their heads for Him who should enter。 There was an almost bewildered
feelingcould it indeed be true； as she followed the earlier part of
the service； which set apart that building as a temple for ever；
separate from all common uses。 She had imagined the scene so often
that she could almost have supposed the present； one of her many
imaginations； but； by and by； the strangeness passed off； and she was
able to enter into； not merely to follow； the prayers； and to feel
the deep thanksgiving that such had been the crown of her feeble
efforts。 Margaret was in her mind the whole time； woven； as it were；
into every supplication and every note of praise； and when there came
the intercession for those in sickness and suffering； flowing into
the commemoration of those departed in faith and fear； Ethel's spirit
sank for a moment at the conviction that soon Margaret； like him；
whom all must bear in mind on that day； might be included in that
thanksgiving； yet； as the service proceeded； leaving more and more of
earth behind； and the voices joined with angel and archangel； Ethel
could lose the present grief； and only retain the certainty that；
come what might； there was joy and union amid those who sung that
hymn of praise。 Never had Ethel been so happynot in the sense of
the finished workno； she had lost all that； but in being more
carried out of herself than ever she had been before； the free spirit
of praise so bearing up her heart that the cry of glory came from her
with such an exultant gladness； as might surely be reckoned as one of
those foretastes of our everlasting life； not often vouchsafed even
to the faithful； and usually sent to prepare strength for what may be
in store。
The blessing brought the sense of peace； which hung on her even while
the sounds of movement began； and the congregation were emerging。 As
she came out； greetings； sentences of admiration of the church； and
of inquiry for her absent sisters； were crowded upon her； as people
moved towards the school； where a luncheon was provided for them； to
pass away the interval until evening service。 The half…dozen oldest
Cocksmoorites were； meantime； to have a dinner in the former
schoolroom； at the Elwoods' house； and Ethel was anxious so see that
all was right there； so； while the rest of her party were doing civil
things； she gave her arm to Cherry； whose limping walk showed her to
be very tired。
〃Oh； Miss Ethel！〃 said Cherry； 〃if Miss May could only have been
here！〃
〃Her heart is；〃 said Ethel。
〃Well； ma'am； I believe it is。 You would not think； ma'am； how all
the children take heed to anything about her。 If I only begin to say
'Miss May told me' they are all like mice。〃
〃She has done more for the real good of Cocksmoor than any one else；〃
said Ethel。
More might have been said； but they perceived that they were being
overtaken by the body of clergy； who had been unrobing in the vestry。
Ethel hastened to retreat within Mrs。 Elwood's wicket gate； but she
was arrested by Richard； and found herself being presented to the
bishop； and the bishop shaking hands with her； and saying that he had
much wished to be introduced to her。
Of course； that was because she was her father's daughter； and by way
of something to say。 She mentioned what was going on at the cottage；
whereupon the bishop wished to go in and see the old people； and；
entering； they found the very comfortable…looking party just sitting
down to roast…beef and goose。 John Taylor； in a new black coat； on
account of his clerkship； presiding at one end； and Mr。 Elwood at the
other； and Dame Hall finding conversation for the whole assembly；
while Blanche； Aubrey； Gertrude； the little Larkinses； and the
Abbotstoke Wilmots were ready to act as waiters with infinite
delight。 Not a bit daunted by the bishop； who was much entertained
by her merry manner； old granny told him 〃she had never seen nothing
like it since the Jubilee； when the squire roasted an ox whole； and
there wasn't none of it fit to eat； and when her poor father got his
head broken。 Well； to be sure； who would have thought what would
come of Sam's bringing in the young gentleman and lady to see her the
day her back was so bad！〃
The bishop said grace； and left granny to the goose； while he gave
Ethel his arm； which she would have thought an unaccountable
proceeding if she had not recollected that Richard might be
considered as host； and that she was his eldest sister forthcoming。
No sooner； however； had they come beyond the wicket than she saw her
father speaking to Will Adams； and there was that in the air of both
which made it no surprise when Dr。 May came up； saying； 〃Ethel； I
must carry you away；〃 and； in explanation to the bishop； 〃my poor
girl at home is not so well。〃
All was inquiry and sympathy。 Ethel was frantic to be at home； and
would have rushed off at once； if Richard had not held her fast；
asking what good she would do by hurrying in； breathless and
exhausted； so as to add to Flora's fright and distress； the anxiety
which was most upon their minds； since she had never before witnessed
