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〃No； but papa and Norman said so。〃
And Blanche showed that the practical lesson on the pomps of the
world was not lost on her； by beginning to wish they were as rich as
Miss Rivers。 Flora told her it was wrong to be discontented； but the
answer was； 〃I don't want it for myself； I want to have pretty things
to give away。〃
And her mind could not be turned from the thought by any attempt of
her sister。 Even when they met Dr。 May coming out of the hospital；
Blanche renewed the subject。 She poured out the catalogue of Miss
Rivers's purchases； making appealing attempts at looking under his
spectacles into his eyes； and he perfectly understood the tenor of
her song。
〃I have had a sight； too； of little maidens preparing Easter gifts；〃
said he。
〃Have you； papa？ What were they？ Were they as nice as Miss
Rivers's？〃
〃I don't know； but I thought they were the best sort of gifts； for I
saw that plenty of kind thought and clever contrivance went to them；
ay； and some little self…denial too。〃
〃Papa； you look as if you meant something； but ours are nothing but
nasty old rubbish。〃
〃Perhaps some fairy； or something better； has brought a wand to touch
the rubbish； Blanche； for I think that the maidens gave what would
have been worthless kept； but became precious as they gave it。〃
〃Do you mean the list of our flannel petticoats； papa； that Mary has
made into a tippet？〃
〃Perhaps I meant Mary's own time and pains； as well as the tippet。
Would she have done much good with them otherwise？〃
〃No； she would have played。 Oh！ then you like the presents because
they are our own making？ I never thought of that。 Was that the
reason you did not give us any of your sovereigns to buy things
with？〃
〃Perhaps I want my sovereigns for the eleven gaping mouths at home；
Blanche。 But would not it be a pity to spoil your pleasure？ You
would have lost all the chattering and laughing and buzzing I have
heard round Margaret of late； and I am quite sure Miss Rivers can
hardly be as happy in the gifts that cost her nothing； as one little
girl who gives her sugar…plums out of her own mouth！〃
Blanche clasped her papa's hand tight； and bounded five or six times。
〃They are our presents； not yours；〃 said she。 〃Yes； I see。 I like
them better now。〃
〃Ay； ay；〃 said the doctor。 〃Seeing Miss Rivers's must not take the
shine out of yours； my little maids； for if you can't give much； you
have the pleasure of giving the best of all； your labour of love。〃
Then thinking on； and speaking to Flora； 〃The longer I live； the more
I see the blessing of being born in a state of life where you can't
both eat your cake and give it away。〃
Flora never was at ease in a conversation with her father； she could
not follow him； and did not like to show it。 She answered aside from
the mark； 〃You would not have Blanche underrate Miss Rivers？〃
〃No； indeed； she is as good and sweet a creature as ever came across
memost kind to Margaret； and loving to all the world。 I like to
see one whom care and grief have never set their grip upon。 Most
likely she would do like Ethel； if she had the opportunity； but she
has not。〃
〃So she has not the same merit？〃 said Flora。
〃We don't talk of merit。 I mean that the power of sacrifice is a
great advantage。 The habit of small sacrifice that is made necessary
in a large family is a discipline that only…children are without： and
so； with regard to wealth； I think people are to be pitied who can
give extensively out of such abundance that they can hardly feel the
want。〃
〃In effect； they can do much more；〃 said Flora。
〃I am not sure of that。 They can； of course； but it must be at the
cost of personal labour and sacrifice。 I have often thought of the
words； 'Silver and gold have I none； but such as I have give I thee。'
And 'such as we have' it is that does the good； the gold； if we have
it； but； at any rate； the personal influence； the very proof of
sincerity； shown by the exertion and self…denial； tells far more than
money lightly come by； lightly spent。〃
〃Do you mean that a person who maintained a whole school would do
less good than one who taught one child？〃
〃If the rich person take no pains； and leave the school to take care
of itselfnay； if he only visit it now and then； and never let it
inconvenience him； has he the least security that the scholars are
obtaining any real good from it？ If the teacher of the one child is
doing his utmost； he is working for himself at least。〃
〃Suppose we could build； say our church and school； on Cocksmoor at
once； and give our superintendence besides？〃
〃If things were ripe for it； the means would come。 As it is； it is a
fine field for Ethel and Richard。 I believe it will be the making of
them both。 I am sure it is training Ethel； or making her train
herself； as we could never have done without it。 But here； come in
and see old Mrs。 Robins。 A visit from you will cheer her up。〃
Flora was glad of the interruption； the conversation was
uncomfortable to her。 She almost fancied her papa was moralising for
their good； but that he carried it too far； for wealthy people
assuredly had it in their power to do great things； and might work as
hard themselves； besides； it was finer in them； there was so much
eclat in their stooping to charity。 But her knowledge of his
character would not allow her to think for a moment that he could say
aught but from the bottom of his heartno； it was one of his one…
sided views that led him into paradox。 〃It was just like papa；〃 and
so there was no need to attend to it。 It was one of his enthusiasms；
he was so very fond of Ethel； probably because of her likeness to
himself。 Flora thought Ethel put almost too forwardthey all helped
at Cocksmoor； and Ethel was very queer and unformed； and could do
nothing by herself。 The only thing Flora did keep in her mind was；
that her papa had spoken to her； as if she were a woman compared with
Ethel。
Little Blanche made her report of the conversation to Mary； 〃that it
was so nice； and now she did not care about Miss Rivers's fine
presents at all； for papa said what one made oneself was better to
give than what one bought。 And papa said； too； that it was a good
thing not to be rich； for then one never felt the miss of what one
gave away。〃
Margaret； who overheard the exposition； thought it so much to
Blanche's credit； that she could not help repeating it in the
evening； after the little girl was gone to bed； when Mr。 Wilmot had
come in to arrange the programme for Cocksmoor。 So the little fit of
discontent and its occasion； the meeting with Meta Rivers； were
discussed。
〃Yes；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot； 〃those Riverses are open…handed。 They really
seem to have so much money； that they don't know what to do with it。
My brother is ready to complain that they spoil his parish。 It is
all meant so well； and they are so kind…hearted and excellent； that
it is a shame to find fault； and I tell Charles and his wife that
their grumbling at such a squire proves them the most spoiled of
all。〃
〃Indiscriminate liberality？〃 asked the doctor。 〃I should guess the
old gentleman to be rather soft！〃
〃That's one thing。 The parish is so small； and there are so few to
shower all this bounty on； and they are so utterly unused to country
people。 They seem to think by laying out money they can get a show
set of peasants in rustic cottages； just as they have their fancy
cows and poultryall that offends the eye out of the way。〃
〃Making it a matter of taste；〃 said the doctor。
〃I'm sure I would；〃 said Norman aside to Ethel。 〃What's the use of
getting oneself disgusted？〃
〃One must not begin with showing dislike；〃 began Ethel； 〃or〃
〃Ayyou like rags； don't you？ but hush！〃
〃That is just what I should expect of Mr。 Rivers；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃he
has cultivated his taste till it is getting to be a disease； but his
daughter has no lack of wit。〃
〃Perhaps not。 Charles and Mary are very fond of her； but she is
entirely inexperienced； and that is a serious thing with so much
money to throw about。 She pays people for sending their children to
school； and keeping their houses tidy； and there is so much given
away； that it is enough to take away all independence and motive for
exertion。 The people speculate on it； and take it as a right； by…
and…by there will be a reactionshe will find out she is imposed
upon； take offence； and for the rest of her life will go about saying
how ungrateful the poor are！〃
〃It is a pity good people won't have a little common…sense；〃 said Dr。
May。 〃But there's something so bewitching in that little girl； that
I can't give her up。 I verily believe she will right herself。〃
〃I have scarcely seen her；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot。 〃She has won papa's
heart by her kindness to me；〃 said Margaret； smiling。 〃You see her
beautiful flowers？ She seems to me made to lavish pleasures on
others wherever she goes。〃
〃Oh； yes； they are most kind…hearted；〃 said Mr。 Wilmot。 〃It is only
the excess of a virtue that could be blamed in them； and they are
most valuable to the place。 She will learn experience in timeI
only hope she will not be spoiled。〃
Flora felt as if her father must be