the daisy chain, or aspirations-第108章

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perceived　this；　she　begged　her　sister　to　stay；　and　again　Ethel　felt
unpleasantly　that　Meta　might　have　seen；　if　she　had　chosen；　that　Flora
took　the　invitation　upon　herself。

So；　while　Dr。　May；　with　George；　Norman；　and　Tom；　went　to　London；　she
remained；　though　not　exactly　knowing　what　good　she　was　doing；　unless
by　making　the　numbers　rather　less　scanty；　but　both　sisters　declared
her　to　be　the　greatest　comfort　possible；　and　when　Meta　shut　herself
up　in　her　own　room；　where　she　had　long　learned　to　seek　strength　in
still　communing　with　her　own　heart；　Flora　seemed　to　find　it　a　relief
to　call　her　sister　to　hers；　and　talk　over　ordinary　subjects；　in　a
tone　that　struck　on　Ethel's　ear　as　a　little　incongruousbut　then
Flora　had　not　been　here　from　the　first；　and　the　impression　could　not
be　as　strong。　　She　was　very　kind；　and　her　manner；　when　with　others；
was　perfect；　from　its　complete　absence　of　affectation；　but；　alone
with　Ethel；　there　was　a　little　complacency　sometimes　betrayed；　and
some　curiosity　whether　her　father　had　read　the　will。　　Ethel　allowed
what　she　had　heard　of　the　contents　to　be　extracted　from　her；　and　it
certainly　did　not　diminish　Flora's　secret　satisfaction　in　being
'somebody'。

She　told　the　whole　history　of　her　visits；　first；　how　cordial　Lady
Leonora　Langdale　had　been；　and　then；　how　happy　she　had　been　at
Glenbracken。　　The　old　Lord　and　Lady；　and　Marjorie；　all　equally
charming　in　their　various　ways；　and　Norman　Ogilvie　so　good　a　son；　and
so　highly　thought　of　in　his　own　country。

〃Did　I　tell　you；　Ethel；　that　he　desired　to　be　remembered　to　you？〃

〃Yes；　you　said　so。〃

〃What　has　Coralie　done　with　it？〃　continued　Flora；　seeking　in　her
dressing…case。　　〃She　must　have　put　it　away　with　my　brooches。　　Oh；　no；
here　it　is。　　I　had　been　looking　for　Cairngorm　specimens　in　a　shop；
saying　I　wanted　a　brooch　that　you　would　wear；　when　Norman　Ogilvie
came　riding　after　the　carriage；　looking　quite　hot　and　eager。　　He　had
been　to　some　other　place；　and　hunted　this　one　up。　　Is　it　not　a
beauty？〃

It　was　one　of　the　round　Bruce　brooches；　of　dark　pebble；　with　a　silver
fern…leaf　lying　across　it；　the　dots　of　small　Cairngorm　stones。　　〃The
Glenbracken　badge；　you　know；〃　continued　Flora。

Ethel　twisted　it　about　in　her　fingers；　and　said；　〃Was　not　it　meant
for　you？〃

〃It　was　to　oblige　me；　if　you　choose　so　to　regard　it；〃　said　Flora；
smiling。　　〃He　gave　me　no　injunctions；　but；　you　see；　you　must　wear　it
now。　　I　shall　not　wear　coloured　brooches　for　a　year。〃

Ethel　sighed。　　She　felt　as　if　her　black　dress　ought；　perhaps；　to　be
worn　for　a　nearer　cause。　　She　had　a　great　desire　to　keep　that
Glenbracken　brooch；　and　surely　it　could　not　be　wrong。　　To　refuse　it
would　be　much　worse；　and　would　only　lead　to　Flora's　keeping　it；　and
not　caring　for　it。

〃Then　it　is　your　present；　Flora？〃

〃If　you　like　better　to　call　it　so；　my　dear。　　I　find　Norman　Ogilvie　is
going　abroad　in　a　few　months。　　I　think　we　ought　to　ask　him　here　on
his　way。〃

〃Flora；　I　wish　you　would　not　talk　about　such　things！〃

〃Do　you　really　and　truly；　Ethel？〃

〃Certainly　not；　at　such　a　time　as　this；〃　said　Ethel。

Flora　was　checked　a　little；　and　sat　down　to　write　to　Marjorie
Ogilvie。　　〃Shall　I　say　you　like　the　brooch；　Ethel？〃　she　asked
presently。

〃Say　what　is　proper；〃　said　Ethel　impatiently。　　〃You　know　what　I　mean；
in　the　fullest　sense　of　the　word。〃

〃Do　I？〃　said　Flora。

〃I　mean；〃　said　Ethel；　〃that　you　may　say；　simply　and　rationally；　that
I　like　the　thing；　but　I　won't　have　it　said　as　a　message；　or　that　I
take　it　as　his　present。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Flora；　〃the　whole　affair　is　simple　enough；　if　you
would　not　be　so　conscious；　my　dear。〃

