the daisy chain, or aspirations-第118章

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holding　his　hand　in　one　of　hers；　and　resting　the　other　on　his
shoulder；　and　gazing　in　silence　into　his　face。　　Each　was　stillshe
was　gathering　strengthhe　dreaded　word　or　look。

〃Tell　me　how　and　where；〃　she　said　at　last。

〃It　was　in　the　Loyalty　Isles；　it　was　feverthe　exertions　for　us。
His　head　was　lying　here；〃　and　he　pointed　to　his　own　breast。　　〃He　sent
his　love　to　youhe　bade　me　tell　you　there　would　be　meeting　by　and
by；　in　the　haven　where　he　would　be。　I　laid　his　head　in　the　grave
under　the　great　palmI　said　some　of　the　prayersthere　are
Christians　round　it。〃

He　said　this　in　short　disconnected　phrases；　often　pausing　to　gather
voice；　but　forced　to　resume；　by　her　inquiring　looks　and　pressure　of
his　hand。

She　asked　no　more。　　〃Kiss　me；〃　she　said；　and　when　he　had　done　so；
〃Thank　you；　go　down；　please；　all　of　you。　　You　have　brought　great
relief。　　Thank　you。　　But　I　can't　talk　yet。　　You　shall　tell　me　the
rest　by　and　by。〃

She　sent　them　all　away；　even　Ethel；　who　would　have　lingered。

〃Go　to　him；　dearest。　　Let　me　be　alone。　　Don't　be　uneasy。　　This　is
peacebut　go。〃

Ethel　found　Mary　and　Harry　interlaced　into　one　moving　figure；　and
Harry　greedily　asking　for　his　father　and　Norman；　as　if　famishing　for
the　sight　of　them。　　He　wanted　to　set　out　to　seek　the　former　in　the
town；　but　his　movements　were　too　uncertain；　and　the　girls　clung　to
the　newly…found；　as　if　they　could　not　trust　him　away　from　them。　　They
wandered　about；　speaking；　all　three　at　random；　without　power　of
attending　to　the　answers。　　It　was　enough　to　see　him；　and　touch　him；
they　could　not　yet　care　where　he　had　been。

Dr。　May　was　in　the　midst　of　them　ere　they　were　aware。　　One　look；　and
he　flung　his　arms　round　his　son；　but；　suddenly　letting　him　go；　he
hurst　away；　and　banged　his　study　door。　　Harry　would　have　followed。

〃No；　don't；〃　said　Ethel；　then；　seeing　him　disappointed；　she　came
nearer；　and　murmured；　〃'He　entered　into　his　chamber　and'〃

Harry　silenced　her　with　another　embrace；　but　their　father　was　with
them　again；　to　verify　that　he　had　really　seen　his　boy；　and　ask；　alas！
whether　Alan　were　with　Margaret。　　The　brief　sad　answer　sent　him　to
see　how　it　was　with　her。　　She　would　not　let　him　stay；　she　said　it　was
infinite　comfort；　and　joy　was　coming；　but　she　would　rather　be　still；
and　not　come　down　till　evening。

Perhaps　others　would　fain　have　been　still；　could　they　have　borne　an
instant's　deprivation　of　the　sight　of　their　dear　sailor；　while
greetings　came　thickly　on　him。　　The　children　burst　in；　having　heard　a
report　in　the　town；　and　Dr。　Spencer　waited　at　the　door　for　the
confirmation；　but　when　Ethel　would　have　flown　out　to　him；　he　waved
his　hand；　shut　the　door；　and　hurried　away；　as　if　a　word　to　her　would
have　been　an　intrusion。

The　brothers　had　been　summoned　by　a　headlong　apparition　of　Will　Adams
in　Cocksmoor　school；　shouting　that　Master　Harry　was　come　home；　and
Norman's　long　legs　out…speeding　Richard；　had　brought　him　back；
flushed；　and　too　happy　for　one　word；　while；　〃Well；　Harry；〃　was
Richard's　utmost；　and　his　care　for　Margaret　seemed　to　overpower
everything　else；　as　he　went　up；　and　was　not　so　soon　sent　away。

Words　were　few　downstairs。　　Blanche　and　Aubrey　agreed　that　they
thought　people　would　have　been　much　happier；　but；　in　fact；　the　joy
was　oppressive　from　very　newness。　　Ethel　roamed　about；　she　could　not
sit　still　without　feeling　giddy；　in　the　strangeness　of　the　revulsion。
Her　father　sat；　as　if　a　word　would　break　the　blest　illusion；　and
Harry　stood　before　each　of　them　in　turn；　as　if　about　to　speak；　but
turned　his　address　into　a　sudden　caress；　or　blow　on　the　shoulder；　and
tried　to　laugh。　　Little　Gertrude；　not　understanding；　the　confusion；
had　taken　up　her　station　under　the　table；　and　peeped　out　from　beneath
the　cover。

