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kitchen； which I dare say we might hire for an afternoon for
sixpence。〃
Ethel； unable to bear it any longer； threw herself forward； and
sitting on the ground at her father's feet； exclaimed； 〃Oh； papa！
papa！ do say we may！〃
〃What's all this about？〃 said the doctor； surprised。
〃Oh！ you don't know how I have thought of it day and night these two
months！〃
〃What！ Ethel； have a fancy for two whole months； and the whole house
not hear of it！〃 said her father； with a rather provoking look of
incredulity。
〃Richard was afraid of bothering you； and wouldn't let me。 But do
speak； papa。 May we？〃
〃I don't see any objection。〃
She clasped her hands in ecstasy。 〃Thank you！ thank you； papa！ Oh；
Ritchie！ Oh； Margaret！〃 cried she； in a breathless voice of
transport。
〃You have worked yourself up to a fine pass；〃 said the doctor；
patting the agitated girl fondly as she leaned against his knee。
〃Remember； slow and steady。〃
〃I've got Richard to help me；〃 said Ethel。
〃Sufficient guarantee；〃 said her father； smiling archly as he looked
up to his son； whose fair face had coloured deep red。 〃You will keep
the Unready in order； Ritchie。〃
〃He does；〃 said Margaret； 〃he has taken her education into his hands；
and I really believe he has taught her to hold up her frock and stick
in pins。〃
〃And to know her right hand from her left； eh； Ethel？ Well； you
deserve some credit； then。 Suppose we ask Mr。 Wilmot to tea； and
talk it over。〃
〃Oh； thank you； papa！ When shall it be？ To…morrow？〃
〃Yes； if you like。 I have to go to the town…council meeting； and am
not going into the country； so I shall be in early。〃
〃Thank you。 Oh； how very nice！〃
〃And what about cost？ Do you expect to rob me？〃
〃If you would help us；〃 said Ethel； with an odd shy manner； 〃we meant
to make what we have go as far as may be； but mine is only fifteen
and sixpence。〃
〃Well； you must make interest with Margaret for the turn…out of my
pocket to…morrow。〃
〃Thank you； we are very much obliged；〃 said the brother and sister
earnestly； 〃that is more than we expected。〃
〃Ha！ don't thank too soon。 Suppose to…morrow should be a blank day！〃
〃Oh； it won't！〃 said Ethel。 〃I shall tell Norman to make you go to
paying people。〃
〃There's avarice！〃 said the doctor。 〃But look you here； Ethel； if
you'll take my advice； you'll make your bargain for Tuesday。 I have
a note appointing me to call at Abbotstoke Grange on Mr。 Rivers； at
twelve o'clock； on Tuesday。 What do you think of that； Ethel？ An
old banker； rich enough for his daughter to curl her hair in bank…
notes。 If I were you； I'd make a bargain for him。〃
〃If he had nothing the matter with him； and I only got one guinea out
of him！〃
〃Prudence！ Well； it may be wiser。〃
Ethel ran up to her room； hardly able to believe that the mighty
proposal was made； and it had been so readily granted； that it seemed
as if Richard's caution had been vain in making such a delay； that
even Margaret had begun to fear that the street of by…and…by was
leading to the house of never。 Now； however； it was plain that he
had been wise。 Opportunity was everything； at another moment； their
father might have been harassed and oppressed； and unable to give his
mind to concerns； which now he could think of with interest； and
Richard could not have caught a more favourable conjuncture。
Ethel was in a wild state of felicity all that evening and the next
day； very unlike her brother； who； dismayed at the open step he had
taken； shrank into himself； and in his shyness dreaded the discussion
in the evening； and would almost have been relieved； if Mr。 Wilmot
had been unable to accept the invitation。 So quiet and grave was he；
that Ethel could not get him to talk over the matter at all with her；
and she was obliged to bestow all her transports and grand projects
on Flora or Margaret； when she could gain their ears； besides conning
them over to herself； as an accompaniment to her lessons； by which
means she tried Miss Winter's patience almost beyond measure。 But
she cared notshe saw a gathering school and rising church； which
eclipsed all thought of present inattentions and gaucheries。 She
monopolised Margaret in the twilight； and rhapsodised to her heart's
content； talking faster and faster； and looking more and more
excited。 Margaret began to feel a little overwhelmed； and while
answering 〃yes〃 at intervals； was considering whether Ethel had not
been flying about in an absent inconsiderate mood all day； and
whether it would seem unkind to damp her ardour； by giving her a hint
that she was relaxing her guard over herself。 Before Margaret had
steeled herself； Ethel was talking of a story she had read； of a
place something like Cocksmoor。 Margaret was not ready with her
recollection； and Ethel； saying it was in a magazine in the drawing…
room chiffonier； declared she would fetch it。
Margaret knew what it was to expect her visitors to return 〃in one
moment；〃 and with a 〃now…or…never〃 feeling she began； 〃Ethel； dear；
wait；〃 but Ethel was too impetuous to attend。 〃I'll be back in a
twinkling；〃 she called out； and down she flew； in her speed whisking
away； without seeing it； the basket with Margaret's knitting and all
her notes and papers； which lay scattered on the floor far out of
reach； vexing Margaret at first； and then making her grieve at her
own impatient feeling。
Ethel was soon in the drawing…room； but the right number of the
magazine was not quickly forthcoming； and in searching she became
embarked in another story。 Just then； Aubrey； whose stout legs were
apt to carry him into every part of the house where he was neither
expected nor wanted； marched in at the open door； trying by dint of
vehement gestures to make her understand； in his imperfect speech；
something that he wanted。 Very particularly troublesome she thought
him； more especially as she could not make him out； otherwise than
that he wanted her to do something with the newspaper and the fire。
She made a boat for him with an old newspaper； a very hasty and frail
performance； and told him to sail it on the carpet； and be Mr。
Ernescliffe going away； and she thought him thus safely disposed of。
Returning to her book and her search； with her face to the cupboard；
and her book held up to catch the light； she was soon lost in her
story； and thought of nothing more till suddenly roused by her
father's voice in the hall； loud and peremptory with alarm； 〃Aubrey！
put that down！〃 She looked； and beheld Aubrey brandishing a great
flaming paperhe dropped it at the exclamationit fell burning on
the carpet。 Aubrey's white pinafore！ Ethel was springing up； but in
her cramped； twisted position she could not do so quickly； and even
as he called； her father strode by her； snatched at Aubrey's merino
frock； which he crushed over the scarcely lighted pinafore； and
trampled out the flaming paper with his foot。 It was a moment of
dreadful fright； but the next assured them that no harm was done。
〃Ethel！〃 cried the doctor； 〃Are you mad？ What were you thinking of？〃
Aubrey； here recollecting himself enough to be frightened at his
father's voice and manner； burs