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and her sisters should sink to the level of the Andersons and their
set； or belong to the county society； and her tact had resulted in
her being decidedlyas the little dressmaker's apprentice amused
Ethel by saying〃One of our most distinguished patronesses〃a name
that had stuck by her ever since。
Margaret looked on passively； inclined to admire Flora in everything；
yet now and then puzzled； and her father； in his simple…hearted way；
felt only gratitude and exultation in the kindness that his daughter
met with。 As to the bazaar； if it had been started in his own
family； he might have weighed the objections； but； as it was not his
daughter's own concern； he did not trouble himself about it； only
regarding it as one of the many vagaries of the ladies of
Stoneborough。
So the scheme had been further developed； till now Flora came in with
much to tell。 The number of stalls had been finally fixed。 Mrs。
Hoxton undertook one； with Flora as an aide…de…camp； and some nieces
to assist； Lady Leonora was to chaperon Miss Rivers； and a third； to
Flora's regret； had been allotted to Miss Cleveland； a good…natured；
merry； elderly heiress； who would； Flora feared； bring on them the
whole 〃Stoneborough crew。〃 And then she began to reckon up the
present resourcesdrawings； bags； and pincushions。 〃That chip hat
you plaited for Daisy； Margaret； you must let us have that。 It will
be lovely； trimmed with pink。〃
〃Do you wish for this？〃 said Ethel； heaving up a mass of knitting。
〃Thank you；〃 said Flora； 〃so ornamental； especially the original
performance in the corner； which you would perpetrate； in spite of my
best efforts。〃
〃I shall not be offended if you despise it。 I only thought you might
have no more scruple in robbing Granny Hall than in robbing Daisy。〃
〃Pray； send it。 Papa will buy it as your unique performance。〃
〃No； you shall tell me what I am to do。〃
〃Does she mean it？〃 said Flora； turning to Margaret。 〃Have you
converted her？ Well done！ Then； Ethel； we will get some pretty
batiste； and you and Mary shall make some of those nice sun…bonnets；
which you really do to perfection。〃
〃Thank you。 That is a more respectable task than I expected。 People
may have something worth buying；〃 said Ethel； who； like all the
world； felt the influence of Flora's tact。
〃I mean to study the useful；〃 said Flora。 〃The Cleveland set will be
sure to deal in frippery； and I have been looking over Mrs。 Hoxton's
stores； where I see quite enough for mere decoration。 There are two
splendid vases in potichomanie； in an Etruscan pattern； which are
coming for me to finish。〃
〃Mrs。 Taylor； at Cocksmoor； could do that for you；〃 said Ethel。 〃Her
two phials； stuffed with chintz patterns and flour； are quite as
original and tasteful。〃
〃Silly work；〃 said Flora； 〃but it makes a fair show。〃
〃The essence of Vanity Fair；〃 said Ethel。
〃It won't do to be satirical over much；〃 said Flora。 〃You won't get
on without humouring your neighbours' follies。〃
〃I don't want to get on。〃
〃But you wantor； at least； I wantCocksmoor to get on。〃
Ethel saw Margaret looking distressed； and； recalling her resolution
she said； 〃Well； Flora； I don't mean to say any more about it。 I see
it can't be helped； and you all think you intend it for good； so
there's an end of the matter； and I'll do anything for you in
reason。〃
〃Poor old King Ethel！〃 said Flora； smiling in an elder…sisterly
manner。 〃You will see； my dear； your views are very pretty； but very
impracticable； and it is a work…a…day world after alleven papa
would tell you so。 When Cocksmoor school is built； then you may
thank me。 I do not look for it before。〃
CHAPTER II。
Knowledge is second； not the first；
A higher Hand must make her mild；
If all be not in vain； and guide
Her footsteps； moving side by side；
With wisdom； like the younger child；
For she is earthly of the mind；
But knowledge heavenly of the soul。In Memoriam。
Etheldred had not answered her sister； but she did not feel at all
secure that she should have anything to be thankful for； even if the
school were built。
The invasion of Cocksmoor was not only interference with her own
field of action； but it was dangerous to the improvement of her
scholars。 Since the departure of Mr。 Wilmot； matters at Stoneborough
National School had not improved； though the Misses Anderson talked a
great deal about progress； science； and lectures。
The Ladies' Committee were constantly at war with the mistresses； and
that one was a veteran who endured them； or whom they could endure
beyond her first half…year。 No mistress had stayed a year within the
memory of any girl now at school。 Perpetual change prevented any
real education； and； as each lady held different opinions and
proscribed all books not agreeing thereto； everything 〃dogmatical〃
was excluded； and； as Ethel said； the children learned nothing but
facts about lions and steam…engines； while their doctrine varied with
that of the visitor for the week。 If the ten generals could only
have given up to Miltiades； but； alas！ there was no Miltiades。 Mr。
Ramsden's health was failing； and his neglect told upon the parish in
the dreadful evils reigning unchecked； and engulfing many a child
whom more influential teaching might have saved。 Mental arithmetic；
and the rivers of Africa； had little power to strengthen the soul
against temptation。
The scanty attendance at the National School attested the
indifference with which it was regarded； and the borderers
voluntarily patronised Cherry Elwood； and thus had； perhaps； first
aroused the emulation that led Mrs。 Ledwich on a visit of inspection；
to what she chose to consider as an offshoot of the National School。
The next day she called upon the Misses May。 It was well that Ethel
was not at home。 Margaret received the lady's horrors at the sight
of the mere crowded cottage kitchen； the stupid untrained mistress；
without an idea of method； and that impertinent woman； her mother！
Miss Flora and Miss Ethel must have had a great deal to undergo； and
she would lose no time in convening the Ladies' Committee； and
appointing a successor to 〃that Elwood；〃 as soon as a fit room could
be erected for her use。 If Margaret had not known that Mrs。 Ledwich
sometimes threatened more than she could accomplish； she would have
been in despair。 She tried to say a good word for Cherry； but was
talked down； and had reason to believe that Mrs。 Elwood had mortally
offended Mrs。 Ledwich。
The sisters had heard the other side of the story at Cocksmoor。 Mrs。
Elwood would not let them enter the school till she had heard how
that there Mrs。 Ledwich had come in； and treated them all as if it
was her own placehow she had found fault with Cherry before all the
children； and as good as said she was not fit to keep a school。 She
had even laid hands on one of the books； and said that she should
take it home； and see whether it were a fit one for them to use；
whereupon Mrs。 Elwood had burst out in defenceit was Miss Ethel
May's book； and should not be taken awayit was Miss Ethel as she
looked to； and when it seemed that Mrs。 Ledwich had said something
di