the daisy chain, or aspirations-第12章

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perfect　confidence；　the　thing　that　chiefly　lessens　my　anxiety　for　him
in　his　half…school；　half…home　life；　which　does　not　seem　to　me　to　work
quite　well　with　him。　　There　are　two　sons　of　Mrs。　Anderson's　at　the
school；　who　are　more　his　friends　than　I　like；　and　he　is　too　easily
led　by　the　desire　not　to　be　outdone；　and　to　show　that　he　fears
nothing。　　Lately；　our　sailor…guest　has　inspired　him　with　a　vehement
wish　to　go　to　sea；　I　wish　it　was　not　necessary　that　the　decision
should　be　made　so　early　in　life；　for　this　fault　is　just　what　would
make　us　most　fear　to　send　him　into　the　world　very　young；　though　in
some　ways　it　might　not　do　amiss　for　him。

〃So　much　for　the　younger　bairns；　whom　you　never　beheld；　dear　Flora。
The　three　whom　you　left；　when　people　used　to　waste　pity　on　me　for
their　being　all　babies　together；　now　look　as　if　any　pair　of　them　were
twins；　for　Norman　is　the　tallest；　almost　outgrowing　his　strength；　and
Ethel's　sharp　face；　so　like　her　papa's；　makes　her　look　older　than
Flora。　　Norman　and　Ethel　do　indeed　take　after　their　papa；　more　than
any　of　the　others；　and　are　much　alike。　　There　is　the　same　brilliant
cleverness；　the　same　strong　feeling；　not　easy　of　demonstration；
though　impetuous　in　action；　but　poor　Ethel's　old　foibles；　her　harum…
scarum　nature；　quick　temper；　uncouth　manners；　and　heedlessness　of　all
but　one　absorbing　object；　have　kept　her　back；　and　caused　her　much
discomfort；　yet　I　sometimes　think　these　manifest　defects　have
occasioned　a　discipline　that　is　the　best　thing　for　the　character　in
the　end。　　They　are　faults　that　show　themselves；　and　which　one　can
tell　how　to　deal　with；　and　I　have　full　confidence　that　she　has　the
principle　within　her　that　will　conquer　them。〃

〃If〃mournfully　sighed　Ethel；　but　her　brother　pointed　on　further。

〃My　great　hope　is　her　entire　indifference　to　praisenot　approval；
but　praise。　　If　she　has　not　come　up　to　her　own　standard；　she　works
on；　not　always　with　good　temper；　but　perseveringly；　and　entirely；
unheeding　of　commendation　till　she　has　satisfied　herself；　only
thinking　it　stupid　not　to　see　the　faults。　　It　is　this　independence　of
praise　that　I　want　to　see　in　her　brother　and　sister。　　They　justly
earn　it；　and　are　rightly　pleased　with　it；　but　I　cannot　feel　sure
whether　they　do　not　depend　on　it　too　much。　　Norman　lives；　like　all
school…boys；　a　life　of　emulation；　and　has　never　met　with　anything　but
success。　　I　do　believe　Dr。　Hoxton　and　Mr。　Wilmot　are　as　proud　of　him
as　we　are；　and　he　has　never　shown　any　tendency　to　conceit；　but　I　am
afraid　he　has　the　love　of　being　foremost；　and　pride　in　his
superiority；　caring　for　what　he　is；　compared　with　others；　rather　than
what　he　is　himself。〃


〃I　know；〃　said　Norman；　〃I　have　done　so；　but　that's　over。　　I　see　what
it　is　worth。　　I'd　give　all　the　quam　optimes　I　ever　got　in　my　life　to
be　the　help　Richard　is　to　papa。〃

〃You　would　if　you　were　his　age。〃

〃Not　I；　I'm　not　the　sort。　　I'm　not　like　her。　　But　are　we　to　go　on
about　the　elders？〃

〃Oh！　yes；　don't　let　us　miss　a　word。　　There　can't　be　anything　but
praise　of　them。〃


