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to that。 That's one comfort。〃
〃That is your own case； Ethel。 I have heard those very things said
of you。〃
〃Of my hatchet face！〃 said Ethel contemptuously。 〃Some one must have
been desperately bent on flattering the Member's family。〃
〃I could repeat more；〃 said Meta； 〃if I were to go back to the
Commemoration； and to the day you went home。〃
Ethel crimsoned； and made a sign with her hand； exclaiming； 〃Hark！〃
〃It went past。〃
〃It was the omnibus。 She must be walking down！〃 Ethel breathed
short； and wandered aimlessly about； Meta put her arm round her
waist。
〃I did not think this would be so much to you；〃 she said。
〃Oh； Meta； it seems like dear mamma coming to see how we have been
going on。 And then papa！ I wish I had gone up to the station with
him。〃
〃He has Richard。〃
〃Ay； but I am afraid Margaret is listening and will be restless； and
have a palpitation； and I can't go and see； or I shall disturb her。
Oh； I wish it were over。〃
Meta stroked her； and soothed her； and assured her that all would do
well； and presently they heard the click of the door。 Ethel flew
into the hall； where she stopped short； her heart beating high at the
sound of overpoweringly familiar accents。
She was almost relieved by detecting otherwise little resemblance；
the height was nearly the same； but there was not the plump softness
of outline。 Mrs。 Arnott was small； thin； brisk and active； with a
vivacious countenance； once evidently very fair and pretty； but aged
and worn by toil； not trouble； for the furrows were the traces of
smiles around her merry mouth； and beautiful blue eyes； that had a
tendency lo laugh and cry both at once。 Dr。 May who had led her into
the light； seemed to be looking her all over； while Richard was
taking the wraps from her； and Ethel tried to encourage herself to go
forward。
〃Ay！〃 said the doctor； kissing her。 〃I see you； Flora； now。 I have
found you again。〃
〃I found you as soon as I heard your voice； Richard；〃 said she。 〃And
now for the bairnies。〃
〃Here is one； but there is but a poor show forthcoming to…night。 Do
you know her？〃
There was an unspeakable joy in being pressed in Aunt Flora's arms；
like a returning beam from the sunshine of seven years ago。
〃This must be Ethel！ My dear； how you tower above meyou that I
left in arms！ And；〃 as she advanced into the drawing…room〃why；
surely this is not Margaret！〃
〃A Margaretnot the Margaret。 I wish I were；〃 said Meta； as Mrs。
Arnott stood with an arm on her shoulder； in the midst of an embrace；
Dr。 May enjoying her perplexity and Meta's blushes。 〃See； Flora；
these black locks never belonged to Calton Hill daisies； yet a daisy
of my own she is。 Can't you guess？〃
〃Miss Rivers！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Arnott； and though she kissed her
cordially； Meta suspected a little doubt and disappointment。
〃Yes；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃We change Mary for this little woman as
Flora's lady…in…waiting； when she and her husband go out yachting and
shooling。〃
〃Flora and her husband！ There's a marvellous sound！ Where are
they？〃
〃They are staying at Eccleswood Castle；〃 said Ethel； 〃and Mary with
them。 They would have been at home to receive you； but your note
yesterday took us all by surprise。 Norman is away too； at a college
meeting。〃
〃And Margaretmy Margaret！ Does not she come downstairs？〃
〃Ah！ poor dear；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃she has not been in this room since
that sultry day in July。〃
〃The eighteenth；〃 said Richard； the precision of the date marking but
too well the consciousness that it was an epoch。
〃We can keep her quieter upstairs；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃but you must not
see her to…night。 She will enjoy you very much to…morrow； but
excitement at night always does her harm； so we put her to bed； and
told her to think about no one。〃
Mrs。 Arnott looked at him as if longing； but dreading； to ask
further； and allowed her nephew and niece to seat her at the table；
and attend to her wants； before she spoke again。 〃Then the babies。〃
〃We don't keep babies； Gertrude would tell you；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃There are three great creatures； whom Ethel barbarously ordered off
to bed。 Ethel is master here； you must know； Florawe all mind what
she says。〃
〃Oh； papa；〃 pleaded Ethel； distressed； 〃you know it was because I
thought numbers might be oppressive。〃
〃I never dispute；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃We bow to a beneficial despotism；
and never rebel； do we； Meta？〃
Seeing that Ethel took the imputation to heart； Meta rejoined； 〃You
are making Mrs。 Arnott think her the strong…minded woman of the
family； who winds up the clock and cuts the bread。〃
〃No； that she makes you do； when the boys are away。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Ethel； 〃I can't be vituperated about hunches of
bread。 I have quite enough to bear on the score of tea。〃
〃Your tea is very good；〃 said Richard。
〃See how they propitiate her；〃 maliciously observed the doctor。
〃Not at all； it is Richard standing up for his pupil；〃 said Ethel。
〃It is all very well now； with people who know the capacities of
mortal tea； but the boys expect it to last from seven o'clock to ten；
through an unlimited number of cups； till I have announced that a
teapot must be carved on my tombstone； with an epitaph； 'Died of
unreasonable requirements。'〃
Mrs。 Arnott looked from one to the other； amused； observant； and
perceiving that they were all under that form of shyness which brings
up family wit to hide embarrassment or emotion。
〃Is Harry one of these unreasonable boys？〃 she asked。 〃My dear
HarryI presume Ethel has not sent him to bed。 Is there any hope of
my seeing him？〃
〃Great hope；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃He has been in the Baltic fleet； a
pretty little summer trip； from which we expect him to return any
day。 My old Lion！ I am glad you had him for a little while； Flora。
〃Dear fellow！ his only fault was being homesick； and making me catch
the infection。〃
〃I am glad you did not put off your coming；〃 said Dr。 May gravely。
〃You are in time for the consecration；〃 said Richard。
〃Ah！ Cocksmoor！ When will it take place？〃
〃On St。 Andrew's Day。 It is St。 Andrew's Church； and the bishop
fixed the day； otherwise it is a disappointment that Hector cannot be
present。〃
〃Hector？〃
〃Hector Ernescliffepoor Alan's brother； whom we don't well know
from ourselves。〃
〃And you are curate； Ritchie？〃 said his aunt〃if I may still call
you so。 You are not a bit altered from the mouse you used to be。〃
〃Church mouse to Cocksmoor；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃nearly as poor。 We are
to invest his patrimony in a parsonage as soon as our architect in
ordinary can find time for it。 Spenceryou remember him？〃
〃I remember how you and he used to be inseparable！ And he has
settled down； at last； by your side？〃
〃The two old doctors hope to bolster each other up till Mr。 Tom comes
down with modern science in full force。 That boy will do great
thingshe has as clear a head as I ever knew。〃
〃And more〃 said Ethel。
〃Ay； as sound a heart。 I must find you his tutor's letter； Flora。
They have had a row in his tutor's house at Eton； and our boys made a
gallant stand for the right； Tom especially； guarding the little
fellows in a way that doe