the daisy chain, or aspirations-第113章

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simple　girl　was　the　deprivation　of　her　precious　photograph。　　It　was
like　losing　Harry　over　again；　to　go　to　bed　without　it；　though　she
would　not　for　the　world　seem　to　grudge　it　to　her　father。

Ethel　found　an　opportunity　of　telling　him　of　this　distress；　and　it
almost　made　him　smile。　　〃Poor　Mary；〃　he　said；　〃is　she　so　fond　of　it？
It　is　rather　a　libel　than　a　likeness。〃

〃Don't　say　so　to　her；　pray；　papa。　　It　is　all　the　world　to　her。　　Three
strokes　on　paper　would　have　been　the　same；　if　they　had　been　called　by
his　name。〃

〃Yes；　a　loving　heart　has　eyes　of　its　own；　and　she　is　a　dear　girl！〃

He　did　not　forget　to　restore　the　treasure　with　gratitude
proportionate　to　what　the　loan　had　cost　Mary。　　With　a　trembling
voice；　she　proffered　it　to　him　for　the　whole　day；　and　every　day；　if
she　might　only　have　it　at　night；　and　she　even　looked　black　when　he
did　not　accept　the　proposal。

〃It　is　exactly　like〃　said　she。

〃It　can't　help　being　so；　in　a　certain　sense；〃　he　answered　kindly；
〃but　after　all；　Mary　dear；　he　did　not　pout　out　his　chin　in　that　way。〃

Mary　was　somewhat　mortified；　but　she　valued　her　photograph　more　than
ever；　because　no　one　else　would　admire　it；　except　Daisy；　whom　she　had
taught　to　regard　it　with　unrivalled　veneration。

A　letter　soon　arrived　from　Captain　Gordon；　giving　a　fuller　account　of
the　loss　of　his　ship；　and　of　the　conduct　of　his　officers；　speaking　in
the　highest　terms　of　Alan　Ernescliffe；　for　whom　he　said　he　mourned　as
for　his　own　son；　and；　with　scarcely　less　warmth；　of　Harry；　mentioning
the　high　esteem　all　had　felt　for　the　boy；　and　the　good　effect　which
the　influence　of　his　high　and　truthful　spirit　had　produced　on　the
other　youngsters；　who　keenly　regretted　him。

Captain　Gordon　added　that　the　will　of　the　late　Captain　Ernescliffe
had　made　him　guardian　of　his　sons；　and　that　he　believed　poor　Alan　had
died　intestate。　　He　should　therefore　take　upon　himself　the　charge　of
young　Hector；　and　he　warmly　thanked　Dr。　May　and　his　family　for　all
the　kindness　that　the　lad　had　received。

Though　the　loss　of　poor　Hector's　visits　was　regretted；　it　was；　on　the
whole；　a　comforting　letter；　and　would　give　still　more　comfort　in
future　time。

Richard　contrived　to　come　home　through　Oxford　and　see　Norman；　whom　he
found　calm；　and　almost　relieved　by　the　cessation　from　suspense；　not
inclined；　as　his　father　had　feared；　to　drown　sorrow　in　labour；　but
regarding　his　grief　as　an　additional　call　to　devote　himself　to
ministerial　work。　　In　fact；　the　blow　had　fallen　when　he　first　heard
the　rumour　of　danger；　and　could　not　recur　with　the　same　force。

Richard　was　surprised　to　find　that　Margaret　was　less　cast　down　than
he　could　have　dared　to　hope。　　It　did　not　seem　like　an　affliction　to
her。　　Her　countenance　wore　the　same　gentle　smile；　and　she　was　as
ready　to　participate　in　all　that　passed；　finding　sympathy　for　the
little　pleasures　of　Aubrey　and　Gertrude；　and　delighting　in　Flora's
baby；　as　well　as　going　over　Cocksmoor　politics　with　a　clearness　and
accuracy　that　astonished　him；　and　asking　questions　about　his　parish
and　occupations；　so　as　fully　to　enjoy　his　short　visit；　which　she
truly　called　the　greatest　possible　treat。

If　it　had　not　been　for　the　momentary　consternation　that　she　had　seen
upon　Dr。　Spencer's　face；　Ethel　would　have　been　perfectly　satisfied；
but　she　could　not　help　sometimes　entertaining　a　dim　fancy　that　this
composure　came　from　a　sense　that　she　was　too　near　Alan　to　mourn　for
him。　　Could　it　be　true　that　her　frame　was　more　wasted；　that　there　was
less　capability　of　exertion；　that　her　hours　became　later　in　the
morning；　and　that　her　nights　were　more　wakeful？　　Would　she　fade　away？
Ethel　longed　to　know　what　her　father　thought；　but　she　could　neither
bear　to　inspire　him　with　the　apprehension；　nor　to　ask　Dr。　Spencer's
opinion；　lest　she　should　be　confirmed　in　her　own。

