e!'

'I should have thought the folly was in not being patient. Stick to
your profession, and something must come in time.'

'Ay, and how many men do you think are sticking to it in that hope? No,
May, 'tis not real patience to wear out the best years of my life and
hers in idleness, waiting for something not beneath an Egremont to do!'

'But is there nothing to do better than that?'

'Find it for me, May.'

CHAPTER XVI.

INFRA DIG.

'Till every penny which she told,
Creative Fancy turned to gold.'--B. LLOYD.

The Blueposts Bridge had produced a good deal of effect. Ursula
Egremont in special seemed to herself to have been awakened from a
strange dream, and to have resumed her real nature and affections. She
felt as if she would give all her partners at the ball for one shake of
Monsieur's fringed paws; her heart yearned after Aunt Ursel and Miss
Mary; she longed after the chants of the choir; and when she thought of
the effort poor Gerard Godfrey had made to see her, she felt him a
hero, and herself a recreant heroine, who had well-nigh been betrayed
into frivolity and desertion of him, and she registered secret
resolutions of constancy.

She burned to pour out to her mother all the Micklethwayte tidings, and
all her longings to be there; but when the Rectory party set her down
at the door, the footman, with a look of grave importance, announced
that Mr. Egremont was very unwell. 'Mr. Gregory thinks he has taken a
chill from the effect of exposure, sir, and Dr. Hamilton has been sent
for.'

The Canon and his wife both got out on this intelligence, and Mrs.
Egremont was summoned to see them. She came, looking more frightened
than they thought the occasion demanded, for she was appalled by the
severe pain in the head and eyes; but they comforted her by assuring
her that her husband had suffered in the same manner in the spring, and
she saw how well he had recovered; and then telling Nuttie to bring
word what the doctor's report was, and then spend the evening at the
Rectory, they departed, while poor Nuttie only had one kiss, one
inquiry whether she were rested, before her mother fled back to the
patient.

Nor did she see her again till after the doctor's visit, and then it
was only to desire her to tell her uncle that the attack was pronounced
to be a return of the illness of last spring, and that it would be
expedient to go abroad for the winter.

Go abroad! It had always been a vision