a worse whine。
〃How can you bear it； Margaret？〃 said Norman； as she finally
dismissed Tom； and laid down her account…book； taking up some
delicate fancy work。 〃Mercy； here's another；〃 as enter a message
about lamp oil； in the midst of which Mary burst in to beg Margaret
to get Miss Winter to let her go to the river with Harry and Tom。
〃No； indeed； Mary； I could not think of such a thing。 You had better
go back to your lessons； and don't be silly；〃 as she looked much
disposed to cry。
〃No one but a Tom…boy would dream of it；〃 added Norman； and Mary
departed disconsolate； while Margaret gave a sigh of weariness； and
said； as she returned to her work； 〃There； I believe I have done。
I hope I was not cross with poor Mary； but it was rather too much to
ask。〃
〃I can't think how you can help being cross to every one；〃 said
Norman； as he took away the books she had done with。
〃I am afraid I am；〃 said Margaret sadly。 〃It does get trying at
times。〃
〃I should think so！ This eternal worrying must be more than any one
can bear； always lying there too。〃
〃It is only now and then that it grows tiresome；〃 said Margaret。
〃I am too happy to be of some use； and it is too bad to repine； but
sometimes a feeling comes of its being always the same； as if a
little change would be such a treat。〃
〃Aren't you very tired of lying in bed？〃
〃Yes； very； sometimes。 I fancy； but it is only fancy； that I could
move better if I was up and dressed。 It has seemed more so lately；
since I have been stronger。〃
〃When do you think they will let you get up？〃
〃There's the question。 I believe papa thinks I might be lifted to
the sofa nowand oh！ how I long for itbut then Mr。 Ward does not
approve of my sitting up； even as I am doing now； and wants to keep
me flat。 Papa thinks that of no use； and likely to hurt my general
health； and I believe the end of it will be that he will ask Sir
Matthew Fleet's opinion。〃
〃Is that the man he calls Mat？〃
〃Yes； you know they went through the university together； and were at
Edinburgh and Paris； but they have never met since he set up in
London； and grew so famous。 I believe it would be a great treat to
papa to have him； and it would be a good thing for papa too； I don't
think his arm is going on righthe does not trust to Mr。 Ward's
treatment； and I am sure some one else ought to see it。〃
〃Did you know； Margaret； that he sits up quite late； because he
cannot sleep for it？〃
〃Yes； I hear him moving about； but don't tell him so； I would not
have him guess for the world； that it kept me awake。〃
〃And does it？〃
〃Why； if I think he is awake and in pain I cannot settle myself to
sleep； but that is no matter； having no exercise； of course I don't
sleep so much。 But I am very anxious about himhe looks so thin；
and gets so faggedand no wonder。〃
〃Ah！ Mr。 Everard told me he was quite shocked to see him； and would
hardly have known him；〃 and Norman groaned from the bottom of his
heart。
〃Well； I shall hope much from Sir Matthew's taking him in hand；〃 said
Margaret cheerfully； 〃he will mind him； though he will not Mr。 Ward。〃
〃I wish the holidays were over！〃 said Norman； with a yawn； as
expressive as a sigh。
〃That's not civil； on the third day；〃 said Margaret； smiling； 〃when
I am so glad to have you to look after me； so as to set Flora at
liberty。〃
〃What； can I do you any good？〃 said Norman； with a shade of his
former alacrity。
〃To be sure you can； a great deal。 Better not come near me
otherwise； for I make every one into a slave。 I want my morning
reading nowthat book on Advent； there。〃
〃Shall I read it to you？〃
〃Thank you； that's nice； and I shall get on with baby's frock。〃
Norman read； but； ere long； took to yawning； Margaret begged for the
book； which he willingly resigned； saying； however； that he liked it；
only he was stupid。 She read on aloud； till she heard a succession
of heavy breathings； and saw him fast asleep； and so he continued
till waked by his father's coming home。
Richard and Ethel were glad of a walk； for Margaret had found them a
pleasant errand。 Their Cocksmoor children could not go home to
dinner between service and afternoon school； and Margaret had desired
the cook to serve them up some broth in the back kitchen； to which
the brother and sister were now to invite them。 Mary was allowed to
take her boots to Rebekah Watts； since Margaret held that goodness
had better be profitable； at least at the outset； and Harry and Tom
joined the party。
Norman； meantime； was driving his fathera holiday preferment highly
valued in the days when Dr。 May used only to assume the reins； when
his spirited horses showed too much consciousness that they had a
young hand over them； or when the old hack took a fit of laziness。
Now； Norman needed Richard's assurance that the bay was steady； so
far was he from being troubled with his ancient desire； that the
steed would rear right up on his hind legs。
He could neither talk nor listen till he was clear out of the town；
and found himself master of the animal； and even then the words were
