the daisy chain, or aspirations-第13章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


many　kindnesses；　a　reverence　for　his　sterling　goodness；　and　his
exemption　from　her　own　besetting　failings；　only　a　little　damped　by
compassionate　wonder　at　his　deficiency　in　talent；　and　by　her　vexation
at　not　being　always　comprehended。

They　went　by　the　road；　for　the　plantation　gate　was　far　too　serious　an
undertaking　for　any　one　not　in　the　highest　spirits　for　enterprise。
On　the　way　there　was　a　good　deal　of　that　desultory　talk；　very
sociable　and　interesting；　that　is　apt　to　prevail　between　two　people；
who　would　never　have　chosen　each　other　for　companions；　if　they　were
not　of　the　same　family；　but　who　are　nevertheless　very　affectionate
and　companionable。　　Ethel　was　anxious　to　hear　what　her　brother
thought　of　papa's　spirits；　and　whether　he　talked　in　their　drives。

〃Sometimes；〃　said　Richard。　　〃It　is　just　as　it　happens。　　Now　and　then
he　goes　on　just　like　himself；　and　then　at　other　times　he　will　not
speak　for　three　or　four　miles。〃

〃And　he　sighs？〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Those　sighs　are　so　very　sad；　and　long；
and　deep！　　They　seem　to　have　whole　volumes　in　them；　as　if　there　was
such　a　weight　on　him。〃

〃Some　people　say　he　is　not　as　much　altered　as　they　expected；〃　said
Richard。

〃Oh！　do　they？　　Well！　　I　can't　fancy　any　one　feeling　it　more。　　He
can't　leave　off　his　old　self；　of　course；　but〃Ethel　stopped　short。

〃Margaret　is　a　great　comfort　to　him；〃　said　Richard。

〃That　she　is。　　She　thinks　of　him　all　day　long；　and　I　don't　think
either　of　them　is　ever　so　happy　as　in　the　evening；　when　he　sits　with
her。　　They　talk　about　mamma　then〃

It　was　just　what　Richard　could　not　do；　and　he　made　some　observation
to　change　the　subject；　but　Ethel　returned　to　it；　so　far　as　to　beg　to
know　how　the　arm　was　going　on；　for　she　did　not　like　to　say　anything
about　it　to　papa。

〃It　will　be　a　long　business；　I　am　afraid；〃　said　Richard。　　〃Indeed；　he
said　the　other　day；　he　thought　he　should　never　have　the　free　use　of
the　elbow。〃

〃And　do　you　think　it　is　very　painful？　　I　saw　the　other　day；　when
Aubrey　was　sitting　on　his　knee　and　fidgeting；　he　shrank　whenever　he
even　came　towards　it；　and　yet　it　seemed　as　if　he　could　not　bear　to
put　him　down。〃

〃Yes　it　is　excessively　tender；　and　sometimes　gets　very　bad　at　night。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Ethel；　〃there's　a　linehereround　his　eyes；　that　there
never　used　to　be；　and　when　it　deepens；　I　am　sure　he　is　in　pain；　or
has　been　kept　awake。〃

〃You　are　very　odd；　Ethel；　how　do　you　see　things　in　people's　faces；
when　you　miss　so　much　at　just　the　same　distance？〃

〃I　look　after　what　I　care　about；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃One　sees　more　with
one's　mind　than　one's　eyes。　　The　best　sight　is　inside。〃

〃But　do　you　always　see　the　truth？〃　said　Richard　gravely。

〃Quite　enough。　　What　is　less　common　than　the　ordinary　world？〃　said
Ethel。

Richard　shook　his　head；　not　quite　satisfied；　but　not　sure　enough　that
he　entered　into　her　meaning　to　question　it。

〃I　wonder　you　don't　wear　spectacles；〃　was　the　result　of　his
meditation；　and　it　made　her　laugh　by　being　so　inapposite　to　her　own
reflections：　but　the　laugh　ended　in　a　melancholy　look。　　〃Dear　mamma
did　not　like　me　to　use　them；〃　she　said；　in　a　low　voice。

Thus　they　talked　till　they　arrived　at　Cocksmoor；　where　poor　Mrs。
Taylor；　inspirited　by　better　reports　of　her　husband　and　the　hopes　for
her　daughter；　was　like　another　woman。　　Richard　was　very　careful　not
to　raise　false　expectations；　saying　it　all　depended　on　Miss　May　and
nurse；　and　what　they　thought　of　her　strength　and　steadiness；　but
these　cautions　did　not　seem　capable　of　damping　the　hopes　of　the
smooth…haired　Lucy；　who　stood　smiling　and　curtseying。　　The　twins　were
grown　and　improved；　and　Ethel　supposed　they　would　be　brought　to
church　on　the　next　christening　Sunday；　but　their　mother　looked
helpless　and　hopeless　about　getting　them　so　far；　and　how　was　she　to
get　gossips？　　Ethel　began　to　grow　very　indignant；　but　she　was　always
shy　of　finding　fault　with　poor　people　to　their　faces　when　she　would
not　have　done　so　to　persons　in　her　own　station；　and　so　she　was
silent；　while　Richard　hoped　they　would　be　able　to　manage；　and　said　it
would　be　better　not　to　wait　another　month　for　still　worse　weather　and
shorter　days。

