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as bad for you among the boys； but； while that committee goes on it
is not the least use to try to teach the girls right。 Oh！ the fusses
about the books； and one's way of teaching！ And fancy how Mrs
Ledwich used us。 You know I went again last Sunday； for the first
time； and there I found that class of Margaret's； that she had just
managed to get into some degree of nice order； taken so much pains
with； taught so well。 She had been telling me what to hear them
there it is given away to Fanny Anderson； who is no more fit to teach
than that stick； and all Margaret's work will be undone。 No notice
to usnot even the civility to wait and see when she gets better。〃
〃If we left them now for Cocksmoor； would it not look as it we were
affronted？〃
Ethel was slightly taken aback； but only said； 〃Papa would be very
angry if he knew it。〃
〃I am glad you did not tell him；〃 said Richard。
〃I thought it would only tease him；〃 said Ethel； 〃and that he might
call it a petty female squabble； and when Margaret is well； it will
come right； if Fanny Anderson has not spoiled the girls in the
meantime。 It is all Mrs。 Ledwich's doing。 How I did hate it when
every one came up and shook hands with me； and asked after Margaret
and papa； only just out of curiosity！〃
〃Hush； hush； Ethel； what's the use of thinking such things？〃
A silence；then she exclaimed； 〃But； indeed； Richard； you don't
fancy that I want to teach at Cocksmoor； because it is disagreeable
at Stoneborough？〃
〃No； indeed。〃
The rendering of full justice conveyed in his tone so opened Ethel's
heart that she went on eagerly：〃The history of it is this。 Last
time we walked here； that day； I said； and I meant it； that I would
never put it out of my head； I would go on doing and striving； and
trying； till this place was properly cared for； and has a church and
a clergyman。 I believe it was a vow； Richard； I do believe it was；
and if one makes one； one must keep it。 There it is。 So； I can't
give money； I have but one pound in the world； but I have time； and I
would make that useful； if you would help me。〃
〃I don't see how；〃 was the answer； and there was a fragment of a
smile on Richard's face； as if it struck him as a wild scheme； that
Ethel should undertake； single handed； to evangelise Cocksmoor。
It was such a damper as to be most mortifying to an enthusiastic
girl； and she drew into herself in a moment。
They walked home in silence； and when Richard warned her that she was
not keeping her dress out of the dirt； it sounded like a sarcasm on
her projects； and； with a slightly pettish manner； she raised the
unfortunate skirt； its crape trimmings greatly bespattered with ruddy
mud。 Then recollecting how mamma would have shaken her head at that
very thing； she regretted the temper she had betrayed； and in a
larmoyante voice； sighed； 〃I wish I could pick my way better。 Some
people have the gift； you have hardly a splash； and I'm up to the
ankles in mud。〃
〃It is only taking care；〃 said Richard； 〃besides your frock is so
long； and full。 Can't you tuck it up and pin it？〃
〃My pins always come out；〃 said Ethel； disconsolately； crumpling the
black folds into one hand； while she hunted for a pin with the other。
〃No wonder； if you stick them in that way；〃 said Richard。 〃Oh！
you'll tear that crape。 Here； let me help you。 Don't you see； make
it go in and out； that way； give it something to pull against。〃
Ethel laughed。 〃That's the third thing you have taught meto thread
a needle； tie a bow； and stick in a pin！ I never could learn those
things of any one else； they show； but don't explain the theory。〃
They met Dr。 May at the entrance of the town； very tired； and saying
he had been a long tramp； all over the place； and Mrs。 Hoxton had
been boring him with her fancies。 As he took Richard's arm he gave
the long heavy sigh that always fell so painfully on Ethel's ear。
〃Dear； dear； dear papa！〃 thought she； 〃my work must also be to do all
I can to comfort him。〃
Her reflections were broken off。 Dr。 May exclaimed； 〃Ethel； don't
make such a figure of yourself。 Those muddy ankles and petticoats
are not fit to be seenthere； now you are sweeping the pavement。
Have you no medium？ One would think you had never worn a gown in
your life before！〃
Poor Ethel stepped on before with mud…encrusted heels； and her father
speaking sharply in the weariness and soreness of his heart； her
draggle…tailed petticoats weighing down at once her missionary
projects at Cocksmoor； and her tender visions of comforting her
widowed father； her heart was full to overflowing； and where was the
mother to hear her troubles？
She opened the hall door； and would have rushed upstairs； but nurse
happened to be crossing the hall。 〃Miss Ethel！ Miss Ethel； you
aren't going up with them boots on！ I do declare you are just like
one of the boys。 And your frock！〃
Ethel sat submissively down on the lowest step； and pulled off her
boots。 As she did so； her father and brother came inthe former
desiring Richard to come with him to the study； and write a note for
him。 She hoped that thus she might have Margaret to herself； and
hurried into her room。 Margaret was alone； maids and children at
tea； and Flora dressing。 The room was in twilight； with the red
gleam of the fire playing cheerfully over it。
〃Well； Ethel； have you had a pleasant walk？〃
〃YesnoOh； Margaret！〃 and throwing herself across the bottom of
the bed； she burst into tears。
〃Ethel； dear； what is the matter？ Papa〃
〃Nonoonly I draggled my frock； and Richard threw cold water。 And
I am good for nothing！ Oh！ if mamma was but here！〃
〃Darling Ethel； dear Ethel； I wish I could comfort you。 Come a
little nearer to me； I can't reach you！ Dear Ethel； what has gone
wrong？〃
〃Everything；〃 said Ethel。 〃NoI'm too dirty to come on your white
bed； I forgot； you won't like it；〃 added she； in an injured tone。
〃You are wet； you are cold； you are tired；〃 said Margaret。 〃Stay
here and dress； don't go up in the cold。 There； sit by the fire pull
off your frock and stockings； and we will send for the others。 Let
me see you look comfortablethere。 Now tell me who threw cold
water。〃
〃It was figurative cold water；〃 said Ethel； smiling for a moment。 〃I
was only silly enough to tell Richard my plan； and it's horrid to
talk to a person who only thinks one high…flying and nonsensicaland
then came the dirt。〃
〃But what was the scheme； Ethel？〃
〃Cocksmoor；〃 said Ethel； proceeding to unfold it。
〃I wish we could；〃 said Margaret。 〃It would be an excellent thing。
But how did Richard vex you？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said Ethel； 〃only he thought it would not do。
Perhaps he said right； but it was coldly； and he smiled。〃
〃He is too sober…minded for our flights；〃 said Margaret。 I know the
feeling of it； Ethel dear； but you know if he did see that some of
your plans might not answer； it is no reason you should not try to do
something at once。 You have not told me about the girl。〃
Ethel proceeded to tell the history。 〃There！〃 said Margaret
cheerfully； 〃there are two ways of helping Cocksmoor already。 Could
you not make some clothes for the tw