CHAPTER IV.
Back then, complainer...
Go, to the world return, nor fear to cast
Thy bread upon the waters, sure at last
In joy to find it after many days.—Christian Year.
The next day Ethel had hoped for a return to reason, but behold, the world was cross! The reaction of the long excitement was felt, Gertrude fretted, and was unwell; Aubrey was pettish at his lessons; and Mary and Blanche were weary, yawning and inattentive; every straw was a burden, and Miss Bracy had feelings.
Ethel had been holding an interminable conversation with her in the schoolroom, interrupted at last by a summons to speak to a Cocksmoor woman at the back door, and she was returning from the kitchen, when the doctor called her into his study.
“Ethel! what is all this? Mary has found Miss Bracy in floods of tears in the schoolroom, because she says you told her she was ill-tempered.”
“I am sure you will be quite as much surprised,” said Ethel, somewhat exasperated, “when you hear that you lacerated her feelings yesterday.”
“I? Why, what did I do?” exclaimed Dr. May.
“You showed your evident want of confidence in her.”
“I? What can I have done?”
“You met Aubrey and Gertrude in her charge, and you took them away at once to walk with you.”