the daisy chain, or aspirations-第125章

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

〃There　is　no　reason　that　it　should　do　me　any　harm；〃　said　Margaret；
almost　smiling；　and　looking　as　if　she　was　putting　a　restraint　on
something　she　wished　to　say。　　〃Go　down；　dear　EthelAubrey　will　be
waiting　for　you。〃

Ethel　went　down　to　the　difficult　task　of　hearing　Aubrey's　lessons；
while　Harry　was　pretending　to　write　to　Mrs。　Arnott；　but；　in　reality；
teaching　Gertrude　the　parts　of　a　ship；　occasionally　acting　mast；　for
her　to　climb。

By　and　by　Dr。　May　came　in。　　〃Margaret　not　downstairs　yet？〃　he　said。

〃She　is　dressed；　but　will　not　come　down　till　the　evening；〃　said
Ethel。

〃I'll　go　to　her。　　She　will　be　pleased。　　Come　up　presently；　Ethel。
Or；　where's　Richard？〃

〃Gone　out；〃　said　Harry。　　〃What；　is　it　anything　left　to　her？〃

〃The　best；　the　best！〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃Ethel；　listentwenty　thousand；
to　build　and　endow　a　church　for　Cocksmoor！〃

No　need　to　bid　Ethel　listen。　　She　gave　a　sort　of　leap　in　her　chair；
then　looked　almost　ready　to　faint。

〃My　dear　child；〃　said　her　father；　〃This　is　your　wish。　　I　give　you
joy；　indeed　I　do！〃

Ethel　drew　his　arm　round　her；　and　leaned　against　him。　　〃My　wish！　my
wish！〃　she　repeated；　as　if　questioning　the　drift　of　the　words。

〃I'm　glad　it　is　found！〃　cried　Harry。　　〃Now　I　know　why　he　talked　of
Cocksmoor；　and　seemed　to　rest　in　planning　for　it。　　You　will　mind　the
roof　is　as　he　said。〃

〃You　must　talk　to　Dr。　Spencer　about　that；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃The
captain　means　to　leave　it　entirely　in　our　hands。〃

〃Dear　Alan！〃　exclaimed　Ethel。　　〃My　wish！　　Oh；　yes；　but　how　gained？
Yet；　Cocksmoor　with　a　church！　　I　don't　know　how　to　be　glad　enough；
and　yet〃

〃You　shall　read　the　sentence；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃'In　testimony　of
thankfulness　for　mercy　vouchsafed　to　him　here'　poor　dear　boy！〃

〃What　does　the　captain　say？〃　asked　Harry。

〃He　is　rather　astounded；　but　he　owns　that　the　estate　can　bear　it；　for
old　Halliday　had　saved　a　great　deal；　and　there　will　be　more　before
Hector　comes　of　age。〃

〃And　Hector？〃

〃Yes；　we　get　him　back。　　I　am　fellow…trustee　with　Captain　Gordon；　and
as　to　personal　guardianship；　I　fancy　the　captain　found　he　could　not
make　the　boy　happy；　and　thinks　you　no　bad　specimen　of　our　training。〃

〃Famous！〃　cried　Harry。　　〃Hector　will　hurrah　now！　　Is　that　all？〃

〃Except　legacies　to　Captain　Gordon；　and　some　Scottish　relations。　　But
poor　Margaret　ought　to　hear　it。　　Ethel；　don't　be　long　in　coming。〃

With　all　Ethel's　reputation　for　bluntness；　it　was　remarkable　how　her
force　of　character　made　her　always　called　for　whenever　there　was　the
least　dread　of　a　scene。

She　turned　abruptly　from　Harry；　and；　going　outside　the　window；　tried
to　realise　and　comprehend　the　tidings；　but　all　she　could　have　time　to
discover　was　that　Alan's　memory　was　dearer　to　her　than　ever；　and　she
was　obliged　to　hasten　upstairs。

Her　father　quitted　the　room　by　one　door；　as　she　entered　by　the　other；
she　believed　that　it　was　to　hide　his　emotion；　but　Margaret's　fair　wan
face　was　beaming　with　the　sweetest　of　congratulating　smiles。

〃I　thought　so；〃　she　said；　as　Ethel　came　in。　　〃Dear　Ethel；　are　you　not
glad？〃

〃I　think　I　am；〃　said　Ethel；　putting　her　hands　to　her　brow。

〃You　think！〃　exclaimed　Margaret；　as　if　disappointed。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Ethel；　with　quivering　lip。　　〃Dear　Margaret；
I　am　gladdon't　you　believe　I　am；　but　somehow；　it　is　harder　to　deal
with　joy　than　grief。　　It　confuses　one！　　Dear　Alanand　then　to　have
been　set　on　it　so　longto　have　prayed　so　for　it；　and　to　have　it　come
in　this　wayby　your〃

