only made answer； in a very grave voice； 〃Yes； papa； we have taken a
very nice tidy room。〃
〃What do you pay for it？〃
〃Fourpence for each time。〃
〃Well； here's for you；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃It is only two guineas to…day；
that banker at the Grange beguiled us of our time； but you had better
close the bargain for him； Ethelhe will be a revenue for you； for
this winter at least。〃
〃Oh； thank you； papa；〃 was all Ethel could say； overpowered by his
kindness； and more repressed by what she felt so unmerited； than she
would have been by coldness； she said few words； and preferred
listening to Norman； who began to describe their adventures at the
Grange。
All her eagerness revived； however； as she sprang out of the
carriage； full of tidings for Margaret； and it was almost a race
between her and Norman to get upstairs； and unfold their separate
budgets。
Margaret's lamp had just been lighted； when they made their entrance；
Norman holding the flowers on high。
〃Oh； how beautiful！ how delicious！ For me？ Where did you get them？〃
〃From Abbotstoke Grange； Miss Rivers sent them to you。〃
〃How very kind！ What a lovely geranium； and oh； that fern！ I never
saw anything so choice。 How came she to think of me？〃
〃They asked me in because it rained； and she was making the prettiest
things； leather leaves and flowers for picture frames。 I thought it
was work that would just suit you； and learned how to do it。 That
made them ask about you； and it ended by her sending you this
nosegay。〃
〃How very kind everybody is！ Well； Ethel； are you come home too？〃
〃Papa picked me up。 Oh； Margaret； we have found such a nice room； a
clean sanded kitchen〃
〃You never saw such a conservatory〃
〃And it is to be let to us for fourpence a time〃
〃The house is full of beautiful things； pictures and statues。 Only
think of a real Titian； and a cast of the Apollo！〃
〃Twenty children to begin with； and Richard is going to make some
forms。〃
〃Mr。 Rivers is going to show me all his casts。〃
〃Oh； is he？ But only think how lucky we were to find such a nice
woman； Mr。 Wilmot was so pleased with her。〃
Norman found one story at a time was enough； and relinquished the
field； contenting himself with silently helping Margaret to arrange
the flowers； holding the basket for her； and pleased with her
gestures of admiration。 Ethel went on with her history。 〃The first
place we thought of would not do at all； the woman said she would not
take half…a…crown a week to have a lot of children stabbling about；
as she called it； so we went to another house； and there was a very
nice woman indeed； Mrs。 Green； with one little boy； whom she wanted
to send to school； only it is too far。 She says she always goes to
church at Fordholm because it is nearer； and she is quite willing to
let us have the room。 So we settled it； and next Friday we are to
begin。 Papa has given us two guineas； and that will pay for； let me
see； a hundred and twenty…six times； and Mr。 Wilmot is going to give
us some books； and Ritchie will print some alphabets。 We told a
great many of the； people； and they are so glad。 Old Granny Hall
said； 'Well； I never！' and told the girls they must be as good as
gold now the gentlefolks was coming to teach them。 Mr。 Wilmot is
coming with us every Friday as long as the holidays last。〃
Ethel departed on her father's coming in to ask Margaret if she would
like to have a visit from Mr。 Wilmot。 She enjoyed this very much；
and he sat there nearly an hour； talking of many matters； especially
the Cocksmoor scheme； on which she was glad to hear his opinion at
first hand。
〃I am very glad you think well of it；〃 she said。 〃It is most
desirable that something should be done for those poor people； and
Richard would never act rashly； but I have longed for advice whether
it was right to promote Ethel's undertaking。 I suppose Richard told
you how bent on it she was； long before papa was told of it。〃
〃He said it was her great wish； and had been so for a long time
past。〃
Margaret； in words more adequate to express the possession the
project had gained of Ethel's ardent mind； explained the whole
history of it。 〃I do believe she looks on it as a sort of call；〃
said she； 〃and I have felt as if I ought not to hinder her； and yet I
did not know whether it was right； at her age； to let her undertake
so much。〃
〃I understand；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot； 〃but； from what I have seen of
Ethel； I should think you had decided rightly。 There seems to me to
be such a spirit of energy in her； that if she does not act； she will
either speculate and theorise； or pine and prey on herself。 I do
believe that hard homely work； such as this school…keeping； is the
best outlet for what might otherwise run to extravagancemore
especially as you say the hope of it has already been an incentive to
improvement in home duties。〃
〃That I am sure it has；〃 said Margaret。
〃Moreover；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot； 〃I think you were quite right in
thinking that to interfere with such a design was unsafe。 I do
