did　not　like　me　to　use　them；〃　she　said；　in　a　low　voice。
  Thus　they　talked　till　they　arrived　at　Cocksmoor；　where　poor　Mrs。
  Taylor；　inspirited　by　better　reports　of　her　husband　and　the　hopes　for
  her　daughter；　was　like　another　woman。　　Richard　was　very　careful　not
  to　raise　false　expectations；　saying　it　all　depended　on　Miss　May　and
  nurse；　and　what　they　thought　of　her　strength　and　steadiness；　but
  these　cautions　did　not　seem　capable　of　damping　the　hopes　of　the
  smooth…haired　Lucy；　who　stood　smiling　and　curtseying。　　The　twins　were
  grown　and　improved；　and　Ethel　supposed　they　would　be　brought　to
  church　on　the　next　christening　Sunday；　but　their　mother　looked
  helpless　and　hopeless　about　getting　them　so　far；　and　how　was　she　to
  get　gossips？　　Ethel　began　to　grow　very　indignant；　but　she　was　always
  shy　of　finding　fault　with　poor　people　to　their　faces　when　she　would
  not　have　done　so　to　persons　in　her　own　station；　and　so　she　was
  silent；　while　Richard　hoped　they　would　be　able　to　manage；　and　said　it
  would　be　better　not　to　wait　another　month　for　still　worse　weather　and
  shorter　days。
  As　they　were　coming　out　of　the　house；　a　big；　rough…looking；
  uncivilised　boy　came　up　before　them；　and　called　out；　〃I　sayben't
  you　the　young　doctor　up　at　Stoneborough？〃
  〃I　am　Dr。　May's　son；〃　said　Richard；　while　Ethel；　startled；　clung　to
  his　arm；　in　dread　of　some　rudeness。
  Granny's　bad；〃　said　the　boy；　proceeding　without　further　explanation
  to　lead　the　way　to　another　hovel；　though　Richard　tried　to　explain
  that　the　knowledge　of　medicine　was　not　in　his　case　heredity。　　A　poor
  old　woman　sat　groaning　over　the　fire；　and　two　children　crouched；
  half…clothed；　on　the　bare　floor。
  Richard's　gentle　voice　and　kind　manner　drew　forth　some　wonderful
  descriptions〃her　head　was　all　of　a　goggle；　her　legs　all　of　a　fur；
  she　felt　as　if　some　one　was　cutting　right　through　her。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　Richard　kindly；　〃I　am　no　doctor　myself；　but　I'll　ask　my
  father　about　you；　and　perhaps　he　can　give　you　an　order　for　the
  hospital。〃
  〃No；　no；　thank　ye；　sir；　I　can't　go　to　the　hospital；　I　can't　leave
  these　poor　children；　they've　no　father　nor　mother；　sir；　and　no　one　to
  do　for　them　but　me。〃
  〃What　do　you　live　on；　then？〃　said　Richard；　looking　round　the　desolate
  hut。
  〃On　Sam's　wages；　sir；　that's　that　boy。　　He　is　a　good　boy　to　me；　sir；
  and　his　little　sisters；　he　brings　it；　all　he　gets；　home　to　me；
  rig'lar；　but　'tis　but　six　shillings　a　week；　and　they　makes　'em　take
  half　of　it　out　in　goods　and　beer；　which　is　a　bad　thing　for　a　boy　like
  him；　sir。〃
  〃How　old　are　you；　Sam？〃
  Sam　scratched　his　head；　and　answered　nothing。　　His　grandmother　knew
  he　was　the　age　of　her　black　bonnet；　and　as　he　looked　about　fifteen；
  Ethel　honoured　him　and　the　bonnet　accordingly；　while　Richard　said　he
  must　be　very　glad　to　be　able　to　maintain　them　all；　at　his　age；　and；
  promising　to　try　to　bring　his　father　that　way；　since　prescribing　at
  second　hand　for　such　curious　symptoms　was　more　than　could　be
  expected；　he　took　his　leave。
  〃A　wretched　place；〃　said　Richard；　looking　round。　〃I　don't　know　what
