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to read 〃To be; or not to be;〃 and it would have driven me distracted
to have stayed there。 I have got a most beautiful sum in Compound
Proportion; about a lion; a wolf; and a bear eating up a carcase; and
as soon as they have done it; you shall hear me say my ancient
geography; and then we will do a nice bit of Tasso; and if we have
any time after that; I have got such a thing to tell youonly I must
not tell you now; or I shall go on talking and not finish my
lessons。〃
It was not till all were done; that Ethel felt free to exclaim; 〃Now
for what I have been longing to tell youRichard is going to〃 But
the fates were unpropitious。 Aubrey trotted in; expecting to be
amused; next came Norman; and Ethel gave up in despair; and; after
having affronted Flora in the morning; Margaret was afraid of
renewing the offence; by attempting to secure Ethel as her companion
for the afternoon; so not till after the walk could Margaret contrive
to claim the promised; communication; telling Ethel to come and
settle herself cosily by her。
〃I should have been very glad of you last evening;〃 said she; 〃for
papa went to sleep; and my book was out of reach。〃
〃Oh; I am sorry; how I pity you; poor Margaret!〃
〃I suppose I have grown lazy;〃 said Margaret; 〃for I don't mind those
things now。 I am never sorry for a quiet time to recollect and
consider。〃
〃It must be like the waiting in the dark between the slides of a
magic lantern;〃 said Ethel; 〃I never like to be quiet。 I get so
unhappy。〃
〃I am glad of resting and recollecting;〃 said Margaret。 〃It has all
been so like a dream; that merry morning; and then; slowly waking to
find myself here in dear mamma's place; and papa watching over me。
Sometimes I think I have not half understood what it really is; and
that I don't realise; that if I was up and about; I should find the
house without her。〃
〃Yes; that is the aching part!〃 said Ethel。 〃I am happy; sitting on
her bed here with you。 You are a little of her; besides being my own
dear Peg…top! You are very lucky to miss the mealtimes and the
evenings。〃
〃That is the reason I don't feel it wrong to like to have papa
sitting with me all the evening;〃 said Margaret; 〃though it may make
it worse for you to have him away。 I don't think it selfish in me to
keep him。 He wants quiet so much; or to talk a little when it suits
him; we are too many now; when he is tired。〃
〃Oh; it is best;〃 said Ethel。 〃Nothing that you do is selfishdon't
talk of it; dear Margaret。 It will be something like old times when
you come down again。〃
〃But all this time you are not telling me what I want so much to
hear;〃 said Margaret; 〃about Cocksmoor。 I am so glad Richard has
taken it up。〃
〃That he has。 We are to go every Friday; and hire a room; and teach
the children。 Once a week will do a great deal; if we can but make
them wish to learn。 It is a much better plan than mine; for if they
care about it; they can come to school here on Sunday。〃
〃It is excellent;〃 said Margaret; 〃and if he is at home till Easter;
it will give it a start; and put you in the way of it; and get you
through the short days and dark evenings; when you could not so well
walk home without him。〃
〃Yes; and then we can all teach; Flora; and Mary; and you; when you
are well again。 Richard says it will be disagreeable; but I don't
think sothey are such unsophisticated people。 That Granny Hall is
such a funny old woman; and the whole place wants nothing but a
little care; to do very well。〃
〃You must prepare for disappointments; dear Ethel。〃
〃I know; I know nothing is done without drawbacks; but I am so glad
to make some beginning。〃
〃So am I。 Do you know; mamma and I were one day talking over those
kind of things; and she said she had always regretted that she had so
many duties at home; that she could not attend as much to the poor as
she would like; but she hoped now we girls were growing up; we should
be able to do more。
〃Did she?〃 was all Ethel said; but she was deeply gratified。
〃I've been wanting to tell you。 I knew you would like to hear it。
It seems to set us to work so happily。〃
〃I only wish we could begin;〃 said Ethel; 〃but Richard is so slow!
Of course we can't act without papa's consent and Mr。 Wilmot's help;
and he says papa must not be worried about it; he must watch for his
own time to speak about it。〃
〃Yes〃 said Margaret。
I knowI would not have it otherwise; but what is tiresome is this。
Richard is very good; but he is so dreadfully hard to stir up; and
what's worse; so very much afraid of papa; that while he is thinking
about opportunities; they will all go by; and then it will be Easter;
and nothing done!〃
〃He is not so much afraid of papa as he was;〃 said Margaret。 〃He has
felt himself useful and a comfort; and papa is gentler; and that has
cheered him out of the desponding way that kept him back from
proposing anything。〃
〃Perhaps;〃 said Ethel; 〃but I wish it was you。 Can't you? you always
know how to manage。〃
〃No; it is Richard's affair; and he must do as he thinks fit。 Don't
sigh; dear Ethelperhaps he may soon speak; and; if not; you can be
preparing in a quiet way all the time。 Don't you remember how dear
mamma used to tell us that things; hastily begun; never turn out
well?〃
〃But this is not hasty。 I've been thinking about it these six
weeks;〃 said Ethel。 〃If one does nothing but think; it is all no
better than a vision。 I want to be doing。〃
〃Well; you can be doinglaying a sound foundation;〃 said Margaret。
〃The more you consider; and the wiser you make yourself; the better
it will be when you do set to work。〃
〃You mean by curing myself of my slovenly ways and impatient temper?〃
〃I don't know that I was exactly thinking of that;〃 said Margaret;
〃but that ought to be the way。 If we are not just the thing in our
niche at home; I don't think we can do much real good elsewhere。〃
〃It would be hollow; show…goodness;〃 said Ethel。 〃Yes; that is true;
and it comes across me now; and then what a horrid wretch I am; to be
wanting to undertake so much; when I leave so much undone。 But; do
you know; Margaret; there's no one such a help in those ways as
Richard。 Though he is so precise; he is never tiresome。 He makes me
see things; and do them neatly; without plaguing me; and putting me
in a rage。 I'm not ready to bite off my own fingers; or kick all the
rattle…traps over and leave them; as I am when Miss Winter scolds me;
or nurse; or even Flora sometimes; but it is as if I was gratifying
him; and his funny little old bachelor tidyisms divert me; besides;
he teaches me the theory; and never lays hold of my poor fingers;
and; when they won't bend the wrong way; calls them frogs。〃
〃He is a capital master for you;〃 said Margaret; much amused and
pleased; for Richard was her especial darling; and she triumphed in
any eulogy from those who ordinarily were too apt to regard his
dullness with superior compassion。
〃If he would only read our books; and enter into poetry and delight
in it; but it is all nonsense to him;〃 said Ethel。 〃I can't think
how people can be so different; but; oh! here he comes。 Ritchie; you
shou