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Mary had partaken of some of Mrs。 Elwood's tea； which； though
extremely bitter； seemed a great cordial； and was sitting； quite
revived； in the arbour at the door； when the gig stopped； and Dr。
Spencer walked in。
〃Well； and how are you？〃
〃Quite well now； thank you。 Was Margaret frightened？ Why did you
come？〃
〃I thought it would make her happier； as your father was not at home。
Here； let me feel your pulse。 Do you think no one is a doctor but
your papa？ There's not much the matter with you； however。 Where is
Ethel？〃
〃In the school；〃 and Mary opened the door。 Dr。 Spencer looked in； as
Ethel came out； and his face put her in mind of Norman's look。
〃No wonder！〃 was all he said。
Ethel was soon satisfied that he did not think Mary ill。 In fact； he
said fainting was the most natural and justifiable measure； under the
circumstances。 〃How many human creatures do you keep there？〃 he
asked。
〃Forty…seven to…day；〃 said Mary proudly。
〃I shall indict you for cruelty to animals！ I think I have known it
hotter at Poonshedagore； but there we had punkahs！〃
〃It was very wrong of me；〃 said Ethel。 〃I should have thought of
poor Mary； in that sunny walk； but Mary never complains。〃
〃Oh； never mind；〃 said Mary； 〃it did not hurt。〃
〃I'm not thinking of Mary；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； 〃but of the wretched
beings you are leaving shut up there。 I wonder what the mercury
would be there。〃
〃We cannot help it；〃 said Mary。 〃We cannot get the ground。〃
And Mary； having been voted into the seat of honour and comfort by
his side in the carriage； told her version of Cocksmoor and the
Committee； while Ethel sat up in the little narrow seat behind；
severely reproaching herself for her want of consideration towards
one so good and patient as Mary； who proved to have been suffering
far more on Harry's account than they had guessed； and who was so
simple and thorough…going in doing her duty。 This was not being a
good elder sister； and； when they came home； she confessed it； and
showed so much remorse that poor Mary was quite shocked； and cried so
bitterly that it was necessary to quit the subject。
〃Ethel； dearest；〃 said Margaret that night； after they were in bed；
〃is there anything the matter？〃
〃No； nothing； but that Oxford has spoiled me；〃 said Ethel；
resolutely。 〃I am very cross and selfish！〃
〃It will be better by…and…by；〃 said Margaret； 〃if only you are sure
you have nothing to make you unhappy。〃
〃Nothing；〃 said Ethel。 She was becoming too much ashamed of her
fancy to breathe one word about it； and she had spoken the truth。
Pleasure had spoiled her。
〃If only we could do something for Cocksmoor！〃 she sighed； presently；
〃with that one hundred and fifty pounds lying idle。〃
Margaret was very glad that her thoughts were taking this channel；
but it was not a promising one； for there seemed to be nothing
practicable； present or future。 The ground could not be hadthe pig
would not get over the stilethe old woman could not get home to…
night。 Cocksmoor must put up with its present school； and Mary must
not be walked to death。
Or； as Ethel drew her own moral； sacrifice must not be selfish。 One
great resolution that has been costly； must not blunt us in the daily
details of life。
CHAPTER XI。
If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do； Chapels had
been Churches； and poor men's cottages； princes' palaces。
MERCHANT OF VENICE。
〃Dick；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； as the friends sat together in the evening；
after Mary's swoon； 〃you seem to have found an expedient for making
havoc among your daughters。〃
〃It does not hurt them；〃 said Dr。 May carelessly。
〃Pretty well； after the specimen of to…day。〃
〃That was chance。〃
〃If you like it； I have no more to say； but I should like to make you
sit for two hours in such a temperature。 If they were mine〃
〃Very fine talking； but I would not take the responsibility of
hindering the only pains that have ever been taken with that unlucky
place。 You don't know that girl Ethel。 She began at fifteen；
entirely of her own accord； and has never faltered。 If any of the
children there are saved from perdition； it is owing to her； and I am
not going to be the man to stop her。 They are strong； healthy girls；
and I cannot see that it does them any harmrather good。〃
〃Have you any special predilection for a room eight feet by nine？〃
〃Can't be helped。 What would you have said if you had seen the
last？〃
〃What is this about one hundred and fifty pounds in hand？〃
〃The ladies here chose to have a fancy fair； the only result of
