Miss Cleveland will have eaten up her whole luncheon, if this old bore won't let my father go soon! I hope he is desperately ill--'tis his only excuse! Heigh ho! I must jump out to warm my feet soon! There, there's a drop of rain! Well, there's no end to it! I wonder what Ethel is doing about Cocksmoor! It is setting in for a wet afternoon!" and Norman disconsolately put up his umbrella.
At last Dr.May and another gentleman were seen in the conservatory, and Norman gladly proceeded to clear the seat; but Dr.May called out, "Jump out, Norman, Mr.Rivers is so kind as to ask us to stay to luncheon." With boyish shrinking from strangers, Norman privately wished Mr.
Rivers at Jericho, as he gave the reins to a servant, and entered the conservatory, where a kindly hand was held out to him by a gentleman of about fifty, with a bald smooth forehead, soft blue eyes, and gentle pleasant face.

"Is this your eldest son ?" said he, turning to Dr.
May--and the manner of both was as if they were already well acquainted.
"No, this is my second.

The eldest is not quite such a long-legged fellow," said Dr.May.And then followed the question addressed to Norman himself, where he was at school.
"At Stoneborough," said Norman, a little amused at the thought how angry Ethel and Harry would be that the paragraph of the county paper, where "N.

W.May" was recorded as prizeman and foremost in the examination, had not penetrated even to Abbotstoke Grange, or rather to its owner's memory.
However, his father could not help adding, "He is the head of the school--a thing we Stoneborough men think much of." This, and Mr.Rivers's civil answer, made Norman so hot, that he did not notice much in passing through a hall full of beautiful vases, stuffed birds, busts, etc., tastefully arranged, and he did not look up till they were entering a handsome dining-room, where a small square table was laid out for luncheon near a noble fire.
The two ladies were there, and Mr.Rivers introduced them as his daughter and Mrs.Larpent.It was the most luxurious meal that Norman had ever seen, the plate, the porcelain, and all the appointments of the table so elegant, and the viands, all partaking of the Christmas character, and of a recherche delicate description quite new to him.
He had to serve as his father's right hand, and was so anxious to put everything as Dr.May liked it, and without attracting notice, that he hardly saw or listened till Dr.May began to admire a fine Claude on the opposite wall, and embarked in a picture discussion.

The doctor had much taste for art, and had made the most of his opportunities of seeing paintings during his time of study at Paris, and in a brief tour to Italy.