' resignation； by which Dr。 May
was still too deeply touched to have room in his mind for anything
besides。
They were more than half…way home； and a silence had succeeded the
conversation about the Lake family； when Norman spoke：
〃Papa； I have been thinking about it； and I believe it would be
better to let it alone； if you please。〃
〃Not apply to Dr。 Hoxton！〃 exclaimed his father。
〃Well； I think not。 I have been considering it； and it does hardly
seem to me the right thing。 You see； if I had not you close at hand；
this could never be explained； and it seems rather hard upon
Anderson； who has no father； and the other fellows； who have theirs
farther off〃
〃Right； Norman； that is what my father before me always said； and the
way I have always acted myself； much better let a few trifles go on
not just as one would wish； than be for ever interfering。 But I
really think this is a case for it； and I don't think you ought to
let yourself be influenced by the fear of any party…spirit。〃
〃It is not only that； papaI have been thinking a good deal to…day；
and there are other reasons。 Of course I should wish Dr。 Hoxton to
know that I spoke the truth about that walk； and I hope you will let
him know； as I appealed to you。 But； on cooler thoughts； I don't
believe Dr。 Hoxton could seriously suspect me of such a thing as
that； and it was not on that ground that I am turned down； but that I
did not keep up sufficient discipline； and allowed the outrage； as he
calls it。 Now； you know； that is； after a fashion； true。 If I had
not gone on like an ass the other day； and incited them to pull down
the fences； they would not have done it afterwards； and perhaps I
ought to have kept on guard longer。 It was my fault； and we can't
deny it。〃
Dr。 May made a restless； reluctant movement。 〃Well； well； I suppose
it wasbut it was just as much Harvey Anderson'sand is he to get
the scholarship because he has added meanness to the rest？〃
〃He was not dux；〃 said Norman； with a sigh。 〃It was more shabby than
I thought was even in him。 But I don't know that the feeling about
him is not one reason。 There has always been a rivalry and
bitterness between us two； and if I were to get the upper hand now；
by means not in the usual course； such as the fellows would think ill
of； it would be worse than ever； and I should always feel guilty and
ashamed to look at him。〃
〃Over…refining； Norman；〃 muttered Dr。 May。
〃Besides； don't you remember； when his father died； how glad you and
everyone were to get him a nomination； and it was said that if he
gained a scholarship it would be such a relief to poor Mrs。 Anderson？
Now he has this chance； it does seem hard to deprive her of it。 I
should not like to know that I had done so。〃
〃Whew！〃 the doctor gave a considering whistle。
〃You could not make it straight； papa； without explaining about the
dealing with Ballhatchet； and that would be unfair to them all； even
the old rogue himself； for I promised to say nothing about former
practices； as long as he did not renew them。〃
〃Well！ I don't want to compromise you； Norman。 You know your own
ground best； but I don't like it at all。 You don't know the
humiliation of disgrace。 Those who have thought highly of you； now
thinking you changedI don't know how to bear it for you。〃
〃I don't mind anything while you trust me；〃 said Norman； eagerly；
〃not much I mean； except Mr。 Wilmot。 You must judge； papa； and do as
you please。〃
〃No； you must judge； Norman。 Your confidence in me ought not to be a
restraint。 It has always been an understood thing that what you say
at home is as if it had not been said； as regards my dealings with
the masters。〃
〃I know； papa。 Well； I'll tell you what brought me to this。 I
tumbled about all night in a rage； when I thought how they had served
me； and of Hoxton's believing it all； and how he might only half give
in to your representation； and then I gloried in Anderson's coming
down from his height； and being seen in his true colours。 So it went
on till morning came； and I got up。 You know you gave me my mother's
little 'Thomas a Kempis'。 I always read a bit every morning。 To…day
it was； 'Of four things that bring much inward peace'。 And what do
you think they were？
'Be desirous； my son； to do the will of another
rather than thine own。
Choose always to have less rather than more。
Seek always the lowest place； and to be inferior
to everyone。
Wish always and pray that the will of God may be
wholly fulfilled in thee。'
I liked them the more； because it was just like her last reading with
us； and like that letter。 Well； then I wondered as I lay on the
grass at Groveswood； whether she would have thought it best for me to
be reinstated； and I found out that I should have been rather afraid
of what you might say when she had talked it over with you。〃
Dr。 May smiled a little at the simplicity with which this last was
said； but his smile ended in one of his heavy sighs。 〃So you took
he