successful with Miss Winter, who gravely said it was no wonder since
Blanche's elder sister had been setting her the example of
forwardness in coming down in this way after Mr. Ernescliffe. Ethel
was very angry, and was only prevented from vindicating herself by
remembering there was no peacemaker now, and that she had resolved
only to think of Miss Winter's late kindness, and bear with her
tiresome ways.

Etheldred thought herself too sorrowful to be liable to her usual
faults which would seem so much worse now; but she found herself more
irritable than usual, and doubly heedless, because her mind was
preoccupied. She hated herself, and suffered more from sorrow than
even at the first moment, for now she felt what it was to have no one
to tame her, no eye over her; she found herself going a tort et a
travers all the morning, and with no one to set her right. Since it
was so the first day, what would follow?

Mary was on the contrary so far subdued, as to be exemplary in
goodness and diligence, and Blanche was always steady. Flora was too
busy to think of the school-room, for the whole house was on her
hands, besides the charge of Margaret, while Dr. May went to the
hospital, and to sundry patients, and they thought he seemed the
better for the occupation, as well as gratified and affected by the
sympathy he everywhere met with from high and low.

The boys were at school, unseen except when at the dinner play-hour
Norman ran home to ask after his father and sister; but the most
trying time was at eight in the evening, when they came home. That
was wont to be the merriest part of the whole day, the whole family
collected, papa at leisure and ready for talk or for play, mamma