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！
Ethel sigh to think of the contrast with Stoneborough。 In such
conversation they came to the entrance of the hamlet； and Mary； with
a scream of joy； declared that she really believed that he was going
to help them！ He did not turn away。
〃Thank you！〃 said Ethel； in a low voice； from the bottom of her
heart。
She used him mercifully； and made the lessons shorter than usual； but
when they reached the open air again； he drew a long breath； and when
Mary eagerly tried for a compliment to their scholars； asked if they
could not be taught the use of eyelids。
〃Did they stare？〃 said Ethel。 〃That's one advantage of being blind。
No one can stare me out of countenance。〃
〃Why were you answering all your questions yourself？〃 asked Mary。
〃Because no one else would；〃 said Norman。
〃You used such hard words；〃 replied Ethel。
〃Indeed！ I thought I was very simple。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Mary； 〃there were derive； and instruction； and implicate；
andoh； so many。〃
〃Never mind；〃 said Ethel； seeing him disconcerted。 〃It is better for
them to be drawn up； and you will soon learn their language。 If we
only had Una M'Carthy here！〃
〃Then you don't like it？〃 said Mary； disappointed。
〃It is time to learn not to be fastidious；〃 he answered。 〃So； if you
will help me〃
〃Norman； I am so glad！〃 said Ethel。
〃Yes；〃 said Norman； 〃I see now that these things that puff us up； and
seem the whole world to us now； all end in nothing but such as this！
Think of old Mr。 Wilmot； once carrying all before him； but deeming
all his powers well bestowed in fifty years' teaching of clowns！〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Ethel； very low。 〃One soul is worth〃 and she paused
from the fullness of thought。
〃And these things； about which we are so elated； do not render us so
fit to teachas you； Mary； or as Richard。〃
〃They do；〃 said Ethel。 The ten talents were doubled。 Strength tells
in power。 The more learning； the fitter to teach the simplest
thing。〃
〃You remind me of old Mr。 Wilmot saying that the first thing he
learned at his parish was； how little his people knew； the second；
how little he himself knew。〃
So Norman persevered in the homely discipline that he had chosen for
himself； which brought out his deficiency in practical work in a
manner which lowered him in his own eyes； to a degree almost
satisfactory to himself。 He was not； indeed； without humility； but
his nature was self…contemplative and self…conscious enough to
perceive his superiority of talent； and it had been the struggle of
his life to abase this perception； so that it was actually a relief
not to be obliged to fight with his own complacency in his powers。
He had learned not to think too highly of himselfhe had yet to
learn to 〃think soberly。〃 His aid was Ethel's chief pleasure through
this somewhat trying summer； it might be her last peaceful one at
Cocksmoor。
That bazaar！ How wild it had driven the whole town； and even her own
home！
Margaret herself； between good nature and feminine love of pretty
things； had become ardent in the cause。 In her unvaried life； it was
a great amusement to have so many bright elegant things exhibited to
her； and Ethel was often mortified to find her excited about some new
device； or drawn off from 〃rational employments；〃 to complete some
trifle。
Mary and Blanche were far worse。 From the time that consent had been
given to the fancy…work being carried on in the schoolroom； all
interest in study was over。 Thenceforth； lessons were a necessary
form； gone through without heart or diligence。 These were reserved
for paste…board boxes； beplastered with rice and sealing…wax； for
alum baskets； dressed dolls； and every conceivable trumpery； and the
governess was as eager as the scholars。
If Ethel remonstrated； she hurt Miss Bracy's feelings； and this was a
very serious matter to both parties。
The governess was one of those morbidly sensitive people； who cannot
be stopped when once they have begun arguing that they are injured。
Two women together； each with the last…word instinct； have no power
to cease； and； when the words are spent in explainingnot in
scoldingconscience is not called in to silence them； and nothing
but dinner or a thunder…storm can check them。 All Ethel's good sense
was of no avail； she could not stop Miss Bracy； and； though she might
resolve within herself that real kindness would be to make one
reasonable reply； and then quit the subject； yet； on each individual
occasion； such a measure would have seemed mere impatience and
