°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > the daisy chain, or aspirations >

µÚ126ÕÂ

the daisy chain, or aspirations-µÚ126ÕÂ

С˵£º the daisy chain, or aspirations ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



pride£»¡¡was¡¡refitting£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡sisters¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡see¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡him
before¡¡he¡¡should¡¡again¡¡sail¡£¡¡¡¡Besides£»¡¡Flora¡¡would¡¡be¡¡at¡¡Ryde¡¡before
the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡July¡£

It¡¡was¡¡singular¡¡that¡¡Ethel's¡¡vision¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡fulfilled
simultaneously¡¡with¡¡Flora's¡¡having¡¡obtained¡¡a¡¡position¡¡so¡¡far¡¡beyond
what¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡anticipated¡£

She¡¡was¡¡evidently¡¡extremely¡¡happy¡¡and¡¡valuable£»¡¡much¡¡admired¡¡and
respected£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡full¡¡exercise¡¡for¡¡the¡¡energy¡¡and¡¡cleverness£»
which¡¡were¡¡never¡¡more¡¡gratified¡¡than¡¡by¡¡finding¡¡scope¡¡for¡¡action¡£
Her¡¡husband¡¡was¡¡devotedly¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡managed
by¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡her¡¡good¡¡judgment¡¡kept¡¡her¡¡from¡¡appearing¡¡visibly
in¡¡matters¡¡not¡¡pertaining¡¡to¡¡her¡¡own¡¡sphere£»¡¡she¡¡as£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡his
understanding¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡read£»¡¡listened£»¡¡and¡¡thought¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡imbued¡¡him
with¡¡her¡¡own¡¡views£»¡¡and¡¡composed¡¡his¡¡letters¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡ruling¡¡his
affairs£»¡¡both¡¡political¡¡and¡¡private£»¡¡and¡¡undeniably¡¡making¡¡him¡¡fill¡¡a
position¡¡which£»¡¡without¡¡her£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡left¡¡vacant£»¡¡nor¡¡was¡¡there
any¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡far¡¡happier¡¡for¡¡finding¡¡himself¡¡of¡¡consequence£»
and¡¡being¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡left¡¡a¡¡charge¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡own¡¡hands¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡seemed
fully¡¡to¡¡suffice¡¡to¡¡her¡¡as¡¡a¡¡companion£»¡¡although¡¡she¡¡was¡¡so¡¡far
superior¡¡in¡¡power£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡her¡¡nature¡¡to¡¡love¡¡best¡¡that
which¡¡depended¡¡upon¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡exercising
protection£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡had¡¡always¡¡loved¡¡Margaret¡¡better¡¡than¡¡Ethel¡£

¡¨Mrs¡£¡¡Rivers¡¡was¡¡an¡¡admirable¡¡woman¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡So¡¡every¡¡one¡¡felt£»¡¡and¡¡her
youthful¡¡beauty¡¡and¡¡success¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fashionable¡¡world¡¡made¡¡her
qualities£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡mistress¡¡of¡¡a¡¡household£»¡¡the¡¡more
appreciated¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡never¡¡set¡¡aside¡¡her¡¡religious¡¡habits¡¡or¡¡principles£»
was¡¡an¡¡active¡¡member¡¡of¡¡various¡¡charitable¡¡associations£»¡¡and¡¡found
her¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Stoneborough¡¡Ladies'¡¡Committee¡¡applicable¡¡among
far¡¡greater¡¡names¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡Lady¡¡Leonora¡¡thought¡¡dear¡¡Flora¡¡Rivers's
only¡¡fault£»¡¡her¡¡over¡­strictness£»¡¡which¡¡encouraged¡¡Meta¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same£»
but¡¡there¡¡were¡¡points¡¡that¡¡Flora¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡yielded¡¡on¡¡any
account£»¡¡without¡¡failing¡¡in¡¡her¡¡own¡¡eyes¡£

She¡¡made¡¡time¡¡for¡¡everything£»¡¡and¡¡though£»¡¡between¡¡business¡¡and
fashion£»¡¡she¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡undertake¡¡more¡¡than¡¡mortal¡¡could¡¡accomplish£»
it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡effected£»¡¡and¡¡excellently¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡did£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡sigh¡¡over¡¡the
briefness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡time¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could¡¡bestow¡¡on¡¡her¡¡child¡¡or¡¡on¡¡home
correspondence£»¡¡and¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡she¡¡should¡¡rejoice¡¡in¡¡rest£»¡¡but£»¡¡at
the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡her¡¡achievements¡¡were¡¡a¡¡positive¡¡pleasure¡¡to¡¡her¡£

