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her。 She doubted Flora's power； and had still more repugnance to the
means by which her sister tried to govern； they did not seem to her
straightforward； and she could not endure Flora's complacency in
their success。 Had it not been for her real love for the place and
people； as well as the principle which prompted that love； she could
have found it in her heart to throw up all concern with it； rather
than become a fellow…worker with such a conclave。
Such were Ethel's feelings as the pair walked down the street； the
one sister bright and smiling with the good humour that had endured
many shocks all that day； all good nature and triumph； looking
forward to success； great benefit to Cocksmoor； and plenty of
management； with credit and praise to herself； the other； downcast
and irritable； with annoyance at the interference with her schemes；
at the prospects of her school； and at herself for being out of
temper； prone to murmur or to reply tartly； and not able to recover
from her mood； but only； as she neared the house； lapsing into her
other trouble； and preparing to resist any misjudged； though kind
attempt of her father； to make her unsay her rebuke to Miss Bracy。
Pride and temper！ Ah！ Etheldred！ where were they now？
Dr。 May was at his study door as his daughters entered the hall； and
Ethel expected the order which she meant to question； but； instead of
this； after a brief inquiry after the doings of the nine muses； which
Flora answered； so as to make him laugh； he stopped Ethel； as she was
going upstairs； by saying； 〃I do not know whether this letter is
intended for Richard； or for me。 At any rate； it concerns you most。〃
The envelope was addressed to the Reverend Richard May； D。 D。； Market
Stoneborough； and the letter began； 〃Reverend Sir。〃 So far Ethel
saw； and exclaimed； with amusement； then； with a long…drawn 〃Ah！〃
and an interjection； 〃My poor dear Una！〃 she became absorbed； the
large tearsyes； Ethel's reluctant tears gathering slowly and
dropping。
The letter was from a clergyman far away in the north of England； who
said he could not； though a stranger； resist the desire to send to
Dr。 May an account of a poor girl； who seemed to have received great
benefits from him； or from some of his family； especially as she had
shown great eagerness on his proposing to write。
He said it was nearly a year since there had come into his parish a
troop of railwaymen and their families。 For the most part； they were
completely wild and rude； unused to any pastoral care； but； even on
the first Sunday； he had noticed a keen…looking； freckled； ragged；
unmistakably Irish girl； creeping into church with a Prayer…book in
her hand； and had afterwards found her hanging about the door of the
school。 〃I never saw a more engaging； though droll； wild expression；
than that with which she looked up to me。〃 （Ethel's cry of delight
was at that sentenceshe knew that look too well； and had yearned
after it so often！） 〃I found her far better instructed than her
appearance had led me to expect； and more truly impressed with the
spirit of what she had learned than it has often been my lot to find
children。 She was perfect in the New Testament history〃（〃Ah！ that
she was not； when she went away！〃）〃and was in the habit of
constantly attending church； and using morning and evening prayers。〃
（〃Oh！ how I longed； when she went away； to beg her to keep them up！
Dear Una。〃） 〃On my questions； as to how she had been taught； she
always replied； 'Mr。 Richard May；' or 'Miss Athel。' You must excuse
me if I have not correctly caught the name from her Irish
pronunciation。〃 （〃I am afraid he thinks my name is Athaliah！ But
oh！ this dear girl！ How I have wished to hear of her！〃） 〃Everything
was answered with 'Mr。 Richard；' or 'Miss Athel'； and； if I inquired
further； her face would light up with a beam of gratitude； and she
would run on； as long as I could listen； with instances of their
kindness。 It was the same with her mother； a wild； rude specimen of
an Irishwoman； whom I never could bring to church herself； but who
ran on loudly with their praises； usually ending with 'Heavens be
their bed；' and saying that Una had been quite a different girl since
the young ladies and gentleman found her out； and put them parables
in her head。
〃For my own part； I can testify that； in the seven months that she
attended my school； I never had a serious fault to find with her； but
far more often to admire the earnestness and devout spirit； as well
as the kindness and generosity apparent in all her conduct。 Bad
living； and an unwholesome locality； have occasioned a typhus fever
among the poor strangers in this place； and Una was one of the first
victims。 Her mother； almost from the first； gave her up； saying she
knew she was one marked for glory； and Una has been lying； day after
day； in a sort of half…delirious state； constantly repeating hymns
and psalms； and generally； apparently very happy； except when one
distress occurred again and again； whether delirious or sensible；
namely； that she had never gone to wish Miss May good…bye； and thank
her； and that maybe she and Mr。 Richard thought her ungrateful； and
she would sometimes beg； in her phraseology； to go on her bare knees
to Stoneborough； only to see Miss Athel again。
〃Her mother； I should say； told me the girl had been half mad at not
being allowed to go and take leave of Miss May； and she had been
sorry herself； but her husband had come home suddenly from the search
for work； and； having made his arrangements； removed them at once；
early the next morningtoo early to go to the young lady； though；
she said； Una didas they passed through Stoneboroughrun down the
street before she was aware； and she found her sobbing； fit to break
her heart； before the house。〃 （〃Oh； why； why was I not up； and at
the window！ Oh； my Una！ to think of that！〃） 〃When I spoke of
writing to let Miss May hear how it was； the poor girl caught at the
idea with the utmost delight。 Her weakness was too great to allow
her to utter many words distinctly； when I asked her what she would
have me say； but these were as well as I could understand：'The
blessing of one； that they have brought peace unto。 Tell them I
pray； and will pray； that they may walk in the robe of gloryand
tell Mr。 Richard that I mind what he said to me； of taking hold on
the sure hope。 God crown all their crosses unto them； and fulfil all
their desires unto everlasting life。' I feel that I am not rendering
her words with all their fervour and beauty of Irish expression； but
I would that I could fully retain and transmit them； for those who
have so led her must； indeed； be able to feel them precious。 I never
saw a more peaceful frame of penitence and joy。 She died last night；
sleeping herself away； without more apparent suffering； and will be
committed to the earth on Sunday next； all her fellow…scholars
attending； and； I hope； profiting by the example she has left。
〃I have only to add my most earnest congratulations to those whose
labour of love has borne such blessed fruit； and； hoping you will
pardon the liberty； etc。〃
Etheldred finished the letter thro