the daisy chain, or aspirations-第124章

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I'll　introduce　you。　　It　will　do　you　good。〃

〃I　know　nothing　of　dancing；〃　said　Norman；　beginning　to　apprehend　that
he　might　be　dragged　off；　as　often　he　had　been　to　cricket　or　football；
and　by　much　the　same　means。

〃Comes　by　nature；　when　you　hear　the　music。　　Ha！　what　a　delicious
polka！　　Come　along；　or　I　must　be　off！　　She　will　be　waiting　for　me；
and　she　is　the　second　prettiest　girl　here！　　Come！〃

〃I　have　been　trying　to　make　something　of　him；　Harry；〃　said　the
ubiquitous　Flora；　〃but　I　don't　know　whether　it　is　mauvaise　honte；　or
headache。〃

〃I　see！　　Poor　old　June！〃　cried　Harry。　　〃I'll　get　you　an　ice　at　once；
old　fellow！　　Nothing　like　one　for　setting　a　man　going！〃

Before　Norman　could　protest；　Harry　had　flown　off。

〃Flora；〃　asked　Norman；　〃isare　the　Walkinghames　here？〃

〃Yes。　　Don't　you　see　Sir　Henry。　　That　fine…looking　man　with　the　black
moustache。　　I　want　you　to　know　him。　　He　is　a　great　admirer　of　your
prize　poem　and　of　Dr。　Spencer。〃

Harry　returning；　administered　his　ice；　and　then　darted　off　to　excuse
himself　to　his　partner；　by　explanations　about　his　brother；　whom
everybody　must　have　heard　of；　as　he　was　the　cleverest　fellow　living；
and　had　written　the　best　prize　poem　ever　heard　at　Oxford。　　He　firmly
believed　Norman　a　much　greater　lion　than　himself。

Norman　was　forced　to　leave　his　friendly　corner　to　dispose　of　the
glass　of　his　ice；　and　thus　encountered　Miss　Rivers；　of　whom　Sir　Henry
was　asking　questions　about　a　beautiful　collection　of　cameos；　which
Flora　had　laid　out　as　a　company　trap。

〃Here　is　Norman　May；〃　said　Meta；　〃he　knows　them　better　than　I　do。　　Do
you　remember　which　of　these　is　the　head　of　Diana；　Norman？〃

Having　set　the　two　gentlemen　to　discuss　them；　she　glided　away　on
fresh　hospitable　duties；　while　Norman　repeated　the　comments　that　he
had　so　enjoyed　hearing　from　poor　Mr。　Rivers；　hoping　he　was；　at　least；
sparing　Meta　some　pain；　and　wondering　that　Flora　should　have　risked
hurting　her　feelings　by　exposing　these　treasures　to　the　general　gaze。

If　Norman　were　wearied　by　Sir　Henry；　it　was　his　own　fault；　for　the
baronet　was　a　very　agreeable　person；　who　thought　a　first…class　man
worth　cultivation；　so　that　the　last　half…hour　might　have　compensated
for　all　the　rest；　if　conversation　were　always　the　test。

〃Why；　Meta；〃　cried　Harry；　coming　up　to　her；　〃you　have　not　once
danced！　　We　are　a　sort　of　brother　and　sister；　to　be　sure；　but　that　is
no　hindrance；　is　it？〃

〃No；〃　said　Meta；　smiling；　〃thank　you；　Harry；　but　you　must　find　some
one　more　worthy。　　I　do　not　dance　this　season；　at　least；　not　in
public。　　When　we　get　home；　who　knows　what　we　may　do？〃

〃You　don't　dance！　　Poor　little　Meta！　　And　you　don't　go　out！　　What　a
pity！〃

〃I　had　rather　not　work　quite　so　hard；〃　said　Meta。　　〃Think　what　good
fortune　I　had　by　staying　at　home　last　night！〃

〃I　declare！〃　exclaimed　Harry；　bewitched　by　the　beaming　congratulation
of　her　look；　〃I　can't　imagine　why　Norman　had　said　you　had　turned　into
a　fine　lady！　　I　can't　see　a　bit　of　it！〃

〃Norman　said　I　had　turned　into　a　fine　lady！〃　repeated　Meta。　　〃Why？〃

〃Never　mind！　　I　don't　think　so；　you　are　just　like　papa's　humming…
bird；　as　you　always　were；　not　a　bit　more　of　a　fine　lady　than　any　girl
here；　and　I　am　sure　papa　would　say　so。　　Only　old　June　had　got　a　bad
headache；　and　is　in　one　of　his　old　dumps；　such　as　I　hoped　he　had　left
off。　　But　he　can't　help　it；　poor　fellow；　and　he　will　come　out　of　it；
by　and　byso　never　mind。　　Hallo！　why　people　are　going　away　already。
There's　that　girl　without　any　one　to　hand　her　downstairs。〃

