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the daisy chain, or aspirations-第127章

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was not acting just as she would have done by her own child。  She
found herself happily married to one whom home notions would have
rejected; and she believed Meta would be perfectly happy with a man
of decided talent; honour; and unstained character; even though he
should not come up to her father's or Ethel's standard。

If Meta were to marry as they would approve; she would have far to
seek among 〃desirable connections。〃  Meantime; was not Flora acting
with exemplary judgment and self…denial?

So she wrote that she could not come home; Margaret was much
disappointed; and so was Meta; who had looked to Ethel to unravel the
tangles of her life。

〃No; no; little miss;〃 said Flora to herself; 〃you don't talk to
Ethel till your fate is irrevocable。  Why; if I had listened to her;
I should be thankful to be singing at Mrs。 Hoxton's parties at this
minute! and; as for herself; look at Norman Ogilvie!  No; no; after
six weeks' yachtingmoonlight; sea; and sympathyI defy her to rob
Sir Henry of his prize!  And; with Meta lady of Cocksmoor; even Ethel
herself must be charmed!〃




CHAPTER XX。



We barter life for pottage; sell true bliss
For wealth or power; for pleasure or renown;
Thus; Esau…like; our Father's blessing miss;
Then wash with fruitless tears our faded crown。
                                     Christian Year。


〃Papa; here is a message from Flora for you;〃 said Margaret; holding
up a letter; 〃she wants to know whom to consult about the baby。〃

〃Ha! what's the matter?〃

Margaret read〃Will you ask papa whom I had better call in to see
the baby。  There does not seem to be anything positively amiss; but I
am not happy about her。  There is a sleepiness about her which I do
not understand; and; when roused; she is fretful; and will not be
amused。  There is a look in her eyes which I do not like; and I
should wish to have some advice for her。  Lady Leonora recommends
Mr。; but I always distrust people who are very much the rage; and I
shall send for no one without papa's advice。〃

〃Let me see!〃 said Dr。 May; startled; and holding out his hand for
the letter。  〃A look about the eyes!  I shall go up and see her
myself。  Why has not she brought her home?〃

〃It would have been far better;〃 said Margaret。

〃Sleepy and dull!  She was as lively a child when they took her away
as I ever saw。  What! is there no more about her?  The letter is
crammed with somebody's fetevote of want of confidencedebate last
night。  What is she about?  She fancies she knows everything; and;
the fact is; she knows no more about infantsI could see that; when
the poor little thing was a day old!〃

〃Do you think there is cause for fear?〃 said Margaret anxiously。

〃I can't tell。  With a first child; one can't guess what may be
mamma's fancy; or what may be serious。  But Flora is not too
fanciful; and I must see her for my own satisfaction。  Let some one
write; and say I will come up to…morrow by the twelve o'clock train
and mind she opens the letter。〃

Dr。 May kept his word; and the letter had evidently not been
neglected; for George was watching for him at the station; and
thanked him so eagerly for coming; that Dr。 May feared that he was
indeed needed; and inquired anxiously。

〃Flora is uneasy about hershe seems heavy; and cries when she is
disturbed;〃 replied George。  〃Flora has not left her to…day; and
hardly yesterday。〃

〃Have you had no advice for her?〃

〃Flora preferred waiting till you should come。〃

Dr。 May made an impatient movement; and thought the way long; till
they were set down in Park Lane。  Meta came to meet them on the
stairs; and said that the baby was just the same; and Flora was in
the nursery; and thither they hastily ascended。

〃Oh; papa!  I am so glad you are come!〃 said Flora; starting up from
her low seat; beside the cradle。

Dr。 May hardly paused to embrace his daughter; and she anxiously led
him to the cradle; and tried to read his expression; as his eyes fell
on the little face; somewhat puffed; but of a waxy whiteness; and the
breathing seeming to come from the lips。

〃How long has she been so?〃 he asked; in a rapid; professional
manner。

〃For about two or three hours。  She was very fretful before; but I
did not like to call in any one; as you were coming。  Is it from her
teeth?〃 said Flora; more and more alarmed by his manner。  〃Her
complexion is always like thatshe cannot bear to be disturbed;〃
added she; as the child feebly moaned; on Dr。 May beginning to take
her from her cradle; but; without attending to the objection; he
lifted her up; so that she lay as quietly as before; on his arm。
Flora had trusted that hope and confidence would come with him; but;
on the contrary; every lurking misgiving began to rush wildly over
her; as she watched his countenance; while he carried his little
granddaughter towards the light; studied her intently; raised her
drooping eyelids; and looked into her eyes; scarcely eliciting
another moan。  Flora dared not ask a question; but looked on with
eyes open; as it were; stiffened。

〃This is the effect of opium;〃 were Dr。 May's first words; breaking
on all with startling suddenness; but; before any one could speak; he
added;  〃We must try some stimulant directly;〃 then looking round the
room; 〃What have you nearest?〃

〃Godfrey's Cordial; sir;〃 quickly suggested the nurse。

〃Ayanything to save timeshe is sinking for want of the drug that
has〃 He broke off to apportion the dose; and to hold the child in a
position to administer itFlora tried to give itthe nurse tried
in vain。

