in the work she had set herself。 It was well that she had not to
take the initiative。
Mr。 Wilmot said a few simple words to the mothers about the wish to
teach their children what was right； and to do the best at present
practicable； and then told the children that he hoped they would take
pains to be good； and mind what they were taught。 Then he desired
all to kneel down； he said the Collect； 〃Prevent us； 0 Lord； in all
our doings；〃 and then the Lord's Prayer。
Ethel felt as if she could bear it better； and was more up to the
work after this。 Next； the children were desired to stand round the
room； and Mr。 Wilmot tried who could say the Catechismthe two
biggest； a boy and a girl； had not an idea of it； and the boy looked
foolish； and grinned at being asked what was his name。 One child was
tolerably perfect； and about half a dozen had some dim notions。
Three were entirely ignorant of the Lord's Prayer； and many of the
others did not by any means pronounce the words of it。 Jane and
Fanny Taylor； Rebekah Watts； and Mrs。 Green's little boy； were the
only ones who； by their own account； used morning and evening
prayers； though； on further examination； it appeared that Polly and
Jenny Hall； and some others； were accustomed to repeat the old rhyme
about 〃 Matthew； Mark； Luke； and John；〃 and Una M'Carthy and her
little brother Fergus said something that nobody could make out； but
which Mr。 Wilmot thought had once been an 〃Ave Maria。〃
Some few of the children could read； and several more knew their
letters。 The least ignorant were selected to form a first class； and
Mr。 Wilmot promised a Prayer…book to the first who should be able to
repeat the Catechism without a mistake； and a Bible to the first who
could read a chapter in it。
Then followed a setting of tasks； varying from a verse of a Psalm； or
the first answer in the Catechism； down to the distinction between A；
B； and C； all to be ready by next Tuesday； when； weather permitting；
a second lesson was to be given。 Afterwards； a piece of advice of
Margaret's was followed； and Flora read aloud to the assembly the
story of 〃Margaret Fletcher。〃 To some this seemed to give great
satisfaction； especially to Una； but Ethel was surprised to see that
many； and those not only little ones； talked and yawned。 They had no
power of attention even to a story； and the stillness was irksome to
such wild colts。 It was plain that it was time to leave off； and
there was no capacity there which did not find the conclusion
agreeable； when the basket was opened； and Ethel and Mary distributed
the buns； with instructions to say； 〃thank you。〃
The next Tuesday； some of the lessons were learned； Una's perfectly；
the big ignorant boy came no more； and some of the children had
learned to behave better； while others behaved worse； Ethel began to
know what she was about； Richard's gentleness was eminently
successful with the little girls； impressing good manners on them in
a marvellous way； and Mary's importance and happiness with alphabet
scholars； some bigger than herself； were edifying。 Cocksmoor was
fairly launched。
The next memorable day was that of Margaret's being first carried
downstairs。 She had been willing to put it off as long as she could；
dreading to witness the change below…stairs； and feeling； too； that
in entering on the family room； without power of leaving it； she was
losing all quiet and solitude； as well as giving up that monopoly of
her father in his evenings； which had been her great privilege。
However； she tried to talk herself into liking it； and was rewarded
by the happy commotion it caused； though Dr。 May was in a state of
excitement and nervousness at the prospect of seeing her on the
stairs； and his attempts to conceal it only made it worse； till
Margaret knew she should be nervous herself； and wished him out of
sight and out of the house till it was over； for without him she had
full confidence in the coolness and steadiness of Richard； and by him
it was safely and quietly accomplished。 She was landed on the sofa；
Richard and Flora settling her； and the others crowding round and
exclaiming； while the newness of the scene and the change gave her a
sense of confusion； and she shut her eyes to recover her thoughts；
but opened them the next instant at her father's exclamation that she
was overcome； smiled to reassure him； and declared herself not tired；
and to be very glad to be among them again。 But the bustle was
oppressive； and her cheerful manner was an effort； she longed to see
them all gone； and Flora found it out； sent the children for their
walk； and carried off Ethel and the brothers。
Dr。 May was called out of the room at the same time； and she was left
alone。 She gazed round her； at the room where； four months before；
she had seen her mother with the babe in her arms； the children
clustered round her； her father exulting in his hen…and…chicken
daisies； herself full of bright undefined hope； radiant with health
and activity； and her one trouble such that she now knew the force of
her mother's words； that it only proved her happiness。 It was not
