as she placed them in the slender glasses and classic vases； but
Flora's discerning eyes perceived some mortification on the part of
the gentleman； and； on his departure； playfully reproached Meta for
ingratitude。
〃Did we not thank him？ I thought I did them all due honour； actually
using the Dresden bowl。〃
〃You little wretch！ quite insensible to the sentiment of the thing。〃
〃Sentiment！ One would think you had been reading about the language
of flowers！〃
〃Whatever there was； poor Sir Henry did not mean it for the Dresden
bowl or Bohemian glass。〃
〃Flora！ do pray tell me whether you are in fun？〃
〃You ridiculous child！〃 said Flora； kissing her earnest forehead；
ringing the bell； and gathering up her papers； as she walked out of
the room； and gave her notes to the servant。
〃What does she mean？ Is it play？ Oh； no； a hint would be far more
like her。 But I hope it is nonsense。 He is very kind and pleasant；
and I should not know what to do。〃
Instances of his complaisance towards herself rose before her； so as
to excite some warmth and gratitude。 Her lonely heart thrilled at
the idea of being again the best beloved； and her energetic spirit
bounded at the thought of being no longer condemned to a life of idle
ease。 Still it was too new a light to her to be readily accepted；
after she had looked on him so long； merely as a familiar of the
house； attentive to her； because she fell to his share； when Flora
was occupied。 She liked him； decidedly； she could possibly do more；
but she was far more inclined to dread； than to desire； any
disturbance of their present terms of intercourse。
〃However；〃 thought she； 〃I must see my way。 If he should have any
such thing in his head； to go on as we do now would be committing
myself； and I will not do that； unless I am sure it is right。 Oh；
papa； you would settle it for me！ But I will have it out with Flora。
She will find out what I cannothow far he is a man for whom one
ought to care。 I do not think Norman liked him； but then Norman has
so keen a sense of the world…touched。 I suppose I am that！ If any
other life did but seem appointed for me； but one cannot tell what is
thwarting providential leading； and if this be as good a man as
What would Ethel say？ If I could but talk to Dr。 May！ But Flora I
will catch； before I see him again； that I may know how to behave。〃
Catching Flora was not the easiest thing in the world； among her
multifarious occupations； but Meta was not the damsel to lose an
opportunity for want of decision。
Flora saw what was coming； and was annoyed with herself for having
given the alarm； but； after all； it must have come some time or
other； though she had rather that Meta had been more involved first。
It should be premised that Mrs。 Rivers had no notion of the degree of
attachment felt by her brother for Meta； she only knew that Lady
Leonora had a general distrust of her family； and she felt it a point
of honour to promote no dangerous meetings； and to encourage Sir
Henrya connection who would be most valuable； both as conferring
importance upon George in the county； and as being himself related to
persons of high influence； whose interest might push on her brothers。
Preferment for Richard； promotion for Harry； nay； diplomatic
appointments for Tom； came floating before her imagination； even
while she smiled at her Alnaschar visions。
But the tone of Meta； as she drew her almost forcibly into her room；
showed her that she had given a great shock to her basket。
〃Flora； if you would only give me a minute； and would tell me〃
〃What？〃 asked Flora； not inclined to spare her blushes。
〃Whether； whether you meant anything in earnest？〃
〃My dear little goose； did no one ever make an innocent joke in their
lives before？〃
〃It was very silly of me；〃 said Meta； 〃but you gave me a terrible
fright。〃
〃Was it so very terrible； poor little bird？〃 said Flora； in
commiseration。 〃Well then； you may safely think of him as a man tame
about the house。 It was much prettier of you not to appropriate the
flowers； as any other damsel would have done。〃
〃Do you really and truly think〃 began Meta； but； from the colour of
her cheek and the timid resolution of her tone； Flora thought it
safest not to hear the interrogation； and answered； 〃I know what he
comes here forit is only as a refuge from his mother's friend； old
Lady Drummond； who would give the world to catch him for her
daughtersthat's all。 Put my nonsense out of your head； and be
yourself； my sweet one。〃
Flora had never gone so near an untruth； as when she led Meta to
believe this was the sole reason。 But； after all； what did Flora
herself know to the contrary？
Meta recovered her ease； and Flora marked； as weeks passed on； that
she grew more accustomed to Sir Henry's attentions。 A little while；
and she would find herself so far bound by the encouragement she had
given； that she could not reject him。
〃My dear；〃 said George； 〃when do you think of going down to take the
baby to the Grange？ She looks dull； I think。〃