  help　there　is　for　the　people。　　There's　no　one　to　do　any　thing　for
  them；　and　it　is　of　no　use　to　tell　them　to　come　to　church　when　it　it
  so　far　off；　and　there　is　so　little　room　for　them。〃
  〃It　is　miserable；〃　said　Ethel；　and　all　her　thoughts　during　her　last
  walk　thither　began　to　rush　over　her　again；　not　effaced；　but　rather
  burned　in；　by　all　that　had　subsequently　happened。　　She　had　said　it
  should　be　her　aim　and　effort　to　make　Cocksmoor　a　Christian　place。
  Such　a　resolve　must　not　pass　away　lightly；　she　knew　it　must　be　acted
  on；　but　how？　　What　would　her　present　meansone　sovereigneffect？
  Her　fancies；　rich　and　rare；　had　nearly　been　forgotten　of　late；　but
  she　might　make　them　of　use　in　timein　time；　and　here　were　hives　of
  children　growing　up　in　heathenism。　　Suddenly　an　idea　struck　her
  Richard；　when　at　home；　was　a　very　diligent　teacher　in　the　Sunday…
  school　at　Stoneborough；　though　it　was　a　thankless　task；　and　he　was
  the　only　gentleman　so　engaged；　except　the　two　clergymenthe　other
  male　teachers　being　a　formal；　grave；　little　baker；　and　one　or　two
  monitors。
  〃Richard；〃　said　Ethel；　〃I'll　tell　you　what。　　Suppose　we　were　to　get
  up　a　Sunday…school　at　Cocksmoor。　　We　could　get　a　room；　and　walk　there
  every　Sunday　afternoon；　and　go　to　church　in　the　evening　instead。〃
  He　was　so　confounded　by　the　suddenness　of　the　project；　that　he　did
  not　answer；　till　she　had　time　for　several　exclamations　and　〃Well；
  Richard？〃
  〃I　cannot　tell；〃　he　said。　　〃Going　to　church　in　the　evening　would
  interfere　with　tea…timeput　out　all　the　housemake　the　evening
  uncomfortable。〃
  〃The　evenings　are　horrid　now；　especially　Sundays；〃　said　Ethel。
  〃But　missing　two　more　would　make　them　worse　for　the　others。〃
  〃Papa　is　always　with　Margaret；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃We　are　of　no　use　to
  him。　　Besides　these　poor　childrenare　not　they　of　more　importance？〃
  〃And；　then；　what　is　to　become　of　Stoneborough　school？　〃
  〃I　hate　it；〃　exclaimed　Ethel；　then　seeing　Richard　shocked；　and
  finding　she　had　spoken　more　vehemently　than　she　intended〃It　is　not
  as　bad　for　you　among　the　boys；　but；　while　that　committee　goes　on　it
  is　not　the　least　use　to　try　to　teach　the　girls　right。　　Oh！　the　fusses
  about　the　books；　and　one's　way　of　teaching！　　And　fancy　how　Mrs
  Ledwich　used　us。　　You　know　I　went　again　last　Sunday；　for　the　first
  time；　and　there　I　found　that　class　of　Margaret's；　that　she　had　just
  managed　to　get　into　some　degree　of　nice　order；　taken　so　much　pains
  with；　taught　so　well。　　She　had　been　telling　me　what　to　hear　them
  there　it　is　given　away　to　Fanny　Anderson；　who　is　no　more　fit　to　teach
  than　that　stick；　and　all　Margaret's　work　will　be　undone。　　No　notice
  to　usnot　even　the　civility　to　wait　and　see　when　she　gets　better。〃
  〃If　we　left　them　now　for　Cocksmoor；　would　it　not　look　as　it　we　were
  affronted？〃
  Ethel　was　slightly　taken　aback；　but　only　said；　〃Papa　would　be　very
  angry　if　he　knew　it。〃
  〃I　am　glad　you　did　not　tell　him；〃　said　Richard。
  〃I　thought　it　would　only　tease　him；〃　said　Ethel；　〃and　that　he　might
  call　it　a　petty　female　squabble；　and　when　Margaret　is　well；　it　will
