t his construing!"

"When you go. It will be in a month!"

"He has told no one, I hope."

"No; but I hardly think he will bear not telling Margaret."

"Well--I hate a thing being out of one's own keeping. I should not so
much dislike Margaret's knowing, but I won't have Flora know--mind that,
Ethel," he said, with disproportionate vehemence.

"I only hope Flora will not be vexed. But oh, dear! how nice it will be
when you have it, telling Meta Rivers, and all!"

"And this is a fine way of getting it, standing talking here. Not that I
shall--you little know what public schools can do! But that is no reason
against trying."

"Good-night, then. Only one thing more. You mean that, till further
orders, Margaret should not know?"

"Of course," said Norman impatiently. "She won't take any of Flora's
silly affronts, and, what is more, she would not care half so much as
before Alan Ernescliffe came."

"Oh, Norman, Norman! I'm sure--"

"Why, it is what they always say. Everybody can't be first, and
Ernescliffe has the biggest half of her, I can see."

"I am sure I did not," said Ethel, in a mortified voice.

"Why, of course, it always comes of people having lovers."

"Then I am sure I won't!" exclaimed Ethel.

Norman went into a fit of laughing.

"You may laugh, Norman, but I will never let papa or any of you be
second to any one!" she cried vehemently.

A brotherly home-truth followed: "Nobody asked you, sir, she said!" was
muttered by Norman, still laughing heartily.

"I know," said Ethel, not in the least offended, "I am very ugly, and
very awkward, but I don't care. There never can be anybody in all the
world that I shall like half as well as papa, and I am glad no one is
ever likely to make me care less for him and Cocksmoor."

"Stay till you are tried," said Norman.

Ethel squeezed up her eyes, curled up her nose, showed her teeth in
a horrible grimace, and made a sort of snarl: "Yah! That's the face I
shall make at them!" and then, with another good-night, ran to her own
room.

Norman was, to a certain extent, right with regard to Margaret--her
thoughts and interest had been chiefly engrossed by Alan Ernescliffe,
and so far drawn away from her own family, that when the Alcestis was
absolutely gone beyond all reach of letters for the present, Margaret
could not help feeling somewhat of a void, and as if the home concerns
were not so entire an occupation for her mind as formerly.

She would fain ha