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However； the better leaven began to work； and； of course； there was a
ferment； though less violent than Ethel had expected。
Mr。 Wilmot set more cautiously to work than he had done in his
younger days； and did not attack prejudices so openly； and he had an
admirable assistant in Dr。 Spencer。 Every one respected the opinion
of the travelled doctor； and he had a courteous clever process of the
reduction to the absurd； which seldom failed to tell； while it never
gave offence。 As to the Ladies' Committee； though there had been
expressions of dismay； when the tidings of the appointment first went
abroad； not one of the whole 〃Aonian choir〃 liked to dissent from Dr。
Spencer； and he talked them over； individually； into a most
conformable state； merely by taking their compliance for granted； and
showing that he deemed it only the natural state of things； that the
vicar should reign over the charities of the place。
The committee was not dissolvedthat would have been an act of
violencebut it was henceforth subject to Mr。 Wilmot； and he and his
curates undertook the religious instruction in the week； and chose
the booksa state of affairs brought about with so much quietness；
that Ethel knew not whether Flora； Dr。 Spencer； or Mr。 Wilmot had
been the chief mover。
Mrs。 Ledwich was made treasurer of a new coal club； and Miss Rich
keeper of the lending…library； occupations which delighted them
greatly； and Ethel was surprised to find how much unity of action was
springing up； now that the period was over； of each 〃doing right in
her own eyes。〃
〃In fact；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； 〃when women have enough to do； they are
perfectly tractable。〃
The Cocksmoor accounts were Ethel's chief anxiety。 It seemed as if
now there might be a school…house； but with little income to depend
upon； since poor Alan Ernescliffe's annual ten pounds was at an end。
However； Dr。 May leaned over her as she was puzzling over her pounds；
shillings； and pence； and laid a cheque upon her desk。 She looked up
in his face。 〃We must make Cocksmoor Harry's heir；〃 he said。
By and by it appeared that Cocksmoor was not out of Hector
Ernescliffe's mind。 The boy's letters to Margaret had been brief；
matter…of…fact； and discouraging； as long as the half…year lasted；
and there was not much to be gathered about him from Tom； on his
return for the Easter holidays； but soon poor Hector wrote a long
dismal letter to Margaret。
Captain Gordon had taken him to Maplewood； where the recollection of
his brother； and the happy hopes with which they had taken
possession； came thronging upon him。 The house was forlorn； and the
corner that had been unpacked for their reception； was as dreary a
contrast to the bright home at Stoneborough； as was the dry； stern
captain； to the fatherly warm…hearted doctor。 Poor Hector had little
or nothing to do； and the pleasure of possession had not come yet； he
had no companion of his own age； and bashfulness made him shrink with
dislike from introduction to his tenants and neighbours。
There was not an entertaining book in the house； he declared； and the
captain snubbed him； if he bought anything he cared to read。 The
captain was always at him to read musty old improving books； and
talking about the position he would occupy。 The evenings were
altogether unbearable； and if it were not for rabbit shooting now；
and the half…year soon beginning again； Hector declared he should be
ready to cut and run； and leave Captain Gordon and Maplewood to each
otherand very well matched too！ He was nearly in a state of mind
to imitate that unprecedented boy； who wrote a letter to 'The Times'；
complaining of extra weeks。
As to Cocksmoor； Ethel must not think it forgotten； he had spoken to
the captain about it； and the old wooden…head had gone and answered
that it was not incumbent on him； that Cocksmoor had no claims upon
him； and he could not make it up out of his allowance； for the old
fellow would not give him a farthing more than he had before； and had
said that was too much。
There was a great blur over the words 〃wooden…head；〃 as if Hector had
known that Margaret would disapprove； and had tried to scratch it
out。 She wrote all the consolation in her power； and exhorted him to
patience； apparently without much effect。 She would not show his
subsequent letters； and the reading and answering them fatigued her
so much； that Hector's writing was an unwelcome sight at
Stoneborough。 Each letter； as Ethel said； seemed so much taken out
of her； and she begged her not to think about them。
