the daisy chain, or aspirations-第105章

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letters　to　the　National　Society；　so　as　to　be　able　to　begin　in　the
spring。

In　the　meantime　he　was　settling　himself；　furnishing　his　new　house
with　great　precision　and　taste。　　He　would　have　no　assistance　in　his
choice；　either　of　servants　or　furniture；　but　made　numerous　journeys
of　inspection　to　Whitford；　to　Malvern；　and　to　London；　and　these
seemed　to　make　him　the　more　content　with　Stoneborough。　　Sir　Matthew
Fleet　had　evidently　chilled　him；　and　as　he　found　his　own　few
remaining　relations　uncongenial；　he　became　the　more　ready　to　find　a
resting…place　in　the　gray　old　town；　the　scene　of　his　school　life；
beside　the　friend　of　his　youth；　and　the　children　of　her；　for　whose
sake　he　had　never　sought　a　home　of　his　own。　　Though　he　now　and　then
talked　of　seeing　America；　or　of　going　back　to　India；　in　hopes　of
assisting　his　beloved　mission　at　Poonshedagore；　these　plans　were　fast
dying　away；　as　he　formed　habits　and　attachments；　and　perceived　the
sphere　of　usefulness　open　to　him。

It　was　a　great　step　when　his　packages　arrived；　and　his　beautiful
Indian　curiosities　were　arranged；　making　his　drawing…room　as　pretty　a
room　as　could　anywhere　be　seen；　in　readiness；　as　he　used　to　tell
Ethel；　for　a　grand　tea…party　for　all　the　Ladies'　Committee；　when　he
should　borrow　her　and　the　best　silver　teapot　to　preside。　　Moreover；
he　had　a　chemical　apparatus；　a　telescope；　and　microscope；　of　great
power；　wherewith　he　tried　experiments　that　were　the　height　of
felicity　to　Tom　and　Ethel；　and　much　interested　their　father。　　He　made
it　his　business　to　have　full　occupation　for　himself；　with　plans；
books；　or　correspondence；　so　as　not　to　be　a　charge　on　the　hands　of
the　May　family；　with　whom　he　never　spent　an　evening　without　special
and　earnest　invitation。

He　gave　attendance　at　the　hospital　on　alternate　days；　as　well　as
taking　off　Dr。　May's　hands　such　of　his　gratuitous　patients　as　were
not　averse　to　quit　their　old　doctor；　and　could　believe　in　a　physician
in　shepherd's　plaid；　and　Panama　hat。　　Exceedingly　sociable；　he　soon
visited　every　one　far　and　wide；　and　went　to　every　sort　of　party；　from
the　grand　dinners　of　the　〃county　families；〃　to　the　tea…drinkings　of
the　Stoneborough　ladiesa　welcome　guest　at　all；　and　enjoying　each　in
his　own　way。　　English　life　was　so　new　to　him　that　he　entered　into　the
little　accessories　with　the　zest　of　a　youth；　and　there　seemed　to　be　a
curious　change　between　the　two　old　fellow　students；　the　elder　and
more　staid　of　former　days　having　come　back　with　unencumbered
freshness　to　enliven　his　friend；　just　beginning　to　grow　aged　under
the　wear　of　care　and　sorrows。

It　was　very　droll　to　hear　Dr。　May　laughing　at　Dr。　Spencer's　histories
of　his　adventures；　and　at　the　new　aspects　in　which　his　own　well…
trodden　district　appeared　to　travelled　eyes；　and　not　less　amusing　was
Dr。　Spencer's　resolute　defence　of　all　the　nine　muses；　generally　and
individually。

He　certainly　had　no　reason　to　think　ill　of　them。　As　one　woman；　they
were　led　by　him；　and　conformed　their　opinions。　　The　only　seceder　was
Louisa　Anderson；　who　had　her　brother　for　her　oracle；　and；　indeed；　the
more　youthful　race；　to　whom　Harvey　was　the　glass　of　fashion；　uttered
disrespectful　opinions　as　to　the　doctor's　age；　and　would　not　accede
to　his　being；　as　Mrs。　Ledwich　declared；　〃much　younger　than　Dr。　May。〃

Harvey　Anderson　had　first　attempted　patronage；　then　argument；　with
Dr。　Spencer；　but　found　him　equally　impervious　to　both。　　〃Very　clever；
but　an　old　world　man；〃　said　Harvey。　　〃He　has　made　up　his　bundle　of
prejudices。〃

〃Clever　sort　of　lad！〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　〃a　cool　hand；　but　very
shallow〃

Ethel　wondered　to　hear　thus　lightly　disposed　of；　the　powers　of
argument　that　had　been　thought　fairly　able　to　compete　with　Norman；
and　which　had　taxed　him　so　severely。　　She　did　not　know　how
differently　abstract　questions　appear　to　a　mature　mind；　confirmed　in
principle　by　practice；　and　to　one　young；　struggling　in　self…
formation；　and　more　used　to　theories　than　to　realities。




