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to read 〃To be； or not to be；〃 and it would have driven me distracted
to have stayed there。 I have got a most beautiful sum in Compound
Proportion； about a lion； a wolf； and a bear eating up a carcase； and
as soon as they have done it； you shall hear me say my ancient
geography； and then we will do a nice bit of Tasso； and if we have
any time after that； I have got such a thing to tell youonly I must
not tell you now； or I shall go on talking and not finish my
lessons。〃
It was not till all were done； that Ethel felt free to exclaim； 〃Now
for what I have been longing to tell youRichard is going to〃 But
the fates were unpropitious。 Aubrey trotted in； expecting to be
amused； next came Norman； and Ethel gave up in despair； and； after
having affronted Flora in the morning； Margaret was afraid of
renewing the offence； by attempting to secure Ethel as her companion
for the afternoon； so not till after the walk could Margaret contrive
to claim the promised； communication； telling Ethel to come and
settle herself cosily by her。
〃I should have been very glad of you last evening；〃 said she； 〃for
papa went to sleep； and my book was out of reach。〃
〃Oh； I am sorry； how I pity you； poor Margaret！〃
〃I suppose I have grown lazy；〃 said Margaret； 〃for I don't mind those
things now。 I am never sorry for a quiet time to recollect and
consider。〃
〃It must be like the waiting in the dark between the slides of a
magic lantern；〃 said Ethel； 〃I never like to be quiet。 I get so
unhappy。〃
〃I am glad of resting and recollecting；〃 said Margaret。 〃It has all
been so like a dream； that merry morning； and then； slowly waking to
find myself here in dear mamma's place； and papa watching over me。
Sometimes I think I have not half understood what it really is； and
that I don't realise； that if I was up and about； I should find the
house without her。〃
〃Yes； that is the aching part！〃 said Ethel。 〃I am happy； sitting on
her bed here with you。 You are a little of her； besides being my own
dear Peg…top！ You are very lucky to miss the mealtimes and the
evenings。〃
〃That is the reason I don't feel it wrong to like to have papa
sitting with me all the evening；〃 said Margaret； 〃though it may make
it worse for you to have him away。 I don't think it selfish in me to
keep him。 He wants quiet so much； or to talk a little when it suits
him； we are too many now； when he is tired。〃
〃Oh； it is best；〃 said Ethel。 〃Nothing that you do is selfishdon't
talk of it； dear Margaret。 It will be something like old times when
you come down again。〃
〃But all this time you are not telling me what I want so much to
hear；〃 said Margaret； 〃about Cocksmoor。 I am so glad Richard has
taken it up。〃
〃That he has。 We are to go every Friday； and hire a room； and teach
the children。 Once a week will do a great deal； if we can but make
them wish to learn。 It is a much better plan than mine； for if they
care about it； they can come to school here on Sunday。〃
〃It is excellent；〃 said Margaret； 〃and if he is at home till Easter；
it will give it a start； and put you in the way of it； and get you
through the short days and dark evenings； when you could not so well
walk home without him。〃
〃Yes； and then we can all teach； Flora； and Mary； and you； when you
are well again。 Richard says it will be disagreeable； but I don't
think sothey are such unsophisticated people。 That Granny Hall is
such a funny old woman； and the whole place wants nothing but a
little care； to do very well。〃
〃You must prepare for disappointments； dear Ethel。〃
〃I know； I know nothing is done without drawbacks； but I am so glad
to make some beginning。〃
〃So am I。 Do you know； mamma and I were one day talking over those
kind of things； and she said she had always regretted that she had so
many duties at home； that she could not attend as much to the poor as
she would like； but she hoped now we girls were growing up； we should
be able to do more。
〃Did she？〃 was all Ethel said； but she was deeply gratified。
〃I've been wanting to tell you。 I knew you would like to hear it。
It seems to set us to work so happily。〃
〃I only wish we could begin；〃 said Ethel； 〃but Richard is so slow！
Of course we can't act without papa's consent and Mr。 Wilmot's help；
and he says papa must not be worried about it； he must watch for his
own time to speak about it。〃
〃Yes〃 said Margaret。
I knowI would not have it otherwise； but what is tiresome is this。
Richard is very good； but he is so dreadfully hard to stir up； and
what's worse； so very much afraid of papa； that while he is thinking
about opportunities； they will all go by； and then it will be Easter；
and nothing done！〃
〃He is not so much afraid of papa as he was；〃 said Margaret。 〃He has
felt himself useful and a comfort； and papa is gentler； and that has
cheered him out of the desponding way that kept him back from
proposing anything。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Ethel； 〃but I wish it was you。 Can't you？ you always
know how to manage。〃
〃No； it is Richard's affair； and he must do as he thinks fit。 Don't
sigh； dear Ethelperhaps he may soon speak； and； if not； you can be
preparing in a quiet way all the time。 Don't you remember how dear
mamma used to tell us that things； hastily begun； never turn out
well？〃
〃But this is not hasty。 I've been thinking about it these six
weeks；〃 said Ethel。 〃If one does nothing but think； it is all no
better than a vision。 I want to be doing。〃
〃Well； you can be doinglaying a sound foundation；〃 said Margaret。
〃The more you consider； and the wiser you make yourself； the better
it will be when you do set to work。〃
〃You mean by curing myself of my slovenly ways and impatient temper？〃
〃I don't know that I was exactly thinking of that；〃 said Margaret；
〃but that ought to be the way。 If we are not just the thing in our
niche at home； I don't think we can do much real good elsewhere。〃
〃It would be hollow； show…goodness；〃 said Ethel。 〃Yes； that is true；
and it comes across me now； and then what a horrid wretch I am； to be
wanting to undertake so much； when I leave so much undone。 But； do
you know； Margaret； there's no one such a help in those ways as
Richard。 Though he is so precise； he is never tiresome。 He makes me
see things； and do them neatly； without plaguing me； and putting me
in a rage。 I'm not ready to bite off my own fingers； or kick all the
rattle…traps over and leave them； as I am when Miss Winter scolds me；
or nurse； or even Flora sometimes； but it is as if I was gratifying
him； and his funny little old bachelor tidyisms divert me； besides；
he teaches me the theory； and never lays hold of my poor fingers；
and； when they won't bend the wrong way； calls them frogs。〃
〃He is a capital master for you；〃 said Margaret； much amused and
pleased； for Richard was her especial darling； and she triumphed in
any eulogy from those who ordinarily were too apt to regard his
dullness with superior compassion。
〃If he would only read our books； and enter into poetry and delight
in it； but it is all nonsense to him；〃 said Ethel。 〃I can't think
how people can be so different； but； oh！ here he comes。 Ritchie； you
shou