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pardon the liberty； etc。〃
Etheldred finished the letter through blinding tears； while rising
sobs almost choked her。 She ran away to her own room； bolted the
door； and threw herself on her knees； beside her bednow confusedly
giving thanks for such resultsnow weeping bitterly over her own
unworthiness。 Oh！ what was she in the sight of Heaven； compared with
what this poor girl had deemed herwith what this clergyman thought
her？ She； the teacher； taught； trained； and guarded； from her
infancy； by her wise mother； and by such a father！ She； to have
given way all day to pride； jealousy； anger； selfish love of her own
will； when this poor girl had embraced； and held fast； the blessed
hope； from the very crumbs they had brought her！ Nothing could have
so humbled the distrustful spirit that had been working in Ethel；
which had been scotched into silencenot killedwhen she endured
the bazaar； and now had been indemnifying itself by repining at every
stumbling…block。 Her own scholar's blessing was the rebuke that went
most home to her heart； for having doubted whether good could be
worked in any way； save her own。
She was interrupted by Mary trying to open the door； and； admitting
her； heard her wonder at the traces of her tears； and ask what there
was about Una。 Ethel gave her the letter； and Mary's tears showered
very fastthey always came readily。 〃Oh； Ethel； how glad Richard
will be！〃
〃Yes； it is all Richard's doing。 So much more good； and wise； and
humble； as he is。 No wonder his teaching〃 and Ethel sat down and
cried again。
Mary pondered。 〃 It makes me very glad；〃 she said； 〃and yet I don't
know why one cries。 Ethel； do you think〃she came near； and
whispered〃that Una has met dear mamma there？〃
Ethel kissed her。 It was almost the first time Mary had spoken of
her mother； and she answered； 〃Dear Mary； we cannot tellwe may
think。 It is all one communion； you know。〃
Mary was silent； and； next time she spoke； it was to hope that Ethel
would tell the Cocksmoor children about Una。
Ethel was obliged to dress； and go downstairs to tea。 Her father
seemed to have been watching for her； with his study door open； for
he came to meet her； took her hand； and said； in a low voice； 〃My
dear child； I wish you joy。 This will be a pleasant message； to bid
poor Ritchie good speed for his ordination； will it not？〃
〃That it will； papa〃
〃Why； Ethel； have you been crying over it all this time？〃 said he；
struck by the sadness of her voice。
〃Many other things； papa。 I am so unworthybut it was not our
doingbut the grace〃
〃No； but thankful you may be； to have been the means of awakening the
grace！〃
Ethel's lips trembled。 〃And oh； papa！ coming to…day； when I have
been behaving so ill to you； and Miss Bracy； and Flora； and all。
〃Have you？ I did not know you had behaved ill to me。〃
〃About Miss BracyI thought wrong things； if I did not say them。 To
her； I believe； I said what was true； though it was harsh of me to
say it； and〃
〃What？ about pride and temper？ It was true； and I hope it will do
her good。 Cure a piping turkey with a peppercorn sometimes。 I have
spoken to her； and told her to pluck up a little spirit； not fancy
affronts； and not to pester you with them。 Poor child！ you have been
sadly victimised to…day and yesterday。 No wonder you were bored past
patience； with that absurd rabble of women！〃
〃It was all my own selfish； distrustful temper； wanting to have
Cocksmoor taken care of in my own way； and angry at being interfered
with。 I see it nowand here this poor girl； that I thought thrown
away〃
〃Ay； Ethel； you will often see the like。 The main object may fail or
fall short； but the earnest painstaking will always be blessed some
way or other； and where we thought it most wasted； some fresh green
shoot will spring up； to show it is not we that give the increase。 I
suppose you will write to Richard with this？〃
〃That I shall。〃
〃Then you may send this with it。 Tell him my arm is tired and stiff
to…day； or I would have said more。 He must answer the clergyman's
letter。〃
Dr。 May gave Ethel his sheet not folded。 His written words were now
so few as to be cherished amongst his children。
〃Dear Richard；
〃May all your ministerial works be as blessed as this； your first
labour of love。 I give you hearty joy of this strengthening
blessing。 Mine goes with it'Only be strong and of a good courage！'
Your affectionate father；
R。 May。
〃PS。Margaret does not gain ground this summer； you must soon
come home and cheer her。〃
CHAPTER V。
As late； engaged by fancy's dream；
I lay beside a rapid stream；
I saw my first come gliding by；
Its airy form soon caught my eye；
Its texture frail； and colour various；
Like human hopes； and life precarious。
Sudden； my second caught my ear；
And filled my soul with constant fear；
I quickly rose； and home I ran；
My whole was hissing in the pan。Riddle。
Flora revised the letter to the principal； and the Ladies' Committee
approved； after having proposed seven amendments； all of which Flora
caused to topple over by their own weakness。
After interval sufficient to render the nine ladies very anxious； the
principal wrote from Scotland； where he was spending the Long
Vacation； and informed them that their request should he laid before
the next college meeting。
After the committee had sat upon this letter； the two sisters walked
home in much greater harmony than after the former meeting。
Etheldred had recovered her candour； and was willing to own that it
was not art； but good sense； that gave her sister so much ascendancy。
She began to be hopeful； and to declare that Flora might yet do
something even with the ladies。 Flora was gratified by the approval
that no one in the house could help valuing； 〃Positively；〃 said
Flora； 〃I believe I may in time。 You see there are different ways of
acting； as an authority； or as an equal。〃
〃The authority can move from without； the equal must from within；〃
said Ethel。
〃Just so。 We must circumvent their prejudices； instead of trying to
beat them down。〃
〃If you only could have the proper catechising restored！〃
〃Wait； you will see。 Let me feel my ground。〃
〃Or if we could only abdicate into the hands of the rightful power！〃
〃The rightful power would not be much obliged to you。〃
〃That is the worst of it；〃 said Ethel。 〃It is sad to hear the sick
people say that Dr。 May is more to them than any parson； it shows
that they have so entirely lost the notion of what their clergyman
should be。〃
〃Dr。 May is the man most looked up to in this town；〃 said Flora； 〃and
that gives weight to us in the committee； but it is all in the
using。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel hesitatingly。
〃You see； we have the prestige of better birth； and better education；
as well as of having the chief property in the town； and of being the
largest subscribers； added to his personal character；〃 said Flora；
〃so that everything conspires to render us leaders； and our age alone
prevented us from assuming our post sooner。〃
They were at home by this time； and entering the hall； percei