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because it seemed merely a vain and profitless creature。 The
nightingale sang praise； and the woods sounded with the glory of its
strains； the fowl was valued for its flesh； the ostrich for its
plume； but what could the little humming…bird do； save rejoice in the
glory of the flood of sunbeams； and disport itself over the flowers；
and glance in the sunny light； as its bright breastplate flashed from
rich purple to dazzling flame…colour； and its wings supported it；
fluttering so fast that the eye could hardly trace them； as it darted
its slender beak into the deep…belled blossoms。 So the little bird
grieved； and could not rest； for thinking that it was useless in this
world； that it sought merely its own gratification； and could do
nothing that could conduce to the glory of its master。 But one night
a voice spoke to the little bird； 'Why hast thou been placed here；'
it said； 'but at the will of thy master？ Was it not that he might
delight himself in thy radiant plumage； and see thy joy in the
sunshine？ His gifts are thy buoyant wing； thy beauteous colours； the
love of all around； the sweetness of the honey…drop in the flowers；
the shade of the palm leaf。 Esteem them； then； as his； value thine
own bliss； while it lasts； as the token of his care and love； and
while thy heart praises him for them； and thy wings quiver and dance
to the tune of that praise； then； indeed； thy gladness conduces to no
vain…glory of thine own； in beauty； or in graceful flight； but thou
art a creature servingas best thou canst to his glory。'〃
〃I know the word；〃 half whispered Meta； not without a trembling of
the lip。 〃I know why you told the story； Dr。 May； but one is not as
good as the humming…birds。〃
The elder ladies had begun to look at watches； and talk of time to go
home； and Jem Jemmings having been seen rearing himself up from
behind the barrow； the doctor proceeded to investigate his case； was
perfectly satisfied of the boy's truth； and as ready as the young
ones to befriend him。 A letter should be written at once； desiring
his father to look out for him on Friday； when he should go by the
same train as Harry； who was delighted at the notion of protecting
him so far； and begged to be allowed to drive him home to
Stoneborough in the gig。
Consent was given； and Richard being added to give weight and
discretion； the gig set out at oncethe doctor； much to Meta's
delight； took his place in the brake。 Blanche； who； in the morning；
had been inclined to despise it as something akin to a cart； now
finding it a popular conveyance； was urgent to return in it； and
Flora was made over to the carriage； not at all unwillingly； for；
though it separated her from Meta； it made a senior of her。
Norman's fate conveyed him to the exalted seat beside the driver of
the brake； where he could only now and then catch the sounds of mirth
from below。 He had enjoyed the day exceedingly； with that sort of
abandon more than ordinarily delicious to grave or saddened
temperaments； when roused or drawn out for a time。 Meta's winning
grace and sweetness had a peculiar charm for him； and； perhaps； his
having been originally introduced to her as ill； and in sorrow； had
given her manner towards him a sort of kindness which was very
gratifying。
And now he felt as if he was going back to a very dusky dusty world；
the last and blithest day of his holidays was past； and he must
return to the misapprehensions and injustice that had blighted his
school career； be kept beneath boys with half his ability； and
without generous feeling； and find all his attainments useless in
restoring his position。 Dr。 Hoxton's dull scholarship would chill
all pleasure in his studiesthere would be no companionship among
the boyseven his supporters； Ernescliffe and Larkins； were gone；
and Harry would leave him still under a cloud。
Norman felt it more as disgrace than he had done since the first； and
wished he had consented to quit the school when it had been offered
be made a man； instead of suffering these doubly irksome
provocations； which rose before him in renewed force。 〃And what
would that little humming…bird think of me if she knew me disgraced？〃
thought he。 〃But it is of no use to think of it。 I must go through
with it； and as I always am getting vain…glorious； I had better have
no opportunity。 I did not declare I renounced vain pomp and glory
last week； to begin coveting them now again。〃
So Norman repressed the sigh as he looked at the school buildings；
which never could give him the pleasures of memory they afforded to
others。
