MISTRESS AND MAID .  A Household Story .  BY  MISS MULOCH , AUTHOR OF " JOHN HALIFAX , GENTLEMAN , " " OLIVE , " " THE OGILVIES , " " THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY , " " NOTHING NEW , " " AGATHA 'SHUSBAND , " etc , , +c .  RICHMOND : WEST + JOHNSTON , PUBLISHERS .  1864. Printed at the Lynchburg " Virginian " Book and Job Office .  CHAPTER I .  She was a rather tall , awkward , and strongly-built girl of about fifteen .  This was the first impression the " maid " gave to her " mistresses , " the Misses Leaf , when she entered their kitchen , accompanied by her mother , a widow and washer-woman , by name Mrs. Hand .  I must confess , when they saw the damsel , the ladies felt a certain twinge of doubt as to whether they had not been rash in offering to take her ; whether it would not have been wiser to have gone on in their old way — now , alas !  grown into a very old way , so as almost to make them forget they had ever had any other — and done without a servant still .  Many consultations had the three sisters held before such a revolutionary extravagance was determined on .  But Miss Leaf was beginning both to look and to feel " not so young as she had been ; " Miss Selina ditto ; though , being still under forty , she would not have acknowledged it for the world .  And Miss Hilary young , bright , and active as she was , could by no possibility do every thing that was to be done in the little establishment : be , for instance , in three places at once — in the school-room , teaching little boys and girls , in the kitchen cooking dinner , and in the rooms up stairs busy at house-maid 'swork .  Besides , much of her time was spent in waiting upon " poor Selina , " who frequently was , or fancied her self , too ill to take any part in either the school or house duties .  Though , the thing being inevitable , she said little about it , Miss Leaf 'sheart was often sore to see Hilary 'spretty hands smeared with blacking of grates , and roughened with scouring of floors .  To herself this sort of thing had become natural — but Hilary !  All the time of Hilary 'schildhood , the youngest of the family had of course , been spared all house-work ; and afterward her studies had left no time for it .  For she was a clever girl , with a genuine love of knowledge Latin , Greek , and even the higher branches of arithmetic and mathematics , were not beyond her range ; and this she found much more interesting than washing dishes or sweeping floors .  True , she always did whatever domestic duty she was told to do ; but her bent was not in the household line .  She had only lately learned to " see dust , " to make a pudding , to iron a shirt ; and , moreover , to reflect , as she woke up to the knowledge of how these things should be done , and how necessary they were , what must have been her eldest sister 'slot during all these twenty years !  What pains , what weariness , what eternal toil must Johanna have silently endured in order to do all those things which till now had seemed to do themselves !  Therefore , after much cogitation as to the best and most prudent way to amend matters , and perceiving with her clear common sense that , willing as she might be to work in the kitchen , her own time would be much more valuably spent in teaching their growing school .  It was Hilary who these Christmas holidays , first started the bold idea , " We must have a servant ; " and therefore , it being necessary to begin with a very small servant on very low wages , ( Ł3 per annum was , I fear the maximum ) , did they take this Elizabeth Hand .  So , hanging behind her parent , an anxious-eyed , and rather sad-voiced woman , did Elizabeth enter the kitchen of the Misses Leaf .  The ladies were all there .  Johanna arranging the table for their early tea : Selina lying on the sofa trying to cut bread and butter : Hilary on her knees before the fire , making the bit of toast , her eldest sister 'sone luxury .  This was the picture that her three mistresses presented to Elizabeth 'seyes : which , though they seemed to notice nothing , must , in reality , have noticed every thing .  " I 'vebrought my daughter , ma'am , as you sent word you 'dtake on trial , " said Mrs. Hand , addressing herself to Selina , who , as the tallest , the best dressed , and the most imposing , was usually regarded by strangers as the head of the family .  " Oh .  Joanna , my dear .  "  Miss Leaf came forward , rather uncertainly , for she was of a shy nature , and had been so long accustomed to do the servant 'swork of the household , that she felt quite awkward in the character of mistress .  Instinctively she hid her poor hands , that would at once have betrayed her to the sharp eyes of the working-woman , and then , ashamed of her momentary false pride , laid them outside her apron and sat down .  " Will you take a chair , Mrs. Hand ?  My sister told you .  I believe all our requirements We only want a good , intelligent girl .  We are willing to teach her every thing .  "  " Thank you , kindly ; and I be willing and glad for her to learn , ma'am , " replied the mother , her sharp and rather free tone subdued in spite of herself by the gentle voice of Miss Leaf .  Of course , living in the same country town , she knew all about the three school-mistresses , and how till now they had kept no servant .  " It 'sher first place , and her 'llbe awk'ard at first , most like .  Hold up your head , Lizabeth .  "  " Is her name Elizabeth ?  "  " Far too long and too fine , " observed Selina from the sofa .  " Call her Betty .  "  " Any thing you please , Miss ; but I call her Lizabeth .  It wor my young missis 'name in my first place , and I never had a second .  "  " We will call her Elizabeth , " said Miss Leaf , with the gentle decision she could use on occasion .  There was a little more discussion between the mother and the future mistress as to holidays , Sundays , and so on , during which time the new servant stood silent and impassive in the door-way between the back kitchen and the kitchen , or , as it is called in those regions , the house-place .  As before said , Elizabeth was by no means , a personable girl , and her clothes did not set her off to advantage .  Her cotton frock hung in straight lines down to her ankles , displaying her clumsily shod feet and woolen stockings ; above it was a pinafore — a regular child 'spinafore , of the cheap , strong , blue-speckled print which in those days was generally worn .  A little shabby shawl , pinned at the throat , and pinned very carelessly and crookedly , with an old black bonnet , much too small for her large head and her quantities of ill kept hair , completed the costume .  It did not impress favorably a lady who , being , or rather having been very handsome herself , was as much alive to appearances as the second Miss Leaf .  She made several rather depreciatory observations , and insisted strongly that the new servant should only be taken " on trial , " with no obligation to keep her a day longer than they wished .  Her feeling on the matter communicated itself to Johanna , who closed the negotiation with Mrs. Hand , by saying .  " Well , let us hope your daughter will suit us .  We will give her a fair chance at all events .  "  " Which is all I can ax for , Miss Leaf .  Her bea n't much to look at , but her 'swillin 'sharp , and her 'snever told me a lie in her life .  Courtesy to thy missis , and say thee'lt do thy best , Lizabeth .  "  Pulled forward Elizabeth did courtesy , but she never offered to speak .  And Miss Leaf , feeling that for all parties the interview had better be shortened , rose from her chair .  Mrs. Hand took the hint and departed , saying only , " Good-by , Lizabeth , " with a nod , half-encouraging , half-admonitory , which Elizabeth silently returned .  That was all the parting between mother and daughter ; they neither kissed nor shook hands , which undemonstrative farewell somewhat surprised Hilary .  Now , Miss Hilary Leaf had all this while gone on toasting .  Luckily for her bread the fire was low and black ; meantime , from behind her long drooping curls ( which Johanna would not let her " turn up , " though she was twenty ) , she was making her observations on the new servant .  It might be that , possessing more head than the one and more heart than the other , Hilary was gifted with deeper perception of character than either of her sisters , but certainly her expression , as she watched Elizabeth , was rather amused and kindly that dissatisfied .  " Now , girl , take off your bonnet , " said Selina , to whom Johanna had silently appealed in her perplexity as to the next proceeding with regard to the new member of the household .  Elizabeth obeyed , and then stood , irresolute , awkward , and wretched to the last degree , at the furthest end of the house-place .  " Shall I show you where to hang up your things ?  " said Hilary , speaking for the first time ; and at the new voice , so quick , cheerful , and pleasant , Elizabeth visibly started .  Miss Hilary rose from her knees , crossed the kitchen , took from the girl 'sunresisting hands the old black bonnet and shawl , and hung them up carefully on a nail behind the great eight-day clock .  It was a simple action , done quite without intention , and accepted without acknowledgment , except one quick glance of that keen , yet soft grey eye ; but years and years after Elizabeth reminded Hilary of it .  And now Elizabeth stood forth in her own proper likeness , unconcealed by bonnet or shawl , or maternal protection .  The pinafore scarcely covered her gaunt neck and long arms ; that tremendous head of rough , dusky hair was evidently for the first time gathered into a comb .  Thence elf locks escaped in all directions , and were forever being pushed behind her ears , or rubbed ( not smoothed ; there was nothing smooth about her ) back from her forehead , which , Hilary noticed , was low , broad , and full .  The rest of her face , except the before-mentioned eyes was absolutely and undeniably plain .  Her figure , so far as the pinafore exhibited it , was undeveloped and ungainly , the chest being contracted and the shoulders rounded , as if with carrying children or other weights while still a growing girl .  In fact , nature and circumstances had apparently united in dealing unkindly with Elizabeth Hand .  Still here she was ; and what was to be done with her ?  Having sent her with the small burden , which was apparently all her luggage , to the little room — formerly a box-closet — where she was to sleep , the Misses Leaf — or as facetious neighbors called them , the Miss Leaves — took serious counsel together over their tea .  Tea itself suggested the first difficulty .  They were always in the habit of taking that meal , and indeed every other , in the kitchen .  It saved time , trouble , and fire , besides leaving the parlor always tidy for callers , chiefly pupils 'parents , and preventing these latter from discovering that the three orphan daughters of Henry Leaf , Esq. , solicitor , and sisters of Henry Leaf , Junior , Esq. , also solicitor , but whose sole mission in life seemed to have been to spend every thing , make every body miserably , marry , and die , that these three ladies did always wait upon themselves at meal-time , and did sometimes breakfast without butter , and dine without meat .  Now this system would not do any longer .  " Besides , there is no need for it , " said Hilary , cheerfully .  " I am sure we can well afford both to keep and to feed a servant , and to have a fire in the parlor every day .  Why not take our meals there , and sit there regularly of evenings ?  "  " We must , " added Selina , decidedly .  " For my part , I could n't eat , or sew , or do any thing with that great hulking girl sitting starting opposite , or standing ; for how could we ask her to sit with us ?  Already , what must she have thought of us — people who take tea in the kitchen ?  "  " I do not think that matters , " said the eldest sister , gently , after a moment 'ssilence .  " Every body in the town knows who and what we are , or might , if they chose to inquire .  