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The Daisy Chain; or Aspirations

by Charlotte Yonge






PREFACE


No one can be more sensible than is the Author that the present is an
overgrown book of a nondescript class; neither the 〃tale〃 for the
young; nor the novel for their elders; but a mixture of both。

Begun as a series of conversational sketches; the story outran both
the original intention and the limits of the periodical in which it
was commenced; and; such as it has become; it is here presented to
those who have already made acquaintance with the May family; and may
be willing to see more of them。  It would beg to be considered merely
as what it calls itself; a Family Chroniclea domestic record of
home events; large and small; during those years of early life when
the character is chiefly formed; and as an endeavour to trace the
effects of those aspirations which are a part of every youthful
nature。  That the young should take one hint; to think whether their
hopes and upward…breathings are truly upwards; and founded in
lowliness; may be called the moral of the tale。

For those who may deem the story too long; and the characters too
numerous; the Author can only beg their pardon for any tedium that
they may have undergone before giving it up。 Feb。 22nd; 1856。





PART 1。





THE DAISY CHAIN





CHAPTER I。



Si douce est la Marguerite。CHAUCER。



〃Miss Winter; are you busy?  Do you want this afternoon?  Can you
take a good long walk?〃

〃Ethel; my dear; how often have I told you of your impetuosityyou
have forgotten。〃

〃Very well〃with an impatient twist〃I beg your pardon。  Good…
morning; Miss Winter;〃 said a thin; lank; angular; sallow girl; just
fifteen; trembling from head to foot with restrained eagerness; as
she tried to curb her tone into the requisite civility。

〃Good…morning; Ethel; good…morning; Flora;〃 said the prim; middle…
aged daily governess; taking off her bonnet; and arranging the stiff
little rolls of curl at the long; narrow looking…glass; the border of
which distorted the countenance。

〃Good…morning;〃 properly responded Flora; a pretty; fair girl; nearly
two years older than her sister。

〃Will you〃 began to burst from Etheldred's lips again; but was
stifled by Miss Winter's inquiry; 〃Is your mamma pretty well to…day?〃

〃Oh! very well;〃 said both at once; 〃she is coming to the reading。〃
And Flora added; 〃Papa is going to drive her out to…day。〃

〃I am very glad。  And the baby?〃

〃I do believe she does it on purpose!〃 whispered Ethel to herself;
wriggling fearfully on the wide window…seat on which she had
precipitated herself; and kicking at the bar of the table; by which
manifestation she of course succeeded in deferring her hopes; by a
reproof which caused her to draw herself into a rigid; melancholy
attitude; a sort of penance of decorum; but a rapid motion of the
eyelids; a tendency to crack the joints of the fingers; and an
unquietness at the ends of her shoes; betraying the restlessness of
the digits therein contained。

It was such a room as is often to be found in old country town
houses; the two large windows looking out on a broad old…fashioned
street; through heavy framework; and panes of glass scratched with
various names and initials。  The walls were painted blue; the
skirting almost a third of the height; and so wide at the top as to
form a narrow shelf。  The fireplace; constructed in the days when
fires were made to give as little heat as possible; was ornamented
with blue and white Dutch tiles bearing marvellous representations of
Scripture history; and was protected by a very tall green guard; the
chairs were much of the same date; solid and heavy; the seats in
faded carpet…work; but there was a sprinkling of lesser ones and of
stools; a piano; a globe; a large table in the middle of the room;
with three desks on it; a small one; and a light cane chair by each
window; and loaded book…cases。  Flora began; 〃If you don't want this
afternoon to yourself〃

Ethel was on her feet; and open…mouthed。  〃Oh; Miss Winter; if you
would be so kind as to walk to Cocksmoor with us!〃

〃To Cocksmoor; my dear!〃 exclaimed the governess in dismay。

〃Yes; yes; but hear;〃 cried Ethel。 〃It is not for nothing。
Yesterday〃

〃No; the day before;〃 interposed Flora。

〃There was a poor man brought into the hospital。  He had been
terribly hurt in the quarry; and papa says he'll die。  He was in
great distress; for his wife has just got twins; and there were lots
of children before。  They want everythingfood and clothesand we
want to walk and take it。〃

〃We had a collection of clothes ready; luckily;〃 said Flora; 〃and we
have a blanket; and some tea and some arrowroot; and a bit of bacon;
and mamma says she does not think it too far for us to walk; if you
will be so kind as to go with us。〃

Miss Winter looked perplexed。  〃How could you carry the blanket; my
dear?〃

〃Oh; we have settled that;〃 said Ethel; 〃we mean to make the donkey a
sumpter…mule; so; if you are tired; you may ride home on her。〃

〃But; my dear; has your mamma considered?  They are such a set of
wild people at Cocksmoor; I don't think we could walk there alone。〃

〃It is Saturday;〃 said Ethel; 〃we can get the boys。〃

〃If you would reflect a little!  They would be no protection。  Harry
would be getting into scrapes; and you and Mary running wild。〃

〃I wish Richard was at home! 〃 said Flora。

〃I know!〃 cried Ethel。 〃Mr。 Ernescliffe will come。  I am sure he can
walk so far now。  I'll ask him。〃

Ethel had clapped after her the heavy door with its shining brass
lock; before Miss Winter well knew what she was about; and the
governess seemed annoyed。  〃Ethel does not consider;〃 said she。
〃I don't think your mamma will be pleased。〃