cruelty。 She found that if Miss Winter had been too dry； Miss Bracy
went to the other extreme； and demanded a manifestation of sympathy；
and return to her passionate attachment that perplexed Ethel's
undemonstrative nature。 Poor good Miss Bracy； she little imagined
how often she added to the worries of her dear Miss Ethel； all for
want of self…command。
Finally； as the lessons were less and less attended to； and the needs
of the stall became more urgent； Dr。 May and Margaret concurred in a
decision； that it was better to yield to the mania； and give up the
studies till they could be pursued with a willing mind。
Ethel submitted； and only laughed with Norman at the display of
treasures； which the girls went over daily； like the 〃House that Jack
built；〃 always starting from 〃the box that Mary made。〃 Come when Dr。
May would into the drawing…room； there was always a line of penwipers
laid out on the floor； bags pendent to all the table…drawers；
antimacassars laid out everywhere。
Ethel hoped that the holidays would create a diversion； but Mary was
too old to be made into a boy； and Blanche drew Hector over to the
feminine party； setting him to gum； gild； and paste all the
contrivances which； in their hands； were mere feeble gimcracks； but
which now became fairly sound； or； at least； saleable。
The boys also constructed a beautiful little ship from a print of the
Alcestis； so successfully； that the doctor promised to buy it； and
Ethel grudged the very sight of it to the bazaar。
Tom； who； in person； was growing like a little shadow or model of
Norman； had； unlike him； a very dexterous pair of hands； and made
himself extremely useful in all such works。 On the other hand； the
Cleveland stall seemed chiefly to rely for brilliance on the wit of
Harvey Anderson； who was prospering at his college； and the pride of
his family。 A great talker； and extremely gallant； he was considered
a far greater acquisition to a Stoneborough drawing…room than was the
silent； bashful Norman May； and rather looked down on his brother
Edward； who； having gone steadily through the school； was in the
attorney's office； and went on quietly and well； colouring up
gratefully whenever one of the May family said a kind word to him。
CHAPTER III。
Any silk； any thread；
Any toys for your head；
Of the newest and finest wear…a？
Come to the pedlar；
Money's a medlar。
That doth utter all men's ware…a。
Winter's Tale。
〃This one day and it will be over； and we shall be rational again；〃
thought Ethel； as she awoke。
Flora was sleeping at the Grange； to be ready for action in the
morning； and Ethel was to go early with Mary and Blanche； who were
frantic to have a share in the selling。 Norman and the boys were to
walk at their own time； and the children to be brought later by Miss
Bracy。 The doctor would be bound by no rules。
It was a pattern day； bright； clear； warm； and not oppressive；
perfect for an out…of…doors fete； and Ethel had made up her mind to
fulfil her promise to Margaret of enjoying herself。 In the brilliant
sunshine； and between two such happy sisters； it would have been
surly； indeed； not to enter into the spirit of the day； and Ethel
laughed gaily with them； and at their schemes and hopes； Blanche's
heart being especially set on knowing the fate of a watch…guard of
her own construction。
Hearing that the ladies were in the gardens； they repaired thither at
once。 The broad； smooth bowling…green lay before them； a marquee；
almost converted into a bower； bounding it on either side； while in
the midst arose； gorgeous and delicious； a pyramid of flowers
contributions from all the hot…houses in the neighbourhoodto be
sold for the benefit of the bazaar。 Their freshness and fragrance
gave a brightness to the whole scene； while shrinking from such
light； as only the beauteous works of nature could bear； was the
array accomplished by female fingers。
Under the wreathed canopies were the stalls； piled up with bright
colours； most artistically arranged。 Ethel； with her over…minute
knowledge of every article； could hardly believe that yonder glowing
Eastern pattern of scarlet； black； and blue； was； in fact； a
judicious mosaic of penwipers that she remembered； as shreds begged
from the tailor； that the delicate lace…work consisted of Miss
Bracy's perpetual antimacassars； and that the potichomanie could look
so dignified and Etruscan。
〃Here you are！〃 cried Meta Rivers； springing to meet them。 〃Good
girls； to come early。 Where's my little Daisy？〃
〃Coming in good time；〃 said Ethel。 〃How pretty it all looks！〃
〃But where's Flora？where's my watch…guard？〃