the daisy chain, or aspirations-第100章

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with　the　same　carelessness　of　his　own　life；　and　a　severe　illness；
which　had　broken　up　his　health；　had　occasioned　him　to　relinquish　his
post。

It　now　appeared　that　he　had　thought　himself　coming　home　ever　since。
He　had　gone　to　recruit　in　the　Himalayas；　and　had　become　engrossed　in
scientific　observations　on　their　altitudes；　as　well　as　investigations
in　natural　history。　　Going　to　Calcutta；　he　had　fallen　in　with　a　party
about　to　explore　the　Asiatic　islands　and　he　had　accompanied　them；　as
well　as　going　on　an　expedition　into　the　interior　of　Australia。　　He
had　been　employed　in　various　sanitary　arrangements　there　and　in
India；　and　had　finally　worked　his　way　slowly　home；　overland；　visiting
Egypt　and　Palestine；　and　refreshing　his　memory　with　every　Italian；
German；　or　French　Cathedral；　or　work　of　art；　that　had　delighted　him
in　early　days。

He　was　a　slight　small　man；　much　sunburned；　nearly　bald；　and　his　hair
snowy；　but　his　eyes　were　beautiful；　very　dark；　soft；　and　smiling；　and
yet　their　gaze　peculiarly　keen　and　steady；　as　if　ready　for　any
emergency；　and　his　whole　frame　was　full　of　alertness　and　vigour。　　His
voice　was　clear　and　sweet；　and　his　manner　most　refined　and　polished；
indeed；　his　courtesy　to　Ethel；　whenever　there　was　a　change　of
carriage；　was　so　exemplary；　that　she　understood　it　as　the　effect　on　a
chivalrous　mind；　of　living　where　a　lady　was　a　rare　and　precious
article。　　It　frightened　Ethel　a　little　at　first；　but；　before　the　end
of　the　journey；　she　had　already　begun　to　feel　towards　him　like　an　old
friendone　of　those　inheritances　who　are　so　much　valued　and　loved；
like　a　sort　of　uncles…in…friendship。　　She　had　an　especial　grateful
honour　for　the　delicate　tact　which　asked　no　questions；　as　she　saw　his
eye　often　falling　anxiously　on　her　father's　left　hand；　where　the
wedding　ring　shone　upon　the　little　finger。

There　was　talk　enough　upon　his　travels；　on　public　changes；　and　on　old
friends；　but；　after　those　first　few　words；　home　had　never　been
mentioned。

When；　at　five　o'clock；　the　engine　blew　its　whistle；　at　the　old
familiar　station；　Dr。　May　had　scarcely　put　his　head　out　before　Adams
hastened　up　to　him　with　a　note。

〃All　well　at　home？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　Miss　Margaret　sent　up　the　gig。〃

〃I　must　go　at　once；〃　said　Dr　May　hastily〃the　Larkins'　child　is
worse。　　Ethel；　take　care　of　him；　and　introduce　him。　　Love　to
Margaret。　　I'll　be　at　home　before　tea。〃

He　was　driven　off　at　speed；　and　Ethel　proposed　to　walk　home。　　Dr
Spencer　gave　her　his　arm；　and　was　silent；　but　presently　said；　in　a
low；　anxious　voice；　〃My　dear；　you　must　forgive　me；　I　have　heard
nothing　for　many　years。　　Your　mother〃

〃It　was　an　accident；〃　said　Ethel　looking　straight　before　her。　　〃It
was　when　papa's　arm　was　hurt。　　The　carriage　was　over…turned。〃

〃And〃　repeated　Dr　Spencer　earnestly

〃She　was　killed　on　the　spot；〃　said　Ethel；　speaking　shortly；　and
abruptly。　　If　she　was　to　say　it　at　all；　she　could　not　do　so
otherwise。

He　was　dreadfully　shockedshe　knew　it　by　the　shudder　of　his　arm；　and
a　tight　suppressed　groan。　　He　did　not　speak；　and　Ethel；　as　if　a
relief　from　the　silence　must　be　made；　said　what　was　not　very
consoling；　and　equally　blunt。　　〃Margaret　had　some　harm　done　to　her
spineshe　cannot　walk。〃

He　did　not　seem　to　hear；　but　walked　on；　as　in　a　dream；　where　Ethel
guided　him；　and　she　would　not　interrupt　him　again。

They　had　just　passed　Mr　Bramshaw's　office；　when　a　voice　was　heard
behind；　calling；　〃Miss　Ethel！　　Miss　Ethel！〃　and　Edward　Anderson；　now
articled　to　Mr。　Bramshaw；　burst　out；　pen　in　hand；　and　looking　shabby
and　inky。

〃Miss　Ethel！〃　he　said　breathlessly；　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　but　have　you
heard　from　Harry？〃

〃No！〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Have　they　had　that　paper　at　home？〃

〃Not　that　I　know　of；〃　said　Edward。　　〃My　mother　wanted　to　send　it；　but
I　would　not　take　itnot　while　Dr。　May　was　away。〃

