Richard and Ethel both expressing their intention of adhering to Margaret--the latter observing how nice it would be to get rid of everybody, and have a talk.
"What have we been doing all this time ?" said Dr.May, laughing.
"Chattering, not conversing," said Ethel saucily.
"Ay! the Cocksmoor board is going to sit," said Dr.May.
"What is a board ?" inquired Blanche, who had just come down prepared for her walk.
"Richard, Margaret, and Ethel, when they sit upon Cocksmoor," said Dr.
May.
"But Margaret never does sit on Cocksmoor, papa." "Only allegorically, Blanche," said Norman.
"But I don't understand what is a board ?" pursued Blanche.
"Mr.May in his ship," was Norman's suggestion.
Poor Blanche stood in perplexity.

"What is it really ?" "Something wooden headed," continued the provoking papa.
"A board is all wooden, not only its head," said Blanche.
"Exactly so, especially at Stoneborough!" said the doctor.
"It is what papa is when he comes out of the council-room," added Ethel.
"Or what every one is while the girls are rigging themselves," sighed Harry.

"Ha! here's Polly--now we only want Flora." "And my stethoscope! Has any one seen my stethoscope!" exclaimed the doctor, beginning to rush frantically into the study, dining-room, and his own room; but failing, quietly took up a book, and gave up the search, which was vigorously pursued by Richard, Flora, and Mary, until the missing article was detected, where Aubrey had left it in the nook on the stairs, after using it for a trumpet and a telescope.
"Ah! now my goods will have a chance!" said Dr.May, as he took it, and patted Richard's shoulder.

"I have my best right hand, and Margaret will be saved endless sufferings." "Papa!" "Ay! poor dear! don't I see what she undergoes, when nobody will remember that useful proverb, 'A place for everything, and everything in its place.' I believe one use of her brains is to make an inventory of all the things left about the drawing-room; but, beyond it, it is past her power." "Yes," said Flora, rather aggrieved; "I do the best I can, but, when nobody ever puts anything into its place, what can I do, single-handed?
So no one ever goes anywhere without first turning the house upside down for their property; and Aubrey, and now even baby, are always carrying whatever they can lay hands on into the nursery.

I can't bear it; and the worst of it is that," she added, finishing her lamentation, after the others were out at the door, "papa and Ethel have neither of them the least shame about it." "No, no, Flora, that is not fair!" exclaimed Margaret--but Flora was gone.
"I have shame," sighed Ethel, walking across the room disconsolately, to put a book into a shelf.
"And you don't leave trainants as you used," said Margaret.