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that he should only hear a great deal of offensive stuff from Tomkins
the brewer； and that； in the desire to displease nobody； the votes
should settle down on some nonentity； was the best which was likely
to happen。 Thus； grumbling； he set off； and his daughters watched
anxiously for his return。 They saw him come through the garden with
a quick； light step； that made them augur well； and he entered the
room with the corners of his mouth turning up。 〃I see；〃 said Ethel；
〃it is all right。〃
〃They were going to have made a very absurd choice。〃
〃But you prevented it？ Who was it？〃
〃Ah！ I told you Master Ritchie was turning out a popular preacher。〃
〃You don't mean that they chose Richard！〃 cried Margaret
breathlessly。
〃As sure as my name is Dick May； they did； every man of them； except
Tomkins； and even he held his tongue； I did not think it of them；〃
said the doctor； almost overcome； 〃but there is much more goodness of
heart in the world than one gives it credit for。〃
And good Dr。 May was not one to give the least credit for all that
was like himself。
〃But it was Richard's own doing；〃 he continued。 〃Those sermons made
a great impression； and they love the boy； because he has grown up
among them。 The old mayor waddled up to me； as I came in； telling me
that they had been talking it over； and they were unanimously agreed
that they could not have a parson they should like better than Mr。
Richard。〃
〃Good old Mr。 Doddesley！ I can see him！〃 cried Ethel。
〃I expected it so little； that I thought he meant some Richards； but
no； he said Mr。 Richard May； if he had nothing better in viewthey
liked him； and knew he was a very steady； good young gentleman； and
if he took after his fathers that went before himand they thought
we might like to have him settled near！〃
〃How very kind！〃 said Margaret； as the tears came。 〃We shall love
our own townsfolk better than ever！〃
〃I always told you so； if you would but believe it。 They have warm；
sound hearts； every one of them！ I declare； I did not know which way
to look； I was so sorry to disappoint them。〃
〃Disappoint them！〃 cried Margaret； in consternation。
〃I was thinking；〃 said Ethel。 〃I do not believe Richard would think
himself equal to this place in such a state as it is。 He is so
diffident。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃if he were ten or twelve years older； it would
be another thing； but here； where everything is to be done； he would
not bring weight or force enough。 He would only work himself to
death； for individuals； without going to the root。 Margaret； my
darling； I am very sorry to have disappointed you so muchit would
have been as great a pleasure as we could have had in this world to
have the lad here〃
〃And Cocksmoor；〃 sighed Ethel。
〃I shall be grateful all my life to those good people for thinking of
it；〃 continued the doctor； 〃but look you here； it was my business to
get the best man chosen in my power and； though as to goodness； I
believe the dear Ritchie has not many equals； I don't think we can
conscientiously say he would be； at present； the best vicar for
Stoneborough。〃
Ethel would not say no； for fear she should pain Margaret。
〃Besides；〃 continued Dr。 May； 〃after having staved off the sale of
the presentation as a sin； it would hardly have been handsome to have
let my own son profit by it。 It would have seemed as if we had our
private ends； when Richard helped poor old Mr。 Ramsden。〃
Margaret owned this； and Ethel said Richard would be glad to be
spared the refusal。
〃I was sure of it。 The poor fellow would have been perplexed between
the right and consideration for us。 A vicar here ought to carry
things with a high hand； and that is hardest to do at a man's own
home； especially for a quiet lad like him。〃
〃Yes； papa； it was quite right；〃 said Margaret； recovering herself；
〃it has spared Richard a great deal。〃
〃But are we to have Mr。 Wilmot？〃 said Ethel。 〃Think of our not
having heard！〃
〃Ay。 If they would not have had Wilmot； or a man of his calibre；
perhaps I might have let them offer it to Richard。 I almost wish I
had。 With help； and Ethel〃
〃No； no； papa；〃 said Margaret。 〃You are making me angry with myself
for my folly。 It is much better for Richard himself； and for us all；
as well as the town。 Think how long we have wished for Mr。 Wilmot！〃
〃He will be in time for the opening of Cocksmoor school！〃 cried
Ethel。 〃How did you manage it？〃
〃I did not manage at all；〃 said the doctor。 〃I told them exactly my
mind； that Richard was not old enough for such arduous work； and
though no words could tell how obliged I was； if they asked me who
was the best man for it I knew； I should say Edward Wilmot； and I
thought he deserved something from us； for the work he did gratis；
when he was second master。 Tomkins growled a little； but；
fortunately； no one was prepared with another proposal； so they all
came round； and the mayor is to write by this evening's post； and so
shall I。 If we could only have given Richard a dozen more years！〃
Margaret was somewhat comforted to find that the sacrifice had cost
her father a good deal； she was always slightly jealous for Richard；
and now that Alan was gone； she clung to him more than ever。 His
soft calm manner supported her more than any other human comforter；
and she always yearned after him when absent； more than for all the
other brothers； but her father's decision had been too high…minded
for her to dare to wish it recalled； and she could not but own that
Richard would have had to undergo more toil and annoyance than
perhaps his health would have endured。
Flora had discontinued comments to her sisters on her father's
proceedings； finding that observations mortified Margaret； and did
not tend to peace with Ethel； but she told her husband that she did
not regret it much； for Richard would have exhausted his own income；
and his father's likewise； in paying curates； and raising funds for
charities。 She scarcely expected Mr。 Edward Wilmot to accept the
offer； aware as he was； of the many disadvantages he should have to
contend with； and unsuccessful as he had been in dealing with the
Ladies' Committee。
However； Mr。 Wilmot signified his thankful acceptance； and； in due
time； his familiar tap was heard at the drawing…room door； at tea…
time； as if he had just returned after the holidays。 He was most
gladly welcomed； and soon was installed in his own place； with his
goddaughter； Mary； blushing with pleasure at pouring out his coffee。
〃Well； Ethel； how is Cocksmoor？ How like old times！〃
〃Oh；〃 cried Ethel； 〃we are so glad you will see the beginning of the
school！〃
〃I hear you are finishing Cherry Elwood； too。〃
〃Much against Ethel's will；〃 said Margaret； 〃but we thought Cherry
not easily spoiled。 And Whitford school seems to be in very good
order。 Dr。 Spencer went and had an inspection of it； and conferred
with all the authorities。〃
〃Ah！ we have a jewel of a parishioner for you；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃I
have some hopes of Stoneborough now。〃
Mr。 Wilmot did not look too hopeful； but he smiled； and asked after
Granny Hall； and the children。
〃Polly grew up quite civili