〃Really； I think it is hardly worth while to go down en masse；〃 said
Flora。 〃These last debates may be important； and it is a bad time to
quit one's post。 Don't you think so？〃
〃As you pleasethe train is a great bore。〃
〃And we will send the baby down the last day before we go to Ryde；
with Preston and Butts to take care of her。 We can't spare him to
take them down； till we shut up the house。 It is so much easier for
us to go to Portsmouth from hence。〃
The lurking conviction was that one confidential talk with Ethel
would cause the humming…bird to break the toils that were being wound
invisibly round her。 Ethel and her father knew nothing of the world；
and were so unreasonable in their requirements！ Meta would consult
them all； and all her scruples would awaken； and perhaps Dr。 Spencer
might be interrogated on Sir Henry's life abroad； where Flora had a
suspicion that gossip had best not be raked up。
Not that she concealed anything positively known to her； or that she
was not acting just as she would have done by her own child。 She
found herself happily married to one whom home notions would have
rejected； and she believed Meta would be perfectly happy with a man
of decided talent； honour； and unstained character； even though he
should not come up to her father's or Ethel's standard。
If Meta were to marry as they would approve； she would have far to
seek among 〃desirable connections。〃 Meantime； was not Flora acting
with exemplary judgment and self…denial？
So she wrote that she could not come home； Margaret was much
disappointed； and so was Meta； who had looked to Ethel to unravel the
tangles of her life。
〃No； no； little miss；〃 said Flora to herself； 〃you don't talk to
Ethel till your fate is irrevocable。 Why； if I had listened to her；
I should be thankful to be singing at Mrs。 Hoxton's parties at this
minute！ and； as for herself； look at Norman Ogilvie！ No； no； after
six weeks' yachtingmoonlight； sea； and sympathyI defy her to rob
Sir Henry of his prize！ And； with Meta lady of Cocksmoor； even Ethel
herself must be charmed！〃
CHAPTER XX。
We barter life for pottage； sell true bliss
For wealth or power； for pleasure or renown；
Thus； Esau…like； our Father's blessing miss；
Then wash with fruitless tears our faded crown。
Christian Year。
〃Papa； here is a message from Flora for you；〃 said Margaret； holding
up a letter； 〃she wants to know whom to consult about the baby。〃
〃Ha！ what's the matter？〃
Margaret read〃Will you ask papa whom I had better call in to see
the baby。 There does not seem to be anything positively amiss； but I
am not happy about her。 There is a sleepiness about her which I do
not understand； and； when roused； she is fretful； and will not be
amused。 There is a look in her eyes which I do not like； and I
should wish to have some advice for her。 Lady Leonora recommends
Mr。； but I always distrust people who are very much the rage； and I
shall send for no one without papa's advice。〃
〃Let me see！〃 said Dr。 May； startled； and holding out his hand for
the letter。 〃A look about the eyes！ I shall go up and see her
myself。 Why has not she brought her home？〃
〃It would have been far better；〃 said Margaret。
〃Sleepy and dull！ She was as lively a child when they took her away
as I ever saw。 What！ is there no more about her？ The letter is
crammed with somebody's fetevote of want of confidencedebate last
night。 What is she about？ She fancies she knows everything； and；
the fact is； she knows no more about infantsI could see that； when
the poor little thing was a day old！〃
〃Do you think there is cause for fear？〃 said Margaret anxiously。
〃I can't tell。 With a first child； one can't guess what may be
mamma's fancy； or what may be serious。 But Flora is not too
fanciful； and I must see her for my own satisfaction。 Let some one
write； and say I will come up to…morrow by the twelve o'clock train
and mind she opens the letter。〃
Dr。 May kept his word； and the letter had evidently not been
neglected； for George was watching for him at the station； and
thanked him so eagerly for coming； that Dr。 May feared that he was
indeed needed； and inquired anxiously。
〃Flora is uneasy about hershe seems heavy； and cries when she is
disturbed；〃 replied George。 〃Flora has not left her to…day； and
hardly yesterday。〃
〃Have you had no advice for her？〃
〃Flora preferred waiting till you should come。〃
Dr。 May made an impatient movement； and thought the way long； till
they were set down in Park Lane。 Meta came to meet them on the
stairs； and said that the baby was just the same； and Flora was in
the nursery； and thither they hastily ascended。
〃Oh； papa！ I am so glad you are come！〃 said Flora； starting up from
her low seat； beside the cradle。
Dr。 May hardly paused to embrace his daughter； and she anxiously led
him to the cradle； and tried to read his expression； as his eyes fell
on the little face； somewhat puffed； but of a waxy whiteness； and the
breathing seeming to come from the lips。
〃How long has she been so？〃 he asked； in a rapid； professional
m