按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
your whole time and thoughts to it； and when you had done soif you
could get all the honours in the Universitywhat would it come to？
You can't take a first…class。〃
〃I don't want one；〃 said Ethel； 〃I only can't bear not to do as
Norman does； and I like Greek so much。〃
〃And for that would you give up being a useful； steady daughter and
sister at home？ The sort of woman that dear mamma wished to make
you； and a comfort to papa。〃
Ethel was silent； and large tears were gathering。
〃You own that that is the first thing？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel faintly。
〃And that it is what you fail in most？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then； Ethel dearest； when you made up your mind to Cocksmoor； you
knew those things could not be done without a sacrifice？〃
〃Yes； but I didn't think it would be this。〃
Margaret was wise enough not to press her； and she sat down and
sighed pitifully。 Presently she said； 〃Margaret； if you would only
let me leave off that stupid old French； and horrid dull reading with
Miss Winter； I should have plenty of time for everything； and what
does one learn by hearing Mary read poetry she can't understand？〃
〃You work； don't you？ But indeed； Ethel； don't say that I can let
you leave off anything。 I don't feel as if I had that authority。 If
it be done at all； it must be by papa's consent； and if you wish me
to ask him about it； I will； only I think it would vex Miss Winter；
and I don't think dear mamma would have liked Greek and Cocksmoor to
swallow up all the little common ladylike things。〃
Ethel made two or three great gulps； 〃Margaret； must I give up
everything； and forget all my Latin and Greek？〃
〃I should think that would be a great pity；〃 said Margaret。 〃If you
were to give up the verse…making； and the trying to do as much as
Norman； and fix some time in the dayhalf an hour； perhapsfor your
Greek； I think it might do very well。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Ethel； much relieved； 〃I'm glad you don't want me
to leave it all off。 I hope Norman won't be vexed；〃 she added；
looking a little melancholy。
But Norman had not by any means the sort of sentiment on the subject
that she had。 〃Of course； you know； Ethel；〃 said he； 〃it must have
come to this some time or other； and if you find those verses too
hard； and that they take up too much of your time； you had better
give them up。〃
Ethel did not like anything to be said to be too hard for her； and
was very near pleading she only wanted time； but some recollection
came across her； and presently she said； 〃I suppose it is a wrong
sort of ambition to want to learn more； in one's own way； when one is
told it is not good for one。 I was just going to say I hated being a
woman； and having these tiresome little triflesmy dutyinstead of
learning； which is yours； Norman。〃
〃I'm glad you did not；〃 said Norman； 〃for it would have been very
silly of you； and I assure you； Ethel； it is really time for you to
stop； or you would get into a regular learned lady； and be good for
nothing。 I don't mean that knowing more than other people would make
you so； but minding nothing else would。〃
This argument from Norman himself did much to reconcile Ethel's mind
to the sacrifice she had made； and when she went to bed； she tried to
work out the question in her own mind； whether her eagerness for
classical learning was a wrong sort of ambition； to know what other
girls did not； and whether it was right to crave for more knowledge
than was thought advisable for her。 She only bewildered herself； and
went to sleep before she had settled anything； but that she knew she
must make all give way to papa first； and； secondly； to Cocksmoor。
Meanwhile Margaret had told her father all that had passed。 He was
only surprised to hear that Ethel had kept up so long with Norman；
and thought that it was quite right that she should not undertake so
much； agreeing more entirely than Margaret had expected with Miss
Winter's view； that it would be hurtful to body as well as mind。
〃It is perfectly ridiculous to think of her attempting it！〃 he said。
〃I am glad you have put a stop to it。〃
〃I am glad I have；〃 said Margaret； 〃and dear Ethel behaved so very
well。 If she had resisted； it would have puzzled me very much； I
must have asked you to settle it。 But it is very odd； papa； Ethel is
the one of them all who treats me most as if I had real authority
over her； she lets me scold her； asks my leave； never seems to
recollect for a moment how little older I am； and how much cleverer