We cannot conceal our poverty if we tried ; and I do n't think any body looks down upon us for it .  Not even since we began to keep school , which you thought was such a terrible thing , Selina .  "  " And it was .  I have never reconciled myself to teaching the baker 'stwo boys and the grocer 'slittle girl .  You were wrong , Johanna , you ought to have drawn the line somewhere , and it ought to have excluded trades-people .  "  " Beggars can not be choosers , " began Hilary .  " Beggars !  " echoed Selina .  " No , my dear , we were never that , " said Miss Leaf , interposing against one of the sudden storms that were often breaking out between these two .  " You know well we have never begged or borrowed from any body , and hardly ever been indebted to any body , except for the extra lessons that Mr. Lyon would insist upon giving to Ascott at home .  "  Here Johanna suddenly stopped , and Hilary , with a slight color rising in her face , said —  " I think , sisters , we are forgetting that the staircase is quite open , and though I am sure she has an honest look and not that of a listener , still Elizabeth might hear .  Shall I call her down stairs , and tell her to light a fire in the parlor ?  "  While she is doing it , and in spite of Selina 'sforebodings to the contrary , the small maiden did it quickly and well , especially after a hint or two from Hilary — let me take the opportunity of making a little picture of this same Hilary .  Little it should be , for she was a decidedly little woman : small altogether , hands , feet , and figure being in satisfactory proportion .  Her movements , like those of most little women , were light and quick rather than elegant ; yet every thing she did was done with a neatness and delicacy which gave an involuntary sense of grace and harmony .  She was , in brief , one of those people who are best described by the word " harmonious ; " people who never set your teeth on edge , or rub you up the wrong way , as very excellent people occasionally do .  Yet she was not over-meek or unpleasantly amiable ; there was a liveliness and even briskness about her , as if the every day wine of her life had a spice of Champagniness , not frothiness but natural effervescence of spirit , meant to " cheer but not inebriate " a household .  And in her own household this gift was most displayed .  No centre of a brilliant , admiring circle could be more charming , more witty , more irresistibly amusing than was Hilary sitting by the kitchen fire , with the cat on her knee , between her two sisters , and the school-boy Ascott Leaf , their nephew — which four individuals , the cat being not the least important of them , constituted the family .  In the family , Hilary shone supreme .  All recognized her as the light of the house , and so she had been , ever since she was born , ever since her  " Dying mother mild , Said , with accents undefiled , ' Child , be mother to this child .  ' "  It was said to Johanna Leaf — who was not Mrs. Leaf 'sown child .  But the good step-mother , who had once taken the little motherless girl to her bosom , and never since made the slightest difference between her and her own children , knew well whom she was trusting .  From that solemn hour , in the middle of the night , when she lifted the hour-old baby out of its dead mother 'sbed into her own , it became Johanna 'sone object in life .  Through a sickly infancy , for it was a child born amidst trouble , her sole hands washed , dressed , fed it ; night and day it " lay in her bosom , and was unto her as a daughter .  "  She was then just thirty : not too old to look forward to woman 'snatural destiny , a husband and children of her own .  But years slipped by , and she was Miss Leaf still .  What matter !  Hilary was her daughter .  Johanna 'spride in her knew no bounds .  Not that she showed it much ; indeed she deemed it a sacred duty not to show it ; but to make believe her " child " was just like other children .  But she was not .  Nobody ever thought she was — even in externals .  — Fate gave her all those gifts which are sometimes sent to make up for the lack of worldly prosperity .  Her brown eyes were as soft a doves 'eyes , yet could dance with fun and mischief if they chose ; her hair , brown also , with a dark-red shade in it , crisped itself in two wavy lines over her forehead , and then turn bled down in two glorious masses , which Johanna , ignorant , alas !  of art , called very " untidy , " and labored in vain to quell under combs , or to arrange in proper , regular curls Her features — well , they too , were good ; better than those unartistic people had any idea of — better even than Selina 's, who in her youth had been the belle of the town .  But whether artistically correct or not , Johanna , though she would on no account have acknowledged it , believed solemnly that there was not such a face in the whole world as little Hillary 's.  Possibly a similar idea dawned upon the apparently dull mind of Elizabeth Hand , for she watched her youngest mistress intently , from kitchen to parlor , and from parlor back to kitchen ; and once when Miss Hilary stood giving information as to the proper abode of broom , bellows , etc. , the little maid gazed at her with such admiring observation that the scuttle she carried was titled , and the coals were strewn all over the kitchen floor .  At which catastrophe Miss Leaf looked miserable .  Miss Selina spoke crossly , and Ascott , who just then came in to his tea , late as usual , burst into a shut of laughter .  It was as much as Hilary could do to help laughing herself , she being too near her nephew 'sown age always to maintain a dignified aunt-like attitude , but nevertheless , when , having disposed of her sisters in the parlor , she coaxed Ascott into the school-room , and insisted upon his Latin being done — she helping him , Aunt Hilary scolded him well , and bound him over to keep the peace toward the new servant .  " But she is such a queer one .  Exactly like a South Sea Islander .  When she stood with her grim , stolid countenance , contemplating the coals oh , Aunt Hilary , how killing she was !  "  And the regular , rollicking , irresistible boy-laugh broke out again .  " She will be great fun .  Is she really to stay ?  "  " I hope so , " said Hilary , trying to be grave .  " I hope never again to see Aunt Johanna cleaning the stairs , and getting up to light the kitchen fire of winter mornings , as she will do if we have not a servant to do it for her .  Do n't you see , Ascott ?  "  " Oh , I see , " answered the boy , carelessly , " But do n't bother me , please .  Domestic affairs are for women , not men .  "  Ascott was eighteen , and just about to pass out of his caterpillar state as a doctor 'sapprentice-lad into the chrysalis condition of a medical student in London .  " But , " with sudden reflection , " I hope she wo n't be in my way .  Do n't let her meddle with any of my books and things .  "  " No ; you need not be afraid .  I have put them all into your room .  I myself cleared your rubbish out of the box closet .  "  " The box-closet !  Now , really , I ca n't stand — "  " She is to sleep in the box-closet ; where else could she sleep ?  " said Hilary , resolutely , though inly quaking a little ; for somehow , the merry , handsome , rather exacting lad bad acquired considerable influence in this household of women .  " You must put up with the loss of your 'den .  ' Ascott ; it would be a great shame if you did not , for the sake of Aunt Johanna and the rest of us .  "  " Um !  " grumbled the boy , who , though he was not a bad fellow at heart , had a boy 'sdislike to " putting up " with the slightest inconvenience .  " Well , it wo n't last long .  I shall be off shortly .  What a jolly life I 'llhave in London , Aunt Hilary !  I 'llsee Mr. Lyon there too .  "  " Yes , " said Aunt Hilary , briefly , returning to Dido and Ćneas ; humble and easy Latinity for a student of eighteen ; but Ascott was not a brilliant boy , and , being apprenticed early , his education had been much neglected , till Mr. Lyon came as usher to the Stowbury grammar-school , and happening to meet and take an interest in him , taught him and his Aunt Hilary Latin , Greek , and mathematics together , of evenings .  I shall make no mysteries here .  Human nature is human nature all the world over .  A tale without love in it would be unnatural , unreal — in fact , a simple lie ; for there are no histories and no lives without love in them : if there could be , Heaven pity and pardon them , for they would be mere abortions of humanity .  Thank Heaven , we , most of us , do not philosophize : we only live .  We like one another , we hardly know why ; we love one another , we still less know why .  If on the day she first saw — in church it was — Mr. Lyon 'sgrave , heavy-browed , somewhat severe face — for he was a Scotsman , and his sharp , strong Scotch features did look " hard " beside the soft , rosy , well conditioned youth of Stowbury — if on that Sunday any one had told Hilary Leaf that the face of this stranger was to be the one face of her life , stamped upon brain and heart , and soul with a vividness that no other impressions were strong enough to efface , and retained there with a tenacity that no vicissitudes of time , or place , or fortunes had power to alter , Hilary would — yes , I think she would — have quietly kept looking on .  She would have accepted her lot , such as it was , with its shine and shade , its joy and its anguish ; it came to her without her seeking , as most of the solemn things in life do ; and whatever it brought with it , it could have come from no other source than that from which all high , and holy , and pure loves ever must come — the will and permission of GOD .  Mr. Lyon himself requires no long description .  In his first visit he had told Miss Leaf all about himself that there was to be known ; that he was , as they were , a poor teacher , who had altogether " made himself , " as so many Scotch students do .  His father , whom he scarcely remembered , had been a small Ayrshire farmer ; his mother was dead , and he had never had either brother or sister .  Seeing how clever Miss Hilary was , and how much as a schoolmistress she would need all the education she could get , he had offered to teach her along with her nephew ; and she and Johanna were only too thankful for the advantage .  But during the teaching he had also taught her another thing , which neither had contemplated at the time — to respect him with her whole soul , and to love him with her whole heart .  Over this simple fact let no more be now said .  Hilary said nothing .  She recognized it herself as soon as he was gone ; a plain , sad , solemn truth , which there was no deceiving herself did not exist , even had she wished its non-existence .  Perhaps Johanna also found it out , in her darling 'sextreme paleness and unusual quietness for a while ; but she too said nothing .  Mr. Lyon wrote regularly to Ascott , and once or twice to her , Miss Leaf ; but though every one knew that Hilary was his particular friend in the whole family , he did not write to Hilary .  He had departed rather suddenly , on account of some plan which he said , affected his future very considerably ; but which , though he was in the habit of telling them his affairs , he did not further explain .  Still Johanna knew he was a good man , and though no man could be quite good enough for her darling , she liked him , she trusted him .  What Hilary felt none knew .  But she was very girlish in some things ; and her life was all before her , full of infinite hope .  By-and-by her color returned , and her merry voice and laugh were heard about the house just as usual .  This being the position of affairs , it was not surprising that after Ascott 'slast speech Hilary 'smind wandered from Dido and Ćneas to vague listening , as the lad began talking of his grand future — the future of a medical student , all expenses being paid by his godfather , Mr. Ascott , the merchant , of Russell Square , once a shop boy of Stowbury .  Nor was it unnatural that all Ascott 'santicipations of London resolved themselves , in his aunt 'seyes , into the one fact that he would " see Mr. Lyon .  "  But in telling thus much about her mistresses , I have for the time being lost sight of Elizabeth Hand .  Left to herself , the girl stood for a minute or two looking around her in a confused manner , then , rousing her faculties , began mechanically to obey the order with which her mistress had quitted the kitchen , and to wash up the tea-things .  She did it in a fashion that , if seen , would have made Miss Leaf thankful that the ware was only the common set , and not the cherished china belonging to former days : still she did it , noisily it is true , but actively , as if her heart were in her work .  Then she took a candle and peered about her new domains .  These were small enough ; at least they would have seemed so to other eyes than Elizabeth 's; for , until the school-room and box-closet above had been kindly added by the landlord , who would have done any thing to show his respect for the Misses Leaf , it had been merely a six-roomed cottage — parlor kitchen , back kitchen , and three upper chambers .  It was a very cozy house notwithstanding , and it seemed to Elizabeth 'seyes a perfect palace .  For several minutes more she stood and contemplated her kitchen , with the fire shining on the round oaken stand in the centre , and the large wooden-bottomed chairs , and the loud-ticking clock , with its tall case , the inside of which , with its pendulum and weights , had been a perpetual mystery and delight , first to Hilary 'sand then to Ascott 'schildhood .  Then there was the sofa , large and ugly , but , oh !  so comfortable , with its faded , flowered chintz , washed and worn for certainly twenty years .  And , overall , Elizabeth 'skeen observation was attracted by a queer machine apparently made of thin rope and bits of wood , which hung up to the hooks on the ceiling — an old-fashioned baby 'sswing .  Finally , her eye dwelt with content on the blue and red diamond tiled floor , so easily swept and mopped , and ( only Elizabeth did not think of that , for her hard childhood had been all work and no play ) so beautiful to whip tops upon !  Hilary and Ascott , condoling together over the new servant , congratulated themselves that their delight in this occupation had somewhat failed , though it was really not so many years ago since one of the former 'spupils , coming suddenly out of the school-room , had caught her in the act of whipping a meditative top round this same kitchen floor .  Meantime Elizabeth penetrated farther , investigating the back kitchen , with its various conveniences ; especially the pantry , every shelf of which was so neatly arranged and beautifully clean .  Apparently this neatness impressed the girl with a sense of novelty and curiosity ; and though she could hardly be said to meditate — her mind was not sufficiently awakened for that — still , as she stood at the kitchen fire , a slight thoughtfulness deepened the expression of her face , and made it less dull and heavy than it had at first appeared .  " I wonder which on ' em does it all .  They must work pretty hard , I reckon ; and two o ' them 'ssuch little uns .  "  She stood a while longer ; for sitting down appeared to be to Elizabeth as new a proceeding as thinking ; then she went up stairs , still literally obeying orders , to shut windows and pull down blinds at nightfall .  The bedrooms were small , and insufficiently , nay , shabbily furnished ; but the floors were spotless — ah !  poor Johanna !  — and the sheets , though patched and darned to the last extremity , were white and whole .  Nothing was dirty , nothing untidy .  There was no attempt at picturesque poverty — for whatever novelists may say , poverty can not be picturesque ; but all things were decent and in order .  The house , poor as it was , gave the impression of belonging to " real ladies ; " ladies who thought no manner of work beneath them , and who , whatever they had to do , took the pains to do it as well as possible .  Mrs. Hand 'sroughly-brought-up daughter had never been in such a house before , and her examination of every new corner of it seemed quite a revelation .  Her own little sleeping nook was fully as tidy and comfortable as the rest , which fact was not lost upon Elizabeth .  That bright look of mingled softness and intelligence — the only thing which beautified her rugged face — came into the girl 'seyes as she " turned down " the truckle-bed , and felt the warm blankets and sheets , new and rather coarse , but neatly sewed .  " Her 'smade ' em hersel ' , I reckon .  La !  " Which of her mistresses the " her " referred to remained unspecified ; but Elizabeth , spurred to action by some new idea , went briskly back into the bedrooms , and looked about to see if there was any thing she could find to do .  At last , with a sudden inspiration , she peered into a wash-stand , and found there an empty ewer .  Taking it in one hand and the candle in the other , she ran down stairs .  Fatal activity !  Hilary 'spet cat , startled from sleep on the kitchen hearth , at the same instant ran wildly up stairs ; there was a start — a stumble — and then down came the candle , the ewer , Elizabeth , and all .  It was an awful crash .  It brought every member of the family to see what was the matter .  " What has the girl broken ?  " cried Selina .  " Where has she hurt herself ?  " anxiously added Johanna .  Hilary said nothing , but ran for a light , and then picked up first the servant , then the candle , and then the fragments of crockery .  " Why , it 'smy ewer , my favorite ewer , and it 'sall smashed to bits , and I never can match it again .  You careless , clumsy , good-for-nothing creature !  "  " Please , Selma , " whispered her eldest sister .  " Very well , Johanna .  You are the mistress , I suppose ; why do n't you speak to your servant ?  "  Miss Leaf , in an humbled , alarmed way , first satisfied herself that no bodily injury had been sustained by Elizabeth , and then asked her how this disaster had happened ?  For a serious disaster she felt it was .  Not only was the present loss annoying , but a servant with a talent for crockery breaking would be a far too expensive luxury for them to think of retaining .  And she had been listening in the solitude of the parlor to a long lecture from her always dissatisfied younger sister , on the great doubts Selina had about Elizabeth 's" suiting .  "  " Come , now , " seeing the girl hesitated , " tell me the plain truth .  How was it ?  "  " It was the cat , " sobbed Elizabeth .  " What a barefaced falsehood .  " exclaimed Selina .  " You wicked girl , how could it possibly be the cat ?  Do you know that you are telling a lie , and that lies are hateful , and that all liars go to — "  " Nonsense , hush !  " interrupted Hilary , rather sharply ; for Selina 's" tongue , " the terror of her childhood , now merely annoyed her .  Selina 'stemper was a long understood household fact — they did not much mind it , knowing that her bark was worse than her bite — but it was provoking that she should exhibit herself so soon before the new servant .  The latter first looked up at the lady with simple surprise ; then , as in spite of the other two , Miss Selina worked herself up into a downright passion , and unlimited abuse fell upon the victim 'sdevoted head , Elizabeth 'smanner changed .  After one dogged repetition of , " It was the cat !  " not another word could be got out of her .  She stood , her eyes fixed on the kitchen floor , her brows knitted , and her under lip pushed out — the very picture of sullenness .  Young as she was , Elizabeth evidently had , like her unfortunate mistress , " a temper of her own " — a spiritual deformity that some people are born with , as others with hare-lip or club-foot ; only , unlike these , it may be conquered , though the battle is long and sore , sometimes ending only with life .  It had plainly never commenced with poor Elizabeth Hand .  Her appearance , as she stood under the flood of sharp words poured out upon her , was absolutely repulsive .  Even Miss Hilary turned away , and began to think it would have been easier to teach all day and do house work half the night , than have the infliction of a servant — to say nothing of the disgrace of seeing Selina 's" peculiarities " so exposed before a stranger .  She knew of old that to stop the torrent was impracticable .  The only chance was to let Selina expend her wrath and retire , and then to take some quiet opportunity of explaining to Elizabeth that sharp language was only " her way , " and must be put up with .  Humiliating as this was , and fatal to domestic authority that the first thing to be taught a new servant was to " put up " with one of her mistresses , still there was no alternative .  — Hilary had already foreboded and made up her mind to such a possibility , but she had hoped it would not occur the very first evening .  It did , however , and its climax was worse even than she anticipated .  Whether , irritated by the intense sullenness of the girl .  Selina 'stemper was worse than usual , or whether , as is always the case with people like her , something else had vexed her , and she vented it upon the first cause of annoyance that occurred , certain it is that her tongue went on unchecked till it failed from sheer exhaustion .  And then , as she flung herself on the sofa — oh , sad mischance !  — she caught sight of her nephew standing at the school-room door , grinning with intense delight , and making faces at her behind her back .  It was too much .  The poor lady had no more words left to scold with ; but she rushed up to Ascott , and big lad as he was , she soundly boxed his ears .  On this terrible climax let the curtain fall .  CHAPTER II .  Common as were the small fends between Ascott and his Aunt Selina , they seldom reached such a catastrophe as that described in my last chapter .  Hilary had to fly to the rescue , and literally drag the furious lad back into the school-room ; while Johanna , pale and trembling , persuaded Selina to quit the field and go and lie down .  This was not difficult ; for the instant she saw what she had done , how she had disgraced herself and insulted her nephew .  Selina felt sorry .  Her passion ended in a gush of " nervous " tears under the influence of which she was led up stairs and put to bed , almost like a child — the usual termination of these pitiful outbreaks .  For the time nobody thought of Elizabeth .  The hapless cause of all stood " spectatress of the fray " beside her kitchen fire .  What she thought history saith not .  Whether in her own rough home she was used to see brothers and sisters quarrelling , and mothers boxing their childrens 'ears , can not be known ; whether she was or was not surprised to see the same proceedings among ladies and gentlemen , she never betrayed , but certain it is that the little servant became uncommonly serious ; yes , serious rather than sulky , for her " black " looks vanished gradually , as soon as Miss Selina left the kitchen .  On the reappearance of Miss Hilary it had quite gone .  But Hilary took no notice of her ; she was in search of Johanna , who , shaking and cold with agitation , came slowly down stairs .  " Is she gone to bed ?  "  " Yes , my dear .  It was the best thing for her ; she is not at all well to-day .  "  Hilary 'slip curled a little , but she replied not a word .  She had not the patience with Selina that Johanna had .  She drew her elder sister into the little parlor , placed her in the arm-chair , shut the door , came and sat beside her , and took her hand .  Johanna pressed it , shed a quiet tear or two , and wiped them away .  Then the two sisters remained silent , with hearts sad and sore .  Every family has its skeleton in the house : this was theirs .  Whether they acknowledged it or not , they knew quite well that every discomfort they had , every slight jar which disturbed the current of household peace , somehow or other originated with " poor Selina .  " They often called her " poor " with a sort of pity — not unneeded .  Heaven knows !  for if the unhappy are to be pitied , ten times more so are those who make others miserable .  