Flora forced herself into being very friendly to Sir Henry；
commiserating the disappointment to which she had led him； and she
hoped that he suspected the state of affairs； though Tom； no longer
supplanted by his elder brother； pursued Meta into the sheltered
nook； where Flora had favoured her seclusion； to apologise for having
left her to the guidance of poor Norman； whose head was with the
blackamoors。 It was all Harry's fault。
〃Nonsense； Tom；〃 said Harry； 〃don't you think Norman is better
company than you any day？〃
〃Then why did you not walk him off instead of me？〃 said Tom； turning
round sharply。
〃Out of consideration for Meta。 She will tell you that she was very
much obliged to me〃
Harry checked himself； for Meta was colouring so painfully that his
own sunburned face caught the glow。 He pushed Tom's slight figure
aside with a commanding move of his broad hand； and said； 〃I beg your
pardon； upon my word； though I don't know what for。〃
〃Nor I；〃 said Meta； rallying herself； and smiling。 〃You have no
pardon to beg。 You will know it all to…morrow。〃
〃Then I know it now；〃 said Harry； sheltering his face by leaning over
the back of a chair； and taming the hearty gaiety of his voice。
〃Well done； Meta； there's nothing like old June in all the world！
You may take my word for it； and I knew you would have the sense to
find it out。〃
They were well out of sight； and Meta only answered by a good tight
squeeze of his kind hand between both her own。 Tom； suddenly
recovering from his displeasure at being thrust aside； whisked round；
dropped on a footstool before Meta； locked up in her face； and said；
〃Hallo！〃 in such utter amazement that there was nothing for it but to
laugh more uncontrollably than was convenient。 〃Come along； Tom；〃
said Harry； pulling him up by force； 〃she does not want any of your
nonsense。 We will not plague her now。〃
〃Thank you； Harry；〃 said Meta。 〃I cannot talk rationally just yet。
Don't think me unkind； Tom。〃
Tom sat in a sort of trance all the rest of the evening。
Lord Cosham talked to Norman； who felt as if he were being patronised
on false pretences； drew into his shell； and displayed none of his
〃first…rate abilities。〃
Dr。 Spencer discussed his architecture with the archdeacon； but his
black eyes roamed heedfully after the young gentleman and lady； in
the opposite corners of the room； and； as he drove home afterwards
with the youths； he hummed scraps of Scottish songs； and indulged in
silent smiles。
Those at home had been far more demonstrative。 Dr。 May had arrived；
declaring himself the proudest doctor in her Majesty's dominions； and
Ethel needed nothing but his face to explain why； and tell her that
dear old June's troubles were over； and their pretty little Meta was
their owna joy little looked for to attend their foundation…stone。
The dreaded conference with Lord Cosham had proved highly gratifying。
There might be something in the fact that he could not help it； which
assisted in his ready acquiescence； but he was also a sensible right…
minded man； who thought that the largeness of Meta's fortune was no
reason that it should be doubled； considered that； in the matter of
connection； the May family had the advantage； and saw in Norman； a
young man whom any one might have pleasure in bringing forward。
Oxford had established confidence both in his character and talents；
and his speech had been such as to impress an experienced man； like
Lord Cosham； with an opinion of his powers； that prepared a welcome
for him； such as no one could have dared to expect。 His lordship
thought his niece not only likely to be happier； but to occupy a more
distinguished position with such a man as Norman May； than with most
persons of ready…made rank and fortune。
The blushing and delighted Dr。 May had thought himself bound to speak
of his son's designs； but he allowed that the project had been formed
under great distress of mind； and when he saw it treated by so good a
man； as a mere form of disappointed love； he felt himself reprieved
from the hardest sacrifice that he had ever been called on to make；
loved little Meta the better for restoring his son； and once more
gave a free course to the aspirations that Norman's brilliant boyhood
had inspired。 Richard took the same view； and the evening passed
away in an argumentas if any one had been disputing with themthe
father reasoning loud； the son enforcing it low； that it had become
Norman's duty to stay at home to take care of Meta； whose father
would have been horrified at his taking her to the Antipodes。 They
saw mighty tasks for her fortune to effect in England； they enhanced
each other's anticipations of Norman's career； overthrew abuses
before him； heaped distinctions upon him； and had made him Prime
Minister and settled his policy； before ten o'clock brought their
schemes to a close。
Mary gazed and believed； Margaret lay still and gently assented；
Ethel was silent at first； and only when the fabric became extremely
airy and magnificent； put in her word with a vehement dash at the
present abuses； which grieved her spirit above all； and； whether
