illed at the idea
of being again the best beloved, and her energetic spirit bounded at the
thought of being no longer condemned to a life of idle ease. Still it
was too new a light to her to be readily accepted, after she had looked
on him so long, merely as a familiar of the house, attentive to her,
because she fell to his share, when Flora was occupied. She liked him,
decidedly; she could possibly do more; but she was far more inclined
to dread, than to desire, any disturbance of their present terms of
intercourse.

"However," thought she, "I must see my way. If he should have any such
thing in his head, to go on as we do now would be committing myself, and
I will not do that, unless I am sure it is right. Oh, papa, you would
settle it for me! But I will have it out with Flora. She will find out
what I cannot--how far he is a man for whom one ought to care. I do
not think Norman liked him, but then Norman has so keen a sense of
the world-touched. I suppose I am that! If any other life did but seem
appointed for me, but one cannot tell what is thwarting providential
leading, and if this be as good a man as--What would Ethel say? If I
could but talk to Dr. May! But Flora I will catch, before I see him
again, that I may know how to behave."

Catching Flora was not the easiest thing in the world, among her
multifarious occupations; but Meta was not the damsel to lose an
opportunity for want of decision.

Flora saw what was coming, and was annoyed with herself for having given
the alarm; but, after all, it must have come some time or other, though
she had rather that Meta had been more involved first.

It should be premised that Mrs. Rivers had no notion of the degree of
attachment felt by her brother for Meta; she only knew that Lady Leonora
had a general distrust of her family, and she felt it a point of
honour to promote no dangerous meetings, and to encourage Sir Henry--a
connection who would be most valuable, both as conferring importance
upon George in the county, and as being himself related to persons of
high influence, whose interest might push on her brothers. Preferment
for Richard; promotion for Harry; nay, diplomatic appointments for
Tom, came floating before her imagination, even while she smiled at her
Alnaschar visions.

But the tone of Meta, as she drew her almost forcibly into her room,
showed her that she had given a great shock to her basket.

"Flora, if you would only give me a minute, and would