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regular； necessary duty； and it would have oppressed her so much to
order the dinners； which she never saw； that； though she offered to
resume the office； Flora would not hear of Ethel's consenting。 If it
were her proper business； Ethel supposed she could do it； but another
hour of her leisure was gone； and what would become of them all； with
her； a proverb for heedlessness； and ignorance of ordinary details。
She did not know that these were more proverbial than actual； and；
having a bad name； she believed in it herself。 However； Flora made
it her business to persuade her that her powers were as good for
household matters； as for books； or Cocksmoor； instructed her in her
own methodical plans； and made her keep house for a fortnight； with
so much success that she began to be hopeful。
In the attendance on Margaret； the other great charge； old nurse was
the security； and Ethel； who had felt her self much less unhandy than
before； was； to succeed to the abode； in her roomBlanche being
promoted from the nursery to the old attic。 〃And；〃 said Flora
consolingly； 〃if dear Margaret ever should be ill； you may reckon on
me。〃
Miss Flora May made her last appearance at the Ladies' Committee to
hear the reply from the principal of the college。 It was a civil
letter； but declined taking any steps in the matter without more
certain intelligence of the wishes of the incumbent of the parish or
of the holders of the land in question。
The ladies abused all collegesas prejudiced old Bodies； and feared
that it would be impossible to ask Mrs。 Perkinson's niece to take the
school while there was neither room nor lodging。 So Miss Rich
recorded the correspondence； and the vote of censure； by which it was
to be hoped the Ladies' Committee of Market Stoneborough inflicted a
severe blow on the principal and fellows of M College。
〃Never mind； Ethel；〃 said Flora。 〃I shall meet Sir Henry Walkinghame
in London； and will talk to him。 We shall yet astonish the muses。
If we can get the land without them； we shall be able to manage it
our own way； without obligations。〃
〃You forget the money！〃
〃We will keep them from dissipating itor that might be no harm！ A
hundred pounds will be easily found； and we should then have it in
our own hands。 Besides； you know； I don't mean to give up。 I shall
write a polite note to Mrs。 Ledwich； begging to subscribe on my own
account； and to retain my seat！ and you will see what we shall do。〃
〃You mean to come down with the external authority；〃 said Ethel；
smiling。
〃True！ and though my driving in with a pair of horses may make little
difference to you； Ethel； depend upon it； Mrs。 Ledwich will be the
more amenable。 Whenever I want to be particularly impressive； I
shall bring in that smelling…bottle； with the diamond stopper that
won't come out； and you will find that carries all before it。〃
〃A talisman！〃 said Ethel； laughing。 〃But I had rather they yielded
to a sense of right！〃
〃So had I；〃 said Flora。 〃Perhaps you will rule them that way？〃
〃Not I！〃 cried Ethel； terrified。
〃Then you must come to me； and secondary motives。 SeriouslyI do
mean that George should do something for Stoneborough； and； in a
position of influence； I hope to be able to be useful to my poor old
town。 Perhaps we shall have the minster restored。〃
Flora did wish it。 She did love Stoneborough； and was sincerely
interested for Cocksmoor。 She thought she worked earnestly for them；
and that her situation would be turned to their profit； but there was
something for which she worked more earnestly。 Had Flora never heard
of the two masters whom we cannot serve at the same time？
Richard came home for 〃a parson's week；〃 so as to include the
wedding。 He looked very fresh and youthful； but his manner； though
still gentle and retiring； had lost all that shrinking diffidence；
and had； now； a very suitable grave composure。 Everybody was
delighted to have him； and Ethel； more than any one； except Margaret。
What floods of Cocksmoor histories were poured upon him； and what
comparing of notes about his present school…children！ He could not
enter into the refinements of her dread of the Ladies' Committee； and
thought she might be thankful if the school were built by any proper
means； for； if Cherry Elwood were retained； and the ladies prevented
from doing harm； he did not understand why Ethel should wish to
reject all assistance that did not come in a manner she admired。 He
never would comprehendso Ethel gave it upfeared she was again
jealous and self…sufficient； and contented herself with the joy that
his presence produced at Cocksmoor； where the children smiled；
blushed； and tittered； with ecstasy； whenever he even looked at one
of them。
Richard was not allowed to have a Sunday of rest。 His father
apologised for having made an engagement for himas Mr。 Ramsden was
unwell； and the school clergy were all absent； so that he could do no
otherwise than assist in the service。 Richard coloured； and said
that he had brought no sermon； and he was； in fact； deprived of much
of his sister's company； for composition was not easy to him； and the
quantity of time he spent on it； quite alarmed Norman and Ethel； who
both felt rather nervous on the Sunday morning； but agreed that
preaching was not everything。
Ethel could not see well as far as the reading…desk； but she saw her
father glance up； take off his spectacles； wipe them； and put them
away； and she could not be displeased； though she looked reproof at
Blanche's breathless whisper； 〃Oh； he looks so nice！〃 Those white
folds did truly suit well with the meek； serious expression of the
young deacon's fair face； and made him； as his sisters afterwards
said； like one of the solemnly peaceful angel…carvings of the earlier
ages。
His voice was sweet and clear； and his reading full of quiet
simplicity and devotion； such as was not often heard by that
congregation； who were too much used either to carelessness or to
pomposity。 The sermon made his brother and sister ashamed of their
fears。 It was an exposition of the Gospel for the day； practical and
earnest； going deep； and rising high； with a clearness and soberness；
yet with a beauty and elevation； such as Norman and Ethel had
certainly not expectedor； rather； they forgot all their own
expectations and Richard himself； and only recollected their own
hearts and the great future before them。
Even Blanche and Aubrey told Margaret a great deal about it； and
declared that； if Richard preached every Sunday； they should like
going to church much better。
When Dr。 May came in； some time after； he was looking much pleased。
〃So； Mr。 Ritchie；〃 he said； 〃you have made quite a sensationevery
one shaking me by the hand； and thanking me for my son's sermon。 You
will be a popular preacher at last！〃
Richard blushed distressfully； and quoted the saying； that it would
be the true comfort to hear that people went home； thinking of
themselves rather than of the sermon。 This put an end to the
subject； but the doctor went over it again； most thoroughly； with his
other children； who were greatly delighted。
Flora's last home Sunday！ She was pale