〃Thank　youthat　was　very　kind　of　you。〃

〃And　oh！　Miss　Ethel；　do　you　think　it　is　true？〃

〃We　hope　not；〃　said　Ethel　kindly〃we　saw　a　Captain　at　Oxford　who
thought　it　not　at　all　to　be　depended　on。〃

〃I　am　so　glad；〃　said　Edward；　and；　shaking　hands；　he　went　back　to　his
high　stool；　Ethel　feeling　that　he　deserved　the　pains　that　Norman　had
taken　to　spare　and　befriend　him。　　She　spoke　to　her　companion　in
explanation。　　〃We　are　very　anxious　for　news　of　my　next　brother's
ship；　Alcestis；　in　the　Pacific〃

〃More！〃　exclaimed　poor　Dr。　Spencer；　almost　overpowered；　〃Good
Heavens！　　I　thought　May；　at　least；　was　happy！〃

〃He　is　not　unhappy；〃　said　Ethel；　not　sorry　that　they　had　arrived　at
the　back　entrance　of　the　shrubbery。

〃How　long　ago　was　this？〃　said　he；　standing　still；　as　soon　as　they　had
passed　into　the　garden。

〃Four　years；　next　October。　　I　assure　you；　his　spirits　are　almost
always　good。〃

〃When　I　was　at　Adelaide；　little　thinking！〃　he　sighed；　then
recollecting　himself。　　〃Forgive　me；　I　have　given　you　pain。〃

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃or　rather；　I　gave　you　more。〃

〃I　knew　her〃　and　there　he　broke　off；　paused　for　a　minute；　then
collecting　himself；　seemed　resolutely　to　turn　away　from　the　subject；
and　said；　walking　on；　〃This　garden　is　not　much　altered。〃

At　that　moment；　a　little　shrill　voice　broke　out　in　remonstrance　among
the　laurels〃But　you　know；　Daisy；　you　are　the　captain　of　the　forty
thieves！〃

〃A　startling　announcement！〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　looking　at　Ethel；　and
the　next　two　steps　brought　them　in　view　of　the　play…place　in　the
laurels；　where　Aubrey　lay　on　the　ground；　feigning　sleep；　but　keeping
a　watchful　eye　over　Blanche；　who　was　dropping　something　into　the
holes　of　inverted　flower…pots；　Gertrude　dancing　about　in　a　way　that
seemed　to　have　called　for　the　reproof　of　the　more　earnest　actors。

〃Ethel！　　Ethel！〃　screamed　the　children；　with　one　voice；　and；　while
the　two　girls　stood　in　shyness　at　her　companion；　Aubrey　had　made　a
dart　at　her　neck；　and　hung　upon　her；　arms；　legs；　body；　and　all；　like
a　wild　cat。

〃That　will　do！　that　will　do；　old　manlet　go！　　Speak　to　Dr。　Spencer；
my　dear。〃

Blanche　did　so　demurely；　and　asked　where　was　papa？

〃Coming；　as　soon　as　he　has　been　to　Mrs。　Larkins's　poor　baby。〃

〃George　Larkins　has　been　here；〃　said　Aubrey。　　〃And　I　have　finished
'Vipera　et　lima'；　Ethel；　but　Margaret　makes　such　false　quantities！〃

〃What　is　your　name；　youngster？〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　laying　his　hand　on
Aubrey's　head。

〃Aubrey　Spencer　May；〃　was　the　answer。

〃Hey　day！　where　did　you　steal　my　name？〃　exclaimed　Dr。　Spencer；　while
Aubrey　stood　abashed　at　so　mysterious　an　accusation。

〃Oh！〃　exclaimed　Blanche；　seizing　on　Ethel；　and　whispering；　〃is　it
really　the　boy　that　climbed　the　market　cross？〃

〃You　see　your　fame　lives　here；〃　said　Ethel；　smiling；　as　Dr。　Spencer
evidently　heard。

〃He　was　a　little　boy！〃　said　Aubrey　indignantly；　looking　at　the　gray…
haired　man。

〃There！〃　said　Ethel　to　Dr。　Spencer。

〃The　tables　turned！〃　he　said；　laughing　heartily。　　〃But　do　not　let　me
keep　you。　　You　would　wish　to　prepare　your　sister　for　a　stranger；　and
I　shall　improve　my　acquaintance　here。　　Where　are　the　forty　thieves？〃

〃I　am　all　of　them；〃　said　the　innocent；　daisy…faced　Gertrude；　and
Ethel　hastened　towards　the　house；　glad　of　the　permission　granted　by
his　true　good…breeding。

There　was　a　shriek　of　welcome　from　Mary；　who　sat　working　beside
Margaret。　　Ethel　was　certain　that　no　evil　tidings　had　come　to　her
eldest　sister；　so　joyous　was　her　exclamation　of　wonder　and　rebuke　to
her　home…sick　Ethel。　　〃Naughty　girl！　running　home　at　once！　　I　did
think　you　would　have　been　happy　there！〃

