htened by her saying so. "I thought you would be
glad," she rejoined.

"Did you think me so hard-hearted?"

"I thought you believed he would be better without me."

"My dear, we have not kept house and nursed together for a month for
nothing," said Mrs. Arnott, smiling.

"Thank you," said Meta, trying to answer the smile. "You have taken a
load off me!"

"I don't like it at all," said Mrs. Arnott. "It is a very uncomfortable
plan for every one. And yet when I know how great is the want of him out
there, I can say nothing against it without high treason. Well, my dear,
I'll take all the care I can of Norman, and when you come, I shall be
almost as glad as if we were coming home for good. Poor Flora! she is
one person who will not regret the arrangement."

"Poor Flora!--you think her really better this evening?"

"Much better, indeed; if we could only raise her spirits, I think she
would recover very well; but she is so sadly depressed. I must try to
talk to Ethel--she may better understand her."

"I have never understood Flora," said Meta. "She has been as kind to
me as possible, and I very soon came to a certain point with her, but
I never have known her thoroughly. I doubt whether any one did but dear
Margaret."

Flora was, however, much softened and less reserved than she had been.
She found great repose in her aunt's attendance, retracing, as it
did, her mother's presence, and she responded to her tenderness with
increasing reliance and comfort; while as her strength began to revive,
and there was more disposition to talk, she became gradually drawn into
greater confidence.

The seeing of Ethel was one of the difficult questions. Flora had begun
to wish it very much, and yet the bare idea threw her into a nervous
tremor, that caused it to be put off again and again. Her aunt found her
one day almost faint with agitation--she had heard Ethel's voice in the
next room, and had been winding up her expectations, and now was as much
grieved as relieved, to find that she had been there seeing the baby,
but was now gone.

"How does the dear Ethel look?" asked Flora presently.

"She is looking better to-day; she has looked very worn and harassed,
but I thought her brighter to-day. She walked over by Aubrey on his
pony, and I think it did her good."

"Dear old Ethel! Aunt, it is a thing that no one has told me yet. Can
you tell me how she bore the news of Norman Ogilvie's engagement?"

"Do you mean--" and Mrs