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！
angry； she heard the doctor approach。 She was a gentle； tearful
woman； one of those who are often called meek； under an erroneous
idea that meekness consists in making herself exceedingly miserable
under every kind of grievance； and she now had a sort of melancholy
satisfaction in believing that the young ladies had fabricated an
exaggerated complaint of her temper； and that she was going to become
injured innocence。 To think herself accused of a great wrong；
excused her from perceiving herself guilty of a lesser one。
〃Miss Bracy；〃 said Dr。 May； entering with his frank； sweet look； 〃I
am concerned that I vexed you by taking the children to walk with me
yesterday。 I thought such little brats would be troublesome to any
but their spoiling papa； but they would have been in safer hands with
you。 You would not have been as weak as I was； in regard to sugar…
plums。〃 Such amends as these confused Miss Bracy； who found it
pleasanter to be lamentable with Ethel； than to receive a full
apology for her imagined offence from the master of the house。
Feeling both small and absurd； she murmured something of 〃oh； no；〃
and 〃being sure；〃 and hoped he was going； so that she might sit down
to pity herself； for those girls having made her appear so
ridiculous。
No such thing！ Dr。 May put a chair for her； and sat down himself；
saying； with a smile； 〃You see； you must trust us sometimes； and
overlook it； if we are less considerate than we might be。 We have
rough； careless habits with each other； and forget that all are not
used to them。〃
Miss Bracy exclaimed； 〃Oh； no； never； they were most kind。〃
〃We wish to be；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃but there are little neglectsor you
think there are。 I will not say there are none； for that would be
answering too much for human nature； or that they are fancifulfor
that would be as little comfort as to tell a patient that the pain is
only nervous〃
Miss Bracy smiled； for she could remember instances when； after
suffering much at the time； she had found the affront imaginary。
He was glad of that smile； and proceeded。 〃You will let me speak to
you； as to one of my own girls？ To them； I should say； use the only
true cure。 Don't brood over vexations； small or great； but think of
them as trials that； borne bravely； become blessings。〃
〃Oh！ but Dr。 May！〃 she exclaimed； shocked； 〃nothing in your house
could call for such feelings。〃
〃I hope we are not very savage；〃 he said； smiling； 〃but； indeed； I
still say it is the safest rule。 It would be the only one if you
were really among unkind people； and； if you take so much to heart an
unlucky neglect of mine； what would you do if the slight were a true
one？〃
〃You are right； but my feelings were always over…sensitive；〃 and this
she said with a sort of complacency。
〃Well； we must try to brace them；〃 said Dr。 May； much as if
prescribing for her。 〃Will not you believe in our confidence and
esteem； and harden yourself against any outward unintentional piece
of incivility？〃
She felt as if she could at that moment。
〃Or at least； try to forgive and forget them。 Talking them over only
deepens the sense of them； and discussions do no good to any one。 My
daughters are anxious to be your best friends； as I hope you know。〃
〃Oh！ they are most kind〃
〃But； you see； I must say this；〃 added Dr。 May； somewhat hesitating；
〃as they have no mother toto spare all this；〃 and then； growing
clearer； he proceeded； 〃I must beg you to be forbearing with them；
and not perplex yourself and them with arguing on what cannot be
helped。 They have not the experience that could enable them to
finish such a discussion without unkindness； and it can only waste
the spirits； and raise fresh subjects of regret。 I must leave youI
hear myself called。〃
Miss Bracy began to be sensible that she had somewhat abused Ethel's
patience； and the unfortunate speech about the source of her
sensitiveness did not appear to her so direfully cruel as at first。
She hoped every one would forget all about it； and resolved not to
take umbrage so easily another time； or else be silent about it； but
she was not a person of much resolution。
The doctor found that Meta Rivers and her brother had brought Flora
home； and were in the drawing…room； where Margaret was hearing
another edition of the history of the fair； and a by…play was going
on； of teasing Blanche about the chain。
George Rivers was trying to persuade her to make one for him； and her
refusal came out at last； in an almost passionate key； in the midst
