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She did not seem to make any progress therethe room was very full；
and very close； the children were dull； and she began to believe she
was doing no goodit was all a weariness。 But she was so heartily
ashamed of her feelings； that she worked the more vehemently for
them； and the utmost show that they outwardly made was； that Margaret
thought her less vivacious than her wont； and she was a little too
peremptory at times with Mary and Blanche。 She had so much disliked
the display that Flora had made about Cocksmoor； that she had imposed
total silence on it upon her younger sisters； and Dr。 Spencer had
spent a fortnight at Stoneborough without being aware of their
occupation； when there occurred such an extremely sultry day； that
Margaret remonstrated with Ethel on her intention of broiling herself
and Mary by walking to Cocksmoor； when the quicksilver stood at 80？
in the shade。
Ethel was much inclined to stay at home； but she did not know whether
this was from heat or from idleness； and her fretted spirits took the
turn of determinationso she posted off at a galloping pace； that
her brothers called her 〃Cocksmoor speed；〃 and Mary panted by her
side； humbly petitioning for the plantation path； when she answered
〃that it was as well to be hot in the sun as in the shade。〃
The school…room was unusually full； all the haymaking mothers made it
serve as an infant school； and though as much window was opened as
there could be； the effect was not coolness。 Nevertheless； Ethel sat
down and gathered her class round her； and she had just heard the
chapter once read； when there was a little confusion； a frightened
cry of 〃Ethel！〃 and before she could rise to her feeta flump upon
the floorpoor Mary had absolutely fainted dead away。
Ethel was much terrified； and very angry with herself； Mary was no
light weight； but Mrs。 Elwood coming at their cry； helped Ethel to
drag her into the outer room； where she soon began to recover； and to
be excessively puzzled as to what had happened to her。 She said the
sea was roaring； and where was Harry？ and then she looked much
surprised to find herself lying on Mrs。 Elwood's damp flagsa
circumstance extremely distressing to Mrs。 Elwood； who wanted to
carry her upstairs into Cherry's room； very clean and very white； but
with such a sun shining full into it！
Ethel lavished all care； and reproached herself greatly； though to be
sure nothing had ever been supposed capable of hurting Mary； and Mary
herself protested that nothing at all had ailed her till the
children's voices began to sound funny； and turned into the waves of
the sea； and therewith poor Mary burst into a great flood of tears；
and asked whether Harry would ever come back。 The tears did her a
great deal of good； though not so much as the being petted by Ethel；
and she soon declared herself perfectly well； but Ethel could not
think of letting her walk home； and sent off a boywho she trusted
would not faintwith a note to Margaret； desiring her to send the
gig； which fortunately was at home to…day。
Mary had partaken of some of Mrs。 Elwood's tea； which； though
extremely bitter； seemed a great cordial； and was sitting； quite
revived； in the arbour at the door； when the gig stopped； and Dr。
Spencer walked in。
〃Well； and how are you？〃
〃Quite well now； thank you。 Was Margaret frightened？ Why did you
come？〃
〃I thought it would make her happier； as your father was not at home。
Here； let me feel your pulse。 Do you think no one is a doctor but
your papa？ There's not much the matter with you； however。 Where is
Ethel？〃
〃In the school；〃 and Mary opened the door。 Dr。 Spencer looked in； as
Ethel came out； and his face put her in mind of Norman's look。
〃No wonder！〃 was all he said。
Ethel was soon satisfied that he did not think Mary ill。 In fact； he
said fainting was the most natural and justifiable measure； under the
circumstances。 〃How many human creatures do you keep there？〃 he
asked。
〃Forty…seven to…day；〃 said Mary proudly。
〃I shall indict you for cruelty to animals！ I think I have known it
hotter at Poonshedagore； but there we had punkahs！〃
〃It was very wrong of me；〃 said Ethel。 〃I should have thought of
poor Mary； in that sunny walk； but Mary never complains。〃
〃Oh； never mind；〃 said Mary； 〃it did not hurt。〃
〃I'm not thinking of Mary；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； 〃but of the wretched
beings you are leaving shut up there。 I wonder what the mercury
would be there。〃
〃We cannot help it；〃 said Mary。 〃We cannot get the ground。〃
And Mary； having been voted into the seat of honour and comfort by
his side in the carriage； told her version of Cocksmoor and the
Committee； while Ethel sat up in the little narrow seat behind；
severely reproaching herself for her want of consideration towards
one so good and patient as Mary； who proved to have been suffering
far more on Harry's account than they had guessed； and who was so
simple and thorough…going in doing her duty。 This was not being a
good elder sister； and； when they came home； she confessed it； and
showed so much remorse that poor Mary was quite shocked； and cried so
bitterly that it was necessary to quit the subject。
〃Ethel； dearest；〃 said Margaret that night； after they were in bed；
〃is there anything the matter？〃
〃No； nothing； but that Oxford has spoiled me；〃 said Ethel；
resolutely。 〃I am very cross and selfish！〃
〃It will be better by…and…by；〃 said Margaret； 〃if only you are sure
you have nothing to make you unhappy。〃
〃Nothing；〃 said Ethel。 She was becoming too much ashamed of her
fancy to breathe one word about it； and she had spoken the truth。
Pleasure had spoiled her。
〃If only we could do something for Cocksmoor！〃 she sighed； presently；
〃with that one hundred and fifty pounds lying idle。〃
Margaret was very glad that her thoughts were taking this channel；
but it was not a promising one； for there seemed to be nothing
practicable； present or future。 The ground could not be hadthe pig
would not get over the stilethe old woman could not get home to…
night。 Cocksmoor must put up with its present school； and Mary must
not be walked to death。
Or； as Ethel drew her own moral； sacrifice must not be selfish。 One
great resolution that has been costly； must not blunt us in the daily
details of life。
CHAPTER XI。
If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do； Chapels had
been Churches； and poor men's cottages； princes' palaces。
MERCHANT OF VENICE。
〃Dick；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； as the friends sat together in the evening；
after Mary's swoon； 〃you seem to have found an expedient for making
havoc among your daughters。〃
〃It does not hurt them；〃 said Dr。 May carelessly。
〃Pretty well； after the specimen of to…day。〃
〃That was chance。〃
〃If you like it； I have no more to say； but I should like to make you
sit for two hours in such a temperature。 If they were mine〃
〃Very fine talking； but I would not take the responsibility of
hindering the only pains that have ever been taken with that unlucky
place。 You don't know that girl Ethel。 She began at fifteen；
entirely of her own accord； and