Mr.
Rivers had been there, with a pressing invitation to his daughter's school-feast, and it had been arranged that Flora and Ethel should go and spend the day at the Grange, and their father come to dine, and fetch them home in the evening.

Margaret had been much pleased with the manner in which the thing was done.

When Dr.May, who seemed reluctant to accept the proposal that related to himself, was called out of the room, Mr.Rivers had, in a most kind manner, begged her to say whether she thought it would be painful to him, or whether it might do his spirits good.

She decidedly gave her opinion in favour of the invitation, Mr.Rivers gained his point, and she had ever since been persuading her father to like the notion, and assuring him it need not be made a precedent for the renewal of invitations to dine out in the town.

He thought the change would be pleasant for his girls, and had, therefore, consented.
"Oh, papa, papa! thank you!" cried Ethel, enraptured, as soon as he came into the room.