The brake had set out before the carriage； so that Meta had to come
in and wait for her governess。 Before the vehicle had disgorged half
its contents； Harry had rushed out to meet them。 〃Come in； come in；
Norman！ Only hear。 Margaret shall tell you herself！ Hurrah！〃
Is Mr。 Ernescliffe come？ crossed Ethel's mind； but Margaret was
alone； flushed； and holding out her hands。 〃Norman！ where is he？
Dear Norman； here is good news！ Papa； Dr。 Hoxton has been here； and
he knows all about itand oh！ Norman； he is very sorry for the
injustice； and you are dux again！〃
Norman really trembled so much that he could neither speak nor stand；
but sat down on the window…seat； while a confusion of tongues asked
more。
Dr。 Hoxton and Mr。 Larkins had come to callheard no one was at home
but Miss Mayhad； nevertheless； come inand Margaret had heard that
Mr。 Larkins； who had before intended to remove his son from
Stoneborough； had； in the course of the holidays； made discoveries
from him； which he could not feel justified in concealing from Dr。
Hoxton。
The whole of the transactions with Ballhatchet； and Norman's part in
them； had been explained； as well as the true history of the affray
in Randall's Alleyhow Norman had dispersed the boys； how they had
again collected； and； with the full concurrence of Harvey Anderson；
renewed the mischief； how the Andersons had refused to bear witness
in his favour； and how Ballhatchet's ill…will had kept back the
evidence which would have cleared him。
Little Larkins had told all； and his father had no scruple in
repeating it； and causing the investigation to be set on foot。 Nay；
he deemed that Norman's influence had saved his son； and came； as
anxious to thank him； as Dr。 Hoxton； warm…hearted； though
injudicious； was to repair his injustice。 They were much surprised
and struck by finding that Dr。 May had been aware of the truth the
whole time； and had patiently put up with the injustice； and the loss
of the scholarshipa loss which Dr。 Hoxton would have given anything
to repair； so as to have sent up a scholar likely to do him so much
credit； but it was now too late； and he had only been able to tell
Margaret how dismayed he was at finding out that the boy to whom all
the good order in his school was owing had been so ill…used。 Kind
Dr。 May's first feeling really seemed to be pity and sympathy for his
old friend； the head…master； in the shock of such a discovery。 Harry
was vociferously telling his version of the story to Ethel and Mary。
Tom stood transfixed in attention。 Meta； forgotten and bewildered；
was standing near Norman； whose colour rapidly varied； and whose
breath came short and quick as he listened。 A quick half
interrogation passed Meta's lips； heard by no one else。
〃It is only that it is all right；〃 he answered； scarcely audibly；
〃they have found out the truth。〃
〃What？who？you？〃 said Meta； as she heard words that implied the
past suspicion。
〃Yes；〃 said Norman； 〃I was suspected； but never at home。〃
〃And is it over now？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 he whispered huskily； 〃all is right； and Harry will not
leave me in disgrace。〃
Meta did not speak； but she held out her hand in hearty
congratulation； Norman； scarce knowing what he did； grasped and wrung
it so tight that it was positive pain； as he turned away his head to
the window to struggle with those irrepressible tears。 Meta's colour
flushed into her cheek as she found it still held； almost
unconsciously； perhaps； in his agitation； and she heard Margaret's
words； that both gentlemen had said Norman had acted nobly； and that
every revelation made in the course of their examination had only
more fully established his admirable conduct。
〃Oh； Norman； Norman； I am so glad！〃 cried Mary's voice in the first
pause； and； Margaret asking where he was； he suddenly turned round；
recollected himself； and found it was not the back of the chair that
he had been squeezing； blushed intensely； but made no attempt at
apology； for indeed he could not speakhe only leaned down over
Margaret； to receive her heartfelt embrace； and； as he stood up
again； his father laid his hand on his shoulder； 〃My boy； I am glad；〃
but the words were broken； and； as if neither could bear more； Norman
hastily left the room； Ethel rushing after him。
〃Quite overcome！〃 said the doctor； 〃and no wonder。 He felt it
cruelly； though he bore up gallantly。 Well； July？〃
〃I'll go down to school with him to…morrow； and see him dux again！
I'll have three…times…three！〃 shouted Harry； 〃hip！ hip！ hurrah！〃 and
Tom and Mary joined in chorus。
〃What is all this？〃 exclaimed Flora； o