few； and chiefly spoken by Dr。 May； until after going along about
three miles of the turnpike road； he desired Norman to turn down a
cross…country lane。
〃Where does this lead？〃
〃It comes out at Abbotstoke； but I have to go to an outlying farm。〃
〃Papa；〃 said Norman； after a few minutes； 〃I wish you would let me do
my Greek。〃
〃Is that what you have been pondering all this time？ What； may not
the bonus Homerus slumber sometimes？〃
〃It is not Homer； it is Euripides。 I do assure you； papa； it is no
trouble； and I get much worse without it。〃
〃Well； stop here； the road grows so bad that we will walk； and let
the boy lead the horse to meet us at Woodcote。〃
Norman followed his father down a steep narrow lane； little better
than a stony water…course； and began to repeat； 〃If you would but let
me do my work！ I've got nothing else to do； and now they have put me
up； I should not like not to keep my place。〃
〃Very likely； buthollohow swelled this is！〃 said Dr。 May； as they
came to the bottom of the valley； where a stream rushed along；
coloured with a turbid creamy yellow； making little whirlpools where
it crossed the road； and brawling loudly just above where it roared
and foamed between two steep banks of rock； crossed by a foot…bridge
of planks； guarded by a handrail of rough poles。 The doctor had
traversed it； and gone a few paces beyond； when； looking back； he saw
Norman very pale； with one foot on the plank； and one hand grasping
the rail。 He came back； and held out his hand； which Norman gladly
caught at； but no sooner was the other side attained； than the boy；
though he gasped with relief； exclaimed； 〃This is too bad！ Wait one
moment； please； and let me go back。〃
He tried； but the first touch of the shaking rail； and glance at the
chasm； disconcerted him； and his father； seeing his white cheeks and
rigid lips； said； 〃Stop； Norman； don't try it。 You are not fit；〃 he
added； as the boy came to him reluctantly。
〃I can't bear to be such a wretch！〃 said he。 〃I never used to be。
I will notlet me conquer it；〃 and he was turning back； but the
doctor took his arm； saying decidedly； 〃No； I won't have it done。
You are only making it worse by putting a force on yourself。〃 But
the farther Norman was from the bridge； the more displeased he was
with himself； and more anxious to dare it again。 〃There's no bearing
it；〃 he muttered； 〃let me only run back。 I'll overtake you。 I must
do it if no one looks on。〃
〃No such thing；〃 said the doctor； holding him fast。 〃If you do；
you'll have it all over again at night。〃
〃That's better than to know I am worse than Tom。〃
〃I tell you； Norman； it is no such thing。 You will recover your tone
if you will only do as you are told； but your nerves have had a
severe shock； and when you force yourself in this way； you only
increase the mischief。〃
〃Nerves；〃 muttered Norman disdainfully。 〃I thought they were only fit
for fine ladies。〃
Dr。 May smiled。 〃Well； will it content you if I promise that as soon
as I see fit； I'll bring you here； and let you march over that bridge
as often as you like？〃
〃I suppose I must be contented； but I don't like to feel like a
fool。〃
〃You need not； while the moral determination is sound。〃
〃But my Greek； papa。〃
〃At it againI declare； Norman； you are the worst patient I ever
had！〃
Norman made no answer； and Dr。 May presently said； 〃Well； let me hear
what you have to say about it。 I assure you it is not that I don't
want you to get on； but that I see you are in great need of rest。〃
〃Thank you； papa。 I know you mean it for my good； but I don't think
you do know how horrid it is。 I have got nothing on earth to do or
care forthe school work comes quite easy to me； and I'm sure
thinking is worse； and then〃Norman spoke vehemently〃now they have
put me up； it will never do to be beaten； and all the four others
ought to be able to do it。 I did not want or expect to be dux； but
now I am； you could not bear me not to keep my place； and to miss the
Randall scholarship； as I certainly shall； if I do not work these
whole holidays。〃
〃Norman； I know it；〃 said his father kindly。 〃I am very sorry for
you； and I know I am asking of you what I could not have done at your
ageindeed； I don't believe I could have done it for you a few
months ago。 It is my fault that you have been let alone； to have an
overstrain and pressure on your mind； when you were not fit for it；
and I cannot see any remedy but complete freedom from work。 At the
same time； if you fret and harass yourself about being surpassed；
that is； as you say； much worse for you than Latin and Greek。
Perhaps I may be wrong； and study might not do you the harm I think
it would； at any rate； it is better than tormenting yourself about
next half year； so I will not positively forbid it； but I think you
had much better let it alone。 I don't want to make it a matter of
duty。 I only tell you this； that you may set your mind at rest as
far as I am concerned。 If you do lose your place； I will consider it
as my own doing； and not be disappointed。 I had rather see you a
heal