This was Selina 'scase , and had been all her life .  And , sometimes , she herself knew it .  Sometimes , after an especially bad outbreak , her compunction and remorse would be almost as terrible as her passion ; forcing her sisters to make every excuse for her ; she " did not mean it , " it was only " ill health , " or " nerves , " or her " unfortunate way of taking things .  "  But they knew in their hearts that not all their poverty and the toils it entailed , not all the hardships and humiliation of their changed estate , were half so bitter to bear as this something — no moral crime , and yet in its results as fatal as crime — which they called Selina 's" way .  "  Ascott was the only one who did not attempt to mince matters .  When a little boy he had openly declared he hated Aunt Salina ; when he grew up he as openly defied her , and it was a most difficult matter to keep even decent peace between them .  Hilary 'swrath had never gone further than wishing Selina was married , that appearing the easiest way of getting rid of her .  Latterly she had ceased this earnest aspiration ; it might be , because , learning to think more seriously of marriage , she felt that a woman who is no blessing in her own household , is never likely much to bless a husband 's; and that , looking still farther forward , it was , on the whole , a mercy of Providence , which made Selina not the mother of children .  Yet her not marrying had been somewhat a surprise ; for she had been attractive in her day , handsome and agreeable in society .  But perhaps , for all that , the sharp eye of the opposite sex had discovered the cloven foot ; since , though she had received various promising attentions , poor Selina had never had an offer .  Nor , fortunately , had she ever been known to care for any body ; she was one of those women who would have married as a matter of course , but who never would have been guilty of the weakness of falling in love .  There seemed small probability of shipping her off , to carry into a new household the restlessness , the fretfulness , the captious fault-finding with others , the readiness to take offence at what was done and said to herself , which made poor Selina Leaf the unacknowledged grief and torment of her own .  Her two sisters sat silent .  What was the use of talking ?  It would be only going ever and over again the old thing ; trying to ease and shift a little the long familiar burden which they knew must be borne .  Nearly every household has , near or remote , some such burden , which Heaven only can lift off or help to bear .  And sometimes , looking round the world outside , these two congratulated themselves , in a half sort of way , that theirs was as light as it was ; that Selina was after all , a well-meaning well-principled woman , and , in spite of her little tempers , really fond of her family , as she truly was , at least as fond as a nature which has its centre in self can manage to be .  Only when Hilary looked , as to-night , into her eldest sister 'spale face , where year by year the lines were deepening , and saw how every agitation such as the present shook her more and more — she who ought to have a quiet life and a cheerful home , after so many hard years — then Hilary , fierce in the resistance of her youth , felt as if what she could have borne for herself she could not bear for Johanna , and at the moment , sympathized with Ascott in actually " hating " Aunt Selina .  " Where is that boy ?  He ought to be spoken to , " Johanna said , at length , rising wearily .  " I have spoken to him ; I gave him a good scolding .  He is sorry , and promises never to be so rude again .  "  " Oh no ; not till the next time , " replied Miss Leaf .  hopelessly .  " But Hilary .  " with a sudden consternation , " what are we to do about Elizabeth ?  "  The younger sister had thought of that .  She had turned over in her mind all the pros and cons , the inevitable " worries " that would result from the presence of an additional member of the family , especially one from whom the family skeleton could not be hid , to whom it was already only too fatally revealed .  But Hilary was a clear headed girl , and she had the rare faculty of seeing things as they really were , undistorted by her own likings or dislikings — in fact , without reference to herself at all .  She perceived plainly that Johanna ought not to do the housework , that Selina would not , and that she could not : ergo , they must keep a servant .  Better , perhaps , a small servant , over whom they could have the same influence as over a child , than one older and more independent , who would irritate her mistresses at home , and chatter of them abroad .  Besides , they had promised Mrs. Hand to give her daughter a fair trial .  For a month , then , Elizabeth was bound to stay ; afterward , time would show .  It was best not to meet troubles half way .  This explained , in Hilary 'scheerful voice , seemed greatly to reassure and comfort her sister .  " Yes , love , you are right ; she must remain her month out , unless she does something very wrong .  Do you think that really was a lie she told ?  "  " About the cat ?  I do n't quite know what to think .  Let us call her , and put the question once more .  Do you put it , Johanna .  I do n't think she could look at you and tell you a story .  "  Other people , at sight of that sweet , grave face , its bloom faded , and hairs silvered long before their time , yet beautiful , with an almost childlike simplicity and childlike peace — most other people would have been of Hilary 'sopinion .  " Sit down ; I 'llcall her .  Dear me , Johanna , we shall have to set up a bell as well as a servant , unless we had managed to combine the two .  "  But Hilary 'sharmless little joke failed to make her sister smile ; and the entrance of the girl seemed to excite positive apprehension .  How was it possible to make excuse to a servant for her mistress 'sshortcomings ?  how scold for ill-doing this young girl , to whom , ere she had been a night in the house , so bad an example had been set ?  Johanna half expected Elizabeth to take a leaf out of Selina 'sbook and begin abusing herself and Hilary .  No : she stood very sheepish , very uncomfortable , but not in the least bold or sulky — on the whole , looking rather penitent and humble .  Her mistress took courage .  " Elizabeth I want you to tell me the truth about that unfortunate breakage .  Do n't be afraid .  I had rather you broke every thing in the house than have told me what was not true .  "  " It was true ; it was the cat .  "  " How could that be possible ?  You were coming down stairs with the ewer in your hand .  "  " Her got under my feet , and throwed me down , and so I tumbled , and smashed the thing agin the floor .  "  The Misses Leaf glanced at each other .  This version of the momentous event was probable enough , and the girl 'seager , honest manner gave internal confirmatory evidence pretty strong .  " I am sure she is telling the truth .  " said Hilary .  " And remember what her mother said about her word being always reliable .  "  This reference was too much for Elizabeth .  She burst out , not into actual crying , but into a smothered choke .  " If you donnot believe me , missus , I 'drather go home to mother .  "  " I do believe you , " said Miss Leaf , kindly then waited till the pinafore , used as a pocket handkerchief , had dried up grief and restored composure .  " I can quite well understand the accident now ; and I am sure if you had put it as plainly at first , my sister would have understood it too .  She was very much annoyed , and no wonder .  She will be equally glad to find she was mistaken .  "  Here Miss Leaf paused , somewhat puzzled how to express what she felt it her duty to say , so as to be comprehended by the servant , and yet not let down the dignity of the family Hilary came to her aid .  " Miss Selina is sometimes hasty ; but she means kindly always .  You must take care not to vex her , Elizabeth ; and you must never answer her back again , however sharply she speaks .  It is not your business ; you are only a child , and she is your mistress .  "  " Is her ?  I thought it was this ' un .  "  The subdued clouding of Elizabeth 'sface , and her blunt pointing to Miss Leaf as " this ' un .  " were too much for Hilary 'sgravity She was obliged to retreat to the press , and begin an imaginary search for a book .  " Yes , I am the eldest , and I suppose you may consider me specially as your mistress , " said Johanna , simply .  "  " Remember always to come to me in any difficulty ; and above all , to tell me every thing outright , as soon as it happens .  I can forgive you almost any fault , if you are truthful and honest ; but there is one thing I never could forgive , and that is deception .  Now go with Miss Hilary , and she will teach you how to make the porridge for supper .  "  Elizabeth obeyed silently ; she had apparently a great gift for silence .  And she was certainly both obedient and willing ; not stupid , either , though a nervousness of temperament which Hilary was surprised to find in so big and coarse-looking a girl , made her rather awkward at first .  However , she succeeded in pouring out and carrying into the parlor , without accident , three platefuls of that excellent condiment which formed the frugal supper of the family ; but which they ate , I grieve to say , in an orthodox southern fashion , with sugar or treacle , until Mr. Lyon — greatly horrified thereby — had instituted his national custom of " supping " porridge with milk .  It may be a very unsentimental thing to confess , but Hilary , who even at twenty was rather practical than poetical , never made the porridge without thinking of Robert Lyon , and the day when he first staid to supper , and ate it , or as he said and was very much laughed at , ate " them " with such infinite relish Since then , whenever he came , he always asked for his porridge , saying it carried him back to his childish days .  And Hilary , with that curious pleasure that women take in waiting upon any one unto whom the heart is ignorantly beginning to own the allegiance , humble yet proud , of Miranda to Ferdinand :  " To be your fellow You may deny me ; but I 'llbe your servant Whether you will or no. "  Hilary always contrived to make his supper herself .  Those pleasant days were now over .  Mr. Lyon was gone .  As she stool alone over the kitchen fire , she thought — as now and then she let herself think for a minute or two in her busy prosaic life — of that August night , standing at the front door , of his last " good-by , " and last hand-clasp , tight , warm , and firm ; and somehow she , like Johanna , trusted in him .  Not exactly in his love ; it seemed almost impossible that he should love her , at least till she grew much more worthy of him than now ; but in himself , that he would never be less himself , less thoroughly good and true than now .  That , some time , he would be sure to come back again , and take up his old relations with them , brightening their dull life with his cheerfulness ; infusing in their feminine household the new element of a clear , strong , energetic , manly will , which sometimes made Johanna say that instead of twenty-five the young man might be forty ; and , above all , bringing into their poverty the silent sympathy of one who had fought his own battle with the world — a hard one , too , as his face sometimes showed — though he never said much about it .  Of the results of this pleasant relation — whether she being the only truly marriageable person in the house .  Robert Lyon intended to marry her , or was expected to do so , or that society would think it a very odd thing if he did not do so — this unsophisticated Hilary never thought at all .  If he had said to her that the present state of things was to go on forever ; she to remain always Hilary Leaf , and he Robert Lyon , the faithful friend of the family , she would have smiled in his face and been perfectly satisfied .  True , she had never had any thing to drive away the smile from that innocent face ; no vague jealousies aroused ; no maddening rumors afloat in the small world that was his and theirs .  