〃So　I　was；〃　said　Ethel　hastily；　〃but　who　do　you　think　I　have　brought
home？〃　　Margaret　flushed　with　such　a　pink；　that　Ethel　resolved　never
to　set　her　guessing　again；　and　hurried　to　explain；　and　having　heard
that　all　was　well；　and　taken　her　housekeeping　measures；　she　proceeded
to　fetch　the　guest；　but　Mary；　who　had　been　unusually　silent　all　this
time；　ran　after　her；　and　checked　her。

〃Ethel；　have　you　heard？〃　she　said。

〃Have　you？〃　said　Ethel。

〃George　Larkins　rode　in　this　morning　to　see　when　papa　would　come
home；　and　he　told　me。　　He　said　I　had　better　not　tell　Margaret；　for　he
did　not　believe　it。〃

〃And　you　have　not！　　That　is　very　good　of　you；　Mary。〃

〃Oh！　I　am　glad　you　are　come！　　I　could　not　have　helped　telling；　if　you
had　been　away　a　whole　week！　　But；　Ethel；　does　papa　believe　it？〃　　Poor
Mary's　full　lip　swelled；　and　her　eyes　swam；　ready　to　laugh　or　weep；
in　full　faith　in　her　sister's　answer。

Ethel　told　of　Meta's　captain；　and　the　smile　predominated；　and　settled
down　into　Mary's　usual　broad　beamy　look；　like　a　benignant　rising　sun
on　the　sign　of　an　inn；　as　Ethel　praised　her　warmly　for　a　fortitude
and　consideration　of　which　she　had　not　thought　her　capable。

Dr。　Spencer　was　discovered　full　in　the　midst　of　the　comedy　of　the
forty　thieves；　alternating；　as　required；　between　the　robber…captain
and　the　ass；　and　the　children　in　perfect　ecstasies　with　him。

They　all　followed　in　his　train　to　the　drawing…room；　and　were　so
clamorous；　that　he　could　have　no　conversation　with　Margaret。　　He
certainly　made　them　so；　but　Ethel；　remembering　what　a　blow　her
disclosures　had　been；　thought　it　would　be　only　a　kindness　to　send
Aubrey　to　show　him　to　his　room；　where　he　might　have　some　peace。

She　was　not　sorry　to　be　very　busy；　so　as　to　have　little　time　to　reply
to　the　questions　on　the　doings　at　Oxford；　and　the　cause　of　her　sudden
return；　and　yet　it　would　have　been　a　comfort　to　be　able　to　sit　down
to　understand　herself；　and　recall　her　confused　thoughts。　　But
solitary　reflection　was　a　thing　only　to　be　hoped　for　in　that　house　in
bed；　and　Ethel　was　obliged　to　run　up　and　down；　and　attend　to
everybody；　under　an　undefined　sense　that　she　had　come　home　to　a　dull；
anxious　world　of　turmoil。

Margaret　seemed　to　guess　nothing；　that　was　one　comfort；　she　evidently
thought　that　her　return　was　fully　accounted　for　by　the　fascination　of
her　papa's　presence　in　a　strange　place。　　She　gave　Ethel　no　credit　for
the　sacrifice；　naturally　supposing　that　she　could　not　enjoy　herself
away　from　home。　　Ethel　did　not　know　whether　to　be　glad　or　not；　she
was　relieved；　but　it　was　flat。　　As　to　Norman　Ogilvie；　one　or　two
inquiries　whether　she　liked　him；　and　if　Norman　were　going　to　Scotland
with　him；　were　all　that　passed；　and　it　was　very　provoking　to　be　made
so　hot　and　conscious　by　them。

She　could　not　begin　to　dress　till　late；　and　while　she　was　unpacking；
she　heard　her　father　come　home；　among　the　children's　loud　welcomes；
and　go　to　the　drawing…room。　　He　presently　knocked　at　the　door　between
their　rooms。

〃So　Margaret　does　not　know？〃　he　said。

〃No；　Mary　has　been　so　very　good；〃　and　she　told　what　had　passed。

〃Well　done；　Mary；　I　must　tell　her　so。　　She　is　a　good　girl　on　a　pinch；
you　see！〃

〃And　we　don't　speak　of　it　now？　　Or　will　it　hurt　Margaret　more　to
think　we　keep　things　from　her？〃

〃That　is　the　worst　risk　of　the　two。　　I　have　seen　great　harm　done　in
that　way。　　Mention　it；　but　without　seeming　to　make　too　much　of　it。〃

〃Won't　you；　papa？〃

〃You　had　betterit　will　seem　of　less　importance。　　I　think　nothing　of
it　myself。〃

Nevertheless；　Ethel　saw　that　he　could　not　trust　himself　to　broach　the
subject　to　Margaret。

〃How　was　the　Larkins'　baby？〃

〃Doing　better。　　What　have　you　done　with　Spencer？〃

〃I　put　him　into　Richard's　room。　　The　children　were　eating