that with Mr。 Ward's。 Dr。 May had never been entirely satisfied with
the present mode of treatment； and Richard was much struck by hearing
him say； in answer to Sir Matthew； that he knew his recovery might
have been more speedy and less painful if he had been able to attend
to it at first； or to afford time for being longer laid up。 A change
of treatment was now to be made； likely soon to relieve the pain； to
be less tedious and troublesome； and to bring about a complete cure
in three or four months at latest。 In hearing such tidings； there
could be little thought of the person who brought them； and Margaret
did not； till the last moment； learn that Richard thought Sir Matthew
very clever and sensible； and certain to understand her case。 Her
last visitor was her father： 〃Asleep； Margaret？ I thought I had
better go to Norman first in case he should be awake。〃
〃Was he？〃
〃Yes； but his pulse is better to…night。 He was lying awake to hear
what Fleet thought of me。 I suppose Richard told you？〃
〃Yes； dear papa； what a comfort it is！〃
〃Those fellows in London do keep up to the mark！ But I would not be
there for something。 I never saw a man so altered。 However； if he
can only do for you as wellbut it is of no use talking about it。
I may trust you to keep yourself calm； my dear？〃
〃I am tryingindeed I am； dear papa。 If you could help being
anxious for methough I know it is worse for you； for I only have to
lie still； and you have to settle for me。 But I have been thinking
how well off I am； able to enjoy so much； and be employed all day
long。 It is nothing to compare with that poor girl you told me of；
and you need not be unhappy for me。 I have some verses to say over
to myself to…night：
0 Lord my God； do Thou Thy holy will；
I will lie still；
I will not stir； lest I forsake Thine arm
And break the charm
That lulls me； clinging to my Father's breast
In perfect rest。
Is not that comfortable？〃
〃My childmy dear childI will say no more； lest I should break
your sweet peace with my impatience。 I will strive for the same
temper； my Margaret。 Bless you； dearest； good…night。〃
After a night spent in waking intervals of such thoughts； Margaret
found the ordinary morning； and the talk she could not escape；
somewhat oppressive。 Her brothers and sisters disturbed her by their
open expressions of hope and anxiety； she dreaded to have the balance
of tranquillity overset； and then blamed herself for selfishness in
not being as ready to attend to them as usual。 Ethel and Norman came
up after breakfast； their aversion by no means decreased by further
acquaintance。 Ethel was highly indignant at the tone in which he had
exclaimed； 〃What； May； have you one as young as this？〃 on discovering
the existence of the baby； and when Norman observed that was not so
atrocious either； she proceeded； 〃You did not hear the contemptuous；
compassionate tone when he asked papa what he meant to do with all
these boys。〃
〃I'm glad he has not to settle；〃 said Norman。
〃Papa said Harry was to be a sailor； and he said it was a good way to
save expenses of educationa good thing。〃
〃No doubt；〃 said Norman； 〃he thinks papa only wants to get rid of us；
or if not； that it is an amiable weakness。〃
〃But I can't see anything so shocking in this；〃 said Margaret。
〃It is not the words；〃 said Norman； 〃the look and tone convey it； but
there are different opinions。 Flora is quite smitten with him； he
talks so politely to her。〃
〃And Blanche！〃 said Ethel。 〃The little affected pussy…cat made a set
at him； bridled and talked in her mincing voice； with all her airs；
and made him take a great deal of notice of her。〃
Nurse here came to prepare for the surgeon's visit。
It was over； and Margaret awaited the judgment。 Sir Matthew had
spoken hopefully to her； but she feared to fasten hopes on what might
have no meaning； and could rely on nothing； till she had seen her
father； who never kept back his genuine pinion； and would least of
all from her。 She found her spirits too much agitated to talk to her
sisters； and quietly begged them to let her be quite alone till the
consultation was over； and she lay trying to prepare herself to
submit thankfully； whether she might be bidden to resign herself to
helplessness； or to let her mind open once more to visions of joyous
usefulness。 Every step she hoped would prove to be her father's
approach； and the longest hour of her life was that before he entered
her room。 His face said that the tidings were good； and yet she
could not ask。