There　was　more　composure　as　they　sat　at　dinner；　and　yet　there　was
very　little　talking　or　eating。　　Afterwards　Dr。　May　and　Norman
exultingly　walked　away；　to　show　their　Harry　to　Dr。　Spencer　and　Mr。
Wilmot；　and　Ethel　would　gladly　have　tried　to　calm　herself；　and
recover　the　balance　of　her　mind；　by　giving　thanks　where　they　were
due；　but　she　did　not　know　what　to　do　with　her　sisters。　　Blanche　was
wild；　and　Mary　still　in　so　shaky　a　state　of　excitement；　that　she　went
off　into　mad　laughing；　when　Blanche　discovered　that　they　were　in
mourning　for　Harry。

Nothing　would　satisfy　Blanche　but　breaking　in　on　Margaret；　and
climbing　to　the　top　of　the　great　wardrobe　to　disinter　the　coloured
raiment；　beseeching　that　each　favourite　might　be　at　once　put　on；　to
do　honour　to　Harry。　　Mary　chimed　in　with　her；　in　begging　for　the
wedding　merinoswould　not　Margaret　wear　her　beautiful　blue？

〃No；　my　dear；　I　cannot；〃　said　Margaret　gently。

Mary　looked　at　her　and　was　again　in　a　flood　of　tears；　incoherently
protesting；　together　with　Ethel；　that　they　would　not　change。

〃No；　dears；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃I　had　rather　you　did　so。　　You　must　not
be　unkind　to　Harry。　　He　will　not　think　I　do　not　welcome　him。　　I　am
only　too　glad　that　Richard　would　not　let　my　impatience　take　away　my
right　to　wear　this。〃

Ethel　knew　that　it　was　for　life。

Mary　could　not　check　her　tears；　and　would　go　on　making　heroic
protests　against　leaving　off　her　black；　sobbing　the　more　at　each。
Margaret's　gentle　caresses　seemed　to　make　her　worse；　and　Ethel；
afraid　that　Margaret's　own　composure　would　be　overthrown；　exclaimed；
〃How　can　you　be　so　silly？　　Come　away！〃　and　rather　roughly　pulled　her
out　of　the　room；　when　she　collapsed　entirely　at　the　top　of　the
stairs；　and　sat　crying　helplessly。

〃I　can't　think　what's　the　use　of　Harry's　coming　home；〃　Gertrude　was
heard　saying　to　Richard。　　〃It　is　very　disagreeable；〃　whereat　Mary
relapsed　into　a　giggle；　and　Ethel　felt　frantic。

〃Richard！　　Richard！　what　is　to　be　done　with　Mary？　　She　can't　help　it；
I　believe；　but　this　is　not　the　way　to　treat　the　mercy　that〃

〃Mary　had　better　go　and　lie　down　in　her　own　room；〃　said　Richard；
tenderly　and　gravely。

〃Oh；　please！　please！〃　began　Mary；　〃I　shall　not　see　him　when　he　comes
back！〃

〃If　you　can't　behave　properly　when　he　does　come；〃　said　Richard；
〃there　is　no　use　in　being　there。〃

〃Remember；　Ritchie；〃　said　Ethel；　thinking　him　severe；　〃she　has　not
been　well　this　long　time。〃

Mary　began　to　plead；　but；　with　his　own　pretty　persuasive　manner；　he
took　her　by　the　hand；　and　drew　her　into　his　room；　and　when　he　came
down；　after　an　interval；　it　was　to　check　Blanche；　who　would　have　gone
up　to　interrupt　her　with　queries　about　the　perpetual　blue　merino。　　He
sat　down　with　Blanche　on　the　staircase　window…seat；　and　did　not　let
her　go　till　he　had　gently　talked　her　out　of　flighty　spirits　into　the
soberness　of　thankfulness。

Ethel；　meanwhile；　had　still　done　nothing　but　stray　about；　long　for
loneliness；　find　herself　too　unsteady　to　finish　her　letters　to　Flora
and　Tom；　and；　while　she　tried　to　make　Gertrude　think　Harry　a　pleasant
acquisition；　she　hated　her　own　wild　heart；　that　could　not　rejoice；
nor　give　thanks；　aright。

By　and　by　Mary　came　down；　with　her　bonnet　on；　quite　quiet　now。　　〃I　am
going　to　church　with　Ritchie；〃　she　said。　　Ethel　caught　at　the　notion；
and　it　spread　through　the　house。　　Dr　May；　who　just　then　came　in　with
his　two　sons；　looked　at　Harry；　saying；　〃What　do　you　think　of　it？
Shall　we　go；　my　boy？〃　　And　Harry；　as　soon　as　he　understood；　declared
that　he　should　like　nothing　better。　　It　seemed　what　they　all　needed；
even　Aubrey　and　Gertrude　begged　to　come；　and；　when　the　solemn　old
minster　was　above　their　heads；　and　the　hallowed　stillness　around
them；　the　tightened　sense　of　half…realised　joy　began　to　find　relief
in　the　chant　of　glory。　　The　voices　of　the　sanctuary；　ever　uplifting
notes　of　praise；　seemed　to　gather　together　and　soften　their　emotions；
and　agitation　was　soothed　away；　and　all　that　was　oppressive　and
tumultuous　gave　place　to　sweet　peace　and　thankfulness。　　Ethel　dimly
remembered　the　like　sense　of　relief；　when　her　mother　had　hushed　her
wild　ecstasy；　while　sympathising　with　her　joy。　　Richard　could　not
trust　his　voice；　but　Mr。　Wilmot　offered　the　special　thanksgiving。

