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Updated: June 28, 2025
They arrived by a railroad, whose station was nearer to Abbotstoke than to Stoneborough, therefore, instead of their visiting the High Street by the way, Dr. May, with Ethel and Mary, were invited to dine at the Grange, the first evening a proposal, at least, as new and exciting to Mary as was the journey to Oxford to her sister.
That was to be a feast indeed all the Abbotstoke children all Flora's class at Stoneborough, and as many Cocksmoor scholars as could walk so far, were to dine on Christmas fare, at one o'clock, at the Grange, and Meta was in haste to be at home to superintend the feast. Mary, Blanche, and Aubrey, went with her, under the keeping of Miss Bracy, the boys were to follow.
Indeed, it had been chiefly for the sake of the Mays that he had resolved to spend the holidays at Stoneborough, taking the care of Abbotstoke, while his brother, the vicar, went to visit their father. This was, however, the first time he had come in his old familiar way to spend an evening, and there was something in the resumption of former habits that painfully marked the change.
What a useful, admirable woman she would be! The doctor would be the person to come to his senses in the morning, when he remembered Abbotstoke, Mr. Rivers, and Meta. So Flora met her father, the next morning, with all her ordinary composure, in which he could not rival her, after his sleepless, anxious night.
"And Miss Meta is obliged to take to envying the black-hole of Cocksmoor, instead of being content with the eglantine bowers of Abbotstoke! I commiserate her!" said the doctor. "If I did any good instead of harm at Abbotstoke!" "Harm!" exclaimed Margaret.
'Is that Richard? exclaimed Tom. 'Ay, and I do believe, the widow! rejoined Harry. 'Oh, yes, said Averil. 'I heard her talking about Abbotstoke Church, and saying how much she wished to see it. She must have got Mr. May to show it to her. Ethel, who had no real fears for Richard herself, looked on amused to watch how the guardian spirit was going to act.
"Think how diligently she measures out her day," said Margaret; "getting up early, to be sure of time for reading her serious books, and working hard at her tough studies." "And what I care for still more," said Ethel, "her being bent on learning plain needlework and doing it for her poor people. She is so useful amongst the cottagers at Abbotstoke!"
'Miss Ward's music must be a sore trial to the Pug, said Tom, 'will it be at this affair at Abbotstoke? 'That's the question, said Ethel. 'It never goes out, yet is to be met everywhere, just over-persuaded at the last moment.
"What do you think of this?" he said, coming to the slope of a knoll, commanding a pretty view of the Abbotstoke woods, clear from houses, and yet not remote from the hamlet. She agreed that it would do well, and he kicked up a bit of turf, and pryed into the soil, pronouncing it dry, and fit for a good foundation.
"Really, Ethel, to comfort you, I think I shall send you with Norman to dine at Abbotstoke Grange on Wednesday. Mr. Rivers begged us to come; he is so anxious to make it lively for his son." "Thank you, I do not think Mr. George Rivers and I should be likely to get on together. What a bad style of wit! You heard what Mary said about him? and Ethel repeated the doubt between hating and detesting.
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