the daisy chain, or aspirations-第131章

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not　only　allowed　Dr。　Spencer　to　say　what　he　pleased；　but　herself　made
light　of　the　whole　attack；　little　knowing　how　perilous　was　any　shock
to　that　delicate　frame。

Margaret's　whole　purpose　was　to　wind　herself　up　for　the　first
interview　with　Flora；　and　though　she　had　returned　to　her　usual　state；
she　would　not　go　downstairs　on　the　evening　the　party　were　expected；
believing　it　would　be　more　grateful　to　her　sister's　feelings　to　meet
her　without　witnesses。

The　travellers　arrived；　and　Dr。　May　hurried　up　to　her。　　She　barely
replied　to　his　caresses　and　inquiries　in　her　eagerness　to　hear　of
Flora；　and　to　convince　him　that　he　must　not　forbid　the　meeting。　　Nor
had　he　any　mind　so　to　do。　　〃Surely；〃　said　he；　when　he　had　seen　the
spiritualised　look　of　her　glistening　blue　eyes；　the　flush　on　her
transparent　cheeks；　and　her　hands　clasped　over　her　breast　〃surely
poor　Flora　must　feel　as　though　an　angel　were　waiting　to　comfort　her。〃

Flora　came；　but　there　was　sore　disappointment。　　Fond　and　tender　she
was　as　ever；　but；　neither　by　word　or　gesture；　would　she　admit　the
most　remote　allusion　to　her　grief。　　She　withdrew　her　hand　when
Margaret's　pressure　became　expressive；　she　avoided　her　eye；　and　spoke
incessantly　of　different　subjects。　　All　the　time；　her　voice　was　low
and　hollow；　her　face　had　a　settled　expression　of　wretchedness；　and
her　glances　wandered　drearily　and　restlessly　anywhere　but　to
Margaret's　face；　but　her　steadiness　of　manner　was　beyond　her　sister's
power　to　break；　and　her　visit　was　shortened　on　account　of　her
husband。　　Poor　George　had　quite　given　way　at　the　sight　of　Gertrude；
whom　his　little　girl　had　been　thought　to　resemble；　and；　though　Dr。
May　had　soothed　him　almost　like　a　child；　no　one　put　any　trust　in　his
self…control；　and　all　sat　round；　fearing　each　word　or　look；　till
Flora　came　downstairs；　and　they　departed。

Richard　and　Ethel　each　offered　to　go　with　them；　they　could　not　bear
to　think　of　their　spending　that　first　evening　in　their　childless
home；　but　Flora　gently；　but　decidedly；　refused；　and　Dr。　May　said
that；　much　as　he　wished　to　be　with　them；　he　believed　that　Flora
preferred　having　no　one　but　Meta。　　〃I　hope　I　have　done　Margaret　no
harm；〃　were　Flora's　last　words　to　him；　and　they　seemed　to　explain　her
guarded　manner；　but　he　found　Margaret　weeping　as　she　had　never　wept
for　herself；　and　palpitation　and　faintness　were　the　consequence。

Ethel　looked　on　at　Flora　as　a　sad　and　perplexing　mystery　during　the
weeks　that　ensued。　　There　were　few　opportunities　of　being　alone
together；　and　Flora　shrank　from　such　as　they　werenay；　she　checked
all　expression　of　solicitude；　and　made　her　very　kisses　rapid　and
formal。

The　sorrow　that　had　fallen　on　the　Grange　seemed　to　have　changed　none
of　the　usual　habits　therevisiting；　riding；　driving；　dinners；　and
music；　went　on　with　little　check。　　Flora　was　sure　to　be　found　the
animated；　attentive　lady　of　the　house；　or　else　sharing　her　husband's
pursuits；　helping　him　with　his　business；　or　assisting　him　in　seeking
pleasure；　spending　whole　afternoons　at　the　coachmaker's　over　a
carriage　that　they　were　building；　and；　it　was　reported；　playing
ecarte　in　the　evening。

Had　grief　come　to　be　forgotten　and　cast　aside　without　effecting　any
mission？　　Yet　Ethel　could　not　believe　that　the　presence　of　the　awful
messenger　was　unfelt；　when　she　heard　poor　George's　heavy　sigh；　or
when　she　looked　at　Flora's　countenance；　and　heard　the　peculiar　low；
subdued　tone　of　her　voice；　which；　when　her　words　were　most　cheerful；
always　seemed　to　Ethel　the　resigned　accent　of　despair。

Ethel　could　not　talk　her　over　with　Margaret；　for　all　seemed　to　make
it　a　point　that　Margaret　should　believe　the　best。　　Dr。　May　turned
from　the　subject　with　a　sort　of　shuddering　grief；　and　said；　〃Don't
talk　of　her；　poor　childonly　pray　for　her！〃

