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collected； papa at leisure and ready for talk or for play； mamma
smiling over her work…basket； the sisters full of chatter； the
brothers full of fun； all the tidings of the day discussed； and
nothing unwelcome but bedtime。 How different now！ The doctor was
with Margaret； and though Richard tried to say something cheerful as
his brothers entered； there was no response； and they sat down on the
opposite sides of the fire； forlorn and silent； till Richard； who was
printing some letters on card…board to supply the gaps in Aubrey's
ivory Alphabet； called Harry to help him； but Ethel； as she sat at
work； could only look at Norman； and wish she could devise anything
likely to gratify him。
After a time Flora came down； and laying some sheets of closely
written note…paper before her sister； said； 〃Here is dear mamma's
unfinished letter to Aunt Flora。 Papa says we elder ones are to read
it。 It is a description of us all； and very much indeed we ought to
learn from it。 I shall keep a copy of it。〃
Flora took up her work； and began to consult with Richard； while
Ethel moved to Norman's side； and kneeling so as to lean against his
shoulder； as he sat on a low cushion； they read their mother's last
letter by the fire…light； with indescribable feelings； as they went
through the subjects that had lately occupied them； related by her
who would never be among them again。 After much of this kind； for
her letters to Mrs。 Arnott were almost journals； came；
〃You say it is long since you had a portrait gallery of the chicken
daisies； and if I do not write in these leisure days； you will hardly
get it after I am in the midst of business again。 The new Daisy is
like Margaret at the same agemay she continue like her！ Pretty
creature； she can hardly be more charming than at present。 Aubrey；
the moon…faced； is far from reconciled to his disposition from
babyhood； he is a sober； solemn gentleman； backward in talking； and
with such a will of his own； as will want much watching； very
different from Blanche； who is Flora over again； perhaps prettier and
more fairy…like； unless this is only one's admiration for the buds of
the present season。 None of them has ever been so winning as this
little maid； who even attracts Dr。 Hoxton himself； and obtains sugar…
plums and kisses。 'Rather she than I；' says Harry； but notice is
notice to the white Mayflower； and there is my anxietyI am afraid
it is not wholesome to be too engaging ever to get a rebuff。 I hope
having a younger sister； and outgrowing baby charms may be salutary。
Flora soon left off thinking about her beauty； and the fit of vanity
does less harm at five than fifteen。 My poor Tom has not such a
happy life as Blanche； he is often in trouble at lessons； and bullied
by Harry at play； in spite of his champion； Mary； and yet I cannot
interfere； for it is good for him to have all this preparatory
teasing before he goes into school。 He has good abilities； but not
much perseverance or energy； and I must take the teaching of him into
my own hands till his school…days begin； in hopes of instilling them。
The girlishness and timidity will be knocked out of him by the boys；
I suppose； Harry is too kind and generous to do more than tease him
moderately； and Norman will see that it does not go too far。 It is a
common saying that Tom and Mary made a mistake； that he is the girl；
and she the boy； for she is a rough； merry creature； the noisiest in
the house； always skirmishing with Harry in defence of Tom； and yet
devoted to him； and wanting to do everything he does。 Those two；
Harry and Mary； are exactly alike； except for Harry's curly mane of
lion…coloured wig。 The yellow…haired laddie； is papa's name for
Harry； which he does not mind from him； though furious if the girls
attempt to call him so。 Harry is the thorough boy of the family； all
spirit； recklessness； and mischief； but so true； and kind； and noble…
hearted； that one loves him the better after every freely confessed
scrape。 I cannot tell you how grateful I am to my boy for his
perfect confidence； the thing that chiefly lessens my anxiety for him
in his half…school； half…home life； which does not seem to me to work
quite well with him。 There are two sons of Mrs。 Anderson's at the
school； who are more his friends than I like； and he is too easily
led by the desire not to be outdone； and to show that he fears
nothing。 Lately； our sailor…guest has inspired him with a vehement
wish to go to sea； I wish it was not necessary that the decision
should be made so early in life； for this fault is just what would
