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insufficient attention to his Confirmation candidates； by giving an
hour every day to Norman； Ethel； and Harry。 He could not lecture；
but he read with them； and his own earnestness was very impressive。
The two eldest felt deeply； but Harry often kept it in doubt； whether
he were not as yet too young and wild for permanent impressions； so
rapid were his transitions； and so overpowering his high spirits。
Not that these were objected to； but there was a feeling that there
might as well be moderation in all things； and that it would have
been satisfactory if； under present circumstances； he had been
somewhat more subdued and diligent。
〃There are your decimals not done yet； Harry。〃
For Harry； being somewhat deficient in arithmetic； had been
recommended to work in that line during his visit at homean
operation usually deferred； as at present； to the evening。
〃I am going to do my sums now； Flora；〃 said Harry； somewhat annoyed。
He really fetched his arithmetic； and his voice was soon heard asking
how he was ever to put an end to a sum that would turn to nothing but
everlasting threes。
〃What have you been doing； young ladies？〃 asked Dr。 May。 〃Did you
call on Miss Walkingham？〃
〃Flora and Blanche did；〃 said Ethel； 〃I thought you did not want me
to go； and I had not time。 Besides； a London grand young ladyoh！〃
and Ethel shook her head in disgust。
〃That is not the way you treat Meta Rivers。〃
〃Oh； Meta is different！ She has never been out！〃
〃I should have been glad for you to have seen Miss Walkingham；〃 said
her father。 Pretty manners are improving； besides； old Lady
Walkingham begged me to send my daughters。〃
〃I should not have seen her；〃 said Ethel； 〃for she was not well
enough to let us in。〃
〃Was it not pushing？〃 said Flora。 〃There were the Andersons leaving
their card！〃
〃Those Andersons！〃 exclaimed the doctor； 〃I am sick of the very
sound of the name。 As sure as my name is Dick May； I'll include it
in Margaret's book of fines。〃
Flora looked dignified。
〃They are always harping on that little trumpery girl's nonsense；〃
said Harry。 〃Aught； aught； eight； that is eight thousandths； eh；
Norman！ If it was about those two fellows； the boys〃
〃You would harp only on what affects you？〃 said the doctor。
〃No； I don't； men never do。 That is one hundred and twenty…fifth。〃
〃One man does it to an hundred and twenty…five women？〃 said Dr。 May。
〃It is rather a female defect； indeed；〃 said Margaret。
〃Defect！〃 said Flora。
〃Yes；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃since it is not only irksome to the hearers；
but leads to the breaking of the ninth commandment。〃
Many voices declared； in forms of varying severity； that it was
impossible to speak worse of the Andersons than they deserved。
〃Andersons again！〃 cried Dr。 May。 〃One； two； three； four； five； six
forfeits！〃
〃Papa himself； for he said the name；〃 saucily put in Blanche。
〃I think I should like the rule to be made in earnest；〃 said Ethel。
〃What！ in order to catch Flora's pence for Cocksmoor？〃 suggested
Harry。
〃No； but because it is malice。 I mean； that is； if there is dislike；
or a grudge in our hearts at themtalking for ever of nasty little
miserable irritations makes it worse。〃
〃Then why do you do it？〃 asked Flora。 〃I heard you only on Sunday
declaiming about Fanny Anderson。〃
〃Ha！〃 cried out all at once。 〃There goes Flora。〃
She looked intensely serious and innocent。
〃I know；〃 said Ethel。 〃It is the very reason I want the rule to be
made； just to stop us； for I am sure we must often say more than is
right。〃
〃Especially when we come to the pass of declaring that the ninth
commandment cannot be broken in regard to them；〃 observed the doctor。
〃Most likely they are saying much the same of us；〃 said Richard。
〃Or worse；〃 rejoined Dr。 May。 〃The injured never hates as much as
the injurer。〃
〃Now papa has said the severest thing of all！〃 whispered Ethel。
〃Proving the inexpedience of personalities；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃and in
good time enter the evening post。Why！ how now； Mr。 May； are you
gone mad？〃
〃Hallo！ why ho！ ha！ hurrah！〃 and up went Harry's book of decimals to
the ceiling； coming down upon a candle； which would have been
overturned on Ethel's work； if it had not been dexterously caught by
Richard。
〃Harry！〃 indignantly cried Ethel and Flora； 〃see what you have done；〃
and the doctor's voice called to order； but Harry could not heed。
〃Hear！ hear！ he has a fortune； an estate。〃
〃Who？ Tell usdon't be so absurd。 Who？〃
〃Who； Mr。 Ernescliffe。 Here is a letter from Hector。 Only listen：
〃'Did you know we had an old far…away English cousin； one Mr。
Halliday？ I hardly did； though Alan was named after him； and he
belonged to my mother。 He was a cross old fellow； and took no notice
of us； but within the last year or two； his nephew； or son； or
something； died； and now he is just dead； and the lawyer wrote to
tell Alan he is heir…at…law。 Mr。 Ernescliffe of Maplewood！ Does it
not sound well？ It is a beautiful great place in Shropshire； and
Alan and I mean to run off to see it as soon as he can have any time
on shore。'〃
Ethel could not help looking at Margaret； but was ashamed of her
impertinence； and coloured violently； whereas her sister did not
colour at all； and Norman； looking down； wondered whether Alan would
make the voyage。
〃Oh； of course he will； he must！〃 said Harry。 〃He would never give
up now。〃
Norman further wondered whether Hector would remain on the
Stoneborough foundation； and Mary hoped they should not lose him； but
there was no great readiness to talk over the event； and there soon
was a silence broken by Flora saying； 〃He is no such nobody； as
Louisa Anderson said； when we〃
Another shout； which caused Flora to take refuge in playing waltzes
for the rest of the evening。 Moreover； to the extreme satisfaction
of Mary； she left her crochet…needle on the floor at night。 While a
tumultuous party were pursuing her with it to claim the penny； and
Richard was conveying Margaret upstairs； Ethel found an opportunity
of asking her father if he were not very glad of Mr。 Ernescliffe's
good fortune。
〃Yes； very。 He is a good fellow； and will make a good use of it。〃
〃And now； papa； does it not makeYou won't say now you are sorry he
came here。〃
She had no answer but a sigh； and a look that made her blush for
having ventured so far。 She was so much persuaded that great events
must ensue； that； all the next day； she listened to every ring of the
bell； and when one at last was followed by a light； though； to her
ears； manly sounding tread； she looked up flushing with expectation。
Behold； she was disappointed。 〃Miss Walkingham〃 was announced； and
she rose surprised； for the lady in question had only come to
Stoneborough for a couple of days with an infirm mother； who； having
known Dr。 May in old times； had made it her especial request that he
would let her see his daughters。 She was to proceed on her journey
to…day； and the return of the visit had been by no means expected。
Flora went forward to receive her； wondering to see her so young
looking； and so unformed。 She held out her hand； with a red wrist；
and