believe that a great deal of harm is done by prudent friends； who
dread to let young people do anything out of the common way； and so
force their aspirations to ferment and turn sour； for want of being
put to use。〃
〃Still girls are told they ought to wait patiently； and not to be
eager for self…imposed duties。〃
〃I am not saying that it is not the appointed discipline for the
girls themselves；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot。 〃If they would submit； and do
their best； it would doubtless prove the most beneficial thing for
them； but it is a trial in which they often fail； and I had rather
not be in the place of such friends。〃
〃It is a great puzzle！〃 said Margaret； sighing。
〃Ah！ I dare say you are often perplexed；〃 said her friend kindly。
〃Indeed I am。 There are so many little details that I cannot be
always teasing papa with； and yet which I do believe form the
character more than the great events； and I never know whether I act
for the best。 And there are so many of us； so many duties； I cannot
half attend to any。 Lately； I have been giving up almost everything
to keep this room quiet for Norman in the morning； because he was so
much harassed and hurt by bustle and confusion； and I found to…day
that things have gone wrong in consequence。〃
〃You must do the best you can； and try to trust that while you work
in the right spirit； your failures will be compensated；〃 said Mr。
Wilmot。 〃It is a hard trial。〃
〃I like your understanding it；〃 said Margaret； smiling sadly。 〃I
don't know whether it is silly； but I don't like to be pitied for the
wrong thing。 My being so helpless is what every one laments over；
but； after all； that is made up to me by the petting and kindness I
get from all of them； but it is the being mistress of the house； and
having to settle for every one； without knowing whether I do right or
wrong； that is my trouble。〃
〃I am not sure； however； that it is right to call it a trouble；
though it is a trial。〃
〃I see what you mean；〃 said Margaret。 〃I ought to be thankful。 I
know it is an honour； and I am quite sure I should be grieved if they
did not all come to me and consult me as they do。 I had better not
have complained； and yet I am glad I did； for I like you to
understand my difficulties。〃
〃And； indeed； I wish to enter into them； and do or say anything in my
power to help you。 But I don't know anything that can be of so much
comfort as the knowledge that He who laid the burden on you； will
help you to bear it。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Margaret； pausing； and then； with a sweet look； though a
heavy sigh； she said； 〃It is very odd how things turn out！ I always
had a childish fancy that I would be useful and important； but I
little thought how it would be！ However； as long as Richard is in
the house； I always feel secure about the others； and I shall soon be
downstairs myself。 Don't you think dear papa in better spirits？〃
〃I thought so to…day；〃and here the doctor returned； talking of
Abbotstoke Grange； where he had certainly been much pleased。 〃It was
a lucky chance；〃 he said； 〃that they brought Norman in。 It was
exactly what I wanted to rouse and interest him； and he took it all
in so well； that I am sure they were pleased with him。 I thought he
looked a very lanky specimen of too much leg and arm when I called
him in； but he has such good manners； and is so ready and
understanding； that they could not help liking him。 It was fortunate
I had him instead of RichardRitchie is a very good fellow；
certainly； but he had rather look at a steam…engine； any day； than at
Raphael himself。〃
Norman had his turn by…and…by。 He came up after tea； reporting that
papa was fast asleep in his chair； and the others would go on about
Cocksmoor till midnight； if they were let alone； and made up for his
previous yielding to Ethel； by giving； with much animation； and some
excitement； a glowing description of the Grange； so graphic； that
Margaret said she could almost fancy she had been there。
〃Oh； Margaret； I wonder if you ever will！ I would give something for
you to see the beautiful conservatory。 It is a real bower for a
maiden of romance； with its rich green fragrance in the midst of
winter。 It is like a picture in a dream。 One could imagine it a
fairy land； where no care； or grief； or weariness could come； all
choice beauty and sweetness waiting on the creature within。 I can
hardly believe that it is a real place； and that I have seen it。〃
〃Though you have brought these pretty tokens that your fairy is as
good as she is fair！〃 said Margaret； smiling。
CHAPTER XVI。
EVANS。 Peace your tattlings。 What is fair； William？
WILLIAM。 PULCHER。
QUICKLY。 Poulcats！ there are fairer things than poulcats sure！
EVANS。 I pray you have your remembrance； child； accusative
HING HANG HOG。
QUICKLY。 HANG HOG is Latin for bacon； I warrant you。
SHAKESPEARE。
In a large family it must often happen； that since every member of it
cannot ride the same hobby； nor at the same time； their several
steeds must sometimes run counter to each other； and so Ethel found
it； one morning when Miss Winter； havi