the daisy chain, or aspirations-第123章

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sign　to　Harry　to　enter　with　him。　　On　the　table　lay　a　letter　from
Margaret；　and　another　which　Harry　had　written　to　him　from　Auckland。

〃Oh；　Harry；　you　were　with　him；〃　he　said；　〃tell　me　all　about　him。〃

And　he　established　himself；　with　his　face　hidden　on　the　table；
uttering　nothing；　except；　〃Go　on；〃　whenever　Harry's　voice　failed　in
the　narration。　　When　something　was　said　of　〃all　for　the　best；〃　he
burst　out；　〃He　might　say　so。　　I　suppose　one　ought　to　think　so。　　But
is　not　it　hard；　when　I　had　nobody　but　him？　　And　there　was　Maplewood；
and　I　might　have　been　so　happy　there；　with　him　and　Margaret。〃

〃They　say　nothing　could　have　made　Margaret　well；〃　said　Harry。

〃I　don't　care；　he　would　have　married　her　all　the　same；　and　we　should
have　made　her　so　happy　at　Maplewood。　　I　hate　the　place！　　I　wish　it
were　at　Jericho！〃

〃You　are　captain　of　the　ship　now；〃　said　Harry；　〃and　you　must　make　the
best　of　it。〃

〃I　can't。　　It　will　never　be　home。　　Home　is　with　Margaret；　and　the
rest　of　them。〃

〃So　Alan　said　he　hoped　you　would　make　it；　and　you　are　just　like　one
of　us；　you　know。〃

〃What's　the　use　of　that；　when　Captain　Gordon　will　not　let　me　go　near
you。　　Taking　me　to　that　abominable　Maplewood　last　Easter；　with　half
the　house　shut　up；　and　all　horrid！　　And　he　is　as　dry　as　a　stick！〃

〃The　captain！〃　cried　Harry　angrily。　　〃There's　not　a　better　captain　to
sail　with　in　the　whole　navy；　and　your　brother　would　be　the　first　to
tell　you　so！　　I'm　not　discharged　yet。　　Hectoryou　had　better　look
out　what　you　say！〃

〃Maybe　he　is　the　best　to　sail　with；　but　that　is　not　being　the　best　to
live　with；〃　said　the　heir　of　Maplewood　disconsolately。　　〃Alan　himself
always　said　he　never　knew　what　home　was；　till　he　got　to　your　father
and　Margaret。〃

〃So　will　you；〃　said　Harry；　〃why；　my　father　is　your　master；　or
whatever　you　may　call　it。〃

〃No；　Captain　Gordon　is　my　guardian。〃

〃Eh！　what's　become　of　the　will　then？〃

〃What　will？〃　cried　Hector。　　〃Did　Alan　make　one　after　all？〃

〃Ay。　　At　Valparaiso；　he　had　a　touch　of　fever；　I　went　ashore　to　nurse
him；　to　a　merchant's；　who　took　us　in　for　love　of　our　Scottish　blood。
Mr。　Ernescliffe　made　a　will　there；　and　left　it　in　his　charge。〃

〃Do　you　think　he　made　Dr。　May　my　guardian？〃

〃He　asked　me　whether　I　thought　he　would　dislike　it；　and　I　told　him；
no。〃

〃That's　right！〃　cried　Hector。　　〃That's　like　dear　old　Alan！　　I　shall
get　back　to　the　doctor　and　Margaret　after　all。　　Mind　you　write　to　the
captain；　Harry！〃

Hector　was　quite　inspirited　and　ready　to　return　to　the　others；　but
Harry　paused　to　express　a　hope　that　he　did　not　let　Tom　make　such　a
fool　of　himself　as　he　had　done　to…day。

〃Not　he；〃　said　Hector。　　〃He　is　liked　as　much　as　any　one　in　the　house…
…he　has　been　five　times　sent　up　for　good。　　See　there　in　the　Eton
list！　　He　is　a　real　clever　fellow。〃

〃Ay；　but　what's　the　good　of　all　that；　if　you　let　him　be　a　puppy？〃

〃Oh；　he'll　be　cured。　　A　fellow　that　has　been　a　sloven　always　is　a
puppy　for　a　bit；〃　said　Hector　philosophically。

Norman　was　meantime　taking　Tom　to　task　for　these　same　airs；　and；
hearing　it　was　from　the　desire　to　see　his　brother　respectable
Stoneborough　men　never　cared　for　what　they　looked　like；　and　he　must
have　Harry　do　himself　credit。

〃You　need　not　fear；〃　said　Norman。　　〃He　did　not　require　Eton　to　make
him　a　gentleman。　　How　now？　　Why；　Tom；　old　man；　you　are　not　taking
that　to　heart？　　That's　all　over　long　ago。〃

