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beyond what can be good for anybody。 You see Norman is much cleverer
than most boys； and you are a year younger； and besides doing all his
work at the head of the school； his whole business of the day； you
have Cocksmoor to attend to； and your own lessons； besides reading
all the books that come into the house。 Now isn't that more than is
reasonable to expect any head and hands to do properly？〃
〃But if I can do it？〃
〃But can you； dear Ethel？ Aren't you always racing from one thing to
another； doing them by halves； feeling hunted； and then growing
vexed？〃
〃I know I have been cross lately；〃 said Ethel； 〃but it's the being so
bothered。〃
〃And why are you bothered？ Isn't it that you undertake too much？〃
〃What would you have me do？〃 said Ethel； in an injured； unconvinced
voice。 〃Not give up my children？〃
〃No；〃 said Margaret； 〃but don't think me very unkind if I say；
suppose you left off trying to keep up with Norman。〃
〃Oh； Margaret！ Margaret！〃 and her eyes filled with tears。 〃We have
hardly missed doing the same every day since the first Latin grammar
was put into his hands！〃
〃I know it would be very hard；〃 said Margaret； but Ethel continued；
in a piteous tone； a little sentimental； 〃From hie haec hoc up to
Alcaics and beta Thukididou we have gone on together； and I can't
bear to give it up。 I'm sure I can〃
〃Stop； Ethel； I really doubt whether you can。 Do you know that
Norman was telling papa the other day that it was very odd Dr。 Hoxton
gave them such easy lessons。〃
Ethel looked very much mortified。
〃You see；〃 said Margaret kindly； 〃we all know that men have more
power than women； and I suppose the time has come for Norman to pass
beyond you。 He would not be cleverer than any one； if he could not
do more than a girl at home。〃
〃He has so much more time for it；〃 said Ethel。
〃That's the very thing。 Now consider； Ethel。 His work； after he
goes to Oxford； will be doing his very utmostand you know what an
utmost that is。 If you could keep up with him at all； you must give
your whole time and thoughts to it； and when you had done soif you
could get all the honours in the Universitywhat would it come to？
You can't take a first…class。〃
〃I don't want one；〃 said Ethel； 〃I only can't bear not to do as
Norman does； and I like Greek so much。〃
〃And for that would you give up being a useful； steady daughter and
sister at home？ The sort of woman that dear mamma wished to make
you； and a comfort to papa。〃
Ethel was silent； and large tears were gathering。
〃You own that that is the first thing？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel faintly。
〃And that it is what you fail in most？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then； Ethel dearest； when you made up your mind to Cocksmoor； you
knew those things could not be done without a sacrifice？〃
〃Yes； but I didn't think it would be this。〃
Margaret was wise enough not to press her； and she sat down and
sighed pitifully。 Presently she said； 〃Margaret； if you would only
let me leave off that stupid old French； and horrid dull reading with
Miss Winter； I should have plenty of time for everything； and what
does one learn by hearing Mary read poetry she can't understand？〃
〃You work； don't you？ But indeed； Ethel； don't say that I can let
you leave off anything。 I don't feel as if I had that authority。 If
it be done at all； it must be by papa's consent； and if you wish me
to ask him about it； I will； only I think it would vex Miss Winter；
and I don't think dear mamma would have liked Greek and Cocksmoor to
swallow up all the little common ladylike things。〃
Ethel made two or three great gulps； 〃Margaret； must I give up
everything； and forget all my Latin and Greek？〃
〃I should think that would be a great pity；〃 said Margaret。 〃If you
were to give up the verse…making； and the trying to do as much as
Norman； and fix some time in the dayhalf an hour； perhapsfor your
Greek； I think it might do very well。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Ethel； much relieved； 〃I'm glad you don't want me
to leave it all off。 I hope Norman won't be vexed；〃 she added；
looking a little melancholy。
But Norman had not by any means the sort of sentiment on the subject
that she had。 〃Of course； you know； Ethel；〃 said he； 〃it must have
come to this some time or other； and if you find those verses too
hard； and that they take up too much of your time； you had better
give them up。〃
Ethel did not like anything to be said to be too hard for her； and
was very near pleading she only wanted time； but some recollection
came across her； and presently she said； 〃I suppose it is a wrong
sort of ambition to want to learn more； in one's own way； when one is
told it is not good for one。 I was just going to say I hated being a
woman； and having these tiresome little triflesmy dutyinstead of
learning； which is yours； Norman。〃
〃I'm glad you did not；〃 said Norman； 〃for it would have been very
silly of you； and I assure you； Ethel； it is really time for you to
stop； or you would get into a regular learned lady； and be good for
nothing。 I don't mean that knowing more than other people would make
you so； but minding nothing else would。〃
This argument from Norman himself did much to reconcile Ethel's mind
to the sacrifice she had made； and when she went to bed； she tried to
work out the question in her own mind； whether her eagerness for
classical learning was a wrong sort of ambition； to know what other
girls did not； and whether it was right to crave for more knowledge
than was thought advisable for her。 She only bewildered herself； and
went to sleep before she had settled anything； but that she knew she
must make all give way to papa first； and； secondly； to Cocksmoor。
Meanwhile Margaret had told her father all that had passed。 He was
only surprised to hear that Ethel had kept up so long with Norman；
and thought that it was quite right that she should not undertake so
much； agreeing more entirely than Margaret had expected with Miss
Winter's view； that it would be hurtful to body as well as mind。
〃It is perfectly ridiculous to think of her attempting it！〃 he said。
〃I am glad you have put a stop to it。〃
〃I am glad I have；〃 said Margaret； 〃and dear Ethel behaved so very
well。 If she had resisted； it would have puzzled me very much； I
must have asked you to settle it。 But it is very odd； papa； Ethel is
the one of them all who treats me most as if I had real authority
over her； she lets me scold her； asks my leave； never seems to
recollect for a moment how little older I am； and how much cleverer
she is。 I am sure I never should have submitted so readily。 And
that always makes it more difficult to me to direct her； I don't like
to take upon me with her； because it seems wrong to have her obeying
me as if she were a mere child。〃
〃She is a fine creature；〃 said Dr。 May emphatically。 〃It just shows
the fact； the higher the mind the readier the submission。 But you
don't mean that you have any difficulty with the others？〃
〃Oh； no； no。 Flora never could need any interference； especially
from me； and Mary is a thorough good girl。 I only meant that Ethel
lays herself out to be ruled in quite a remarkable way。 I am sure；
thou