〃Well； Margaret； I am glad we had him down。 He thinks you may get
about again； though it may be a long time first。〃
〃Does he？oh； papa！〃 and the colour spread over her face； as she
squeezed his hand very fast。
〃He has known the use of the limbs return almost suddenly after even
a year or two；〃 and Dr。 May gave her the grounds of the opinion； and
an account of other like cases； which he said had convinced him；
〃though； my poor child；〃 he said； 〃I feared the harm I had done you
was irremediable； but thanks〃 He turned away his face； and the
clasp of their hands spoke the rest。
Presently he told Margaret that she was no longer to be kept
prostrate； but she was to do exactly as was most comfortable to her；
avoiding nothing but fatigue。 She might be lifted to the sofa the
next day； and if that agreed with her； she might be carried
downstairs。
This； in itself； after she had been confined to her bed for three
months； was a release from captivity； and all the brothers and
sisters rejoiced as if she was actually on her feet again。 Richard
betook himself to constructing a reading…frame for the sofa； Harry
tormented Miss Winter by insisting on a holiday for the others； and
gained the day by an appeal to his father； then declared he should go
and tell Mr。 Wilmot the good news； and Norman； quite enlivened； took
up his hat； and said he would come too。
In all his joy； however； Dr。 May could not cease bewailing the
alteration in his old friend； and spent half the evening in telling
Margaret how different he had once been； in terms little less
measured than Ethel's： 〃I never saw such a change。 Mat Fleet was one
of the most warm； open…hearted fellows in the world； up to anything。
I can hardly believe he is the sameturned into a mere machine； with
a moving spring of self…interest！ I don't believe he cares a rush
for any living thing！ Except for your sake； Margaret； I wish I had
never seen him again； and only remembered him as he was at Edinburgh；
as I remembered dear old Spencer。 It is a grievous thing！ Ruined
entirely！ No doubt that London life must be tryingthe constant
change and bewilderment of patients preventing much individual care
and interest。 It must be very hardening。 No family ties either；
nothing to look to but pushing his way。 Yes！ there's great excuse
for poor Mat。 I never knew fully till now the blessing it was that
your dear mother was willing to take me so early； and that this place
was open to me with all its home connections and interests。 I am
glad I never had anything to do with London！〃
And when he was alone with Norman； he could not help saying； 〃Norman；
my boy； I'm more glad than ever you yielded to me about your Greek
these holidays； and for the reason you did。 Take care the love of
rising and pushing never gets hold of you； there's nothing that
faster changes a man from his better self。〃
Meanwhile； Sir Matthew Fleet had met another old college friend in
London； and was answering his inquiries for the Dick May of ancient
times。
〃Poor May！ I never saw a man so thrown away。 With his talent and
acuteness； he might be the most eminent man of his day； if he had
only known how to use them。 But he was always the same careless；
soft…hearted fellow； never knowing how to do himself any good； and he
is the same still； not a day older nor wiser。 It was a fatal thing
for him that there was that country practice ready for him to step
into； and even of that he does not make as good a thing as he might。
Of course； he married early； and there he is； left a widower with a
house full of childrenscreaming babies； and great tall sons growing
up； and he without a notion what he shall do with them； as heedless
as eversaving nothing； of course。 I always knew it was what he
would come to； if he would persist in burying himself in that
wretched little country town； but I hardly thought； after all he has
gone through； to find him such a mere boy still。 And yet he is one
of the cleverest men I ever metwith such talent； and such thorough
knowledge of his profession； that it does one good to hear him talk。
Poor May！ I am sorry for him； he might have been anything； but that
early marriage and country practice were the ruin of him。〃
CHAPTER XIV。
To thee； dear maid； each kindly wile
Was known； that elder sisters know；
To check the unseasonable smile；
With warning hand and serious brow。
From dream to dream with her to rove；
Like fairy nurse with hermit child；
Teach her to think； to pray； to love；
Make grief less bitter； joy less wild。