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〃Oh； Ritchie；〃 said Ethel； 〃what can expense signify； when all that
has been kicking about loose in an open drawer？ What would not one
of those rolls do？〃
〃I think I had better take them out of your way；〃 said Richard
quietly。 〃Am I to bring back the book to you； Margaret？〃
〃Yes； do；〃 said Margaret； 〃pray do not tease him with it。〃 And as
her brother left the room； she continued； 〃I wish he was better。 I
think he is more oppressed now than even at first。 The pain of his
arm； going on so long； seems to me to have pulled him down； it does
not let him sleep； and； by the end of the day； he gets worn and
fagged by seeing so many people； and exerting himself to talk and
think； and often； when there is something that must be asked； I don't
know how to begin； for it seems as if a little more would be too much
for him。〃
〃Yes； Richard is right；〃 said Ethel mournfully； 〃it will not do to
press him about our concerns； but do you think him worse to…day？〃
〃He did not sleep last night； and he is always worse when he does not
drive out into the country； the fresh air； and being alone with
Richard； are a rest for him。 To…day is especially trying； he does
not think poor old Mr。 Southern will get through the evening； and he
is so sorry for the daughter。〃
〃Is he there now？〃
〃Yes； he thought of something that might be an alleviation； and he
would go； though he was tired。 I am afraid the poor daughter will
detain him； and he is not fit to go through such things now。〃
〃No； I hope he will soon come； perhaps Richard will meet him。 But；
oh； Margaret； what do you think Richard and I have been talking of？〃
and； without perception of fit times and seasons； Ethel would have
told her story； but Margaret； too anxious to attend to her； said；
〃Hark！ was not that his step？〃 and Dr。 May came in； looking mournful
and fatigued。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃I was just too late。 He died as I got there； and I
could not leave the daughter till old Mrs。 Bowers came。〃
〃Poor thing；〃 said Margaret。 〃He was a good old man。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Dr。 May； sitting wearily down； and speaking in a worn…out
voice。 〃One can't lightly part with a man one has seen at church
every Sunday of one's life； and exchanged so many friendly words with
over his counter。 'Tis a strong bond of neighbourliness in a small
place like this； and； as one grows old； changes come heavier'the
clouds return again after the rain。' Thank you； my dear；〃 as Ethel
fetched his slippers； and placed a stool for his feet； feeling
somewhat ashamed of thinking it an achievement to have； unbidden；
performed a small act of attention which would have come naturally
from any of the others。
〃Papa； you will give me the treat of drinking tea with me？〃 said
Margaret； who saw the quiet of her room would suit him better than
the bustle of the children downstairs。 〃Thank you；〃 as he gave a
smile of assent。
That Margaret could not be made to listen this evening was plain； and
all that Ethel could do； was to search for some books on schools。 In
seeking for them； she displayed such confusion in the chiffonier；
that Flora exclaimed； 〃Oh； Ethel； how could you leave it so？〃
〃I was in a hurry； looking for something for Norman。 I'll set it to
rights；〃 said Ethel； gulping down her dislike of being reproved by
Flora； with the thought that mamma would have said the same。
〃My dear！〃 cried Flora presently； jumping up； 〃what are you doing？
piling up those heavy books on the top of the little ones； how do you
think they will ever stand？ let me do it。〃
〃No； no； Flora；〃 and Richard； in a low voice； gave Ethel some advice；
which she received； seated on the floor； in a mood between temper and
despair。
〃He is going to teach her to do it on the principles of gravitation；〃
said Flora。
Richard did not do it himself； but； by his means； Ethel； without
being in the least irritated； gave the chiffonier a thorough dusting
and setting…to…rights； sorting magazines； burning old catalogues； and
finding her own long…lost 'Undine'； at which she was so delighted
that she would have forgotten all； in proceeding to read it； curled
up on the floor amongst the heaps of pamphlets； if another gentle
hint from Richard had not made her finish her task so well； as to
make Flora declare it was a pleasure to look in； and Harry pronounce
it to be all neat and ship…shape。
There was no speaking to Margaret the next morningit was French
dayand Ethel had made strong resolutions to behave better； and
whether there were fewer idioms； or that she was trying to
understand； instead of carping at the master's explanations； they
came to no battle； Flora led the conversation； and she sustained her
part with credit； and gained an excellent mark。
Flora said afterwards to Margaret； 〃I managed nicely for her。 I
would not let M。 Ballompre blunder upon any of the subjects Ethel
feels too deeply to talk of in good French； and really Ethel has a
great talent for languages。 How fast she gets on with Italian！〃
〃That she does；〃 said Margaret。 〃Suppose you send her up； Florayou
must want to go and draw or practice； and she may do her arithmetic
here； or read to me。〃
It was the second time Margaret had made this proposal； and it did
not please Flora； who had learned to think herself necessary to her
sister； and liked to be the one to do everything for her。 She was
within six weeks of seventeen； and surely she need not be sent down
again to the school…room； when she had been so good a manager of the
whole family。 She was fond of study and of accomplishments； but she
thought she might be emancipated from Miss Winter； and it was not
pleasant to her that a sister； only eighteen months older； and almost
dependant on her； should have authority to dispose of her time。
〃I practise in the evening；〃 she said； 〃and I could draw here； if I
wished； but I have some music to copy。〃
Margaret was concerned at the dissatisfaction； though not
understanding the whole of it： 〃You know； dear Flora；〃 she said；
〃I need not take up all your time now。〃
〃Don't regret that；〃 said Flora。 〃I like nothing so well as waiting
on you； and I can attend to my own affairs very well here。〃
〃I'll tell you why I proposed it；〃 said Margaret。 〃I think it would
be a relief for Ethel to escape from Miss Winter's beloved Friday
questions。〃
〃Great nonsense they are；〃 said Flora。 〃Why don't you tell Miss
Winter they are of no use？〃
〃Mamma never interfered with them；〃 said Margaret。 〃She only kept
Ethel in her own hands； and if you would be so kind as to change
sometimes and sit in the school…room； we could spare Ethel； without
hurting Miss Winter's feelings。〃
〃Well； I'll call Ethel； if you like； but I shall go and practise in
the drawing…room。 The old school…room piano is fit for nothing but
Mary to hammer upon。〃
Flora went away； evidently annoyed； and Margaret's conjectures on the
cause of it were cut short by Ethel running in with a slate in one
hand and two books in the other； the rest having all tumbled down on
the stairs。
〃Oh； Margaret； I am so glad to come to you。 Miss Winter has set Mary
to read 〃To be； or not to be；〃 and it would have driven me distracted