hat was passing; and though now and then Norman's letters, carrying
sentences of remembrance, made her glow a little, she was so steady
to her resolution that she averted all traffic in messages through her
brother's correspondence, and, in that fear, allowed it to lapse into
Margaret's hands more than she had ever done. Indeed, no one greatly
liked writing from home, it was heartless work to say always, "No news
from the Alcestis" and yet they all declared they were not anxious.

Hector Ernescliffe knelt a great while beside Margaret's sofa, on the
first evening of his holidays, and there was a long low-voiced talk
between them. Ethel wished that she had warned him off, for Margaret
looked much more harassed and anxious, after having heard the outpouring
of all that was on his mind.

Dr. Spencer thought her looking worse, when he came, as come he did, on
the appointed day. He had brought Sir Henry Walkinghame's full consent
to the surrender of the land; drawn up in such form as could be acted
upon, and a letter to his man of business. But Nicolson! He was a worse
dragon nearer home, hating all schools, especially hating Dr. May.

However, said Dr. Spencer, in eastern form, "Have I encountered Rajahs,
and smoked pipes with three-tailed Pachas, that I should dread the face
of the father of quarrymen."

What he did with the father of quarrymen was not known, whether he
talked him over, or bought him off--Margaret hoped the former; Dr. May
feared the latter; the results were certain; Mr. Nicolson had agreed
that the land should be given up.

The triumphant Dr. Spencer sat down to write a statement to be shown to
the college authorities, when they should come to hold their court.

"The land must be put into the hands of trustees," he said. "The
incumbent of course?"

"Then yourself; and we must have another. Your son-in-law?"

"You, I should think," said Dr. May.

"I! Why, I am going."

"Going, but not gone," said his friend.

"I must go! I tell you, Dick; I must have a place of my own to smoke my
pipe in."

"Is that all?" said Dr. May. "I think you might be accommodated here,
unless you wished to be near your sister."

"My sister is always resorting to watering-places. My nieces do nothing
but play on the piano. No, I shall perhaps go off to America, the only
place I have not seen yet, and I more than half engaged to go and help
at Poonshedagore."

"Better order your coffin then," muttered Dr. May.

"I s