Dr. May was in such a transport of kind-hearted schemes, that he was not easily made to hear that Harry had not a sixpence wherewith to reach London.
Ethel, meanwhile, was standing beside her brother tendering to him some gold, as his last quarter.
'How did you get it, Ethel? do you keep the purse?'
'No, but papa took Cocksmoor in your stead, when--'
'Nonsense, Ethel,' said Harry; 'I don't want it. Have I not all my pay and allowance for the whole time I was dead? And as to robbing Cocksmoor--'
'Yes, keep it, Ethel,' said her father; 'do you think I would take it now, when if there were a thank-offering in the world. --And, by the bye, your Cooksmoor children must have something to remember this by--'
Every one could have envied Norman, for travelling to London with Harry, but that he must proceed to Oxford in two days, when Harry would return to them. The station-master, thinking he could not do enough for the returned mariner, put the two brothers into the coupe, as if they had been a bridal couple, and they were very glad of the privacy, having, as yet, hardly spoken to each other, when Harry's attention was dispersed among so many.
Norman asked many questions about the mission work in the southern hemisphere, and ended by telling his brother of his design, which met with Harry's hearty approbation.
'That's right, old June. There's nothing they want so much, as such as you. How glad my aunt will be! Perhaps you will see David! Oh, if you were to go out to the Loyalty group!'
'Very possibly I might,' said Norman.
'Tell them you are my brother, and how they will receive you! I can see the mop-heads they will dress in honour of you, and what a feast of pork and yams you will have to eat! But there is plenty of work among the Maoris for you--they want a clergyman terribly at the next village to my uncle's place. I say, Norman, it will go hard if I don't get a ship bound for the Pacific, and come and see you.'
'I shall reckon on you. That is, if I have not to stay to help my father.'
'To be sure,' exclaimed Harry; 'I thought you would have stayed at home, and married little Miss Rivers!'
Thus broadly and boyishly did he plunge into that most tender subject, making his brother start and wince, as if he had touched a wound.
'Nonsense!' he cried, almost angrily.
'Well! you used to seem very much smitten, but so, to be sure, were some of the Alcestes with the young ladies at Valparaiso. How we used to roast Owen about that Spanish Donna, and he was as bad at Sydney about the young lady whose father, we told him, was a convict, though he kept such a swell carriage. He had no peace about his father-in-law, the house-breaker! Don't I remember how you pinched her hand the night you were righted!'
'You know nothing about it,' said Norman shortly. 'She is far beyond my reach.'
'A fine lady? Ha! Well, I should have thought you as good as Flora any day,' said Harry indignantly.
'She is what she always was,' said Norman, anxious to silence him; 'but it is unreasonable to think of it. She is all but engaged to Sir Henry Walkinghame.'
'Walkinghame!' cried the volatile sailor. 'I have half a mind to send in my name to Flora as Miss Walkinghame!' and he laughed heartily over that adventure, ending, however, with a sigh, as he said, 'It had nearly cost me a great deal! But tell me, Norman, how has that Meta, as they called her, turned out? I never saw anything prettier or nicer than she was that day of the Roman encampment, and I should be sorry if that fine fashionable aunt of hers, had made her stuck-up and disdainful.'
'No such thing,' said Norman.
'Ha!' said Harry to himself, 'I see how it is! She has gone and made poor old June unhappy, with her scornful airs--a little impertinent puss!--I wonder Flora does not teach her better manners.'
Norman, meanwhile, as the train sped over roofs, and among chimneys, was reproaching himself for running into the fascination of her presence, and then recollecting that her situation, as well as his destiny, both guaranteed that they could meet only as friendly connections.
No carriage awaited them at the station, which surprised Norman, till he recollected that the horses had probably been out all day, and it was eight o'clock. Going to Park Lane in a cab, the brothers were further surprised to find themselves evidently not expected. The butler came to speak to them, saying that Mr. and Mrs. Rivers were gone out to dinner, but would return, probably, at about eleven o'clock. He conducted them upstairs, Harry following his brother, in towering vexation and disappointment, trying to make him turn to hear that they would go directly-- home--to Eton--anywhere--why would he go in at all?
The door was opened, Mr. May was announced, and they were in a silk- lined boudoir, where a little slender figure in black started up, and came forward with outstretched hand.
'Norman!' she cried, 'how are you? Are you come on your way to Oxford?'
'Has not Flora had Mary's letter?'
'Yes, she said she had one. She was keeping it till she had time to read it.'
As she spoke, Meta had given her hand to Harry, as it was evidently expected; she raised her eyes to his face, and said, smiling' and blushing, 'I am sure I ought to know you, but I am afraid I don't.'
'Look again,' said Norman. 'See if you have ever seen him before.'
Laughing, glancing, and casting down her eyes, she raised them with a sudden start of joy, but colouring more deeply, said, 'Indeed, I cannot remember. I dare say I ought.'
'I think you see a likeness,' said Norman.
'Oh, yes, I see,' she answered, faltering; but perceiving how bright were the looks of both, 'No? Impossible! Yes, it is!'
'Yes, it is,' said both brothers with one voice. She clasped her hands, absolutely bounded with transport, then grasped both Harry's hands, and then Norman's, her whole countenance radiant with joy and sympathy beyond expression.
'Dear, dear Dr. May!' was her first exclamation. 'Oh, how happy you must all be! And Margaret?' She looked up at Norman, and came nearer. 'Is not Mr. Ernescliffe come?' she asked softly, and trembling.
'No,' was the low answer, which Harry could not bear to hear, and therefore walked to the window. 'No, Meta, but Margaret is much comforted about him. He died in great peace--in his arms'--as he signed towards his brother. And as Harry continued to gaze out on the stars of gas on the opposite side of the park, he was able to add a few of the particulars.
Meta's eyes glistened with tears, as she said, 'Perhaps it would have been too perfect if he had come; but oh, Norman! how good she is to bear it so patiently! And how gloriously he behaved! How can we make enough of him! And Flora out! how sorry she will be!'
'And she never opened Mary's letter,' said Harry, coming back to them.
'She little thought what it contained,' said Meta. 'Mary's letters are apt to bear keeping, you know, and she was so busy, that she laid it aside for a treat after the day's work. But there! inhospitable wretch that I am! you have had no dinner!'
A refection of tea and cold meat was preferred, and in her own pretty manner Meta lavished her welcomes, trying to cover any pain given by Flora's neglect.
'What makes her so busy?' asked Harry, looking round on the beautifully furnished apartment, which, to many eyes besides those fresh from a Milanesian hut, might have seemed a paradise of luxurious ease.
'You don't know what an important lady you have for a sister,' said Meta merrily.
'But tell me, what can she have to do? I thought you London ladies had nothing to do, but to sit with your hands before you entertaining company.'
Meta laughed heartily. 'Shall I begin at the beginning? I'll describe to-day then, and you must understand that this is what Tom would call a mild specimen--only one evening engagement. Though, perhaps, I ought to start from last night at twelve o'clock, when she was at the Austrian Ambassador's ball, and came home at two; but she was up by eight--she always manages to get through her housekeeping matters before breakfast. At nine, breakfast, and baby--by the bye, you have never inquired for our niece.'
'I have not come to believe in her yet,' said Harry.
'Seeing is believing,' said Meta; 'but no, I won't take an unfair advantage over her mamma; and she will be fast asleep; I never knew a child sleep as she does. So to go on with our day. The papers come, and Miss Leonora is given over to me; for you must know we are wonderful politicians. Flora studies all the debates till George finds out what he has heard in the House, and baby and I profit. Baby goes out walking, and the post comes. Flora
