think the dream meant being beaten, only that our best things are not
gained by successes in this world?"

"Don't go and let it dwell on your mind as a vision," said Margaret.
"I think dear mamma would call that silly."

An interruption occurred, and Ethel had to go down to breakfast with
a mind floating between romance, sorrow, and high aspirations, very
unlike the actual world she had to live in. First, there was a sick
man walking into the study, and her father, laying down his letters,
saying, "I must despatch him before prayers, I suppose. I've a great
mind to say I never will see any one who won't keep to my days."

"I can't imagine why they don't," said Flora, as he went. "He is
always saying so, but never acting on it. If he would once turn one
away, the rest would mind."

Richard went on in silence, cutting bread and butter.

"There's another ring," said Mary.

"Yes, he is caught now, they'll go on in a stream. I shall not keep
Margaret waiting for her breakfast, I shall take it up."

The morning was tiresome; though Dr. May had two regular days for
seeing poor people at his house, he was too good-natured to keep
strictly to them, and this day, as Flora had predicted, there was a
procession of them not soon got rid of, even by his rapid queries and
the talismanic figures made by his left hand on scraps of paper, with
which he sent them off to the infirmary. Ethel tried to read; the