which； hitherto； has been the taking away my Flora。 There is the
money； but the land can't be had。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Tied up between the Drydale Estate and College； and in the hands
of the quarry master； Nicolson。 There was an application made to the
College； but they did not begin at the right end。〃
〃Upon my word； Dick； you take it easy！〃 cried his friend； rather
indignantly。
〃I own I have not stirred in the matter；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃I knew
nothing would come to good under the pack of silly women that our
schools are ridden with〃 and； as he heard a sound a little like
〃pish！〃 he continued； 〃and that old Ramsden； it is absolutely useless
to work with such a heador no head。 There's nothing for it but to
wait for better times； instead of setting up independent；
insubordinate action。〃
〃You are the man to leave venerable abuses undisturbed！〃
〃The cure is worse than the disease！〃
〃There spoke the Corporation！〃
〃Ah！ it was not the way you set to work in Poonshedagore。〃
〃Why； really； when the venerable abuses consisted of Hindoos praying
to their own three…legged stools； and keeping sacred monkeys in
honour of the ape Hanyuman； it was a question whether one could be a
Christian oneself； and suffer it undisturbed。 It was coming it too
strong； when I was requested to lend my own step…ladder for the
convenience of an exhibition of a devotee swinging on hooks in his
sides。〃
Dr。 Spencer had； in fact； never rested till he had established a
mission in his former remote station； and his brown godson； once a
Brahmin； now an exemplary clergyman； traced his conversion to the
friendship and example of the English physician。
〃Well； I have lashed about me at abuses； in my time；〃 said Dr。 May。
〃I dare say you have； Dick！〃 and they both laughedthe inconsiderate
way was so well delineated。
〃Just so；〃 replied Dr。 May； 〃and I made enemies enough to fetter me
now。 I do not mean that I have done rightI have not； but there is
a good deal on my hands； and I don't write easily。 I have been
slower to take up new matters than I ought to have been。〃
〃I see； I see！〃 said Dr。 Spencer； rather sorry for his implied
reproach； 〃but must Cocksmoor be left to its fate； and your gallant
daughter to hers？〃
〃The vicar won't stir。 He is indolent enough by nature； and worse
with gout； and I do not see what good I could do。 I once offended
the tenant； Nicolson； by fining him for cheating his unhappy
labourers； on the abominable truck system； and he had rather poison
me than do anything to oblige me。 And； as to the copyholder； he is a
fine gentleman； who never comes near the place； nor does anything for
it。〃
〃Who is he？〃
〃Sir Henry Walkinghame。〃
〃Sir Henry Walkinghame！ I know the man。 I found him in one of the
caves at Thebes； among the mummies； laid up with a fever； nearly
ready to be a mummy himself！ I remember bleeding himirregular； was
not it？ but one does not stand on ceremony in Pharaoh's tomb。 I got
him through with it； we came up the Nile together； and the last I saw
of him was at Alexandria。 He is your man！ something might be done
with him！〃
〃I believe Flora promises to ask him if she should ever meet him in
London； but he is always away。 If ever we should be happy enough to
get an active incumbent； we shall have a chance。〃
Two days after； Ethel came down equipped for Cocksmoor。 It was as
hot as ever； and Mary was ordered to stay at home； being somewhat
pacified by a promise that she should go again as soon as the weather
was fit for anything but a salamander。
Dr。 Spencer was in the hall； with his bamboo； his great Panama hat；
and gray loose coat； for he entirely avoided； except on Sundays； the
medical suit of black。 He offered to relieve Ethel of her bag of
books。
〃No thank you。〃 （He had them by this time）。 〃But I am going to
Cocksmoor。〃
〃Will you allow me to be your companion？〃
〃I shall be very glad of the pleasure of your company； but I am not
in the least afraid of going alone；〃 said she； smiling； however； so
as to show she was glad of such pleasant company。 〃I forewarn you
though that I have business there。〃
〃I will find occupation。〃
〃And you must promise not to turn against me。 I have undergone a
great deal already about that place。 Norman was always preaching
against it； and now that he has become reasonable； I can't have papa
set against it againbesides； he would mind you more。〃
Dr。 Spencer promised to do nothing but what was quite reasonable。
Ethel believed that he accompanied her merely because his gallantry
would not suf