〃Why not?〃 said Flora。

〃My deara gentleman walking with you; especially if Margaret is
going!〃

〃I don't think he is strong enough;〃 said Flora; 〃but I can't think
why there should be any harm。  Papa took us all out walking with him
yesterdaylittle Aubrey and all; and Mr。 Ernescliffe went。〃

〃But; my dear〃

She was interrupted by the entrance of a fine tall blooming girl of
eighteen; holding in her hand a pretty little maid of five。  〃Good…
morning。 Miss Winter。  I suppose Flora has told you the request we
have to make to you?〃

〃Yes; my dear Margaret; but did your mamma consider what a lawless
place Cocksmoor is?〃

〃That was the doubt;〃 said Margaret; 〃but papa said he would answer
for it nothing would happen to us; and mamma said if you would be so
kind。〃

〃It is unlucky;〃 began the governess; but stopped at the incursion of
some new…comers; nearly tumbling over each other; Ethel at the head
of them。  〃Oh; Harry!〃 as the gathers of her frock gave way in the
rude grasp of a twelve…year…old boy。  〃Miss Winter; 'tis all right
Mr。 Ernescliffe says he is quite up to the walk; and will like it
very much; and he will undertake to defend you from the quarrymen。〃

〃Is Miss Winter afraid of the quarrymen?〃 hallooed Harry。  〃Shall I
take a club?〃

〃I'll take my gun and shoot them;〃 valiantly exclaimed Tom; and while
threats were passing among the boys; Margaret asked; in a low voice;
〃Did you ask him to come with us?〃

〃Yes; he said he should like it of all things。  Papa was there; and
said it was not too far for himbesides; there's the donkey。  Papa
says it; so we must go; Miss Winter。〃

Miss Winter glanced unutterable things at Margaret; and Ethel began
to perceive she had done something wrong。  Flora was going to speak;
when Margaret; trying to appear unconscious of a certain deepening
colour in her own cheeks; pressed a hand on her shoulder; and
whispering; 〃I'll see about it。  Don't say any more; please;〃 glided
out of the room。

〃What's in the wind?〃 said Harry。  〃Are many of your reefs out there;
Ethel?〃

〃Harry can talk nothing but sailors' language;〃 said Flora; 〃and I am
sure he did not learn that of Mr。 Ernescliffe。  You never hear slang
from him。〃

〃But aren't we going to Cocksmoor?〃 asked Mary; a blunt downright
girl of ten。

〃We shall know soon;〃 said Ethel。  〃I suppose I had better wait till
after the reading to mend that horrid frock?〃

〃I think so; since we are so nearly collected;〃 said Miss Winter; and
Ethel; seating herself on the corner of the window…seat; with one leg
doubled under her; took up a Shakespeare; holding it close to her
eyes; and her brother Norman; who; in age; came between her and
Flora; kneeling on one knee on the window…seat; and supporting
himself with one arm against the shutter; leaned over her; reading it
too; disregarding a tumultuous skirmish going on in that division of
the family collectively termed 〃the boys;〃 namely; Harry; Mary; and
Tom; until Tom was suddenly pushed down; and tumbled over into
Ethel's lap; thereby upsetting her and Norman together; and there was
a general downfall; and a loud scream; 〃The sphynx!〃

〃You've crushed it;〃 cried Harry; dealing out thumps
indiscriminately。

〃No; here 'tis;〃 said Mary; rushing among them; and bringing out a
green sphynx caterpillar on her finger〃'tis not hurt。〃

〃Pax!  Pax!〃 cried Norman; over all; with the voice of an authority;
as he leaped up lightly and set Tom on his legs again。  〃Harry! you
had better do that again;〃 he added warningly。  〃Be off; out of this
window; and let Ethel and me read in peace。〃

〃Here's the place;〃 said Ethel 〃Crispin; Crispian's day。  How I do
like Henry V。〃

〃It is no use to try to keep those boys in order!〃 sighed Miss
Winter。

〃Saturnalia; as papa calls Saturday;〃 replied Flora。

〃Is not your eldest brother coming home to…day?〃 said Miss Winter in
a low voice to Flora; who shook her head; and said confidentially;
〃He is not coming till he has passed that examination。  He thinks it
better not。〃

Here entered; with a baby in her arms; a lady with a beautiful
countenance of calm sweetness; looking almost too young to be the
mother of the tall Margaret; who followed her。  There was a general
hush as she greeted Miss Winter; the girls crowding round to look at
their little sister; not quite six weeks old。

〃Now; Margaret; will you take her up to the nursery?〃 said the
mother; while the impatient speech was repeated; 〃Mamma; can we go to
Cocksmoor?〃

〃You don't think it will be too far for you?〃 said the mother to Miss
Winter as Margaret departed。

〃Oh; no; not at all; thank you; that was not But Margaret has
explained。〃

〃Yes; poor Margaret;〃 said Mrs。 May; smiling。  〃She has settled it by
choosing to stay at home with me。  It is no matter for the others;
and he is going on Monday; so that it will not happen again。〃

〃Margaret has behaved very well;〃 said Miss Winter。

〃She has indeed;〃 said her mother; smiling。  〃Well; Harry; how is the
caterpillar?〃

〃They've just capsized it; mamma;〃 answered Harry; 〃and Mary is
making all taut。〃

Mrs。 May laughed; and proceeded to advise Ethel and Norman to put
away Henry V。; and find the places in their Bibles; 〃or you will have
the things mixed together in your heads;〃 said she。

In the meantime Margaret; with the little babe; to…morrow to be her
godchild; lying gently in her arms; came out into the matted hall;
and began to mount the broad shallow…

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