the daisy chain, or aspirations-第132章

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organic　disease；　and　suspense　and　sorrow　have　hastened　it。　　The　death
of　Mrs。　Rivers's　poor　child　was　the　blow　that　called　it　into
activity；　and；　if　it　last　more　than　a　year；　I　shall　be　surprised。〃

〃For　such　as　she　is；　one　cannot　presume　to　wish；　but　her　fatheris
he　aware　of　this？〃

〃He　knows　there　is　extensive　damage；　I　think　he　does　not　open　his
eyes　to　the　result；　but　he　will　bear　it。　　Never　was　there　a　man　to
whom　it　came　so　naturally　to　live　like　the　fowls　of　the　air；　or　the
lilies　of　the　field；　as　it　does　to　dear　Dick　May；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；
his　voice　faltering。

〃There　is　a　strength　of　faith　and　love　in　him　that　carries　him
through　all；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。　　〃His　childlike　nature　seems　to　have
the　trustfulness　that　is；　in　itself；　consolation。　　You　said　how
Cocksmoor　had　been　blessed　to　MargaretI　think　it　is　the　same　with
them　allnot　only　Ethel　and　Richard；　who　have　been　immediately
concerned；　but　that　one　object　has　been　a　centre　and　aim　to　elevate
the　whole　family；　and　give　force　and　unity　to　their　efforts。　　Even
the　good　doctor；　much　as　I　always　looked　up　to　himmuch　good　as　he
did　me　in　my　young　daysI　must　confess　that　he　was　sometimes　very
provoking。〃

〃If　you　had　tried　to　be　his　keeper　at　Cambridge；　you　might　say　so！〃
rejoined　Dr。　Spencer。

〃He　is　so　much　less　impetuousmore　consistentless　desultory；　I
dare　say　you　understand　me；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。　　〃His　good　qualities　do
not　entangle　one　another　as　they　used　to　do。〃

〃Exactly　so。　　He　was　far　more　than　I　looked　for　when　I　came　home；
though　I　might　have　guessed　that　such　a　disposition；　backed　by　such
principles　and　suchcould　not　but　shake　off　all　the　dross。〃

〃One　thing　was；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　smiling；　〃that　a　man　must　take
himself　in　hand　at　some　time　in　his　life；　and　Dr。　May　only　began　to
think　himself　responsible　for　himself　when　he　lost　his　wife；　who　was
wise　for　both。　　She　was　an　admirable　person；　but　not　easy　to　know
well。　　I　think　you　knew　her　at〃

〃I　say；〃　interrupted　Dr。　Spencer；　〃it　strikes　me　that　we　could　not　do
better　than　get　up　our　S。　P。　G。　demonstration　on　the　day　of　the
stone〃

Hitherto　the　Stoneborough　subscribers　to　the　Society　for　the
Propagation　of　the　Gospel　had　been　few　and　far　between；　but；　under
the　new　dynasty；　there　was　a　talk　of　forming　an　association；　and
having　a　meeting　to　bring　the　subject　forward。　　Dr。　Spencer's
proposal；　however；　took　the　vicar　by　surprise。

〃Never　could　there　be　a　better　time；〃　he　argued。　　〃You　have　naturally
a　gathering　of　clergypeople　ought　to　be　liberal　on　such　an
occasion；　and；　as　Cocksmoor　is　provided　for；　why　not　give　the　benefit
to　the　missions；　in　their　crying　need！〃

〃True；　but　there　is　no　time　to　send　for　any　one　to　make　a　speech。〃

〃Husband　your　resources。　　What　could　you　have　better　than　young　Harry
and　his　islanders？〃

〃Harry　would　never　make　a　speech。〃

〃Let　him　cram　Norman。　　Young　Lake　tells　me　Norman　made　a　great
sensation　at　the　Union　at　Oxford；　and　if　his　heart　is　in　the　work；　he
must　not　shrink　from　the　face　of　his　townsmen。〃

〃No　doubt　he　had　rather　they　were　savages；〃　said　the　vicar。　　〃And
yourselfyou　will　tell　them　of　the　Indian　missions。〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer。　　〃When　my　Brahminhee　godson
the　deacon　I　told　you　of；　comes　to　pay　me　his　promised　visit；　what
doings　we　shall　have！　　Seriously；　I　have　just　had　letters　from　him
and　from　others；　that　speak　of　such　need；　that　I　could　feel　every
moment　wasted　that　is　not　spent　on　their　behalf。〃

Mr。　Wilmot　was　drawn　into　Dr。　Spencer's　house；　and　heard　the　letters；
till　his　heart　burned　within　him。

