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