Meta£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡meantime£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡living¡¡passively¡¡on¡¡the¡¡most
affectionate¡¡terms¡¡with¡¡her¡¡brother¡¡and¡¡sister£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡often
secretly¡¡yearning¡¡after¡¡the¡¡dear¡¡old¡¡father£»¡¡whose¡¡darling¡¡she¡¡had
been£»¡¡and¡¡longing¡¡for¡¡power¡¡of¡¡usefulness£»¡¡she¡¡took¡¡it¡¡on¡¡trust¡¡that
her¡¡present¡¡lot¡¡had¡¡been¡¡ordered¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡thankful£»¡¡like¡¡the
bird¡¡of¡¡Dr¡£¡¡May's¡¡fable£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡pleasures¡¡in¡¡her¡¡pathculling¡¡sweet
morals£»¡¡and¡¡precious¡¡thoughts¡¡out¡¡of¡¡book£»¡¡painting¡¡or¡¡concert£»
occasions¡¡for¡¡Christian¡¡charities¡¡in¡¡each¡¡courtesy¡¡of¡¡society£»¡¡and
opportunities¡¡for¡¡cheerful¡¡self¡­denial¡¡and¡¡submission£»¡¡whenever¡¡any
little¡¡wish¡¡was¡¡thwarted¡£

So¡¡Norman¡¡said¡¡she¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡into¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡lady£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡and
surprising¡¡intimation£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡change¡¡in¡¡the¡¡usually¡¡bright¡¡and
calm¡¡current¡¡of¡¡her¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡not¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been
any¡¡alteration¡¡in¡¡herself£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡revelation¡¡that¡¡set¡¡her¡¡to
examine¡¡where¡¡she¡¡had¡¡changedpoor¡¡little¡¡thing£¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡not¡¡angry£»
she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡resent¡¡the¡¡charge£»¡¡she¡¡took¡¡it¡¡for¡¡granted¡¡that£»¡¡coming
from¡¡such¡¡a¡¡source£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡true¡¡and¡¡reasonableand¡¡what¡¡did¡¡it
mean£¿¡¡¡¡Did¡¡they¡¡think¡¡her¡¡too¡¡gay£»¡¡or¡¡neglectful¡¡of¡¡old¡¡friends£¿
What¡¡had¡¡they¡¡been¡¡saying¡¡to¡¡Harry¡¡about¡¡her£¿

¡¨Ah£¡¡¨¡¡thought¡¡Meta£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡understand¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡living¡¡a¡¡life¡¡of¡¡ease¡¡and
uselessness£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡his¡¡higher¡¡aims¡¡and¡¡nobler¡¡purposes£»¡¡he¡¡shrinks
from¡¡the¡¡frivolities¡¡among¡¡which¡¡I¡¡am¡¡cast¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡his¡¡saddened
countenance¡¡among¡¡our¡¡gaieties£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡know¡¡that¡¡to¡¡deep¡¡minds¡¡there
is¡¡heaviness¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡display¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡withdraws¡¡from¡¡the¡¡follies
that¡¡have¡¡no¡¡charms¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡Iought¡¡I¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡help¡¡being
amused£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡seek¡¡these¡¡things£»¡¡but£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡avoid
them¡¡more¡¡than¡¡I¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡I¡¡could¡¡be¡¡quite¡¡clear¡¡what¡¡is¡¡right£»¡¡I
should¡¡not¡¡care¡¡what¡¡effort¡¡I¡¡made¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡was¡¡born¡¡to¡¡be¡¡one¡¡of
those¡¡who¡¡have¡¡trial¡¡of¡¡riches£»¡¡and¡¡such¡¡blessed¡¡tasks¡¡are¡¡not¡¡my
portion¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡if¡¡he¡¡sees¡¡the¡¡vanities¡¡creeping¡¡into¡¡my¡¡heart£»¡¡I
should¡¡be¡¡grateful¡¡for¡¡that¡¡warning¡£¡¨

So¡¡meditated¡¡Meta£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡copied¡¡one¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡¡drawings¡¡of¡¡the
Grange£»¡¡for¡¡her¡¡dear¡¡old¡¡governess£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Larpent£»¡¡while¡¡each¡¡line¡¡and
tint¡¡recalled¡¡the¡¡comments¡¡of¡¡her¡¡fond¡¡amateur¡¡father£»¡¡and¡¡the
scenery¡¡carried¡¡her¡¡home£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡street¡¡sounds£»¡¡and¡¡the
scratching¡¡of¡¡Flora's¡¡pen£»¡¡coursing¡¡over¡¡note¡­paper¡£¡¡¡¡Presently¡¡Sir
Henry¡¡Walkinghame¡¡called£»¡¡bringing¡¡a¡¡beautiful¡¡bouquet¡£

