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their full width； not understanding what could have befallen her
sisters。
〃And what is Ethel doing？〃 asked the doctor。
〃Packing up parcels； papa；〃 and Ethel's face was raised； looking very
merry。
〃Packing parcels！ How long will they last tied up？〃 said Dr。 May；
laughing。
〃Lasting is the concern of nothing in the fair； papa；〃 answered she；
in the same tone。
For Ethel was noted as the worst packer in the house； but； having
offered to wrap up a pincushion； sold by a hurried Miss Hoxton； she
became involved in the office for the rest of the daythe same which
Bellairs and her companion performed at the Langdale counter。 Flora
was too ready and dexterous to need any such aid； but the Misses
Hoxton were glad to be spared the trouble； and Blanche； whose fingers
were far neater than Ethel's； made the task much easier； and was kept
constant to it by her dread of the dark moustache； which was often
visible near their tent； searching； she thought； for her。
Their humble employment was no sinecure； for this was the favourite
stall with the purchasers of better style； since the articles were；
in general； tasteful； and fairly worth the moderate price set on
them。 At Miss Cleveland's counter there was much noisy laughter
many jocular cheatstricks for gaining money； and refusals to give
change； and it seemed to be very popular with the Stoneborough
people； and to carry on a brisk trade。 The only languor was in Lady
Leonora's quarterthe articles were too costly； and hung on hand；
nor were the ladies sufficiently well known； nor active enough； to
gain custom； excepting Meta； who drove a gay traffic at her end of
the stall； which somewhat redeemed the general languor。
Her eyes were； all the time； watching for her father； and； suddenly
perceiving him； she left her trade in charge of the delighted and
important Mary； and hastened to walk round with him； and show him the
humours of the fair。
Mary； in her absence； had the supreme happiness of obtaining Norman
as a customer。 He wanted a picture for his rooms at Oxford； and
water…coloured drawings were； as Tom had observed； suitable staple
commodities for Miss Rivers。 Mary tried to make him choose a
brightly…coloured pheasant； with a pencil background； and； then； a
fine foaming sea…piece； by some unknown Lady Adelaide； that much
dazzled her imagination； but nothing would serve him but a sketch of
an old cedar tree； with Stoneborough Minster in the distance； and the
Welsh hills beyond； which Mary thought a remarkable piece of bad
taste； sincecould he not see all that any day of his life？ and was
it worth while to give fourteen shillings and sixpence for it？ But
he said it was all for the good of Cocksmoor； and Mary was only too
glad to add to her hoard of coin； so she only marvelled at his
extravagance； and offered to take care of it for him； but； to this；
he would not consent。 He made her pack it up for him； and had just
put the whitey…brown parcel under his arm； when Mr。 Rivers and his
daughter came up； before he was aware。 Mary proudly advertised Meta
that she had sold something for her。
〃Indeed！ What was it？〃
〃Your great picture of Stoneborough！〃 said Mary。
〃Is that gone？ I am sorry you have parted with that； my dear； it was
one of your best；〃 said Mr。 Rivers； in his soft； sleepy； gentle tone。
〃Oh； papa； I can do another。 But； I wonder！ I put that extortionate
price on it； thinking no one would give it； and so that I should keep
it for you。 Who has it； Mary？〃
〃Norman； there。 He would have it； though I told him it was very
dear。〃
Norman； pressed near them by the crowd； had been unable to escape；
and stood blushing； hesitating； and doubting whether he ought to
restore the prize； which he had watched so long； and obtained so
eagerly。
〃Oh！ it is you？〃 said Mr。 Rivers politely。 〃Oh； no； do not think of
exchanging it。 I am rejoiced that one should have it who can
appreciate it。 It was its falling into the hands of a stranger that
I disliked。 You think with me； that it is one of her best drawings？〃
〃Yes； I do；〃 said Norman； still rather hesitating。 〃She did that
with C； when he was here last year。 He taught her very well。 Have
you that other here； that you took with him； my dear？ The view from
the gate； I mean。〃
〃No； dear papa。 You told me not to sell that。〃
〃Ah！ I remember； that is right。 But there are some very pretty
copies from Prout here。〃
While he was seeking them； Meta contrived to whisper； 〃If you could
persuade him to go indoorsthis confusion of people is so bad for
