the daisy chain, or aspirations-第101章

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〃How　was　the　Larkins'　baby？〃

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

〃I　put　him　into　Richard's　room。　　The　children　were　eating　him　up！　　He
is　so　kind　to　them。〃

〃Ay！　I　say；　Ethel；　that　was　a　happy　consequence　of　your　coming　home
with　me。〃

〃What　a　delightful　person　he　is！〃

〃Is　he　not？　　A　true　knight　errant；　as　he　always　was！　　I　could　not
tell　you　what　I　owed　to　him　as　a　boyall　my　life；　I　may　say。
Ethel；〃　he　added　suddenly：　〃we　must　do　our　best　to　make　him　happy
here。　　I　know　it　nowI　never　guessed　it　then；　but　one　is　very　hard
and　selfish　when　one　is　happy〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　papa？〃

〃I　see　it　now；〃　continued　Dr。　May　incoherently；　〃the　cause　of　his
wandering　lifeadvantages　thrown　aside。　　He！　the　most　worthy。
Things　I　little　heeded　at　the　time　have　come　back　on　me！　　I
understand　why　he　banished　himself！〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Ethel　bewildered。

〃She　never　had　an　idea　of　it；　but　I　might　have　guessed　from　what　fell
from　him　unconsciously；　for　not　a　word　would　he　have　saidnor　did　he
say；　to　show　how　he　sacrificed　himself！〃

〃Who　was　it？　　Aunt　Flora？〃　said　Ethel；　beginning　to　collect　his
meaning。

〃No；　Ethel；　it　was　your　own　dear　mother！　　You　will　think　this　another
romantic　fancy　of　mine；　but　I　am　sure　of　it。〃

〃So　am　I；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Howwhat？　　Ah！　　I　remembered　after　we　parted　that　he　might　know
nothing〃

〃He　asked　me；〃　said　Ethel。

〃And　how　did　he　bear　it？〃

Ethel　told；　and　the　tears　filled　her　father's　eyes。

〃It　was　wrong　and　cruel　in　me　to　bring　him　home　unprepared！　and　then
to　leave　it　to　you。　　I　always　forget　other　people's　feelings。　　Poor
Spencer！　　And　now；　Ethel；　you　see　what　manner　of　man　we　have　here；
and　how　we　ought　to　treat　him。〃

〃Indeed　I　do！〃

〃The　most　unselfishthe　most　self…sacrificing〃　continued　Dr。　May。
〃And　to　see　what　it　all　turned　on！　　I　happened　to　have　this　place
open　to　methe　very　cause；　perhaps；　of　my　having　taken　things　easy
and　so　the　old　Professor　threw　opportunities　in　my　way；　while　Aubrey
Spencer；　with　every　recommendation　that　man　could　have；　was　set
aside；　and　exiled　himself；　leaving　the　station；　and　all　he　might　so
easily　have　gained。　　Ah；　Ethel；　Sir　Matthew　Fleet　never　came　near　him
in　ability。　　But　not　one　word　to　interfere　with　me　would　he　say；　and…
…how　I　have　longed　to　meet　him　again；　after　parting　in　my　selfish；
unfeeling　gladness；　and　now　I　have　nothing　to　do　for　him；　but　show
him　how　little　I　was　to　be　trusted　with　her。〃

Ethel　never　knew　how　to　deal　with　these　occasional　bursts　of　grief；
but　she　said　that　she　thought　Dr。　Spencer　was　very　much　pleased　to
have　met　with　him；　and　delighted　with　the　children。

〃Ah！　well；　you　are　her　children；〃　said　Dr。　May；　with　his　hand　on
Ethel's　shoulder。

So　they　went　downstairs；　and　found　Mary　making　tea；　and　Margaret；
fearing　Dr。　Spencer　was　overwhelmed　with　his　young　admirersfor
Aubrey　and　Gertrude　were　one　on　each　knee；　and　Blanche　standing
beside　him；　inflicting　on　him　a　catalogue　of　the　names　and　ages　of
all　the　eleven。

〃Ethel　has　introduced　you；　I　see；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃Ay；　I　assure　you；　it　was　an　alarming　introduction。　　No　sooner　do　I
enter　your　garden；　than　I　hear　that　I　am　in　the　midst　of　the　Forty
Thieves。　　I　find　a　young　lady　putting　the　world　to　death；　after　the
fashion　of　Hamletand；　looking　about　to　find　what　I　have　lost；　I
find　this　urchin　has　robbed　me　of　my　namea　property　I　supposed　was
always　left　to　unfortunate　travellers；　however　small　they　might　be
chopped　themselves。〃

〃Well；　Aubrey　boy；　will　you　make　restitution？〃

〃It　is　my　name；〃　said　Aubrey　positively；　for；　as　his　father　added；
〃He　is　not　without　dread　of　the　threat　being　fulfilled；　and　himself
left　to　be　that　Anon　who；　Blanche　says；　writes　so　much　poetry。〃

