the daisy chain, or aspirations-第107章

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that　Ethel　could　only　admire　and　lay　them　up　in　her　mind。　　Dr。　May
went　backwards　and　forwards；　and　brought　good　accounts　of　Margaret
and　fond　messages；　he　slept　at　the　Grange　each　night；　and　Meta　used
to　sit　in　the　corner　of　the　sofa　and　work；　or　not；　as　best　suited
her；　while　she　listened　to　his　talk　with　Ethel；　and　now　and　then
herself　joined。

George　Rivers's　absence　was　a　serious　inconvenience　in　all
arrangements；　but　his　sister　dreaded　his　grief　as　much　as　she　wished
for　his　return；　and　often　were　the　posts　and　the　journeys　reckoned
over；　without　a　satisfactory　conclusion；　as　to　when　he　could　arrive
from　so　remote　a　part　of　Scotland。

At　last；　as　the　two　girls　had　finished　their　early　dinner；　the　butler
brought　in　word　that　Mr。　Norman　May　was　there。　　Meta　at　once　begged
that　he　would　come　in；　and　Ethel　went　into　the　hall　to　meet　him。　　He
looked　very　wan；　with　the　dark　rings　round　his　eyes　a　deeper　purple
than　ever；　and　he　could　hardly　find　utterance　to　ask；　〃How　is　she？〃

〃As　good　and　sweet　as　she　can　be；〃　said　Ethel　warmly；　but　no　more；
for　Meta　herself　had　come　to　the　dining…room　door；　and　was　holding
out　her　hand。　　Norman　took　it　in　both　his；　but　could　not　speak；
Meta's　own　soft　voice　was　the　first。　　〃I　thought　you　would　comehe
was　so　fond　of　you。〃

Poor　Norman　quite　gave　way；　and　Meta　was　the　one　to　speak　gentle
words　of　soothing。　　〃There　is　so　much　to　be　thankful　for；〃　she　said。
〃He　has　been　spared　so　much　of　the　suffering　Dr。　May　feared　for　him；
and　he　was　so　happy　about　George。〃

Norman　made　a　great　effort　to　recover　himself。　　Ethel　asked　for　Flora
and　George。　　It　appeared　that　they　had　been　on　an　excursion　when　the
first　letter　arrived　at　Glenbracken；　and　thus　had　received　both
together　in　the　evening；　on　their　return。　　George　had　been　greatly
overcome；　and　they　had　wished　to　set　off　instantly；　but　Lady
Glenbracken　would　not　hear　of　Flora's　travelling　night　and　day；　and
it　had　at　length　been　arranged　that　Norman　Ogilvie　should　drive
Norman　across　the　country　that　evening；　to　catch　the　mail　for
Edinburgh；　and　he　had　been　on　the　road　ever　since。　　George　was
following　with　his　wife　more　slowly；　and　would　be　at　home　to…morrow
evening。　　Meantime；　he　sent　full　authority　to　his　father…in…law　to
make　arrangements。

Ethel　went　to　see　the　burned　child；　leaving　Meta　to　take　her　walk　in
the　garden　under　Norman's　charge。　　He　waited　on　her　with　a　sort　of
distant　reverence　for　a　form　of　grief；　so　unlike　what　he　had　dreaded
for　her；　when　the　first　shock　of　the　tidings　had　brought　back　to　him
the　shattered　bewildered　feelings　to　which　he　dared　not　recur。

To　dwell　on　the　details　was；　to　her；　a　comfort；　knowing　his　sympathy
and　the　affection　there　had　been　between　him　and　her　father；　nor　had
they　parted　in　such　absolute　brightness；　as　to　make　them　unprepared
for　such　a　meeting　as　the　present。　　The　cloud　of　suspense　was
brooding　lower　and　lower　over　the　May　family；　and　the　need　of　faith
and　submission　was　as　great　with　them　as　with　the　young　orphan
herself。　　Norman　said　little；　but　that　little　was　so　deep　and
fervent；　that　after　a　time　Meta　could　not　help　saying；　when　Ethel　was
seen　in　the　distance；　and　their　talk　was　nearly　over；　〃Oh；　Norman；
these　things　are　no　mirage！〃

〃It　is　the　world　that　is　the　mirage；〃　he　answered。　　Ethel　came　up；
and　Dr。　May　also；　in　good　time　for　the　post。　　He　was　obliged　to
become　very　busy；　using　Norman　for　his　secretary；　till　he　saw　his
son's　eyes　so　heavy；　that　he　remembered　the　two　nights　that　he　had
been　up；　and　ordered　him　to　go　home　and　go　to　bed　as　soon　as　tea　was
over。

〃May　I　come　back　to…morrow？〃

〃WhyyesI　think　you　may。　　No；　no；〃　he　added；　recollecting　himself；
〃I　think　you　had　better　not；〃　and　he　did　not　relent；　though　Norman
looked　disappointed。

