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but had been lamed by a fall downstairs； and had been obliged to come
home； just as scarcity of work had caused her father to leave his
native parish； and seek employment at other quarries。 She had hoped
to obtain plain work； but all the family were dismayed and
disappointed at the wild spot to which they had come； and anxiously
availed themselves of this introduction to beg that the elder boy and
girl might be admitted into the town school； distant as it was。 At
another time； the thought of Charity Elwood would have engrossed
Ethel's whole mind； now she could hardly attend； and kept looking
eagerly at Richard as he talked endlessly with the good mother。
When； at last； they did set off； he would not let her gallop home
like a steam…engine； but made her take his arm； when he found that
she could not otherwise moderate her steps。 At the long hill a
figure appeared； and； as soon as Richard was certified of its
identity； he let her fly； like a bolt from a crossbow； and she stood
by Dr。 May's side。
A little ashamed； she blushed instead of speaking； and waited for
Richard to come up and begin。 Neither did he say anything； and they
paused till； the silence disturbing her； she ventured a 〃Well； papa！〃
〃Well； poor things。 She was quite overcome when first I told her
said it would be hard on him； and begged me to tell him that he would
be much happier if he thought no more of her。〃
〃Did Margaret？〃 cried Ethel。 〃Oh！ could she mean it？〃
〃She thought she meant it； poor dear； and repeated such things again
and again； but when I asked whether I should send him away without
seeing her； she cried more than ever； and said； 〃You are tempting me！
It would be selfishness。〃
〃Oh； dear！ she surely has seen him！〃
〃I told her that I would be the last person to wish to tempt her to
selfishness； but that I did not think that either could be easy in
settling such a matter through a third person。〃
〃It would have been very unkind；〃 said Ethel； 〃I wonder she did not
think so。〃
〃She did at last。 I saw it could not be otherwise； and she said；
poor darling； that when he had seen her； he would know the
impossibility； but she was so agitated that I did not know how it
could be。〃
〃Has she？〃
〃Ay； I told him not to stay too long； and left him under the tulip…
tree with her。 I found her much more composedhe was so gentle and
considerate。 Ah！ he is the very man！ Besides； he has convinced her
now that affection brings him； not mere generosity； as she fancied。〃
〃Oh； then it is settled！〃 cried Ethel joyously。
〃I wish it were！ She has owned that ifif she were in healthbut
that is all； and he is transported with having gained so much！ Poor
fellow。 So far； I trust； it is better for them to know each other's
minds； but how it is to be〃
〃But； papa； you know Sir Matthew Fleet said she was sure to get well；
and in three years' time〃
〃Yes； yes； that is the best chance。 But it is a dreary lookout for
two young things。 That is in wiser hands； however！ If only I saw
what was right to do！ My miserable carelessness has undone you all！〃
he concluded； almost inaudibly。
It was indeed； to him； a time of great distress and perplexity；
wishing to act the part of father and mother both towards his
daughter； acutely feeling his want of calm decision； and torn to
pieces at once by sympathy with the lovers； and by delicacy that held
him back from seeming to bind the young man to an uncertain
engagement； above all； tortured by self…reproach for the commencement
of the attachment； and for the misfortune that had rendered its
prosperity doubtful。
Ethel could find no words of comfort in the bewildered glimpse at his
sorrow and agitation。 Richard spoke with calmness and good sense；
and his replies； though brief and commonplace； were not without
effect in lessening the excitement and despondency which the poor
doctor's present mood had been aggravating。
At the door； Dr。 May asked for Flora； and Ethel explained。 If Flora
had obtruded herself； he would have been irritated； but； as it was；
he had no time to observe the disobedience； and saying that he hoped
she was with Margaret； sent Ethel into the drawing…room。
Flora was not there； only Margaret lay on her sofa； and Ethel
hesitated； shy； curious； and alarmed； but； as she approached； she was
relieved to see the blue eyes more serene even than usual； while a
glow of colour spread over her face； making her like the blooming
Margaret of old times； her expression was full of peace； but became
somewhat amused at Ethel's timid； awkward pauses； as she held out her