〃Your　sweet　goddaughter。　　I　almost　feel　as　if　I　had　spoken　in
disparagement　of　her；　but　I　meant　no　such　thing；　dear　girl。　　It　would
be　hard　to　find　a　fault　in　her；　since　the　childish　love　of　admiration
was　subdued。　　She　is　so　solid　and　steady；　as　to　be　very　valuable　with
the　younger　ones；　and　is　fast　growing　so　lovely；　that　I　wish　you
could　behold　her。　　I　do　not　see　any　vanity；　but　there　lies　my　dread；
not　of　beautyvanity；　but　that　she　will　find　temptation　in　the　being
everywhere　liked　and　sought　after。　　As　to　Margaret；　my　precious
companion　and　friend；　you　have　heard　enough　of　her　to　know　her；　and；
as　to　telling　you　what　she　is　like；　I　could　as　soon　set　about
describing　her　papa。　　When　I　thought　of　not　being　spared　to　them　this
time；　it　was　happiness　indeed　to　think　of　her　at　their　head；　fit　to
be　his　companion；　with　so　much　of　his　own　talent　as　to　be　more　up　to
conversation　with　him；　than　he　could　ever　have　found　his　stupid　old
Maggie。　　It　was　rather　a　trial　of　her　discretion　to　have　Mr。
Ernescliffe　here　while　I　was　upstairs；　and　very　well　she　seems　to
have　come　out　of　it。　　Poor　Richard's　last　disappointment　is　still　our
chief　trouble。　　He　has　been　working　hard　with　a　tutor　all　through　the
vacation；　and　has　not　even　come　home　to　see　his　new　sister；　on　his
way　to　Oxford。　　He　had　made　a　resolution　that　he　would　not　come　to　us
till　he　had　passed；　and　his　father　thought　it　best　that　it　should　be
kept。　　I　hope　he　will　succeed　next　time；　but　his　nervousness　renders
it　still　more　doubtful。　　With　him　it　is　the　very　reverse　of　Norman。
He　suffers　too　much　for　want　of　commendation；　and　I　cannot　wonder　at
it；　when　I　see　how　much　each　failure　vexes　his　father；　and　Richard
little　knows　how　precious　is　our　perfect　confidence　in　him；　how　much
more　valuable　than　any　honours　he　could　earn。　　You　would　be　amused　to
see　how　little　he　is　altered　from　the　pretty　little　fair　fellow；　that
you　used　to　say　was　so　like　my　old　portrait；　even　the　wavy　rings　of
light　glossy　hair　sit　on　his　forehead；　just　as　you　liked　to　twist
them；　and　his　small　trim　figure　is　a　fine　contrast　to　Norman's　long
legs　and　arms；　which〃


There　the　letter　broke　off；　the　playful　affection　of　the　last　words
making　it　almost　more　painful　to　think　that　the　fond　hand　would　never
finish　the　sentence。




CHAPTER　VI。



A　drooping　daisy　changed　into　a　cup；
In　which　her　bright…eyed　beauty　is　shut　up。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WORDSWORTH。


〃So　there　you　are　up　for　the　dayreally　you　look　very　comfortable；〃
said　Ethel；　coming　into　the　room　where　Margaret　lay　on　her　bed；　half…
raised　by　pillows；　supported　by　a　wooden　frame。

〃Yes；　is　not　it　a　charming　contrivance　of　Richard's？　　It　quite　gives
me　the　use　of　my　hands；〃　said　Margaret。

〃I　think　he　is　doing　something　else　for　you；〃　said　Ethel；　〃I　heard
him　carpentering　at　six　o'clock　this　morning；　but　I　suppose　it　is　to
be　a　secret。〃

〃And　don't　you　admire　her　night…cap？〃　said　Flora。

〃Is　it　anything　different？〃　said　Ethel；　peering　closer。　　〃Oh；　I　see
so　she　has　a　fine　day　night…cap。　　Is　that　your　taste；　Flora？〃

〃Partly；〃　said　Margaret；　〃and　partly　my　own。　　I　put　in　all　these
little　white　puffs；　and　I　hope　you　think　they　do　me　credit。　　Wasn't
it　grand　of　me？〃

〃She　only　despises　you　for　them；〃　said　Flora。

〃I'm　very　glad　you　could；〃　said　Ethel；　gravely；　〃but　do　you　know？　it
is　rather　like　that　horrid　old　lady　in　some　book；　who　had　a　paralytic
stroke；　and　the　first　thing　she　did　that　showed　she　had　come　to　her
senses　was　to　write；　'Rose…coloured　curtains　for　the　doctors。'〃

〃Well；　it　was　for　the　doctor；〃　said　Margaret；　〃and　it　had　its　effect。
He　told　me　I　looked　much　better　when　he　found　me　trying　it　on。〃

〃And　did　you　really　have　the　looking…glass　and　try　it　on？〃　cried
Ethel。

〃Yes；　really；〃　said　Flora。　　〃Don't　you　think　one　may　as　well　be　fit
to　be　seen　if　one　is　ill？　　It　is　no　use　to　depress　one's　friends　by
being　more　forlorn　and　disconsolate　than　one　can　help。〃

〃Nonot　disconsolate；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　the　white　puffinessand　the
hemmingand　the　glass！〃

〃Poor　Ethel　can't　get　over　it；　said　Margaret。　　〃But；　Ethel；　do　you
think　there　is　nothing　disconsolate　in　untidiness？〃

〃You　could　be　tidy　without　the　little　puffs！　　Your　first　bit　of　work
too！　　Don't　think　I'm　tiresome。　　If　they　were　an　amusement　to　you；　I
am　sure　I　am　very　glad　of　them；　but　I　can't　see　the　sense　of　them。〃