The　meeting　was　at　once　decided　upon；　though　Ethel　could　not　see　why
people　could　not　give　without　speechifying；　and　her　two　younger
brothers　declared　it　was　humbugTom　saying；　he　wished　all
blackamoors　were　out　of　creation；　and　Harry；　that　he　could　not　stand
palaver　about　his　friend　David。　　Dr。　May　threatened　him　with　being
displayed　on　the　platform　as　a　living　instance　of　the　effects　of
missions；　at　which　he　took　alarm；　and　so　seriously　declared　that　he
should　join　the　Bucephalus　at　once；　that　they　pacified　him　by
promising　that　he　should　do　as　he　pleased。

The　archdeacon　promised　a　sermon；　and　the　active　Dr　Spencer　worked
the　nine　muses　and　all　the　rest　of　the　town　and　neighbourhood　into　a
state　of　great　enthusiasm　and　expectation。　　He　went　to　the　Grange；　as
he　said；　to　collect　his　artillery；　primed　Flora　that　she　might　prime
the　M。　P。；　made　the　willing　Meta　promise　to　entrap　the　uncle；　who　was
noted　for　philanthropical　speeches；　and　himself　captured　Sir　Henry
Walkinghame；　who　looked　somewhat　rueful　at　what　he　found　incumbent　on
him　as　a　country　gentleman；　though　there　might　be　some　compensation
in　the　eagerness　of　Miss　Rivers。

Norman　had　hardly　set　foot　in　Stoneborough　before　he　was　told　what
was　in　store　for　him；　and；　to　the　general　surprise；　submitted　as　if
it　were　a　very　simple　matter。　　As　Dr。　Spencer　told　him；　it　was　only　a
foretaste　of　the　penalty　which　every　missionary　has　to　pay　for　coming
to　England。　　Norman　was　altogether　looking　much　better　than　when　he
had　been　last　at　home；　and　his　spirits　were　more　even。　　He　had　turned
his　whole　soul　to　the　career　he　had　chosen；　cast　his　disappointment
behind　him；　or；　more　truly；　made　it　his　offering；　and　gathered
strength　and　calmness；　with　which　to　set　out　on　tasks　of　working　for
others；　with　thoughts　too　much　absorbed　on　them；　to　give　way　to　the
propensity　of　making　himself　the　primary　object　of　study　and
contemplation。　　The　praise　of　God；　and　love　of　man；　were　the　best
cures　for　tendencies　like　his；　and　he　had　found　it　out。　　His　calm；
though　grave　cheerfulness；　came　as　a　refreshment　to　those　who　had
been　uneasy　about　him；　and　mournfully　watching　poor　Flora。

〃Yes；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　〃you　have　taken　the　best　course　for　your　own
happiness。〃

Norman　coloured；　as　if　he　understood　more　than　met　the　ear。　　Mary　and
Blanche　were　very　busy　preparing　presents　for　Meta　Rivers；　and　every
one　was　anxious　to　soften　to　her　the　thought　of　this　first　birthday
without　her　father。　　Each　of　the　family　contributed　some　pretty
little　trifle；　choice　in　workmanship　or　kind　in　device；　and　each　was
sealed　and　marked　with　the　initials　of　the　giver；　and　packed　up　by
Mary；　to　be　committed　to　Flora's　charge。　　Blanche　had；　however；　much
trouble　in　extracting　a　gift　from　Norman；　and　he　only　yielded　at
last；　on　finding　that　all　his　brothers　had　sent　something；　so　that
his　omission　would　be　marked。　　Then　he　dived　into　the　recesses　of　his
desk；　and　himself　sealed　up　a　little　parcel；　of　which　he　would　not
allow　his　sisters　to　inspect　the　contents。

Ethel　had　a　shrewd　guess。　　She　remembered　his　having；　in　the　flush　of
joy　at　Margaret's　engagement；　rather　prematurely　caused　a　seal　to　be
cut　with　a　daisy；　and　〃Pearl　of　the　meadow〃　as　the　motto；　and　his
having　said　that　he　should　keep　it　as　a　wedding　present。　　She　could
understand　that　he　was　willing　to　part　with　it　without　remark。

Flora　met　Meta　in　her　sitting…room；　on　the　morning　of　the　day；　which
rose　somewhat　sadly　upon　the　young　girl；　as　she　thought　of　past
affection　and　new　responsibilities。　　If　the　fondness　of　a　sister
could　have　compensated　for　what　she　had　lost；　Meta　received　it　in　no
scanty　measure　from　Flora；　who　begged　to　call　George；　because　he
would　be　pleased　to　see　the　display　of　gifts。

His　own　was　the　only　costly　onealmost　all　the　rest　were　homemade
treasures　of　the　greater　price；　because　the　skill　and　fondness　of　the
maker　were　evident　in　their　construction；　and　Meta　took　home　the
kindness　as　it　was　meant；　and　felt　the　affection　that　would　not　let
her　feel　herself　lonely。　　She　only　wished　to　go　and　thank　them　all　at
once。

