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is it not a fine high…pitched roof？ John Taylor； who is to be clerk；
could not understand its being open； he said； when he saw the
timbers； that a man and his family might live up among them。 They
are noble oak beams； we would not have any shamhere； Aubrey； take
off the roof； and auntie will see the shape。〃
〃Like the ribs of a ship；〃 explained Aubrey； unconscious that the
meaning was deeper than his sister could express； and he continued：
〃Such fine oak beams！ I rode with Dr。 Spencer one day last year to
choose them。 It is a two…aisled church； you see； that a third may be
added。〃
Ethel came up as Aubrey began to absorb the conversation。 〃Lessons；
Aubrey；〃 she said。 〃So； Margaret； you are over your dear model？〃
〃Not forestalling you too much I hope； Ethel dear；〃 said Margaret；
〃as you will show her the church itself。〃
〃You have the best right；〃 said Ethel； 〃but come； Aubrey； we must not
dawdle。〃
〃I will show you the stones I laid myself； Aunt Flora；〃 said Aubrey；
running off without much reluctance。
〃Ethel has him in excellent order；〃 said Mrs。 Arnott。
〃That she has； she brings him on beautifully； and makes him enjoy it。
She teaches him arithmetic in some wonderful scientific way that
nobody can understand but Norman； and he not the details； but he says
it is all coming right； and will make him a capital mathematical
scholar； though he cannot add up pounds； shillings； and pence。〃
〃I expected to be struck with Ethel；〃 said Mrs。 Arnott； 〃and〃
〃Well；〃 said Margaret； waiting。
〃Yes； she does exceed my expectations。 There is something curiously
winning in that quaint； quick； decisive manner of hers。 There is so
much soul in the least thing she does； as if she could not be
indifferent for a moment。〃
〃Exactlyexactly so；〃 said Margaret； delighted。 〃It is really doing
everything with all her might。 Little； simple； everyday matters did
not come naturally to her as to other people； and the having had to
make them duties has taught her to do them with that earnest manner；
as if there were a right and a wrong to her in each little mechanical
household office。〃
〃Harry described her to me thus；〃 said Mrs。 Arnott； smiling： 〃'As to
Ethel； she is an odd fish； but Cocksmoor will make a woman of her
after all。'〃
〃Quite true！〃 cried Margaret。 〃I should not have thought Harry had
so much discernment in those days。 Cocksmoor gave the stimulus； and
made Ethel what she is。 Look thereover the mantelpiece； are the
designs for the painted glass； all gifts； except the east window。
That one of St。 Andrew introducing the lad with the loaves and fishes
is Ethel's window。 It is the produce of the hoard she began this
time seven years； when she had but one sovereign in the world。 She
kept steadily on with it； spending nothing on herself that she could
avoid； always intending it for the church； and it was just enough to
pay for this window。〃
〃Most suitable；〃 said Mrs。 Arnott。
〃Yes； Mr。 Wilmot and I persuaded her into it； but I do not think she
would have allowed it； if she had seen the application we made of it…
…the gift of her girlhood blessed and extended。 Dear King Etheldred；
it is the only time I ever cheated her。〃
〃This is a beautiful east window。 And this little oneSt。 Margaret
I see。〃
〃Ah！ papa would not be denied choosing that for his subject。 We
reproached him with legendary saints； and overwhelmed him with
antiquarianism； to show that the Margaret of the dragon was not the
Margaret of the daisy； but he would have it； and said we might thank
him for not setting his heart on St。 Etheldreda。〃
〃This one？〃
〃That is mine；〃 said Margaret； very low； and her aunt abstained from
remark； though unable to look； without tears； at the ship of the
Apostles； the calming of the storm； and the scroll； with the verse：
He bringeth them unto the haven where they would be。
Beneath were the initials； 〃A。 H。 E。；〃 and the date of the year； the
only memorials of the founder。
Margaret next drew attention to St。 Andrew with his crossMeta's
gift。 〃And； besides；〃 she said； 〃George Rivers made us a beautiful
present； which Meta hunted up。 Old Mr。 Rivers； knowing no better；
once bought all the beautiful carved fittings of a chapel in France；
meaning to fit up a library with them； but； happily； he never did；
and a happy notion came into Meta's head； so she found them out； and
Dr。 Spencer has adapted them； and set them all to rights； and they
are most exquisite。 You never saw such foliage。〃
Thus Margaret proceeded with the description of everything in the
church； and all the little adventures of the building； as if she
could not turn away from the subject； and her aunt listened and
wondered； and； when called away； that Margaret might rest before
nurse came to dress her； she expressed her wonder to Meta。
〃Yes；〃 was the answer； 〃it is her chief occupation and interest。 I
do not mean that she has not always her own dear full sympathy for
every one's concerns； but Cocksmoor is her concern； almost more than
even Ethel's。 I think she could chronicle every stage in the
building better than Dr。 Spencer himself； and it is her daily delight
to hear his histories of his progress。 And not only with the church
but the people； she knows all about every family； Richard and Ethel
tell her all their news； she talks over the school with the mistress
every Sunday； and you cannot think what a feeling there is for her at
Cocksmoor。 A kind message from Miss May has an effect that the
active workers cannot always produce。〃
Mrs。 Arnott saw that Meta was right； when； in the afternoon； she
walked with her nieces to see Cocksmoor。 It was not a desolate sight
as in old times； for the fair edifice； rising on the slope； gave an
air of protection to the cottages； which seemed now to have a centre
of unity； instead of lying forlorn and scattered。 Nor were they as
wretched in themselves； for the impulse of civilisation had caused
windows to be mended and railings to be tidied； and Richard promoted；
to the utmost； cottage gardening； so that； though there was an air of
poverty； there was no longer an appearance of reckless destitution
and hopeless neglect。
In the cottages； Mrs。 Taylor had not entirely ceased to speak with a
piteous voice； even though she told of the well…doing of her girls at
service； but Granny Hall's merry content had in it something now of
principle； and Sam had married a young Fordholm wife； who promised to
be a pattern for Cocksmoor。 Every one asked after Miss May； with a
tenderness and affection that Mrs。 Arnott well appreciated； and when
they went into the large fresh school； where Richard was hearing a
class； Cherry Elwood looked quite cheered and enlivened by hearing
that she had been able to enjoy seeing her aunt。 Mrs。 Arnott was set
to enlighten the children about the little brown girls whom she was
wont to teach； and came away with a more brilliant impression of
their intelligence than she might have had； if she had not come to
them fresh from the Antipodes。
She had to tell Margaret all her impressions on her return； and very
pretty smiles repaid her commendations。 She understood better