Harry　was；　indeed；　〃at　home；〃　and　his　tears　fell　fast　over　his　book；
as　he　heard　his　father's　〃Amen；〃　so　fervent　and　so　deep；　and　he　gazed
up　and　around；　with　fond　and　earnest　looks；　as　thoughts　and
resolutions；　formed　there　of　old；　came　gathering　thick　upon　him。　　And
there　little　Gertrude　seemed　first　to　accept　him。　　She　whispered　to
her　papa；　as　they　stood　up　to　go　away；　that　it　was　very　good　in　God
Almighty　to　have　sent　Harry　home；　and；　as　they　left　the　cloister；　she
slipped　into　Harry's　hand　a　daisy　from　the　grave；　such　a　gift　as　she
had　never　carried　to　any　one　else；　save　her　father　and　Margaret；　and
she　shrank　no　longer　from　being　lifted　up　in　his　arms；　and　carried
home　through　the　twilight　street。

He　hurried　into　the　drawing…room；　and　was　heard　declaring　that　all
was　right；　for　Margaret　was　on　the　sofa；　but　he　stopped　short；
grieved　at　her　altered　looks。　　She　smiled　as　he　stooped　to　kiss　her；
and　then　made　him　stand　erect；　and　measure　himself　against　Norman；
whose　height　he　had　almost　reached。　　The　little　curly　midshipman　had
come　back；　as　nurse　said；　〃a　fine…growed　young　man；〃　his　rosy　cheeks；
brown　and　ruddy；　and　his　countenance

〃You　are　much　more　like　papa　and　Norman　than　I　thought　you　would　be；〃
said　Margaret。

〃He　has　left　his　snub　nose　and　yellow　locks　behind；〃　said　his　father；
〃though　the　shaggy　mane　seems　to　remain。　　I　believe　lions　grow　darker
with　age。　　So　there　stand　June　and　July　together　again！〃

Dr。　May　walked　backwards　to　look　at　them。　　It　was　good　to　see　his
face。

〃I　shall　see　Flora　and　Tom　to…morrow！〃　said　Harry；　after　nodding　with
satisfaction；　as　they　all　took　their　wonted　places。

〃Going！〃　exclaimed　Richard。

〃Why；　don't　you　know？〃　said　Ethel；　〃it　is　current　in　the　nursery　that
he　is　going　to　be　tried　by　court…martial　for　living　with　the　King　of
the　Cannibal　Islands。〃

〃Aubrey　says　he　had　a　desert　island；　with　Jennings　for　his　man
Friday；〃　said　Blanche。

〃Harry；〃　said　little　Gertrude；　who　had　established　herself　on　his
knee；　〃did　you　really　poke　out　the　giant's　eye　with　the　top　of　a　fir…
tree？〃

〃Who　told　you　so；　Daisy？〃　was　the　general　cry；　but　she　became　shy；
and　would　not　answer　more　than　by　a　whisper　about　Aubrey；　who
indignantly　declared　that　he　never　said　so；　only　Gertrude　was　so
foolish　that　she　did　not　know　Harry　from　Ulysses。

〃After　all；〃　said　Ethel；　〃I　don't　think　our　notions　are　much　more
defined。　　Papa　and　Norman　may　know　more；　but　we　have　heard　almost
nothing。　　I　have　been　waiting　to　hear　more　to　close　up　my　letters　to
Flora　and　Tom。　　What　a　shame　that　has　not　been　done！〃

〃I'll　finish；〃　said　Mary；　running　to　the　side…table。

〃And　tell　her　I'll　be　there　to…morrow；〃　said　Harry。　　〃I　must　report
myself；　and　what　fun　to　see　Flora　a　member　of　Parliament！　　Come　with
me；　June；　I'll　be　back　next　day。　　I　wish　you　all　would　come。〃

〃Yes；　I　must　come　with　you；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I　shall　have　to　go　to
Oxford　on　Thursday；〃　and　very　reluctant　he　looked。　　〃Tell　Flora　I　am
coming；　Mary。〃

〃How　did　you　know　that　Flora　was　a　married　lady？〃　asked　Blanche；　in
her　would…be　grown…up　manner。

〃I　heard　that　from　Aunt　Flora。　　A　famous　lot　of　news　I　picked　up
there！〃

〃Aunt　Flora！〃

〃Did　you　not　know