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to cease； and； when the words are spent in explainingnot in
scoldingconscience is not called in to silence them； and nothing
but dinner or a thunder…storm can check them。 All Ethel's good sense
was of no avail； she could not stop Miss Bracy； and； though she might
resolve within herself that real kindness would be to make one
reasonable reply； and then quit the subject； yet； on each individual
occasion； such a measure would have seemed mere impatience and
cruelty。 She found that if Miss Winter had been too dry； Miss Bracy
went to the other extreme； and demanded a manifestation of sympathy；
and return to her passionate attachment that perplexed Ethel's
undemonstrative nature。 Poor good Miss Bracy； she little imagined
how often she added to the worries of her dear Miss Ethel； all for
want of self…command。
Finally； as the lessons were less and less attended to； and the needs
of the stall became more urgent； Dr。 May and Margaret concurred in a
decision； that it was better to yield to the mania； and give up the
studies till they could be pursued with a willing mind。
Ethel submitted； and only laughed with Norman at the display of
treasures； which the girls went over daily； like the 〃House that Jack
built；〃 always starting from 〃the box that Mary made。〃 Come when Dr。
May would into the drawing…room； there was always a line of penwipers
laid out on the floor； bags pendent to all the table…drawers；
antimacassars laid out everywhere。
Ethel hoped that the holidays would create a diversion； but Mary was
too old to be made into a boy； and Blanche drew Hector over to the
feminine party； setting him to gum； gild； and paste all the
contrivances which； in their hands； were mere feeble gimcracks； but
which now became fairly sound； or； at least； saleable。
The boys also constructed a beautiful little ship from a print of the
Alcestis； so successfully； that the doctor promised to buy it； and
Ethel grudged the very sight of it to the bazaar。
Tom； who； in person； was growing like a little shadow or model of
Norman； had； unlike him； a very dexterous pair of hands； and made
himself extremely useful in all such works。 On the other hand； the
Cleveland stall seemed chiefly to rely for brilliance on the wit of
Harvey Anderson； who was prospering at his college； and the pride of
his family。 A great talker； and extremely gallant； he was considered
a far greater acquisition to a Stoneborough drawing…room than was the
silent； bashful Norman May； and rather looked down on his brother
Edward； who； having gone steadily through the school； was in the
attorney's office； and went on quietly and well； colouring up
gratefully whenever one of the May family said a kind word to him。
CHAPTER III。
Any silk； any thread；
Any toys for your head；
Of the newest and finest wear…a？
Come to the pedlar；
Money's a medlar。
That doth utter all men's ware…a。
Winter's Tale。
〃This one day and it will be over； and we shall be rational again；〃
thought Ethel； as she awoke。
Flora was sleeping at the Grange； to be ready for action in the
morning； and Ethel was to go early with Mary and Blanche； who were
frantic to have a share in the selling。 Norman and the boys were to
walk at their own time； and the children to be brought later by Miss
Bracy。 The doctor would be bound by no rules。
It was a pattern day； bright； clear； warm； and not oppressive；
perfect for an out…of…doors fete； and Ethel had made up her mind to
fulfil her promise to Margaret of enjoying herself。 In the brilliant
sunshine； and between two such happy sisters； it would have been
surly； indeed； not to enter into the spirit of the day； and Ethel
laughed gaily with them； and at their schemes and hopes； Blanche's
heart being especially set on knowing the fate of a watch…guard of
her own construction。
Hearing that the ladies were in the gardens； they repaired thither at
once。 The broad； smooth bowling…green lay before them； a marquee；
almost converted into a bower； bounding it on either side； while in
the midst arose； gorgeous and delicious； a pyramid of flowers
contributions from all the hot…houses in the neighbourhoodto be
sold for the benefit of the bazaar。 Their freshness and fragrance
gave a brightness to the whole scene； while shrinking from such
light； as only the beauteous works of nature could bear； was the
array accomplished by female fingers。
Under the wreathed canopies were the stalls； piled up with bright
colours； most artistically arranged。 Ethel； with her over…minute
knowledge of every article； could hardly believe that yonder glowing
Eastern pattern of scarlet； black； and blue； was； in fact； a
judicious mosaic of penwipers that she remembered； as shreds begged
from the tailor； that the delicate lace…work consisted of Miss
Bracy's perpetual antimacassars； and that the potichomanie could look
so dignified and Etruscan。
〃Here you are！〃 cried Meta Rivers； springing to meet them。 〃Good
girls； to come early。 Where's my little Daisy？〃
〃Coming in good time；〃 said Ethel。 〃How pretty it all looks！〃
〃But where's Flora？where's my watch…guard？〃 anxiously asked
Blanche。
〃She was here just now；〃 said Meta； looking round。 〃What a genius
she is； Ethel！ She worked wonders all yesterday； and let the Miss
Hoxtons think it was all their own doing； and she was out before six
this morning； putting finishing touches。〃
〃Is this your stall？〃 said Ethel。
〃Yes； but it will not bear a comparison with hers。 It has a lady's…
maid look by the side of hers。 In fact； Bellairs and my aunt's maid
did it chiefly； for papa was rather ailing yesterday； and I could not
be out much。〃
〃How is he now？〃
〃Better； he will walk round by…and…by。 I hope it will not be too
much for him。〃
〃Oh； what beautiful things！〃 cried Mary； in ecstasy； at what she was
forced to express by the vague substantive； for her imagination had
never stretched to the marvels she beheld。
〃Ay； we have been lazy； you see； and so Aunt Leonora brought down all
these smart concerns。 It is rather like Howell and James's； isn't
it？〃
In fact； Lady Leonora's marquee was filled with costly knick…knacks；
which； as Meta justly said； had not half the grace and appropriate
air that reigned where Flora had arranged； and where Margaret had
worked； with the peculiar freshness and finish that distinguished
everything to which she set her hand。
Miss Cleveland's counter was not ill set…out； but it wanted the air
of ease and simplicity； which was even more noticeable than the
perfect taste of Flora's wares。 If there had been nothing facetious；
the effect would have been better； but there was nothing to regret；
and the whole was very bright and gay。
Blanche could hardly look； so anxious was she for Flora to tell her
the locality of her treasure。
〃There she is；〃 said Meta at last。 〃George is fixing that branch of
evergreen for her。〃
〃Flora！ I did not know her；〃 cried each sister amazed； while Mary
added； 〃Oh； how nice she looks！〃
It was the first time of seeing her in the white muslin； and broad
chip hatwhich all the younger saleswomen of the bazaar had agreed
to wear。