〃Flora；　I　can't　stand　your　calling　me　my　dear！〃

〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you；〃　said　Flora；　laughing；　more　than　she
would　have　liked　to　be　seen；　but　recalled　by　her　sister's　look。
Ethel　was　sorry　at　once。〃

Flora；　I　beg　your　pardon；　I　did　not　mean　to　be　cross；　only　please
don't　begin　about　that；　indeed；　I　think　you　had　better　leave　out
about　the　brooch　altogether。　　No　one　will　wonder　at　your　passing　it
over　in　such　a　return　as　this。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Flora　thoughtfully。

Ethel　carried　the　brooch　to　her　own　room；　and　tried　to　keep　herself
from　speculating　what　had　been　Mr。　Ogllvie's　views　in　procuring　it；
and　whether　he　remembered　showing　her；　at　Woodstock；　which　sort　of
fern　was　his　badge；　and　how　she　had　abstained　from　preserving　the
piece　shut　up　in　her　guide…book。

Meta's　patient　sorrow　was　the　best　remedy　for　proneness　to　such
musings。　　How　happy　poor　little　Meta　had　been！　　The　three　sisters　sat
together　that　long　day；　and　Ethel　read　to　the　others；　and　by　and　by
went　to　walk　in　the　garden　with　them；　till；　as　Flora　was　going　in；
Meta　asked；　〃Do　you　think　it　would　be　wrong　for　me　to　cross　the　park
to　see　that　little　burned　girl；　as　Mr。　Wilmot　is　away　to…day；　and　she
has　no　one　to　go　to　her？〃

Flora　could　see　no　reason　against　it；　and　Meta　and　Ethel　left　the
garden；　and　traversed　the　green　park；　in　its　quiet　home　beauty；　not
talking　much；　except　that　Meta　said；　〃Well！　　I　think　there　is　quite
as　much　sweetness　as　sadness　in　this　evening。〃

〃Because　of　this　calm　autumn　sunset　beauty？〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Look　at
the　golden　light　coming　in　under　the　branches　of　the　trees。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Meta；　〃one　cannot　help　thinking　how　much　more
beautiful　it　must　be〃

The　two　girls　said　no　more；　and　came　to　the　cottage；　where　so　much
gratitude　was　expressed　at　seeing　Miss　Rivers；　that　it　was　almost　too
much　for　her。　　She　left　Ethel　to　talk；　and　only　said　a　few　soft
little　words　to　her　sick　scholar；　who　seemed　to　want　her　voice　and
smile　to　convince　her　that　the　small　mournful　face；　under　all　that
black　crape；　belonged　to　her　own　dear　bright　teacher。

〃It　is　odd；〃　said　Meta；　as　they　went　back；　〃it　is　seeing　other　people
that　makes　one　know　it　is　all　sad　and　alteredit　seems　so
bewildering；　though　they　are　so　kind。〃

〃I　know　what　you　mean；〃　said　Ethel。

〃One　ought　not　to　wish　it　to　go　on；　because　there　are　other　people
and　other　duties；〃　said　Meta；　〃but　quietness　is　so　peaceful。　　Do　you
know；　Ethel；　I　shall　always　think　of　those　two　first　days；　before
anybody　came；　with　you　and　Dr。　May；　as　something　veryvery
precious；〃　she　said　at　last；　with　the　tears　rising。

〃I　am　sure　I　shall；〃　said　Ethel。

〃I　don't　know　how　it　is；　but　there　is　something　even　in　this
affliction　that　makes　it　likea　strange　sort　of　happiness；〃　said
Meta　musingly。

〃I　know　what　it　is！〃　said　Ethel。

〃That　He　is　so　very　good？〃　said　Meta　reverently。

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　almost　rebuked　for　the　first　thought；　namely；　that
it　was　because　Meta　was　so　very　good。

〃It　does　make　one　feel　more　confidence；〃　said　Meta。

〃'It　is　good　for　me　to　have　been　in　trouble；'〃　repeated　Ethel。

〃Yes；〃　said　Meta。　　〃I　hope　it　is　not　wrong　or　unkind　in　me　to　feel
it；　for　I　think　dear　papa　would　wish　it；　but　I　do　not　feel　as　if
miss　him　always　as　I　shallthe　spring　of　life　were　gone　from　me。　　I
don't　think　it　can；　for　I　know　no　more　pain　or　trouble　can　reach　him；
and　there　isdon't　you　think；　Ethel；　that　I　may　think　so？especial
care　for　the　orphan；　like　a　compensation。　　And　there　is　hope；　and
work　here。　　And　I　am　very　thankful！　　How　much　worse　it　would　have
been；　if　George　had　not　been　married！　　Dear　Flora！　　Will　you　tell
her；　Ethel；　how　really　I　do　wish　her　to　take　the　command　of　me？　　Tell
her　it　will　be　the　greatest　kindness　in　the　world　to　make　me　useful
to　her。〃

