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before post time。〃
〃You will tell him exactly how it was； or I shall；〃 said Ethel
abruptly； not to say fiercely。
〃Ho！ you don't trust me？〃 said Dr。 Spencer； smiling； so that she was
ashamed of her speech。 〃You shall speak for yourself； and I for
myself； and I shall say that nothing would so much hurt her as to
have others sacrificed to her。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Ethel； 〃but she misses papa。〃
〃Of course she does； but； depend on it； she would not have him leave
your sister； and she is under less restraint without him。〃
〃I never saw her like this！〃
〃The drop has made it overflow。 She has repressed more than was good
for her； and now that her guard is broken down； she gives way under
the whole weight。〃
〃Poor Margaret！ I am pertinacious； but； if she is not better by post
time； papa will not bear to be away。〃
〃I'll tell you what I think of her by that time。 Send up your
brother Richard； if you wish to do her good。 Richard would be a much
better person to write than yourself。 I perceive that he is the
reasonable member of the family。〃
〃Did not you know that before？〃
〃All I knew of him； till last night； was； that no one could； by any
possibility； call him Dick。〃
Dr。 Spencer was glad to have dismissed Ethel smiling； and she was the
better able to bear with poor Margaret's condition of petulance。 She
had never before experienced the effects of bodily ailments on the
temper； and she was slow to understand the change in one usually so
patient and submissive。 She was； by turns； displeased with her
sister and with her own abruptness； but； though she knew it not； her
bluntness had a bracing effect。 She thought she had been cross in
declaring it was nonsense to harp on her going to London； but it made
Margaret feel that she had been unreasonable； and keep silence。
Richard managed her much better； being gentle and firm； and less
ready to speak than Ethel； and he succeeded in composing her into a
sleep； which restored her balance； and so relieved Ethel； that she
not only allowed Dr。 Spencer to say what he pleased； but herself made
light of the whole attack； little knowing how perilous was any shock
to that delicate frame。
Margaret's whole purpose was to wind herself up for the first
interview with Flora； and though she had returned to her usual state；
she would not go downstairs on the evening the party were expected；
believing it would be more grateful to her sister's feelings to meet
her without witnesses。
The travellers arrived； and Dr。 May hurried up to her。 She barely
replied to his caresses and inquiries in her eagerness to hear of
Flora； and to convince him that he must not forbid the meeting。 Nor
had he any mind so to do。 〃Surely；〃 said he； when he had seen the
spiritualised look of her glistening blue eyes； the flush on her
transparent cheeks； and her hands clasped over her breast 〃surely
poor Flora must feel as though an angel were waiting to comfort her。〃
Flora came； but there was sore disappointment。 Fond and tender she
was as ever； but； neither by word or gesture； would she admit the
most remote allusion to her grief。 She withdrew her hand when
Margaret's pressure became expressive； she avoided her eye； and spoke
incessantly of different subjects。 All the time； her voice was low
and hollow； her face had a settled expression of wretchedness； and
her glances wandered drearily and restlessly anywhere but to
Margaret's face； but her steadiness of manner was beyond her sister's
power to break； and her visit was shortened on account of her
husband。 Poor George had quite given way at the sight of Gertrude；
whom his little girl had been thought to resemble； and； though Dr。
May had soothed him almost like a child； no one put any trust in his
self…control； and all sat round； fearing each word or look； till
Flora came downstairs； and they departed。
Richard and Ethel each offered to go with them； they could not bear
to think of their spending that first evening in their childless
home； but Flora gently； but decidedly； refused； and Dr。 May said
that； much as he wished to be with them； he believed that Flora
preferred having no one but Meta。 〃I hope I have done Margaret no
harm；〃 were Flora's last words to him； and they seemed to explain her
guarded manner； but he found Margaret weeping as she had never wept
for herself； and palpitation and faintness were the consequence。
Ethel looked on at Flora as a sad and perplexing mystery during the
weeks that ensued。 There were few opportunities of being alone
together； and Flora shrank from such as they werenay； she checked
all expression of solicitude； and made her very kisses rapid and
formal。
The sorrow that had fallen on the Grange seemed to have changed none
of the usual habits therevisiting； riding； driving； dinners； and
music； went on with little check。 Flora was sure to be found the
animated； attentive lady of the house； or else sharing her husband's
pursuits； helping him with his business； or assisting him in seeking
pleasure； spending whole afternoons at the coachmaker's over a
carriage that they were building； and； it was reported； playing
ecarte in the evening。
Had grief come to be forgotten and cast aside without effecting any
mission？ Yet Ethel could not believe that the presence of the awful
messenger was unfelt； when she heard poor George's heavy sigh； or
when she looked at Flora's countenance； and heard the peculiar low；
subdued tone of her voice； which； when her words were most cheerful；
always seemed to Ethel the resigned accent of despair。
Ethel could not talk her over with Margaret； for all seemed to make
it a point that Margaret should believe the best。 Dr。 May turned
from the subject with a sort of shuddering grief； and said； 〃Don't
talk of her； poor childonly pray for her！〃
Ethel； though shocked by the unwonted manner of his answer； was
somewhat consoled by perceiving that a double measure of tenderness
had sprung up between her father and his poor daughter。 If Flora had
seemed； in her girlhood； to rate him almost cheaply； this was at an
end now； she met him as if his embrace were peace； the gloom was
lightened； the attention less strained； when he was beside her； and
she could not part with him without pressing for a speedy meeting。
Yet she treated him with the same reserve； since that one ghastly
revelation of the secrets of her heart； the veil had been closely
drawn； and he could not guess whether it had been but a horrible
thought； or were still an abiding impression。 Ethel could gather no
more than that her father was very unhappy about Flora； and that
Richard understood why； for Richard had told her that he had written
to Flora； to try to persuade her to cease from this reserve； but that
he had no reply。
Norman was not at home； he had undertaken the tutorship of two
schoolboys for the holidays； and his father owned； with a sigh； that
he was doing wisely。
As to Meta； she was Ethel's chief consolation； by the redoubled
assurances； directed to Ethel's unexpressed dread； lest Flora should
be rejecting the chastening Hand。 Meta had the most absolute
certainty that Flora's apparent cheerfulness was all