their good； but that he carried it too far； for wealthy people
assuredly had it in their power to do great things； and might work as
hard themselves； besides； it was finer in them； there was so much
eclat in their stooping to charity。 But her knowledge of his
character would not allow her to think for a moment that he could say
aught but from the bottom of his heartno； it was one of his one…
sided views that led him into paradox。 〃It was just like papa；〃 and
so there was no need to attend to it。 It was one of his enthusiasms；
he was so very fond of Ethel； probably because of her likeness to
himself。 Flora thought Ethel put almost too forwardthey all helped
at Cocksmoor； and Ethel was very queer and unformed； and could do
nothing by herself。 The only thing Flora did keep in her mind was；
that her papa had spoken to her； as if she were a woman compared with
Ethel。
Little Blanche made her report of the conversation to Mary； 〃that it
was so nice； and now she did not care about Miss Rivers's fine
presents at all； for papa said what one made oneself was better to
give than what one bought。 And papa said； too； that it was a good
thing not to be rich； for then one never felt the miss of what one
gave away。〃
Margaret； who overheard the exposition； thought it so much to
Blanche's credit； that she could not help repeating it in the
evening； after the little girl was gone to bed； when Mr。 Wilmot had
come in to arrange the programme for Cocksmoor。 So the little fit of
discontent and its occasion； the meeting with Meta Rivers； were
discussed。
〃Yes；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot； 〃those Riverses are open…handed。 They really
seem to have so much money； that they don't know what to do with it。
My brother is ready to complain that they spoil his parish。 It is
all meant so well； and they are so kind…hearted and excellent； that
it is a shame to find fault； and I tell Charles and his wife that
their grumbling at such a squire proves them the most spoiled of
all。〃
〃Indiscriminate liberality？〃 asked the doctor。 〃I should guess the
old gentleman to be rather soft！〃
〃That's one thing。 The parish is so small； and there are so few to
shower all this bounty on； and they are so utterly unused to country
people。 They seem to think by laying out money they can get a show
set of peasants in rustic cottages； just as they have their fancy
cows and poultryall that offends the eye out of the way。〃
〃Making it a matter of taste；〃 said the doctor。
〃I'm sure I would；〃 said Norman aside to Ethel。 〃What's the use of
getting oneself disgusted？〃
〃One must not begin with showing dislike；〃 began Ethel； 〃or〃
〃Ayyou like rags； don't you？ but hush！〃
〃That is just what I should expect of Mr。 Rivers；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃he
has cultivated his taste till it is getting to be a disease； but his
daughter has no lack of wit。〃
〃Perhaps not。 Charles and Mary are very fond of her； but she is
entirely inexperienced； and that is a serious thing with so much
money to throw about。 She pays people for sending their children to
school； and keeping their houses tidy； and there is so much given
away； that it is enough to take away all independence and motive for
exertion。 The people speculate on it； and take it as a right； by…
and…by there will be a reactionshe will find out she is imposed
upon； take offence； and for the rest of her life will go about saying
how ungrateful the poor are！〃
〃It is a pity good people won't have a little common…sense；〃 said Dr。
May。 〃But there's something so bewitching in that little girl； that
I can't give her up。 I verily believe she will right herself。〃
〃I have scarcely seen her；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot。 〃She has won papa's
heart by her kindness to me；〃 said Margaret； smiling。 〃You see her
beautiful flowers？ She seems to me made to lavish pleasures on
others wherever she goes。〃
〃Oh； yes； they are most kind…hearted；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot。 〃It is only
the excess of a virtue that could be blamed in them； and they are
most valuable to the place。 She will learn experience in timeI
only hope she will not be spoiled。〃
Flora felt as if her father must be thinking his morning's argument
confirmed； and she was annoyed。 But she thought there was no reason
why wealth should not be used sensibly； and if she were at the head
of such an establishment as the Grange； her charity should be so well
regulated as to be the subject of general approbation。
She wanted to find some one else on her side； and； as they went to
bed； she said to Ethel； 〃Don't you wish we had some of this
superfluity of the Riverses for poor Cocksmoor？〃
〃I wish we had anything for Cocksmoor！ Here's a great hole in my
boot； and nurse says I must get a new pair； that is seven…and…
sixpence gone！ I shall never get the first pound made up towards
building！〃
〃And pounds seem nothing to them；〃 said Flora。
〃Yes； but if they don't manage right with them！ I'll tell you；
Flora； I got into a fit of wishing the other day； it does seem such a
grievous pity to see those children running to waste for want of