〃Nay；　Ethel；　had　he　come　home；　it　was　his　great　wish　to　have　done　it。
He　used　to　make　projects　when　he　was　here；　but　he　would　not　let　me
tell　you；　lest　he　should　find　duties　at　Maplewoodwhereas　this　would
have　been　his　pleasure。〃

〃Dear　Alan！〃　repeated　Ethel。　　〃If　you　are　so　kind；　so　dear　as　to　be
glad；　Margaret；　I　think　I　shall　be　so　presently。〃

Margaret　almost　grudged　the　lack　of　the　girlish　outbreak　of　rejoicing
which　would　once　have　forgotten　everything　in　the　ecstasy　of　the
fulfilled　vision。　　It　did　not　seem　to　be　what　Alan　had　intended；　he
had　figured　to　himself　unmixed　joy；　and　she　wanted　to　see　it；　and
something　of　the　wayward　impatience　of　weakness　throbbed　at　her
heart；　as　Ethel　paced　the　room；　and　disappeared　in　her　own　curtained
recess。

Presently　she　came　back　saying；　〃You　are　sure　you　are　glad？〃

〃It　would　be　strange　if　I　were　not；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃See；　Ethel；
here　are　blessings　springing　up　from　what　I　used　to　think　had　served
for　nothing　but　to　bring　him　pain　and　grief。　　I　am　so　thankful　that
he　could　express　his　desire；　and　so　grateful　to　dear　Harry　for
bringing　it　to　light。　　How　much　better　it　is　than　I　ever　thought　it
could　be！　　He　has　been　spared　disappointment；　and　surely　the　good
that　he　will　have　done　will　follow　him。〃

〃And　you？〃　said　Ethel　sadly。

〃I　shall　lie　here　and　wait；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃I　shall　see　the　plans；
and　hear　all　about　it；　and　oh！〃her　eyes　lighted　up〃perhaps　some
day；　I　may　hear　the　bell。〃

Richard's　tap　interrupted　them。　　〃Had　he　heard？〃

〃I　have。〃　　The　deepened　colour　in　his　cheek　betrayed　how　much　he
felt；　as　he　cast　an　anxious　glance　towards　Margaretan　inquiring　one
on　Ethel。

〃She　is　so　pleased；〃　was　all　Ethel　could　say。

〃I　thought　she　would　be；〃　said　Richard；　approaching。　　〃Captain　Gordon
seemed　quite　vexed　that　no　special　token　of　remembrance　was　left　to
her。〃

Margaret　smiled　in　a　peculiar　way。　　〃If　he　only　knew　how　glad　I　am
there　was　not。〃　　And　Ethel　knew　that　the　church　was　his　token　to
Margaret；　and　that　any　〃fading　frail　memorial〃　would　have　lessened
the　force　of　the　signification。

Ethel　could　speak　better　to　her　brother　than　to　her　sister。　　〃Oh；
Richard！　Richard！　Richard！〃　she　cried；　and　a　most　unusual　thing　with
both；　she　flung　her　arms　round　his　neck。　　〃It　is　come　at　last！　　If　it
had　not　been　for　you；　this　would　never　have　been。　　How　little　likely
it　seemed；　that　dirty　day；　when　I　talked　wildly；　and　you　checked　me！〃

〃You　had　faith　and　perseverance；〃　said　Richard；　〃or〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Margaret；　as　Ethel　was　about　to　disclaim。　　〃It
was　Ethel's　steadiness　that　brought　it　before　Alan's　mind。　　If　she
had　yielded　when　we　almost　wished　it；　in　the　time　of　the　distress
about　Mrs。　Green；　I　do　believe　that　all　would　have　died　away！〃

〃I　didn't　keep　steadyI　was　only　crazy。　　You　and　Ritchie　and　Mr。
Wilmot〃　said　Ethel；　half　crying；　then；　as　if　unable　to　stay；　she
exclaimed　with　a　sort　of　petulance；　〃And　there's　Harry　playing　all
sorts　of　rigs　with　Aubrey！　　I　shan't　get　any　more　sense　out　of　him
to…day！〃

And　away　she　rushed　to　the　wayfaring　dust　of　her　life　of　labour；　to
find　Aubrey　and　Daisy　half…way　up　the　tulip　tree；　and　Harry
mischievously　unwilling　to　help　them　down　again；　assuring　her　that
such　news　deserved　a　holiday；　and　that　she　was　growing　a　worse　tartar
than　Miss　Winter。　　She　had　better　let　the　poor　children　alone；　put　on
her　bonnet；　and　come　with　him　to　tell　Mr。　Wilmot。

Whereat　Ethel　was　demurring；　when　Dr。　May　came　forth；　and　declared　he
should　take　her　himself。

Poor　Mr。　Wilmot　laboured　under　a　great　burden　of　gratitude；　which　no
one　would　receive　from　him。　　Dr。　May　and　Ethel　repudiated　thanks
almost　with　terror；　and；　when　he　tried　them　with　the　captain；　he
found　very　doubtful　approval　of　the　whole　measure；　so　that　Harry
alone　was　a　ready　acceptant　of　a　full　meed　of　acknowledgments　for　his
gallant　extraction　of　the　will。