¡¨Delicious£»¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Meta¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨See£»¡¡Flora£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡in¡¡good¡¡time£»¡¡for¡¡those
vases¡¡were¡¡sadly¡¡shabby¡£¡¨

She¡¡began¡¡at¡¡once¡¡to¡¡arrange¡¡the¡¡flowers£»¡¡a¡¡task¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡what¡¡she
was¡¡born¡¡for£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡choice¡¡roses¡¡and¡¡geraniums¡¡acquired¡¡fresh¡¡grace
as¡¡she¡¡placed¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡slender¡¡glasses¡¡and¡¡classic¡¡vases£»¡¡but
Flora's¡¡discerning¡¡eyes¡¡perceived¡¡some¡¡mortification¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of
the¡¡gentleman£»¡¡and£»¡¡on¡¡his¡¡departure£»¡¡playfully¡¡reproached¡¡Meta¡¡for
ingratitude¡£

¡¨Did¡¡we¡¡not¡¡thank¡¡him£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡did¡¡them¡¡all¡¡due¡¡honour£»¡¡actually
using¡¡the¡¡Dresden¡¡bowl¡£¡¨

¡¨You¡¡little¡¡wretch£¡¡¡quite¡¡insensible¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sentiment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡thing¡£¡¨

¡¨Sentiment£¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡would¡¡think¡¡you¡¡had¡¡been¡¡reading¡¡about¡¡the¡¡language
of¡¡flowers£¡¡¨

¡¨Whatever¡¡there¡¡was£»¡¡poor¡¡Sir¡¡Henry¡¡did¡¡not¡¡mean¡¡it¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Dresden
bowl¡¡or¡¡Bohemian¡¡glass¡£¡¨

¡¨Flora£¡¡¡do¡¡pray¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡whether¡¡you¡¡are¡¡in¡¡fun£¿¡¨

¡¨You¡¡ridiculous¡¡child£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡kissing¡¡her¡¡earnest¡¡forehead£»
ringing¡¡the¡¡bell£»¡¡and¡¡gathering¡¡up¡¡her¡¡papers£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡out¡¡of
the¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡notes¡¡to¡¡the¡¡servant¡£

¡¨What¡¡does¡¡she¡¡mean£¿¡¡¡¡Is¡¡it¡¡play£¿¡¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡no£»¡¡a¡¡hint¡¡would¡¡be¡¡far¡¡more
like¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡it¡¡is¡¡nonsense¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡very¡¡kind¡¡and¡¡pleasant£»
and¡¡I¡¡should¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¨

Instances¡¡of¡¡his¡¡complaisance¡¡towards¡¡herself¡¡rose¡¡before¡¡her£»¡¡so¡¡as
to¡¡excite¡¡some¡¡warmth¡¡and¡¡gratitude¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡lonely¡¡heart¡¡thrilled¡¡at
the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡being¡¡again¡¡the¡¡best¡¡beloved£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡energetic¡¡spirit
bounded¡¡at¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡being¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡condemned¡¡to¡¡a¡¡life¡¡of¡¡idle
ease¡£¡¡¡¡Still¡¡it¡¡was¡¡too¡¡new¡¡a¡¡light¡¡to¡¡her¡¡to¡¡be¡¡readily¡¡accepted£»
after¡¡she¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡on¡¡him¡¡so¡¡long£»¡¡merely¡¡as¡¡a¡¡familiar¡¡of¡¡the
house£»¡¡attentive¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡because¡¡she¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡his¡¡share£»¡¡when¡¡Flora
was¡¡occupied¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡liked¡¡him£»¡¡decidedly£»¡¡she¡¡could¡¡possibly¡¡do¡¡more£»
but¡¡she¡¡was¡¡far¡¡more¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡dread£»¡¡than¡¡to¡¡desire£»¡¡any
disturbance¡¡of¡¡their¡¡present¡¡terms¡¡of¡¡intercourse¡£

