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〃Especially after her kind nursing of me； and even； with more reason；
it would not be becoming in us to make changes。 Besides； King
Etheldred；〃 said Margaret； smiling； 〃we all know you are a little bit
of a sloven； and； as nurse says； some one must be always after you；
and do you know？ even if I were well； I had rather it was Miss Winter
than me。〃
〃Oh； no； you would not be formal and preciseyou would not make me
cross。〃
〃Perhaps you might make me so；〃 said Margaret； 〃or I should let you
alone； and leave you a slattern。 We should both hate it so！ No；
don't make me your mistress； Ethel dearlet me be your sister and
play…fellow still； as well as I can。〃
〃You are； you are。 I don't care half so much when I have got you。〃
〃And will you try to bear with her； and remember it is right in the
main； though it is troublesome？ 〃
〃That I will。 I won't plague you again。 I know it is bad for you；
you look tired。〃
〃Pray don't leave off telling me；〃 said Margaret〃it is just what I
wish on my own account； and I know it is comfortable to have a good
grumble。〃
〃If it does not hurt you； but I am sure you are not easy noware
you？〃
〃Only my back；〃 said Margaret。 〃I have been sitting up longer than
usual； and it is tired。 Will you call nurse to lay me flat again？
The nursery was desertedall were out； and Ethel came back in
trepidation at the notion of having to do it herself； though she knew
it was only to put one arm to support her sister； while； with the
other； she removed the pillows； but Ethel was conscious of her own
awkwardness and want of observation； nor had Margaret entire trust in
her。 Still she was too much fatigued to wait； so Ethel was obliged
to do her best。 She was careful and frightened； and therefore slow
and unsteady。 She trusted that all was right； and Margaret tried to
believe so； though still uneasy。
Ethel began to read to her； and Dr。 May came home。 She looked up
smiling； and asked where he had been； but it was vain to try to keep
him from reading her face。 He saw in an instant that something was
amiss； and drew from her a confession that her back was aching a
little。 He knew she might have said a great dealshe was not in a
comfortable positionshe must be moved。 She shook her headshe had
rather waitthere was a dread of being again lifted by Ethel that
she could not entirely hide。 Ethel was distressed； Dr。 May was
angry； and； no wonder； when he saw Margaret suffer； felt his own
inability to help； missed her who had been wont to take all care from
his hands； and was vexed to see a tall strong girl of fifteen； with
the full use of both arms； and plenty of sense； incapable of giving
any assistance； and only doing harm by trying。
〃It is of no use；〃 said he。 〃Ethel will give no attention to
anything but her books！ I've a great mind to put an end to all the
Latin and Greek！ She cares for nothing else。〃
Ethel could little brook injustice； and much as she was grieving； she
exclaimed； 〃Papa； papa； I do carenow don't I； Margaret？ I did my
best！〃
〃Don't talk nonsense。 Your best； indeed！ If you had taken the most
moderate care〃
〃I believe Ethel took rather too much care；〃 said Margaret； much more
harassed by the scolding than by the pain。 〃It will be all right
presently。 Never mind； dear papa。〃
But he was not only grieved for the present； but anxious for the
future； and； though he knew it was bad for Margaret to manifest his
displeasure； he could not restrain it； and continued to blame Ethel
with enough of injustice to set her on vindication； whereupon he
silenced her； by telling her she was making it worse by self…
justification when Margaret ought to be quiet。 Margaret tried to
talk of other things； but was in too much discomfort to exert herself
enough to divert his attention。
At last Flora returned； and saw in an instant what was wanted。
Margaret was settled in the right posture； but the pain would not
immediately depart； and Dr。 May soon found out that she had a
headache； of which he knew he was at least as guilty as Etheldred
could be。
Nothing could be done but keep her quiet； and Ethe1 went away to be
miserable； Flora tried to comfort her by saying it was unfortunate；
but no doubt there was a knack； and everyone could not manage those
things； Margaret was easier now； and as to papa's anger； he did not
always mean all he said。
But consolation came at bedtime； Margaret received her with open arms
when she went to wish her goodnight。 〃My poor Ethel；〃 she said；
holding her close； 〃I am sorry I have made such a fuss。〃
〃Oh； you did not； it was too bad of meI am grieved； are you quite
comfortable now？〃
〃Yes； quite； only a little headache； which I shall sleep off。 It has
been so nice and quiet。 Papa took up George Herbert； and has been
reading me choice bits。 I don't think I have enjoyed anything so
much since I have been ill。〃
〃I am glad of that； but I have been unhappy all the evening。 I wish
I knew what to do。 I am out of heart about everything！〃
〃Only try to mind and heed； and you will learn。 It will be a step if
you will only put your shoes side by side when you take them off。〃
Ethel smiled and sighed； and Margaret whispered； 〃Don't grieve about
me； but put your clever head to rule your hands； and you will do for
home and Cocksmoor too。 Good…night； dearest。〃
〃I've vexed papa；〃 sighed Etheland just then he came into the room。
〃Papa；〃 said Margaret； 〃here's poor Ethel； not half recovered from
her troubles。〃
He was now at ease about Margaret； and knew he had been harsh to
another of his motherless girls。
〃Ah！ we must send her to the infant…school； to learn 'this is my
right hand； and this is my left；'〃 said he； in his half…gay； half…sad
manner。
〃I was very stupid；〃 said Ethel。
〃Poor child！〃 said her papa； 〃she is worse off than I am。 If I have
but one hand left； she has two left hands。〃
〃I do mean to try； papa。〃
〃Yes； you must； Ethel。 I believe I was hasty with you； my poor girl。
I was vexed； and we have no one to smooth us down。 I am sorry； my
dear； but you must bear with me； for I never learned her ways with
you when I might。 We will try to have more patience with each
other。〃
What could Ethel do but hang round his neck and cry； till he said；
but tenderly； that they had given Margaret quite disturbance enough
to…day； and sent her to bed； vowing to watch each little action； lest
she should again give pain to such a father and sister。
CHAPTER VIII。
〃Tis not enough that Greek or Roman page
At stated hours； his freakish thoughts engage；
Even in his pastimes he requires a friend
To warn and teach him safely to unbend；
O'er all his pleasures gently to preside；
Watch his emotions； and control their tide。〃COWPER。
The misfortunes of that day disheartened and disconcerted Etheldred。
To do mischief where she most wished to do good； to grieve where she
longed to comfort； seemed to be her fate； it was vain to attempt
anything for anyone's good； while all her warm feelings and high
aspirations were thwarted by the awkward ungainly hands and heedless
eyes that Nature had given her。 Nor did the following day； Satu