Meta　had　already　expressed　her　belief　that　her　father　would　be　buried
at　the　suburban　church；　where　lay　her　mother；　and　Dr。　May；　having
been　desired　to　seek　out　the　will　and　open　it；　found　it　was　so；　and
fixed　the　day　and　hour　with　Meta；　who　was　as　submissive　and
reasonable　as　possible；　though　much　grieved　that　he　thought　she　could
not　be　present。

Ethel；　after　going　with　Meta　to　her　room　at　night；　returned　as　usual
to　talk　matters　over　with　him；　and　again　say　how　good　Meta　was。

〃And　I　think　Norman's　coming　did　her　a　great　deal　of　good；〃　said
Ethel。

〃Ha！　yes；〃　said　the　doctor　thoughtfully。

〃She　thinks　so　much　of　Mr。　Rivers　having　been　fond　of　him。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃he　was。　　I　find；　in　glancing　over　the　will；
which　was　newly　made　on　Flora's　marriage；　that　he　has　remembered
Normanleft　him　？00　and　his　portfolio　of　prints　by　Raffaelle。〃

〃Has　he；　indeed？how　very　kind；　how　much　Norman　will　value　it。〃

〃It　is　remarkable；〃　said　Dr。　May；　and　then；　as　if　he　could　not　help
it；　told　Ethel　what　Mr。　Rivers　had　said　of　his　wishes　with　regard　to
his　daughter。　　Ethel　blushed　and　smiled；　and　looked　so　much　touched
and　delighted；　that　he　grew　alarmed　and　said；　〃You　know；　Ethel；　this
must　be　as　if　it　never　had　been　mentioned。〃

〃What！　you　will　not　tell　Norman？〃

〃No；　certainly　not；　unless　I　see　strong　cause。　　They　are　very　fond　of
each　other；　certainly；　but　they　don't　know；　and　I　don't　know；　whether
it　is　not　like　brother　and　sister。　　I　would　not　have　either　of　them
guess　at　this；　or　feel　bound　in　any　way。　　Why；　Ethel；　she　has　thirty
thousand　pounds；　and　I　don't　know　how　much　more。〃

〃Thirty　thousand！〃　said　Ethel；　her　tone　one　of　astonishment；　while
his　had　been　almost　of　objection。

〃It　would　open　a　great　prospect；〃　continued　Dr。　May　complacently；
〃with　Norman's　talents；　and　such　a　lift　as　that；　he　might　be　one　of
the　first　men　in　England；　provided　he　had　nerve　and　hardness　enough；
which　I　doubt。〃

〃He　would　not　care　for　it；〃　said　Ethel。

〃No；　but　the　field　of　usefulness；　but　what　an　old　fool　I　am；　after
all　my　resolutions　not　to　be　ambitious　for　that　boy；　to　be　set　a…
going　by　such　a　thing　as　this！　　Still　Norman　is　something　out　of　the
common　way。　　I　wonder　what　Spencer　thinks　of　him。〃

〃And　you　never　mean　them　to　hear　of　it？〃

〃If　they　settle　it　for　themselves；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃that　sanction　will
come　in　to　give　double　value　to　mine；　or　if　I　should　see　poor　Norman
hesitating　as　to　the　inequality；　I　might　smooth　the　way；　but　you　see；
Ethel；　this　puts　us　in　a　most　delicate　situation　towards　this　pretty
little　creature。　　What　her　father　wanted　was　only　to　guard　her　from
fortune…hunters；　and　if　she　should　marry　suitably　elsewherewhy；　we
will　be　contented。〃

〃I　don't　think　I　should　be；〃　said　Ethel。

〃She　is　the　most　winning　of　humming…birds；　and　what　we　see　of　her
now；　gives　one　double　confidence　in　her。　　She　is　so　far　from　the
petted；　helpless　girl　that　he；　poor　man；　would　fain　have　made　her！
And　she　has　a　bright；　brave　temper　and　elastic　spirits　that　would　be
the　very　thing　for　him；　poor　boy；　with　that　morbid　sensitivenesshe
would　not　hurt　her；　and　she　would　brighten　him。　　It　would　be　a　very
pretty　thingbut　we　must　never　think　about　it　again。〃

〃If　we　can　help　it；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Ah！　I　am　sorry　I　have　put　it　into　your　head　too。　　We　shall　not　so
easily　be　unconscious　now；　when　they　talk　about　each　other　in　the
innocent　way　they　do。　　We　have　had　a　lesson　against　being　pleased　at
match…making！〃　　But；　turning　away　from　the　subject；　〃You　shall　not
lose　your　Cocksmoor　income；　Ethel〃

〃I　had　never　thought　of　that。　　You　have　taken　no　fees　here　since　we
have　been　all　one　family。〃

