s well as the other children, rags and dirt could not be
allowed; and then she brought up the old story of Miss Boulder's pencil,
though she has found it again, and ended by saying Fanny Anderson told
her it was a serious annoyance to the teachers, and she was sure we
should agree with her, that something was due to voluntary assistants
and subscribers."

"I am afraid there has been a regular set at them," said Margaret, "and
perhaps they are troublesome, poor things."

"As if school-keeping were for luxury!" said Dr. May. "It is the worst
thing I have heard of Mrs. Ledwich yet! One's blood boils to think of
those poor children being cast off because our fine young ladies are
too grand to teach them! The clergyman leaving his work to a set of
conceited women, and they turning their backs on ignorance, when it
comes to their door! Voluntary subscribers, indeed! I've a great mind
I'll be one no longer."

"Oh, papa, that would not be fair--" began Ethel; but Margaret knew he
would not act on this, squeezed her hand, and silenced her.

"One thing I've said, and I'll hold to it," continued Dr. May; "if they
outvote Wilmot again in your Ladies' Committee, I'll have no more to do
with them, as sure as my name's Dick May. It is a scandal the way things
are done here!"

"Papa," said Richard, who had all the time been standing silent, "Ethel
and I have been thinking, if you approved, whether we could not do
something towards teaching the Cocksmoor children, and breaking them in
for the Sunday-school."

What a bound Ethel's heart gave, and how full of congratulation and
sympathy was the pressure of Margaret's hand!

"What did you think of doing?" said the doctor. Ethel burned to reply,
but her sister's hand admonished her to remember her compact. Richard
answered, "We thought of trying to get a room, and going perhaps once or
twice a week to give them a little teaching. It would be little enough,
but it might do something towards civilising them, and making them wish
for more."

"How do you propose to get a room?"

"I have reconnoitred, and I think I know a cottage with a tolerable
kitchen, which I dare say we might hire for an afternoon for sixpence."

Ethel, unable to bear it any longer, threw herself forward, and sitting
on the ground at her father's feet, exclaimed, "Oh, papa! papa! do say
we may!"

"What's all this about?" said the doctor, surprised.

"Oh! you don't know how I have thought of it day and night t