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is all vague suspicion； and of what papa has such a horror of； it
would only grieve him； and make him constantly anxious； without；
perhaps； doing Tom any good。〃
〃I think all that is expediency；〃 said Ethel； in her bluff； abrupt
way。
〃Besides；〃 said Richard； 〃we have nothing positive to accuse him of；
and if we had； it would be of no use。 He will be at school in three
weeks； and there he would be sure to shirk； even if he left it off
here。 Every one does； and thinks nothing of it。〃
〃Richard！〃 cried both sisters； shocked。 〃You never did？〃
〃No； we didn't； but most others do； and not bad fellows either。 It
is not the way of boys to think much of those things。〃
〃It is meanit is dishonourableit is deceitful！〃 cried Ethel。
〃I know it is very wrong； but you'll never get the general run of
boys to think so；〃 said Richard。
〃Then Tom ought not to go to school at all till he is well armed
against it；〃 said Ethel。
〃That can't be helped；〃 said Richard。 〃He will get clear of it in
time； when he knows better。〃
〃I will talk to him；〃 said Margaret； 〃and； indeed； I think it would
be better than worrying papa。〃
〃Well；〃 said Ethel； 〃of course I shan't tell； because it is not my
business； but I think papa ought to know everything about us； and I
don't like your keeping anything back。 It is being almost as bad as
Tom himself。〃
With which words； as Flora entered； Ethel marched out of the room in
displeasure； and went down； resolved to settle Jane Sparks by
herself。
〃Ethel is out of sorts to…day；〃 said Flora。 〃What's the matter？〃
〃We have had a discussion；〃 said Margaret。 〃She has been terribly
shocked by finding out what we have often thought about poor little
Tom； and she thinks we ought to tell papa。 Her principle is quite
right； but I doubt〃
〃I know exactly how Ethel would do it！〃 cried Flora； 〃blurt out all
on a sudden； 'Papa； Tom cheats at his lessons！' then there would be a
tremendous uproar； papa would scold Tom till he almost frightened him
out of his wits； and then find out it was only suspicion。〃
〃And never have any comfort again；〃 said Margaret。 〃He would always
dread that Tom was deceiving him； and then think it was all for want
of Oh； no； it will never do to speak of it； unless we find out some
positive piece of misbehaviour。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Flora。
〃And it would do Tom no good to make him afraid of papa；〃 said
Richard。
〃Ethel's rule is right in principle；〃 said Margaret thoughtfully；
〃that papa ought to know all without reserve； and yet it will hardly
do in practice。 One must use discretion； and not tease him about
every little thing。 He takes them so much to heart； that he would be
almost distracted； and； with so much business abroad； I think at home
he should have nothing but rest； and； as far as we can； freedom from
care and worry。 Anything wrong about the children brings on the
grief so much； that I cannot bear to mention it。〃
Richard and Flora agreed with her； admiring the spirit which made
her； in her weakness and helplessness； bear the whole burden of
family cares alone； and devote herself entirely to spare her father。
He was； indeed； her first object； and she would have sacrificed
anything to give him ease of mind； but； perhaps； she regarded him
more as a charge of her own； than as； in very truth； the head of the
family。 She had the government in her hands； and had never been used
to see him exercise it much in detail （she did not know how much her
mother had referred to him in private）； and had succeeded to her
authority at a time when his health and spirits were in such a state
as to make it doubly needful to spare him。 It was no wonder that she
sometimes carried her consideration beyond what was strictly right；
and forgot that he was the real authority； more especially as his
impulsive nature sometimes carried him away； and his sound judgment
was not certain to come into play at the first moment； so that it
required some moral courage to excite displeasure； so easy of
manifestation； and of such courage there was； perhaps； a deficiency
in her character。 Nor had she yet detected her own satisfaction in
being the first with every one in the family。
Ethel was put out； as Flora had discovered； and when she was
downstairs she found it out； and accused herself of having been cross
to Margaret； and unkind to Tomof wishing to be a tell…tale。 But
still； though displeased with herself； she was dissatisfied with
Margaret； it might be right； but it did not agree with her notions。
She wanted to see every one uncompromising； as girls of fifteen
generally do； she had an intense disgust and loathing of underhand
ways； could not bear to think of Tom's carrying them on； and going to
a place of temptation with them uncorrected； and she looked up to her
father with the reverence and enthusiasm of one like minded。
She was vexed on another score。 Norman came home from Abbotstoke
Grange without having seen Miss Rivers； but with a fresh basket of
choice flowers； rapturous descriptions of Mr。 Rivers's prints； and a
present of an engraving； in shading； such as to give the effect of a
cast； of a very fine head of Alexander。 Nothing was to be thought of
but a frame for thisolive； bay； laurel； everything appropriate to
the conqueror。 Margaret and Norman were engrossed in the subject；
and； to Ethel； who had no toleration for fancy work； who expected
everything to be either useful and intellectual； this seemed very
frivolous。 She heard her father say how glad he was to see Norman
interested and occupied； and certainly； though it was only in leather
leaves； it was better than drooping and attending to nothing。 She
knew； too； that Margaret did it for his sake； but； said Ethel to
herself； 〃It was very odd that people should find amusement in such
things。 Margaret always had a turn for them； but it was very strange
in Norman。〃
Then came the pang of finding out that this was aggravated by the
neglect of herself； she called it all selfishness； and felt that she
had had an uncomfortable； unsatisfactory day； with everything going
wrong。
CHAPTER XVII。
Gently supported by the ready aid
Of loving hands； whose little work of toil
Her grateful prodigality repaid
With all the benediction of her smile；
She turned her failing feet
To the softly cushioned seat；
Dispensing kindly greetings all the time。
R。 M。 MILNES。
Three great events signalised the month of January。 The first was；
the opening of the school at Cocksmoor； whither a cart transported
half a dozen forms； various books； and three dozen plum…buns；
Margaret's contribution； in order that the school might begin with
eclat。 There walked Mr。 Wilmot； Richard； and Flora； with Mary； in a
jumping； capering state of delight； and Ethel； not knowing whether
she rejoiced。 She kept apart from the rest； and hardly spoke； for
this long probation had impressed her with a sense of responsibility；
and she knew that it was a great work to which she had set her hand
a work in which she must persevere； and in which she could not
succeed in her own strength。
She took hold of Fl