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change now showed that； where once Margaret had been interested
merely as a kind sister； she now had a personal concern； and she
threw herself into all that related to it as her own chief interest
and pursuitbecoming the foremost in devising plans； and arranging
the best means of using Mr。 Ernescliffe's benefaction。
The Elwood family had grown in the good opinion of the Mays。 Charity
had hobbled to church； leaning on her father's arm； and being invited
to dinner in the kitchen； the acquaintance had been improved； and
nurse herself had pronounced her such a tidy； good sort of body； that
it was a pity she had met with such a misfortune。 If Miss Ethel
brought in nothing but the like of her； they should be welcome； poor
thing； how tired she was！
Nurse's opinions were apt to be sagacious； especially when in the
face of her prejudices； and this gave Margaret confidence。 Cherry
proved to have been carefully taught by a good clergyman and his
wife； and to be of very different stamp from the persons to whom the
girls were accustomed。 They were charmed with her； and eagerly
offered to supply her with booksrespecting her the more when they
found that Mr。 Hazlewood had already lent her their chief favourites。
Other and greater needs they had no power to fill up。
〃It is so lone without the church bells； you see； miss；〃 said Mrs。
Elwood。 〃Our tower had a real fine peal； and my man was one of the
ringers。 I seems quite lost without them； and there was Cherry； went
a'most every day with the children。〃
〃Every day！〃 cried Mary； looking at her with respect。
〃It was so near；〃 said Cherry； 〃I could get there easy； and I got
used to it when I was at school。〃
〃Did it not take up a great deal of time？〃 said Ethel。
〃Why； you see； ma'am； it came morning and night； out of working
times； and I can't be stirring much。〃
〃Then you miss it sadly？〃 said Ethel。
〃Yes； ma'am； it made the day go on well like； and settled a body's
mind； when I fretted for what could not be helped。 But I try not to
fret after it now； and Mr。 Hazlewood said； if I did my best wherever
I was； the Lord would still join our prayers together。〃
Mr。 Hazlewood was recollected by Mr。 Wilmot as an old college friend；
and a correspondence with him fully confirmed the favourable estimate
of the Elwoods； and was decisive in determining that the day…school；
with Alan's ten pounds as salary； and a penny a week from each child；
should be offered to Cherry。
Mr。 Hazlewood answered for her sound excellence； and aptitude for
managing little children； though he did not promise genius； such as
should fulfil the requirements of modern days。 With these Cocksmoor
could dispense at present； Cherry was humbly gratified； and her
parents delighted with the honour and profit； there was a kitchen
which afforded great facilities； and Richard and his carpenter
managed the fitting to admiration； Margaret devised all manner of
useful arrangements； settled matters with great earnestness； saw
Cherry frequently； discussed plans； and learned the history and
character of each child； as thoroughly as Ethel herself。 Mr。 Ramsden
himself came to the opening of the school； and said so much of the
obligations of Cocksmoor to the young ladies； that Ethel would not
have known which way to look； if Flora had not kindly borne the brunt
of his compliments。
Every one was pleased； except Mrs。 Green； who took upon herself to
set about various malicious reports of Cherry Elwood； but nobody
cared for them； except Mrs。 Elwood； who flew into such passions； that
Ethel was quite disappointed in her； though not in Cherry； who meekly
tried to silence her mother； begged the young ladies not to be vexed；
and showed a quiet dignity that soon made the shafts of slander fall
inoffensively。
All went well； there was a school instead of a hubbub； clean faces
instead of dirty； shining hair instead of wild elf…locks； orderly
children instead of little savages。 The order and obedience that
Ethel could not gain in six months； seemed impressed in six days by
Cherry； the neat work made her popular with the mothers； her firm
gentleness won the hearts of the children； and the kitchen was filled
not only with boys and girls from the quarry； but with some little
ones from outlying cottages of Fordholm and Abbotstoke； and there was
even a smart little farmer； who had been unbearable at home。
Margaret's unsuccessful bath…chair was lent to Cherry； and in it her
scholars drew her to Stoneborough every Sunday； and slowly began to
redeem their character with the ladies； who began to lose the habit
of shrinking out of their waythe Stoneborough children did so
instead； and Flora and Ethel were always bringing home stories of
injustice to their scholars； fancied or real； and of triumphs in
their having excelled any national school girl。 The most stupid
children at Cocksmoor always seemed to them wise in comparison with
the Stoneborough girls； and the Sunday…school might have become to
Ethel a school of rivalry； if Richard had not opened her eyes by a
quiet observation； that the town girls seemed to fare as ill with
her； as the Cocksmoor girls did with the town ladies。 Then she
caught herself up； tried to be candid； and found that she was not
always impartial in her judgments。 Why would competition mingle even
in the best attempts？
Cherry did not so bring forward her scholars that Ethel could have
many triumphs of this dangerous kind。 Indeed； Ethel was often vexed
with her； for though she taught needlework admirably； and enforced
correct reading； and reverent repetition； her strong provincial
dialect was a stumbling…block； she could not put questions without
book； and nothing would teach her Ethel's rational system of
arithmetic。 That she was a capital dame； and made the children very
good； was allowed； but now and then； when mortified by hearing what
was done at Stoneborough； Fordholm； or Abbotstoke； Ethel would make
vigorous efforts； which resulted only in her coming home fuming at
Cherry's 〃outrageous dullness。〃
These railings always hurt Margaret； who had made Cherry almost into
a friend； and generally liked to have a visit from her during the
Sunday； when she always dined with the servants。 Then school
questions； Cocksmoor news； and the tempers of the children； were
talked over； and Cherry was now and then drawn into home
reminiscences； and descriptions of the ways of her former school。
There was no fear of spoiling hernotice from her superiors was
natural to her； and she had the lady…likeness of womanly goodness； so
as never to go beyond her own place。 She had had many trials too；
and Margaret learned the true history of them； as she won Cherry's
confidence； and entered into them； feeling their likeness； yet
dissimilarity； to her own。
Cherry had been a brisk happy girl in a good place； resting in one of
the long engagements that often extend over half the life of a
servant； enjoying the nod of her baker as he left his bread； and her
walk from church with him on alternate Sundays。 But poor Cherry had
been exposed to the perils of window…cleaning； and； after a frightful
fall； had wakened to find herself in a