〃Nothing can do me much good or harm now；〃 said Margaret； and seeing
Ethel's anxious looks； 〃Is it not my greatest comfort that Hector can
still treat me as his sister； or； if I can only be of any use in
keeping him patient？ Only think of the danger of a boy； in his
situation； being left without sympathy！〃
There was nothing more to be said。 They all felt it was good for
them that the building at Cocksmoor gave full occupation to thoughts
and conversation； indeed； Tom declared they never walked in any other
direction； nor talked of anything else； and that without Hector； or
George Rivers； he had nobody to speak to。 However； he was a good
deal tranquillised by an introduction to Dr。 Spencer's laboratory；
where he compounded mixtures that Dr。 Spencer promised should do no
more harm than was reasonable to himself； or any one else。 Ethel
suspected that； if Tom had chanced to singe his eyebrows； his friend
would not have regretted a blight to his nascent coxcombry； but he
was far too careful of his own beauty to do any such thing。
Richard was set at liberty just before Easter； and came home to his
new charge。 He was aware of what had taken place； and heartily
grateful for the part his father had taken。 To work at Cocksmoor；
under Mr。 Wilmot； and to live at home； was felicity； and he fitted at
once into his old place； and resumed all the little home services for
which he had been always famed。 Ethel was certain that Margaret was
content； when she saw her brother bending over her； and the sense of
reliance and security that the presence of the silent Richard
imparted to the whole family was something very peculiar； especially
as they were so much more active and demonstrative than he was。
Mr。 Wilmot put him at once in charge of the hamlet。 The inhabitants
were still a hard； rude； unpromising race； and there were many
flagrant evils amongst them； but the last few years had not been
without some effectsome were less obdurate； a few really touched；
and； almost all； glad of instruction for their children。 If Ethel's
perseverance had done nothing else； it had； at least； been a witness；
and her immediate scholars showed the influence of her lessons。
CHAPTER XVI。
Then out into the world； my course I did determine；
Though； to be rich was not my wish； yet to be great was charming。
My talents they were not the worst； nor yet my education；
Resolved was I； at least to try； to mend my situation。BURNS。
In the meantime； the session of Parliament had begun； and the Rivers'
party had； since February； inhabited Park Lane。 Meta had looked pale
and pensive； as she bade her friends at Stoneborough good…bye； but
only betrayed that she had rather have stayed at home； by promising
herself great enjoyment in meeting them again at Easter。
Flora was； on the other hand； in the state of calm patronage that
betokened perfect satisfaction。 She promised wonders for Miss
Bracy's sisterstalked of inviting Mary and Blanche to see sights
and take lessons； and undertook to send all the apparatus needed by
Cocksmoor school； and she did； accordingly； send down so many
wonderful articles； that curate and schoolmistress were both
frightened； Mrs。 Taylor thought the easels were new…fashioned
instruments of torture； and Ethel found herself in a condition to be
liberal to Stoneborough National School。
Flora was a capital correspondent； and made it her business to keep
Margaret amused； so that the home…party were well informed of the
doings of each of her daysand very clever her descriptions were。
She had given herself a dispensation from general society until after
Easter； but； in the meantime； both she and Meta seemed to find great
enjoyment in country rides and drives； and in quiet little dinners at
home； to George's agreeable political friends。 With the help of two
such ladies as Mrs。 and Miss Rivers； Ethel could imagine George's
house pleasant enough to attract clever people； but she was surprised
to find how full her sister's letters were of political news。
It was a period when great interests were in agitation； and the
details of London talk and opinions were extremely welcome。 Dr。
Spencer used to come in to ask after 〃Mrs。 Rivers's Intelligencer〃；
and； when he heard the lucid statements； would say； she ought to have
been a 〃special correspondent。〃 And her father declared that her
news made him twice as welcome to his patients； but her cleverest
sentences always were prefaced with 〃George says；〃 or 〃George
thinks；〃 in a manner that made her appear merely the dutiful echo of
his sentiments。
In an early letter； Flora mentioned how she had been remin