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said it was better to detest than to hate； while Blanche coloured up
to the ears； and hid herself behind the arm…chair； and Dr。 May
qualified the censure by saying； he believed there was no great harm
in the youth； but that he was shallow…brained and extravagant； and；
having been born in the days when Mr。 Rivers had been working himself
up in the world； had not had so good an education as his little half…
sister。
〃Well； what are you thinking of？〃 said her father； laying his hand on
Ethel's arm； as she was wearily and pensively putting together the
scattered purchases before going up to bed。
〃I was thinking； papa； that there is a great deal of trouble taken in
this world for a very little pleasure。〃
〃The trouble is the pleasure； in most cases； most misanthropical
miss！〃
〃Yes； that is true； but； if so； why cannot it be taken for some
good？〃
〃They meant it to be good；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃Come； I cannot have you
severe and ungrateful。〃
〃So I have been telling myself； papa； all along； but； now that the
day has come； and I have seen what jealousies； and competitions； and
vanities； and disappointments it has producednot even poor little
Blanche allowed any comfortI am almost sick at heart with thinking
Cocksmoor was the excuse！〃
〃Spectators are more philosophical than actors； Ethel。 Others have
not been tying parcels all day。〃
〃I had rather do that than But that is the 'Fox and the Grapes；'〃
said Ethel； smiling。 〃What I mean is； that the real gladness of life
is not in these great occasions of pleasure； but in the little side
delights that come in the midst of one's work； don't they； papa？ Why
is it worth while to go and search for a day's pleasuring？〃
〃Ethel； my child！ I don't like to hear you talk so；〃 said Dr。 May；
looking anxiously at her。 〃It may be too true； but it is not
youthful nor hopeful。 It is not as your mother or I felt in our
young days； when a treat was a treat to us； and gladdened our hearts
long before and after。 I am afraid you have been too much saddened
with loss and care〃
〃Oh； no； papa！〃 said Ethel； rousing herself； though speaking huskily。
〃You know I am your merry Ethel。 You know I can be happy enough
only at home〃
And Ethel； though she had tried to be cheerful； leaned against his
arm； and shed a few tears。
〃The fact is； she is tired out；〃 said Dr。 May soothingly； yet half
laughing。 〃She is not a beauty or a grace； and she is thoughtful and
quiet； and so she moralises； instead of enjoying； as the world goes
by。 I dare say a night's rest will make all the difference in the
world。〃
〃Ah！ but there is more to come。 That Ladies' Committee at
Cocksmoor！〃
〃They are not there yet； Ethel。 Good…night； you tired little cynic。〃
CHAPTER IV。
Back then； complainer。。。
Go； to the world return； nor fear to cast
Thy bread upon the waters； sure at last
In joy to find it after many days。Christian Year。
The next day Ethel had hoped for a return to reason； but behold； the
world was cross！ The reaction of the long excitement was felt；
Gertrude fretted； and was unwell； Aubrey was pettish at his lessons；
and Mary and Blanche were weary； yawning and inattentive； every straw
was a burden； and Miss Bracy had feelings。
Ethel had been holding an interminable conversation with her in the
schoolroom； interrupted at last by a summons to speak to a Cocksmoor
woman at the back door； and she was returning from the kitchen； when
the doctor called her into his study。
〃Ethel！ what is all this？ Mary has found Miss Bracy in floods of
tears in the schoolroom； because she says you told her she was ill…
tempered。〃
〃I am sure you will be quite as much surprised；〃 said Ethel； somewhat
exasperated； 〃when you hear that you lacerated her feelings
yesterday。〃
〃I？ Why； what did I do？〃 exclaimed Dr。 May。
〃You showed your evident want of confidence in her。〃
〃I？ What can I have done？〃
〃You met Aubrey and Gertrude in her charge； and you took them away at
once to walk with you。〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well； that was it。 She saw you had no confidence in her。〃
〃Ethel； what on earth can you mean？ I saw the two children dragging
on her； and I thought she would see nothing that was going on； and
would be glad to be released； and I wanted them to go with me and see
Meta's gold pheasants。〃
〃That was the offence。 She has been breaking her heart all this
time； because she was sure； from your manner； that you were
displeased to see them alone with hereating bon…bons； I believe；
and therefore took them away。〃
