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constant kindness； and evident liking for Margaret； stood him in good
stead； he made her a sort of confidante； bestowing on her his
immeasurable appreciation of Flora's perfections； and telling her how
well he was getting on with 〃the old gentleman〃a name under which
she failed to recognise her father。
As to Tom； he wrote his congratulations to Ethel； that she might make
a wedding present of her Etruscan vases； the Cupids on which must
have been put there by anticipation。 Richard heard none of the
doubts； and gave kind； warm congratulations； promising to return home
for the wedding； and Mary and Blanche no sooner heard a whisper about
bride's…maids than all their opposition faded away； in a manner that
quite scandalised Ethel； while it set Margaret on reminiscences of
her having been a six…year…old bride's…maid to Flora's godmother；
Mrs。 Arnott。
As to the gossip in the town； Ethel quite dreaded the sight of every
one without Flora to protect her； and certainly； Flora's unaffected；
quiet manner was perfection； and kept off all too forward
congratulations； while it gratified those whom she was willing to
encourage。
There was no reason for waiting； and Mr。 Rivers was as impatient as
his son； so an understanding arose that the wedding； should take
place near the end of the Christmas holidays。
Flora showed herself sensible and considerate。 Always open…handed；
her father was inclined to do everything liberally； and laid no
restrictions on her preparations； but she had too much discretion to
be profuse； and had a real regard for the welfare of the rest。 She
laughed with Ethel at the anticipations of the Stoneborough ladies
that she must be going to London； and； at the requests； as a great
favour； that they might be allowed the sight of her trousseau。 Her
wedding…dress； white silk； with a white cashmere mantle； was； indeed；
ordered from Meta's London dressmaker； but； for the rest； she
contented herself with an expedition to Whitford； accompanied by Miss
Bracy and her two enchanted pupils； and there laid in a stock of
purchases； unpretending and in good taste； aiming only at what could
be well done； and not attempting the decorative wardrobe of a great
lady。 Ethel was highly amused when the Misses Anderson came for
their inspection； to see their concealed disappointment at finding no
under garments trimmed with Brussels lace； nor pocket…handkerchiefs
all open…work； except a centre of the size of a crown…piece； and the
only thing remarkable was Margaret's beautiful marking in embroidery。
There was some compensation in the costly wedding presentsFlora had
reaped a whole harvest from friends of her own； grateful patients of
her father； and the whole Rivers and Langdale connection； but； in
spite of the brilliant uselessness of most of these； the young ladies
considered themselves ill…used； thought Dr。 May never would have been
shabby； and were of opinion that when Miss Ward had married her
father's surgical pupil； her outfit had been a far more edifying
spectacle。
The same moderation influenced Flora's other arrangements。 Dr。 May
was resigned to whatever might be thought most proper； stipulating
only that he should not have to make a speech； but Flora felt that；
in their house； a grand breakfast would be an unsuccessful and
melancholy affair。 If the bride had been any one else； she could
have enjoyed making all go off well； but； under present
circumstances； it would be great pain to her father and Margaret； a
misery to Ethel； and something she dared not think of to the guests。
She had no difficulty in having it dispensed with。 George was glad
to avoid 〃a great nuisance。〃 Mr。 Rivers feared the fatigue； and；
with his daughter； admired Flora for her amiability； and； as to the
home party； no words could express their gratitude to her for letting
them off。 Mary and Blanche did； indeed； look rather blank； but
Blanche was consoled； by settling with Hector the splendours in store
for Alan and Margaret； and Mary cared the less； as there would be no
Harry to enjoy the fun。
The bride…maiden's glory was theirs by right； though Ethel was an
unsatisfactory chief for such as desired splendour。 She protested
against anything incongruous with January； or that could not be
useful afterwards； and Meta took her part； laughing at the cruel
stroke they were preparing for Bellairs。 Ethel begged for dark silks
and straw bonnets； and Flora said that she had expected to hear of
brown stuff and gray duffle； but owned that they had better omit the
