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thing I hope； that Aubrey was well frightened； poor little boy。〃
〃I know！ I see now！〃 cried Ethel； 〃he must have wanted me to make
the fire blaze up； as Richard did one evening when we came in and
found it low； I remember Aubrey clapping his hands and shouting at
the flame； but my head was in that unhappy story； and I never had
sense to put the things together； and reflect that he would try to do
it himself。 I only wanted to get him out of my way； dear little
fellow。 Oh； dear； how bad it was of me！ All from being uplifted；
and my head turned； as it used to be when we were happier。 Oh！ I
wish Mr。 Wilmot was not coming！〃
Ethel sat for a long time with her head hidden in Margaret's pillows；
and her hand clasped by her good elder sister。 At last she looked up
and said； 〃Oh； Margaret； I am so unhappy。 I see the whole meaning of
it now。 Do you not？ When papa gave his consent at last； I was
pleased and set up； and proud of my plans。 I never recollected what
a silly； foolish girl I am； and how unfit。 I thought Mr。 Wilmot
would think great things of itit was all wrong and self…satisfied。
I never prayed at all that it might turn out well； and so now it
won't。〃
〃Dearest Ethel； I don't see that。 Perhaps it will do all the better
for your being humbled about it now。 If you were wild and high
flying； it would never go right。〃
〃Its hope is in Richard；〃 said Ethel。
〃So it is；〃 said Margaret。
〃I wish Mr。 Wilmot was not coming to…night；〃 said Ethel again。 〃It
would serve me right if papa were to say nothing about it。〃
Ethel lingered with her sister till Harry and Mary came up with
Margaret's tea； and summoned her； and she crept downstairs； and
entered the room so quietly； that she was hardly perceived behind her
boisterous brother。 She knew her eyes were in no presentable state；
and cast them down； and shrank back as Mr。 Wilmot shook her hand and
greeted her kindly。
Mr。 Wilmot had been wont to come to tea whenever he had anything to
say to Dr。 or Mrs。 May； which was about once in ten or twelve days。
He was Mary's godfather； and their most intimate friend in the town；
and he had often been with them； both as friend and clergyman；
through their troubleno later than Christmas Day； he had come to
bring the feast of that day to Margaret in her sick…room。 Indeed； it
had been chiefly for the sake of the Mays that he had resolved to
spend the holidays at Stoneborough； taking the care of Abbotstoke；
while his brother； the vicar； went to visit their father。 This was；
however； the first time he had come in his old familiar way to spend
an evening； and there was something in the resumption of former
habits that painfully marked the change。
Ethel； on coming in； found Flora making tea； her father leaning back
in his great chair in silence； Richard diligently cutting bread； and
Blanche sitting on Mr。 Wilmot's knee； chattering fast and
confidentially。 Flora made Harry dispense the cups； and called every
one to their places； Ethel timidly glanced at her father's face； as
he rose and came into the light。 She thought the lines and hollows
were more marked than ever； and that he looked fatigued and mournful；
and she felt cut to the heart； but he began to exert himself； and to
make conversation； not； however； about Cocksmoor； but asking Mr。
Wilmot what his brother thought of his new squire； Mr； Rivers。
〃He likes him very much；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot。 〃He is a very pleasing
person； particularly kind…hearted and gentle； and likely to do a
great deal for the parish。 They have been giving away beef and
blankets at a great rate this Christmas。〃
〃What family is there？〃 asked Flora。
〃One daughter； about Ethel's age； is there with her governess。 He
has been twice married； and the first wife left a son； who is in the
Dragoons； I believe。 This girl's mother was Lord Cosham's daughter。〃
So the talk lingered on； without much interest or life。 It was
rather keeping from saying nothing than conversation； and no one was
without the sensation that she was missing； round whom all had been
free and joyousnot that she had been wont to speak much herself；
but nothing would go on smoothly or easily without her。 So long did
this last； that Ethel began to think her father meant to punish her
by not beginning the subject that night； and though she owned that
she deserved it； she could not help being very much disappointed。
At length； however； her father began： 〃We wanted you to talk over a
scheme that these young ones have been concocting。 You see； I am