hands； and said； 〃Come； dear Ethel。〃
〃Oh； Margaret； Margaret！〃
And Ethel was drawn into her sister's bosom。 Presently she drew
back； gazed at her sister inquiringly； and said in an odd； doubtful
voice； 〃Then you are glad？〃
Margaret nearly laughed at the strange manner； but spoke with a
sorrowful tone； 〃Glad in one way； dearest； almost too glad； and
grateful。〃
〃Oh； I am so glad！〃 again said Ethel； 〃I thought it was making
everybody unhappy。〃
〃I don't believe I could be that； now he has come； now I know；〃 and
her voice trembled。 〃There must be doubt and uncertainty；〃 she
added； 〃but I cannot dwell on them just yet。 They will settle what
is right； I know； and； happen what may； I have always this to
remember。〃
〃Oh； that is right！ Papa will be so relieved！ He was afraid it had
only been distress。〃
〃Poor papa！ Yes； I did not command myself at first； I was not sure
whether it was right to see him at all。〃
〃Oh； Margaret； that was too bad！〃
〃It did not seem right to encourage any suchsuch；〃 the word was
lost； 〃to such a poor helpless thing as I am。 I did not know what to
do； and I am afraid I behaved like a silly child； and did not think
of dear papa's feelings。 But I will try to be good； and leave it all
to them。〃
〃And you are going to be happy？〃 said Ethel wistfully。
〃For the present； at least。 I cannot help it；〃 said Margaret。 〃Oh；
he is so kind； and so unselfish； and so beautifully gentleand to
think of his still caring！ But there； dear Ethel； I am not going to
cry； do call papa； or he will think me foolish again。 I want him to
be quite at ease about me before he comes。〃
〃Then he is coming？〃
〃Yes； at tea…timeso run； dear Ethel； and tell Jane to get his room
ready。〃
The message quickened Ethel； and after giving it； and reporting
consolingly to her father； she went up to Flora； who had been a
voluntary prisoner upstairs all this time； and was not peculiarly
gratified at such tidings coming only through the medium of Ethel。
She had before been sensible that； superior in discretion and
effectiveness as she was acknowledged to be； she did not share so
much of the confidence and sympathy as some of the others； and she
felt mortified and injured； though in this case it was entirely her
own fault。 The sense of alienation grew upon her。
She dressed quickly； and hurried down； that she might see Margaret
alone； but the room was already prepared for tea； and the children
were fast assembling。 Ethel came down a few minutes after； and found
Blanche claiming Alan Ernescliffe as her lawful property； dancing
round him； chattering； and looking injured if he addressed a word to
any one else。
How did lovers look？ was a speculation which had； more than once；
occupied Ethel； and when she had satisfied herself that her father
was at ease； she began to study it； as soon as a shamefaced
consciousness would allow her； after Alan's warm shake of the hand。
Margaret looked much as usual； only with more glow and brightness
Mr。 Ernescliffe； not far otherwise； he was as pale and slight as on
his last visit； with the same soft blue eyes； capable； however； of a
peculiar； keen； steady glance when he was listening； and which now
seemed to be attending to Margaret's every word or look； through all
the delighted uproar which Aubrey； Blanche； and Mary kept up round
him； or while taking his share in the general conversation； telling
of Harry's popularity and good conduct on board the Alcestis； or
listening to the history of Norman's school adventures； which he had
heard； in part； from Harry； and how young Jennings was entered in the
flag…ship； as a boy； though not yet to sail with his father。
After the storm of the day the sky seemed quite clear； and Ethel
could not see that being lovers made much difference； to be sure papa
displeased Blanche； by calling her away to his side； when she would
squeeze her chair in between Alan's and the sofa； and Alan took all
the waiting on Margaret exclusively to himself。 Otherwise； there was
nothing remarkable； and he was very much the same Mr。 Ernescliffe
whom they had received a year ago。
In truth； the next ten days were very happy。 The future was left to
rest； and Alan spent his mornings in the drawing…room alone with
Margaret； and looked ever more brightly placid； while； with the rest；
he was more than the former kind playfellow； for he now took his
place as the affectionate elder brother； entering warmly into all
their schemes and pleasures； and winning for himself a full measure
of affection from all； even his little god…daughter began to know
him； and smil