of the other conversation 〃No！ I say…no！〃
〃Another no； and that will be yes。〃
〃No！ I won't！ I don't like you well enough！〃
Margaret gravely sent Blanche and the other children away to take
their walk； and the brother and sister soon after took leave； when
Flora called Ethel to hasten to the Ladies' Committee； that they
might arrange the disposal of the one hundred and fifty pounds； the
amount of their gains。
〃To see the fate of Cocksmoor；〃 said Ethel。
〃Do you think I cannot manage the Stoneborough folk？〃 said Flora；
looking radiant with good humour； and conscious of power。 〃Poor
Ethel！ I am doing you good against your will！ Never mind； here is
wherewith to build the school； and the management will be too happy
to fall into our hands。 Do you think every one is as ready as you
are； to walk three miles and back continually？〃
There was sense in this； there always was sense in what Flora said；
but it jarred on Ethel； and it seemed almost unsympathising in her to
be so gay； when the rest were wearied or perturbed。 Ethel would have
been very glad of a short space to recollect herself； and recover her
good temper； but it was late； and Flora hurried her to put on her
bonnet； and come to the committee。 〃I'll take care of your
interests；〃 she said； as they set out。 〃You look as doleful as if
you thought you should be robbed of Cocksmoor； but that is the last
thing that will happen； you will see。〃
〃It would not be acting fairly to let them build for us； and then for
us to put them out of the management；〃 said Ethel。
〃My dear； they want importance； not action。 They will leave the real
power to us of themselves。〃
〃You like to build Cocksmoor with such instruments；〃 said Ethel；
whose ruffled condition made her forget her resolution not to argue
with Flora。
〃Bricks are made of clay！〃 said Flora。 〃There； that was said like
Norman himself！ On your plan； we might have gone on for forty years；
saving seven shillings a year； and spending six； whenever there was
an illness in the place。〃
〃You； who used to dislike these people more than even I did！〃 said
Ethel。
〃That was when I was an infant； my dear； and did not know how to deal
with them。 I will take careI will even save Cherry Elwood for you；
if I can。 Alan Ernescliffe's ten pounds is a noble weapon。〃
〃You always mean to manage everything； and then you have no time！〃
said Ethel； sensible all the time of her own ill…humour； and of her
sister's patience and amiability； yet propelled to speak the
unpleasant truths that in her better moods were held back。
Still Flora was good…tempered； though Ethel would almost have
preferred her being provoked； 〃I know；〃 she said； 〃I have been using
you ill； and leaving the world on your shoulders； but it was all in
your service and Cocksmoor's； and now we shall begin to be reasonable
and useful again。〃
〃I hope so；〃 said Ethel。
〃Really； Ethel； to comfort you； I think I shall send you with Norman
to dine at Abbotstoke Grange on Wednesday。 Mr。 Rivers begged us to
come； he is so anxious to make it lively for his son。〃
〃Thank you； I do not think Mr。 George Rivers and I should be likely
to get on together。 What a bad style of wit！ You heard what Mary
said about him？ and Ethel repeated the doubt between hating and
detesting。
〃Young men never know how to talk to little girls；〃 was Flora's
reply。
At this moment they came up with one of the Miss Andersons； and Flora
began to exchange civilities； and talk over yesterday's events with
great animation。 Her notice always gave pleasure； brightened as it
was by the peculiarly engaging address which she had inherited from
her father； and which； therefore； was perfectly easy and natural。
Fanny Anderson was flattered and gratified； rather by the manner than
the words； and； on excellent terms； they entered the committee…room；
namely； the schoolmistress's parlour。
There were nine ladies on the committeenine muses； as the doctor
called them； because they produced anything but harmony。 Mrs。
Ledwich was in the chair； Miss Rich was secretary； and had her pen
and ink； and account…book ready。 Flora came in； smiling and
greeting； Ethel； grave； earnest； and annoyed； behind her； trying to
be perfectly civil； but not at all enjoying the congratulations on
the successful bazaar。 The ladies all talked and discussed their
yesterday's adventures； gathering in little knots； as they traced the
fate of favourite achievements of their skill； while Ethel；
lugubrious and impatient； beside Flora； the only one not engaged；
and； therefore； conscious of the hubbub of clacking tongues。
At last Mrs。 Ledwich glanced at the mistres