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At last Mrs。 Ledwich glanced at the mistress's watch； in its
pasteboard tower； in Gothic architecture； and insisted on proceeding
to business。 So they all sat down round a circular table； with a
very fine red； blue； and black oilcloth； whose pattern was
inseparably connected； in Ethel's mind； with absurdity； tedium； and
annoyance。
The business was opened by the announcement of what they all knew
before； that the proceeds of the fancy fair amounted to one hundred
and forty…nine pounds fifteen shillings and tenpence。
Then came a pause； and Mrs。 Ledwich said that next they had to
consider what was the best means of disposing of the sum gained in
this most gratifying manner。 Every one except Flora； Ethel； and
quiet Mrs。 Ward； began to talk at once。 There was a great deal about
Elizabethan architecture； crossed by much more； in which normal；
industrial； and common things； most often met Ethel's ear； with some
stories； second…hand； from Harvey Anderson； of marvellous mistakes；
and； on the opposite side of the table； there was Mrs。 Ledwich；
impressively saying something to the silent Mrs。 Ward； marking her
periods with emphatic beats with her pencil； and each seemed to close
with 〃Mrs。 Perkinson's niece；〃 whom Ethel knew to be Cherry's
intended supplanter。 She looked piteously at Flora； who only smiled
and made a sign with her hand to her to be patient。 Ethel fretted
inwardly at that serene sense of power； but she could not but admire
how well Flora knew how to bide her time； when； having waited till
Mrs。 Ledwich had nearly wound up her discourse on Mrs。 Elwood's
impudence； and Mrs。 Perkinson's niece； she leaned towards Miss
Boulder； who sat between； and whispered to her； 〃Ask Mrs。 Ledwich if
we should not begin with some steps for getting the land。〃
Miss Boulder； having acted as conductor； the president exclaimed；
〃Just so； the land is the first consideration。 We must at once take
steps for obtaining it。〃 Thereupon Mrs。 Ledwich； who 〃always did
things methodically；〃 moved； and Miss Anderson seconded； that the
land requisite for the school must be obtained； and the nine ladies
held up their hands； and resolved it。
Miss Rich duly recorded the great resolution； and Miss Boulder
suggested that； perhaps； they might write to the National Society； or
Government； or something； whereat Miss Rich began to flourish one of
the very long goose quills which stood in the inkstand before her；
chiefly as insignia of office； for she always wrote with a small；
stiff metal pen。
Flora here threw in a query； whether the National Society； or
Government； or something； would give them a grant； unless they had
the land to build upon？
The ladies all started off hereupon； and all sorts of instances of
hardness of heart were mentioned； the most relevant of which was；
that the Church Building Society would not give a grant to Mr。
Holloway's proprietary chapel at Whitford； when Mrs。 Ledwich was
suddenly struck with the notion that dear Mr。 Holloway might be
prevailed on to come to Stoneborough to preach a sermon in the
Minster； for the benefit of Cocksmoor； when they would all hold
plates at the door。 Flora gave Ethel a tranquillising pat； and； as
Mrs。 Ledwich turned to her； asking whether she thought Dr。 May； or
Dr。 Hoxton； would prevail on him to come； she said； with her winning
look； 〃I think that consideration had better wait till we have some
more definite view。 Had we not better turn to this land question？〃
〃Quite true！〃 they all agreed； but to whom did the land belong？and
what a chorus arose！ Miss Anderson thought it belonged to Mr。
Nicolson； because the wagons of slate had James Nicolson on them；
and； if so； they had no chance； for he was an old miserand six
stories illustrative thereof ensued。 Miss Rich was quite sure some
Body held it； and Bodies were slow of movement。 Mrs。 Ledwich
remembered some question of enclosing； and thought all waste lands
were under the Crown； she knew that the Stoneborough people once had
a right to pasture their cattle； because Mr。 Southron's cow had
tumbled down a loam…pit when her mother was a girl。 No； that was on
Far…view down； out the other way！ Miss Harrison was positive that
Sir Henry Walkinghame had some right there； and would not Dr。 May
apply to him？ Mrs。 Grey thought it ought to be part of the Drydale
estate； and Miss Boulder was certain that Mr。 Bramshaw knew all about
it。
Flora's gentle voice carried conviction that she knew what she was
saying； when； at last； they left a moment for her to speak（Ethel
