sullen manner which she almost began to respect. "What is
done for such reasons must make you happy," she said; "though there may
be much that is disagreeable."

"Not the study," said Tom. "The science is famous work. I like what I
see of it in my father's books, and there's a splendid skeleton at the
hospital that I long to be at. If it were not for Stoneborough, it
would be all very well; but, if I should get on ever so well at the
examinations, it all ends there! I must come back, and go racing about
this miserable circuit, just like your gold pheasant rampaging in his
cage, seeing the same stupid people all my days."

"I think," said Meta, in a low, heartfelt voice, "it is a noble,
beautiful thing to curb down your ambition for such causes. Tom, I like
you for it."

The glance of those beautiful eyes was worth having. Tom coloured a
little, but assumed his usual gruffness. "I can't bear sick people," he
said.

"It has always seemed to me," said Meta, "that few lives could come up
to Dr. May's. Think of going about, always watched for with hope, often
bringing gladness and relief; if nothing else, comfort and kindness, his
whole business doing good."

"One is paid for it," said Tom.

"Nothing could ever repay Dr. May," said Meta. "Can any one feel the fee
anything but a mere form? Besides, think of the numbers and numbers that
he takes nothing from; and oh! to how many he has brought the most real
good, when they would have shut their doors against it in any other
form! Oh, Tom, I think none of you guess how every one feels about your
father. I recollect one poor woman saying, after he had attended her
brother, 'He could not save his body, but, surely, ma'am, I think he was
the saving of his soul.'"

"It is of no use to talk of my being like my father," said Tom.

Meta thought perhaps not, but she was full of admiration of his
generosity, and said, "You will make it the same work of love, and
charity is the true glory."

Any inroad on Tom's reserved and depressed nature was a benefit; and he
was of an age to be susceptible of the sympathy of one so pretty and
so engaging. He had never been so much gratified or encouraged, and,
wishing to prolong the tete-a-tete, he chose to take the short
cut through the fir-plantations, unfrequented on account of the
perpendicular, spiked railings that divided it from the lane.

Meta was humming-bird enough to be undismayed. She put hand and foot
wherever he desired, f