Tom and Mary joined in chorus。
〃What is all this？〃 exclaimed Flora； opening the dooris every one
gone mad？〃
Many were the voices that answered。
〃Well； I am glad； and I hope the Andersons will make an apology。 But
where is poor Meta？ Quite forgotten？〃
〃Meta would not wonder if she knew all；〃 said the doctor； turning；
with a sweet smile that had in it something； nevertheless； of
apology。
〃Oh； I am so gladso glad！〃 said Meta； her eyes full of tears； as
she came forward。
And there was no helping it； the first kiss between Margaret May and
Margaret Rivers was given in that overflowing sympathy of
congratulation。
The doctor gave her his arm to take her to the carriage； and； on the
way； his quick warm words filled up the sketch of Norman's behaviour；
Meta's eyes responded better than her tongue； but； to her good…bye；
she could not help adding； 〃Now I have seen true glory。〃
His answer was much such a grip as her poor little fingers had
already received； but though they felt hot and crushed all the way
home； the sensation seemed to cause such throbs of joy； that she
would not have been without it。
CHAPTER XXVII。
And full of hope； day followed day；
While that stout ship at anchor lay
Beside the shores of Wight。
The May had then made all things green；
And floating there； in pomp serene；
That ship was goodly to be seen；
His pride and his delight。
Yet then when called ashore； he sought
The tender peace of rural thought；
In more than happy mood。
To your abodes； bright daisy flowers；
He then would steal at leisure hours；
And loved you； glittering in your bowers；
A starry multitude。
WORDSWORTH。
Harry's last home morning was brightened by going to the school to
see full justice done to Norman； and enjoying the scene for him。 It
was indeed a painful ordeal to Norman himself； who could； at the
moment； scarcely feel pleasure in his restoration； excepting for the
sake of his father； Harry； and his sisters。 To find the head…master
making apologies to him was positively painful and embarrassing； and
his countenance would have been fitter for a culprit receiving a
lecture。 It was pleasanter when the two other masters shook hands
with him； Mr。 Harrison with a free confession that he had done him
injustice； and Mr。 Wilmot with a glad look of congratulation； that
convinced Harry he had never believed Norman to blame。
Harry himself was somewhat of a hero； the masters all spoke to him；
bade him good speed； and wished him a happy voyage； and all the boys
were eager to admire his uniform； and wish themselves already men and
officers like Mr。 May。 He had his long…desired three cheers for 〃May
senior！〃 shouted with a thorough goodwill by the united lungs of the
Whichcote foundation； and a supplementary cheer arose for the good
ship Alcestis； while hands were held out on every side； and the boy
arrived at such a pitch of benevolence and good humour； as actually
to volunteer a friendly shake of the hand to Edward Anderson； whom he
encountered skulking apart。
〃Never mind； Ned； we have often licked each other before now； and
don't let us bear a grudge now I am going away。 We are Stoneborough
fellows both； you know； after all。〃
Edward did not refuse the offered grasp； and though his words were
only； 〃Good…bye； I hope you will have plenty of fun！〃 Harry went
away with a lighter heart。
The rest of the day Harry adhered closely to his father； though
chiefly in silence； Dr。 May had intended much advice and exhortation
for his warm…hearted； wild…spirited son； but words would not come；
not even when in the still evening twilight they walked down alone
together to the cloister； and stood over the little stone marked
M。 M。 After standing there for some minutes； Harry knelt to collect
some of the daisies in the grass。
〃Are those to take with you？〃
〃Margaret is going to make a cross of them for my Prayerbook。〃
〃Ay； they will keep it in your mindsay it all to you； Harry。 She
may be nearer to you everywhere； though you are far from us。 Don't
put yourself from her。〃
That was all Dr。 May contrived to say to his son； nor could Margaret
do much more than kiss him； while tears flowed one by one over her
cheeks； as she tried to whisper that he must remember and guard
himself； and that he was sure of being thought of； at least； in every
prayer； and then she fastened into his book the cross； formed of
flattened daisies； gummed upon a framework of paper。 He begged her
to place it at the Baptismal Service； for he said； 〃I like that about
fightingand I always did like the church being like a shipdon't
you？ I only found that prayer out the day poor little Daisy was
christened。〃
Margaret had indeed a thrill of melancholy pleasure in this task；
when she saw how it was regarded。 Oh； that her boy might not lose
these impressions amid the stormy waves he was about to encounter！
That last evening of home good…nights cost Harry many a choking sob
ere he could fall asleep； but the morning of departure had more
cheerfulness； the pleasure of patronising Jem Jennings was as