No　one　was　more　obliged　to　him　than　Hector　Ernescliffe；　who　wrote　to
Margaret　that　it　would　be　very　jolly　to　come　home　again；　and　that　he
was　delighted　that　the　captain　could　not　hinder　either　that　or
Cocksmoor　Church。　　〃And　as　to　Maplewood；　I　shall　not　hate　it　so　much；
if　that　happens　which　I　hope　will　happen。〃　　Of　which　oracular
sentence；　Margaret　could　make　nothing。

The　house　of　May　felt　more　at　their　ease　when　the　uncongenial　captain
had　departed；　although　he　carried　off　Harry　with　him。　　There　was　the
better　opportunity　for　a　tea…drinking　consultation　with　Dr。　Spencer
and　Mr。　Wilmot；　when　Margaret　lay　on　her　sofa；　looking　better　than
for　months　past；　and　taking　the　keenest　interest　in　every
arrangement。

Dr。　Spencer；　whose　bright　eyes　glittered　at　every　mention　of　the
subject；　assumed　that　he　was　to　be　the　architect；　while　Dr。　May　was
assuring　him　that　it　was　a　maxim　that　no　one　unpaid　could　be　trusted；
and　when　he　talked　of　beautiful　German　churches　with　pierced　spires；
declared　that　the　building　must　not　make　too　large　a　hole　in　the
twenty　thousand；　at　the　expense　of　future　curates；　because　Richard
was　the　first。

〃I'll　be　prudent；　Dick；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer。　　〃Trust　me　not　to　rival
the　minster。〃

〃We　shall　find　work　next　for　you　there；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。

〃Ay；　we　shall　have　May　out　of　his　family　packing…box　before　many
years　are　over　his　head。〃

〃Don't　mention　it；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃I　know　what　I　exposed　myself　to　in
bringing　Wilmot　here。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　〃we　shall　put　you　in　the　van　when　we　attack
the　Corporation　pen。〃

〃I　shall　hold　by　the　good　old　cause。　　As　if　the　galleries　had　not
been　there　before　you　were　born！〃

〃As　if　poor　people　had　a　right　to　sit　in　their　own　church！〃　said
Ethel。

〃Sit；　you　may　well　say；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。　　〃As　if　any　one　could　do
otherwise；　with　those　ingenious　traps　for　hindering　kneeling。〃

〃Well；　well；　I　know　the　people　must　have　room；〃　said　Dr。　May；　cutting
short　several　further　attacks　which　he　saw　impending。

〃Yes；　you　would　like　to　build　another　blue　gallery；　blocking　up
another　window；　and　with　Richard　May　and　Christopher　Tomkins；
Churchwardens；　on　it；　in　orange…coloured　lettersthe　Rivers'
colours。　　No　disrespect　to　your　father；　Miss　May；　but；　as　a　general
observation；　it　is　a　property　of　Town　Councillors　to　be　conservative
only　where　they　ought　not。〃

〃I　brought　you　here　to　talk　of　building　a　church；　not　of　pulling　one
to　pieces。〃

Poor　Dr。　May；　he　knew　it　was　inevitable　and　quite　right；　but　his
affectionate　heart　and　spirit　of　perpetuity；　which　had　an　association
connected　with　every　marble　cloud；　green　baize　pew；　and　square…headed
panel；　anticipated　tortures　in　the　general　sweep；　for　which　his
ecclesiastical　taste　and　sense　of　propriety　would　not　soon
compensate。

Margaret　spared　his　feelings　by　bringing　the　Cocksmoor　subject　back
again；　Dr。　Spencer　seemed　to　comprehend　the　ardour　with　which　she
pressed　it　on；　as　if　it　were　very　near　her　heart　that　there　should　be
no　delay。　　He　said　he　could　almost　promise　her　that　the　first　stone
should　be　laid　before　the　end　of　the　summer；　and　she　thanked　him　in
her　own　warm　sweet　way；　hoping　that　it　would　be　while　Hector　and
Harry　were　at　home。

Harry　soon　returned；　having　gone　through　the　court…martial　with　the
utmost　credit；　been　patronised　by　Captain　Gordon　in　an　unheard…of
manner；　asked　to　dine　with　the　admiral；　and　promised　to　be　quickly
afloat　again。　　Ere　many　days　had　passed；　he　was　appointed　to　one　of
the　finest　vessels　in　the　fleet；　commanded　by　a　captain　to　whom
Captain　Gordon　had　introduced　him；　and　who　〃seemed　to　have　taken　a
fancy　to　him；〃　as　he　said。　　The　Bucephalus；　now　the　object　of　his
pride；　was　refitting；　and　his　sisters　hoped　to　see　a　good　deal　of　him
before　he　should　again　sail。　　Besides；　F