  come　right；　if　Fanny　Anderson　has　not　spoiled　the　girls　in　the
  meantime。　　It　is　all　Mrs。　Ledwich's　doing。　　How　I　did　hate　it　when
  every　one　came　up　and　shook　hands　with　me；　and　asked　after　Margaret
  and　papa；　only　just　out　of　curiosity！〃
  〃Hush；　hush；　Ethel；　what's　the　use　of　thinking　such　things？〃
  A　silence；then　she　exclaimed；　〃But；　indeed；　Richard；　you　don't
  fancy　that　I　want　to　teach　at　Cocksmoor；　because　it　is　disagreeable
  at　Stoneborough？〃
  〃No；　indeed。〃
  The　rendering　of　full　justice　conveyed　in　his　tone　so　opened　Ethel's
  heart　that　she　went　on　eagerly：〃The　history　of　it　is　this。　　Last
  time　we　walked　here；　that　day；　I　said；　and　I　meant　it；　that　I　would
  never　put　it　out　of　my　head；　I　would　go　on　doing　and　striving；　and
  trying；　till　this　place　was　properly　cared　for；　and　has　a　church　and
  a　clergyman。　　I　believe　it　was　a　vow；　Richard；　I　do　believe　it　was；
  and　if　one　makes　one；　one　must　keep　it。　　There　it　is。　　So；　I　can't
  give　money；　I　have　but　one　pound　in　the　world；　but　I　have　time；　and　I
  would　make　that　useful；　if　you　would　help　me。〃
  〃I　don't　see　how；〃　was　the　answer；　and　there　was　a　fragment　of　a
  smile　on　Richard's　face；　as　if　it　struck　him　as　a　wild　scheme；　that
  Ethel　should　undertake；　single　handed；　to　evangelise　Cocksmoor。
  It　was　such　a　damper　as　to　be　most　mortifying　to　an　enthusiastic
  girl；　and　she　drew　into　herself　in　a　moment。
  They　walked　home　in　silence；　and　when　Richard　warned　her　that　she　was
  not　keeping　her　dress　out　of　the　dirt；　it　sounded　like　a　sarcasm　on
  her　projects；　and；　with　a　slightly　pettish　manner；　she　raised　the
  unfortunate　skirt；　its　crape　trimmings　greatly　bespattered　with　ruddy
  mud。　　Then　recollecting　how　mamma　would　have　shaken　her　head　at　that
  very　thing；　she　regretted　the　temper　she　had　betrayed；　and　in　a
  larmoyante　voice；　sighed；　〃I　wish　I　could　pick　my　way　better。　　Some
  people　have　the　gift；　you　have　hardly　a　splash；　and　I'm　up　to　the
  ankles　in　mud。〃
  〃It　is　only　taking　care；〃　said　Richard；　〃besides　your　frock　is　so
  long；　and　full。　　Can't　you　tuck　it　up　and　pin　it？〃
  〃My　pins　always　come　out；〃　said　Ethel；　disconsolately；　crumpling　the
  black　folds　into　one　hand；　while　she　hunted　for　a　pin　with　the　other。
  〃No　wonder；　if　you　stick　them　in　that　way；〃　said　Richard。　　〃Oh！
  you'll　tear　that　crape。　　Here；　let　me　help　you。　　Don't　you　see；　make
  it　go　in　and　out；　that　way；　give　it　something　to　pull　against。〃
  Ethel　laughed。　　〃That's　the　third　thing　you　have　taught　meto　thread
  a　needle；　tie　a　bow；　and　stick　in　a　pin！　　I　never　could　learn　those
  things　of　any　one　else；　they　show；　but　don't　explain　the　theory。〃
  They　met　Dr。　May　at　the　entrance　of　the　town；　very　tired；　and　saying
  he　had　been　a　long　tramp；　all　over　the　place；　and　Mrs。　Hoxton　had
  been　boring　him　with　her　fancies。　　As　he　took　Richard's　arm　he　gave
  the　long　heavy　sigh　that　always　fell　so　painfully　on　Ethel's　ear。
  〃Dear；　dear；　dear　papa！〃　thought　she；　〃my　work　must　also　be　to　do　all
  I　can　to　comfort　him。〃
  Her　reflections　were　broken　off。　　Dr。　May　exclaimed；　〃Ethel；　don't
  make　such　a　figure　of　yourself。　　Those　muddy　ankles　and　pettic