some vague idea of fatality； and they all came back to the house；
where Margaret was ready； in the drawing…room； to receive them；
looking very pretty； in her soft blue dress； which especially became
her fair complexion and light brown hair。 Ethel did not quite like
the pink colour on her cheeks； and feared that she had been shaken by
Flora's agitation in the morning； but she was very calm and bright；
in the affectionate greeting with which she held out her hands to the
bride and bridegroom； as they came in。
Mr。 Rivers and Meta were the only guests； and； while Meta was seized
by the children； Margaret lay talking to Mr。 Rivers； George standing
upright and silent behind her sofa； like a sentinel。 Flora was gone
to change her dress； not giving way； but nervous and hurried； as she
reiterated parting directions about household comforts to Ethel； who
stood by the toilette…table； sticking a pin into the pincushion and
drawing it out again； as if solely intent on making it always fit
into the same hole； while Mary dressed Flora； packed； flew about； and
was useful。
As they came downstairs； Ethel found that Flora was trembling from
head to foot； and leaning on her； Dr。 May stood at the foot of the
stairs； and folded his daughter in a long embrace； Flora gave herself
up to it as if she would never bear to leave it。 Did a flash come
over her then； what the father was； whom she had held cheaply？ what
was the worth of that for which she had exchanged such a home？ She
spoke not a word； she only clung tightlyif her heart failed herit
was too late。 〃Bless you！ my child！〃 he said at last。 〃Only be what
your mother was！〃
A coming tread warned them to part。 There was a tray of luncheon for
the two who were about to depart； and the great snow…white cake was
waiting for Flora to cut it。 She smiled； accomplished that feat
steadily； and Norman continuing the operation； Aubrey guided Gertrude
in handing round the slices。 George did full justice thereto； as
well as to the more solid viands。 Flora could taste nothing； but she
contrived to smile and say it was too early。 She was in haste to
have it over now； and； as soon as George had finished； she rose up；
still composed and resolved； the last kisses were givenGertrude was
lifted up to her； after she was in the carriage for the very last；
when George proposed to run away with her also； whereupon Daisy
kicked and screamed； and was taken back in haste。 The door was shut；
and they drove off； bound for the Continent； and then Mary； as if the
contingency of losing Flora had only for the first time occurred to
her as the consequence of the wedding； broke out into a piteous fit
of sobbingrather too unrestrained； considering her fourteen years。
Poor Mary； she was a very child still！ They pulled her into the
study； out of the way of Mr。 Rivers； and Meta had no sooner said how
Flora would soon come home and live at the Grange； and talked of the
grand school…feast to which she was at once going to take her
friends； than the round rosy face drew out of its melancholy puckers
into smiles； as Mary began to tell the delight caused by the
invitations which she had conveyed。 That was to be a feast indeed
all the Abbotstoke childrenall Flora's class at Stoneborough； and
as many Cocksmoor scholars as could walk so far； were to dine on
Christmas fare； at one o'clock； at the Grange； and Meta was in haste
to be at home to superintend the feast。
Mary； Blanche； and Aubrey； went with her； under the keeping of Miss
Bracy； the boys were to follow。 She had hoped for Ethel； but on
looking at her； ceased her coaxing importunity。
〃I see；〃 she said kindly； 〃even schoolchildren will not be so good
for you as peace。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Ethel； 〃I should like to be quiet till the evening；
if you will let me off。 It is very kind in you。〃
〃I ought to know how to pity you；〃 said Meta； 〃I who have gained what
you have lost。〃
〃I want to think too；〃 said Ethel。 〃It is the beginning to me of a
new life； and I have not been able to look at it yet。〃
〃Besides； Margaret will want you。 Poor Margarethas it been very
trying to her？〃
〃I fear so； but I shall keep out of her way； and leave her to a quiet
afternoon with Richard。 It will be the greatest treat to those two
to be together。〃
〃Very well； I will carry off the children； and leave the house
quiet。〃
And quiet it was in another hourGertrude walking with the nurses；
Dr。 May gone to his patients； and all the rest at Abbotstoke； except
Richard and Margaret downstairs； and Ethel； who； while arranging her
properties in her new room； had full leisure to lay out before
herself the duties that had devolved on her and to grapple with them。
She recalled the many counsels that she had received from Flora； and
they sounded so bewildering that she wished it had been Conic
sections； and then she looked at a Hebrew grammar that Norman had
given her； and gave a sigh as she slipped it into the shelf of the
seldom used。 She looked about the room； cleared out the last piece
