will know how to be grateful when she is," said Margaret.

"I say, Richard," exclaimed Ethel, "this is hospital-meeting day, so you
won't be wanted to drive papa."

"No, I am at your service; do you want a walk?"

So it was determined that Richard and Ethel should walk together to
Cocksmoor.

No two people could be much more unlike than Richard and Etheldred May;
but they were very fond of each other. Richard was sometimes seriously
annoyed by Ethel's heedlessness, and did not always understand her
sublimities, but he had a great deal of admiration for one who partook
so much of his father's nature; and Ethel had a due respect for her
eldest brother, gratitude and strong affection for many kindnesses,
a reverence for his sterling goodness, and his exemption from her own
besetting failings, only a little damped by compassionate wonder at
his deficiency in talent, and by her vexation at not being always
comprehended.

They went by the road, for the plantation gate was far too serious an
undertaking for any one not in the highest spirits for enterprise. On
the way there was a good deal of that desultory talk, very sociable and
interesting, that is apt to prevail between two people, who would never
have chosen each other for companions, if they were not of the same
family, but who are nevertheless very affectionate and companionable.
Ethel was anxious to hear what her brother thought of papa's spirits,
and whether he talked in their drives.

"Sometimes," said Richard. "It is just as it happens. Now and then he
goes on just like himself, and then at other times he will not speak for
three or four miles."

"And he sighs?" said Ethel. "Those sighs are so very sad, and long, and
deep! They seem to have whole volumes in them, as if there was such a
weight on him."

"Some people say he is not as much altered as they expected," said
Richard.

"Oh! do they? Well! I can't fancy any one feeling it more. He can't
leave off his old self, of course, but--" Ethel stopped short.

"Margaret is a great comfort to him," said Richard.

"That she is. She thinks of him all day long, and I don't think either
of them is ever so happy as in the evening, when he sits with her. They
talk about mamma then--"

It was just what Richard could not do, and he made some observation to
change the subject, but Ethel returned to it, so far as to beg to know
how the arm was going on, for she did not like to say anything about it
to papa.

"I