nurse was prejudiced by hearing of her Cocksmoor extraction。 At that
moment Richard knocked at the door； and entered with Tom； helping him
to bring a small short…legged table； such as could stand on the bed
at the right height for Margaret's meals or employments。
There were great exclamations of satisfaction； and gratitude； 〃it was
the very thing wanted； only how could he have
contrived it？〃
〃Don't you〃 recognise it？〃 said he。
Oh； I see； it is the old drawing…desk that no one used。 And you have
put legs to ithow famous！ You are the best contriver； Richard！〃
Then see； you can raise it up for reading or writing； here's a corner
for your ink to stand flat； and there it is down for your dinner。〃
〃Charming； you have made it go so easily； when it used to be so
stiff。 Theregive me my work…basket； please； Ethel； I mean to make
some more white puffs。〃
〃What's the matter now； Ethel？〃 said Flora； 〃you look as if you did
not approve of the table。〃
〃I was only thinking it was as if she was settling herself to lie in
bed for a very long time；〃 said Ethel。
〃I hope not；〃 said Richard； 〃but I don't see why she should not be as
comfortable as she can； while she is there。〃
〃I am sure I hope you will never be ill； Ethel；〃 said Flora。 〃You
would be horrid to nurse！〃
〃She will know how to be grateful when she is；〃 said Margaret。
〃I say； Richard；〃 exclaimed Ethel； 〃this is hospital…meeting day； so
you won't be wanted to drive papa。〃
〃No； I am at your service； do you want a walk？〃
So it was determined that Richard and Ethel should walk together to
Cocksmoor。
No two people could be much more unlike than Richard and Etheldred
May； but they were very fond of each other。 Richard was sometimes
seriously annoyed by Ethel's heedlessness； and did not always
understand her sublimities； but he had a great deal of admiration for
one who partook so much of his father's nature； and Ethel had a due
respect for her eldest brother； gratitude and strong affection for
many kindnesses； a reverence for his sterling goodness； and his
exemption from her own besetting failings； only a little damped by
compassionate wonder at his deficiency in talent； and by her vexation
at not being always comprehended。
They went by the road； for the plantation gate was far too serious an
undertaking for any one not in the highest spirits for enterprise。
On the way there was a good deal of that desultory talk； very
sociable and interesting； that is apt to prevail between two people；
who would never have chosen each other for companions； if they were
not of the same family； but who are nevertheless very affectionate
and companionable。 Ethel was anxious to hear what her brother
thought of papa's spirits； and whether he talked in their drives。
〃Sometimes；〃 said Richard。 〃It is just as it happens。 Now and then
he goes on just like himself； and then at other times he will not
speak for three or four miles。〃
〃And he sighs？〃 said Ethel。 〃Those sighs are so very sad； and long；
and deep！ They seem to have whole volumes in them； as if there was
such a weight on him。〃
〃Some people say he is not as much altered as they expected；〃 said
Richard。
〃Oh！ do they？ Well！ I can't fancy any one feeling it more。 He
can't leave off his old self； of course； but〃Ethel stopped short。
〃Margaret is a great comfort to him；〃 said Richard。
〃That she is。 She thinks of him all day long； and I don't think
either of them is ever so happy as in the evening； when he sits with
her。 They talk about mamma then〃
It was just what Richard could not do； and he made some observation
to change the subject； but Ethel returned to it； so far as to beg to
know how the arm was going on； for she did not like to say anything
about it to papa。
〃It will be a long business； I am afraid；〃 said Richard。 〃Indeed； he
said the other day； he thought he should never have the free use of
the elbow。〃
〃And do you think it is very painful？ I saw the other day； when
Aubrey was sitting on his knee and fidgeting； he shrank whenever he
even came towards it； and yet it seemed as if he could not bear to
put him down。〃
〃Yes it is excessively tender； and sometimes gets very bad at night。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Ethel； 〃there's a linehereround his eyes； that there
never used to be； and when it deepens； I am sure he is in pain； or
has been kept awake。〃
〃You are very odd； Ethel； how do you see things in people's faces；
when you miss so much at just the same distance？〃
〃I look after what I care about；〃 said Ethel。 〃One sees more with
one's mind than one's eyes。 The best sight is inside。〃
〃But do you always see the truth？〃 said Richard gravely。
〃Quite enough。 What is less common than the ordinary world？〃 said
Ethel。
Richard shook his head； not quite satisfied； but not sure enough that
he entered into her meaning to question it。
〃I wonder you don't wear spectacles；〃 was the result of his
meditation； and it made her laugh by being so inapposite to her own
reflections： but the laugh ended in a melancholy look。 〃Dear mamma
did not like me to use them；〃 she said； in a low voice。
