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over them；〃 said Meta Rivers。
Margaret received the reports of the select few； who visited her
upstairs； where she was kept quiet； and only heard the hum of the
swarm； whom Dr。 May； in vehement hospitality； had brought home to
luncheon； to Ethel's great dread； lest there should not be enough for
them to eat。
Margaret pitied her sisters； but heard that all was going well； that
Flora was taking care of the elders； and Harry and Mary were making
the younger fry very merry at the table on the lawn。 Dr。 May had to
start early to see a sick gardener at Drydale before coming on to
Cocksmoor； and came up to give his daughter a few minutes。
〃We get on famously；〃 he said。 〃Ethel does well when she is in for
it； like Norman。 I had no notion what was in the lad。 They are
perfectly amazed with his speech。 It seems hard to give such as he
is up to those outlandish places； but there； his speech should have
taught me betterone's bestand； now and then； he seems my best。〃
〃One comfort is；〃 said Margaret； smiling； you would miss Ethel more。〃
〃Gallant old King！ I am glad she has had her wish。 Good…bye； my
Margaret； we will think of you。 I wish〃
〃I am very happy；〃 was Margaret's gentle reassurance。 〃The dear
little Daisy looks just as her godfather imagined her；〃 and happy was
her face when her father quitted her。
Margaret's next visitor was Meta； who came to reclaim her bonnet；
and； with a merry smile； to leave word that she was walking on to
Cocksmoor。 Margaret remonstrated on the heat。
〃Let me alone；〃 said she； making her pretty wilful gesture。 〃Ethel
and Mary ought to have a lift； and I have had no walking to…day。〃
〃My dear； you don't know how far it is。 You can't go alone。〃
〃I am lying in wait for Miss Bracy； or something innocent；〃 said
Meta。 〃In good timehere comes Tom。〃
Tom entered； declaring that he had come to escape from the clack
downstairs。
〃I'll promise not to clack if you will be so kind as to take care of
me to Cocksmoor；〃 said Meta。
〃Do you intend to walk？〃
〃If you will let me be your companion。〃
〃I shall be most happy；〃 said Tom； colouring with gratification； such
as he might not have felt； had he known that he was chosen for his
innocence。
He took a passing glimpse at his neck…tie； screwed up the nap of his
glossy hat to the perfection of its central point； armed himself with
a knowing little stick； and hurried his fair companion out by the
back door； as much afraid of losing the glory of being her sole
protector as she was of falling in with an escort of as much
consequence； in other eyes； as was Mr。 Thomas in his own。
She knew him less than any of the rest； and her first amusement was
keeping silence to punish him for complaining of clack； but he
explained that he did not mean quiet； sensible conversationhe only
referred to those foolish women's raptures over the gabble they had
been hearing at the Town Hall。
She exclaimed； whereupon he began to criticise the speakers with a
good deal of acuteness； exposing the weak points； but magnanimously
owning that it was tolerable for the style of thing； and might go
down at Stoneborough。
〃I wonder you did not stay away as Harry did。〃
〃I thought it would be marked；〃 observed the thread…paper Tom； as if
he had been at least county member。
〃You did quite right；〃 said Meta； really thinking so。
〃I wished to hear Dr。 Spencer； too；〃 said Tom。 〃There is a man who
does know how to speak！ He has seen something of the world； and
knows what he is talking of。〃
〃But he did not come near Norman。〃
〃I hated listening to Norman；〃 said Tom。 〃Why should he go and set
his heart on those black savages？〃
〃They are not savages in New Zealand。〃
〃They are all niggers together；〃 said Tom vehemently。 〃I cannot
think why Norman should care for them more than for his own brothers
and sisters。 All I know is； that if I were my father； I would never
give my consent。〃
〃It is lucky you are not；〃 said Meta； smiling defiance； though a tear
shone in her eye。 〃Dr。 May makes the sacrifice with a free heart and
willing mind。〃
〃Everybody goes and sacrifices somebody else；〃 grumbled Tom。
〃Who are the victims now？〃
〃All of us。 What are we to do without Norman？ He is worth all of us
put together； and I〃 Meta was drawn to the boy as she had never
been before； as he broke off short； his face full of emotion； that
made him remind her of his father。
〃You might go out and follow in his steps；〃 said she； as the most
consoling hope she could suggest。
〃Not I。 Don't you know what is to happen to me？ Ah！ Flora has not
told you。 I thought she would not think it grand enough。 She talked
about diplomacy〃
〃But what？〃 asked Meta anxiously。
〃Only that I am to stick to the old shop；〃 said Tom。 〃Don't tell any
one； I would not have the fellows know it。〃
〃Do you mean your father's profession？〃
〃Ay！〃
〃Oh； Tom！ you don't talk of that as if you despised it？〃
〃If it is good enough for him； it is good enough for me； I suppose；〃
said Tom。 〃I hate everything when I think of my brothers going over
the world； while I； do what I will； must be tied down to this slow
place all the rest of my days。〃
〃If you were away； you would be longing after it。〃
〃Yes； but I can't get away。〃
〃Surely； if the notion is so unpleasant to you； Dr。 May would never
insist？〃
〃It is my free choice； and that's the worst of it。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
〃Don't you see？ Norman told me it would be a great relief to him if
I would turn my mind that wayand I can't go against Norman。 I
found he thought he must if I did not； and； you know； he is fit for
all sorts of things that Besides； he has a squeamishness about him；
that makes him turn white； if one does but cut one's finger； and how
he would ever go through the hospitals〃
Meta suspected that Tom was inclined to launch into horrors。 〃So you
wanted to spare him；〃 she said。
〃Ay！ and papa was so pleased by my offering that I can't say a word
of the bore it is。 If I were to back out； it would come upon Aubrey；
and he is weakly； and so young； that he could not help my father for
many years。〃
Meta was much struck at the motives that actuated the self…sacrifice；
veiled by the sullen manner which she almost began to respect。 〃What
is done for such reasons must make you happy；〃 she said； 〃though
there may be much that is disagreeable。〃
〃Not the study；〃 said Tom。 〃The science is famous work。 I like what
I see of it in my father's books； and there's a splendid skeleton at
the hospital that I long to be at。 If it were not for Stoneborough；
it would be all very well； but； if I should get on ever so well at
the examinations； it all ends there！ I must come back； and go racing
about this miserable circuit； just like your gold pheasant rampaging
in his cage； seeing the same stupid people all my days。〃
〃I think；〃 said Meta； in a low； heartfelt voice； 〃it is a noble；
beautiful thing to curb down your ambition for such causes。 Tom； I
like you for it。〃
The glance of those beautiful eyes was worth having。 Tom coloured a
little； but assumed his usual gruffness。 〃I can't bear sick people；〃
he said。
〃It h