〃Poor　little　things！〃　said　Margaret　laughing。　　〃It　is　only　my　foible
for　making　a　thing　look　nice。　　And；　Ethel；〃　she　added；　drawing　her
down　close　over　her；　〃I　did　not　think　the　trouble　wasted；　if　seeing
me　look　fresher　cheered　up　dear　papa　a　moment。〃

〃I　spoke　to　papa　about　nurse's　proposal；〃　said　Margaret　presently　to
Flora；　〃and　he　quite　agrees　to　it。　　Indeed　it　is　impossible　that　Anne
should　attend　properly　to　all　the　children　while　nurse　is　so　much
engaged　with　me。〃

〃I　think　so；〃　said　Flora；　〃and　it　does　not　answer　to　bring　Aubrey
into　the　school…room。　　It　only　makes　Mary　and　Blanche　idle；　and　Miss
Winter　does　not　like　it。〃

〃Then　the　question　is；　who　shall　it　be？　　Nurse　has　no　one　in　view；
and　only　protests　against　'one　of　the　girls　out　of　the　school　here。'〃

〃That's　a　great　pity；〃　said　Flora。　　〃Don't　you　think　we　could　make
her　take　to　Jane　White；　she　is　so　very　nice。〃

〃I　thought　of　her；　but　it　will　never　answer　if　we　displease　nurse。
Besides；　I　remember　at　the　time　Anne　came；　dear　mamma　thought　there
was　danger　of　a　girl's　having　too　many　acquaintances；　especially
taking　the　children　out　walking。　　We　cannot　always　be　sure　of　sending
her　out　with　Anne。〃

〃Do　you　remember〃　said　Ethel；　there　stopping。

〃Well；〃　said　both　sisters。

〃Don't　you　recollect；　Flora；　that　girl　whose　father　was　in　the
hospitalthat　girl　at　Cocksmoor？〃

〃I　do；〃　said　Flora。　　〃She　was　a　very　nice　girl；　I　wonder　whether
nurse　would　approve　of　her。〃

〃How　old？〃　said　Margaret。　　〃Fourteen；　and　tall。　　Such　a　clean
cottage！〃

The　girls　went　on；　and　Margaret　began　to　like　the　idea　very　much；　and
consider　whether　the　girl　could　be　brought　for　inspection；　before
nurse　was　prejudiced　by　hearing　of　her　Cocksmoor　extraction。　　At　that
moment　Richard　knocked　at　the　door；　and　entered　with　Tom；　helping　him
to　bring　a　small　short…legged　table；　such　as　could　stand　on　the　bed
at　the　right　height　for　Margaret's　meals　or　employments。

There　were　great　exclamations　of　satisfaction；　and　gratitude；　〃it　was
the　very　thing　wanted；　only　how　could　he　have
contrived　it？〃

〃Don't　you〃　recognise　it？〃　said　he。

Oh；　I　see；　it　is　the　old　drawing…desk　that　no　one　used。　　And　you　have
put　legs　to　ithow　famous！　　You　are　the　best　contriver；　Richard！〃

Then　see；　you　can　raise　it　up　for　reading　or　writing；　here's　a　corner
for　your　ink　to　stand　flat；　and　there　it　is　down　for　your　dinner。〃

〃Charming；　you　have　made　it　go　so　easily；　when　it　used　to　be　so
stiff。　　Theregive　me　my　work…basket；　please；　Ethel；　I　mean　to　make
some　more　white　puffs。〃

〃What's　the　matter　now；　Ethel？〃　said　Flora；　〃you　look　as　if　you　did
not　approve　of　the　table。〃

〃I　was　only　thinking　it　was　as　if　she　was　settling　herself　to　lie　in
bed　for　a　very　long　time；〃　said　Ethel。

〃I　hope　not；〃　said　Richard；　〃but　I　don't　see　why　she　should　not　be　as
comfortable　as　she　can；　while　she　is　there。〃

〃I　am　sure　I　hope　you　will　never　be　ill；　Ethel；〃　said　Flora。　　〃You
would　be　horrid　to　nurse！〃

〃She　will　know　how　to　be　grateful　when　she　is；〃　said　Margaret。

〃I　say；　Richard；〃　exclaimed　Ethel；　〃this　is　hospital…meeting　day；　so
you　won't　be　wanted　to　drive　papa。〃

〃No；　I　am　at　your　service；　do　you　want　a　walk？〃

So　it　was　determined　that　Richard　and　Ethel　should　walk　together　to
Cocksmoor。

No　two　people　could　be　much　more　unlike　than　Richard　and　Etheldred
May；　but　they　were　very　fond　of　each　other。　　Richard　was　sometimes
seriously　annoyed　by　Ethel's　heedlessness；　and　did　not　always
understand　her　sublimities；　but　he　had　a　great　deal　of　admiration　for
one　who　partook　so　much　of　his　father's　nature；　and　Ethel　had　a　due
respect　for　her　eldest　brother；　gratitude　and　strong　affection　for
many　kindnesses；　a　reverence　for　his　sterling　goodness；　and　his
exemption　from　her　own　besettin