〃Do　then；〃　said　Flora。　　〃If　Lord　Cosham　will　spare　you；　and　your
business　should　be　over　in　time；　you　could　drive　in；　and　try　to　bring
papa　home　with　you。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　Flora。　　That　is　a　kind　treat；　in　case　the　morning
should　be　very　awful！〃

Margaret　Agatha　Rivers　signed　her　documents；　listened　to
explanations；　and　was　complimented　by　her　uncle　on　not　thinking　it
necessary　to　be　senseless　on　money　matters；　like　her　cousin；　Agatha
Langdale。

Still　she　looked　a　little　oppressed；　as　she　locked　up　the　tokens　of
her　wealth；　and　the　sunshine　of　her　face　did　not　beam　out　again　till
she　arrived　at　Stoneborough；　and　was　dispensing　her　pretty　thanks　to
the　few　she　found　at　home。

〃Ethel　out　and　Norman？　　His　seal　is　only　too　pretty〃

〃They　are　all　helping　Dr。　Spencer　at　Cocksmoor。〃

〃What　a　pity！　　But　it　is　so　very　kind　of　him　to　treat　me　as　a　daisy。
In　some　ways　I　like　his　present　for　that　the　best　of　all；〃　said　Meta。

〃I　will　tell　him　so；〃　said　Mary。

〃Yes；　no；〃　said　Meta。　　〃I　am　not　pretending　to　be　anything　half　so
nice。〃

Mary　and　Blanche　fell　upon　her　for　calling　herself　anything　but　the
nicest　flower　in　the　world；　and　she　contended　that　she　was　nothing
better　than　a　parrot…tulip；　stuck　up　in　a　parterre；　and　just　as　the
discussion　was　becoming　a　game　at　romps；　Dr。　May　came　in；　and　the
children　shouted　to　him　to　say　whether　his　humming…bird　were　a　daisy
or　a　tulip。

〃That　is　as　she　comports　herself；〃　he　said　playfully。

〃Which　means　that　you　don't　think　her　quite　done　for；〃　said　Meta。

〃Not　quite；〃　said　the　doctor；　with　a　droll　intonation；　〃but　I　have
not　seen　what　this　morning　may　have　done　to　her。〃

〃Come　and　see；　then；〃　said　Meta。　　〃Flora　told　me　to　bring　you　home
and　it　is　my　birthday；　you　know。　　Never　mind　waiting　to　tell　Ethel。
Margaret　will　let　her　know　that　I'll　keep　you　out　of　mischief。〃

As　usual；　Dr。　May　could　not　withstand　her；　and　she　carried　him　off　in
triumph　in　her　pony　carriage。

〃Then　you　don't　give　me　up　yet？〃　was　the　first　thing　she　said；　as
they　were　off　the　stones。

〃What　have　you　been　doing　to　make　me？〃　said　he。

〃Doing　or　not　doingone　or　the　other；〃　she　said。　　〃But　indeed　I
wanted　to　have　you　to　myself。　　I　am　in　a　great　puzzle！〃

〃Sir　Henry！　　I　hope　she　won't　consult　me！〃　thought　Dr。　May；　as　he
answered；　〃Well；　my　dear。〃

〃I　fear　it　is　a　lasting　puzzle；〃　she　said。　　〃What　shall　I　do　with　all
this　money？〃

〃Keep　it　in　the　bank；　or　buy　railway　shares！〃　said　Dr。　May。　looking
arch。

〃Thank　you。　　That's　a　question　for　my　cousins　in　the　city。　　I　want
you　to　answer　me　as　no　one　else　can　do。　　I　want　to　know　what　is　my
duty　now　that　I　have　my　means　in　my　own　hands？〃

〃There　is　need　enough　around〃

〃I　do　not　mean　only　giving　a　little　here　and　there；　but　I　want　you　to
hear　a　few　of　my　thoughts。　　Flora　and　George　are　kindness　itself
but；　you　see；　I　have　no　duties。　　They　are　obliged　to　live　a　gay　sort
of　lifeit　is　their　position；　but　I　cannot　make　out　whether　it　is
mine。　　I　don't　see　that　I　am　like　those　girls　who　have　to　go　out　as　a
matter　of　obedience。〃

Dr。　May　considered；　but　could　only　say；　〃You　are　very　young。〃

〃Too　young　to　be　independent；〃　sighed　Meta。　　〃I　must　grow　old　enough
to　be　trusted　alone；　and　in　the　meantime〃

〃Probably　an　answer　will　be　found；〃　said　the　doctor。　　You　and　your
means　will　find　theirtheir　vocation。〃

〃Marriage；〃　said　Meta；　calmly　speaking　the　word　that　he　had　avoided。
〃I　think　not。〃

〃Why〃　he　began。

〃I　do　not　think　good　men　like　heiresses。〃

He　became　strongly　interested　in　a　corn…f