daily teaching； and Jenny Hall had forgotten everything。 I was
vexed； and thought it was all no use while we could not do more； but
just then I began to look out the texts Ritchie had marked for me to
print for them to learn； and the first was； 'Be thou faithful over a
few things； and I will make thee ruler over many things；' and then I
thought perhaps we were learning to be faithful with a few things。 I
am sure what they said to…night showed it was lucky we have not more
in our hands。 I should do wrong for ever with the little we have if
it were not for Ritchie and Margaret。 By the time we have really got
the money together for the school； perhaps I shall have more sense。〃
〃Got the money！ As if we ever could！〃
〃Oh； yes！ we shall and will。 It need not be more than ？0； Ritchie
says； and I have twelve shillings for certain； put out from the money
for hire of the room； and the books and clothes； and； in spite of
these horrid boots； I shall save something out of this quarter； half…
a…crown at least。 And I have another plan besides〃
But Flora had to go down to Margaret's room to bed。 Flora was always
ready to throw herself into the present； and liked to be the most
useful person in all that went forward； so that no thoughts of
greatness interfered with her enjoyment at Cocksmoor。
The house seemed wild that Easter Monday morning。 Ethel； Mary； and
Blanche； flew about in all directions； and in spite of much undoing
of their own arrangements； finished their preparations so much too
early； that； at half…past eleven； Mary complained that she had
nothing to do； and that dinner would never come。
Many were the lamentations at leaving Margaret behind； but she
answered them by talking of the treat of having papa all to herself；
for he had lent them the gig； and promised to stay at home all the
afternoon with her。
The first division started on foot directly after dinner； the real
Council of education； as Norman called them； namely； Mr。 Wilmot；
Richard； Ethel； and Mary； Flora； the other member； waited to take
care of Blanche and Aubrey； who were to come in the gig； with the
cakes； tea…kettles； and prizes； driven by Norman。 Tom and Hector
Ernescliffe were invited to join the party； and many times did Mary
wish for Harry。
Supremely happy were the young people as they reached the common； and
heard the shout of tumultuous joy； raised by their pupils； who were
on the watch for them。 All was now activity。 Everybody tripped into
Mrs。 Green's house； while Richard and Ethel ran different ways to
secure that the fires were burning； which they had hired； to boil
their kettles； with the tea in them。
Then when the kitchen was so full that it seemed as if it could hold
no more； some kind of order was produced； the children were seated on
their benches； and； while the mothers stood behind to listen； Mr。
Wilmot began to examine； as well as he could in so crowded an
audience。
There was progress。 Yes； there was。 Only three were as utterly rude
and idealess as they used to be at Christmas。 Glimmerings had dawned
on most； and oneUna M'Carthywas fit to come forward to claim Mr。
Wilmot's promise of a Prayer…book。 She could really read and say the
Catechismher Irish wit and love of learning had outstripped all the
restand she was the pride of Ethel's heart； fit； now； to present
herself on equal terms with the Stoneborough set； as far as her sense
was concernedthough； alas！ neither present nor exhortation had
succeeded in making her anything； in looks； but a picturesque
tatterdemalion； her sandy elf locks streaming over a pair of eyes； so
dancing and gracieuses； that it was impossible to scold her。
With beating heart； as if her own success in life depended for ever
on the way her flock acquitted themselves； Ethel stood by Mr。 Wilmot；
trying to read answers coming out of the dull mouths of her children；
and looking exultingly at Richard whenever some good reply was made；
especially when Una answered an unexpected question。 It was too
delightful to hear how well she remembered all the history up to the
flood； and how prettily it came out in her Irish accent！ That made
up for all the atrocious stupidity of others； who； after being told
every time since they had begun who gave their names； now chose to
forget。
In the midst； while the assembly were listening with admiration to
the reading of the scholar next in proficiency to Una； a boy who
could read words of five letters without spelling； there was a fresh
squeezing at the door； and； the crowd opening as well as it could； in
came Flora and Blanche； while Norman's head was seen for a moment in
the doorway。
Flora's whisper to Ethel was her first discovery that the closeness
and the heat of the room was nearly overpowering。 Her excitement had
made all be forgotten。 〃Could not a window be opened？〃
Mrs。 Green interferedit had been nailed up because her husband had
the rheumatiz！
〃Where's Aubrey？〃 asked Mary。
〃With Norman。 Norman said he would not let him go into the black…
hole； so he has got him out of doors。 Ethel； we must come out！ You
don't know what an atmosphere it is！ Blanche；