Ethel；　though　shocked　by　the　unwonted　manner　of　his　answer；　was
somewhat　consoled　by　perceiving　that　a　double　measure　of　tenderness
had　sprung　up　between　her　father　and　his　poor　daughter。　　If　Flora　had
seemed；　in　her　girlhood；　to　rate　him　almost　cheaply；　this　was　at　an
end　now；　she　met　him　as　if　his　embrace　were　peace；　the　gloom　was
lightened；　the　attention　less　strained；　when　he　was　beside　her；　and
she　could　not　part　with　him　without　pressing　for　a　speedy　meeting。
Yet　she　treated　him　with　the　same　reserve；　since　that　one　ghastly
revelation　of　the　secrets　of　her　heart；　the　veil　had　been　closely
drawn；　and　he　could　not　guess　whether　it　had　been　but　a　horrible
thought；　or　were　still　an　abiding　impression。　　Ethel　could　gather　no
more　than　that　her　father　was　very　unhappy　about　Flora；　and　that
Richard　understood　why；　for　Richard　had　told　her　that　he　had　written
to　Flora；　to　try　to　persuade　her　to　cease　from　this　reserve；　but　that
he　had　no　reply。

Norman　was　not　at　home；　he　had　undertaken　the　tutorship　of　two
schoolboys　for　the　holidays；　and　his　father　owned；　with　a　sigh；　that
he　was　doing　wisely。

As　to　Meta；　she　was　Ethel's　chief　consolation；　by　the　redoubled
assurances；　directed　to　Ethel's　unexpressed　dread；　lest　Flora　should
be　rejecting　the　chastening　Hand。　　Meta　had　the　most　absolute
certainty　that　Flora's　apparent　cheerfulness　was　all　for　George's
sake；　and　that　it　was　a　most　painful　exertion。　　〃If　Ethel　could　only
see　how　she　let　herself　sink　together；　as　it　were；　and　her　whole
countenance　relax；　as　soon　as　he　was　out　of　sight；〃　Meta　said；　〃she
could　not　doubt　what　misery　these　efforts　were　to　her。〃

〃Why　does　she　go　on　with　them？　〃　said　Ethel。

〃George；〃　said　Meta。　　〃What　would　become　of　him　without　her？　　If　he
misses　her　for　ten　minutes　he　roams　about　lost；　and　he　cannot　enjoy
anything　without　her。　　I　cannot　think　how　he　can　help　seeing　what
hard　work　it　is；　and　how　he　can　be　contented　with　those　dreadful　sham
smiles；　but　as　long　as　she　can　give　him　pleasure；　poor　Flora　will
toil　for　him。〃

〃It　is　very　selfish；〃　Ethel　caught　herself　saying。

〃No；　no；　it　is　not；〃　cried　Meta。　　〃It　is　not　that　he　will　not　see；
but　that　he　cannot　see。　　Good　honest　fellow；　he　really　thinks　it　does
her　good　and　pleases　her。　　I　was　so　sorry　one　evening　when　I　tried　to
take　her　place　at　that　perpetual　ecarte；　and　told　him　it　teased　her；
he　went　so　wistfully　to　her；　and　asked　whether　it　did；　and　she
exerted　herself　into　such　painful　enjoyment　to　persuade　him　to　the
contrary；　and　afterwards　she　said　to　me；　'Let　me　alone；　dearestit
is　the　only　thing　left　me。'〃

〃There　is　something　in　being　husband　and　wife　that　one　cannot
understand；〃　slowly　said　Ethel；　so　much　in　her　quaint　way　that　Meta
laughed。

Had　it　not　been　for　Norman's　absence；　Ethel　would；　in　the　warm
sympathy　and　accustomed　manner　of　Meta　Rivers；　have　forgotten　all
about　the　hopes　and　fears　that；　in　brighter　days；　had　centred　on　that
small　personage；　until　one　day；　as　she　came　home　from　Cocksmoor；　she
found　〃Sir　Henry　Walkinghame's〃　card　on　the　drawing…room　table。　　〃I
should　like　to　bite　you！　　Coming　here；　are　you？〃　was　her　amiable
reflection。

Meta；　in　her　riding…habit；　peeped　out　of　Margaret's　room。　　〃Oh；
Ethel；　there　you　are！　　It　is　such　a　boon　that　you　did　not　come　home
sooner；　or　we　should　have　had　to　ride　home　with　him！　　I　heard　him
asking　for　the　Miss　Mays！　　And　now　I　am　in　hopes　that　he　will　go　home
without　falling　in　with　Flora　and　George。〃

〃I　did　not　know　he　was　in　these　parts。〃

〃He　came　to　Drydale　last　week；　but　the　place　is　forlorn；　and　George
gave　him　a　general　invitation　to　the　Grange。〃