Mr. Lyon was grave and sedate in all his ways ; he never paid the slightest attention to , or expressed the slightest interest in , any woman whatsoever .  And so this hapless girl loved , him — just himself ; without the slightest reference to his " connections , " for he had none ; or his " prospects , " which , if he had any , she did not know of .  Alas !  to practical and prudent people I can offer no excuse for her ; except , perhaps what Shakspeare gives in the creation of the poor Miranda .  When the small servant re-entered the kitchen , Hilary , with a half sigh , shook off her dreams , called Ascott out of the school-room , and returned to the work-a-day world and the family supper .  This being ended , seasoned with a few quiet words administered to Ascott , and which on the whole he took pretty well , it was nearly ten o'clock .  " Far too late to have kept up such a child as Elizabeth ; we must not do it again , " said Miss Leaf , taking down the large Bible with which she was accustomed to conclude the day — Ascott 'searly hours at school and their own house-work making it difficult of mornings .  Very brief the reading was , sometimes not more than half a dozen verses , with no comment thereon ; she thought the Word of God might safely be left to expound itself Being a very humble-minded woman , she did not feel qualified to lead long devotional " exercises , " and she disliked formal written prayers .  So she merely read the Bible to the family , and said after it the Lord 'sPrayer .  But , constitutionally shy as Miss Leaf was to do even this in presence of a stranger cost her some effort ; and it was only a sense of duty that made her say " yes " to Hilary 'ssuggestion , " I suppose we ought to call in Elizabeth ?  "  Elizabeth came .  " Sit down , " said her mistress : and she sat down , staring uneasily round about her , as if wondering what was going to befall her next .  Very silent was the little parlor ; so small , that it was almost filled up by its large square piano , its six cane-bottomed chairs , and one easy chair , in which sat Miss Leaf with the great Book in her lap .  " Can you read , Elizabeth ?  "  " Yes , ma'am .  "  " Hilary , give her a bible .  "  And so Elizabeth followed , guided by her not too clean finger , the words , read in that soft , low voice , somewhere out of the New Testament ; words simple enough for the comprehension of a child or a heathen .  The " South Sea Islander , " as Ascott persisted in calling her , then , doing as the family did , turned round to kneel down ; but in her confusion she knocked over a chair , causing Miss Leaf to wait a minute till reverent silence was restored .  Elizabeth knelt , with her eyes fixed on the wall : it was a green paper , patterned with bunches of nuts .  How far she listened , or how much she understood , it was impossible to say ; but her manner was decent and decorous .  " Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us .  " Unconsciously Miss Leaf 'sgentle voice rested on these words , so needed in the daily life of every human being , and especially of every family .  Was she the only one who thought of " poor Selina ?  "  They all rose from their knees , and Hilary out the Bible away .  The little servant " hung about , " apparently uncertain what was next to be done , or what was expected of her to do .  Hilary touched her sister .  " Yes , " said Miss Leaf .  recollecting herself , and assuming the due authority , " it is quite time for all the family to be in bed .  Take care of your candle , and mind and be up at six tomorrow morning .  "  This was addressed to the new maiden , who dropped a courtesy , and said , almost cheerfully , " Yes , ma'am .  "  " Very well , Good night .  Elizabeth .  "  And following Miss Leaf 'sexample , the other two , even Ascott , said civilly and kindly , " Good night , Elizabeth .  "  CHAPTER III .  The Christmas holidays ended , and Ascott left for London .  It was the greatest household change the Misses Leaf had known for years , and they missed him sorely .  Ascott was not exactly a lovable boy , and yet , after the fashion of womankind , his aunts were both fond and proud of him ; fond , in their childless old maidenhood , of any sort of nephew , and proud , unconsciously , that the said nephew was a big fellow , who could look over all their heads , besides being handsome and pleasant mannered , and though not clever enough to set the Thames on fire , still sufficiently bright to make them hope that in his future the family star might again rise .  There was something pathetic in these three women 'sidealization of him — even Selina 'swho though quarrelling with him to his face always praised him behind his back , — that great , good-looking , lazy lad ; who , every body else saw clearly enough , thought more of his own noble self than of all his aunts put together .  The only person he stood in awe of was Mr. Lyon — for whom he always protested unbounded respect and admiration .  How far Robert Lyon liked Ascott even Hilary could never quite find out ; but he was always very kind to him .  There was one person in the house who , strange to say , did not succumb to the all-dominating youth .  From the very first there was a smouldering feud between him and Elizabeth .  Whether she overheard , and slowly began to comprehend his mocking gibes about the " South Sea Islander , " or whether her sullen and dogged spirit resisted the first attempts the lad made to " put upon her " — as he did upon his aunts , in small daily tyrannies — was never found out ; but certainly Ascott , the general favorite , found little favor with the new servant .  She never answered when he " hollo 'd" for her ; she resisted blacking his boots more than once a day ; and she obstinately cleared the kitchen fire-place of his " messes , " as she ignominiously termed various pots and pans belonging to what he called his " medical studies .  "  Although the war was passive rather than aggressive , and sometimes a source of private amusement to the aunts , still , on the whole , it was a relief when the exciting cause of it departed ; his new and most gentlemanly port manteau being carried down stairs by Elizabeth herself , of her own accord , with an air of cheerful alacrity , foreign to her mien for some weeks past , and which , even in the midst of the dolorous parting , amused Hilary extremely .  " I think that girl is a character , " she said afterward to Johanna .  " Any how she has curiously strong likes and dislikes .  "  " You may say that , my dear ; for she brightens up whenever she looks at you .  "  " Does she ?  Oh , that must be because I have most to do with her .  It is wonderful how friendly one gets over sauce pans and brooms ; and what reverence one inspires in the domestic mind when one really knows how to make a bed or a pudding .  "  " How I wish you had to do neither !  " sighed Johanna , looking fondly at the bright face and light little figure that was flitting about putting the school-room to rights before the pupils came in .  " Nonsense — I do n't wish any such thing .  Doing it makes me not a whit less charming and lovely .  " She often applied these adjectives to herself , with the most perfect conviction that she was uttering a fiction patent to every body .  I must be very juvenile also , for I 'mcertain the fellow-passenger at the station to-day took me for Ascott 'ssweetheart .  When we were saying good by an old gentleman who sat next him was particularly sympathetic , and you should have seen how indignantly Ascott replied , " It 'sonly my aunt !  "  Miss Leaf laughed , and the shadow vanished from her face , as Hilary had meant it should .  She only said , caressing her , " Well , my pet , never mind .  I hope you will have a real sweetheart some day .  "  " I 'min no hurry , thank you , Johanna .  "  But now was heard the knock after knock of the little boys and girls , and there began that monotonous daily round of school labor , rising from the simplicities of c , a , t , cat , and d , o , g , dog — to the sublime heights of Pinnock and Lennie , Telemaque and Latin Delectus .  No loftier ; Stowbury being well supplied with first class schools , and having a vague impression that the Misses Leaf , born ladies and not brought up as governesses , were not competent educators except of very small children .  Which was true enough until lately .  So Miss Leaf kept contentedly to the c , a , t , cat , and d , o , g , dog , of the little butchers and bakers , as Miss Selina , who taught only sewing , and came into the school-room but little during the day , scornfully termed them .  The higher branches such as they were , she left gradually to Hilary , who , of late , possibly out of sympathy with a friend of hers , had begun to show an actual gift for teaching school .  It is a gift — all will allow ; and chiefly those who have it not , among which was poor Johanna Leaf .  The admiring envy with which she watched Hilary , moving briskly about from class to class , with a word of praise to one and rebuke to another , keeping every one 'sattention alive , spurring on the dull , controlling the unruly , and exercising over every member in this little world that influence , at once the strongest and most intangible and inexplicable — personal influence — was only equaled by the way in which , at pauses in the day 'swork , when it grew dull and monotonous or when the stupidity of the children ruffled her own quick temper beyond endurance , Hilary watched Johanna .  The time I am telling of now is long ago .  The Stowbury children , who were then little boys and girls , are now fathers and mothers — doubtless a large proportion being decent tradesfolk in Stowbury still ; though , in this locomotive quarter , many must have drifted elsewhere — where , Heaven knows .  But not a few of them may still call to mind Miss Leaf , who first taught them their letters — sitting in her corner between the fire and the window , while the blind was drawn down to keep out , first the light from her own fading eyes , and , secondly , the distracting view of green fields and trees from the youthful eyes by her side .  They may remember still her dark plain dress and her white apron , on which the primers , torn and dirty , looked half ashamed to lie ; and above all , her sweet face and sweeter voice , never heard in any thing sharper than that grieved tone which signified their being " naughty children .  " They may recall her unwearied patience with the very dullest and most wayward of them ; her unfailing sympathy with every infantile pleasure and pain .  And I think they will acknowledge that whether she taught them much or little — in this advancing age it might be thought little — Miss Leaf taught them one thing — to love her .  Which , as Ben Johnson said of the Countess of Pembroke , was in itself a " liberal education .  "  Hilary , too .  Often when Hilary 'syounger and more restless spirit chafed against the monotony of her life ; when , instead of wasting her days in teaching small children , she would have liked to be learning , learning — every day growing wiser and cleverer , and stretching out into that busy , bright , active world of which Robert Lyon had told her — then the sight of Johanna 'smeek face bent over those dirty spelling books would at once rebuke and comfort her .  She felt , after all , that she would not mind working on forever , so long as Johanna still sat there .  Nevertheless , that winter seemed to her very long — especially after Ascott was gone .  For Johanna , partly for money , and partly for kindness , had added to her day 'swork four evenings a week when a half educated mother of one of her little pupils came to be taught to write a decent hand , and to keep the accounts of her shop .  Upon which Selina , highly indignant , had taken to spending her evenings in the school room , interrupting Hilary 'ssolitary studies there by many a lamentation over the peaceful days when they all sat in the kitchen together and kept no servant .  For Selina was one of those who never saw the bright side of any thing till it had gone by .  " I 'msure I do n't know how we are to manage with Elizabeth .  That greedy — "  " And growing , " suggested Hilary .  " I say that greedy girl eats as much as any two of us .  And as for her clothes — her mother does not keep her even decent .  "  " She would find it difficult upon three pounds a year .  "  " Hilary , how dare you contradict me !  I am only stating a plain fact .  "  " And I another .  But , indeed , I do n't want to talk Selina .  "  " You never do except when you are wished to be silent ; and then your tongue goes like any race horse .  "  " Does it ?  Well , like Gilpin 's,  ' It carries weight : it rides a race , ' Tis for a thousand pound ?  '  — and I only wish it were .  Heigh ho !  if I could but earn a thousand pounds !  "  Selina was too vexed to reply and for five quiet minutes Hilary bent over her Homer which Mr. Lyon had taken such pleasure in teaching her , because he said , she learned it faster than any of his grammar school boys .  She had forgotten all domestic grievances in a vision of Thetis and the water nymphs ; and was repeating to herself , first in the sonorous Greek and then in Pope 'ssmall but sweet English , that catalogue of oceanic beauties ending with  " Black Janira and Janassa fair , And Amatheia with her amber hair .  "  " Black , did you say ?  I 'msure she was as black as a chimney sweep all to-day .  And her pinafore "  " Her what ?  Oh , Elizabeth , you mean — "  " Her pinafore had three rents in it , which she never thinks of mending though I gave her needles and thread myself a week ago .  But she does not know how to use them any more than a baby .  "  " Possibly , nobody ever taught her .  "  " Yes ; she went for a year to the National School , she says , and learned both marking and sewing .  "  " Perhaps she has never practiced them since .  She could hardly have had time , with all the little Hands to look after , as her mother says she did .  All the better for us .  It makes her wonderfully patient with our troublesome brats .  It was only to day , when that horrid little Jacky Smith hurt himself so , that I saw Elizabeth take him into the kitchen , wash his face and hands , and cuddle him up and comfort him , quite motherly .  Her forte is certainly children .  "  " You always find something to say for her .  "  " I should be ashamed if I could not find something to say for any body who is always abused .  "  Another pause — and then Selina returned to the charge .  " Have you ever observed , my dear , the extraordinary way she has of fastening , or rather , not fastening her gown behind ?  She just hooks it together at the top and at the waist , while between there is a — "  " Hiatus valde deflendus .  Oh dear me !  what shall I do ?  Selina , how can I help it if a girl of fifteen years old is not a paragon of perfection ?  as of course we all are , if we only could find it out .  "  And Hilary , in despair , rose to carry her candle and books into the chilly but quiet bedroom , biting her lips the while lest she should be tempted to say something which Selina called " impertinent , " which perhaps it was , from a younger sister to an elder .  I do not set Hilary up as a perfect character .  Through sorrow only do people go on to perfection ; and sorrow , in its true meaning , the cherished girl had never known .  But that night , talking to Johanna before they went to sleep — they had always slept together since the time when the elder sister used to walk the room of nights with that pulling , motherless infant in her arms — Hilary anxiously started the question of the little servant .  " I am afraid I vexed Selina greatly about her to-night , and yet what can one do ?  Selina is so very unjust — always expecting impossibilities .  She would like to have Elizabeth at once a first rate cook , a finished house-maid , and an attentive lady 'smaid , and all without being taught !  She gives her things to do , neither waiting to see if they are comprehended by her , nor showing her how to do them .  Of course the girl stands gaping and staring and does not do them , or does them so badly , that she gets a thorough scolding .  "  " Is she very stupid , do you think ?  " asked Johanna , in unconscious appeal to her pet 'sstronger judgment .  " No , I do n't .  Far from stupid ; only very ignorant , and — you would hardly believe it — very nervous .  Selina frightens her .  She gets on extremely well with me .  "  " Any one would , my dear .  That is , " added the conscientious elder sister , still afraid of making the " child " vain , " any one whom you took pain with .  But do you think you can ever make any thing out of Elizabeth ?  Her month ends to-morrow .  Shall we let her go ?  "  " And perhaps get in her place a story-teller — a tale-bearer — even a thief .  No , no ; let us  ' Rather bear the ills we have , Than fly to others that we know not of ; '  and a thief would be worse than even a South Sea Islander .  "  " Oh yes , my dear , " said Johanna , with a shiver .  " By-the-by , the first step in the civilization of the Polynesians was giving them clothes .  And I have heard say that crime and rags often go together ; that a man unconsciously feels that he owes something to himself and society in the way of virtue when he has a clean face and clean shirt , and a decent coat on .  Suppose we try the experiment of dressing Elizabeth .  How many old gowns have we ?  "  The number was few .  Nothing in the Leaf family was ever cast off till its very last extremity of decay ; the talent that  " Gars auld claes look amaist as gude 'sthe new "  being specially possessed by Hilary .  She counted over her own wardrobe and Johanna 'sbut found nothing that could be spared .  " Yes , my love , there is one thing .  You certainly shall never put on that old brown merino again ; though you have laid it so carefully by , as if you meant it to come out as fresh as ever next winter .  No , Hilary , you must have a new gown , and you must give Elizabeth your brown merino .  "  Hilary laughed , and replied not .  Now it might be a pathetic indication of a girl who had very few clothes , but Hilary had a superstitious weakness concerning hers .  — Every dress had its own peculiar chronicle of the scenes where it had been , the enjoyments she had shared in it .  Particular dresses were special memorials of her loves , her pleasures , her little passing pains ; as long as a bit remained of the poor old fabric the sight of it recalled them all .  This brown merino — in which she had sat two whole winters over her Greek and Latin by Robert Lyon 'sside , which he had once stopped to touch and notice , saying what a pretty color it was , and how he liked soft-feeling dresses for women — to cut up this old brown merino seemed to hurt her so she could almost have cried .  Yet what would Johanna think if the refused ?  And there was Elizabeth absolutely in want of clothes .  " I must be growing very wicked , " thought poor Hilary .  She lay a good while silent in the dark , while Johanna planned and replanned — calculating how , even with the addition of an old cape of her own , which was out of the same piece , this hapless gown could be made to fit the gaunt frame of Elizabeth Hand .  — Her poor kindly brain was in the last extremity of muddle , when Hilary , with a desperate effort , dashed in to the rescue , and soon made all clear , contriving body , skirt , sleeves and all .  " You have the best head in the world , my love .  I do n't know whatever I should do without you .  "  " Luckily you are never likely to be tried .  So give me a kiss ; and good night , Johanna .  "  I misdoubt many will say I am writing about small , ridiculously small , things .  Yet is not the whole of life made up of infinitesimally small things ?  And in its strange and solemn mosaic , the full pattern of which we never see clearly till looking back on it from far away , dare we say of any thing which the hand of Eternal Wisdom has put together , that it is too common or too small ?  CHAPTER IV .  While her anxious mistresses were thus talking her over the servant lay on her humble bed and slept .  They knew she did , for they heard her heavy breathing through the thin partition wall .  Whether , as Hilary suggested , she was too ignorant to notice the days of the week , or month , or , as Selina thought , too stupid to care for any thing beyond eating , drinking , and sleeping .  Elizabeth manifested no anxiety about herself or her destiny .  She went about her work just as usual ; a little quicker and readier , now she was becoming familiarized to it ; but she said nothing .  She was undoubtedly a girl of silent and undemonstrative nature .  " Sometimes still waters run deep , " said Miss Hilary .  " Nevertheless .  there are such things as canals , " replied Johanna .  " When do you mean to have your little talk with her ?  "  Hilary did not know .  She was sitting , rather more tired than usual , by the school-room fire , the little people having just departed for their Saturday half-holiday .  Before clearing off the debris which they always left behind , she stood a minute at the window , refreshing her eyes with the green field opposite , and the far-away wood , crowned by a dim white monument , visible in fair weather , on which those bright brown eyes had a trick of lingering , even in the middle of school hours .  For the wood and the hill beyond belonged to a nobleman 's" show " estate , five miles off — the only bit of real landscape beauty that Hilary had ever beheld .  There , during the last holidays but one , she , her sisters , her nephew , and , by his own special request , Mr. Lyon , had spent a whole long , merry , midsummer day .  She wondered whether such a day would ever come again !  But spring was coming again , any how ; the field looked smiling and green , specked here and there with white dots which , she opined .  might possibly be daisies .  She half wished she was not too old and dignified to dart across the road , leap the sunk fence , and run to see .  " I think , Johanna — Hark , what can that be ?  "  For at this instant somebody came tearing down the stairs , opened the front door , and did — exactly what Hilary had just been wishing to do .  " It 'sElizabeth , without her bonnet or shawl , with something white flying behind her .  How she is dashing across the field !  What can she be after ?  Just look .  "  But loud screams from Selina 'sroom , the front , one , where she had been lying in bed all morning , quite obliterated the little servant from their minds .  The two sisters ran hastily up stairs .  Selina was sitting up , in undisguised terror and agitation .  " Stop her !  Hold her !  I 'msure she has gone mad .  Lock the door , or she 'llcome back and murder us all .  "  " Who ?  Elizabeth !  Was she here ?  What has been the matter ?  "  But it was some time before they could make out any thing .  At last they gathered that Elizabeth had been waiting upon Miss Selina , putting vinegar cloths on her head , and doing various things about the room .  " She is very handy when one is ill. " even Selina allowed .  " And I assure you I was talking most kindly to her ; about the duties of her position , and how she ought to dress better , and be more civil behaved , or else she never could except to keep any place .  And she stood in her usual sulky way of listening , never answering a word — with her back to me , staring right out of window .  And I had just said , Elizabeth , my girl '— indeed , Hilary , I was talking to her in my very kindest way — "  " I 'veno doubt of it — but do get on .  "  " When she suddenly turned round , snatched a clean towel from a chair back , and another from my head — actually from my very head , Johanna — and out she ran .  I called after her , but she took no more notice than if I had been a stone .  And she left the door wide open — blowing upon me .  Oh , dear ; she has given me my death of cold .  " And Selina broke out into piteous complainings .  Her elder sister soothed her as well as she could , while Hilary ran down to the front door and looked , and enquired every where for Elizabeth .  