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means she tried Miss Winter's patience almost beyond measure。 But
she cared notshe saw a gathering school and rising church； which
eclipsed all thought of present inattentions and gaucheries。 She
monopolised Margaret in the twilight； and rhapsodised to her heart's
content； talking faster and faster； and looking more and more
excited。 Margaret began to feel a little overwhelmed； and while
answering 〃yes〃 at intervals； was considering whether Ethel had not
been flying about in an absent inconsiderate mood all day； and
whether it would seem unkind to damp her ardour； by giving her a hint
that she was relaxing her guard over herself。 Before Margaret had
steeled herself； Ethel was talking of a story she had read； of a
place something like Cocksmoor。 Margaret was not ready with her
recollection； and Ethel； saying it was in a magazine in the drawing…
room chiffonier； declared she would fetch it。
Margaret knew what it was to expect her visitors to return 〃in one
moment；〃 and with a 〃now…or…never〃 feeling she began； 〃Ethel； dear；
wait；〃 but Ethel was too impetuous to attend。 〃I'll be back in a
twinkling；〃 she called out； and down she flew； in her speed whisking
away； without seeing it； the basket with Margaret's knitting and all
her notes and papers； which lay scattered on the floor far out of
reach； vexing Margaret at first； and then making her grieve at her
own impatient feeling。
Ethel was soon in the drawing…room； but the right number of the
magazine was not quickly forthcoming； and in searching she became
embarked in another story。 Just then； Aubrey； whose stout legs were
apt to carry him into every part of the house where he was neither
expected nor wanted； marched in at the open door； trying by dint of
vehement gestures to make her understand； in his imperfect speech；
something that he wanted。 Very particularly troublesome she thought
him； more especially as she could not make him out； otherwise than
that he wanted her to do something with the newspaper and the fire。
She made a boat for him with an old newspaper； a very hasty and frail
performance； and told him to sail it on the carpet； and be Mr。
Ernescliffe going away； and she thought him thus safely disposed of。
Returning to her book and her search； with her face to the cupboard；
and her book held up to catch the light； she was soon lost in her
story； and thought of nothing more till suddenly roused by her
father's voice in the hall； loud and peremptory with alarm； 〃Aubrey！
put that down！〃 She looked； and beheld Aubrey brandishing a great
flaming paperhe dropped it at the exclamationit fell burning on
the carpet。 Aubrey's white pinafore！ Ethel was springing up； but in
her cramped； twisted position she could not do so quickly； and even
as he called； her father strode by her； snatched at Aubrey's merino
frock； which he crushed over the scarcely lighted pinafore； and
trampled out the flaming paper with his foot。 It was a moment of
dreadful fright； but the next assured them that no harm was done。
〃Ethel！〃 cried the doctor； 〃Are you mad？ What were you thinking of？〃
Aubrey； here recollecting himself enough to be frightened at his
father's voice and manner； burst into loud cries； the doctor pressed
him closer on his breast； caressed and soothed him。 Ethel stood by；
pale and transfixed with horror。 Her father was more angry with her
than she had ever seen him； and with reason； as she knew； as she
smelled the singeing； and saw a large burnt hole in Aubrey's
pinafore； while the front of his frock was scorched and brown。 Dr。
May's words were not needed； 〃What could make you let him？〃
〃I didn't see〃 she faltered。
〃Didn't see！ Didn't look； didn't think； didn't care！ That's it；
Ethel。 'Tis very hard one can't trust you in a room with the child
any more than the baby himself。 His frock perfect tinder！ He would
have been burned to a cinder； if I had not come in！〃
Aubrey roared afresh； and Dr。 May； kissing and comforting him；
gathered him up in his left arm； and carried him away； looking back
at the door to say； 〃There's no bearing it！ I'll put a stop to all
schools and Greek； if it is to lead to this； and make you good for
nothing！〃
Ethel was too much terrified to know where she was； or anything； but
that she had let her little brother run into fearful peril； and
grievously angered her father； she was afraid to follow him； and
stood still； annihilated； and in despair； till roused by his return；
then； with a stifled sob； she exclaimed； 〃Oh； papa！〃 and could get no
further for a gush of tears。
