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Stoneborough ladies in general； was such a chaperon as Flora was glad
to secure。 Dr。 May's old loyal feelings could not help regarding her
notice of his daughter as a favour and kindness； and Margaret could
find no tangible objections； nor any precedent from her mother's
conduct； even had any one had the power to interfere with one so
quiet； reasonable； and determined as Flora。
So the intimacy became closer and closer； and as the winter passed
on； Flora gradually became established as the dear friend and
assistant； without whom Mrs。 Hoxton could give no party。 Further；
Flora took the grand step of setting up a copper…plate and cards of
〃Miss Flora May；〃 went out frequently on morning calls with Mrs。
Hoxton and her bay horses； and when Dr。 May refused his share of
invitations to dinner with the neighbours in the county； Flora
generally found that she could go under the Hoxtons' guardianship。
PART II
CHAPTER I。
Now have I then eke this condicion
That above all the flouris in the mede；
Then love I most these flouris white and rede；
Soche that men callin daisies in our town。
To them have I so great affection；
As I said erst； when comin is the Maie；
That in my bed there dawith me no daie
That I am up and walking in the mede；
To see this floure agenst the sunne sprede。CHAUCER。
〃That is better！〃 said Margaret； contemplating a butterfly of the
penwiper class； whose constitution her dexterous needle had been
rendering less rickety than Blanche had left it。
Margaret still lay on the sofa； and her complexion had assumed the
dead white of habitual ill…health。 There was more languor of manner；
and her countenance； when at rest； and not under the eye of her
father； had a sadness of expression； as if any hopes that she might
once have entertained were fading away。 The years of Alan
Ernescliffe's absence that had elasped had rather taken from her
powers than added to them。 Nevertheless； the habit of cheerfulness
and sympathy had not deserted her； and it was with a somewhat amused
glance that she turned towards Ethel； as she heard her answer by a
sigh。
These years had dealt more kindly with Etheldred's outward
appearance。 They had rounded her angles； softened her features； and
tinged her cheeks with a touch of red； that took off from the
surrounding sallowness。 She held herself better； had learned to keep
her hair in order； and the more womanly dress； plain though it was；
improved her figure more than could have been hoped in the days of
her lank； gawky girlhood。 No one could call her pretty； but her
countenance had something more than ever pleasing in the animated and
thoughtful expression on those marked features。 She was sitting near
the window； with a book； a dictionary； and pencil； as she replied to
Margaret； with the sigh that made her sister smile。
〃Poor Ethel！ I condole with you。〃
〃And I wonder at you！〃 said Ethel； 〃especially as Flora and Mrs。
Hoxton say it is all for your sake；〃 then； nettled by Margaret's
laugh； 〃Such a nice occupation for her； poor thing； as if you were
Mrs。 Hoxton； and had no resource but fancy…work。〃
〃You know I am base enough to be so amused；〃 said Margaret； 〃but；
seriously； Ethel dear； I cannot bear to see you so much hurt by it。
I did not know you were really grieved。〃
〃Grieved！ I am ashamedsickened！〃 cried Ethel vehemently。 〃Poor
Cocksmoor！ As soon as anything is done there； Flora must needs go
about implying that we have set some grand work in hand； and want
only means〃
〃Stop； Ethel； Flora does not boast。〃
〃No； she does not boast。 I wish she did！ That would be
straightforward and simple； but she has too good taste for thatso
she does worseshe tells a little； and makes that go a long way； as
if she were keeping back a great deal！ You don't know how furious it
makes me！〃
〃Ethel！〃
〃So；〃 said Ethel； disregarding； 〃she stirs up all Stoneborough to
hear what the Miss Mays are doing at Cocksmoor。 So the Ladies'
Committee must needs have their finger in！ Much they cared for the
place when it was wild and neglected！ But they go to inspect Cherry
and her schoolMrs。 Ledwich and alland； back they come； shocked
no system； no order； the mistress untrained； the school too small；
with no apparatus！ They all run about in despair； as if we had ever
asked them to help us。 And so Mrs。 Hoxton； who cares for poor
children no more than for puppy…dogs； but who can't live without
useless work； and has filled her house as full of it as it can hold；
devises a bazaara field for her trumpery； and a show…off for all
the young ladies； and Flora treats it like an inspiration！ Off they
trot； to the old Assembly Rooms。 I trusted that the smallness of
them would have knocked it on the head； but； still worse； Flora's
talking of it makes Mr。 Rivers think it our pet scheme； so； what does
he do but offer his park； and so we are to have a regular fancy fair；
and Cocksmoor School will be founded in vanity and frivolity！ But I
believe you like it！〃
〃I am not sure of my own feeling；〃 said Margaret。 〃It has been
settled without our interposition； and I have never been able to talk
it over calmly with you。 Papa does not seem to disapprove。〃
〃No；〃 said Ethel。 〃He will only laugh； and say it will spare him a
great many of Mrs。 Hoxton's nervous attacks。 He thinks of it nearly
as I do； at the bottom； but I cannot get him to stop it； nor even to
say he does not wish Flora to sell。〃
〃I did not understand that you really had such strong objections；〃
said Margaret。 〃I thought it was only as a piece of folly； and〃
〃And interference with my Cocksmoor？〃 said Ethel。 I had better own
to what may be wrong personal feeling at first。〃
〃I can hardly call it wrong；〃 said Margaret tenderly； 〃considering
what Cocksmoor is to you； and what the Ladies' Committee is。〃
〃Oh； Margaret； if the lawful authorityif a good clergyman would
only come； how willingly would I work under him！ But Mrs。 Ledwich
andit is like having all the Spaniards and savages spoiling
Robinson Crusoe's desert island！〃
〃It is not come to that yet；〃 said Margaret； 〃but about the fancy
fair。 We all know that the school is very much wanted。〃
〃Yes； but I hoped to wait in patience and perseverance； and do it at
last。〃
〃All yourself？〃
〃Now； Margaret！ you know I was glad of Alan's help。〃
〃I should think so！〃 said Margaret。 〃You need not make a favour of
that！〃
〃Yes； but； don't you see； that came as almsgiving； in the way which
brings a blessing。 We want nothing to make us give money and work to
Cocksmoor。 We do all we can already； and I don't want to get a fine
bag or a ridiculous pincushion in exchange！〃
〃Not you； but〃
〃Well； for the rest。 If they like to offer their money； well and
good； the better for them； but why must they not give it to
Cocksmoorbut for that unnatural butterfly of Blanche's； with black
pins for horns； that they will go and sell at an extortionate rate。〃
〃The price will be given for Cocksmoor's sake！〃
〃Pooh！ Margaret。 Do you think it is for Cocksmoor's sake that Lady
Leonora Langdale and her fine daughter come down from London？ Would
Mrs。 Hoxton spend the tim