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prevented us from assuming our post sooner。〃
They were at home by this time； and entering the hall； perceived that
the whole party were in the lawn。 The consolation of the children
for the departure of Hector and Tom； was a bowl of soap…suds and some
tobacco pipes； and they had collected the house to admire and assist；
even Margaret's couch being drawn close to the window。
Bubbles is one of the most fascinating of sports。 There is the soft
foamy mass； like driven snow； or like whipped cream。 Blanche bends
down to blow 〃a honeycomb；〃 holding the bowl of the pipe in the
water； at her gurgling blasts there slowly heaves upwards the pile of
larger； clearer bubbles； each reflecting the whole scene； and
sparkling with rainbow tints； until Aubrey ruthlessly dashes all into
fragments with his hand； and Mary pronounces it stiff enough； and
presents a pipe to little Daisy； who； drawing the liquid into her
mouth； throws it away with a grimace； and declares that she does not
like bubbles！ But Aubrey stands with swelled cheeks； gravely puffing
at the sealing…waxed extremity。 Out pours a confused assemblage of
froth； but the glassy globe slowly expands the little branching
veins； flowing down on either side； bearing an enlarging miniature of
the sky； the clouds； the tulip…tree。 Aubrey pauses to exclaim！ but
where is it？ Try again！ A proud bubble； as Mary calls it； a
peacock； in blended pink and green； is this transparent sphere；
reflecting and embellishing house； wall； and shrubs！ It is too
beautiful！ It is gone！ Mary undertakes to give a lesson； and blows
deliberately without the slightest result。 Again！ She waves her
disengaged hand in silent exultation as the airy balls detach
themselves； and float off on the summer breeze； with a tardy；
graceful； uncertain motion。 Daisy rushes after them； catches at
them； and looks at her empty fingers with a puzzled 〃All gone！〃 as
plainly expressed by Toby； who snaps at them； and shakes his head
with offended dignity at the shock of his meeting teeth； while the
kitten frisks after them； striking at them with her paw； amazed at
meeting vacancy。
Even the grave Norman is drawn in。 He agrees with Mary that bubbles
used to fly over the wall； and that one once went into Mrs。
Richardson's garret window； when her housemaid tried to catch it with
a pair of tongs； and then ran downstairs screaming that there was a
ghost in her room； but that was in Harry's time； the heroic age of
the May nursery。
He accepts a pipe； and his greater height raises it into a favourable
current of airthe glistening balloon sails off。 It flies； it
soars； no； it is coming down！ The children shout at it； as if to
drive it up； but it wilfully descendsthey rush beneath； they try to
waft it on high with their breaththere is a collision between Mary
and BlancheAubrey perceives a taste of soapy waterthe bubble is
no moreit is vanished in his open mouth！
Papa himself has taken a pipe； and the little ones are mounted on
chairs； to be on a level with their tall elders。 A painted globe is
swimming along； hesitating at first； but the dancing motion is
tending upwards； the rainbow tints glisten in the sunlightall rush
to assist it； if breath of the lips can uphold it； it should rise；
indeed！ Up！ above the wall！ over Mrs。 Richardson's elm； over the
topmost branchhurrah！ out of sight！ Margaret adds her voice to the
acclamations。 Beat that if you can； Mary！ That doubtful wind keeps
yours suspended in a graceful minuet； its pace is acceleratedbut
earthwards！ it has committed self…destruction by running foul of a
rose…bush。 A general blank！
〃You here； Ethel？〃 said Norman； as the elders laughed at each other's
baffled faces。
〃I am more surprised to find you here；〃 she answered。
〃Excitement！〃 said Norman； smiling； 〃one cause is as good as another
for it。〃
〃Very pretty sport；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃You should write a poem on it；
Norman。〃
〃It is an exhausted subject；〃 said Norman； 〃bubble and trouble are
too obvious a rhyme。〃
〃Ha！ there it goes！ It will be over the house！ That's right！〃
Every one joined in the outcry。
〃Whose is it？〃
〃Blanche's〃
〃Hurrah for Blanche！ Well done； white Mayflower； there！〃 said the
doctor； 〃that is what I meant。 See the applause gained by a proud
bubble that flies！ Don't we all bow down to it； and waft it up with
the whole force of our lungs； air as it is； and when it fairly goes
out of sight； is there any exhilaration or applause that surpasses
ours？〃
〃The whole world being bent on making painted bubbles fly over the
house；〃 said Norman； far more thoughtfully than his father。 〃It is a
fair pattern of life and fame。〃
〃I was thinking；〃 continued Dr。 May； 〃what was the most unalloyed
exultation I remember。〃
〃Harry's； when you were made dux；〃 whispered Ethel to her brother。
〃Not mine；〃 said Norman briefly。
〃I believe；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃I never knew such glorification as when
Aubrey Spencer climbed the poor old market…cross。 We all felt
ourselves made illustrious for ever in his person。〃
〃Nay； papa； when you got that gold medal must have been the grandest
time？〃 said Blanche； who had been listening。
Dr。 May laughed； and patted her。 〃I； Blanche？ Why； I was
excessively amazed； that is all； not in Norman's way； but I had been
doing next to nothing to the very last； then fell into an agony； and
worked like a horse； thinking myself sure of failure； and that my
mother and my uncle would break their hearts。〃
〃But when you heard that you had it？〃 persisted Blanche。
〃Why； then I found I must be a much cleverer fellow than I thought
for！〃 said he； laughing； 〃but I was ashamed of myself； and of the
authorities； for choosing such an idle dog； and vexed that other
plodding lads missed it； who deserved it more than I。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Norman； in a low voice； 〃that is what one always
feels。 I had rather blow soap…bubbles！〃
〃Where was Dr。 Spencer？〃 asked Ethel。
〃Not competing。 He had been ready a year before； and had gained it；
or I should have had no chance。 Poor Spencer！ what would I not give
to see him； or hear of him？〃
〃The last washow long ago？〃 said Ethel。
〃Six years； when he was setting off； to return from Poonshedagore；〃
said Dr。 May； sighing。 〃I gave him up； his health was broken； and
there was no one to look after him。 He was the sort of man to have a
nameless grave； and a name too blessed for fame。〃
Ethel would have asked further of her father's dear old friend； but
there were sounds； denoting an arrival； and Margaret beckoned to them
as Miss Rivers and her brother were ushered into the drawing…room；
and Blanche instantly fled away； with her basin； to hide herself in
the schoolroom。
Meta skipped out； and soon was established on the grass； an
attraction to all the live creatures； as it seemed； for the kitten
came； and was caressed till her own graceful Nipen was ready to fight
with the uncouth Toby for the possession of a resting…place on the
skirt of her habit； while Daisy nestled up to her； as claiming a
privilege； and Aubrey kept guard over the dogs。
Meta inquired after a huge dollDr。 Hoxton's gift to Daisy； at the
bazaar。
〃She