him； and I must not come away。 I was in hopes of Dr。 May； but he is
with the little ones。〃
Norman signed comprehension； and Meta said； 〃Those copies are not
worth seeing； but you know； papa； you have the originals in the
library。〃
Mr。 Rivers looked pleased； but was certain that Norman could not
prefer the sketches to this gay scene。 However； it took very little
persuasion to induce him to do what he wished； and he took Norman's
arm； crossed the lawn； and arrived in his own study； where it was a
great treat to him to catch any one who would admire his accumulation
of prints； drawings； coins； etc。； and his young friend was both very
well amused and pleased to be setting Miss Rivers's mind at ease on
her father's account。 It was not till half…past four that Dr。 May
knocked at the door； and stood surprised at finding his son there。
Mr。 Rivers spoke warmly of the young Oxonian's kindness in leaving
the fair for an old man； and praised Norman's taste in art。 Norman
rose to take leave； but still thought it incumbent on him to offer to
give up the picture； if Mr。 Rivers set an especial value on it。 But
Mr。 Rivers went to the length of being very glad that it was in his
possession； and added to it a very pretty drawing of the same size；
by a noted master； which had been in the water…colour exhibition；
and； while Norman walked away； well pleased； Mr。 Rivers began to
extol him to his father； as a very superior and sensible young man；
of great promise； and began to wish George had the same turn。
Norman； on returning to the fancy fair； found the world in all the
ardour of raffles。 Lady Leonora's contributions were the chief
prizes； which attracted every one； and； of course； the result was
delightfully incongruous。 Poor Ethel； who had been persuaded to
venture a shilling to please Blanche； who had spent all her own；
obtained the two jars in potichomanie； and was regarding them with a
face worth painting。 Harvey Anderson had a doll； George Rivers a
wooden monkey； that jumped over a stick； and； if Hector Ernescliffe
was enchanted at winning a beautiful mother…of…pearl inlaid workbox；
which he had vainly wished to buy for Margaret； Flora only gained a
match…box of her own； well known always to miss fire； but which had
been decided to be good enough for the bazaar。
Bv fair means or foul； the commodities were cleared off； and； while
the sunbeams faded from the trodden grass； the crowds disappeared；
and the vague compliment； 〃a very good bazaar；〃 was exchanged between
the lingering sellers and their friends。
Flora was again to sleep at the Grange； and return the next day； for
a committee to be held over the gains； which were not yet fully
ascertained。 So Dr。 May gathered his flock together； and packed
them； boys and all； into the two conveyances； and Ethel bade Meta
good…night； almost wondering to hear her merry voice say； 〃It has
been a delightful day； has it not？ It was so kind of your brother to
take care of papa。〃
〃Oh； it was delightful！〃 echoed Mary； 〃and I took one pound fifteen
and sixpence！〃
〃I hope it will do great good to Cocksmoor；〃 added Meta； 〃but； if you
want real help； you know； you must come to us。〃
Ethel smiled； but hurried her departure； for she saw Blanche again
tormented by Mr。 George Rivers； to know what had become of the guard；
telling her that； if she would not say； he should be furiously
jealous。
Blanche hid her face on Ethel's arm； when they were in the carriage；
and almost cried with indignant 〃shamefastness。〃 That long…desired
day had not been one of unmixed happiness to her； poor child； and
Ethel doubted whether it had been so to any one； except； indeed； to
Mary； whose desires never soared so high but that they were easily
fulfilled； and whose placid content was not easily wounded。 All she
was wishing now was； that Harry were at home to receive his paper…
case。
The return to Margaret was real pleasure。 The narration of all that
had passed was an event to her。 She was so charmed with her
presents； of every degree； things； unpleasant at the time； could； by
drollery in the relating； be made mirthful fun ever after； Dr。 May
and the boys were so comical in their observationsMary's wonder and
simplicity came in so amazinglyand there was such merriment at
Ethel's two precious jars； that she could hardly wish they had not
come to her。 On one head they were all agreed； in dislike of George
Rivers； whom Mary pronounced to be a detestable man； and； when gently
called to order by Margaret； defended it； by saying that Miss Bracy
said it was better to detest than to hate； while Blanche coloured up
to the ears；