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reserved for absolute necessaries； and were at a very low ebb。 So
that twenty…five gifts were to be composed out of nothing！
There was a grand turn…out of drawers of rubbish； all over Margaret；
raising such a cloud of dust as nearly choked her。 What cannot
rubbish and willing hands effect！ Envelopes and wafer boxes were
ornamented with pictures； bags； needle…cases； and pincushions；
beautiful balls； tippets； both of list and gay print； and even sun…
bonnets and pinafores were contrived； to the supreme importance and
delight of Mary and Blanche； who found it as good or better than
play； and ranged their performances in rows； till the room looked
like a bazaar。 To provide for boys was more difficult； but Richard
mended old toys； and repaired the frames of slates； and Norman's
contribution of half…a…crown bought mugs； marbles； and penny knives；
and there were even hopes that something would remain for bodkins； to
serve as nozzles to the bellows； which were the pride of Blanche's
heart。
Never were Easter gifts the source of more pleasure to the givers；
especially when the nursery establishment met Dr。 Hoxton near the
pastrycook's shop； and he bestowed on Blanche a packet of variegated
sugar…plums； all of which she literally poured out at Ethel's feet；
saying； 〃I don't want them。 Only let me have one for Aubrey； because
he is so little。 All the rest are for the poor children at
Cocksmoor。〃
After this； Margaret declared that Blanche must be allowed to buy the
bodkin； and give her bellows to Jane Taylor； the only Cocksmoor child
she knew； and to whom she always destined in turn every gift that she
thought most successful。
So Blanche went with Flora to the toy…shop； and there fell in love
with a little writing…box； that so eclipsed the bellows； that she
tried to persuade Flora to buy it for Jane Taylor； to be kept till
she could write； and was much disappointed to hear that it was out of
the question。 Just then a carriage stopped； and from it stepped the
pretty little figure of Meta Rivers。
〃Oh！ how do you do？ How delightful to meet you！ I was wondering if
we should！ Little Blanche too！〃 kissing her； 〃and here's Mrs。
LarpentMrs。 LarpentMiss Flora May。 How is Miss May？〃
This was all uttered in eager delight； and Flora； equally pleased；
answered the inquiries。 〃I hope you are not in a hurry；〃 proceeded
Meta； 〃I want your advice。 You know all about schools； don't you？ I
am come to get some Easter presents for our children； and I am sure
you can help me。〃
〃Are the children little or big？〃 asked Flora。
〃Oh！ all sorts and sizes。 I have some books for the great sensible
ones； and some stockings and shoes for the tiresome stupid ones； but
there are some dear little pets that I want nice things for。 There
there's a doll that looks just fit for little curly…headed Annie
Langley； don't you think so； Mrs。 Larpent？〃
The price of the doll was a shilling； and there were quickly added to
it； boxes of toys； elaborate bead…work pincushions； polished blue and
green boxes； the identical writing…caseeven a small Noah's ark。
Meta hardly asked the prices； which certainly were not extravagant；
since she had nearly twenty articles for little more than a pound。
〃Papa has given me a benefaction of ？ for my school…gifts；〃 said
she； 〃is not that charming？ I wish you would come to the feast。
Now； do！ It is on Easter Tuesday。 Won't you come？〃
〃Thank you； I am afraid we can't。 I should like it very much。〃
〃You never will come to me。 You have no compassion。〃
〃We should enjoy coming very much。 Perhaps； in the summer； when
Margaret is better。〃
〃Could not she spare any of you？ Well； I shall talk to papa； and
make him talk to Dr。 May。 Mrs。 Larpent will tell you I always get my
way。 Don't I？ Good…bye。 See if I don't。〃
She departed； and Flora returned to her own business； but Blanche's
interest was gone。 Dazzled by the more lavish gifts； she looked
listlessly and disdainfully at bodkins； three for twopence。 〃I wish
I might have bought the writing…box for Janet Taylor！ Why does not
papa give us money to get pretty things for the children？〃 said she；
as soon as they came out。
〃Because he is not so rich as Miss Rivers's papa。〃
Flora was interrupted by meeting the Misses Anderson； who asked； 〃Was
not that carriage Mr。 Rivers's of Abbotstoke Grange？〃
〃Yes。 We like Miss Rivers very much；〃 said Flora； resolved to show
that she was acquainted。
〃Oh！ do you visit her？ I knew he was a patient of Dr。 May。〃 Flora
thought there was no need to tell that the only call had been owing
to the rain； and continued； 〃She has been begging us to come to her
school feast； but I do not think we can manage it。〃
〃Oh； indeed！ the Grange is very beautiful； is it not？〃
〃Very；〃 said Flora。 〃Good…morning。〃
Flora had a little uneasiness in her conscience； but it was
satisfactory to have put down Louisa Anderson； who never could aspire
to an intimacy with Miss Rivers。 Her little sister looked up〃Why；
Flora； have you seen the Grange？〃
〃No； but papa and Norman said so。〃
And Blanche showed that the practical lesson on the pomps of the
world was not lost on her； by beginning to wish they were as rich as
Miss Rivers。 Flora told her it was wrong to be discontented； but the
answer was； 〃I don't want it for myself； I want to have pretty things
to give away。〃
And her mind could not be turned from the thought by any attempt of
her sister。 Even when they met Dr。 May coming out of the hospital；
Blanche renewed the subject。 She poured out the catalogue of Miss
Rivers's purchases； making appealing attempts at looking under his
spectacles into his eyes； and he perfectly understood the tenor of
her song。
〃I have had a sight； too； of little maidens preparing Easter gifts；〃
said he。
〃Have you； papa？ What were they？ Were they as nice as Miss
Rivers's？〃
〃I don't know； but I thought they were the best sort of gifts； for I
saw that plenty of kind thought and clever contrivance went to them；
ay； and some little self…denial too。〃
〃Papa； you look as if you meant something； but ours are nothing but
nasty old rubbish。〃
〃Perhaps some fairy； or something better； has brought a wand to touch
the rubbish； Blanche； for I think that the maidens gave what would
have been worthless kept； but became precious as they gave it。〃
〃Do you mean the list of our flannel petticoats； papa； that Mary has
made into a tippet？〃
〃Perhaps I meant Mary's own time and pains； as well as the tippet。
Would she have done much good with them otherwise？〃
〃No； she would have played。 Oh！ then you like the presents because
they are our own making？ I never thought of that。 Was that the
reason you did not give us any of your sovereigns to buy things
with？〃
〃Perhaps I want my sovereigns for the eleven gaping mouths at home；
Blanche。 But would not it be a pity to spoil your pleasure？ You
would have lost all the chattering and laughing and buzzing I have
heard round Margaret of late； and I am quite sure Miss Rivers can
hardly be as happy in the gifts that cost her nothing； as one little
girl who gives her sugar…plums out of her own mouth！〃
Blanche