would have done so long ago）。 〃If I am not mistaken； the land is a
copyhold of Sir Henry Walkinghame； held under the manor of Drydale；
which belongs to M College； and is underlet to Mr。 Nicolson。〃
Everybody； being partially right； was delighted； and had known it all
before； Miss Boulder agreed with Miss Anderson that Miss May had
stated it as lucidly as Mr。 Bramshaw could。 The next question was；
to whom to apply？ and； after as much as was expedient had been said
in favour of each； it was decided that； as Sir Henry Walkinghame was
abroad； no one knew exactly where； it would be best to go to the
fountain…head； and write at once to the principal of the college。
But who was to write？ Flora proposed Mr。 Ramsden as the fittest
person； but this was negatived。 Every one declared that he would
never take the trouble； and Miss Rich began to agitate her pens。 By
this time； however； Mrs。 Ward； who was opposite to the Gothic clock…
tower； began to look uneasy； and suggested； in a nervous manner； that
it was half…past five； and she was afraid Mr。 Ward would be kept
waiting for his dinner。 Mrs。 Grey began to have like fears； that Mr。
Grey would be come in from his ride after banking hours。 The other
ladies began to think of tea； and the meeting decided on adjourning
till that day next week； when the committee would sit upon Miss
Rich's letter。
〃My dear Miss Flora！〃 began Miss Rich； adhering to her as they parted
with the rest at the end of the street； 〃how am I to write to a
principal？ Am I to begin Reverend Sir； or My Lord； or is he
Venerable； like an archdeacon？ What is his name； and what am I to
say？〃
〃Why； it is not a correspondence much in my line；〃 said Flora；
laughing。
〃Ah！ but you are so intimate with Dr。 Hoxton； and your brothers at
Oxford！ You must know〃
〃I'll take advice；〃 said Flora good…naturedly。 〃Shall I come； and
call before Friday； and tell you the result？〃
〃Oh； pray！ It will be a real favour！ Good…morning〃
〃There；〃 said Flora； as the sisters turned homewards； 〃Cherry is not
going to be turned out just yet！〃
〃How could you； Flora？ Now they will have that man from Whitford；
and you said not a word against it！〃
〃What was the use of adding to the hubbub？ A little opposition would
make them determined on having him。 You will see； Ethel； we shall
get the ground on our own terms； and then it will be time to settle
about the mistress。 If the harvest holidays were not over； we would
try to send Cherry to a training…school； so as to leave them no
excuse。〃
〃I hate all this management and contrivance。 It would be more honest
to speak our minds； and not pretend to agree with them。〃
〃My dear Ethel！ have I spoken a word contrary to my opinion？ It is
not fit for me； a girl of twenty； to go disputing and dragooning as
you would have me； but a little savoir faire； a grain of common
sense； thrown in among the babble； always works。 Don't you remember
how Mrs。 Ward's sister told us that a whole crowd of tottering
Chinese ladies would lean on her； because they felt her firm support；
though it was out of sight？〃
Ethel did not answer； she had self…control enough left not to retort
upon Flora's estimate of herself； but the irritation was strong； she
felt as if her cherished views for Cocksmoor were insulted； as well
as set aside； by the place being made the occasion of so much folly
and vain prattle； the sanctity of her vision of self…devotion
destroyed by such interference； and Flora's promises did not reassure
her。 She doubted Flora's power； and had still more repugnance to the
means by which her sister tried to govern； they did not seem to her
straightforward； and she could not endure Flora's complacency in
their success。 Had it not been for her real love for the place and
people； as well as the principle which prompted that love； she could
have found it in her heart to throw up all concern with it； rather
than become a fellow…worker with such a conclave。
Such were Ethel's feelings as the pair walked down the street； the
one sister bright and smiling with the good humour that had endured
many shocks all that day； all good nature and triumph； looking
forward to success； great benefit to Cocksmoor； and plenty of
management； with credit and praise to herself； the other； downcast
and irritable； with annoyance at the interference with her schemes；
at the prospects of her school； and at herself for being out of
temper； prone to murmur or to reply tartly； and not able to recover
from her mood； but only； as she neared the house； lapsing into her
other trouble； and preparing to resist any misjudged； though kind
attempt of her fathe