CHAPTER　XII。



The　heart　may　ache；　but　may　not　burst；
Heaven　will　not　leave　thee；　nor　forsake。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Christian　Year。


Hector　and　Tom　finished　their　holidays　by　a　morning's　shooting　at　the
Grange；　Dr。　May　promising　to　meet　them；　and　let　them　drive　him　home。

Meta　was　out　when　he　arrived；　and；　repairing　to　the　library；　he　found
Mr。　Rivers　sitting　by　a　fire；　though　it　was　early　in　September；　with
the　newspaper　before　him；　but　not　reading。　　He　looked　depressed；　and
seemed　much　disappointed　at　having　heard　that　George　and　Flora　had
accepted　some　further　invitations　in　Scotland；　and　did　not　intend　to
return　for　another　month。　　Dr。　May　spoke　cheerfully　of　the
hospitality　and　kindness　they　had　met；　but　failed　to　enliven　him；
and；　as　if　trying　to　assign　some　cause　for　his　vexation；　he　lamented
over　fogs　and　frosts；　and　began　to　dread　an　October　in　Scotland　for
Flora；　almost　as　if　it　were　the　Arctic　regions。

He　grew　somewhat　more　animated　in　praising　Flora；　and　speaking　of　the
great　satisfaction　he　had　in　seeing　his　son　married　to　so　admirable　a
person。　　He　only　wished　it　could　be　the　same　with　his　daughter。

〃You　are　a　very　unselfish　father；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃I　cannot　imagine
you　without　your　little　fairy。〃

〃It　would　be　hard　to　part；〃　said　Mr。　Rivers；　sighing；　〃yet　I　should
be　relieved　to　see　her　in　good　hands；　so　pretty　and　engaging　as　she
is；　and　something　of　an　heiress。　　With　our　dear　Flora；　she　is　secure
of　a　happy　home　when　I　am　gone；　but　still　I　should　be　glad　to　have
seen〃　and　he　broke　off　thoughtfully。

〃She　is　so　sensible；　that　we　shall　see　her　make　a　good　choice；〃　said
Dr。　May；　smiling；　〃that　is；　if　she　choose　at　all；　for　I　do　not　know
who　is　worthy　of　her。〃

〃I　am　quite　indifferent　as　to　fortune；〃　continued　Mr。　Rivers。　　〃She
will　have　enough　of　her　own。〃

〃Enough　not　to　be　dependent；　which　is　the　point；〃　said　Dr。　May；
〃though　I　should　have　few　fears　for　her　any　way。〃

〃It　would　be　a　comfort；〃　harped　on　Mr。　Rivers；　dwelling　on　the
subject；　as　if　he　wanted　to　say　something；　〃if　she　were　only　safe
with　a　man　who　knew　how　to　value　her　and　make　her　happy。　　Such　a
young　man　as　your　Norman；　nowI　have　often　thought〃

Dr。　May　would　not　seem　to　hear；　but　he　could　not　prevent　himself　from
blushing　as　crimson　as　if　he　had　been　the　very　Norman；　as　he
answered；　going　on　with　his　own　speech；　as　if　Mr。　Rivers's　had　been
unmade；　〃She　is　the　brightest　little　creature　under　the　sun；　and　the
sparkle　is　down　so　deep　within；　that　however　it　may　turn　out；　I
should　never　fear　for　her　happiness。〃

〃Flora　is　my　great　reliance；〃　proceeded　Mr。　Rivers。　　〃Her　aunt；　Lady
Leonora；　is　very　kind；　but　somehow　she　does　not　seem　to　suit　with
Meta。〃

〃Oh；　ho；〃　thought　the　doctor；　〃have　you　made　that　discovery；　my　good
friend？〃

The　voices　of　the　two　boys　were　heard　in　the　hall；　explaining　their
achievements　to　Meta；　and　Dr。　May　took　his　departure；　Hector　driving
him；　and　embarking　in　a　long　discourse　on　his　own　affairs　as　if　he
had　quite　forgotten　that　the　doctor　was　not　his　father；　and　going　on
emphatically；　in　spite　of　the　absence　of　mind　now　and　then　betrayed
by　his　auditor；　who；　at　Dr。　Spencer's　door；　exclaimed；　〃Stop；　Hector；
let　me　out　herethank　you；〃　and　presently　brought　out　his　friend
into　the　garden；　and　sat　down　on　the　grass；　talking　low　and　earnestly
over　the　disease　with　which　Mr。　Rivers　had　been　so　long　affected；　for
though　Dr。　May　could　not　perceive　any　positively　unfavourable
symptom；　he　had　been　rendered　vaguely　uneasy　by　the　unusual　heaviness
and　depression　of　manner。　　So　long　did　they　sit　conversing；　that
Blanche　was　sent　out；　primed　with　an　impertinent　message；　that　two
such　old　doctors　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　themselves　for　sitting　so
late　in　the　dew。