Aubrey　privately　went　to　Ethel；　to　ask　her　if　this　were　possible；　and
she　had　to　reassure　him；　by　telling　him　that　they　were　〃only　in　fun。〃

It　was　fun　with　a　much　deeper　current　though；　for　Dr。　Spencer　was
saying；　with　a　smile；　between　gratification　and　sadness；　〃I　did　not
think　my　name　would　have　been　remembered　here　so　long。〃

〃We　had　used　up　mine；　and　the　grandfathers'；　and　the　uncles'；　and
began　to　think　we　might　look　a　little　further　a…field；〃　said　Dr。　May。
〃If　I　had　only　known　where　you　were；　I　would　have　asked　you　to　be　the
varlet's　godfather；　but　I　was　much　afraid　you　were　nowhere　in　the
land　of　the　living。〃

〃I　have　but　one　godson；　and　he　is　coffee…coloured！　　I　ought　to　have
written；　but；　you　see；　for　seven　years　I　thought　I　was　coming　home。〃

Aubrey　had　recovered　sufficiently　to　observe　to　Blanche；　〃That　was
almost　as　bad　as　Ulysses；〃　which；　being　overheard　and　repeated；　led
to　the　information　that　he　was　Ethel's　pupil；　whereupon　Dr。　Spencer
began　to　inquire　after　the　school；　and　to　exclaim　at　his　friend　for
having　deserted　it　in　the　person　of　Tom。　　Dr。　May　looked　convicted；
but　said　it　was　all　Norman's　fault；　and　Dr。　Spencer；　shaking　his　head
at　Blanche；　opined　that　the　young　gentleman　was　a　great　innovater；
and　that　he　was　sure　he　was　at　the　bottom　of　the　pulling　down　the
Market　Cross；　and　the　stopping　up　Randall's　Alleyiniquities　of　the
〃nasty　people；〃　of　which　she　already　had　made　him　aware。

〃Poor　Norman；　he　suffered　enough　anent　Randall's　Alley；〃　said　Dr。
May；　〃but　as　to　the　Market　Cross；　that　came　down　a　year　before　he　was
born。〃

〃It　was　the　Town　Council！〃　said　Ethel。

〃One　of　the　ordinary　stultifications　of　Town　Councils？〃

〃Take　care；　Spencer；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃I　am　a　Town　Council　man　my…
self〃

〃You；　Dick！〃　and　he　turned　with　a　start　of　astonishment；　and　went
into　a　fit　of　laughing；　re…echoed　by　all　the　young　ones；　who　were
especially　tickled　by　hearing；　from　another；　the　abbreviation　that
had；　hitherto；　only　lived　in　the　favourite　expletive；　〃As　sure　as　my
name　is　Dick　May。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃'Dost　thou　not　suspect　my　place？　　Dost
thou　not　suspect　my　years？　　One　that　hath　two　gowns；　and　everything
handsome　about　him！'〃

His　friend　laughed　the　more；　and　they　betook　themselves　to　the
College　stories；　of　which　the　quotation　from　Dogberry　seemed　to　have
reminded　them。

There　was　something　curious　and　affecting　in　their　manner　to　each
other。　　Often　it　was　the　easy　bantering　familiarity　of　the　two　youths
they　had　once　been　together；　with　somewhat　of　elder　brotherhood　on
Dr。　Spencer's　sideand　of　looking　up　on　Dr。　May'sand　just　as　they
had　recurred　to　these　terms；　some　allusion　would　bring　back　to　Dr。
Spencer；　that　the　heedless；　high…spirited　〃Dick；〃　whom　he　had　always
had　much　ado　to　keep　out　of　scrapes；　was　a　householder；　a　man　of
weight　and　influence；　a　light　which　would　at　first　strike　him　as　most
ludicrous；　and　then　mirth　would　end　in　a　sigh；　for　there　was　yet
another　aspect！　　After　having　thought　of　him　so　long　as　the　happy
husband　of　Margaret　Mackenzie；　he　found　her　place　vacant；　and　the
trace　of　deep　grief　apparent　on　the　countenance；　once　so　gaythe
oppression　of　anxiety　marked　on　the　brow；　formerly　so　joyous；　the
merriment　almost　more　touching　than　gravity　would　have　been；　for　the
former　nature　seemed　rather　shattered　than　altered。　　In　merging
towards　this　side；　there　was　a　tender　respect　in　Dr。　Spencer's　manner
that　was　most　beautiful；　though　this　evening　such　subjects　were
scrupulously　kept　at　the　utmost　distance；　by　the　constant　interchange
of　new　and　old　jokes　and　stories。

