the daisy chain, or aspirations-第104章

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doubtfully；　and　the　children's　clamorous　anxiety　seemed　to　render　him
the　more　silent。

Hector　Ernescliffe　discovered　a　jackdaw's　nest　in　the　chimney；
whereupon　the　whole　train　rushed　off　to　investigate；　leaving　the　two
doctors　and　Ethel　standing　together　in　the　empty　parlour；　Dr。　May
pressing；　Dr。　Spencer　raising　desultory　objections；　but　so　evidently
against　his　own　wishes；　that　Ethel　said；　〃Now；　indeed；　you　must　not
disappoint　us　all。〃

〃No；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃it　is　a　settled　thing。〃

〃No；　no；　thanks；　thanks　to　you　all；　but　it　cannot　be。　　Let　me　go；〃
and　he　spoke　with　emotion。　　〃You　are　very　kind；　but　it　is　not　to　be
thought　of。〃

〃Why　not？〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃Spencer；　stay　with　me；〃　and　he　spoke　with
a　pleading；　almost　dependent　air。　　〃Why　should　you　go？〃

〃It　is　of　no　use　to　talk　about　it。　　You　are　very　kind；　but　it　will
not　do　to　encumber　you　with　a　lone　man；　growing　old。〃

〃We　have　been　young　together；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃And　you　must　not　leave　papa；〃　added　Ethel。

〃No；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃Trouble　may　be　at　hand。　　Help　us　through　with
it。　　Remember；　these　children　have　no　uncles。〃

〃You　will　stay？〃　said　Ethel。

He　made　a　sign　of　assenthe　could　do　no　more；　and　just　then　Gertrude
came　trotting　back；　so　exceedingly　smutty；　as　to　call　everybody's
attention。　　Hector　had　been　shoving　Tom　half…way　up　the　chimney；　in
hopes　of　reaching　the　nest；　and　the　consequences　of　this　amateur
chimney…sweeping　had　been　a　plentiful　bespattering　of　all　the
spectators　with　soot；　that　so　greatly　distressed　the　young　ladies；
that　Mary　and　Blanche　had　fled　away　from　public　view。

Dr。　Spencer's　first　act　of　possession　was　to　threaten　to　pull　Tom
down　by　the　heels　for　disturbing　his　jackdaws；　whereupon　there　was　a
general　acclamation；　and　Dr。　May　began　to　talk　of　marauding　times；
when　the　jackdaws　in　the　Minster　tower　had　been　harried。

〃Ah！〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　as　Tom　emerged；　blacker　than　the　outraged
jackdaws；　and　half　choked；　〃what　do　you　know　about　jackdaws'　nests？
You　that　are　no　Whichcote　scholars。〃

〃Don't　we？〃　cried　Hector；　〃when　there　is　a　jackdaw's　nest　in　Eton
Chapel；　twenty　feet　high。〃

〃Old　Grey　made　that！〃　said　Tom；　who　usually　acted　the　part　of　esprit
fort　to　Hector's　credulity。

〃Why；　there　is　a　picture　of　it　on　Jesse's　book；〃　said　Hector。

〃But　may　not　we　get　up　on　the　roof；　to　see　if　we　can　get　at　the　nest；
papa？　〃　said　Tom。

〃You　must　ask　Dr。　Spencer。　　It　is　his　house。〃

Dr。　Spencer　did　not　gainsay　it；　and　proceeded　even　to　show　the　old
Whichcote　spirit；　by　leading　the　assault；　and　promising　to　take　care
of　Aubrey；　while　Ethel　retained　Gertrude；　and　her　father　too；　for　Dr。
May　had　such　a　great　inclination　to　scramble　up　the　ladder　after
them；　that　she；　thinking　it　a　dangerous　experiment　for　so　helpless　an
arm；　was　obliged　to　assure　him　that　it　would　create　a　sensation　among
the　gossiphood　of　Stoneborough；　if　their　physician　were　seen
disporting　himself　on　the　top　of　the　house。

〃Ah！　　I'm　not　a　physician　unattached；　like　him；〃　said　Dr。　May；
laughing。　　〃Hullo！　have　you　got　up；　Tom？　　There's　a　door　up　there。
I'll　show　you〃

〃No；　don't　papa。　　Think　of　Mrs。　Ledwich；　and　asking　her　to　see　two
trustees　up　there！〃　said　Ethel。

〃Ah！　　Mrs。　Ledwich；　what　is　to　be　done　with　her；　Ethel？〃

〃I　am　sure　I　can't　tell。　　If　Flora　were　but　at　home；　she　would　manage
it。〃

〃Spencer　can　manage　anything！〃　was　the　answer。　　〃That　was　the
happiest　chance　imaginable　that　you　came　home　with　me；　and　so　we　came
to　go　by　the　same　train。〃