ordinary muslin garb in the heart of winter。 The baby bride's…maid
was； at last； the chief consideration。 Margaret suggested how pretty
she and Blanche would look in sky…blue merino； trimmed with swan's…
down。 Meta was charmed with the idea； and though Ethel stuck out her
shoulder…blades and poked out her head； and said she should look like
the ugly duckling； she was clamorously reminded that the ugly
duckling ended by being a swan； and promised that she should be
allowed a bonnet of a reasonable size； trimmed with white； for Mr。
Rivers's good taste could endure； as little as Dr。 May's sense of
propriety； the sight of a daughter without shade to her face； Ethel；
finally； gave in； on being put in mind that her papa had a penchant
for swan's…down； and on Margaret's promising to wear a dress of the
same as theirs。
Ethel was pleased and satisfied by Flora's dislike of parade； and
attention to the feelings of all。 Passing over the one great fact；
the two sisters were more of one mind than usual； probably because
all latent jealousy of Ethel had ceased in Flora's mind。 Hitherto；
she had preferred the being the only practically useful person in the
family； and had encouraged the idea of Ethel's gaucherie but now she
desired to render her sister able to take her place； and did all in
her power to put her in good heart。
For Etheldred was terrified at the prospect of becoming responsible
housekeeper。 Margaret could only serve as an occasional reference。
Her morning powers became too uncertain to be depended on for any
regular； necessary duty； and it would have oppressed her so much to
order the dinners； which she never saw； that； though she offered to
resume the office； Flora would not hear of Ethel's consenting。 If it
were her proper business； Ethel supposed she could do it； but another
hour of her leisure was gone； and what would become of them all； with
her； a proverb for heedlessness； and ignorance of ordinary details。
She did not know that these were more proverbial than actual； and；
having a bad name； she believed in it herself。 However； Flora made
it her business to persuade her that her powers were as good for
household matters； as for books； or Cocksmoor； instructed her in her
own methodical plans； and made her keep house for a fortnight； with
so much success that she began to be hopeful。
In the attendance on Margaret； the other great charge； old nurse was
the security； and Ethel； who had felt her self much less unhandy than
before； was； to succeed to the abode； in her roomBlanche being
promoted from the nursery to the old attic。 〃And；〃 said Flora
consolingly； 〃if dear Margaret ever should be ill； you may reckon on
me。〃
Miss Flora May made her last appearance at the Ladies' Committee to
hear the reply from the principal of the college。 It was a civil
letter； but declined taking any steps in the matter without more
certain intelligence of the wishes of the incumbent of the parish or
of the holders of the land in question。
The ladies abused all collegesas prejudiced old Bodies； and feared
that it would be impossible to ask Mrs。 Perkinson's niece to take the
school while there was neither room nor lodging。 So Miss Rich
recorded the correspondence； and the vote of censure； by which it was
to be hoped the Ladies' Committee of Market Stoneborough inflicted a
severe blow on the principal and fellows of M College。
〃Never mind； Ethel；〃 said Flora。 〃I shall meet Sir Henry Walkinghame
in London； and will talk to him。 We shall yet astonish the muses。
If we can get the land without them； we shall be able to manage it
our own way； without obligations。〃
〃You forget the money！〃
〃We will keep them from dissipating itor that might be no harm！ A
hundred pounds will be easily found； and we should then have it in
our own hands。 Besides； you know； I don't mean to give up。 I shall
write a polite note to Mrs。 Ledwich； begging to subscribe on my own
account； and to retain my seat！ and you will see what we shall do。〃
〃You mean to come down with the external authority；〃 said Ethel；
smiling。
〃True！ and though my driving in with a pair of horses may make little
difference to you； Ethel； depend upon it； Mrs。 Ledwich will be the
more amenable。 Whenever I want to be particularly impressive； I
shall bring in that smelling…bottle； with the diamond stopper that
won't come out； and you will find that carries all before it。〃
〃A talisman！〃 said Ethel； laughing。 〃But I had rather they yielded
to a sense of right！〃
〃So had I；〃 said Flora。 〃Perhaps you will rule them that way？〃
〃Not I！〃 cried Ethel； terrified。
〃Then you must come to me； and secondary motives。 Seri