〃Well；　he　has　been　good　enough　to　leave　me　？00；　and　Cocksmoor　can
have　the　interest；　if　you　like。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　papa。〃

〃It　is　only　its　due；　for　I　suppose　that　is　for　attendance。
Personally；　to　myself；　he　has　left　that　beautiful　Claude　which　he
knew　I　admired　so　much。　　He　has　been　very　kind！　　But；　after　all；　we
ought　not　to　be　talking　of　all　thisI　should　not　have　known　it；　if　I
had　not　been　forced　to　read　the　will。　　Well；　so　we　are　in　Flora's
house；　Ethel！　　I　wonder　how　poor　dear　little　Meta　will　feel　the　being
a　guest　here；　instead　of　the　mistress。　　I　wish　that　boy　were　three　or
four　years　older！　　I　should　like　to　take　her　straight　home　with　usI
should　like　to　have　her　for　a　daughter。　　I　shall　always　look　on　her
as　one。〃

〃As　a　Daisy！〃　said　Ethel。

〃Don't　talk　of　it！〃　said　Dr。　May　hastily；　〃this　is　no　time　for　such
things。　　After　all；　I　am　glad　that　the　funeral　is　not　hereFlora　and
Meta　might　be　rather　overwhelmed　with　these　three　incongruous　sets　of
relations。　　By　their　letters；　those　Riverses　must　be　quite　as　queer　a
lot　as　George's　relations。　　After　all；　if　we　have　nothing　else；
Ethel；　we　have　the　best　of　it；　in　regard　to　such　relations　as　we
have。〃

〃There　is　Lord　Cosham；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Yes；　he　is　Meta's　guardian；　as　well　as　her　brother；　but　he　could　not
have　her　to　live　with　him。　　She　must　depend　upon　Flora。　　But　we　shall
see。〃

Ethel　felt　confident　that　Flora　would　be　very　kind　to　her　little
sister…in…law；　and　yet　one　of　those　gleams　of　doubt　crossed　her；
whether　Flora　would　not　be　somewhat　jealous　of　her　own　authority。

Late　the　next　evening；　the　carriage　drove　to　the　door；　and　George　and
Flora　appeared　in　the　hall。　　Their　sisters　went　out　to　meet　them；　and
George　folded　Meta　in　his　arms；　and　kissing　her　again　and　again；
called　her　his　poor　dear　little　sister；　and　wept　bitterly；　and　even
violently。　　Flora　stood　beside　Ethel；　and　said；　in　a　low　voice；　that
poor　George　felt　it　dreadfully；　and　then　came　forward；　touched　him
gently；　and　told　him　that　he　must　not　overset　Meta；　and；　drawing　her
from　him；　kissed　her；　and　said　what　a　grievous　time　this　had　been　for
her；　and　how　sorry　they　had　been　to　leave　her　so　long；　but　they　knew
she　was　in　the　best　hands。

〃Yes；　I　should　have　been　so　sorry　you　had　been　over…tired。　　I　was
quite　well　off；〃　said　Meta。

〃And　you　must　look　on　us　as　your　home；〃　added　Flora。

〃How　can　she？〃　thought　Ethel。　　〃This　is　taking　possession；　and　making
Meta　a　guest　already！〃

However；　Meta　did　not　seem　so　to　feel　itshe　replied　by　caresses；
and　turned　again　to　her　brother。　　Poor　George　was　by　far　the　most
struck　down　of　all　the　mourners；　and　his　whole　demeanour　gave　his　new
relations　a　much　warmer　feeling　towards　him　than　they　could　ever　have
hoped　to　entertain。　　His　gentle　refined　father　had　softly　impressed
his　duller　nature；　and　his　want　of　attention　and　many　extravagances
came　back　upon　him　acutely　now；　in　his　changed　home。　　He　could　hardly
bear　to　look　at　his　little　orphan　sister；　and　lavished　every　mark　of
fondness　upon　her；　nor　could　he　endure　to　sit　at　the　bottom　of　his
table；　but　when　they　had　gone　in　to　dinner；　he　turned　away　from　the
chair　and　hid　his　face。　　He　was　almost　like　a　child　in　his　want　of
self…restraint；　and　with　all　Dr。　May's　kind　soothing　manner；　he　could
not　bring　him　to　attend　to　any　of　the　necessary　questions　as　to
arrangements；　and　was　obliged　to　refer　to　Flora；　whose　composed　good
sense　was　never　at　fault。

Ethel　was　surprised　to　find　that　it　would　be　a　great　distress　to　Meta
to　part　with　her　until　the　funeral　was　over；　though　she　would　hardly
express　a　wish　lest　Ethel　should　be　needed　at　home。　　As　soon　as　Flora
perceived　this；　she　begged　her　sister　to　stay；　and　again　Ethel　felt
unpleasantly　that　Meta　might　have　seen；　if　she　had