was an effort. She has been very happy lately in nursing Flora."

"Is Ethel there?"

"No; she is, as usual, at Cocksmoor. There are great councils about
sending Cherry to be trained for her new school."

"Would Flora be able to see me, if I were to ride over to the Grange?"

"You may try; and, if papa is not there, I dare say she will."

"At least, I shall see Meta, and she may judge. I want to see Rivers
too, so I will ask if the bay is to be had. Ah! you have the Claude, I
see."

"Yes, it is too large for this room; but papa put it here that I might
enjoy it, and it is almost a companion. The sky improves so in the
sunset light."

Norman was soon at Abbotstoke; and, as he drew his rein, Meta's bright
face nodded to him from Flora's sitting-room window; and, as he passed
the conservatory, the little person met him, with a summons, at once, to
his sister.

He found Flora on the sofa, with a table beside her, covered with notes
and papers. She was sitting up writing; and, though somewhat pale, was
very smiling and animated.

"Norman, how kind to come to me the first thing!"

"Margaret encouraged me to try whether you would be visible."

"They want to make a regular prisoner of me," said Flora, laughing.
"Papa is as bad as the old nurse! But he has not been here to-day, so I
have had my own way. Did you meet George?"

"No; but Margaret said he had been with her."

"I wish he would come. We expect the second post to bring the news that
Mr. Esdaile has accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. If he found it so, he
meant to go and talk to Mr. Bramshaw; for, though he is so dull, we must
make him agent."

"Is there any danger of opposition?"

"None at all, if we are soon enough in the field. Papa's name will
secure us, and there is no one else on the right side to come forward,
so that it is an absolute rescue of the seat."

"It is the very moment when men of principle are most wanted," said
Norman. "The questions of the day are no light matters; and it is an
immense point to save Stoneborough from being represented by one of the
Tomkins' set."

"Exactly so," said Flora. "I should feel it a crime to say one word to
deter George, at a time when every effort must be made to support the
right cause. One must make sacrifices when the highest interests are at
stake."

Flora seemed to thrive upon her sacrifice--she had never appeared more
brilliant and joyous. Her brother saw, in her, a Roman matron; and the
ambitio