For　that　black　spot　in　his　life　had　never　passed　out　of　the　lad's
memory；　and　it　might　be　from　the　lurking　want　of　self…respect　that
there　was　about　him　so　much　of　self…assertion；　in　attention　to
trifles。　　He　was　very　reserved；　and　no　one　except　Norman　had　ever
found　the　way　to　anything　like　confidence；　and　Norman　had　vexed　him
by　the　proposal　he　had　made　in　the　holidays。

He　made　no　answer；　but　stood　looking　at　Norman　with　an　odd　undecided
gaze。

〃Well；　what　now；　old　fellow？〃　said　Norman；　half　fearing　〃that〃　might
not　be　absolutely　over。　　〃One　would　think　you　were　not　glad　to　see
Harry。〃

〃I　suppose　he　has　made　you　all　the　more　set　upon　that　mad　notion　of
yours；〃　said　Tom。

〃So　far　as　making　me　feel　that　that　part　of　the　world　has　a　strong
claim　on　us；〃　replied　Norman。

〃I'm　sure　you　don't　look　as　if　you　found　your　pleasure　in　it；〃　cried
Tom。

〃Pleasure　is　not　what　I　seek；〃　said　Norman。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？〃　said　Tom。　　〃You　said　I　did　not　seem
rejoicedyou　look　worse；　I　am　sure。〃　　Tom　put　his　arm　on　Norman's
shoulder；　and　looked　solicitously　at　himdemonstrations　of　affection
very　rare　with　him。

〃I　wonder　which　would　really　make　you　happiest；　to　have　your　own　way；
and　go　to　these　black　villains〃

〃Remember；　that　but　for　others　who　have　done　so；　Harry〃

〃Pshaw；〃　said　Tom；　rubbing　some　invisible　dust　from　his　coat　sleeve。
〃If　it　would　keep　you　at　home；　I　would　say　I　never　would　hear　of
doctoring。〃

〃I　thought　you　had　said　so。〃

〃What's　the　use　of　my　coming　here；　if　I'm　to　be　a　country　doctor？〃

〃I　have　told　you　I　do　not　mean　to　victimise　you。　　If　you　have　a
distaste　to　it；　there's　an　end　of　itI　am　quite　ready。〃

Tom　gave　a　great　sigh。　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　must；　I　must；　I　don't
mind　the　part　of　it　that　you　do。　　I　only　hate　the　name　of　it；　and　the
being　tied　down　to　a　country　place　like　that；　while　you　go　out
thousands　of　miles　off　to　these　savages；　but　if　it　is　the　only　thing
to　content　you；　I　wont　stand　in　your　way。　　I　can't　bear　your　looking
disconsolate。〃

〃Don't　think　yourself　bound；　if　you　really　dislike　the　profession。〃

〃I　don't；〃　said　Tom。　　〃It　is　my　free　choice。　　If　it　were　not　for
horrid　sick　people；　I　should　like　it。〃

Promising！　it　must　be　confessed！

Perhaps　Tom　had　expected　Norman　to　brighten　at　once；　but　it　was　a
fallacious　hope。　　The　gaining　his　point　involved　no　pleasant
prospect；　and　his　young　brother's　moody　devotion　to　him　suggested
scruples　whether　he　ought　to　exact　the　sacrifice；　though；　in　his　own
mind；　convinced　that　it　was　Tom's　vocation；　and　knowing　that　would
give　him　many　of　the　advantages　of　an　eldest　son。

Eton　fully　justified　Hector's　declaration　that　it　would　not　regard
the　cut　of　Harry's　coat。　　The　hero　of　a　lost　ship　and　savage　isle　was
the　object　of　universal　admiration　and　curiosity；　and　inestimable
were　the　favours　conferred　by　Hector　and　Tom　in　giving　introductions
to　him；　till　he　had　shaken　hands　with　half　the　school；　and　departed
amid　deafening　cheers。

In　spite　of　Harry；　the　day　had　been　long　and　heavy　to　Norman；　and
though　he　chid　himself　for　his　depression；　he　shrank　from　the　sight
of　Meta　and　Sir　Henry　Walkinghame　together；　and　was　ready　to　plead　an
aching　head　as　an　excuse　for　not　appearing　at　the　evening　party；　but；
besides　that　this　might　attract　notice；　he　thought　himself　bound　to
take　care　of　Harry　in　so　new　a　world；　where　the　boy　must　be　at　a
great　loss。

〃I　say；　old　June；〃　cried　a　voice　at　his　door；　〃are　you　ready？〃

〃I　have　not　begun　dressing　yet。　　Will　you　wait？〃

〃Not　I。　The　fun　is　beginning。〃

Norman　heard　the　light　foot　scampering　downstairs；　and　prepared　to
follow；　to　assume　the　protection　of　him。