Dr。　Spencer　was　dragged　in　to　drink　tea；　and　the　meal　had　just　been
merrily　concluded；　when　the　door　bell　rang；　and　a　message　was　brought
in。　　〃The　carriage　from　the　Grange；　sir；　Miss　Rivers　would　be　much
obliged　if　you　would　come　directly。〃

〃There！〃　said　Dr。　May；　looking　at　Dr。　Spencer；　as　if　to　say；　I　told
you　so；　in　the　first　triumph　of　professional　sagacity；　but　the　next
moment　exclaiming；　〃Poor　little　Meta！〃　he　hurried　away。

A　gloom　fell　on　those　who　remained；　for；　besides　their　sympathy　for
Meta；　and　their　liking　for　her　kind　old　father；　there　was　that　one
unacknowledged　heartache；　which；　though　in　general　bravely　combated；
lay　in　wait　always　ready　to　prey　on　them。　　Hector　stole　round　to　sit
by　Margaret；　and　Dr。　Spencer　muttered；　〃This　will　never　do；〃　and　sent
Tom　to　fetch　some　papers　lying　on　his　table；　whence　he　read　them　some
curious　accounts　that　he　had　just　received　from　his　missionary
friends　in　India。

They　were　interested；　but　in　a　listening　mood；　that　caused　a
universal　start　when　the　bell　again　sounded。　　This　time；　James
reported　that　the　servant　from　the　Grange　said　his　master　was　very
illhe　had　brought　a　letter　to　post　for　Mr。　George　Rivers；　and　here
was　a　note　for　Miss　Ethel。　　It　was　the　only　note　Ethel　had　ever
received　from　her　father；　and　contained　these　few　words：


〃DEAR　E。；

〃I　believe　this　attack　will　be　the　last。　　Come　to　Meta；　and　bring　my
things。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　R。　M。〃


Ethel　put　her　hands　to　her　forehead。　　It　was　as　if　she　had　been　again
plunged　into　the　stunned　dream　of　misery　of　four　years　ago；　and　her
sensation　was　of　equal　bewilderment　and　uselessness；　but　it　was　but
for　a　momentthe　next　she　was　in　a　state　of　over…bustle　and
eagerness。　　She　wanted　to　fly　about　and　hasten　to　help　Meta；　and
could　hardly　obey　the　word　and　gesture　by　which　Margaret　summoned　her
to　her　side。

〃Dear　Ethel；　you　must　calm　yourself；　or　you　will　not　be　of　use。〃

〃I？　　I　can't　be　of　any　use！　　Oh；　if　you　could　go！　　If　Flora　were　but
here！　　But　I　must　go；　Margaret。〃

〃I　will　put　up　your　father's　things；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　in　a　soothing
tone。　　〃The　carriage　cannot　be　ready　in　a　moment；　so　that　there　will
be　full　time。〃

Mary　and　Miss　Bracy　prepared　Ethel's　own　goods；　which　she　would
otherwise　have　forgotten；　and　Margaret；　meanwhile；　detained　her　by
her　side；　trying　to　calm　and　encourage　her　with　gentle　words　of
counsel；　that　might　hinder　her　from　giving　way　to　the　flurry　of
emotion　that　had　seized　her；　and　prevent　her　from　thinking　herself
certain　to　be　useless。

Adams　was　to　drive　her　thither　in　the　gig；　and　it　presently　came　to
the　door。　　Dr。　Spencer　wrapped　her　up　well　in　cloaks　and　shawls；　and
spoke　words　of　kindly　cheer　in　her　ear　as　she　set　off。　　The　fresh
night　air　blew　pleasantly　on　her；　the　stars　glimmered　in　full　glory
overhead；　and　now　and　then　her　eye　was　caught　by　the　rocket…like
track　of　a　shooting…star。　　Orion　was　rising　slowly　far　in　the　east；
and　bringing　to　her　mind　the　sailor…boy　under　the　southern　sky；　if；
indeed；　he　were　not　where　sun　and　stars　no　more　are　the　light。　　It
was　strange　that　the　thought　came　more　as　soothing　than　as　acute
pain；　she　could　bear　to　think　of　him　thus　in　her　present　frame；　as
long　as　she　had　not　to　talk　of　him。　　Under　those　solemn　stars；　the
life　everlasting　seemed　to　overpower　the　sense　of　this　mortal　life；
and　Ethel's　agitation　was　calmed　away。

The　old　cedar…tree　stood　up　in　stately　blackness　against　the　sky；　and