obliged to keep Richard at home this next termit won't do to have
no one in the house to carry poor Margaret。 We can't do without him
anyway； so he and Ethel have a scheme of seeing what can be done for
that wretched place； Cocksmoor。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Mr。 Wilmot； brightening and looking interested。 〃It
is sadly destitute。 It would be a great thing if anything could be
done for it。 You have brought some children to school already； I
think。 I saw some rough…looking boys； who said they came from
Cocksmoor。〃
This embarked the doctor in the history of the ladies being too fine
to teach the poor Cocksmoor girls； which he told with kindling
vehemence and indignation； growing more animated every moment； as he
stormed over the wonted subject of the bad system of management
ladies' committee； negligent incumbent； insufficient clergy；
misappropriated titheswhile Mr。 Wilmot； who had mourned over it；
within himself； a hundred times already； and was doing a curate's
work on sufferance； with no pay； and little but mistrust from Mr。
Ramsden； and absurd false reports among the more foolish part of the
town； sat listening patiently； glad to hear the doctor in his old
strain； though it was a hopeless matter for discussion； and Ethel
dreaded that the lamentation would go on till bedtime； and Cocksmoor
be quite forgotten。
After a time they came safely back to the project； and Richard was
called on to explain。 Ethel left it all to him； and he with rising
colour； and quiet； unhesitating； though diffident manner； detailed
designs that showed themselves to have been well matured。 Mr。 Wilmot
heard； cordially approved； and； as all agreed that no time was to be
lost； while the holidays lasted； he undertook to speak to Mr。 Ramsden
on the subject the next morning； and if his consent to their schemes
could be gained； to come in the afternoon to walk with Richard and
Ethel to Cocksmoor； and set their affairs in order。 All the time
Ethel said not a word； except when referred to by her brother； but
when Mr。 Wilmot took leave； he shook her hand warmly； as if he was
much pleased with her。 〃Ah！〃 she thought； 〃if he knew how ill I have
behaved！ It is all show and hollowness with me。〃
She did not know that Mr。 Wilmot thought her silence one of the best
signs for the plan； nor how much more doubtful he would have thought
her perseverance； if he had seen her wild and vehement。 As it was；
he was very much pleased； and when the doctor came out with him into
the hall； he could not help expressing his satisfaction in Richard's
well…judged and sensibly…described project。
〃Ay； ay！〃 said the doctor； 〃there's much more in the boy than I used
to think。 He's a capital fellow； and more like his mother than any
of them。〃
〃He is；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot； 〃there was a just； well…weighed sense and
soberness in his plans that put me in mind of her every moment。〃
Dr。 May gave his hand a squeeze； full of feeling； and went up to tell
Margaret。 She； on the first opportunity； told Richard； and made him
happier than he had been for months； not so much in Mr。 Wilmot's
words； as in his father's assent to； and pleasure in them。
CHAPTER XV。
Pitch thy behaviour low； thy projects high；
So shalt thou humble and magnanimous be；
Sink not in spirit； who aimeth at the sky
Shoots higher much than he that means a tree。
A grain of glory mixed with humbleness；
Cures both a fever and lethargicness。
HERBERT。
〃Norman； do you feel up to a long day's work？〃 said Dr。 May； on the
following morning。 〃I have to set off after breakfast to see old
Mrs。 Gould； and to be at Abbotstoke Grange by twelve； then I thought
of going to Fordholm； and getting Miss Cleveland to give us some
luncheonthere are some poor people on the way to look at； and that
girl on Far…view Hill； and there's another place to call in at coming
home。 You'll have a good deal of sitting in the carriage； holding
Whitefoot； so if you think you shall be cold or tired； don't scruple
to say so； and I'll take Adams to drive me。〃
〃No； thank you；〃 said Norman briskly。 〃This frost is famous。〃
〃It will turn to rain； I expectit is too white；〃 said the doctor；
looking out at the window。 〃How will you get to Cocksmoor； good
people？〃
〃Ethel won't believe it rains unless it is very bad；〃 said Richard。
Norman set out with his father； and prosperously performed the
expedition； arriving at Abbotstoke Grange at the appointed hour。
〃Ha！〃 said the doctor； as the iron gates of ornamental scrollwork
were swung back； 〃there's a considerable change in this place since I
was here last。 Well kept up inde