vulnerable or not； Norman was to dispose of； like so many giants
before Mr。 Great…heart。
She went upstairs； unable to analyse her sentiments。 To be spared
the separation would be infinite reliefall this prosperity made her
exultthe fair girl at the Grange was the delight of her heart； and
yet there was a sense of falling off； she disliked herself for being
either glad or sorry； and could have quarrelled with the lovers for
perplexing her feelings so uncomfortably。
Though she sat up till the party returned； she was inclined to be
supposed in bed； so as to put off the moment of meeting； but
Margaret； who she hoped was asleep； said from her pillow； 〃Ask dear
Norman to let me give him one kiss。〃
She ran down headlong； clutched Norman as he was taking off his
greatcoat； told him that Margaret wanted him； and dragged him up
without letting him go； till she reached the first landing； where she
stood still； saying breathlessly； 〃New Zealand。〃
〃If I wished to fail； she would keep me to it。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Ethel； claiming heartily his caress。 〃I
was wrong to doubt either of you。 Now； I know how to feel！ But
Margaret must not wait。〃
The happy youth； in the flush of love and joy； bent gently； almost
tearfully； down in silence to the white form； half seen in the
twilight； whose hopes had fleeted away from earth； and who was
calmly； softly gliding after them。 Hardly a word was uttered； but of
all the many heartfelt thoughts that had passed while the face was
pressed into Margaret's pillow； and her sympathising arms round the
neck； surely none was ever deeper； than was his prayer and vow that
his affection should be like hers； unearthly； and therefore enduring。
The embrace was all； Margaret must not be agitated； and； indeed； the
events of the day had been too much for her； and the ensuing morning
brought the fluttering of heart and prostration of strength； no
longer a novelty and occasion of immediate terror； but the token of
the waning power of life。
Till she was better； her father had no thoughts for aught else； but；
as with many another invalid； the relief from present distress was as
cheering as if it had been recovery； and ere night； her placid look
of repose had returned； and she was devising pretty greetings for her
newest Daisy。
Perhaps the sobering effect of these hours of anxiety was in Norman's
favour； on entering into conversation with his father。 Those
visions； which had had their swing the night before； belonged to the
earlier； more untamed period of Dr。 May's life； and had melted away
in the dim room； made sacred by lingering mementos of his wife； and
in the sound of that panting breath and throbbing heart。 His
vehemence had been； after all； chiefly against his own misgivings；
and when he heard of his son's resolution； and Meta's more than
acquiescence； he was greatly touched； and recurred to his kind；
sorrowful promise； that he would never be a stumbling…block in the
path of his children。 Still he owned himself greatly allured by the
career proposed by Lord Cosham； and thought Norman should consider
the opportunities of doing good in； perhaps； a still more important
and extensive field than that which he had chosen。
〃Time was that I should have grasped at such a prospect；〃 said
Norman； 〃but I am not the man for it。 I have too much ambition； and
too little humility。 You know； father； how often you have had to
come to my rescue； when I was running after success as my prime
object。〃
〃Vanity fair is a dangerous place； but you who have sound principles
and pure motives〃
〃How long would my motives be pure？〃 said Norman。 〃Rivalry and
party…spirit make me distrust my motives； and then my principles feel
the shock。 Other men are marked by station for such trials； and may
be carried through them； but I am not。〃
〃Yet some of these men are far from your equals。〃
〃Not perhaps in speechifying；〃 said Norman； smiling； 〃but in
steadiness of aim； in patience； in callousness； in seeing one side of
the question at once。〃
〃You judge rightly for your own peace； you will be the happier； I
always doubted whether you had nerve to make your wits available。〃
〃It may be cowardice；〃 said Norman； 〃but I think not。 I could burn
for the combat； and if I had no scruples； I could enjoy bearing down
such as〃
Of course Dr。 May burst in with a political name； and〃I wish you
were at him！〃
〃Whether I could is another matter；〃 said Norman； laughing； 〃but the
fact is； that I stand pledged； and if I embraced what to me would be
a worldly career； I should be running into temptation； and could not
expect to be shielded from it。〃
〃Your old rule；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃Seek to be less rather than more。
But there is another choice。 Why not a parsonage at home？〃
〃Pleasant parishes are not in the same need；〃 said Norman。
〃I wonder what poor old Rivers would say to you； if he knew what you
want to do with his daughter！ Brought up as she has beento expose
her to the roughness of a colonial life； such as I should hesitate
about for your s