power; for it was,
perhaps, her nature to love best that which depended upon her, and gave
her a sense of exercising protection; as she had always loved Margaret
better than Ethel.

"Mrs. Rivers was an admirable woman." So every one felt, and her
youthful beauty and success in the fashionable world made her qualities,
as a wife and mistress of a household, the more appreciated. She never
set aside her religious habits or principles, was an active member
of various charitable associations, and found her experience of the
Stoneborough Ladies' Committee applicable among far greater names.
Indeed, Lady Leonora thought dear Flora Rivers's only fault, her
over-strictness, which encouraged Meta in the same, but there were
points that Flora could not have yielded on any account, without failing
in her own eyes.

She made time for everything, and though, between business and fashion,
she seemed to undertake more than mortal could accomplish, it was all
effected, and excellently. She did, indeed, sigh over the briefness of
the time that she could bestow on her child or on home correspondence,
and declared that she should rejoice in rest; but, at the same time, her
achievements were a positive pleasure to her.

Meta, in the meantime, had been living passively on the most
affectionate terms with her brother and sister, and though often
secretly yearning after the dear old father, whose darling she had
been, and longing for power of usefulness, she took it on trust that her
present lot had been ordered for her, and was thankful, like the bird
of Dr. May's fable, for the pleasures in her path--culling sweet morals,
and precious thoughts out of book, painting or concert, occasions for
Christian charities in each courtesy of society, and opportunities
for cheerful self-denial and submission, whenever any little wish was
thwarted.

So Norman said she had turned into a fine lady! It was a sudden and
surprising intimation, and made a change in the usually bright and
calm current of her thoughts. She was not aware that there had been any
alteration in herself, and it was a revelation that set her to examine
where she had changed--poor little thing! She was not angry, she did
not resent the charge, she took it for granted that, coming from such a
source, it must be true and reasonable--and what did it mean? Did they
think her too gay, or neglectful of old friends? What had they been
saying to Harry about her?

"Ah!" thought Meta, "I