she is。 I am sure I never should have submitted so readily。 And
that always makes it more difficult to me to direct her； I don't like
to take upon me with her； because it seems wrong to have her obeying
me as if she were a mere child。〃
〃She is a fine creature；〃 said Dr。 May emphatically。 〃It just shows
the fact； the higher the mind the readier the submission。 But you
don't mean that you have any difficulty with the others？〃
〃Oh； no； no。 Flora never could need any interference； especially
from me； and Mary is a thorough good girl。 I only meant that Ethel
lays herself out to be ruled in quite a remarkable way。 I am sure；
though she does love learning； her real love is for goodness and for
you； papa。〃
Ethel would have thought her sacrifice well paid for； had she seen
her father's look of mournful pleasure。
CHAPTER XIX。
0 ruthful scene！ when from a nook obscure；
His little sister doth his peril see；
All playful as she sate； she grows demure；
She finds full soon her wonted spirits flee；
She meditates a prayer to set him free。
SHENSTONE。
The setting sun shone into the great west window of the school at
Stoneborough； on its bare walls； the masters' desks； the forms
polished with use； and the square； inky； hacked and hewed chests；
carved with the names of many generations of boys。
About six or eight little boys were clearing away the books or papers
that they； or those who owned them as fags； had left astray； and a
good deal of talk and laughing was going； on among them。 〃Ha！〃
exclaimed one； 〃here has Harrison left his book behind him that he
was showing us the gladiators in！〃 and； standing by the third
master's desk； he turned over a page or two of Smith's 'Antiquities'；
exclaiming； 〃It is full of pictureshere's an old man blowing the
bellows〃
〃Let me see！〃 cried Tom May； precipitating himself across the benches
and over the desk； with so little caution； that there was an outcry；
and； to his horror； he beheld the ink spilled over Mr。 Harrison's
book； while； 〃There； August！ you've been and done it！〃 〃You'll catch
it！ 〃 resounded on all sides。
〃What good will staring with your mouth open do！〃 exclaimed Edward
Anderson； the eldest present。 〃Here！ a bit of blotting…paper this
moment！〃
Tom； dreadfully frightened； handed a sheet torn from an old paper…
case that he had inherited from Harry； saying despairingly； 〃It won't
take it out； will it？〃
〃No； little stupid head； but don't you see； I'm stopping it from
running down the edges； or soaking in。 He won't be the wiser till he
opens it again at that place。〃
〃When he does； he will；〃 said the bewildered Tom。
〃Let him。 It won't tell tales。〃
〃He's coming！〃 cried another boy； 〃he is close at the door。〃
Anderson hastily shut the book over the blotting…paper； which he did
not venture to retain in his hand； dragged Tom down from the desk；
and was apparently entirely occupied with arranging his own box； when
Mr。 Harrison came in。 Tom crouched behind the raised lid； quaking in
every limb； conscious he ought to confess； but destitute of
resolution to do so； and； in a perfect agony as the master went to
his desk； took up the book； and carried it away； so unconscious； that
Larkins； a great wag； only waited till his back was turned； to
exclaim； 〃Ha！ old fellow； you don't know what you've got there！〃
〃Hallo！ May junior； will you never leave off staring？ you won't see
a bit farther for it；〃 said Edward Anderson； shaking him by the ear；
〃come to your senses； and know your friends。〃
〃He'll open it！〃 gasped Tom。
〃So he will； but I'd bet ninety to one； it is not at that page； or if
he does； it won't tell tales； unless； indeed； he happened to see you
standing there； crouching and shaking。 That's the right way to bring
him upon you。〃
〃But suppose he opens it； and knows who was in school？〃
〃What then？ D'ye think we can't stand by each other； and keep our
own counsel？〃
〃But the blotting…papersuppose he knows that！〃
There was a laugh all round at this； 〃as if Harrison knew everyone's
blotting…paper！〃
〃Yes； but Harry used to write his name all over hisseeand draw
Union Jacks on it。〃
〃If he did； the date is not there。 Do you think the ink is going to
say March 2nd？ Why should not July have done it last half？〃
〃July would have told if he had；〃 said Larkins。 〃That's no go。〃
〃Ay！ That's the waythe Mays are all like girlscan't keep a
secretnot one of them。 There； I've done more for you than ever one
of them would have doneown itand he strode up to Tom； and grasped
his wrists； to force the confession from him。〃
〃Butbut he'll ask when he finds it out〃
〃Let him。 We know not