the daisy chain, or aspirations-第133章

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〃I　think　not。〃

〃Why〃　he　began。

〃I　do　not　think　good　men　like　heiresses。〃

He　became　strongly　interested　in　a　corn…field；　and　she　resumed；

〃Perhaps　I　should　only　do　harm。　　It　may　be　my　duty　to　wait。　　All　I
wish　to　know　is；　whether　it　is？〃

〃I　see　you　are　not　like　girls　who　know　their　duty；　and　are　restless；
because　it　is　not　the　duty　they　like。〃

〃Oh！　　I　like　everything。　　It　is　my　liking　it　so　much　that　makes　me
afraid。〃

〃Even　going　to　Ryde？〃

〃Don't　I　like　the　sailing？　and　seeing　Harry　too？　　I　don't　feel　as　if
that　were　waste；　because　I　can　sometimes　spare　poor　Flora　a　little。
We　could　not　let　her　go　alone。〃

〃You　need　never　fear　to　be　without　a　mission　of　comfort；〃　said　Dr。
May。　　〃Your　'spirit　full　of　glee'　was　given　you　for　something。　　Your
presence　is　far　more　to　my　poor　Flora　than　you　or　she　guess。〃

〃I　never　meant　to　leave　her　now；〃　said　Meta　earnestly。　　〃I　only
wished　to　be　clear　whether　I　ought　to　seek　for　my　work。〃

〃It　will　seek　you；　when　the　time　comes。〃

〃And　meantime　I　must　do　what　comes　to　hand；　and　take　it　as
humiliation　that　it　is　not　in　the　more　obviously　blessed　tasks！　　A
call　might　come；　as　Cocksmoor　did　to　Ethel。　　But　oh！　my　money！　　Ought
it　to　be　laid　up　for　myself？〃

〃For　your　call；　when　it　comes；〃　said　Dr。　May；　smiling；　then　gravely；
〃There　are　but　too　many　calls　for　the　interest。　　The　principal　is
your　trust；　till　the　time　comes。〃

Meta　smiled；　and　was　pleased　to　think　that　her　first…fruits　would　be
offered　to…morrow。




CHAPTER　XXII。



〃Oh；　dear！〃　sighed　Etheldred；　as　she　fastened　her　white　muslin；　　〃I'm
afraid　it　is　my　nature　to　hate　my　neighbour。〃

〃My　dear　Ethel；　what　is　coming　next？〃　said　Margaret。

〃I　like　my　neighbour　at　home；　and　whom　I　have　to　work　for；　very
much；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　oh！　my　neighbour　that　I　have　to　be　civil　to！〃

〃Poor　old　King！　　I　am　afraid　your　day　will　be　spoiled　with　all　your
toils　as　lady　of　the　house。　　I　wish　I　could　help　you。〃

〃Let　me　have　my　grumble　out；　and　you　will！〃　said　Ethel。

〃Indeed　I　am　sorry　you　have　this　bustle；　and　so　many　to　entertain；
when　I　know　you　would　rather　have　the　peaceful　feelings　belonging　to
the　day　undisturbed。　　I　should　like　to　shelter　you　up　here。〃

〃It　is　very　ungrateful　of　me；〃　said　Ethel；　〃when　Dr。　Spencer　works　so
hard　for　us；　not　to　be　willing　to　grant　anything　to　him。〃

〃Andbut　then　I　have　none　of　the　trouble　of　itI　can't　help　liking
the　notion　of　sending　out　the　Church　to　the　island　whence　the　Church
came　home　to　us。〃

〃Yes〃　said　Ethel；　〃if　we　could　do　it　without　holding　forth！〃

〃Come；　Ethel；　it　is　much　better　than　the　bazaarit　is　no　field　for
vanity。〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃What　a　mess　every　one　will　make！　　Oh；
if　I　could　but　stay　away；　like　Harry！　　There　will　be　Dr。　Hoxton　being
sonorous　and　prosy；　and　Mr。　Lake　will　stammer；　and　that　will　be
nothing　to　the　misery　of　our　own　people's　work。　　George　will
flounder；　and　look　at　Flora；　and　she　will　sit　with　her　eyes　on　the
ground；　and　Dr。　Spencer　will　come　out　of　his　proper　self；　and　be
complimentary　to　people　who　deserve　it　no　more！　And　Norman！　　I　wish
I　could　run　away！〃

