tter have waited tranquilly, but this would not
suit her impatience, and she ran up to Margaret's room. There she found
a great display of ivy leaves, which Norman, who had been turning
half the shops in the town upside down in search of materials, was
instructing her to imitate in leather-work--a regular mania with him,
and apparently the same with Margaret.

In came Ethel. "Oh, Margaret, will you look at these 'First Truths?' Do
you think they would be easy enough? Shall I take some of the Parables
and Miracles at once, or content myself with the book about 'Jane
Sparks?'"

"There's some very easy reading in 'Jane Sparks', isn't there? I would
not make the little books from the New Testament too common."

"Take care, that leaf has five points," said Norman.

"Shall I bring you up 'Jane Sparks' to see? Because then you can judge,"
said Ethel.

"There, Norman, is that right?--what a beauty! I should like to look
over them by-and-by, dear Ethel, very much."

Ethel gazed and went away, more put out than was usual with her. "When
Margaret has a new kind of fancy work," she thought, "she cares for
nothing else! as if my poor children did not signify more than trumpery
leather leaves!" She next met Flora.

"Oh, Flora, see here, what a famous parcel of books Mr. Wilmot has sent
us to choose from."

"All those!" said Flora, turning them over as they lay heaped on the
drawing-room sofa; "what a confusion!"

"See, such a parcel of reading books. I want to know what you think of
setting them up with 'Jane Sparks', as it is week-day teaching."

"You will be very tired of hearing those spelled over for ever; they
have some nicer books at the national school."

"What is the name of them? Do you see any of them here?"

"No, I don't think I do, but I can't wait to look now. I must write some
letters. You had better put them together a little. If you were to sort
them, you would know what is there. Now, what a mess they are in."

Ethel could not deny it, and began to deal them out in piles, looking
somewhat more fitting, but still felt neglected and aggrieved, at no one
being at leisure but Harry, who was not likely to be of any use to her.

Presently she heard the study door open, and hoped; but though it was
Richard who entered the room, he was followed by Tom, and each held
various books that boded little good to her. Miss Winter had, much
to her own satisfaction, been relieved from the charge of Tom, whose
lessons