As　they　were　coming　out　of　the　house；　a　big；　rough…looking；
uncivilised　boy　came　up　before　them；　and　called　out；　〃I　sayben't
you　the　young　doctor　up　at　Stoneborough？〃

〃I　am　Dr。　May's　son；〃　said　Richard；　while　Ethel；　startled；　clung　to
his　arm；　in　dread　of　some　rudeness。

Granny's　bad；〃　said　the　boy；　proceeding　without　further　explanation
to　lead　the　way　to　another　hovel；　though　Richard　tried　to　explain
that　the　knowledge　of　medicine　was　not　in　his　case　heredity。　　A　poor
old　woman　sat　groaning　over　the　fire；　and　two　children　crouched；
half…clothed；　on　the　bare　floor。

Richard's　gentle　voice　and　kind　manner　drew　forth　some　wonderful
descriptions〃her　head　was　all　of　a　goggle；　her　legs　all　of　a　fur；
she　felt　as　if　some　one　was　cutting　right　through　her。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Richard　kindly；　〃I　am　no　doctor　myself；　but　I'll　ask　my
father　about　you；　and　perhaps　he　can　give　you　an　order　for　the
hospital。〃

〃No；　no；　thank　ye；　sir；　I　can't　go　to　the　hospital；　I　can't　leave
these　poor　children；　they've　no　father　nor　mother；　sir；　and　no　one　to
do　for　them　but　me。〃

〃What　do　you　live　on；　then？〃　said　Richard；　looking　round　the　desolate
hut。

〃On　Sam's　wages；　sir；　that's　that　boy。　　He　is　a　good　boy　to　me；　sir；
and　his　little　sisters；　he　brings　it；　all　he　gets；　home　to　me；
rig'lar；　but　'tis　but　six　shillings　a　week；　and　they　makes　'em　take
half　of　it　out　in　goods　and　beer；　which　is　a　bad　thing　for　a　boy　like
him；　sir。〃

〃How　old　are　you；　Sam？〃

Sam　scratched　his　head；　and　answered　nothing。　　His　grandmother　knew
he　was　the　age　of　her　black　bonnet；　and　as　he　looked　about　fifteen；
Ethel　honoured　him　and　the　bonnet　accordingly；　while　Richard　said　he
must　be　very　glad　to　be　able　to　maintain　them　all；　at　his　age；　and；
promising　to　try　to　bring　his　father　that　way；　since　prescribing　at
second　hand　for　such　curious　symptoms　was　more　than　could　be
expected；　he　took　his　leave。

〃A　wretched　place；〃　said　Richard；　looking　round。　〃I　don't　know　what
help　there　is　for　the　people。　　There's　no　one　to　do　any　thing　for
them；　and　it　is　of　no　use　to　tell　them　to　come　to　church　when　it　it
so　far　off；　and　there　is　so　little　room　for　them。〃

〃It　is　miserable；〃　said　Ethel；　and　all　her　thoughts　during　her　last
walk　thither　began　to　rush　over　her　again；　not　effaced；　but　rather
burned　in；　by　all　that　had　subsequently　happened。　　She　had　said　it
should　be　her　aim　and　effort　to　make　Cocksmoor　a　Christian　place。
Such　a　resolve　must　not　pass　away　lightly；　she　knew　it　must　be　acted
on；　but　how？　　What　would　her　present　meansone　sovereigneffect？
Her　fancies；　rich　and　rare；　had　nearly　been　forgotten　of　late；　but
she　might　make　them　of　use　in　timein　time；　and　here　were　hives　of
children　growing　up　in　heathenism。　　Suddenly　an　idea　struck　her
Richard；　when　at　home；　was　a　very　diligent　teacher　in　the　Sunday…
school　at　Stoneborough；　though　it　was　a　thankless　task；　and　he　was
the　only　gentleman　so　engaged；　except　the　two　clergymenthe　other
male　teachers　being　a　formal；　grave；　little　baker；　and　one　or　two
monitors。

〃Richard；〃　said　Ethel；　〃I'll　tell　you　what。　　Suppose　we　were　to　get
up　a　Sunday…school　at　Cocksmoor。　　We　could　get　a　room；　and　walk　there
every　Sunday　afternoon；　and　go　to　church　in　the　evening　instead。〃

He　was　so　confounded　by　the　suddenness　of　the　project；　that　he　did
not　answer；　till　she　had　time　for　several　exclamations　and　〃Well；
Richard？〃

