Gilbert had, fortunately, a turn for small children, and submitted to
be led about the garden by little Willie; and as far as moderate
enjoyment went, the visit was not unsuccessful; but as for what
Albinia came for, it was unattainable, except for one little space
alone with her brother.
'I meant to have asked a great deal,' she said, sighing.
'If you, want me, I would contrive to ride over,' said Maurice.
'No, it is not worth that. But, Maurice, what is to be done when one
sees one's duty, and yet fails for ever for want of tact and temper!
Ah, I know what you will say, and I often say it to myself, but
whatever I propose, I always do either the wrong thing or in the
wrong way!'
'You fall a hundred times a day, but are raised up again,' said
Maurice.
'Maurice, tell me one thing. Is it wrong to do, not the best, but
only the best one can?'
'It is the wrong common to us all,' said Maurice.
'I used to believe in "whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing
well." Now, I do everything ill, rather than do nothing at all.'
'There are only two ways of avoiding that.'
'And they are--?'
'Either doing nothing, or admiring all your own doings.'
'Which do you recommend?' said Albinia, smiling, but not far from
tears.
'My dear,' said Maurice, 'all I can dare to recommend, is patience
and self-control. Don't fret and agitate yourself about what you
can't do, but do your best to do calmly what you can.
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