till that moment that Margaret realised the change； found her eyes
filling with tears； as she looked round； and saw the familiar
furniture and ornaments。
They were instantly checked as she heard her father returning； but
not so that he did not perceive them； and exclaim that it had been
too much for her。 〃Oh； noit was only the first time；〃 said
Margaret； losing the sense of the painful vacancy in her absorbing
desire not to distress her father； and thinking only of him as she
watched him standing for some minutes leaning on the mantel…shelf
with his hand shading his forehead。
She began to speak as soon as she thought he was ready to have his
mind turned away： 〃How nicely Ritchie managed！ He carried me so
comfortably and easily。 It is enough to spoil me to be so deftly
waited on。〃
〃I'm glad of it；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃I am sure the change is better for
you；〃 but he came and looked at her still with great solicitude。
〃Ritchie can take excellent care of me；〃 she continued； most anxious
to divert his thoughts。 〃You see it will do very well indeed for you
to take Harry to school。〃
〃I should like to do so。 I should like to see his master； and to
take Norman with me；〃 said the doctor。 〃It would be just the thing
for him nowwe would show him the dockyard； and all those matters；
and such a thorough holiday would set him up again。〃
〃He is very much better。〃
〃Much betterhe is recovering spirits and tone very fast。 That
leaf…work of yours came at a lucky time。 I like to see him looking
out for a curious fern in the hedgerowsthe pursuit has quite
brightened him up。〃
〃And he does it so thoroughly；〃 said Margaret。 〃Ethel fancies it is
rather frivolous of him； I believe； but it amuses me to see how men
give dignity to what women make trifling。 He will know everything
about the leaves； hunts up my botany books； and has taught me a
hundred times more of the construction and wonders of them than I
ever learned。〃
〃Ay；〃 said the doctor； 〃he has been talking a good deal to me about
vegetable chemistry。 He would make a good scientific botanist； if he
were to be nothing else。 I should be glad if he sticks to it as a
pursuit'tis pretty work； and I should like to have gone further
with it； if I had ever had time for it。〃
〃I dare say he will；〃 said Margaret。 〃It will be very pleasant if he
can go with you。 How he would enjoy the British Museum； if there was
time for him to see it！ Have you said anything to him yet？〃
〃No； I waited to see how you were； as it all depends on that。〃
〃I think it depends still more on something else； whether Norman is
as fit to take care of you as Richard is。〃
〃That's another point。 There's nothing but what he could manage now；
but I don't like saying anything to him。 I know he would undertake
anything I wished； without a word； and then； perhaps； dwell on it in
fancy； and force himself； till it would turn to a perfect misery； and
upset his nerves again。 I'm sorry for it。 I meant him to have
followed my trade； but he'll never do for that。 However； he has wits
enough to make himself what he pleases； and I dare say he will keep
at the head of the school after all。〃
〃How very good he has been in refraining from restlessness！〃
〃It's beautiful！〃 said Dr。 May； with strong emotion。 〃Poor boy！ I
trust he'll not be disappointed； and I don't think he will； but I've
promised him I won't be annoyed if he should lose his placeso we
must take especial care not to show any anxiety。 However； for this
matter； Margaret； I wish you would sound him； and see whether it
would be more pleasure or pain。 Only mind you don't let him think
that I shall be vexed； if he feels that he can't make up his mind； I
would not have him fancy that； for more than I can tell。〃
This consultation revived the spirits of both； and the others
returning； found Margaret quite disposed for companionship。 If to
her the evening was sad and strange； like a visit in a dream to some
old familiar haunt； finding all unnatural； to the rest it was
delightful。 The room was no longer dreary； now that there was a
centre for care and attentions； and the party was no longer broken
upthe sense of comfort； cheerfulness； and home…gathering had
returned； and the pleasant evening household gossip went round the
table almost as it used to do。 Dr。 May resumed his old habit of
skimming a club book； and imparting the cream to the listeners； and
Flora gave them some music； a great treat to Margaret； who had long
only heard its distant sounds。
Margaret found an opportunity of talking to Norman； and judged
favourably。 He was much pleased at the prospect of the journey； and
of seeing a ship； so as to have a clearer notion of the scene where
Harry's life was to be spent； and though the charge of the arm was a
drawback； he did not treat it as insurmountable。
A few days' attendance in his father's room gave him confidence in
taking Richard's place； and； accordingly； the third important measure
was decided on； namely； that he and his father should accompany Harry
to the naval school； an