table
time. She saw more than usual of her father, and had such conversations
with him as were seldom practicable at home, and that chimed in with the
unavowed care which hung on their minds; while Meta was a most sweet and
loving charge, without being a burden, and often saying such beautiful
things in her affectionate resignation, that Ethel could only admire
and lay them up in her mind. Dr. May went backwards and forwards, and
brought good accounts of Margaret and fond messages; he slept at the
Grange each night, and Meta used to sit in the corner of the sofa and
work, or not, as best suited her, while she listened to his talk with
Ethel, and now and then herself joined.

George Rivers's absence was a serious inconvenience in all arrangements;
but his sister dreaded his grief as much as she wished for his return;
and often were the posts and the journeys reckoned over, without a
satisfactory conclusion, as to when he could arrive from so remote a
part of Scotland.

At last, as the two girls had finished their early dinner, the butler
brought in word that Mr. Norman May was there. Meta at once begged that
he would come in, and Ethel went into the hall to meet him. He looked
very wan, with the dark rings round his eyes a deeper purple than ever,
and he could hardly find utterance to ask, "How is she?"

"As good and sweet as she can be," said Ethel warmly; but no more, for
Meta herself had come to the dining-room door, and was holding out her
hand. Norman took it in both his, but could not speak; Meta's own soft
voice was the first. "I thought you would come--he was so fond of you."

Poor Norman quite gave way, and Meta was the one to speak gentle words
of soothing. "There is so much to be thankful for," she said. "He has
been spared so much of the suffering Dr. May feared for him; and he was
so happy about George."

Norman made a great effort to recover himself. Ethel asked for Flora and
George. It appeared that they had been on an excursion when the first
letter arrived at Glenbracken, and thus had received both together in
the evening, on their return. George had been greatly overcome, and they
had wished to set off instantly; but Lady Glenbracken would not hear
of Flora's travelling night and day, and it had at length been arranged
that Norman Ogilvie should drive Norman across the country that evening,
to catch the mail for Edinburgh, and he had been on the road ever since.
George was following with his wife m