r, besides being my own dear
Peg-top! You are very lucky to miss the mealtimes and the evenings."

"That is the reason I don't feel it wrong to like to have papa sitting
with me all the evening," said Margaret, "though it may make it worse
for you to have him away. I don't think it selfish in me to keep him. He
wants quiet so much, or to talk a little when it suits him; we are too
many now, when he is tired."

"Oh, it is best," said Ethel. "Nothing that you do is selfish--don't
talk of it, dear Margaret. It will be something like old times when you
come down again."

"But all this time you are not telling me what I want so much to hear,"
said Margaret, "about Cocksmoor. I am so glad Richard has taken it up."

"That he has. We are to go every Friday, and hire a room, and teach the
children. Once a week will do a great deal, if we can but make them wish
to learn. It is a much better plan than mine; for if they care about it,
they can come to school here on Sunday."

"It is excellent," said Margaret, "and if he is at home till Easter, it
will give it a start, and put you in the way of it, and get you through
the short days and dark evenings, when you could not so well walk home
without him."

"Yes, and then we can all teach; Flora, and Mary, and you, when you
are well again. Richard says it will be disagreeable, but I don't think
so--they are such unsophisticated people. That Granny Hall is such a
funny old woman; and the whole place wants nothing but a little care, to
do very well."

"You must prepare for disappointments, dear Ethel."

"I know; I know nothing is done without drawbacks; but I am so glad to
make some beginning."

"So am I. Do you know, mamma and I were one day talking over those kind
of things, and she said she had always regretted that she had so many
duties at home, that she could not attend as much to the poor as she
would like; but she hoped now we girls were growing up, we should be
able to do more.

"Did she?" was all Ethel said, but she was deeply gratified.

"I've been wanting to tell you. I knew you would like to hear it. It
seems to set us to work so happily."

"I only wish we could begin," said Ethel, "but Richard is so slow! Of
course we can't act without papa's consent and Mr. Wilmot's help, and he
says papa must not be worried about it, he must watch for his own time
to speak about it."

"Yes" said Margaret.

"I know--I would not have it otherwise; but what is tiresome is thi