Thus they talked till they arrived at Cocksmoor； where poor Mrs。
Taylor； inspirited by better reports of her husband and the hopes for
her daughter； was like another woman。 Richard was very careful not
to raise false expectations； saying it all depended on Miss May and
nurse； and what they thought of her strength and steadiness； but
these cautions did not seem capable of damping the hopes of the
smooth…haired Lucy； who stood smiling and curtseying。 The twins were
grown and improved； and Ethel supposed they would be brought to
church on the next christening Sunday； but their mother looked
helpless and hopeless about getting them so far； and how was she to
get gossips？ Ethel began to grow very indignant； but she was always
shy of finding fault with poor people to their faces when she would
not have done so to persons in her own station； and so she was
silent； while Richard hoped they would be able to manage； and said it
would be better not to wait another month for still worse weather and
shorter days。
As they were coming out of the house； a big； rough…looking；
uncivilised boy came up before them； and called out； 〃I sayben't
you the young doctor up at Stoneborough？〃
〃I am Dr。 May's son；〃 said Richard； while Ethel； startled； clung to
his arm； in dread of some rudeness。
Granny's bad；〃 said the boy； proceeding without further explanation
to lead the way to another hovel； though Richard tried to explain
that the knowledge of medicine was not in his case heredity。 A poor
old woman sat groaning over the fire； and two children crouched；
half…clothed； on the bare floor。
Richard's gentle voice and kind manner drew forth some wonderful
descriptions〃her head was all of a goggle； her legs all of a fur；
she felt as if some one was cutting right through her。〃
〃Well；〃 said Richard kindly； 〃I am no doctor myself； but I'll ask my
father about you； and perhaps he can give you an order for the
hospital。〃
〃No； no； thank ye； sir； I can't go to the hospital； I can't leave
these poor children； they've no father nor mother； sir； and no one to
do for them but me。〃
〃What do you live on； then？〃 said Richard； looking round the desolate
hut。
〃On Sam's wages； sir； that's that boy。 He is a good boy to me； sir；
and his little sisters； he brings it； all he gets； home to me；
rig'lar； but 'tis but six shillings a week； and they makes 'em take
half of it out in goods and beer； which is a bad thing for a boy like
him； sir。〃
〃How old are you； Sam？〃
Sam scratched his head； and answered nothing。 His grandmother knew
he was the age of her black bonnet； and as he looked about fifteen；
Ethel honoured him and the bonnet accordingly； while Richard said he
must be very glad to be able to maintain them all； at his age； and；
promising to try to bring his father that way； since prescribing at
second hand for such curious symptoms was more than could be
expected； he took his leave。
〃A wretched place；〃 said Richard； looking round。 〃I don't know what
help there is for the people。 There's no one to do any thing for
them； and it is of no use to tell them to come to church when it it
so far off； and there is so little room for them。〃
〃It is miserable；〃 said Ethel； and all her thoughts during her last
walk thither began to rush over her again； not effaced； but rather
burned in； by all that had subsequently happened。 She had said it
should be her aim and effort to make Cocksmoor a Christian place。
Such a resolve must not pass away lightly； she knew it must be acted
on； but how？ What would her present meansone sovereigneffect？
Her fancies； rich and rare； had nearly been forgotten of late； but
she might make them of use in timein time； and here were hives of
children growing up in heathenism。 Suddenly an idea struck her
Richard； when at home； was a very diligent teacher in the Sunday…
school at Stoneborough； though it was a thankless task； and he was
the only gentleman so engaged； except the two clergymenthe other
male teachers being a formal； grave； little baker； and one or two
monitors。
〃Richard；〃 said Ethel； 〃I'll tell you what。 Suppose we were to get
up a Sunday…school at Cocksmoor。 We could get a room； and walk there
every Sunday afternoon； and go to church in the evening instead。〃
He was so confounded by the suddenness of the project； that he did
not answer； till she had time for several exclamations and 〃Well；
Richard？〃
〃I cannot tell；〃 he said。 〃Going to church in the evening would
interfere with tea…timeput out all the housemake the evening
uncomfortable。〃
〃The evenings are horrid now； especially Sundays；〃 said Ethel。
〃But missing two more would make them worse for the others。〃
〃Papa is always with Margaret；〃 said Ethel。 〃We are of no use to
him。 Besides these poor childrenare not they of more importance？〃
〃And； then； what is to become of Stoneborough school？ 〃
〃I hate it；〃 exclaimed Ethel； then seeing Richard shocked； and
finding she had spoken more vehemently than she intended〃It is not
as bad for you among the boys； but； while that committee goes on it
is not the