Only　when　bed…time　had　come；　and　Margaret　had　been　carried　offdid　a
silence　fall　on　the　two　friends；　unbroken　till　Dr。　May　rose　and
proposed　going　upstairs。　　When　he　gave　his　hand　to　wish　good…night；
Dr。　Spencer　held　it　this　time　most　carefully；　and　said；　〃Oh；　May！　　I
did　not　expect　this！〃

〃I　should　have　prepared　you；〃　said　his　host；　〃but　I　never　recollected
that　you　knew　nothing〃

〃I　had　dwelt　on　your　happiness！〃

〃There　never　were　two　happier　creatures　for　twenty…two　years；〃　said
Dr。　May；　his　voice　low　with　emotion。　　〃Sorrow　spared　her！　　Yes；　think
of　her　always　in　undimmed　brightnessalways　smiling　as　you　remember
her。　　She　was　happy。　　She　is；〃　he　concluded。　　His　friend　had　turned
aside　and　hidden　his　face　with　his　hands；　then　looked　up　for　a
moment；　〃And　you；　Dick；〃　he　said　briefly。

〃Sorrow　spared　her；〃　was　Dr。　May's　first　answer。　　〃And　hers　are　very
good　children！〃

There　was　a　silence　again；　ending　in　Dr。　May's　saying；　〃What　do　you
think　of　my　poor　girl？〃

They　discussed　the　nature　of　the　injury：　Dr。　Spencer　could　not　feel
otherwise　than　that　it　was　a　very　hopeless　matter。　　Her　father　owned
that　he　had　thought　so　from　the　first；　and　had　wondered　at　Sir
Matthew　Fleet's　opinion。　　His　subdued　tone　of　patience　and
resignation；　struck　his　guest　above　all；　as　changed　from　what　he　had
once　been。

〃You　have　been　sorely　tried；〃　he　said；　when　they　parted　at　his　room
door。

〃I　have　received　much　good！〃　simply　answered　Dr。　May。　　〃Goodnight！　　I
am　glad　to　have　you　hereif　you　can　bear　it。〃

〃Bear　it？　　Dick！　how　like　that　girl　is　to　you！　　She　is　yourself！〃

〃Such　a　self　as　I　never　was！　　Good…night。〃

Ethel　overcame　the　difficulty　of　giving　the　account　of　the　newspaper
alarm　with　tolerable　success；　by　putting　the　story　of　Meta's
conversation　foremost。　　Margaret　did　not　take　it　to　heart　as　much　as
she　had　feared；　nor　did　she　appear　to　dwell　on　it　afterwards。　　The
truth　was　perhaps　that　Dr。　Spencer's　visit　was　to　every　one　more　of
an　excitement　and　amusement　than　it　was　to　Ethel。　　Not　that　she　did
not　like　him　extremely；　but　after　such　a　week　as　she　had　been
spending；　the　home…world　seemed　rather　stale　and　unprofitable。

Miss　Bracy　relapsed　into　a　state　of　〃feelings；〃　imagining　that　Ethel
had　distrusted　her　capabilities；　and　therefore　returned；　or　as　Ethel
herself　sometimes　feared；　there　might　be　irritability　in　her　own
manner　that　gave　cause　of　annoyance。　　The　children　were　inclined　to
be　riotous　with　their　new　friend；　who　made　much　of　them　continually；
and　especially　patronised　Aubrey；　Mary　was　proud　of　showing　how　much
she　had　learned　to　do　for　Margaret　in　her　sister's　absence；　Dr。　May
was　so　much　taken　up　with　his　friend；　that　Ethel　saw　less　of　him　than
usual；　and　she　began　to　believe　that　it　had　been　all　a　mistake　that
every　one　was　so　dependent　on　her；　for；　in　fact；　they　did　much　better
without　her。

Meantime；　she　heard　of　the　gaieties　which　the　others　were　enjoying；
and　she　could　not　feel　heroic　when　they　regretted　her。　　At　the　end　of
a　week；　Meta　Rivers　was　escorted　home　from　Warwick　by　two　servants；
and　came　to　Stoneborough；　giving　a　lively　description　of　all　the
concluding　pleasures；　but　declaring　that　Ethel's　departure　had　taken
away　the　zest　of　the　whole；　and　Mr。　Ogilvie　had　been　very
disconsolate。　　Margaret　had　not　been　prepared　to　hear　that　Mr。
Ogilvie　had　been　so　constant　a　companion；　and　was　struck　by　finding
that　Ethel　had　passed　over　one　who　had　evidently　been　so　great　an
ingredient　in　the　delights　of　the　expedition。　　Meta　had；　however
observed　nothingshe　was　a　great　deal　too　simple　and　too　much
engrossed　for　such　notions　to　have　crossed　her　mind；　but　Margaret
inferred　something；　and　hoped　to　learn　more　when　she　should　see
Flora。　　This　would　not　be　immediately。　　George　and　his　wife　were　gone
to　London；　and　thence　intended　to　pay　a　round　of　visits；　and　Norman
had　accompanied　his　names