consoling to his spirits； as was to Mary the necessity of comforting
Toby。
Toby's tastes were in some respects vulgar； as he preferred the
stable； and Will Adams； to all Mary's attentions； but he attached
himself vehemently to Dr。 May； followed him everywhere； and went into
raptures at the slightest notice from him。 The doctor said it was
all homage to the master of the house。 Margaret held that the dog
was a physiognomist。
The world was somewhat flat after the loss of Harrythat element of
riot and fun； Aubrey was always playing at 〃poor Harry sailing away；〃
Mary looked staid and sober； and Norman was still graver； and more
devoted to books； while Ethel gave herself up more completely to the
thickening troubles of Cocksmoor。
Jealousies had arisen there； and these； with some rebukes for
failures in sending children to be taught； had led to imputations on
the character of Mrs。 Green； in whose house the school was kept。
Ethel was at first vehement in her defence； then when stronger
evidence was adduced of the woman's dishonesty； she was dreadfully
shocked； and wanted to give up all connection with her； and in both
moods was equally displeased with Richard for pausing； and not going
all lengths with her。
Mr。 Wilmot was appealed to； and did his best to investigate； but the
only result was to discover that no one interrogated had any notion
of truth； except John Taylor； and he knew nothing of the matter。 The
mass of falsehood； spite； violence； and dishonesty； that became
evident； was perfectly appalling； and not a clue was to be found to
the truthscarcely a hope that minds so lost to honourable feeling
were open to receive good impressions。 It was a great distress to
Ethelit haunted her night and dayshe lay awake pondering on the
vain hopes for her poor children； and slept to dream of the angry
faces and rude accusations。 Margaret grew quite anxious about her；
and her elders were seriously considering the propriety of her
continuing her labours at Cocksmoor。
Mr。 Wilmot would not be at Stoneborough after Christmas。 His
father's declining health made him be required at home； and since
Richard was so often absent； it became matter of doubt whether the
Misses May ought to be allowed to persevere； unassisted by older
heads； in such a locality。
This doubt put Ethel into an agony。 Though she had lately been
declaring that it made her very unhappy to goshe could not bear the
sight of Mrs。 Green； and that she knew all her efforts were vain
while the poor children had such homes； she now only implored to be
allowed to go on； she said that the badness of the people only made
it more needful to do their utmost for them； there were no end to the
arguments that she poured forth upon her ever kind listener；
Margaret。
〃Yes； dear Ethel； yes； but pray be calm； I know papa and Mr。 Wilmot
would not put a stop to it if they could possibly help it； but if it
is not proper〃
〃Proper！ that is as bad as Miss Winter！〃
〃Ethel； you and I cannot judge of these thingsyou must leave them
to our elders〃
〃And men always are so fanciful about ladies〃
〃Indeed； if you speak in that way； I shall think it is really hurting
you。〃
〃I did not mean it； dear Margaret；〃 said Ethel； 〃but if you knew what
I feel for poor Cocksmoor； you would not wonder that I cannot bear
it。〃
〃I do not wonder； dearest； but if this trial is sent you； perhaps it
is to train you for better things。〃
〃Perhaps it is for my fault；〃 said Ethel。 〃Oh； oh； if it be that I
am too unworthy！ And it is the only hope； no one will do anything to
teach these poor creatures if I give it up。 What shall I do；
Margaret？〃
Margaret drew her down close to her； and whispered； 〃Trust them
Ethel； dear。 The decision will be whatever is the will of God。 If
He thinks fit to give you the work； it will come； if not； He will
give you some other； and provide for them。〃
〃If I have been too neglectful of home； too vain of persevering when
no one but Richard would！〃 sighed Ethel。
〃I cannot see that you have； dearest；〃 said Margaret fondly； 〃but
your own heart must tell you that。 And now； only try to be calm and
patient。 Getting into these fits of despair is the very thing to
make people decide against you。〃
〃I will！ I will！ I will try to be patient；〃 sobbed Ethel； 〃I know
to be wayward and set on it would only hurt。 I might only do more
harmI'll try。 But oh； my poor children！〃
Margaret gave a little space for the struggle with herself； then
advised her resolutely to fix her attention on something else。 It
was a Saturday morning； and time was more free than usual； so
Margaret was able to persuade her to continue a half…forgotten
drawing； while listening to an interesting article in a review； which
opened to her that there were too many Cocksmoors in the world。
The dinner…hour sounded too soon； and as she was crossing the hall to
put away her drawing materials； the front door gave the click
peculiar to Dr。 May's left…handed way of opening it。 She paused； and
saw him enter； flushed； and with a look tha