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the lingering sellers and their friends。
Flora was again to sleep at the Grange； and return the next day； for
a committee to be held over the gains； which were not yet fully
ascertained。 So Dr。 May gathered his flock together； and packed
them； boys and all； into the two conveyances； and Ethel bade Meta
good…night； almost wondering to hear her merry voice say； 〃It has
been a delightful day； has it not？ It was so kind of your brother to
take care of papa。〃
〃Oh； it was delightful！〃 echoed Mary； 〃and I took one pound fifteen
and sixpence！〃
〃I hope it will do great good to Cocksmoor；〃 added Meta； 〃but； if you
want real help； you know； you must come to us。〃
Ethel smiled； but hurried her departure； for she saw Blanche again
tormented by Mr。 George Rivers； to know what had become of the guard；
telling her that； if she would not say； he should be furiously
jealous。
Blanche hid her face on Ethel's arm； when they were in the carriage；
and almost cried with indignant 〃shamefastness。〃 That long…desired
day had not been one of unmixed happiness to her； poor child； and
Ethel doubted whether it had been so to any one； except； indeed； to
Mary； whose desires never soared so high but that they were easily
fulfilled； and whose placid content was not easily wounded。 All she
was wishing now was； that Harry were at home to receive his paper…
case。
The return to Margaret was real pleasure。 The narration of all that
had passed was an event to her。 She was so charmed with her
presents； of every degree； things； unpleasant at the time； could； by
drollery in the relating； be made mirthful fun ever after； Dr。 May
and the boys were so comical in their observationsMary's wonder and
simplicity came in so amazinglyand there was such merriment at
Ethel's two precious jars； that she could hardly wish they had not
come to her。 On one head they were all agreed； in dislike of George
Rivers； whom Mary pronounced to be a detestable man； and； when gently
called to order by Margaret； defended it； by saying that Miss Bracy
said it was better to detest than to hate； while Blanche coloured up
to the ears； and hid herself behind the arm…chair； and Dr。 May
qualified the censure by saying； he believed there was no great harm
in the youth； but that he was shallow…brained and extravagant； and；
having been born in the days when Mr。 Rivers had been working himself
up in the world； had not had so good an education as his little half…
sister。
〃Well； what are you thinking of？〃 said her father； laying his hand on
Ethel's arm； as she was wearily and pensively putting together the
scattered purchases before going up to bed。
〃I was thinking； papa； that there is a great deal of trouble taken in
this world for a very little pleasure。〃
〃The trouble is the pleasure； in most cases； most misanthropical
miss！〃
〃Yes； that is true； but； if so； why cannot it be taken for some
good？〃
〃They meant it to be good；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃Come； I cannot have you
severe and ungrateful。〃
〃So I have been telling myself； papa； all along； but； now that the
day has come； and I have seen what jealousies； and competitions； and
vanities； and disappointments it has producednot even poor little
Blanche allowed any comfortI am almost sick at heart with thinking
Cocksmoor was the excuse！〃
〃Spectators are more philosophical than actors； Ethel。 Others have
not been tying parcels all day。〃
〃I had rather do that than But that is the 'Fox and the Grapes；'〃
said Ethel； smiling。 〃What I mean is； that the real gladness of life
is not in these great occasions of pleasure； but in the little side
delights that come in the midst of one's work； don't they； papa？ Why
is it worth while to go and search for a day's pleasuring？〃
〃Ethel； my child！ I don't like to hear you talk so；〃 said Dr。 May；
looking anxiously at her。 〃It may be too true； but it is not
youthful nor hopeful。 It is not as your mother or I felt in our
young days； when a treat was a treat to us； and gladdened our hearts
long before and after。 I am afraid you have been too much saddened
with loss and care〃
〃Oh； no； papa！〃 said Ethel； rousing herself； though speaking huskily。
〃You know I am your merry Ethel。 You know I can be happy enough
only at home〃
And Ethel； though she had tried to be cheerful； leaned against his
arm； and shed a few tears。
〃The fact is； she is tired out；〃 said Dr。 May soothingly； yet half
laughing。 〃She is not a beauty or a grace； and she is thoughtful and
quiet； and so she moralises； instead of enjoying； as the world goes
by。 I dare say a night's rest will make all the difference in the
world。〃
〃Ah！ but there is more to come。 That Ladies' Committee at
Cocksmoor！〃
〃They are not there yet； Ethel。 Good…night； you tired little cynic。〃
CHAPTER IV。
Back then； complainer。。。
Go； to the world return； nor fear to cast
Thy bread upon the waters； sure at last
In joy to find it after many days。Christian Year。
The next day Ethel had hoped for a return to reason； but behold； the
world was cross！ The reaction of the long excitement was felt；
Gertrude fretted； and was unwell； Aubrey was pettish at his lessons；
and Mary and Blanche were weary； yawning and inattentive； every straw
was a burden； and Miss Bracy had feelings。
Ethel had been holding an interminable conversation with her in the
schoolroom； interrupted at last by a summons to speak to a Cocksmoor
woman at the back door； and she was returning from the kitchen； when
the doctor called her into his study。
〃Ethel！ what is all this？ Mary has found Miss Bracy in floods of
tears in the schoolroom； because she says you told her she was ill…
tempered。〃
〃I am sure you will be quite as much surprised；〃 said Ethel； somewhat
exasperated； 〃when you hear that you lacerated her feelings
yesterday。〃
〃I？ Why； what did I do？〃 exclaimed Dr。 May。
〃You showed your evident want of confidence in her。〃
〃I？ What can I have done？〃
〃You met Aubrey and Gertrude in her charge； and you took them away at
once to walk with you。〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well； that was it。 She saw you had no confidence in her。〃
〃Ethel； what on earth can you mean？ I saw the two children dragging
on her； and I thought she would see nothing that was going on； and
would be glad to be released； and I wanted them to go with me and see
Meta's gold pheasants。〃
〃That was the offence。 She has been breaking her heart all this
time； because she was sure； from your manner； that you were
displeased to see them alone with hereating bon…bons； I believe；
and therefore took them away。〃
〃Daisy is the worse for her bon…bons； I believe； but the overdose of
them rests on my shoulders。 I do not know how to believe you； Ethel。
Of course you told her nothing of the kind crossed my mind； poor
thing！〃
〃I told her so； over and over again； as I have done forty times
before but her feelings are always being hurt。〃
〃Poor thing； poor thing！ no doubt it is a trying situation； and she
is sensitive。 Surely you are all forbearing with
her？〃
〃I hope we are；〃 said Ethel； 〃but how can we tell what vexes her？〃
〃And what is this； of your telling her she was ill…tempered？〃 asked