〃Do not torment her further;〃 said the doctor; as Flora would have
renewed the trial〃it cannot be done。  What have you all been
doing?〃 cried he; as; looking up; his face changed from the tender
compassion with which he had been regarding his little patient; into
a look of strong indignation; and one of his sentences of hasty
condemnation broke from him; as it would not have done; had Flora
been less externally calm。  〃I tell you this child has been destroyed
with opium!〃

They all recoiled; the father turned fiercely round on the nurse;
with a violent exclamation; but Dr。 May checked him。  〃Hush!  This is
no presence for the wrath of man。〃  The solemn tone seemed to make
George shrink into an awestruck quiescence; he stood motionless and
transfixed; as if indeed conscious of some overwhelming presence。

Flora had come near; with an imploring gesture; to take the child in
her own arms; but Dr。 May; by a look of authority; prevented it; for;
indeed; it would have been harassing and distressing the poor little
sufferer again to move her; as she lay with feeble gasps on his arm。

So they remained; for what space no one knewnot one word was
uttered; not a limb moved; and the street noises sounded far off。

Dr。 May stooped his head closer to the babe's face; and seemed
listening for a breath; as he once more touched the little wrist; he
took away his finger; he ceased to listen; he looked up。

Flora gave one crynot loud; not sharp; but 〃an exceeding bitter
cry〃she would have moved forward; but reeled; and her husband's
arms supported her as she sank into a swoon。

〃Carry her to her room;〃 said Dr。 May。  〃I will come;〃 and; when
George had borne her away; he kissed the lifeless cheek; and
reverently placed the little corpse in the cradle; but; as he rose
from doing so; the sobbing nurse exclaimed; 〃Oh; sir! oh; sir!
indeed; I never did〃

〃Never did what?〃 said Dr。 May sternly。

〃I never gave the dear baby anything to do her harm;〃 cried Preston
vehemently。

〃You gave her this;〃 said Dr。 May; pointing to the bottle of
Godfrey's Cordial。

He could say no more; for her master was hurrying back into the room。
Anger was the first emotion that possessed him; and he hardly gave an
answer to Dr。 May's question about Flora。  〃Meta is with her!  Where
is that woman?  Have you given her up to the police?〃

Preston shrieked and sobbed; made incoherent exclamations; and was
much disposed to cling to the doctor。

〃Silence!〃 said Dr。 May; lifting his hand; and assuming a tone and
manner that awed them both; by reminding them that death was present
in the chamber; and; taking his son…in…law out; and shutting the
door; he said; in a low voice;

〃I believe this is no case for the policehave mercy on the poor
woman。〃

〃MercyI'll have no mercy on my child's murderer!  You said she had
destroyed my child。〃

〃Ignorantly。〃

〃I don't care for ignorance!  She destroyed herI'll have justice;〃
said George doggedly。

〃You shall;〃 said Dr。 May; laying his hand on his arm; 〃but it must
be investigated; and you are in no state to investigate。  Go
downstairsdo not do anything till I come to you。〃

His peremptory manner imposed on George; who; nevertheless; turned
round as he went; saying; with a fierce glare in his eyes;  〃You will
not let her escape。〃

〃No。  Go downbe quiet。〃

Dr。 May returned to Preston; and had to assure her that Mr。 Rivers
was not gone to call the police; before he could bring her to any
degree of coherence。  She regarded him as her only friend; and soon
undertook to tell the whole truth; and he perceived that it was;
indeed; the truth。  She had not known that the cordial was injurious;
deeming it a panacea against fretfulness; precious to nurses; but
against which ladies always had a prejudice; and; therefore; to be
kept secret。  Poor little Leonora had been very fretful and uneasy
when Flora's many avocations had first caused her to be set aside;
and Preston had had recourse to the remedy which; lulling her
successfully; was applied with less moderation and judgment than
would have been shown by a more experienced person; till gradually
the poor child became dependent on it for every hour of rest。  When
her mother; at last; became aware of her unsatisfactory condition;
and spent her time in watching her; the nurse being prevented from
continuing her drug; she was; of course; so miserable without it;
that Preston had ventured on proposing it; to which Mrs。 Rivers had
replied with displeasure sufficient to prevent her from declaring how
much she had previously given。  Preston was in an agony of distress
for her little charge; as well as of fear for herself; and could
hardly understand what her error had been。  Dr。 May soon saw that;
though not highly principled; her sorrow was sincere; and that she
still wept bitterly over the consequences of her treatment; when he
told her that she had nothing to fear from the law; and that he would
protect her from Mr。 Rivers。

Her confession was hardly over when Meta knocked at the door; pale
and frightened。  〃Oh; Dr。 May; do come to poor Flora!  I don't know
what to do; and George is in such a state!〃

Dr。 May made a sound of sorrow and perplexity; and Meta; as she went
down before him; asked; in a low; horror…stricken whisper; 〃Did
Preston really〃

〃Not knowingly;〃 said Dr。 May。  〃It is the way many children have
gone; but I never thought〃

They had come to Flora's dressing…room。  Her bedroom door was open;
and George was pacing heavily up and down the length of both
apartments; fiercely indignant。  〃Well!〃 said he; advancing eagerly
on Dr。 May; 〃has she confessed?〃

〃But Flora!〃 sai

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