The　present　affliction　altered　Dr。　May　more　visibly　than　the　death　of
his　wife；　perhaps；　because　there　was　not　the　same　need　of　exertion。
If　he　often　rose　high　in　faith　and　resignation；　he　would　also　sink
very　low　under　the　sense　of　bereavement　and　disappointment。　　Though
Richard　was　his　stay；　and　Norman　his　pride；　there　was　something　in
Harry　more　congenial　to　his　own　temper；　and　he　could　not　but　be　bowed
down　by　the　ruin　of　such　bright　hopes。　　With　all　his　real　submission；
he　was　weak；　and　gave　way　to　outbursts　of　grief；　for　which　he　blamed
himself　as　unthankful；　and　his　whole　demeanour　was　so　saddened　and
depressed；　that　Ethel　and　Dr。　Spencer　consulted　mournfully　over　him；
whenever　they　walked　to　Cocksmoor　together。

This　was　not　as　often　as　usual；　though　the　walls　of　the　school　were
rising；　for　Dr。　Spencer　had　taken　a　large　share　of　his　friend's　work
for　the　present；　and　both　physicians　were　much　occupied　by　the
condition　of　Mr。　Ramsden　who　was　fast　sinking；　and；　for　some　weeks；
seemed　only　kept　alive　by　their　skill。　　The　struggle　ended　at　last；
and　his　forty　years'　cure　of　Stoneborough　was　closed。　　It　made　Dr。
May　very　sadhis　affections　had　tendrils　for　anything　that　he　had
known　from　boyhood；　and　though　he　had　often　spoken　strong　words　of
the　vicar；　he　now　sat　sorrowfully　moralising　and　making　excuses。
〃People　in　former　times　had　not　so　high　an　estimate　of　pastoral　duty…
…poor　Mr。　Ramsden　had　not　much　educationhe　was　already　old　when
better　times　came　inhe　might　have　done　better　in　a　less　difficult
parish　with　better　laity　to　support　him；　etc。〃　　Yet　after　all；　he
exclaimed　with　one　of　his　impatient　gestures；　〃Better　have　my　Harry's
seventeen　years　than　his　sixty…seven！〃

〃Better　improve　a　talent　than　lay　it　by！〃　said　Ethel。

〃Hush！　Ethel。　　How　do　you　know　what　he　may　have　done？　　If　he　acted　up
to　his　own　standard；　he　did　more　than　most　of　us。〃

〃Which　is　best；〃　said　Ethel；　〃a　high　standard；　not　acted　up　to；　or　a
lower　one　fulfilled？〃

〃I　think　it　depends　on　the　will；〃　said　Margaret。

〃Some　people　are　angry　with　those　whose　example　would　show　that　there
is　a　higher　standard；〃　said　Ethel。

〃And；〃　said　Margaret；　〃some　who　have　the　high　one　set　before　them
content　themselves　with　knowing　that　it　cannot　be　fully　attained；　and
will　not　try。〃

〃The　standard　is　the　effect　of　early　impression；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃I
should　be　very　sorry　to　think　it　could　not　be　raised。〃

〃Faithful　in　a　little〃　said　Ethel。　　〃I　suppose　all　good　people's
standard　is　always　going　higher。〃

〃As　they　comprehend　more　of　absolute　perfection；〃　said　Margaret。




CHAPTER　XV。



The　city's　golden　spire　it　was；
　　When　hope　and　health　were　strongest；
But　now　it　is　the　churchyard　grass；
　　We　look　upon　the　longest。E。　B。　BROWNING。


A　disinclination　for　exertion　or　going　into　public　hung　upon　Dr。　May；
but　he　was　obliged　to　rouse　himself　to　attend　the　Town　Council
meeting；　which　was　held　a　few　days　after　the　vicar's　funeral；　to
decide　on　the　next　appointment。　　If　it　had　depended　on　himself　alone；
his　choice　would　have　been　Mr。　Edward　Wilmot；　whom　the　death　of　his
good　old　father　had　uprooted　from　Settlesham；　and　the　girls　had　much
hope；　but　he　was　too　much　out　of　spirits　to　be　sanguine。　　He　said
that　he　should　only　hear　a　great　deal　of　offensive　stuff　from　Tomkins
the　brewer；　and　that；　in　the　desire　to　displease　nobody；　the　votes
should　settle　down　on　some　nonentity；　was　the　best　which　was　likely
to　happen。　　Thus；　grumbling；　he　set　off；　and　his　daughters　watched
anxiously　for　his　return。　　They　saw　him　come　through　the　garden　with
a　quick；　light　step；　that　made　them　augur　well；　and　he　entered　the
room　with　the　corners　of　his　mouth　turning　up。　　〃I　see；〃　said　Ethel；
〃it　is　all　right。〃

