It should be premised that Mrs. Rivers had no notion of the degree of attachment felt by her brother for Meta; she only knew that Lady Leonora had a general distrust of her family, and she felt it a point of honour to promote no dangerous meetings, and to encourage Sir Henry--a connection who would be most valuable, both as conferring importance upon George in the county, and as being himself related to persons of high influence, whose interest might push on her brothers. Preferment for Richard; promotion for Harry; nay, diplomatic appointments for Tom, came floating before her imagination, even while she smiled at her Alnaschar visions.
But the tone of Meta, as she drew her almost forcibly into her room, showed her that she had given a great shock to her basket.
'Flora, if you would only give me a minute, and would tell me--'
'What?' asked Flora, not inclined to spare her blushes.
'Whether, whether you meant anything in earnest?'
'My dear little goose, did no one ever make an innocent joke in their lives before?'
'It was very silly of me,' said Meta; 'but you gave me a terrible fright.'
'Was it so very terrible, poor little bird?' said Flora, in commiseration. 'Well then, you may safely think of him as a man tame about the house. It was much prettier of you not to appropriate the flowers, as any other damsel would have done.'
'Do you really and truly think--' began Meta; but, from the colour of her cheek and the timid resolution of her tone, Flora thought it safest not to hear the interrogation, and answered, 'I know what he comes here for--it is only as a refuge from his mother's friend, old Lady Drummond, who would give the world to catch him for her daughters--that's all. Put my nonsense out of your head, and be yourself, my sweet one.'
Flora had never gone so near an untruth, as when she led Meta to believe this was the sole reason. But, after all, what did Flora herself know to the contrary?
Meta recovered her ease, and Flora marked, as weeks passed on, that she grew more accustomed to Sir Henry's attentions. A little while, and she would find herself so far bound by the encouragement she had given, that she could not reject him.
'My dear,' said George, 'when do you think of going down to take the baby to the Grange? She looks dull, I think.'
'Really, I think it is hardly worth while to go down en masse,' said Flora. 'These last debates may be important, and it is a bad time to quit one's post. Don't you think so?'
'As you please--the train is a great bore.'
'And we will send the baby down the last day before we go to Ryde, with Preston and Butts to take care of her. We can't spare him to take them down, till we shut up the house. It is so much easier for us to go to Portsmouth from hence.'
The lurking conviction was that one confidential talk with Ethel would cause the humming-bird to break the toils that were being wound invisibly round her. Ethel and her father knew nothing of the world, and were so unreasonable in their requirements! Meta would consult them all, and all her scruples would awaken, and perhaps Dr. Spencer might be interrogated on Sir Henry's life abroad, where Flora had a suspicion that gossip had best not be raked up.
Not that she concealed anything positively known to her, or that she was not acting just as she would have done by her own child. She found herself happily married to one whom home notions would have rejected, and she believed Meta would be perfectly happy with a man of decided talent, honour, and unstained character, even though he should not come up to her father's or Ethel's standard.
If Meta were to marry as they would approve, she would have far to seek among 'desirable connections.' Meantime, was not Flora acting with exemplary judgment and self-denial?
So she wrote that she could not come home; Margaret was much disappointed, and so was Meta, who had looked to Ethel to unravel the tangles of her life.
'No, no, little miss,' said Flora to herself; 'you don't talk to Ethel till your fate is irrevocable. Why, if I had listened to her, I should be thankful to be singing at Mrs. Hoxton's parties at this minute! and, as for herself, look at Norman Ogilvie! No, no, after six weeks' yachting--moonlight, sea, and sympathy--I defy her to rob Sir Henry of his prize! And, with Meta lady of Cocksmoor, even Ethel herself must be charmed!'
CHAPTER XX.
We barter life for pottage, sell true bliss For wealth or power, for pleasure or renown; Thus, Esau-like, our Father's blessing miss, Then wash with fruitless tears our faded crown. Christian Year.
'Papa, here is a message from Flora for you,' said Margaret, holding up a letter; 'she wants to know whom to consult about the baby.'
'Ha! what's the matter?'
Margaret read--'Will you ask papa whom I had better call in to see the baby. There does not seem to be anything positively amiss, but I am not happy about her. There is a sleepiness about her which I do not understand, and, when roused, she is fretful, and will not be amused. There is a look in her eyes which I do not like, and I should wish to have some advice for her. Lady Leonora recommends Mr.--, but I always distrust people who are very much the rage, and I shall send for no one without papa's advice.'
'Let me see!' said Dr. May, startled, and holding out his hand for the letter. 'A look about the eyes! I shall go up and see her myself. Why has not she brought her home?'
'It would have been far better,' said Margaret.
'Sleepy and dull! She was as lively a child when they took her away as I ever saw. What! is there no more about her? The letter is crammed with somebody's fete--vote of want of confidence--debate last night. What is she about? She fancies she knows everything, and, the fact is, she knows no more about infants--I could see that, when the poor little thing was a day old!'
'Do you think there is cause for fear?' said Margaret anxiously.
'I can't tell. With a first child, one can't guess what may be mamma's fancy, or what may be serious. But Flora is not too fanciful, and I must see her for my own satisfaction. Let some one write, and say I will come up to- morrow by the twelve o'clock train-- and mind she opens the letter.'
Dr. May kept his word, and the letter had evidently not been neglected; for George was watching for him at the station, and thanked him so eagerly for coming, that Dr. May feared that he was indeed needed, and inquired anxiously.
'Flora is uneasy about her--she seems heavy, and cries when she is disturbed,' replied George. 'Flora has not left her to-day, and hardly yesterday.'
'Have you had no advice for her?'
'Flora preferred waiting till you should come.'
Dr. May made an impatient movement, and thought the way long, till they were set down in Park Lane. Meta came to meet them on the stairs, and said that the baby was just the same, and Flora was in the nursery, and thither they hastily ascended.
'Oh, papa! I am so glad you are come!' said Flora, starting up from her low seat, beside the cradle.
Dr. May hardly paused to embrace his daughter, and she anxiously led him to the cradle, and tried to read his expression, as his eyes fell on the little face, somewhat puffed, but of a waxy whiteness, and the breathing seeming to come from the lips.
'How long has she been so?' he asked, in a rapid, professional manner.
'For about two or three hours. She was very fretful before, but I did not like to call in any one, as you were coming. Is it from her teeth?' said Flora, more and more alarmed by his manner. 'Her complexion is always like that--she cannot bear to be disturbed,' added she, as the child feebly moaned, on Dr. May beginning to take her from her cradle; but, without attending to the objection, he lifted her up, so that she lay as quietly as before, on his arm. Flora had trusted that hope and confidence would come with him; but, on the contrary, every lurking misgiving began to rush wildly over her, as she watched his countenance, while he carried his little granddaughter towards the light, studied her intently, raised her drooping eyelids, and looked into her eyes, scarcely eliciting another moan. Flora dared not ask a question, but looked on with eyes open, as it were, stiffened.
'This is the effect of opium,' were Dr. May's first words, breaking on all with startling suddenness; but, before any one could speak, he added, 'We must try some stimulant directly;' then looking round the room, 'What have