one of the seizures； that were only too ordinary matters in the eyes
of the home party。 No one but Dr。 May and Ethel should go。 Richard
undertook to tell the rest； and the gig making its appearance； Ethel
felt that the peculiarly kind manner with which the bishop pressed
her hand； and gave them all good wishes； was like a continuation of
his blessing to aid her in her home scene of trial。
Perhaps； it was well for her that her part in the consecration
festivities should end here； at least so thought Mr。 Wilmot； who；
though very sorry for the cause； could not wish her to have been
present at the luncheon。 She had not thought of self hitherto； the
church was the gift of Alan and Margaret； the work of preparing the
people belonged to all alike； and she did not guess that； in the
sight of others； she was not the nobody that she believed herself。
Her share in the work at Cocksmoor was pretty well known； and Dr。
Hoxton could not allow a public occasion to pass without speeches；
such as must either have been very painful； or very hurtful to her。
The absence of herself and her father； however； permitted a more free
utterance to the general feeling； and things were said； that did
indeed make the rest of the family extremely hot and uncomfortable；
but which gave them extreme pleasure。 Norman was obliged to spare
Richard the answer； and said exactly what he ought； and so
beautifully； that Meta could not find it in her heart to echo the
fervent wish； which he whispered as he sat down； that speechifying
could be abolished by Act of Parliament。
Mrs。 Arnott began to perceive that her nephew was something to be
proud of； and to understand how much was sacrificed； while George
Rivers expressed his opinion to her that Norman would be a crack
speaker in the House； and he hoped she would say everything to hinder
his going out； for it was a regular shame to waste him on the
niggers。
Owing to George having constituted himself her squire； Mrs。 Arnott
had not arrived at an understanding of the state of affairs at home；
but； as soon as they rose up from luncheon； and she learned the truth
from Richard and Mary； nothing would hinder her from walking home at
once to see whether she could be useful。 Mary was easily persuaded
to remain； for she was accustomed to Margaret's having these attacks；
and had always been kept out of her room the while； so she had little
uneasiness to prevent her from being very happy； in receiving in her
own simple； good…humoured way all the attentions that lapsed upon her
in the place of her elder sisters。
〃Cocksmoor really has a church！〃 was note enough of joy for her； and
no one could look at her round face without seeing perfect happiness。
Moreover； when after evening service； the November mist turned into
decided rain； she was as happy as a queen in her foresight； which had
provided what seemed an unlimited supply of cloaks and umbrellas。
She appeared to have an original genius for making the right people
give a lift in their carriages to the distressed； and； regarding the
Abbotstoke britska as her own； packed in Mrs。 Anderson and Fanny； in
addition to all their own little ones； Meta thrusting Miss Bracy into
the demi…corner destined for herself at the last minute； and；
remaining with Mary； the only ladies obliged to walk back to
Stoneborough。 So delighted were they 〃at the fun；〃 that it might
have been thought the most charming of adventures； and they laughed
all the more at the lack of umbrellas。 They went to Mrs。 Elwood's；
divested themselves of all possible finery； and tucked up the rest；
Meta was rolled up from head to foot in a great old plaid shawl of
Mrs。 Elwood's； and Mary had a cloak of Richard's； the one took
Norman's arm； the other Dr。 Spencer's； and they trudged home through
the darkness and the mud in the highest glee； quite sorry when the
carriage met them half…way。
It was the last mirth that they enjoyed for many weeks。 When they
reached home； a sense of self…reproach for their glee thrilled over
them； when they found a sort of hush pervading the drawing…room； and
saw the faces of awe and consternation； worn by Blanche and George
Rivers。
〃It was a much worse attack than usual； and it did not go off；〃 was
all that Blanche knew； but her father had desired to be told when Dr。
Spencer came home； and she went up with the tidings。
This brought Flora down； looking dreadfully pale； and with her voice
sunk away as it had been when she lost her child。 Her husband
started up； exclaiming at her aspect； she let him support her to the
sofa； and gave the few particulars。 Margaret had been as placid and
comfortable as usual； till nurse came to dress her； but the first
move had brought on the faintness and loss of breath。 It did not
yield to remedies； and she had neither looked nor spoken since； only
moaned。 Flora thought her father much alarmed； and then； after an
interval； she began to entreat that they might stay there； sending
Miss Bracy and the children to the Grange to make room。
Meantime； Dr。 Spencer had come to the sick…room； but he could only
suggest reme