〃They　were　going　to　have　made　a　very　absurd　choice。〃

〃But　you　prevented　it？　　Who　was　it？〃

〃Ah！　　I　told　you　Master　Ritchie　was　turning　out　a　popular　preacher。〃

〃You　don't　mean　that　they　chose　Richard！〃　cried　Margaret
breathlessly。

〃As　sure　as　my　name　is　Dick　May；　they　did；　every　man　of　them；　except
Tomkins；　and　even　he　held　his　tongue；　I　did　not　think　it　of　them；〃
said　the　doctor；　almost　overcome；　〃but　there　is　much　more　goodness　of
heart　in　the　world　than　one　gives　it　credit　for。〃

And　good　Dr。　May　was　not　one　to　give　the　least　credit　for　all　that
was　like　himself。

〃But　it　was　Richard's　own　doing；〃　he　continued。　　〃Those　sermons　made
a　great　impression；　and　they　love　the　boy；　because　he　has　grown　up
among　them。　　The　old　mayor　waddled　up　to　me；　as　I　came　in；　telling　me
that　they　had　been　talking　it　over；　and　they　were　unanimously　agreed
that　they　could　not　have　a　parson　they　should　like　better　than　Mr。
Richard。〃

〃Good　old　Mr。　Doddesley！　　I　can　see　him！〃　cried　Ethel。

〃I　expected　it　so　little；　that　I　thought　he　meant　some　Richards；　but
no；　he　said　Mr。　Richard　May；　if　he　had　nothing　better　in　viewthey
liked　him；　and　knew　he　was　a　very　steady；　good　young　gentleman；　and
if　he　took　after　his　fathers　that　went　before　himand　they　thought
we　might　like　to　have　him　settled　near！〃

〃How　very　kind！〃　said　Margaret；　as　the　tears　came。　　〃We　shall　love
our　own　townsfolk　better　than　ever！〃

〃I　always　told　you　so；　if　you　would　but　believe　it。　　They　have　warm；
sound　hearts；　every　one　of　them！　　I　declare；　I　did　not　know　which　way
to　look；　I　was　so　sorry　to　disappoint　them。〃

〃Disappoint　them！〃　cried　Margaret；　in　consternation。

〃I　was　thinking；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃I　do　not　believe　Richard　would　think
himself　equal　to　this　place　in　such　a　state　as　it　is。　　He　is　so
diffident。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃if　he　were　ten　or　twelve　years　older；　it　would
be　another　thing；　but　here；　where　everything　is　to　be　done；　he　would
not　bring　weight　or　force　enough。　　He　would　only　work　himself　to
death；　for　individuals；　without　going　to　the　root。　　Margaret；　my
darling；　I　am　very　sorry　to　have　disappointed　you　so　muchit　would
have　been　as　great　a　pleasure　as　we　could　have　had　in　this　world　to
have　the　lad　here〃

〃And　Cocksmoor；〃　sighed　Ethel。

〃I　shall　be　grateful　all　my　life　to　those　good　people　for　thinking　of
it；〃　continued　the　doctor；　〃but　look　you　here；　it　was　my　business　to
get　the　best　man　chosen　in　my　power　and；　though　as　to　goodness；　I
believe　the　dear　Ritchie　has　not　many　equals；　I　don't　think　we　can
conscientiously　say　he　would　be；　at　present；　the　best　vicar　for
Stoneborough。〃

Ethel　would　not　say　no；　for　fear　she　should　pain　Margaret。

〃Besides；〃　continued　Dr。　May；　〃after　having　staved　off　the　sale　of
the　presentation　as　a　sin；　it　would　hardly　have　been　handsome　to　have
let　my　own　son　profit　by　it。　　It　would　have　seemed　as　if　we　had　our
private　ends；　when　Richard　helped　poor　old　Mr。　Ramsden。〃

Margaret　owned　this；　and　Ethel　said　Richard　would　be　glad　to　be
spared　the　refusal。

〃I　was　sure　of　it。　　The　poor　fellow　would　have　been　perplexed　between
the　right　and　consideration　for　us。　　A　vicar　here　ought　to　carry
things　with　a　high　hand；　and　that　is　hardest　to　do　at　a　man's　own
home；　especially　for　a　quiet　lad　like　him。〃

〃Yes；　papa；　it　was　quite　right；〃　said　Margaret；　recovering　herself；
〃it　has　spared　Richard　a　great　deal。〃

〃But　are　we　to　have　Mr。　Wilmot？〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Think　of　our　not
having　heard！〃

〃Ay。　　If　they　would　not　have　had　Wilmot；　or　a　man　of　his　calibre；
perhaps　I　might　have　let　them　offer　it　to　Richard。　　I　almost　wish　I
had。　　With　help；　and　Ethel〃

〃No；　no；　papa；〃　s