to believe that he had made any impression on her. He knew how
such an attachment would grieve his parents, and, surely, he was acting
dutifully, and with self-denial and consideration, in not putting
himself in the way of being further attracted."

"Umph! You make a good defence, Norman, but I cannot forgive him for
marrying somebody else, who cannot be Ethel's equal."

"She is a good little girl; he will form her, and be very happy; perhaps
more so than with a great soul and strong nature like Ethel's."

"Only he is a canny Scot, and not a Dr. Spencer!"

"Too short acquaintance! besides, there were the parents. Moreover, what
would become of home without Ethel?"

"The unanswerable argument to make one contented," said Meta. "And,
certainly, to be wife to a Member of Parliament is not so very
delightful that one would covet it for her."

"Any more than she does for herself."

Norman was right in his view of his friend's motives, as well as of
Ethel's present feelings. If there had ever been any disappointment
about Norman Ogilvie, it had long since faded away. She had never given
away the depths of her heart, though the upper surface had been stirred.
All had long subsided, and she could think freely of him as an
agreeable cousin, in whose brilliant public career she should always be
interested, without either a wish to partake it, or a sense of injury
or neglect. She had her vocation, in her father, Margaret, the children,
home, and Cocksmoor; her mind and affections were occupied, and she
never thought of wishing herself elsewhere.

The new church and the expected return of her sisters engrossed many
more of her thoughts than did anything relating to Glenbracken.

She could not bear to talk of Flora, though almost as uneasy as was
Margaret; and not able to lay aside misgivings, lest even her good
simple Mary might have had her head turned by gaiety.

Mr. and Mrs. Rivers arrived on the Saturday before the Tuesday fixed
for the consecration, and stopped on their way, that they might see
Margaret, deposit Mary, and resume Meta.

It was a short visit, and all that Ethel could discover was, that Flora
was looking very ill, no longer able to conceal the worn and fagged
expression of her countenance, and evidently dreadfully shocked by the
sight of the havoc made by disease on Margaret's frame. Yet she talked
with composure of indifferent subjects--the yacht, the visits, the
Bucephalus, the church, and the arra