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best！〃
〃Don't talk nonsense。 Your best； indeed！ If you had taken the most
moderate care〃
〃I believe Ethel took rather too much care；〃 said Margaret； much more
harassed by the scolding than by the pain。 〃It will be all right
presently。 Never mind； dear papa。〃
But he was not only grieved for the present； but anxious for the
future； and； though he knew it was bad for Margaret to manifest his
displeasure； he could not restrain it； and continued to blame Ethel
with enough of injustice to set her on vindication； whereupon he
silenced her； by telling her she was making it worse by self…
justification when Margaret ought to be quiet。 Margaret tried to
talk of other things； but was in too much discomfort to exert herself
enough to divert his attention。
At last Flora returned； and saw in an instant what was wanted。
Margaret was settled in the right posture； but the pain would not
immediately depart； and Dr。 May soon found out that she had a
headache； of which he knew he was at least as guilty as Etheldred
could be。
Nothing could be done but keep her quiet； and Ethe1 went away to be
miserable； Flora tried to comfort her by saying it was unfortunate；
but no doubt there was a knack； and everyone could not manage those
things； Margaret was easier now； and as to papa's anger； he did not
always mean all he said。
But consolation came at bedtime； Margaret received her with open arms
when she went to wish her goodnight。 〃My poor Ethel；〃 she said；
holding her close； 〃I am sorry I have made such a fuss。〃
〃Oh； you did not； it was too bad of meI am grieved； are you quite
comfortable now？〃
〃Yes； quite； only a little headache； which I shall sleep off。 It has
been so nice and quiet。 Papa took up George Herbert； and has been
reading me choice bits。 I don't think I have enjoyed anything so
much since I have been ill。〃
〃I am glad of that； but I have been unhappy all the evening。 I wish
I knew what to do。 I am out of heart about everything！〃
〃Only try to mind and heed； and you will learn。 It will be a step if
you will only put your shoes side by side when you take them off。〃
Ethel smiled and sighed； and Margaret whispered； 〃Don't grieve about
me； but put your clever head to rule your hands； and you will do for
home and Cocksmoor too。 Good…night； dearest。〃
〃I've vexed papa；〃 sighed Etheland just then he came into the room。
〃Papa；〃 said Margaret； 〃here's poor Ethel； not half recovered from
her troubles。〃
He was now at ease about Margaret； and knew he had been harsh to
another of his motherless girls。
〃Ah！ we must send her to the infant…school； to learn 'this is my
right hand； and this is my left；'〃 said he； in his half…gay； half…sad
manner。
〃I was very stupid；〃 said Ethel。
〃Poor child！〃 said her papa； 〃she is worse off than I am。 If I have
but one hand left； she has two left hands。〃
〃I do mean to try； papa。〃
〃Yes； you must； Ethel。 I believe I was hasty with you； my poor girl。
I was vexed； and we have no one to smooth us down。 I am sorry； my
dear； but you must bear with me； for I never learned her ways with
you when I might。 We will try to have more patience with each
other。〃
What could Ethel do but hang round his neck and cry； till he said；
but tenderly； that they had given Margaret quite disturbance enough
to…day； and sent her to bed； vowing to watch each little action； lest
she should again give pain to such a father and sister。
CHAPTER VIII。
〃Tis not enough that Greek or Roman page
At stated hours； his freakish thoughts engage；
Even in his pastimes he requires a friend
To warn and teach him safely to unbend；
O'er all his pleasures gently to preside；
Watch his emotions； and control their tide。〃COWPER。
The misfortunes of that day disheartened and disconcerted Etheldred。
To do mischief where she most wished to do good； to grieve where she
longed to comfort； seemed to be her fate； it was vain to attempt
anything for anyone's good； while all her warm feelings and high
aspirations were thwarted by the awkward ungainly hands and heedless
eyes that Nature had given her。 Nor did the following day； Saturday；
do much for her comfort； by giving her the company of her brothers。
That it was Norman's sixteenth birthday seemed only to make it worse。
Their father had apparently forgotten it； and Norman stopped Blanche
when she was going to put him in mind of it； stopped her by such a
look as the child never forgot； though there was no anger in it。 In
reply to Ethel's inquiry what he was going to do that morning； he