make us most fear to send him into the world very young； though in
some ways it might not do amiss for him。
〃So much for the younger bairns； whom you never beheld； dear Flora。
The three whom you left； when people used to waste pity on me for
their being all babies together； now look as if any pair of them were
twins； for Norman is the tallest； almost outgrowing his strength； and
Ethel's sharp face； so like her papa's； makes her look older than
Flora。 Norman and Ethel do indeed take after their papa； more than
any of the others； and are much alike。 There is the same brilliant
cleverness； the same strong feeling； not easy of demonstration；
though impetuous in action； but poor Ethel's old foibles； her harum…
scarum nature； quick temper； uncouth manners； and heedlessness of all
but one absorbing object； have kept her back； and caused her much
discomfort； yet I sometimes think these manifest defects have
occasioned a discipline that is the best thing for the character in
the end。 They are faults that show themselves； and which one can
tell how to deal with； and I have full confidence that she has the
principle within her that will conquer them。〃
〃If〃mournfully sighed Ethel； but her brother pointed on further。
〃My great hope is her entire indifference to praisenot approval；
but praise。 If she has not come up to her own standard； she works
on； not always with good temper； but perseveringly； and entirely；
unheeding of commendation till she has satisfied herself； only
thinking it stupid not to see the faults。 It is this independence of
praise that I want to see in her brother and sister。 They justly
earn it； and are rightly pleased with it； but I cannot feel sure
whether they do not depend on it too much。 Norman lives； like all
school…boys； a life of emulation； and has never met with anything but
success。 I do believe Dr。 Hoxton and Mr。 Wilmot are as proud of him
as we are； and he has never shown any tendency to conceit； but I am
afraid he has the love of being foremost； and pride in his
superiority； caring for what he is； compared with others； rather than
what he is himself。〃
〃I know；〃 said Norman； 〃I have done so； but that's over。 I see what
it is worth。 I'd give all the quam optimes I ever got in my life to
be the help Richard is to papa。〃
〃You would if you were his age。〃
〃Not I； I'm not the sort。 I'm not like her。 But are we to go on
about the elders？〃
〃Oh！ yes； don't let us miss a word。 There can't be anything but
praise of them。〃
〃Your sweet goddaughter。 I almost feel as if I had spoken in
disparagement of her； but I meant no such thing； dear girl。 It would
be hard to find a fault in her； since the childish love of admiration
was subdued。 She is so solid and steady； as to be very valuable with
the younger ones； and is fast growing so lovely； that I wish you
could behold her。 I do not see any vanity； but there lies my dread；
not of beautyvanity； but that she will find temptation in the being
everywhere liked and sought after。 As to Margaret； my precious
companion and friend； you have heard enough of her to know her； and；
as to telling you what she is like； I could as soon set about
describing her papa。 When I thought of not being spared to them this
time； it was happiness indeed to think of her at their head； fit to
be his companion； with so much of his own talent as to be more up to
conversation with him； than he could ever have found his stupid old
Maggie。 It was rather a trial of her discretion to have Mr。
Ernescliffe here while I was upstairs； and very well she seems to
have come out of it。 Poor Richard's last disappointment is still our
chief trouble。 He has been working hard with a tutor all through the
vacation； and has not even come home to see his new sister； on his
way to Oxford。 He had made a resolution that he would not come to us
till he had passed； and his father thought it best that it should be
kept。 I hope he will succeed next time； but his nervousness renders
it still more doubtful。 With him it is the very reverse of Norman。
He suffers too much for want of commendation； and I cannot wonder at
it； when I see how much each failure vexes his father； and Richard
little knows how precious is our perfect confidence in him； how much
more valuable than any honours he could earn。 You would be amused to
see how little he is altered from the pretty little fair fellow； that
you used to say was so like my old portrait； even the wavy rings of
light glossy hair sit on his forehead； just as you liked to twist
them； and his small trim figure is a fine contrast to Norm