Away　ran　Harry；　and　presently　the　brothers　and　sisters　gathered　round
the　fireGeorge　declaring　that　he　was　glad　that　nuisance　was　so　well
over；　and　Harry　exclaiming；　〃Well　done；　Flora！　　It　was　capital　fun！
I　never　saw　a　lot　of　prettier　or　more　good…natured　people　in　my　life。
If　I　am　at　home　for　the　Stoneborough　ball；　I　wonder　whether　my　father
will　let　me　go　to　it。〃

This　result　of　Harry's　successful　debut　in　high　life　struck　his
sister　and　Norman　as　so　absurd　that　both　laughed。

〃What's　the　matter　now？〃　asked　Harry。

〃Your　comparing　Flora's　party　to　a　Stoneborough　ball；〃　said　Norman。

〃It　is　all　the　same；　isn't　it？〃　said　Harry。　　〃I'm　sure　you　are
equally　disgusted　at　both！〃

〃Much　you　know　about　it；〃　said　Flora；　patting　him　gaily。　　〃I'm　not
going　to　put　conceit　in　that　lion　head　of　yours；　but　you　were　as　good
as　an　Indian　prince　to　my　party。　　Do　you　know　to　whom　you　have　been
talking　so　coolly？〃

〃Of　course。　　You　see；　Norman；　it　is　just　as　I　told　you。　　All
civilised　people　are　just　alike　when　they　get　into　a　drawing…room。〃

〃Harry　takes　large　views　of　the　Genus　homo；〃　Norman　exerted　himself
to　say。　　〃Being　used　to　the　black　and　brown　species；　he　takes　little
heed　of　the　lesser　varieties。〃

〃It　is　enough　for　him　that　he　does　not　furnish　the　entertainment　in
another　way；〃　said　Flora。　　〃But；　good…night。　Meta；　you　look　tired。〃




CHAPTER　XIX。



Let　none；　henceforward；　shrink　from　daring　dreams；
For　earnest　hearts　shall　find　their　dreams　fulfilled。FOUQUE。


〃I　have　it！〃　began　Harry；　as　he　came　down　to　breakfast。　　〃I　don't
know　how　I　came　to　forget　it。　　The　will　was　to　be　sent　home　to　Mr。
Mackintosh's　English　partner。　　I'll　go　and　overhaul　him　this　very
morning。　　They　won't　mind　my　coming　by　a　later　train；　when　there　is
such　a　reason。〃

〃What　is　his　name？　　Where　shall　you　find　him？〃　asked　Flora。

〃I　can't　be　sure；　but　you've　a　navy　list　of　that　sort　of　cattle；　have
not　you；　Flora？　　I'll　hunt　him　up。〃

Flora　supposed　he　meant　a　directory；　and　all　possible　South　American
merchants　having　been　overlooked；　and　the　Mackintoshes　selected；　he
next　required　a　chart　of　London；　and　wanted　to　attempt　self…
navigation；　but　was　forced　to　accept　of　George's　brougham　and　escort；
Flora　would　not　trust　him　otherwise；　and　Norman　was　obliged　to　go　to
Oxford　at　once；　hurrying　off　to　his　train　before　breakfast　was　over。

Flora　might　have　trusted　Harry　alone。　　George　contributed　no　more
than　the　dignity　of　his　presence；　and；　indeed；　would　have　resigned
the　pursuit　at　the　first　blunder　about　the　firm；　and　still　more　when
the　right　one　had　been　found；　but　the　partner　proved　crusty；　and
would　not　believe　that　any　such　document　was　in　his　hands。　　George
was　consenting　to　let　it　rest　till　Mr。　Mackintosh　could　be　written
to；　but　Harry；　outrunning　his　management；　and　regardless　of　rebuffs；
fairly　teased　the　old　gentleman　into　a　search；　as　the　only　means　of
getting　rid　of　the　troublesome　sailor。

In　the　midst　of　George's　civil　regrets　at　the　fruitless　trouble　they
were　causing；　forth　came　a　bundle　of　papers；　and　forth　from　the
bundle　fell　a　packet；　on　which　Harry　pounced　as　he　read；　〃Will　of
Alan　Halliday　Ernescliffe；　Esquire；　of　Maplewood；　Yorkshire；
Lieutenant　in　H。　M。　S。　Alcestis；〃　and；　in　the　corner；　the　executors'
names；　Captain　John　Gordon；　of　H。　M。　S。　Alcestis；　and　Richard　May；
Esquire；　M。　D。；　Market　Stoneborough。

As　if　in　revenge；　the　prudent　merchant　would　not　be　induced　to
entrust　him　with　the　document；　saying　he　could　not　give　it　up　till　he
had　heard　from　the　executors；　and　had　been　certified　of　the　death　of
the　testator。　　He　withstood　both　the　angry　gentlemen；　who　finally
departed　in　a　state　of　great　resentmentHarry　declaring　that　the　old
land…lubber　would　not　believe　that　he　was　his　own　father's　son；　and
Mr。　Rivers；　no　less　incensed；　that　the　House　of　Commons　had　been
insulted　in　his　person；　because　he　did　not　carry　all　before　him。

