never admitted any of the many excuses for the neglect of Norman's
suffering for the three months after his mother's death; but though
it thrilled her all over, she was not prepared to believe that any
one, far less any Ward, could be of the same sensitive materials as
Norman. To avoid answering, she went more than half-way, by saying,
'Don't you think I might ask those poor girls to come with him?'

'By no manner of means,' said the Doctor, stopping short. 'It is
just what I want, to get him away from his sister. She minds nothing
else; and if it were not for Mary, I don't know what the little ones
would do; and as to Henry, he is very good and patient; but it is the
way to prevent him from forming domestic tastes to have no mistress
to his house. He will get into mischief, or marry, if she does not
mind what she is about.'

'That must come to an end when Leonard is well, and goes back to
school.'

'And that won't be till after the holidays. No, some break there
must be. When he is gone, Mary can put her into the way of doing
things; she is anxious to do right; and we shall see them do very
well. But this poor boy--you know he has been always living at home,
while the others were away; he was very fond of his mother, and the
first coming out of his room was more than he could bear. I must
have him taken from home till he is well again, and able to turn to
other things.'

And before Ethel's eyes came a vision of poor Mrs. Ward leaning on
her son's arm, on Saturday afternoon walks, each looking fond and
proud of the other. She felt her own hardness of heart, and warmed