Music　sounded　as　Norman　left　his　room；　and　he　turned　aside　to　avoid
the　stream　of　company　flowing　up　the　flower…decked　stairs；　and　made
his　way　into　the　rooms　through　Flora's　boudoir。　　He　was　almost
dazzled　by　the　bright　lights；　and　the　gay　murmurs　of　the　brilliant
throng。　　Young　ladies　with　flowers　and　velvet　streamers　down　their
backs；　old　ladies　portly　and　bejewelled；　gentlemen　looking　civil；
abounded　wherever　he　turned　his　eyes。　　He　could　see　Flora's　graceful
head　bending　as　she　received　guest　after　guest；　and　the　smile　with
which　she　answered　congratulations　on　her　brother's　return；　but　Harry
he　did　not　so　quickly　perceive；　and　he　was　trying　to　discover　in　what
corner　he　might　have　hidden　himself；　when　Meta　stood　beside　him；
asking　whether　their　Eton　journey　had　prospered；　and　how　poor　Hector
was　feeling　at　Harry's　return。

〃Where　is　Harry？〃　asked　Norman。　　〃Is　he　not　rather　out　of　his
element？〃

〃No；　indeed；〃　said　Meta；　smiling。　　〃Why；　he　is　the　lion　of　the
night！〃

〃Poor　fellow；　how　he　must　hate　it！〃

〃Come　this　way；　into　the　front　room。　　There；　look　at　himis　it　not
nice　to　see　him；　so　perfectly　simple　and　at　his　ease；　neither　shy　nor
elated？　　And　what　a　fine…looking　fellow　he　is！〃

Meta　might　well　say　so。　　The　trim；　well…knit；　broad…chested　form；　the
rosy　embrowned　honest　face；　the　shining　light…brown　curly　locks；　the
dancing　well…opened　blue　eyes；　and　merry　hearty　smile　showed　to　the
best　advantage；　in　array　that　even　Tom　would　not　have　spurned；　put　on
with　naval　neatness；　and　his　attitude　and　manner　were　so　full　of
manly　ease；　that　it　was　no　wonder　that　every　eye　rested　on　him　with
pleasure。　　Norman　smiled　at　his　own　mistake；　and　asked　who　were　the
lady　and　gentleman　conversing　with　him。　　Meta　mentioned　one　of　the
most　distinguished　of　English　names；　and　shared　his　amusement　in
seeing　Harry　talking　to　them　with　the　same　frank　unembarrassed　ease
as　when　he　had　that　morning　shaken　hands　with　their　son；　in　the
capacity　of　Hector　Ernescliffe's　fag。　　No　one　present　inspired　him
with　a　tithe　of　the　awe　he　felt　for　a　post…captainit　was　simply　a
pleasant　assembly　of　good…natured　folks；　glad　to　welcome　home　a
battered　sailor；　and　of　pretty　girls；　for　whom　he　had　a　sailor's
admiration；　but　without　forwardness　or　presumptionall　in　happy
grateful　simplicity。

〃I　suppose　you　cannot　dance？〃　said　Flora　to　him。

〃I！〃　was　Harry's　interjection；　and　while　she　was　looking　round　for　a
partner　to　whom　to　present　him；　he　had　turned　to　the　young　daughter
of　his　new　acquaintance；　and　had　her　on　his　arm；　unconscious　that
George　had　been　making　his　way　to　her。

Flora　was　somewhat　uneasy；　but　the　mother　was　looking　on　smiling；　and
expressed　her　delight　in　the　young　midshipman；　and　Mrs。　Rivers；　while
listening　gladly　to　his　praises；　watched　heedfully；　and　was　reassured
to　see　that　dancing　was　as　natural　to　him　as　everything　else；　his
steps　were　light　as　a　feather；　his　movement　all　freedom　and　joy；
without　being　boisterous；　and　his　boyish　chivalry　as　pretty　a　sight
as　any　one　could　wish　to　see。

If　the　rest　of　the　world　enjoyed　their　dances　a　quarter　as　much　as
did　〃Mr。　May；〃　they　were　enviable　people；　and　he　contributed　not　a
little　to　their　pleasure；　if　merely　by　the　sight　of　his　blithe
freshness　and　spirited　simplicity；　as　well　as　the　general　sympathy
with　his　sister's　joy；　and　the　interest　in　his　adventures。　　He　would
have　been　a　general　favourite；　if　he　had　been　far　less　personally
engaging；　as　it　was；　every　young　lady　was　in　raptures　at　dancing　with
him；　and　he　did　his　best　to　dance　with　them　all；　and　to　try　to　stir
up　Norman；　who；　after　Meta　had　been　obliged　to　leave　him；　and　go　to
act　her　share　of　the　part　of　hostess；　had　disposed　of　himself　against
a　wall；　where　he　might　live　out　the　night。

〃Ha！　　June！　what　makes　you　stand　sentry　there？　　Come　and　dance；　and
have　some　of　the　fun！　　Some　of　these　girls　are　the　nicest　partners　in
the　world。　　There's　that　Lady　Alice；　something　with　the　dangling
things　in　her　hair；　sitting　down　nowfamous　at　a　polka。　　Come　along；
I'll　introduce　you。　　It　will　do　you　good。〃

〃I　know　nothing　of　dancing；〃　said　Norman；　beginning　to　apprehen