Ethel had, in fact, little occasion to worry herself; for all special
manifestations of Leonard's devotion ceased. Whether it were that
Tom with his grave satirical manner contrived to render the house
disagreeable to both brother and sister, or whether Leonard's boyish
bashfulness had taken alarm, and his admiration expended itself in
the battle for her charms, there was no knowing. All that was
certain was, that the Wards seldom appeared at Dr. May's, although
elsewhere Mary and Aubrey saw a great deal of their respective
friends, and through both, Ethel heard from time to time of Leonard,
chiefly as working hard at school, but finding that his illness had
cost him not only the last half year's learning, but some memory and
power of application. He was merging into the ordinary schoolboy--a
very good thing for him no doubt, though less beautiful than those
Coombe fancies. And what were they worth?




CHAPTER VII



Little specks of daily trouble--
Petty grievance, petty strife--
Filling up with drops incessant
To the brim the cup of life.

Deeper import have these trifles
Than we think or care to know: