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Flora's regret； had been allotted to Miss Cleveland； a good…natured；
merry； elderly heiress； who would； Flora feared； bring on them the
whole 〃Stoneborough crew。〃 And then she began to reckon up the
present resourcesdrawings； bags； and pincushions。 〃That chip hat
you plaited for Daisy； Margaret； you must let us have that。 It will
be lovely； trimmed with pink。〃
〃Do you wish for this？〃 said Ethel； heaving up a mass of knitting。
〃Thank you；〃 said Flora； 〃so ornamental； especially the original
performance in the corner； which you would perpetrate； in spite of my
best efforts。〃
〃I shall not be offended if you despise it。 I only thought you might
have no more scruple in robbing Granny Hall than in robbing Daisy。〃
〃Pray； send it。 Papa will buy it as your unique performance。〃
〃No； you shall tell me what I am to do。〃
〃Does she mean it？〃 said Flora； turning to Margaret。 〃Have you
converted her？ Well done！ Then； Ethel； we will get some pretty
batiste； and you and Mary shall make some of those nice sun…bonnets；
which you really do to perfection。〃
〃Thank you。 That is a more respectable task than I expected。 People
may have something worth buying；〃 said Ethel； who； like all the
world； felt the influence of Flora's tact。
〃I mean to study the useful；〃 said Flora。 〃The Cleveland set will be
sure to deal in frippery； and I have been looking over Mrs。 Hoxton's
stores； where I see quite enough for mere decoration。 There are two
splendid vases in potichomanie； in an Etruscan pattern； which are
coming for me to finish。〃
〃Mrs。 Taylor； at Cocksmoor； could do that for you；〃 said Ethel。 〃Her
two phials； stuffed with chintz patterns and flour； are quite as
original and tasteful。〃
〃Silly work；〃 said Flora； 〃but it makes a fair show。〃
〃The essence of Vanity Fair；〃 said Ethel。
〃It won't do to be satirical over much；〃 said Flora。 〃You won't get
on without humouring your neighbours' follies。〃
〃I don't want to get on。〃
〃But you wantor； at least； I wantCocksmoor to get on。〃
Ethel saw Margaret looking distressed； and； recalling her resolution
she said； 〃Well； Flora； I don't mean to say any more about it。 I see
it can't be helped； and you all think you intend it for good； so
there's an end of the matter； and I'll do anything for you in
reason。〃
〃Poor old King Ethel！〃 said Flora； smiling in an elder…sisterly
manner。 〃You will see； my dear； your views are very pretty； but very
impracticable； and it is a work…a…day world after alleven papa
would tell you so。 When Cocksmoor school is built； then you may
thank me。 I do not look for it before。〃
CHAPTER II。
Knowledge is second； not the first；
A higher Hand must make her mild；
If all be not in vain； and guide
Her footsteps； moving side by side；
With wisdom； like the younger child；
For she is earthly of the mind；
But knowledge heavenly of the soul。In Memoriam。
Etheldred had not answered her sister； but she did not feel at all
secure that she should have anything to be thankful for； even if the
school were built。
The invasion of Cocksmoor was not only interference with her own
field of action； but it was dangerous to the improvement of her
scholars。 Since the departure of Mr。 Wilmot； matters at Stoneborough
National School had not improved； though the Misses Anderson talked a
great deal about progress； science； and lectures。
The Ladies' Committee were constantly at war with the mistresses； and
that one was a veteran who endured them； or whom they could endure
beyond her first half…year。 No mistress had stayed a year within the
memory of any girl now at school。 Perpetual change prevented any
real education； and； as each lady held different opinions and
proscribed all books not agreeing thereto； everything 〃dogmatical〃
was excluded； and； as Ethel said； the children learned nothing but
facts about lions and steam…engines； while their doctrine varied with
that of the visitor for the week。 If the ten generals could only
have given up to Miltiades； but； alas！ there was no Miltiades。 Mr。
Ramsden's health was failing； and his neglect told upon the parish in
the dreadful evils reigning unchecked； and engulfing many a child
whom more influential teaching might have saved。 Mental arithmetic；
and the rivers of Africa； had little power to strengthen the soul
against temptation。
The scanty attendance at the National School attested the
indifference with which it was regarded； and the borderers
voluntarily patronised Cherry Elwood； and thus had； perhaps； first
aroused the emulation that led Mrs。 Ledwich on a visit of inspection；
to what she chose to consider as an offshoot of the National School。
The next day she called upon the Misses May。 It was well that Ethel
was not at home。 Margaret received the lady's horrors at the sight
of the mere crowded cottage kitchen； the stupid untrained mistress；
without an idea of method； and that impertinent woman； her mother！
Miss Flora and Miss Ethel must have had a great deal to undergo； and
she would lose no time in convening the Ladies' Committee； and
appointing a successor to 〃that Elwood；〃 as soon as a fit room could
be erected for her use。 If Margaret had not known that Mrs。 Ledwich
sometimes threatened more than she could accomplish； she would have
been in despair。 She tried to say a good word for Cherry； but was
talked down； and had reason to believe that Mrs。 Elwood had mortally
offended Mrs。 Ledwich。
The sisters had heard the other side of the story at Cocksmoor。 Mrs。
Elwood would not let them enter the school till she had heard how
that there Mrs。 Ledwich had come in； and treated them all as if it
was her own placehow she had found fault with Cherry before all the
children； and as good as said she was not fit to keep a school。 She
had even laid hands on one of the books； and said that she should
take it home； and see whether it were a fit one for them to use；
whereupon Mrs。 Elwood had burst out in defenceit was Miss Ethel
May's book； and should not be taken awayit was Miss Ethel as she
looked to； and when it seemed that Mrs。 Ledwich had said something
disparaging of Miss Ethel； either as to youth； judgment； or doctrine；
Mrs。 Elwood had fired up into a declaration that 〃Miss Ethel was a
real ladythat she was！ and that no real lady would ever come prying
into other folk's work and finding fault with what wasn't no business
of theirs；〃 with more of a personal nature； which Flora could not
help enjoying； even while she regretted it。
Cherry was only too meek； as her mother declared。 She had said not a
word； except in quiet reply； and being equally terrified by the
attack and defence； had probably seemed more dull than was her wont。
Her real feelings did not appear till the next Sunday； when； in her
peaceful conference with Margaret； far from the sound of storms； she
expressed that she well knew that she was a poor scholar； and that
she hoped the young ladies would not let her stand in the children's
light； when a better teacher could be found for them。
〃I am sure！〃 cried Ethel； as she heard of this； 〃it would be hard to
find such a teacher in humility！ Cherry bears it so much better than
I； that it is a continual reproof！〃
As to the dullness； against which Ethel used to rail； the attacks
upon it had made her erect it into a positive merit； she was always
comparing the truth； honesty； and respectful demeanour of Cherry's
scholars with the notorious faults of the National School girls； as
if these defects had been implanted either by Mrs。 Ledwich； or by
geography。 It must be confessed that the violence of partisanship
did not make her a pleasant companion。
However； the interest of the bazaar began somewhat to divert the
current of the ladies' thoughts； and Ethel found herself walking day
after day to Cocksmoor； unmolested by further reports of Mrs。
Ledwich's proceedings。 Richard was absent； preparing for ordination；
but Norman had just returned home for the Long Vacation； and； rather
than lose the chance of a conversation with her； had joined her and
Mary in a walk to Cocksmoor。
His talk was chiefly of Settlesham； old Mr。 Wilmot's parish； where he
had been making a visit to his former tutor； and talking over the
removal to Eton of Tom； who had well responded to the care taken of
him； and with his good principles confirmed； and his character
strengthened； might be； with less danger； exposed to trial。
It had been a visit such as to leave a deep impression on Norman's
mind。 Sixty years ago； old Mr。 Wilmot had been what he now was
himselfan enthusiastic and distinguished Balliol man； and he had
kept up a warm； clear…sighted interest in Oxford throughout his long
life。 His anecdotes； his recollections； and comments on present
opinions had been listened to with great eagerness； and Norman had
felt it an infinite honour to give the venerable old man his arm； as
to be shown by him his curious collection of books。 His parish；
carefully watched for so many years； had been a study not lost upon
Norman； who detailed particulars of the doings there； which made
Ethel sigh to think of the contrast with Stoneborough。 In such
conversation they came to the entrance of th