of brown paper； and burned the last torn envelope； that no relic of
packing and change might distress Margaret's eyes for order； then
feeling at once desolate and intrusive； she sat down in Flora's
fireside chair； opened her desk； and took out her last time…table。
She looked at it for some minutes； laid it aside； and rising； knelt
down。 Again seating herself； she resumed her paper； took a blank
one； ruled it； and wrote her rules for each hour of each day in the
week。 That first hour after breakfast； when hitherto she had been
free； was one sacrifice； it must go now； to ordering dinner； seeing
after stores； watching over the children's clothes； and the other
nondescripts； which； happily for her； Flora had already reduced to
method。 The other loss was the spare time between the walk and tea；
she must not spend that in her own room now； or there would be no one
to sit with Margaret； or keep the little ones from being troublesome
to her。 Ethel had often had to give up this space before； when Flora
went out in the evening； and she had seldom felt otherwise than
annoyed。 Give it up for good！ that was the cure for temper； but it
had been valuable as something of her own。 She would have been
thankful could she have hoped to keep regularly to her own rules； but
that she knew was utterly improbableboys； holidays； callers；
engagements； Dr。 May； would all conspire to turn half her days upside
down； and Cocksmoor itself must often depend not only on the weather；
but on home doings。 Two or three notes she wrote at the foot of her
paper。
'N。 B。 These are a standardnot a bed of Procrustes。
MUSTSTo be first consulted。Mayslast。 Ethel May's
last of all。
If I cannot do everythingomit the self…chosen。
MEM Neither hurry when it depends on myself；
nor fidget when it depends on others。
Keep a book going to pacify myself。'
Her rules drawn up； Ethel knelt once more。 Then she drew a long
sigh； and wondered where Flora was； and next； as she was fairly
fagged； mind and body； she threw herself back in the armchair； took
up a railway novel that Hector had brought home； and which they had
hidden from the children； and repaired herself with the luxury of an
idle reading。
Margaret and Richard likewise spent a peaceful； though pensive
afternoon。 Margaret had portions of letters from Alan to read to
him； and a consultation to hold。 The hope of her full recovery had
so melted away； that she had； in every letter； striven to prepare Mr。
Ernescliffe for the disappointment； and each that she received in
return was so sanguine and affectionate； that the very fondness was
as much grief as joy。 She could not believe that he took in the true
state of the case； or was prepared to perceive that she could never
be his wife； and she wanted Richard to write one of his clear；
dispassionate statements； such as carried full conviction； and to
help to put a final end to the engagement。
〃But why；〃 said Richard〃why should you wish to distress him？〃
〃Because I cannot bear that he should be deceived； and should feed on
false hopes。 Do you think it right； Richard？〃
〃I will write to him； if you like；〃 said Richard； 〃but I think he
must pretty well know the truth from all the letters to Harry and to
himself。〃
〃It would be so much better for him to settle his mind at once；〃 said
Margaret。
〃Perhaps he would not think so〃
There was a pause； while Margaret saw that her brother was thinking。
At last he said； 〃Margaret； will you pardon me？ I do think that this
is a little restlessness。 The truth has not been kept from him； and
I do not see that we are called to force it on him。 He is sensible
and reasonable； and will know how to judge when he comes home。〃
〃It was to try to save him the pang；〃 murmured Margaret。
〃Yes； but it will be worse far away than near。 I do not mean that we
should conceal the fact； but you have no right to give him up before
he comes home。 The whole engagement was for the time of his voyage。〃
〃Then you think I ought not to break it off before his return？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃It will be pain sparedunless it should be worse by and by。〃
〃I do not suppose we ought to look to by and by；〃 said Richard。
〃How so？〃
〃Do the clearly right thing for the present； I mean；〃 he said；
〃without anxiety for the rest。 How do weany of usknow what may
be the case in another year？〃
〃Do not flatter me with hopes；〃 said Margaret； sadly smiling； 〃I have
had too many of them。〃
〃No；〃 said Richard； 〃I do not think you will ever get well。 But so
much may happen〃
〃I had rather have my mind made up once for all； and resign myself；〃
said Margaret。
〃His will is sometimes that we should be uncertain；〃 said Richard。
〃And that is the most trying；〃 said Margaret。
〃Just so〃 and he paused tenderly。
〃I feel how much has been right；〃 said Margaret。 〃This wedding has
brought my real character before me。 I feel what I should have been。
You have no notion how excited and elated I can get about a little
bit of dress out of the common way for myself or others；〃 said she；
smiling； 〃and then all the external show and things belonging