She was not to be seen on field or road ; and along that quiet terrace not a soul had even perceived her quit the house .  " It 'sa very odd thing .  " said Hilary , returning .  " What can have come over the girl ?  You are sure , Selina , that you said nothing which — "  " Now I know what you are going to say , You are going to blame me .  Whatever happens in this house you always blame me .  And perhaps you 'reright .  Perhaps I am a nuisance — a burden — would be far better dead and buried .  I wish I were !  "  When Selina took this tack , of course her sisters were silenced .  They quited her a little , and then went down and searched the house all over .  All was in order ; at least in as much order as was to be expected the hour before dinner .  The bowl of half-peeled potatoes stood on the back kitchen " sink ; " the roast was down before the fire ; the knives were ready for cleaning .  Evidently Elizabeth flight had not been premeditated .  " It 'sall nonsense about her going mad .  She has as sound a head as I have , " said Hilary to Johanna , who began to look seriously uneasy .  " She might have run away in a fit of passion , certainly ; and yet that is improbable ; her temper is more sullen than furious .  And having no lack of common sense she must know that doing a thing like this is enough to make her lose her place at once .  "  " Yes , " said Johanna , mournfully , " I 'mafraid after this she must go .  "  " Wait and see what she has to say for herself .  " pleaded Hilary .  " She will surely be back in two or three minutes .  "  But she was not , nor even in two or three hours .  Her mistresses 'annoyance became displeasure , and that again subsided into serious apprehension .  Even Selina ceased talking over and over the incident which gave the sole information to be arrived at ; rose , dressed , and came down to the kitchen .  There , after long and anxious consultation , Hilary , observing that " Somebody had better do something , " began to prepare the dinner as in pre-Elizabethan days ; but the three ladies 'appetites were small .  About three in the afternoon , Hilary , giving utterance to the hidden alarm of all , said —  " I think , sisters , I had better go down as quickly as I can to Mrs. Hand 's.  "  This agreed , she stood consulting with Johanna as to what could possibly be said to the mother in case that unfortunate child had not gone home , when the kitchen door opened , and the culprit appeared .  Not , however , with the least look of a culprit .  Hot she was , and breathless ; and with her hair down about her ears , and her apron rolled up round her waist , presented a most forlorn and untidy aspect ; but her eyes were bright , and her countenance glowing .  She took a towel from under her arm .  — " There 'sone on 'em — and you 'llget back — the other — when it 'swashed .  "  Having blurted out this , she leaned against the wall , trying to recover her breath .  " Elizabeth !  Where have you been ?  How dared you go ?  Your behavior is disgraceful — most disgraceful , I say .  Johanna , why do n't you speak to your servant ?  " ( When , for remissness in reproving others , the elder sister herself fell under reproof , it was always emphatically " your sister — " your nephew " — " your servant .  " )  But , for once , Miss Selina 'ssharp voice failed to bring the customary sullen look to Elizabeth 'sface , and when Miss Leaf , in her milder tones , asked where she had been , she answered unhesitatingly —  " I 'vebeen down the town .  "  " Down the town !  " the three ladies cried , in one chorus of astonishment .  " I 'vebeen as quick as I could , missis .  I runned all the way there and back ; but it was a good step , and he was some'at heavy , though he is but a little'un , "  " He !  who on earth is he ?  "  " Deary me !  I never thought of axing ; but his mother lives in Hall street .  Somebody saw me carrying him to the doctor , and went and told her .  Oh !  he was welly killed , Miss Leaf — the doctor said so ; but he 'lldo now , and you 'llget your towel clean washed tomorrow .  "  While Elizabeth spoke so incoherently , and with such unwonted energy and excitement , Johanna looked as if she thought her sister 'sfears were true , and the girl had really gone mad ; but Hilary 'squicker perceptions jumped at a different conclusion .  " Quiet yourself , Elizabeth , " said she , taking a firm hold of her shoulder , and making her sit down , when the rolled-up apron dropped , and showed itself all covered with blood spots .  Selina screamed outright .  Then Elizabeth seemed to become half conscious that she had done something blamable , or was at least a suspected character .  Her warmth of manner faded ; the sullen cloud of dogged resistance to authority was rising in her poor dirty face , when Hilary , beginning with , " Now , we are not going to scold you ; but we must hear the reason of this , " contrived by adroit questions , and not a few of them , to elicit the whole story .  It appeared that , while standing at Miss Selina 'swindow , Elizabeth had watched three little boys , apparently engaged in a very favorite amusement of little boys in that field , going quickly behind a horse , and pulling out the longest and handsomest hairs in his tail to make fishing lines of .  She saw the animal give a kick , and two of the boys ran away ; the other did not stir .  For a minute or so she noticed a black lump lying in the grass ; then , with the quick instinct for which nobody had ever given her credit , she guessed what had happened , and did immediately the wisest and only thing possible under the circumstances , namely , to snatch up a towel , run across the field , bind up the child 'shead as well as she could , and carry it , bleeding and insensible , to the nearest doctor , who lived nearly a mile off .  She did not tell — and they only found it out afterward — how she had held the boy while under the doctor 'shands , the skull being so badly fractured that the frightened mother fainted at the sight ; how she had finally carried him home , and left him comfortably settled in bed , his senses returned , and his life saved .  " Ay , my arms do ache above a bit , " she said , in answer to Miss Leaf 'squestions .  " He was n't quite a baby — nigh upon twelve , I reckon ; but then he was very small of his age .  And he looked just as if he was dead — and he bled so .  "  Here , just for a second or two , the color left the big girl 'slips , and she trembled a little .  Miss Leaf went to the kitchen cupboard , and took out their only bottle of wine — administered in rare doses , exclusively as medicine .  " Drink this , Elizabeth ; and then go and wash your face and eat your dinner .  We will talk to you by-and-by .  "  Elizabeth looked up with a long , wistfull stare of intense surprise , and then added , " Have I done any thing wrong , missis ?  "  " I did not say so .  But drink this ; and do n't talk , child .  "  She was obeyed .  By-and-by Elizabeth disappeared into the back kitchen , emerged thence with a clean face , hands , and apron ; and went about her afternoon business as if nothing had happened .  Her mistresses 'threatened " talk " with her never came about .  What , indeed , could they say ?  No doubt the little servant had broken the strict letter of domestic law by running off in that highly eccentric and inconvenient way ; but , as Hilary tried to explain by a series of most ingenious ratiocinations , she had fulfilled , in the spirit of it , the very highest law — that of charity .  She had also shown prompt courage , decision , practical and prudent forethought , and above all , entire self-forgetfulness .  " And I should like to know , " said Miss Hilary , warming with her subject , " if those are not the very qualities that go to constitute a hero .  "  " But we do n't want a hero ; we want a maid-of-all-work .  "  " I 'lltell you what we want , Selina .  We want a woman ; that is , a girl with the making of a good woman in her .  If we can find that , all the rest will follow .  For my part , I would rather take this child , rough as she is , but with her truthfulness , conscientiousness , kindliness of heart , and evident capability of both self-control and self-devotedness , than the most finished servant we could find .  My advice is — keep her .  "  This settled the matter , since it was a curious fact that the " advice " of the youngest Miss Leaf was , whether they knew it or not , almost equivalent to a family ukase .  When Elizabeth had brought in the tea-things , which she did with especial care , apparently wishing to blot out the memory of the morning 'sescapade by astonishingly good behavior for the rest of the day , Miss Leaf called her , and asked if she knew that her month of trial ended this day ?  " Yes , ma'am , " with the strict normal courtesy , something between that of the old-world family domestic — as her mother might have been to the Miss Elizabeth Something she was named after — and the abrupt " dip " of the modern National school girl ; which constituted Elizabeth Hand 'ssole experience of manners .  " If you had not been absent I should have gone to speak with your mother to-day .  Indeed Miss Hilary was going when you came in ; but it would have been with a very different intention from what we had in the morning .  However , that is not likely to happen again .  "  " Eh ?  " said Elizabeth , inquiringly .  Miss Leaf hesitated , and looked uneasily at her two sisters .  It was always a trial to her shy nature to find herself the mouth-piece of the family ; and this same shyness made it still more difficult to break through the stiff barriers which seemed to rise up between her , a gentlewoman well on in years , and this coarse working girl .  She felt , as she often complained , that with the-kindest intentions , she did not quite know how to talk to Elizabeth .  " My sister means , " said Hilary , " that as we are not likely to have little boys half killed in the field every day , she trusts you will not be running away again as you did this morning .  She feels sure that you would not do such a thing , putting us all to so great annoyance and uneasiness , for any less cause than such as happened to-day .  You promise that ?  "  " Yes , Miss Hilary .  "  " Then we quite forgive you as regards ourselves .  Nay " — feeling in spite of Selina 'swarning nudge , that she had hardly been kind enough — " we rather praise than blame you , Elizabeth .  And if you like to stay with us and will do your best to improve , we are willing to keep you as our servant .  "  " Thank you ma'am .  Thank you , Miss Hilary .  Yes , I 'llstop .  "  She said no more — but sighed a great sigh , as if her mind were relieved — ( " So , " thought Hilary , " she was not so indifferent to us as we imagined " ) — and bustled back into her kitchen .  " Now for the clothing of her , " observed Miss Leaf , also looking much relieved that the decision was over .  " You know what we agreed upon ; and there is certainly no time to be lost .  Hilary , my dear , suppose you bring down your brown merino ?  " Hilary went without a word .  People who inhabit the same house , eat , sit , and sleep together — loving one another and sympathizing with one another , ever so deeply and dearly — nevertheless inevitably have momentary seasons when the intense solitude in which we all live , and must expect ever to live , at the depth of our being , forces itself painfully upon the heart .  Johanna must have had many such seasons when Hilary was a child ; Hilary had one now .  She unfolded the old frock , and took out of its pocket , a hiding place at once little likely to be searched , and harmless if discovered , a poor little memento of that happy midsummer day .  " Dear Miss Hilary .  To-morrow , then , I shall come .  Yours truly , Robert Lyon .  "  The only scrap of note she had ever received ; he always wrote to Johanna ; as regularly as ever , or more so , now Ascott was gone ; but only to Johanna .  She read over the two lines , wondered where she should keep them now that Johanna might not notice them ; and then recoiled , as if the secret were a wrong to that dear sister who loved her so well .  " But nothing makes me love her less ; nothing ever could .  She thinks me quite happy , as I am ; and yet — oh , if I did not miss him so !  "  And the aching , aching want which sometimes came over began again .  Let us not blame her .  God made all our human needs .  God made love .  Not merely affection but actual love — the necessity to seek and find out some other being , not another but the complement of one 'sself — the " other half , " who brings rest and strength for weakness , sympathy in aspiration , and tenderness for tenderness , as no other person ever can .  Perhaps , even in marriage , this love is seldom found , and it is possible in all lives to do without it .  Johanna had done so .  But then she had been young , and was now growing old ; and Hilary was only twenty , with a long life before her .  Poor child , let us not blame her !  She was not in the least sentimental , her natural disposition inclining her to be more than cheerful , actually gay .  She soon recovered herself , and when , a short time after , she stood , scissors in hand , demonstrating how very easy it was to make something out of nothing , her sisters never suspected how very near tears had lately been to those bright eyes , which were always the sunshine of the house .  " You are giving yourself a world of trouble , " said Selina .  " If I were you , I would just make over the dress to Elizabeth , and let her do what she could with it .  "  " My dear , I always find I give myself twice the trouble by expecting people to do what they ca n't do .  I have to do it myself afterward .  Prove how a child who ca n't even handle a needle and thread is competent to make a gown for herself , and I shall be most happy to secede in her favor .  "  " Nay , " put in the eldest sister , afraid of a collision of words , " Selina is right ; if you do not teach Elizabeth to make her own gowns how can she learn ?  "  " Johanna , you are the brilliantest of women !  and you know you do n't like the parlor littered with rags and cuttings .  You wish to get rid of me for the evening ?  Well , I 'llgo !  Hand me the work basket and the bundle , and I 'llgive my first lesson in dress making to our South Sea Islander .  "  But Fate stood in the way of Miss Hilary 'sgood intentions .  She found Elizabeth not as was her wont , always busy , over the perpetual toil of those who have not yet learned the mysterious art of arrangement and order , nor , as sometimes , hanging sleepily over the kitchen fire , waiting for bedtime ; but actually sitting , sitting down at the table .  Her candle was flaring on one side of her ; on the other was the school room inkstand , a scrap of waste paper , and a pen But she was not writing ; she sat with her head on her hands , in an attitude of disconsolate idleness , so absorbed that she seemed not to hear Hilary 'sapproach .  " I did not know you could write , Elizabeth .  "  " No more I can , " was the answer , in the most doleful of voices .  " It bea n't no good .  I 'veforgotten all about it .  T 'letters wonna join .  "  " Let me look at them .  " And Hilary tried to contemplate gravely the scrawled and blotted page , which looked very much as if a large spider had walked into the ink bottle , and then walked out again on a tour of investigation .  " What did you want to write ?  " asked she , suddenly .  Elizabeth blushed violently .  " It was the woman , Mrs. Cliffe , t 'little lad 'smother , you know ; she wanted somebody to write to her husband as is at work at Birmingham , and I said I would .  I 'dlearned at the National , but I 'veforgotten it all .  I 'mjust as Miss Selina says — I 'mgood for nowt .  "  " Come , come , never fret ; " for there was a sort of choke in the girl 'svoice .  " There 'smany a good person who never learned to write .  But I do n't see why you should not learn .  Shall I teach you ?  "  Utter amazement , beaming gratitude , succeeded one another , plain as light , in Elizabeth 'seyes , but she only said , " Thank you , Miss Hilary .  "  " Very well .  I have brought you an old gown of mine , and was going to show you how to make it up for yourself , but I 'lllook over your writing instead .  Sit down and let me see what you can do .  "  In a state of nervous trepidation , pitiful to behold , Elizabeth took the pen .  Terrible scratches resulted ; blots innumerable ; and one fatal deluge of ink , which startled from their seats both mistress and maid , and made Hilary thankful that she had taken off her better gown for a common one , as , with sad thriftiness , the Misses Leaf always did of evenings .  When Elizabeth saw the mischief she had done , her contrition and humility were unbounded .  " No , Miss Hilary , you ca n't make nothin ' of me .  I be too stupid , I 'llgive it up .  "  " Nonsense !  " And the bright active little lady looked steadily into the heavy face of this undeveloped girl , half child , half woman , until some of her own spirit seemed to be reflected there .  Whether the excitement of the morning had roused her , or her mistresses 'kindness had touched Elizabeth 'sheart , and — as in most women — the heart was the key to the intellect ; or whether the gradual daily influence of her changed life during the last month had been taking effect , now for the first time to appear — certain it is that Hilary had never perceived before what an extremely intelligent face it was ; what good sense was indicated in the well shaped head and forehead ; what tenderness and feeling in the deep-set grey eyes .  " Nonsense , " repeated she .  " Never give up any thing ; I never would .  We 'lltry a different plan , and begin from the beginning , as I do with my little scholars .  Wait , while I fetch a copy book out of the parlor press .  "  She highly amused her sisters with a description of what she called her " newly instituted Polynesian Academy ; " returned , and set to work to guide the rough , coarse hand through the mysteries of calligraphy .  To say this was an easy task would not be true .  Nature 'sown laws and limits make the using of faculties which have been unused for generations very difficult at first .  To suppose that a working man , the son of working men , who applies himself to study , does it with as little trouble as your upper-class children , who have been unconsciously undergoing education ever since the cradle , is a great mistake .  All honor , therefore , to those who do attempt , and to ever so small a degree succeed in , the best and wisest culture of all , self-culture .  Of this honor Elizabeth deserved her share .  " She is stupid enough , " Hilary confessed , after the lesson was over ; " but there is a dogged perseverance about the girl which I actually admire .  She blots her fingers , her nose , her apron , but she never gives in ; and she sticks to the grand principle of one thing at a time .  I think she did two whole pages of a 's, and really performed them satisfactorily , before she asked to go on to b 's.  Yes !  I believe she will do .  "  " I hope she will do her work , any how , " said Selina , breaking into the conversation rather crossly .  " I 'msure I do n't see the good of wasting time over teaching Elizabeth to write , when there 'sso much to be done in the house by one and all of us , from Monday morning till Saturday night .  "  " Ay , that 'sit , " answered Hilary , meditatively .  " I do n't see how I ever shall get time to teach her , and she is so tired of nights when the work is all done ; she 'llbe dropping asleep with the pen in her hand — I have done it myself before now .  "  Ay , in those days when , trying so hard to " improve her mind , " and make herself a little more equal and companionable to another mind she knew , she had , after her daily house cares and her six hours of school teaching , attempted at nine P. M .  to begin close study on her own account .  And though with her strong will she succeeded tolerably , still , as she told Johanna , she could well understand how slow was the , " march of intellect " ( a phrase which had just then come up ) among day laborers and the like ; and how difficult it was for these Mechanics Institutions , which were now talked so much of , to put any new ideas into the poor tired heads , rendered sluggish and stupid with hard bodily labor , " Suppose I were to hold my Polynesian Academy on a Sunday ?  " and she looked inquiringly at her sisters , especially Johanna .  Now the Misses Leaf were old fashioned country folk , who lived before the words Sabbatarian and un-Sabbatarian had ever got into the English language .  They simply " remembered the Sabbath day to keep it holy ; " they arranged so as to make it for all the household a day of rest : and they went regularly to church once — sometimes Selina and Hilary went twice .  For the intervening hours , their usual custom was to take an afternoon walk in the fields ; begun chiefly for Ascott 'ssake , to keep the lad out of mischief , and put into his mind better thoughts than he was likely to get from his favorite Sunday recreation of sitting on the wall throwing stones .  After he left for London there was Elizabeth to be thought of ; and they decided that the best Sabbath duty for the little servant was to go and see her mother .  So they gave her every Sunday afternoon free ; only requiring that she should be at home punctually after church time , at eight o'clock .  But from thence till bedtime was a blank two hours , which , Hilary had noticed , Elizabeth not infrequently spent in dozing over the fire .  " And I wonder , " said she , giving the end of her long meditation out loud , " whether going to sleep is not as much Sabbath breaking as learning to write ?  What do you say , Johanna ?  "  Johanna , simple , God-fearing woman as she was , to whom faith and love came as natural as the breath she drew , had never perplexed herself with the question .  She only smiled acquiescence .  But Selina was greatly shocked .  Teaching to write on a Sunday !  Bringing the week day work into the day of rest !  Doing one 'sown pleasure on the holy day !  She thought it exceedingly wrong .  Such a thing had never been heard of in their house .  Whatever else might be said of them , the Leafs were always a respectable family as to keeping Sunday .  Nobody could say that even poor Henry —  But here Selina 'storrent of words stopped .  When conversation revived , Hilary , who had been at first half annoyed and half amused , resumed her point seriously .  " I might say that writing is n't Elizabeth 'sweek-day work , and that teaching her is not exactly doing my own pleasure ; but I wo n't creep out of the argument by a quibble .  The question is , What is keeping the Sabbath day 'holy ?  ' I say — and I stick to my opinion — that it is by making it a day of worship , a rest day — a cheerful and happy day — and by doing as much good in it as we can .  And therefore I mean to teach Elizabeth on a Sunday .  "  " She 'llnever understand it .  She 'llconsider it work .  "  " And if she did , work is a more religious thing than idleness .  I am sure I often feel that , of the two , I should be less sinful in digging potatoes in my garden , or sitting mending stockings in my parlor , than in keeping Sunday as some people do — going to church genteelly in my best clothes , eating a huge Sunday dinner , and then nodding over a good book , or taking a regular Sunday nap till bedtime .  "  " Hush , child !  " said Johanna , reprovingly ; for Hilary 'scheeks were red , and her voice angry .  She was taking the hot , youthful part which in its hatred of forms and shams , sometimes leads — and not seldom led poor Hilary — a little too far on the other side .  " I think , " Miss Leaf added , " that our business is with ourselves , and not with our neighbors .  Let us keep the Sabbath according to our conscience .  Only , I would take care never to do any thing which jarred against my neighbor 'sfeelings .  I would , like Paul , ' eat no meat while the world standeth ' rather than ' make my brother to offend .  ' "  Hilary looked in her sister 'ssweet , calm face , and the anger died out of her own .  " Shall I give up my academy ?  " she said , softly .