Ethel　was　only　afraid　that　time　was　being　cruelly　wasted；　but　the
best　men；　and　it　is　emphatically　the　best　that　generally　are　sohave
the　boy　strong　enough　on　one　side　or　other　of　their　natures；　to　be　a
great　provocation　to　womankind；　and　Dr。　Spencer　did　not　rest　from　his
pursuit　till　the　brood　of　the　jackdaws　had　been　discovered；　and　two
gray…headed　nestlings　kidnapped；　which　were　destined　to　a　wicker　cage
and　education。　　Little　Aubrey　was　beyond　measure　proud；　and　was
suggesting　all　sorts　of　outrageous　classical　names　for　them；　till
politely　told　by　Tom　that　he　would　make　them　as　great　prigs　as
himself；　and　that　their　names　should　be　nothing　but　Jack　and　Jill。

〃There's　nothing　for　it　but　for　Aubrey　to　go　to　school；〃　cried　Tom；
sententiously　turning　round　to　Ethel。

〃Ay；　to　Stoneborough；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer。

Tom　coloured；　as　if　sorry　for　his　movement；　and　hastened　away　to　make
himself　sufficiently　clean　to　go　in　quest　of　a　prison　for　his
captives。

Dr。　Spencer　began　to　bethink　him　of　the　paper　that　he　had　been　so
eagerly　drawing　up；　and　looking　at　his　own　begrimed　hands；　asked
Ethel　whether　she　would　have　him　for　a　trustee。

〃Will　the　other　eight　ladies？〃　said　Ethel；　〃that's　the　point。〃

〃Ha；　Spencer！　you　did　not　know　what　you　were　undertaking。　　Do　you
wish　to　be　let　off？〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃Not　I；〃　said　the　undaunted　doctor。　　〃Come；　Ethel；　let　us　hear　what
should　be　done。〃

〃There's　no　time；〃　said　Ethel；　bewildered。　　〃The　court　will　be　only
on　the　day　after　to…morrow。〃

〃Ample　time！〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　who　seemed　ready　to　throw　himself
into　it　with　all　his　might。　　〃What　we　have　to　do　is　this。　　The　ladies
to　be　propitiated　are〃

〃Nine　Muses；　to　whom　you　will　have　to　act　Apollo；〃　said　Dr。　May；　who；
having　put　his　friend　into　the　situation；　had　a　mischievous　delight
in　laughing　at　him；　and　watching　what　he　would　do。

〃One　and　two；　Ethel；　and　Mrs。　Rivers！〃

〃Rather　eight　and　nine；〃　said　Ethel；　〃though　Flora　may　be　somebody
now。〃

〃Seven　then；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer。　　〃Well　then；　Ethel；　suppose　we　set
out　on　our　travels　this　afternoon。　　Visit　these　ladies；　get　them　to
call　a　meeting　to…morrow；　and　sanction　their　three　trustees。〃

〃You　little　know　what　a　work　it　is　to　call　a　meeting；　or　how　many
notes　Miss　Rich　sends　out　before　one　can　be　accomplished。〃

〃Faint　heartyou　know　the　proverb；　Ethel。　　Allons。　　I'll　call　on
Mrs。　Ledwich〃

〃Stay；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃Let　Ethel　do　that；　and　ask　her　to　tea；　and　we
will　show　her　your　drawing　of　the　school。〃

So　the　remaining　ladies　were　dividedEthel　was　to　visit　Miss
Anderson；　Miss　Boulder；　and　Mrs。　Ledwich；　Dr。　Spencer；　the　rest；　and
a　meeting；　if　possible；　be　appointed　for　the　next　day。

Ethel　did　as　she　was　told；　though　rather　against　the　grain；　and　her
short；　abrupt　manner　was　excused　the　more　readily；　that　Dr。　Spencer
had　been　a　subject　of　much　mysterious　speculation　in　Stoneborough；
and　to　gain　any　intelligence　respecting　him；　was　a　great　object；　so
that　she　was　extremely　welcome　wherever　she　called。

Mrs。　Ledwich　promised　to　come　to　tea；　and　instantly　prepared　to　walk
to　Miss　Rich；　and　authorise　her　to　send　out　the　notes　of　summons　to
the　morrow's　meeting。　　Ethel　offered　to　walk　with　her；　and　found　Mrs。
and　Miss　Rich　in　a　flutter；　after　Dr。　Spencer's　call；　the　daughter
just　going　to　put　on　her　bonnet　and　consult　Mrs。　Ledwich；　and　both
extremely　enchanted　with　Dr。　Spencer；　who　〃would　be　such　an
acquisition。〃

The　hour　was　fixed　and　the　notes　sent　out；　and　Ethel　met　Dr。　Spencer
at　the　garden　gate。

〃Well！〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃I　think　we　have　fixed　them　offhave　not
we？〃

〃Yes；　but　is　it　not　heartless　that　everything　should　be　done　through
so　much　nonsense？〃

〃Did　you　ever　hear　why　the　spire　of　Ulm　Cathedral　was　never
finished？〃　said　Dr。　Spencer。