〃I　will；〃said　Ethel。

〃And　please　tell　her　that　I　am　afraid　I　may　forget；　and　take　upon　me；
as　if　I　were　still　lady　of　the　house。　　Tell　her　I　do　not　mean　it；　and
I　hope　that　she　will　check　it。〃

〃I　think　there　is　no　fear　of　her　forgetting　that；〃　said　Ethel；
regretting　the　words　before　they　were　out　of　her　mouth。

〃I　hope　I　shall　not；〃　said　Meta。　　〃If　I　do；　I　shall　drive　myself　away
to　stay　with　Aunt　Leonora；　and　I　don't　want　to　do　that　at　all。　　So
please　to　make　Flora　understand　that　she　is　head；　and　I　am　ready　to
be　hand　and　foot；〃　and　Meta's　bright　smile　shone　out；　with　the
pleasure　of　a　fresh　and　loving　service。

Ethel　understood　the　force　of　her　father's　words；　that　it　was　a
brave；　vigorous　spirit。

Dr。　May　came　back　with　George；　and　stayed　to　dinner；　after　which　he
talked　over　business　with　Flora；　whose　sagacity　continually　amazed
him；　and　who　undertook　to　make　her　husband　understand；　and　do　what
was　needed。

Meta　meanwhile　cross…questioned　her　brother　on　the　pretty　village　by
the　Thames；　of　which　she　had　a　fond；　childish　remembrance；　and　heard
from　him　of　the　numerous　kind　messages　from　all　her　relations。　　There
were　various　invitations；　but　George　repeated　them　unwillingly。

〃You　won't　go；　Meta；〃　he　said。　　〃It　would　be　a　horrid　nuisance　to
part　with　you。〃

〃As　long　as　you　think　so；　dear　George。　　When　I　am　in　your　way；　or
Flora's〃

〃That　will　never　be！　　I　say；　Flora；　will　she　ever　be　in　our　way？〃

〃No；　indeed！　　Meta　and　I　understand　that；〃　said　Flora；　looking　up。
〃Well；　I　suppose　Bruce　can't　be　trusted　to　value　the　books　and
prints。〃

Dr。　May　thought　it　a　great　relief　that　Meta　had　a　home　with　Flora；
for；　as　he　said　to　Ethel　as　they　went　home　together；　〃Certainly；
except　Lord　Cosham；　I　never　saw　such　an　unpresentable　crew　as　their
relations。　　You　should　have　heard　the　boys　afterwards！　　There　was
Master　Tom　turning　up　his　Eton　nose　at　them；　and　pronouncing　that
there　never　were　such　a　set　of　snobs；　and　Norman　taking　him　to　task
as　I　never　heard　him　do　beforetelling　him　that　he　would　never　have
urged　his　going　to　Eton；　if　he　had　thought　it　would　make　him　despise
respectable　folks；　probably　better　than　himself；　and　that　this　was
the　last　time　in　the　world　for　such　observationswhereat　poor　Tommy
was　quite　annihilated；　for　a　word　from　Norman　goes　further　with　him
than　a　lecture　from　any　one　else。〃

〃Well；　I　think　Norman　was　right　as　to　the　unfitness　of　the　time。〃

〃So　he　was。　　But　we　had　a　good　deal　of　them；　waiting　in　the　inn
parlour。　　People　make　incongruities　when　they　will　have　such　things
done　in　state。　　It　could　not　be　helped　here；　to　be　sure；　but　I　always
feel；　at　a　grand　undertaker's　display　like　this；　that；　except　the
service　itself；　there　is　little　to　give　peace　or　soothing。　　I　hate
what　makes　a　talk！　　Better　be　little　folk。〃

〃One　would　rather　think　of　our　own　dear　cloister；　and　those　who　cared
so　much；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Ah！　you　were　happy　to　be　there！〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃But　it　all　comes　to
the　same。〃　　Pausing；　he　looked　from　the　window；　then　signed　to　Ethel
to　do　the　sameOrion　glittered　in　the　darkness。

〃One　may　sleep　sound　without　the　lullaby；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃and　the
waves〃

〃Oh！　don't；　papa。　　You　don't　give　up　hope！〃

〃I　believe　we　ought；　Ethel。　　Don't　tell　her；　but　I　went　to　the
Admirality　to…day。〃

〃And　what　did　you　hear　there？〃

〃Great　cause　for　fearbut　they　do　not　give　up。　　My　poor　Margaret！
But　those　stars　tell　us　they　are　in　the　same　Hand。〃




CHAPTER　XIII。



Shall　I　sit　alone　in　my　chamber；
　　And　set　the　chairs　by　the　wall；
While　you　sit　with　lords　and　princes；
　　Yet　have　not　a　thought　at　all？

Shall　I　sit　alone　in　my　chamber；
　　And　duly　the　table　lay；
Whilst　you　stand　up　in　the　diet；
　　And　have　not　a　word　to　say？Old　Danish　Ballad。


〃Oh；　Norman；　are　you