¡¨However£»¡¨¡¡thought¡¡she£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡must¡¡see¡¡my¡¡way¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡should¡¡have¡¡any
such¡¡thing¡¡in¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡as¡¡we¡¡do¡¡now¡¡would¡¡be¡¡committing
myself£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡do¡¡that£»¡¡unless¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡it¡¡is¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Oh£»
papa£»¡¡you¡¡would¡¡settle¡¡it¡¡for¡¡me£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡will¡¡have¡¡it¡¡out¡¡with¡¡Flora¡£
She¡¡will¡¡find¡¡out¡¡what¡¡I¡¡cannothow¡¡far¡¡he¡¡is¡¡a¡¡man¡¡for¡¡whom¡¡one
ought¡¡to¡¡care¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡think¡¡Norman¡¡liked¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡Norman¡¡has
so¡¡keen¡¡a¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡­touched¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡I¡¡am¡¡that£¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡any
other¡¡life¡¡did¡¡but¡¡seem¡¡appointed¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡one¡¡cannot¡¡tell¡¡what¡¡is
thwarting¡¡providential¡¡leading£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡this¡¡be¡¡as¡¡good¡¡a¡¡man¡¡as
What¡¡would¡¡Ethel¡¡say£¿¡¡¡¡If¡¡I¡¡could¡¡but¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡Dr¡£¡¡May£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡Flora¡¡I
will¡¡catch£»¡¡before¡¡I¡¡see¡¡him¡¡again£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡may¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡behave¡£¡¨

Catching¡¡Flora¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡easiest¡¡thing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡among¡¡her
multifarious¡¡occupations£»¡¡but¡¡Meta¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡damsel¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡an
opportunity¡¡for¡¡want¡¡of¡¡decision¡£

Flora¡¡saw¡¡what¡¡was¡¡coming£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡annoyed¡¡with¡¡herself¡¡for¡¡having
given¡¡the¡¡alarm£»¡¡but£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡have¡¡come¡¡some¡¡time¡¡or
other£»¡¡though¡¡she¡¡had¡¡rather¡¡that¡¡Meta¡¡had¡¡been¡¡more¡¡involved¡¡first¡£

It¡¡should¡¡be¡¡premised¡¡that¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Rivers¡¡had¡¡no¡¡notion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡degree¡¡of
attachment¡¡felt¡¡by¡¡her¡¡brother¡¡for¡¡Meta£»¡¡she¡¡only¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡Lady
Leonora¡¡had¡¡a¡¡general¡¡distrust¡¡of¡¡her¡¡family£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡it¡¡a¡¡point
of¡¡honour¡¡to¡¡promote¡¡no¡¡dangerous¡¡meetings£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡encourage¡¡Sir
Henrya¡¡connection¡¡who¡¡would¡¡be¡¡most¡¡valuable£»¡¡both¡¡as¡¡conferring
importance¡¡upon¡¡George¡¡in¡¡the¡¡county£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡being¡¡himself¡¡related¡¡to
persons¡¡of¡¡high¡¡influence£»¡¡whose¡¡interest¡¡might¡¡push¡¡on¡¡her¡¡brothers¡£
Preferment¡¡for¡¡Richard£»¡¡promotion¡¡for¡¡Harry£»¡¡nay£»¡¡diplomatic
appointments¡¡for¡¡Tom£»¡¡came¡¡floating¡¡before¡¡her¡¡imagination£»¡¡even
while¡¡she¡¡smiled¡¡at¡¡her¡¡Alnaschar¡¡visions¡£

But¡¡the¡¡tone¡¡of¡¡Meta£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡drew¡¡her¡¡almost¡¡forcibly¡¡into¡¡her¡¡room£»
showed¡¡her¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡given¡¡a¡¡great¡¡shock¡¡to¡¡her¡¡basket¡£

¡¨Flora£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡would¡¡only¡¡give¡¡me¡¡a¡¡minute£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡tell¡¡me¡¨

¡¨What£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Flora£»¡¡not¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡spare¡¡her¡¡blushes¡£

¡¨Whether£»¡¡whether¡¡you¡¡meant¡¡anything¡¡in¡¡earnest£¿¡¨

¡¨My¡¡dear¡¡little¡¡goose£»¡¡did¡¡no¡¡one¡¡ever¡¡make¡¡an¡¡innocent¡¡joke¡¡in¡¡their
lives¡¡before£¿¡¨

¡¨It¡¡was¡¡very¡¡silly¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Meta£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡you¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡a¡¡terrible
fright¡£¡¨

¡¨Was¡¡it¡¡so¡¡very¡¡terrible£»¡¡poor¡¡little¡¡bird£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡in
commiseration¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Well¡¡then£»¡¡you¡¡may¡¡safely¡¡think¡¡of¡¡him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡man¡¡tame
about¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡much¡¡prettier¡¡of¡¡you¡¡not¡¡to¡¡appropriate¡¡the
flowers£»¡¡as¡¡any¡¡other¡¡damsel¡¡would¡¡have¡¡done¡£¡¨

¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡really¡¡and¡¡truly¡¡think¡¨¡¡began¡¡Meta£»¡¡but£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡colour¡¡of
her¡¡cheek¡¡and¡¡the¡¡timid¡¡resolution¡¡of¡¡her¡¡tone£»¡¡Flora¡¡thought¡¡it
safest¡¡not¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡interrogation£»¡¡and¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡what¡¡he
comes¡¡here¡¡forit¡¡is¡¡only¡¡as¡¡a¡¡refuge¡¡from¡¡his¡¡mother's¡¡friend£»¡¡old
Lady¡¡Drummond£»¡¡who¡¡would¡¡give¡¡the¡¡world¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡him¡¡for¡¡her
daughtersthat's¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡Put¡¡my¡¡nonsense¡¡out¡¡of¡¡your¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡be
yourself£»¡¡my¡¡sweet¡¡one¡£¡¨

Flora¡¡had¡¡never¡¡gone¡¡so¡¡near¡¡an¡¡untruth£»¡¡as¡¡when¡¡she¡¡led¡¡Meta¡¡to
believe¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡sole¡¡reason¡£¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡what¡¡did¡¡Flora
herself¡¡know¡¡to¡¡the¡¡contrary£¿

Meta¡¡recovered¡¡her¡¡ease£»¡¡and¡¡Flora¡¡marked£»¡¡as¡¡weeks¡¡passed¡¡on£»¡¡that
she¡¡grew¡¡more¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡Sir¡¡Henry's¡¡attentions¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡little¡¡while£»
and¡¡she¡¡would¡¡find¡¡herself¡¡so¡¡far¡¡bound¡¡by¡¡the¡¡encouragement¡¡she¡¡had
given£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could¡¡not¡¡reject¡¡him¡£

¡¨My¡¡dear£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡George£»¡¡¡¨when¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡of¡¡going¡¡down¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the
baby¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Grange£¿¡¡¡¡She¡¡looks¡¡dull£»¡¡I¡¡think¡£¡¨

¡¨Really£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡is¡¡hardly¡¡worth¡¡while¡¡to¡¡go¡¡down¡¡en¡¡masse£»¡¨¡¡said
Flora¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨These¡¡last¡¡debates¡¡may¡¡be¡¡important£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡time¡¡to
quit¡¡one's¡¡post¡£¡¡¡¡Don't¡¡you¡¡think¡¡so£¿¡¨

¡¨As¡¡you¡¡pleasethe¡¡train¡¡is¡¡a¡¡great¡¡bore¡£¡¨

¡¨And¡¡we¡¡will¡¡send¡¡the¡¡baby¡¡down¡¡the¡¡last¡¡day¡¡before¡¡we¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Ryde£»
with¡¡Preston¡¡and¡¡Butts¡¡to¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡can't¡¡spare¡¡him¡¡to
take¡¡them¡¡down£»¡¡till¡¡we¡¡shut¡¡up¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡so¡¡much¡¡easier¡¡for
us¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Portsmouth¡¡from¡¡hence¡£¡¨

The¡¡lurking¡¡conviction¡¡was¡¡that¡¡one¡¡confidential¡¡talk¡¡with¡¡Ethel
would¡¡cause¡¡the¡¡humming¡­bird¡¡to¡¡break¡¡the¡¡toils¡¡that¡¡were¡¡being¡¡wound
invisibly¡¡round¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Ethel¡¡and¡¡her¡¡father¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»
and¡¡were¡¡so¡¡unreasonable¡¡in¡¡their¡¡requirements£¡¡¡¡¡Meta¡¡would¡¡consult
them¡¡all£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡her¡¡scruples¡¡would¡¡awaken£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Spencer
might¡¡be¡¡interrogated¡¡on¡¡Sir¡¡Henry's¡¡life¡¡abroad£»¡¡where¡¡Flora¡¡had¡¡a
suspicion¡¡that¡¡gossip¡¡had¡¡best¡¡not¡¡be¡¡raked¡¡up¡£

Not¡¡that¡¡she¡¡concealed¡¡anything¡¡positively¡¡known¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡she
was¡¡not¡¡acting¡¡just¡¡as¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡done¡¡by¡¡her¡¡own¡¡child¡£¡¡¡¡She
found¡¡herself¡¡happily¡¡married¡¡t

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