But the anger of the shock of terror was over； and Dr。 May was sorry
for her tears； though still he could not but manifest some
displeasure。 〃Yes； Ethel；〃 he said； 〃it was a frightful thing；〃 and
he could not but shudder again。 〃One moment later！ It is an escape
to be for ever thankful forpoor little fellow！but； Ethel； Ethel；
do let it be a warning to you。〃
〃Oh； I hopeI'll try〃 sobbed Ethel。
〃You have said you would try before。〃
〃I know I have；〃 said Ethel； choked。 〃If I could but〃
〃Poor child；〃 said Dr。 May sadly； then looking earnestly at her；
〃Ethel； my dear； I am afraid of its being with you asas it has been
with me；〃 he spoke very low； and drew her close to him。 〃I grew up；
thinking my inbred heedlessness a sort of grace； so to say； rather
manlythe reverse of finikin。 I was spoiled as a boy； and my Maggie
carried on the spoiling； by never letting me feel its effects。 By
the time I had sense enough to regret this as a fault； I had grown
too old for changing of ingrain； long…nurtured habitsperhaps I
never wished it really。 You have seen；〃 and his voice was nearly
inaudible； 〃what my carelessness has come tolet that suffice at
least； as a lesson that may spare youwhat your father must feel as
long as he lives。〃
He pressed his hand tightly on her shoulder； and left her； without
letting her see his face。 Shocked and bewildered； she hurried
upstairs to Margaret。 She threw herself on her knees； felt her arms
round her； and heard her kind soothing； and then； in broken words；
told how dreadful it had been； and how kind papa had been； and what
he had said； which was now the uppermost thought。 〃Oh； Margaret；
Margaret； how very terrible it is！ And does papa really think so？〃
〃I believe he does；〃 whispered Margaret。
〃How can he； can he bear it〃〃 said Ethel； clasping her hands。 〃Oh！
it is enough to kill oneI can't think why it did not！〃
〃He bears it；〃 said Margaret； 〃because he is so very good； that help
and comfort do come to him。 Dear papa！ He bears up because it is
right； and for our sakes； and he has a sort of rest in that perfect
love they had for each other。 He knows how she would wish him to
cheer up and look to the end； and support and comfort are given to
him； I know they are； but oh； Ethel！ it does make one tremble and
shrink； to think what he has been going through this autumn；
especially when I hear him moving about late at night； and now and
then comes a heavy groanwhenever any especial care has been on his
mind。〃
Ethel was in great distress。 〃To have grieved him again！〃 said she；
〃and just as he seemed better and brighter！ Everything I do turns
out wrong； and always will； I can't do anything well by any chance。〃
〃Yes you can； when you mind what you are about。〃
〃But I never canI'm like him； every one says so； and he says the
heedlessness is ingrain； and can't be got rid of。〃
〃Ethel； I don't really think he could have told you so。〃
〃I'm sure he said ingrain。〃
〃Well； I suppose it is part of his nature； and that you have
inherited it； but〃Margaret paused； and Ethel exclaimed：
〃He said his was long…nurtured； yes； Margaret； you guessed right； and
he said he could not change it； and no more can I。〃
〃Surely； Ethel； you have not had so many years。 You are fifteen
instead of forty…six； and it is more a woman's work than a man's to
be careful。 You need not begin to despair。 You were growing much
better； Richard said so； and so did Miss Winter。〃
〃What's the use of it； if in one moment it is as bad as ever？ And
to…day； of all days in the year； just when papa had been so very；
very kind； and given me more than I asked。〃
〃Do you know； Ethel； I was thinking whether dear mamma would not say
that was the reason。 You were so happy； that perhaps you were thrown
off your guard。〃
〃I should not wonder if that was it；〃 said Ethel thoughtfully。 〃You
know it was a sort of probation that Richard put me on。 I was to
learn to be steady before he spoke to papa； and now it seemed to be
all settled and right； and perhaps I forgot I was to be careful
still。〃
〃I think it was something of the kind。 I was a little afraid before；
and I wish I had tried to caution you； but I did not like to seem
unkind。〃
〃I wish you had；〃 said Ethel。 〃Dear little Aubrey！ Oh； if papa had
not been there！ And I cannot think how； as it was； he could contrive
to put the fire out； with his one hand； and not hurt himself。
Margaret it was terrible。 How could I mind so little！ Did you see
how his frock was singed？〃
〃Yes； papa showed it to me。 How can we be thankful enough！ One
thing I hope； that Aubrey was well fri