〃I　cannot　tell；〃　he　said。　　〃Going　to　church　in　the　evening　would
interfere　with　tea…timeput　out　all　the　housemake　the　evening
uncomfortable。〃

〃The　evenings　are　horrid　now；　especially　Sundays；〃　said　Ethel。

〃But　missing　two　more　would　make　them　worse　for　the　others。〃

〃Papa　is　always　with　Margaret；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃We　are　of　no　use　to
him。　　Besides　these　poor　childrenare　not　they　of　more　importance？〃

〃And；　then；　what　is　to　become　of　Stoneborough　school？　〃

〃I　hate　it；〃　exclaimed　Ethel；　then　seeing　Richard　shocked；　and
finding　she　had　spoken　more　vehemently　than　she　intended〃It　is　not
as　bad　for　you　among　the　boys；　but；　while　that　committee　goes　on　it
is　not　the　least　use　to　try　to　teach　the　girls　right。　　Oh！　the　fusses
about　the　books；　and　one's　way　of　teaching！　　And　fancy　how　Mrs
Ledwich　used　us。　　You　know　I　went　again　last　Sunday；　for　the　first
time；　and　there　I　found　that　class　of　Margaret's；　that　she　had　just
managed　to　get　into　some　degree　of　nice　order；　taken　so　much　pains
with；　taught　so　well。　　She　had　been　telling　me　what　to　hear　them
there　it　is　given　away　to　Fanny　Anderson；　who　is　no　more　fit　to　teach
than　that　stick；　and　all　Margaret's　work　will　be　undone。　　No　notice
to　usnot　even　the　civility　to　wait　and　see　when　she　gets　better。〃

〃If　we　left　them　now　for　Cocksmoor；　would　it　not　look　as　it　we　were
affronted？〃

Ethel　was　slightly　taken　aback；　but　only　said；　〃Papa　would　be　very
angry　if　he　knew　it。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　did　not　tell　him；〃　said　Richard。

〃I　thought　it　would　only　tease　him；〃　said　Ethel；　〃and　that　he　might
call　it　a　petty　female　squabble；　and　when　Margaret　is　well；　it　will
come　right；　if　Fanny　Anderson　has　not　spoiled　the　girls　in　the
meantime。　　It　is　all　Mrs。　Ledwich's　doing。　　How　I　did　hate　it　when
every　one　came　up　and　shook　hands　with　me；　and　asked　after　Margaret
and　papa；　only　just　out　of　curiosity！〃

〃Hush；　hush；　Ethel；　what's　the　use　of　thinking　such　things？〃

A　silence；then　she　exclaimed；　〃But；　indeed；　Richard；　you　don't
fancy　that　I　want　to　teach　at　Cocksmoor；　because　it　is　disagreeable
at　Stoneborough？〃

〃No；　indeed。〃

The　rendering　of　full　justice　conveyed　in　his　tone　so　opened　Ethel's
heart　that　she　went　on　eagerly：〃The　history　of　it　is　this。　　Last
time　we　walked　here；　that　day；　I　said；　and　I　meant　it；　that　I　would
never　put　it　out　of　my　head；　I　would　go　on　doing　and　striving；　and
trying；　till　this　place　was　properly　cared　for；　and　has　a　church　and
a　clergyman。　　I　believe　it　was　a　vow；　Richard；　I　do　believe　it　was；
and　if　one　makes　one；　one　must　keep　it。　　There　it　is。　　So；　I　can't
give　money；　I　have　but　one　pound　in　the　world；　but　I　have　time；　and　I
would　make　that　useful；　if　you　would　help　me。〃

〃I　don't　see　how；〃　was　the　answer；　and　there　was　a　fragment　of　a
smile　on　Richard's　face；　as　if　it　struck　him　as　a　wild　scheme；　that
Ethel　should　undertake；　single　handed；　to　evangelise　Cocksmoor。

It　was　such　a　damper　as　to　be　most　mortifying　to　an　enthusiastic
girl；　and　she　drew　into　herself　in　a　moment。

They　walked　home　in　silence；　and　when　Richard　warned　her　that　she　was
not　keeping　her　dress　out　of　the　dirt；　it　sounded　like　a　sarcasm　on
her　projects；　and；　with　a　slightly　pettish　manner；　she　raised　the
unfortunate　skirt；　its　crape　trimmings　greatly　bespattered　with　ruddy
mud。　　Then　recollecting　how　mamma　would　have　shaken　her　head　at　that
very　thing；　she　regretted　the　temper　she　had　betrayed；　and　in　a
larmoyante　voice；　sighed；　〃I　wish　I　could　pick　my　way　better。　　Some
people　have　the　gift；　you　have　hardly　a　splash；　and　I'm　up　to　the
ankles　in　mud。〃

〃It　is　only　taking　care；〃　said　Richard；　〃besides　your　frock　is　so
long；　and　full。　　Can't　you　tuck　it　up　and　pin　it？〃