ain!"

"I don't suppose he will. Papa did not ask him."

"Dear me, Norman! Why not? Isn't papa very fond of him? Why shouldn't he
come?"

"Don't you see, Ethel, that would be of no use while poor Margaret is no
better. If he gained her affections, it would only make her unhappy."

"Oh, but she is much better. She can raise herself up now without
help, and sat up ever so long this morning, without leaning back on her
cushions. She is getting well--you know Sir Matthew said she would."

"Yes; but I suppose papa thinks they had better say nothing till she is
quite well."

"And when she is! How famous it will be."

"Then there's another thing; he is very poor, you know."

"I am sure papa doesn't care about people being rich."

"I suppose Alan thinks he ought not to marry, unless he could make his
wife comfortable."

"Look here--it would be all very easy: she should stay with us, and be
comfortable here, and he go to sea, and get lots of prize money."

"And that's what you call domestic felicity!" said Norman, laughing.

"He might have her when he was at home," said Ethel.

"No, no; that would never do," said Norman. "Do you think Ernescliffe's
a man that would marry a wife for her father to maintain her?"

"Why, papa would like it very much. He is not a mercenary father in a
book."

"Hey! what's that?" said a voice Ethel little expected. "Contraband talk
at contraband times? What's this!"

"Did you hear, papa?" said Ethel, looking down.

"Only your last words, as I came up to ask Norman what he had done with
my pocket-book. Mind, I ask no impertinent questions; but, if you have
no objection, I should like to know what gained me the honour of that
compliment."

"Norman?" said Ethel interrogatively, and blushing in emulation of her
brother, who was crimson.

"I'll find it," said he, rushing off with a sort of nod and sign, that
conveyed to Ethel that there was no help for it.

So, with much confusion, she whispered into her papa's ear that Norman
had been telling her something he guessed about Mr. Ernescliffe.

Her father at first smiled, a pleased amused smile. "Ah! ha! so Master
June has his eyes and ears open, has he? A fine bit of gossip to regale
you with on his return!"

"He told me to say not one word," said Ethel.

"Right--mind you don't," said Dr. May, and Ethel was surprised to see
how sorrowful his face became. At the same moment Norman returned,
still very red, and said, "I've put out