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looked to； and when it seemed that Mrs。 Ledwich had said something
disparaging of Miss Ethel； either as to youth； judgment； or doctrine；
Mrs。 Elwood had fired up into a declaration that 〃Miss Ethel was a
real ladythat she was！ and that no real lady would ever come prying
into other folk's work and finding fault with what wasn't no business
of theirs；〃 with more of a personal nature； which Flora could not
help enjoying； even while she regretted it。
Cherry was only too meek； as her mother declared。 She had said not a
word； except in quiet reply； and being equally terrified by the
attack and defence； had probably seemed more dull than was her wont。
Her real feelings did not appear till the next Sunday； when； in her
peaceful conference with Margaret； far from the sound of storms； she
expressed that she well knew that she was a poor scholar； and that
she hoped the young ladies would not let her stand in the children's
light； when a better teacher could be found for them。
〃I am sure！〃 cried Ethel； as she heard of this； 〃it would be hard to
find such a teacher in humility！ Cherry bears it so much better than
I； that it is a continual reproof！〃
As to the dullness； against which Ethel used to rail； the attacks
upon it had made her erect it into a positive merit； she was always
comparing the truth； honesty； and respectful demeanour of Cherry's
scholars with the notorious faults of the National School girls； as
if these defects had been implanted either by Mrs。 Ledwich； or by
geography。 It must be confessed that the violence of partisanship
did not make her a pleasant companion。
However； the interest of the bazaar began somewhat to divert the
current of the ladies' thoughts； and Ethel found herself walking day
after day to Cocksmoor； unmolested by further reports of Mrs。
Ledwich's proceedings。 Richard was absent； preparing for ordination；
but Norman had just returned home for the Long Vacation； and； rather
than lose the chance of a conversation with her； had joined her and
Mary in a walk to Cocksmoor。
His talk was chiefly of Settlesham； old Mr。 Wilmot's parish； where he
had been making a visit to his former tutor； and talking over the
removal to Eton of Tom； who had well responded to the care taken of
him； and with his good principles confirmed； and his character
strengthened； might be； with less danger； exposed to trial。
It had been a visit such as to leave a deep impression on Norman's
mind。 Sixty years ago； old Mr。 Wilmot had been what he now was
himselfan enthusiastic and distinguished Balliol man； and he had
kept up a warm； clear…sighted interest in Oxford throughout his long
life。 His anecdotes； his recollections； and comments on present
opinions had been listened to with great eagerness； and Norman had
felt it an infinite honour to give the venerable old man his arm； as
to be shown by him his curious collection of books。 His parish；
carefully watched for so many years； had been a study not lost upon
Norman； who detailed particulars of the doings there； which made
Ethel sigh to think of the contrast with Stoneborough。 In such
conversation they came to the entrance of the hamlet； and Mary； with
a scream of joy； declared that she really believed that he was going
to help them！ He did not turn away。
〃Thank you！〃 said Ethel； in a low voice； from the bottom of her
heart。
She used him mercifully； and made the lessons shorter than usual； but
when they reached the open air again； he drew a long breath； and when
Mary eagerly tried for a compliment to their scholars； asked if they
could not be taught the use of eyelids。
〃Did they stare？〃 said Ethel。 〃That's one advantage of being blind。
No one can stare me out of countenance。〃
〃Why were you answering all your questions yourself？〃 asked Mary。
〃Because no one else would；〃 said Norman。
〃You used such hard words；〃 replied Ethel。
〃Indeed！ I thought I was very simple。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Mary； 〃there were derive； and instruction； and implicate；
andoh； so many。〃
〃Never mind；〃 said Ethel； seeing him disconcerted。 〃It is better for
them to be drawn up； and you will soon learn their language。 If we
only had Una M'Carthy here！〃
〃Then you don't like it？〃 said Mary； disappointed。
〃It is time to learn not to be fastidious；〃 he answered。 〃So； if you
will help me〃
〃Norman； I am so glad！〃 said Ethel。
〃Yes；〃 said Norman； 〃I see now that these things that puff us up； and
seem the whole world to us now； all end in nothing but such as this！
Think of old Mr。 Wilmot； once carrying all before him； but deeming
all his powers well bestowed in fifty years' teaching of clowns！〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Ethel； very low。 〃One soul is worth〃 and she paused
from the fullness of thought。
〃And these things； about which we are so elated； do not render us so
fit to teachas you； Mary； or as Richard。〃
〃They do；〃 said Ethel。 The ten talents were doubled。 Strength tells
in power。 The more learning； the fitter to teach the simplest
thing。〃
〃You remind me of old Mr。 Wilmot saying that the first thing he
learned at his parish was； how little his people knew； the second；
how little he himself knew。〃
So Norman persevered in the homely discipline that he had chosen for
himself； which brought out his deficiency in practical work in a
manner which lowered him in his own eyes； to a degree almost
satisfactory to himself。 He was not； indeed； without humility； but
his nature was self…contemplative and self…conscious enough to
perceive his superiority of talent； and it had been the struggle of
his life to abase this perception； so that it was actually a relief
not to be obliged to fight with his own complacency in his powers。
He had learned not to think too highly of himselfhe had yet to
learn to 〃think soberly。〃 His aid was Ethel's chief pleasure through
this somewhat trying summer； it might be her last peaceful one at
Cocksmoor。
That bazaar！ How wild it had driven the whole town； and even her own
home！
Margaret herself； between good nature and feminine love of pretty
things； had become ardent in the cause。 In her unvaried life； it was
a great amusement to have so many bright elegant things exhibited to
her； and Ethel was often mortified to find her excited about some new
device； or drawn off from 〃rational employments；〃 to complete some
trifle。
Mary and Blanche were far worse。 From the time that consent had been
given to the fancy…work being carried on in the schoolroom； all
interest in study was over。 Thenceforth； lessons were a necessary
form； gone through without heart or diligence。 These were reserved
for paste…board boxes； beplastered with rice and sealing…wax； for
alum baskets； dressed dolls； and every conceivable trumpery； and the
governess was as eager as the scholars。
If Ethel remonstrated； she hurt Miss Bracy's feelings； and this was a
very serious matter to both parties。
The governess was one of those morbidly sensitive people； who cannot
be stopped when once they have begun arguing that they are injured。
Two women together； each with the last…word instinct； have no power
to cease； and； when the words are spent in explainingnot in
scoldingconscience is no