gave a yawn and stretch； and said； dejectedly； that he had got some
Euripides to look over； and some verses to finish。
〃I am sorry； this is the first time you ever have not managed so as
to make a real holiday of your Saturday！〃
〃I could not help it； and there's nothing to do；〃 said Norman
wearily。
〃I promised to go and read to Margaret while Flora does her music；〃
said Ethel； 〃I shall come after that and do my Latin and Greek with
you。〃
Margaret would not keep her long； saying she liked her to be with
Norman； but she found him with his head sunk on his open book； fast
asleep。 At dinner…time； Harry and Tom； rushing in； awoke him with a
violent start。
〃Halloo！ Norman； that was a jump！〃 said Harry； as his brother
stretched and pinched himself。 〃You'll jump out of your skin some of
these days； if you don't take care！〃
〃It's enough to startle any one to be waked up with such a noise；〃
said Ethel。
〃Then he ought to sleep at proper times；〃 said Harry； 〃and not be
waking me up with tumbling about； and hallooing out； and talking in
his sleep half the night。〃
〃Talking in his sleep！ why； just now； you said he did not sleep；〃
said Ethel。
〃Harry knows nothing about it；〃 said Norman。
〃Don't I？ Well； I only know； if you slept in school； and were a
junior； you would get a proper good licking for going on as you do at
night。〃
〃And I think you might chance to get a proper good licking for not
holding your tongue；〃 said Norman； which hint reduced Harry to
silence。
Dr。 May was not come home； he had gone with Richard far into the
country； and was to return to tea。 He was thought to be desirous of
avoiding the family dinners that used to be so delightful。 Harry was
impatient to depart； and when Mary and Tom ran after him； he ordered
them back。
〃Where can he be going？〃 said Mary； as she looked wistfully after
him。
〃I know；〃 said Tom。
〃Where？ Do tell me。〃
〃Only don't tell papa。 I went down with him to the playground this
morning； and there they settled it。 The Andersons； and Axworthy； and
he； are going to hire a gun； and shoot pee…wits on Cocksmoor。〃
But they ought not； should they？〃 said Mary。 Papa would be very
angry。〃
Anderson said there was no harm in it； but Harry told me not to tell。
Indeed； Anderson would have boxed my ears for hearing； when I could
not help it。〃
〃But Harry would not let him？〃
〃Ay。 Harry is quite a match for Harvey Anderson； though he is so
much younger； and he said he would not have me bullied。〃
〃That's a good Harry！ But I wish he would not go out shooting！〃 said
Mary。
〃Mind； you don't tell。〃
〃And where's Hector Ernescliffe？ Would not he go？〃
〃No。 I like Hector。 He did not choose to go； though Anderson teased
him； and said he was a poor Scot； and his brother didn't allow him
tin enough to buy powder and shot。 If Harry would have stayed at
home； he would have come up here； and we might have had some fun in
the garden。〃
〃I wish he would。 We never have any fun now；〃 said Mary； 〃but oh！
there he is；〃 as she spied Hector peeping over the gate which led
from the field into the garden。 It was the first time that he had
been to Dr。 May's since his brother's departure； and he was rather
shy； but the joyful welcome of Mary and Tom took off all reluctance；
and they claimed him for a good game at play in the wood…house。 Mary
ran upstairs to beg to be excused the formal walk； and； luckily for
her； Miss Winter was in Margaret's room。 Margaret asked if it was
very wet and dirty； and hearing 〃not very；〃 gave gracious permission；
and off went Mary and Blanche to construct some curious specimens of
pottery； under the superintendence of Hector and Tom。 There was a
certain ditch where yellow mud was attainable； whereof the happy
children concocted marbles and vases； which underwent a preparatory
baking in the boys' pockets； that they might not crack in the nursery
fire。 Margaret only stipulated that her sisters should be well
fenced in brown holland； and when Miss Winter looked grave； said；
〃Poor things； a little thorough play will do them a great deal of
good。〃
Miss Winter could not see the good of groping in the dirt； and
Margaret perceived that it would be one of her difficulties to know
how to follow out her mother's views for the children； without vexing
the good governess by not deferring to her。
In the meantime； Norman had disconsolately returned to his Euripides；
and Ethel； who wanted to stay with him and look out his words； was
ordered out by Miss Winter； because she had spent all yesterday
indoors。 Miss Winter was going to stay with Margaret； and Ethel and
Flora co