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〃Oh； nothing； only Miss Winter is so tiresome。〃
〃What was it？〃
〃Everything； it was all horrid。 I was cross； I know； but she and M。
Ballompre made me so；〃 and Ethel was in the midst of the narration of
her grievances； when Norman came in。 The school was half a mile off；
but he had not once failed to come home； in the interval allowed for
play after dinner； to inquire for his sister。
〃Well； Norman； you are out of breath； sit down and rest。 What is
doing at school； are you dux of your class？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the boy wearily。
〃What mark for the verses？〃 said Ethel。
〃Quam bene。〃
〃Not optime？〃
〃No； they were tame；〃 Dr。 Hoxton said。
〃What is Harry doing？〃 said Margaret。
〃He is fourth in his form。 I left him at football。〃
〃Dinner！〃 said Flora at the door。 〃What will you have； Margaret？〃
〃I'll fetch it；〃 said Norman； who considered it his privilege to wait
on Margaret at dinner。 When he had brought the tray； he stood
leaning against the bed…post； musing。 Suddenly； there was a
considerable clatter of fire…irons； and his violent start surprised
Margaret。
〃Ethel has been poking the fire；〃 she said； as if no more was needed
to account for their insecurity。 Norman put them up again； but a
ringing sound betrayed that it was not with a firm touch； and when； a
minute after； he came to take her plate； she saw that he was trying
with effort to steady his hand。
〃Norman； dear； are you sure you are well？〃
〃Yes； very well；〃 said he； as if vexed that she had taken any notice。
〃You had better not come racing home。 I'm not worth inquiries now； I
am so much better；〃 said she； smiling。
He made no reply； but this was not consenting silence。
〃I don't like you to lose your football；〃 she proceeded。
〃I could not〃 and he stopped short。
〃It would be much better for you；〃 said she； looking up in his face
with anxious affectionate eyes； but he shunned her glance and walked
away with her plate。
Flora had been in such close attendance upon Margaret； that she
needed some cheerful walks； and though she had some doubts how
affairs at home would go on without her； she was overruled； and sent
on a long expedition with Miss Winter and Mary； while Ethel remained
with Margaret。
The only delay before setting out； was that nurse came in； saying；
〃If you please； Miss Margaret； there is a girl come to see about the
place。〃
The sisters looked at each other and smiled； while Margaret asked
whence she came； and who she was。
〃Her name is Taylor； and she comes from Cocksmoor； but she is a nice；
tidy； strong…looking girl； and she says she has been used to
children。〃
Nurse had fallen into the trap most comfortably； and seemed bent upon
taking this girl as a choice of her own。 She wished to know if Miss
Margaret would like to see her。
〃If you please； nurse； but if you think she will do； that is enough。〃
〃Yes； Miss； but you should look to them things yourself。 If you
please； I'll bring her up。〃 So nurse departed。
〃Charming！〃 cried Ethel； 〃that's your capital management； Flora；
nurse thinks she has done it all herself。〃
〃She is your charge though；〃 said Flora； 〃coming from your own
beloved Cocksmoor。〃
Lucy Taylor came in； looking very nice； and very shy； curtseying low；
in extreme awe of the pale lady in bed。 Margaret was much pleased
with her； and there was no more to be done but to settle that she
should come on Saturday； and to let nurse take her into the town to
invest her with the universal blackness of the household； where the
two Margarets were the only white things。
This arranged； and the walking party set forth； Ethel sat down by her
sister's bed； and began to assist in unpicking the merino； telling
Margaret how much obliged she was to her for thinking of it； and how
grieved at having been so ungrateful in the morning。 She was very
happy over her contrivances； cutting out under her sister's
superintendence。 She had forgotten the morning's annoyance； till
Margaret said； 〃I have been thinking of what you said about Miss
Winter； and really I don't know what is to be done。〃
〃Oh； Margaret； I did not mean to worry you；〃 said Ethel； sorry to see
her look uneasy。
〃I like you to te11 me everything； dear Ethel； but I don't see
clearly the best course。 We must go on with Miss Winter。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Ethe1； shocked at her murmurs having even suggested
the possibility of a change； and having； as well as all the others； a
great respect and affection for her governess。
〃We could not get on without her even if I were well；〃 continued
