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and let 'em christened on Sunday。〃
〃I believe you will be glad of it；〃 said Richard； and he went on to
speak of the elder children coming to school on Sunday； thus causing
another whining from the wife about distance and bad weather； and no
one else going that way。 He said the little Halls were coming； but
Mrs。 Taylor begun saying she disliked their company for the children…
…granny let them get about so much； and they said bad words。 The
father again interfered。 Perhaps Mr。 Wilmot； who acted as chaplain
at the hospital； had been talking to him； for he declared at once
that they should come； and Richard suggested that he might see them
home when he came from church； then； turning to the boy and girl；
told them they would meet their sister Lucy； and asked them if they
would not like that。
On the whole； the beginning was not inauspicious； though there might
be a doubt whether old Mrs。 Hall would keep all her promises。 Ethel
was so much diverted and pleased as to be convinced she would；
Richard was a little doubtful as to her power over the wild girls。
There could not be any doubt that John Taylor was in earnest； and had
been worked upon just at the right moment； but there was danger that
the impression would not last。 〃And his wife in such a horrible
whining dawdle！〃 said Ethel〃there will be no good to be done if it
depends on her。〃
Richard made no answer； and Ethel presently felt remorseful for her
harsh speech about a poor ignorant woman； overwhelmed with poverty；
children； and weak health。
〃I have been thinking a great deal about what you said last time we
took this walk；〃 said Richard； after a considerable interval。
〃Oh； have you！〃 cried Ethel eagerly； and the black peaty pond she was
looking at seemed to sparkle with sunlight。
〃Do you really mean it？〃 said Richard deliberately。
〃Yes； to be sure；〃 she said； with some indignation。
〃Because I think I see a way to make a beginning； but you must make
up your mind to a great deal of trouble； and dirty walks； and you
must really learn not to draggle your frock。〃
〃Well； well； but tell me。〃
〃This is what I was thinking。 I don't think I can go back to Oxford
after Christmas。 It is not fit to leave you while papa is so
disabled。〃
〃Oh no； he could not get on at all。 I heard him tell Mr。 Wilmot the
other day that you were his right hand。〃
Ethel was glad she had repeated this； for there was a deepening
colour and smiling glow of pleasure on her brother's face； such as
she had seldom seen on his delicate； but somewhat impassive features。
〃He is very kind！〃 he said warmly。 〃No； I am sure I cannot be spared
till he is better able to use his arm； and I don't see any chance of
that just yet。 Then if I stay at home； Friday is always at my own
disposal； while papa is at the hospital meeting。〃
〃Yes； yes； and we could go to Cocksmoor； and set up a school。 How
delightful！〃
〃I don't think you would find it quite so delightful as you fancy；〃
said Richard； 〃the children will be very wild and ignorant； and you
don't like that at the National School。〃
〃Oh； but they are in such need； besides there will be no Mrs。 Ledwich
over me。 It is just rightI shan't mind anything。 You are a
capital Ritchie； for having thought of it！〃
〃I don't thinkif I am ever to be what I wish； that is； if I can get
through at OxfordI don't think it can be wrong to begin this； if
Mr。 Ramsden does not object。〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Ramsden never objects to anything。〃
〃And if Mr。 Wilmot will come and set us off。 You know we cannot
begin without that； or without my father's fully liking it。〃
〃Oh！ there can be no doubt of that！〃
〃This one thing； Ethel； I must stipulate。 Don't you go and tell it
all out at once to him。 I cannot have him worried about our
concerns。〃
〃But howno one can question that this is right。 I am sure he won't
object。〃
〃Stop； Ethel； don't you see； it can't be done for nothing？ If we
undertake it； we must go on with it； and when I am away it will fall
on you and Flora。 Well； then； it ought to be considered whether you
are old enough and steady enough； and if it can be managed for you to
go continually all this way； in this wild place。 There will be
expense too。〃
Ethel looked wild with impatience； but could not gainsay these
scruples； otherwise than by declaring they ought not to weigh against
the good of Cocksmoor。
〃It will worry him to have to consider all this；〃 said Richard； 〃and
it must not be pressed upon him。〃
〃No；〃 said Ethel sorrowfully； 〃but you don't mean to give it up。〃
〃You are always in extremes； Ethel。 All I want is to find a good
time for proposing it。〃
She fidgeted and gave a long sigh。
〃Mind；〃 said Richard； stopping short； 〃I'll have nothing to do with
it except on condition you are patient； and hold your tongue about
it。〃
〃I think I can； if I may talk to Margaret。〃
〃Oh yes； to Margaret of course。 We could not settle anything without
her help。〃
〃And I know what she will say；〃 said Ethel。 〃Oh； I am so glad；〃 and
she jumped over three puddles in succession。
〃And； Ethel； you must learn to keep your frock out of the dirt。〃
〃I'll do anything； if you'll help me at Cocksmoor。〃
CHAPTER IX。
For the structure that we raise；
Time is with materials filled；
Our to…days and yesterdays；
Are the blocks which we build。
Truly shape and fashion these；
Leave no yawning gaps between；
Think not； because no man sees；
Such things will remain unseen。LONGFELLOW。
When Ethel came home； burning with the tidings of the newly…excited
hopes for Cocksmoor； they were at once stopped by Margaret eagerly
saying； 〃Is Richard come in？ pray call him；〃 then on his entrance；
〃Oh； Richard； would you be so kind as to take this to the bank。 I
don't like to send it by any one elseit is so much；〃 and she took
from under her pillows a velvet bag； so heavy； that it weighed down
her slender white hand。
〃What； he has given you the care of his money？〃 said Ethel。
〃Yes； I saw him turning something out of his waistcoat…pocket into
the drawer of the looking…glass； and sighing in that very sad way。
He said his fees had come to such an accumulation that he must see
about sending them to the bank； and then he told me of the delight of
throwing his first fee into dear mamma's lap； when they were just
married； and his old uncle had given up to him； and how he had
brought them to her ever since； he said she had spoiled him by taking
all trouble off his hands。 He looked at it； as if it was so
sorrowful to him to have to dispose of it； that I begged him not to
plague himself any more； but let me see about it； as dear mamma used
to do； so he said I was spoiling him too； but he brought me the
drawer； and emptied it out here： when he was gone； I packed it up；
and I have been waiting to ask Richard to take it all to the bank；
out of his sight。〃
〃You counted it？〃 said Richard。
〃Yesthere's fiftyI kept seventeen towards the week's expenses。
Just see that it is right；〃 said Margaret； showing her neat packets。
〃Oh； Ritchie；〃 said Ethel； 〃what can expense signify； when all that
has been kicking about loose in an open drawer？ What wou