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saucy Blanche told Hector that she thought Ethel would be quite
second…fiddle with Miss Bracy。
No such thing。 Miss Bracy's great delight was in having a listener
for her enthusiasm about Miss Ethel。 She had been lately having a
correspondence with a former school…fellow； who was governess in a
family less considerate than the Mays； and who poured out； in her
letters； feelings much like those with which Miss Bracy had begun。
Nothing could be more salutary than to find herself repeating all
Ethel's pieces of advice； and； one day； when her friend had been more
distressed than usual； she called Ethel herself； to consult on her
answer； owning how much she was reminded of herself。
〃Indeed；〃 she added； 〃I am afraid it would only tease you to hear how
much I am indebted to your decision and kindness〃
〃Nay；〃 said Ethel； laughing her awkward laugh。 〃You have often had
to forget my savage ways。〃
〃Pray don't say that〃
〃I think；〃 said Ethel； breaking in； 〃the philosophy is this： I
believe that it is a trying life。 I know teaching takes a great deal
out of one； and loneliness may cause tendencies to dwell on fancied
slights in trifles； that might otherwise be hurried over。 But I
think the thing is； to pass them over； and make a conscience of
turning one's mind to something fresh〃
〃As you made me do； when you brought me amusing books； and taught me
botany〃
〃And； still more； when you took to working for the infant school。
Yes； I think the way to be happy and useful is to get up many
interests； so as to be fresh and vigorous； and think not at all of
personalities。 There's a truism！〃
〃Very true； though；〃 said Miss Bracy。 〃Indeed； all your kindness and
consideration would never have done me half the good they have； dear
Miss Ethel； if you had not taught me that referring all to one's own
feelings and self is the way to be unhappy。〃
〃Just so；〃 said Ethel。 〃It is the surest way for any one to be
miserable。〃
〃If I could only persuade poor dear Ellen to think that even if a
slight were real； it ought to be borne forgivingly； and not brooded
over。 Ah！ you are laughing； perhaps you have said the same about
me。〃
〃You would forgive it now； I think；〃 said Ethel。
〃I never thought I did not forgive。 I did not see that brooding over
vexations was not pardoning them。 I have told her so now； and； oh！
if she could but have seen how true sorrows are borne here； she would
be cured； like me； of making imaginary ones。〃
〃None could help being better for living with papa；〃 said Ethel。
Ethel made Miss Bracy happy by a kiss before she left her。 It was a
cheering belief that； whatever the future trials of her life might
be； the gentle little lady would meet them with a healthier mind；
more vigorous in overlooking troubles and without punctilious
sensitiveness on the lookout for affronts。 〃Believing all things；
bearing all things； hoping all things； enduring all things；〃 would be
to her the true secret of serenity of spirits。
Ethel might not have been blameless or consistent in her dealings in
this difficult intercourse； but her kind heart； upright intention；
and force of character； had influence far beyond her own perception。
Indeed； she knew not that she had personal influence at all； but went
on in her own straightforward humility。
CHAPTER XXIV。
〃Enough of foresight sad； too much
Of retrospect have I；
And well for me； that I； sometimes；
Can put those feelings by。
There speaks the man we knew of yore；
Well pleased； I hear them say；
Such was he； in his lighter moods；
Before our heads were gray。
Buoyant he was in spirit； quick
Of fancy； light of heart；
And care； and time； and change have left
Untouch'd his better part。〃SOUTHEY。
Etheldred May and Meta Rivers were together in the drawing…room。 The
timepiece pointed towards ten o'clock； but the tea…things were on the
table； prepared for a meal； the lamp shone with a sort of
consciousness； and Ethel moved restlessly about； sometimes settling
her tea equipage； sometimes putting away a stray book； or resorting
by turns to her book； or to work a red and gold scroll on coarse
canvas； on the other end of which Meta was employed。
〃Nervous； Ethel？〃 said Meta； looking up with a merry provoking smile；
knowing how much the word would displease。
〃That is for you；〃 retorted Ethel； preferring to carry the war into
the enemy's quarters。 〃What； don't you know that prudent people say
that your fate depends on her report？〃
〃At least；〃 said Meta； laughing； 〃she is a living instance that every
one is not eaten up； and we shall see if she fulfils Tom's prediction
of being tattooed； or of having a slice out of the fattest part of
her cheek。〃
〃I know very well；〃 said Ethel； 〃the worst she said it would be； the
more you would go。〃
〃Not quite that；〃 said Meta； blushing； and looking down。
〃Come； don't be deceitful！〃 said Ethel。 〃You know very well that you
are still more bent on it than you were last year。〃
〃To be sure I am！〃 said Meta； looking up with a sudden beamy flash of
her dark eyes。 〃Norman and I know each other so much better now；〃
she added； rather falteringly。
〃Ay！ I know you are ready to go through thick and thin； and that is
why I give my consent and approbation。 You are not to be stopped for
nonsense。〃
〃Not for nonsense； certainly；〃 said Meta； 〃but〃and her voice became
tremulous〃if Dr。 May deliberately said it would be wrong； and that
I should be an encumbrance and perplexity； I am making up my mind to
the chance。〃
〃But what would you do？〃 asked Ethel。
〃I don't know。 You should not ask such questions； Ethel。〃
〃Well！ it won't happen； so it is no use to talk about it；〃 said
Ethel。 〃Fancy my having made you cry。〃
〃Very silly of me；〃 said Meta； brightening and laughing； but sighing。
〃I am only afraid Mrs。 Arnott may think me individually unfit for the
kind of life； as if I could not do what other women can。 Do I look
so？〃
〃You look as if you were meant to be put under a glass case！〃 said
Ethel； surveying the little elegant figure； whose great
characteristic was a look of exquisite finish； not only in the
features and colouring； the turn of the head； and the shape of the
small rosy…tipped fingers； but in everything she wore； from the
braids of black silk hair； to the little shoe on her foot； and even
in the very lightness and gaiety of her movements。
〃Oh； Ethel！〃 cried Meta； springing up in dismay； and looking at
herself in the glass。 〃What is the matter with me？ Do tell me！〃
〃You'll never get rid of it；〃 said Ethel； 〃unless you get yourself
tattooed！ Even separation from Bellairs hasn't answered。 And； after
all； I don't think it would be any satisfaction to Norman or papa。 I
assure you； Meta； whatever you may think of it； it is not so much
bother to be prettier than needful； as it is to be uglier than
needful。〃
〃What is needful？〃 said Meta； much amused。
〃I suppose to be like Mary； so that nobody should take notice of one；
but that one's own people may have the satisfaction of saying； 'she
is pleasing；' or 'she is in good looks。' I think Gertrude will come
to that。 That's one comfort。〃
〃That is