按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃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
Dr。 May incredulously。
〃Well； papa；〃 said Ethel； softened； yet wounded by his thinking it so
impossible。 〃I had often thought I ought to tell her that these
sensitive feelings of hers were nothing but temper； and perhaps
indeed I know I doI partake of the general fractiousness of the
house to…day； and I did not bear it so patiently as usual。 I did say
that I thought it wrong to foster her fancies； for if she looked at
them coolly； she would find they were only a form of pride and
temper。〃
〃It did not come well from you； Ethel；〃 said the doctor； looking
vexed。
〃No； I know it did not；〃 said Ethel meekly； 〃but oh！ to have these
janglings once a week； and to see no end to them！〃
〃Once a week？〃
〃It is really as often； or more often；〃 said Ethel。 〃If any of us
criticise anything the girls have done； if there is a change in any
arrangement； if she thinks herself neglectedI can't tell you what
little matters suffice； she will catch me； and argue with me； till
oh； till we are both half dead； and yet cannot stop ourselves。〃
〃Why do you argue？〃
〃If I could only help it！〃
〃Bad management；〃 said the doctor； in a low； musing tone。 〃You want
a head！〃 and he sighed。
〃Oh； papa； I did not mean to distress you。 I would not have told you
if I had rememberedbut I am worried to…day； and off my guard〃
〃Ethel； I thought you were the one on whom I could depend for bearing
everything。〃
〃These were such nonsense！〃
〃What may seem nonsense to you is not the same to her。 You must be
forbearing； Ethel。 Remember that dependence is prone to morbid
sensitiveness； especially in those who have a humble estimate of
themselves。〃
〃It seems to me that touchiness is more pride than humility；〃 said
Ethel； whose temper； already not in the smoothest state； found it
hard that； after having long borne patiently with these constant
arguments； she should find Miss Bracy made the chief object of
compassion。
Dr。 May's chivalrous feeling caused him to take the part of the weak；
and he answered； 〃You know nothing about it。 Among our own kith and
kin we can afford to pass over slights； because we are sure the heart
is rightwe do not know what it is to be among strangers； uncertain
of any claim to their esteem or kindness。 Sad！ sad！〃 he continued；
as the picture wrought on him。 〃Each trifle seems a token one way or
the other！ I am very sorry I grieved the poor thing yesterday。 I
must go and tell her so at once。〃
He put Ethel aside； and knocked at the schoolroom door； while Ethel
stood； mortified。 〃He thinks I have been neglecting； or speaking
harshly to her！ For fifty times that I have borne with her
maundering； I have； at last； once told her the truth； and for that I
am accused of want of forbearance！ Now he will go and make much of
her； and pity her； till she will think herself an injured heroine；
and be worse than ever； and he will do away with all the good of my
advice； and want me to ask her pardon for itbut that I never will。
It was only the truth； and I will stick to it。〃
〃Ethel！〃 cried Mary； running up to her； then slackening her pace； and
whispering； 〃you did not tell Miss Bracy she was ill…tempered。〃
〃Nonot exactly。 How could you tell papa I did？〃
〃She said so。 She was crying； and I asked what was the matter； and
she said my sister Ethel said she was ill…tempered。〃
〃She made a great exaggeration then；〃 said Ethel。
〃I am sure she was very cross all day；〃 said Mary。
〃Well； that is no business of yours；〃 said Ethel pettishly。 〃What
now？ Mary； don't look out at the street window。〃
〃It is Florathe Grange carriage；〃 whispered Mary； as the two
sisters made a precipitate retreat into the drawing…room。
Meanwhile； Dr。 May had been in the schoolroom。 Miss Bracy had ceased
her tears before he camethey had been her retort on Ethel； and she
had not intended the world to know of them。 Half disconcerted； half
angry； she heard the doctor approach。 She was a gentle； tearful
woman； one of those who are often called meek； under an erroneous
idea that meekness consists in making herself exceedingly miserable
under every kind of grievance； and she now had a sort of melancholy
satisfaction in believing that the young ladies had fabricated an
exaggerated complaint of her temper； and that she was going to become
injured innocence。 To think herself accused of a great wrong；
excused her from perceiving herself guilty of a lesser one。
〃Miss Bracy；〃 said Dr。 May； entering with his frank； sweet look； 〃I
am concerned that I vexed you by taking the children to walk with me
yesterday。 I thought such little brats would be troublesome to any
but their spoiling papa； but they would have been in safer hands with
you。 You would not have been as weak as I was； in regard to sugar…
plums。〃 Such amends as these confused Miss Bracy； who found it
pleasanter to be lamentable with Ethel； than to receive a full
apology for her imagined offence from the master of the house。
Feeling both small and absurd； she murmured something of 〃oh； no；〃
and 〃being sure；〃 and hoped he was going； so that she might sit down
to pity herself； for those girls having made her appear so
ridiculous。
No such thing！ Dr。 May put a chair for her； and sat down himself；
saying； with a smile； 〃You see； you must trust us sometimes； and
overlook it； if we are less considerate than we might be。 We have
rough； careless habits with each other； and forget that all are not
used to them。〃
Miss Bracy exclaimed； 〃Oh； no； never； they were most kind。〃
〃We wish to be；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃but there are little neglectsor you
think there are。 I will not say there are none； for that would be
answering too much for human nature； or that they are fancifulfor
that would be as little comfort as to tell a patient that the pain is
only nervous〃
Miss Bracy smiled； for she could remember instances when； after
suffering much at the time； she had found the affront imaginary。
He was glad of that smile； and proceeded。 〃You will let me speak to
you； as to one of my own girls？ To them； I should say； use the only
true cure。 Don't brood over vexations； small or great； but think of
them as trials that； borne bravely； become blessings。〃
〃Oh！ but Dr。 May！〃 she exclaimed； shocked； 〃nothing in your house
could call for such feelings。〃
〃I hope we are not very savage；〃 he said； smiling； 〃but； indeed； I
still say it is the safest rule。 It would be the only one if you
were really among unkind people； and； if you take so much to heart an
unlucky neglect of mine； what would you do if the slight were a true
one？〃
〃You are right； but my feelings were always over…sensitive；〃 and this
she said with a sort of complacency。
〃Well； we must try to brace them；〃 said Dr。 May； much as if
prescribing for her。 〃Will not you believe in our confidence and
esteem； and harden yourself against any outward unintentional piece
of incivility？〃
She felt as if she could at that moment。
〃Or at least； try to forgive and forget them。 Talking them over only
deepens