Margaret； and dear mamma had such perfect trust in her； and we all
know and love her so wellit would make us put up with a great
deal。〃
〃It is all my own fault；〃 said Ethel； only anxious to make amends to
Miss Winter。 〃I wish you would not say anything about it。〃
〃Yes； it does seem wrong even to think of it；〃 said Margaret； 〃when
she has been so very kind。 It is a blessing to have any one to whom
Mary and Blanche may so entirely be trusted。 But for you〃
〃It is my own fault；〃 repeated Ethel。
〃I don't think it is quite all your own fault；〃 said Margaret； 〃and
that is the difficulty。 I know dear mamma thought Miss Winter an
excellent governess for the little ones； but hardly up to you； and
she saw that you worried and fidgeted each other； so； you know； she
used to keep the teaching of you a good deal in her own hands。〃
〃I did not know that was the reason；〃 said Ethel； overpowered by the
recollection of the happy morning's work she had often done in that
very room； when her mother had not been equal to the bustle of the
whole school…room。 That watchful； protecting； guarding； mother's
love； a shadow of Providence； had been round them so constantly on
every side； that they had been hardly conscious of it till it was
lost to them。
〃Was it not like her？〃 said Margaret； 〃but now； my poor Ethel； I
don't think it would be right by you or by Miss Winter； to take you
out of the school…room。 I think it would grieve her。〃
〃I would not do that for the world。〃
〃Especially after her kind nursing of me； and even； with more reason；
it would not be becoming in us to make changes。 Besides； King
Etheldred；〃 said Margaret； smiling； 〃we all know you are a little bit
of a sloven； and； as nurse says； some one must be always after you；
and do you know？ even if I were well； I had rather it was Miss Winter
than me。〃
〃Oh； no； you would not be formal and preciseyou would not make me
cross。〃
〃Perhaps you might make me so；〃 said Margaret； 〃or I should let you
alone； and leave you a slattern。 We should both hate it so！ No；
don't make me your mistress； Ethel dearlet me be your sister and
play…fellow still； as well as I can。〃
〃You are； you are。 I don't care half so much when I have got you。〃
〃And will you try to bear with her； and remember it is right in the
main； though it is troublesome？ 〃
〃That I will。 I won't plague you again。 I know it is bad for you；
you look tired。〃
〃Pray don't leave off telling me；〃 said Margaret〃it is just what I
wish on my own account； and I know it is comfortable to have a good
grumble。〃
〃If it does not hurt you； but I am sure you are not easy noware
you？〃
〃Only my back；〃 said Margaret。 〃I have been sitting up longer than
usual； and it is tired。 Will you call nurse to lay me flat again？
The nursery was desertedall were out； and Ethel came back in
trepidation at the notion of having to do it herself； though she knew
it was only to put one arm to support her sister； while； with the
other； she removed the pillows； but Ethel was conscious of her own
awkwardness and want of observation； nor had Margaret entire trust in
her。 Still she was too much fatigued to wait； so Ethel was obliged
to do her best。 She was careful and frightened； and therefore slow
and unsteady。 She trusted that all was right； and Margaret tried to
believe so； though still uneasy。
Ethel began to read to her； and Dr。 May came home。 She looked up
smiling； and asked where he had been； but it was vain to try to keep
him from reading her face。 He saw in an instant that something was
amiss； and drew from her a confession that her back was aching a
little。 He knew she might have said a great dealshe was not in a
comfortable positionshe must be moved。 She shook her headshe had
rather waitthere was a dread of being again lifted by Ethel that
she could not entirely hide。 Ethel was distressed； Dr。 May was
angry； and； no wonder； when he saw Margaret suffer； felt his own
inability to help； missed her who had been wont to take all care from
his hands； and was vexed to see a tall strong girl of fifteen； with
the full use of both arms； and plenty of sense； incapable of giving
any assistance； and only doing harm by trying。
〃It is of no use；〃 said he。 〃Ethel will give no attention to
anything but her books！ I've a great mind to put an end to all the
Latin and Greek！ She cares for nothing else。〃
Ethel could little brook injustice； and much as she was grieving； she
exclaimed； 〃Papa； papa； I do carenow don't I； Margaret？ I did my
best！〃
〃Don't talk nonsense。 Your best； indeed！ If you had taken the most
moderate care〃
〃I believe