〃Daisy is the worse for her bon…bons； I believe； but the overdose of
them rests on my shoulders。 I do not know how to believe you； Ethel。
Of course you told her nothing of the kind crossed my mind； poor
thing！〃
〃I told her so； over and over again； as I have done forty times
before but her feelings are always being hurt。〃
〃Poor thing； poor thing！ no doubt it is a trying situation； and she
is sensitive。 Surely you are all forbearing with
her？〃
〃I hope we are；〃 said Ethel； 〃but how can we tell what vexes her？〃
〃And what is this； of your telling her she was ill…tempered？〃 asked
Dr。 May incredulously。
〃Well； papa；〃 said Ethel； softened； yet wounded by his thinking it so
impossible。 〃I had often thought I ought to tell her that these
sensitive feelings of hers were nothing but temper； and perhaps
indeed I know I doI partake of the general fractiousness of the
house to…day； and I did not bear it so patiently as usual。 I did say
that I thought it wrong to foster her fancies； for if she looked at
them coolly； she would find they were only a form of pride and
temper。〃
〃It did not come well from you； Ethel；〃 said the doctor； looking
vexed。
〃No； I know it did not；〃 said Ethel meekly； 〃but oh！ to have these
janglings once a week； and to see no end to them！〃
〃Once a week？〃
〃It is really as often； or more often；〃 said Ethel。 〃If any of us
criticise anything the girls have done； if there is a change in any
arrangement； if she thinks herself neglectedI can't tell you what
little matters suffice； she will catch me； and argue with me； till
oh； till we are both half dead； and yet cannot stop ourselves。〃
〃Why do you argue？〃
〃If I could only help it！〃
〃Bad management；〃 said the doctor； in a low； musing tone。 〃You want
a head！〃 and he sighed。
〃Oh； papa； I did not mean to distress you。 I would not have told you
if I had rememberedbut I am worried to…day； and off my guard〃
〃Ethel； I thought you were the one on whom I could depend for bearing
everything。〃
〃These were such nonsense！〃
〃What may seem nonsense to you is not the same to her。 You must be
forbearing； Ethel。 Remember that dependence is prone to morbid
sensitiveness； especially in those who have a humble estimate of
themselves。〃
〃It seems to me that touchiness is more pride than humility；〃 said
Ethel； whose temper； already not in the smoothest state； found it
hard that； after having long borne patiently with these constant
arguments； she should find Miss Bracy made the chief object of
compassion。
Dr。 May's chivalrous feeling caused him to take the part of the weak；
and he answered； 〃You know nothing about it。 Among our own kith and
kin we can afford to pass over slights； because we are sure the heart
is rightwe do not know what it is to be among strangers； uncertain
of any claim to their esteem or kindness。 Sad！ sad！〃 he continued；
as the picture wrought on him。 〃Each trifle seems a token one way or
the other！ I am very sorry I grieved the poor thing yesterday。 I
must go and tell her so at once。〃
He put Ethel aside； and knocked at the schoolroom door； while Ethel
stood； mortified。 〃He thinks I have been neglecting； or speaking
harshly to her！ For fifty times that I have borne with her
maundering； I have； at last； once told her the truth； and for that I
am accused of want of forbearance！ Now he will go and make much of
her； and pity her； till she will think herself an injured heroine；
and be worse than ever； and he will do away with all the good of my
advice； and want me to ask her pardon for itbut that I never will。
It was only the truth； and I will stick to it。〃
〃Ethel！〃 cried Mary； running up to her； then slackening her pace； and
whispering； 〃you did not tell Miss Bracy she was ill…tempered。〃
〃Nonot exactly。 How could you tell papa I did？〃
〃She said so。 She was crying； and I asked what was the matter； and
she said my sister Ethel said she was ill…tempered。〃
〃She made a great exaggeration then；〃 said Ethel。
〃I am sure she was very cross all day；〃 said Mary。
〃Well； that is no business of yours；〃 said Ethel pettishly。 〃What
now？ Mary； don't look out at the street window。〃
〃It is Florathe Grange carriage；〃 whispered Mary； as the two
sisters made a precipitate retreat into the drawing…room。
Meanwhile； Dr。 May had been in the schoolroom。 Miss Bracy had ceased
her tears before he camethey had been her retort on Ethel； and she
had not intended the world to know of them。 Half disconcerted； half
angry； she heard the doctor approach。 She was a gentle； tearful
woman； one of those who are often called meek； under an erroneous
idea that meekness consis