all,
he could not help expressing his satisfaction in Richard's well-judged
and sensibly-described project.

"Ay, ay!" said the doctor, "there's much more in the boy than I used
to think. He's a capital fellow, and more like his mother than any of
them."

"He is," said Mr. Wilmot; "there was a just, well-weighed sense and
soberness in his plans that put me in mind of her every moment."

Dr. May gave his hand a squeeze, full of feeling, and went up to tell
Margaret. She, on the first opportunity, told Richard, and made him
happier than he had been for months, not so much in Mr. Wilmot's words,
as in his father's assent to, and pleasure in them.

CHAPTER XV.

Pitch thy behaviour low, thy projects high,
So shalt thou humble and magnanimous be;
Sink not in spirit; who aimeth at the sky
Shoots higher much than he that means a tree.
A grain of glory mixed with humbleness,
Cures both a fever and lethargicness.
HERBERT.

"Norman, do you feel up to a long day's work?" said Dr. May, on the
following morning. "I have to set off after breakfast to see old Mrs.
Gould, and to be at Abbotstoke Grange by twelve; then I thought of going
to Fordholm, and getting Miss Cleveland to give us some luncheon--there
are some poor people on the way to look at; and that girl on Far-view
Hill; and there's another place to call in at coming home. You'll have a
good deal of sitting in the carriage, holding Whitefoot, so if you think
you shall be cold or tired, don't scruple to say so, and I'll take Adams
to drive me."

"No, thank you," said Norman briskly. "This frost is famous."

"It will turn to rain, I expect--it is too white," said the doctor,
looking out at the window. "How will you get to Cocksmoor, good people?"

"Ethel won't believe it rains unless it is very bad," said Richard.

Norman set out with his father, and prosperously performed the
expedition, arriving at Abbotstoke Grange at the appointed hour.

"Ha!" said the doctor, as the iron gates of ornamental scrollwork were
swung back, "there's a considerable change in this place since I was
here last. Well kept up indeed! Not a dead leaf left under the old
walnuts, and the grass looks as smooth as if they had a dozen gardeners
rolling it every day."

"And the drive," said Norman, "more like a garden walk than a road! But
oh! what a splendid cedar!"

"Isn't it! I remember tha