〃Do　you　like　him？〃　said　Ethel；　while　Margaret　looked　on；　amazed　at
her　audacity。

〃I　liked　him　very　much　in　London；〃　said　Meta；　〃he　is　pleasant　enough
to　talk　to；　but　somehow；　he　is　not　congruous　hereif　you　understand
me。　　And　I　think　his　coming　oppresses　Florashe　turned　quite　pale
when　he　was　announced；　and　her　voice　was　lower　than　ever　when　she
spoke　to　him。〃

〃Does　he　come　often？〃　said　Ethel。

〃I　don't　think　he　has　anything　else　to　do；〃　returned　Meta；　〃for　our
house　cannot　be　as　pleasant　as　it　was；　but　he　is　very　kind　to　George；
and　for　that　we　must　be　grateful。　　One　thing　I　am　afraid　of；　that　he
will　persuade　us　off　to　the　yachting　after　all。〃

〃Oh！〃　was　the　general　exclamation。

〃Yes；〃　said　Meta。　　〃George　seemed　to　like　the　plan；　and　I　very　much
fear　that　he　is　taking　a　dislike　to　the　dear　old　Grange。　　I　heard　him
say；　'Anything　to　get　away。'〃

〃Poor　George；　I　know　he　is　restless；〃　said　Margaret。

〃At　least；〃　said　Ethel；　〃you　can't　go　till　after　your　birthday；　Miss
Heiress。〃

〃No；　Uncle　Cosham　is　coming；〃　said　Meta。　　〃Margaret；　you　must　have
your　stone　laid　before　we　go！〃

〃Dr。　Spencer　promises　it　before　Hector's　holidays　are　over；〃　said
Margaret；　blushing；　as　she　always　did；　with　pleasure；　when　they
talked　of　the　church。

Hector　Ernescliffe　had　revived　Margaret　wonderfully。　　She　was　seldom
downstairs　before　the　evening；　and　Ethel　thought　his　habit　of　making
her　apartment　his　sitting…room　must　be　as　inconvenient　to　her　as　it
was　to　herself；　but　Hector　could　not　be　de　trop　for　Margaret。　　She
exerted　herself　to　fulfil　for　him　all　the　little　sisterly　offices
that；　with　her　brothers；　had　been　transferred　to　Ethel　and　Mary；　she
threw　herself　into　all　his　schemes；　tried　to　make　him　endure　Captain
Gordon；　and　she　even　read　his　favourite　book　of　Wild　Sports；　though
her　feelings　were　constantly　lacerated　by　the　miseries　of　the
slaughtered　animals。　　Her　couch　was　to　him　as　a　home；　and　he　had
awakened　her　bright　soft　liveliness　which　had　been　only　dimmed　for　a
time。

The　church　was　her　other　great　interest；　and　Dr。　Spencer　humoured　her
by　showing　her　all　his　drawings；　consulting　her　on　every　ornament；
and　making　many　a　perspective　elevation；　merely　that　she　might　see
the　effect。

Richard　and　Tom　made　it　their　recreation　to　construct　a　model　of　the
church　as　a　present　for　her；　and　Tom　developed　a　genius　for　carving；
which　proved　a　beneficial　interest　to　keep　him　from　surliness。　　He
had　voluntarily　propounded　his　intended　profession　to　his　father；　who
had　been　so　much　pleased　by　his　choice；　that　he　could　not　but　be
gratified；　though　now　and　then　ambitious　fancies；　and　discontent　with
Stoneborough；　combined　to　bring　on　his　ordinary　moody　fits；　the　more；
because　his　habitual　reserve　prevented　any　one　from　knowing　what　was
working　in　his　mind。

Finally　the　Rivers'　party　announced　their　intention　of　going　to　the
Isle　of　Wight　as　soon　as　Meta　had　come　of　age；　and　the　council　of
Cocksmoor；　meeting　at　tea　at　Dr。　May's　house；　decided　that　the
foundation　stone　of　the　church　should　be　laid　on　the　day　after　her
birthday；　when　there　would　be　a　gathering　of　the　whole　family；　as
Margaret　wished。　　Dr。　Spencer　had　worked　incredibly　hard　to　bring　it
forward；　and　Margaret's　sweet　smiles；　and　liquid　eyes；　expressed　how
personally　thankful　she　felt。

〃What　a　blessing　this　church　has　been　to　that　poor　girl；〃　said　Dr。
Spencer；　as　he　left　the　house　with　Mr。　Wilmot。　　〃How　it　beguiles　her
out　of　her　grief！　　I　am　glad　she　has　the　pleasure　of　the　foundation；
I　doubt　if　she　will　see　the　consecration。〃

〃Indeed！〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　shocked。　　〃Was　that　attack　so　serious？〃

〃That　recumbent　position　and　want　of　exercise　were　certain　to　produce
organic　disease；　and　suspense　and　sorrow　have　hastened　it。　　The　death
of　Mrs。　Rivers's　poor　chi