〃No；　why　not？〃

〃Because　the　citizens　would　accept　no　help　from　their　neighbours。〃

〃I　am　glad　enough　of　help　when　it　comes　in　the　right　way；　and　from
good　motives。〃

〃There　are　more　good　motives　in　the　world　than　you　give　people　credit
for；　Ethel。　　You　have　a　good　father；　good　sense；　and　a　good
education；　and　you　have　some　perception　of　the　system　by　which　things
like　this　should　be　done。　　Unfortunately；　the　system　is　in　bad　hands
here；　and　these　good　ladies　have　been　left　to　work　for　themselves；
and　it　is　no　wonder　that　there　is　plenty　of　little　self…importance；
nonsense；　and　the　like；　among　them；　but　for　their　own　sakes　we　should
rather　show　them　the　way；　than　throw　them　overboard。〃

〃If　they　will　be　shown；〃　said　Ethel。

〃I　can't　say　they　seemed　to　me　so　very　formidable；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer。
〃Gentle　little　women。〃

〃Oh！　it　is　only　Mrs。　Ledwich　that　stirs　them　up。　　I　hope　you　are
prepared　for　that　encounter。〃

Mrs。　Ledwich　came　to　tea；　sparkling　with　black　bugles；　and　was　very
patronising　and　amiable。　　Her　visits　were　generally　subjects　of　great
dread；　for　she　talked　unceasingly；　laid　down　the　law；　and　overwhelmed
Margaret　with　remedies；　but　to…night　Dr。　Spencer　took　her　in　hand。
It　was　not　that　he　went　out　of　his　ordinary　self；　he　was　always　the
same　simple…mannered；　polished　gentleman；　but　it　was　this　that　told
she　was　evidently　somewhat　in　awe　of　himthe　refinement　kept　her　in
check。　　She　behaved　very　quietly　all　the　evening；　admired　the　plans；
consented　to　everything；　and　was　scarcely　Mrs。　Ledwich！

〃You　will　get　on　now；　Ethel；〃　said　Dr。　May　afterwards。　　〃Never　fear
but　that　he　will　get　the　Ladies'　Committee　well　in　hand。〃
〃Why　do　you　think　so；　papa？〃

〃Never　you　fear。〃

That　was　all　she　could　extract　from　him；　though　he　looked　very　arch。
The　Ladies'　Committee　accepted　of　their　representatives　with　full
consent；　and　the　indefatigable　Dr。　Spencer　next　had　to　hunt　up　the
fellow　trustee。　　He　finally　contrived　to　collect　every　one　he　wanted
at　Fordholm；　the　case　was　laid　before　the　Collegethe　College　was
propitious；　and　by　four　o'clock　in　the　evening；　Dr。　Spencer　laid
before　Ethel　the　promise　of　the　piece　of　land。

Mary's　joy　was　unbounded；　and　Ethel　blushed；　and　tried　to　thank。
This　would　have　been　the　summit　of　felicity　a　year　ago；　and　she　was
vexed　with　herself　for　feeling　that　though　land　and　money　were　both
in　such　safe　hands；　she　could　not　care　sufficiently　to　feel　the
ecstasy　the　attainment　of　her　object　would　once　have　given　to　her。
Then　she　would　have　been　frantic　with　excitement；　and　heedless　of
everything；　now　she　took　it　so　composedly　as　to　annoy　herself。

〃To　think　of　that　one　week　at　Oxford　having　so　entirely　turned　this
head　of　mine！〃

Perhaps　it　was　the　less　at　home；　because　she　had　just　heard　that
George　and　Flora　had　accepted　an　invitation　to　Glenbracken；　but
though　the　zest　of　Cocksmoor　might　be　somewhat　gone；　she　called
herself　to　order；　and　gave　her　full　attention　to　all　that　was　planned
by　her　champion。

Never　did　man　plunge　into　business　more　thoroughly　than　he；　when　he
had　once　undertaken　it。　　He　was　one　of　those　men　who；　from　gathering
particulars　of　every　practical　matter　that　comes　under　their　notice；
are　able　to　accomplish　well　whatever　they　set　their　hand　to；　and
building　was　not　new　to　him；　though　his　former　subjectsa　church　and
mission　station　in　Indiabore　little　remembrance　to　the　present。

He　bought　a　little　round　dumpling　of　a　white　pony；　and　trotted　all
over　the　country　in　search　of　building　materials　and　builders；　he
discovered　trees　in　distant　timber…yards；　he　brought　home　specimens
of　stone；　one　in　each　pocket；　to　compare　and　analyse；　he　went　to
London　to　look　at　model　schools；　he　drew　plans　each　more　neat　and
beautiful　than　the　last；　he　compared　builders'　estimates；　and　wrote
letters　to　the　National　Society；　so　as　to　be　able　to　begin　in　the
spring。

In　the　meantime　he　was　settling　himself；　furnishing　h