with his droll desultory comments; he made
Blanche keep up her dancing; and taught Gertrude to be a thorough little
romp. As to Dr. May, his patients never were so well or so cheerful,
till Dr. Spencer and Ethel suspected that the very sight of his looks
brightened them--how could they help it? Dr. Spencer was as happy as a
king in seeing his friend freed from the heavy weight on his spirits;
and, truly, it was goodly to watch his perfect look of content, as he
leaned on his lion-faced boy's arm, and walked down to the minster,
whither it seemed to have become possible to go on most evenings. Good
Dr. May was no musician, but Mr. Wilmot could not regret certain tones
that now and then burst out in the chanting, from the very bottom of a
heart that assuredly sang with the full melody of thankfulness, whatever
the voice might do.

Captain Gordon not only wrote but came to Stoneborough, whence Harry was
to go with him to the court-martial at Portsmouth.

The girls wondered that, after writing with so much warmth and
affection, both of and to Harry, he met him without any demonstration of
feeling; and his short peremptory manner removed all surprise that poor
Hector had been so forlorn with him at Maplewood, and turned, with all
his heart, to Dr. May. They were especially impressed at the immediate
subsidence of all Harry's noise and nonsense, as if the drawing-room had
been the quarter-deck of the Alcestis.

"And yet," said Margaret, "Harry will not hear a single word in
dispraise of him. I do believe he loves him with all his heart."

"I think," said Ethel, "that in a strong character, there is an exulting
fear in looking up to a superior, in whose justice there is perfect
reliance. It is a germ of the higher feeling."

"I believe you are right," said Margaret; "but it is a serious thing
for a man to have so little sympathy with those below him. You see how
Hector feels it, and I now understand how it told upon Alan, and how
papa's warmth was like a surprise to him."

"Because Captain Gordon had to be a father to them, and that is more
than a captain. I should not wonder if there were more similarity and
fellow-feeling between him and Harry than there could be with either of
them. Harry, though he has all papa's tenderness, is of a rougher sort
that likes to feel itself mastered. Poor Hector! I wonder if he is to be
given back to us."

"Do you know--when--whether they will find out this morning?" said
Margaret, c