Flora　laughed　at　their　story；　and　told　them　that　she　suspected　that
the　old　gentleman　was　in　the　right；　and　she　laid　plans　for　having
Harry　to　teach　them　yachting　at　Ryde；　while　Harry　declared　he　would
have　nothing　to　do　with　such　trumpery。

Harry　found　his　home　in　a　sort　of　agony　of　expectation；　for　his　non…
arrival　at　the　time　expected　had　made　his　first　appearance　seem　like
an　unsubstantial　illusion；　though　Dr。　May；　or　Mary　and　Aubrey；　had
been　at　the　station　at　the　coming　in　of　each　train。　　Margaret　had
recovered　the　effects　of　the　first　shock；　and　the　welcome　was　far
more　joyous　than　the　first　had　been；　with　the　mixed　sensations　that
were　now　composed；　and　showed　little；　outwardly；　but　gladness。

Dr。　May　took　Flora's　view　of　the　case；　and　declared　that；　if　Harry
had　brought　home　the　will；　he　should　not　have　opened　it　without　his
co…executor。　　So　he　wrote　to　the　captain；　while　Harry　made　the　most
of　his　time　in　learning　his　sisters　over　again。　　He　spent　a　short
time　alone　with　Margaret　every　morning；　patiently　and　gently　allowing
himself　to　be　recalled　to　the　sad　recollections　that　were　all　the
world　to　her。　　He　kept　Ethel　and　Mary　merry　with　his　droll　desultory
comments；　he　made　Blanche　keep　up　her　dancing；　and　taught　Gertrude　to
be　a　thorough　little　romp。　　As　to　Dr。　May；　his　patients　never　were　so
well　or　so　cheerful；　till　Dr。　Spencer　and　Ethel　suspected　that　the
very　sight　of　his　looks　brightened　themhow　could　they　help　it？　　Dr。
Spencer　was　as　happy　as　a　king　in　seeing　his　friend　freed　from　the
heavy　weight　on　his　spirits；　and；　truly；　it　was　goodly　to　watch　his
perfect　look　of　content；　as　he　leaned　on　his　lion…faced　boy's　arm；
and　walked　down　to　the　minster；　whither　it　seemed　to　have　become
possible　to　go　on　most　evenings。　　Good　Dr。　May　was　no　musician；　but
Mr。　Wilmot　could　not　regret　certain　tones　that　now　and　then　burst　out
in　the　chanting；　from　the　very　bottom　of　a　heart　that　assuredly　sang
with　the　full　melody　of　thankfulness；　　whatever　the　voice　might　do。

Captain　Gordon　not　only　wrote　but　came　to　Stoneborough；　whence　Harry
was　to　go　with　him　to　the　court…martial　at　Portsmouth。

The　girls　wondered　that；　after　writing　with　so　much　warmth　and
affection；　both　of　and　to　Harry；　he　met　him　without　any　demonstration
of　feeling；　and　his　short　peremptory　manner　removed　all　surprise　that
poor　Hector　had　been　so　forlorn　with　him　at　Maplewood；　and　turned；
with　all　his　heart；　to　Dr。　May。　　They　were　especially　impressed　at
the　immediate　subsidence　of　all　Harry's　noise　and　nonsense；　as　if　the
drawing…room　had　been　the　quarter…deck　of　the　Alcestis。

〃And　yet；〃　said　Margaret；　〃Harry　will　not　hear　a　single　word　in
dispraise　of　him。　　I　do　believe　he　loves　him　with　all　his　heart。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Ethel；　〃that　in　a　strong　character；　there　is　an
exulting　fear　in　looking　up　to　a　superior；　in　whose　justice　there　is
perfect　reliance。　　It　is　a　germ　of　the　higher　feeling。〃

〃I　believe　you　are　right；〃　said　Margaret；　〃but　it　is　a　serious　thing
for　a　man　to　have　so　little　sympathy　with　those　below　him。　　You　see
how　Hector　feels　it；　and　I　now　understand　how　it　told　upon　Alan；　and
how　papa's　warmth　was　like　a　surprise　to　him。〃

〃Because　Captain　Gordon　had　to　be　a　father　to　them；　and　that　is　more
than　a　captain。　　I　should　not　wonder　if　there　were　more　similarity
and　fellow…feeling　between　him　and　Harry　than　there　could　be　with
either　of　them。　　Harry；　though　he　has　all　papa's　tenderness；　is　of　a
rougher　sort　that　likes　to　feel　itself　mastered。　　Poor　Hector！　　I
wonder　if　he　is　to　be　given　back　to　us。〃

〃Do　you　knowwhenwhether　they　will　find　out　this　morning？〃　said
Margaret；　catching　her　dress　nervously；　as　she　was　moving　away。

〃Yes；　I　believe　so。　　I　was　not　to　have　told　you；　but〃

〃There　is　no　reason　that