〃Richard　says　we　do　not　guess　how　well　Norman　speaks。〃

〃Richard　thinks　Norman　can　do　anything　he　can't　do　himself！　　It　is
all　chancehe　may　do　very　well；　if　he　gets　into　his　'funny　state'；
but　he　always　suffers　for　that；　and　he　will　certainly　put　one　into　an
agony　at　the　outset。　　I　wish　Dr。　Spencer　would　have　let　him　alone！
And　then　there　will　be　that　Sir　Henry；　whom　I　can't　abide！　　Oh；　I
wish　I　were　more　charitable；　like　Miss　Bracy　and　Mary；　who　will　think
all　so　beautiful！〃

〃So　will　you；　when　you　come　home；〃　said　Margaret。

〃If　I　could　only　be　talking　to　Cherry；　and　Dame　Hall！　　I　think　the
school　children　enter　into　it　very　nicely；　Margaret。　　Did　I　tell　you
how　nicely　Ellen　Reid　answered　about　the　hymn；　'From　Greenland's　icy
mountains'？　　She　did　not　seem　to　have　made　it　a　mere　geographical
lesson；　like　Fanny　Grigg〃

Ethel's　misanthropy　was　happily　conducted　off　via　the　Cocksmoor
children；　and　any　lingering　remains　were　dissipated　by　her　amusement
at　Dr。　Spencer's　ecstasy　on　seeing　Dr。　May　assume　his　red　robe　of
office；　to　go　to　the　minster　in　state；　with　the　Town　Council。　　He
walked　round　and　round　his　friend；　called　him　Nicholas　Randall
redivivus；　quoted　Dogberry；　and　affronted　Gertrude；　who　had　a　dim
idea　that　he　was　making　game　of　papa。

Ethel　was　one　of　those　to　whom　representation　was　such　a　penance；
that　a　festival；　necessitating　hospitality　to　guests　of　her　own　rank；
was　burden　enough　seriously　to　disturb　the　repose　of　thankfulness　for
the　attainment　of　her　object；　and　to　render　difficult　the
recueillement　which　she　needed　for　the　praise　and　prayer　that　she
felt　due　from　her；　and　which　seemed　to　oppress　her　heart；　by　a　sense
of　inadequacy　of　her　partial　expression。　　It　was　well　for　her　that
the　day　began　with　the　calm　service　in　the　minster；　where　it　was　her
own　fault　if　cares　haunted　her；　and　she　could　confess　the　sin　of　her
irritated　sensations；　and　wishes　to　have　all　her　own　way；　and　then；
as　ever；　be　led　aright　into　thanksgiving　for　the　unlooked…for
crowning　of　her　labours。

The　archdeacon's　sermon　amplified　what　Margaret　had　that　morning
expressed；　so　as　to　carry　on　her　sense　of　appropriateness　in　the
offerings　of　the　day　being　bestowed　on　distant　lands。

But　the　ordeal　was　yet　to　come；　and　though　blaming　herself；　she　was
anything　but　comfortable；　as　the　world　repaired　to　the　Town　Hall；　the
room　where　the　same　faces　so　often　met　for　such　diverse　purposesnow
an　orrery　displayed　by　a　conceited　lecturer；　now　a　ball；　now　a
magistrates'　meeting；　a　concert　or　a　poultry　show；　where　rival
Hamburg　and　Dorking　uplifted　their　voices　in　the　places　of　Mario　and
Grisi；　all　beneath　the　benignant　portrait　of　Nicholas　Randall；
ruffed；　robed；　square…toed；　his　endowment　of　the　scholarship　in　his
hand；　and　a　chequered　pavement　at　his　feet。

Who　knows　not　an　S。　P。　G。　meeting？　the　gaiety　of　the　serious；　and
the　first　public　spectacle　to　the　young；　who；　like　Blanche　and
Aubrey；　gaze　with　admiration　at　the　rows　of　bonnets；　and　with　awe　at
the　black　coats　on　the　platform；　while　the　relations　of　the　said
black　coats　suffer；　like　Ethel；　from　nervous　dread　of　the　public
speaking　of　their　best　friends。

Her　expectations　were　realised　by　the　archdeacon's　speech；　which　went
round　in　a　circle；　as　if　he　could　not　find　his　way　out　of　it。　　Lord
Cosham　was　fluent；　but　a　great　many　words　went　to　very　small
substance；　and　no　wonder；　thought　Ethel；　when　all　they　had　to　propose
and　second　was　the　obvious　fact　that　missions　were　very　good　things。

Dr。　Hoxton　pompously；　Sir　Henry　Walkinghame　creditably；　assisted　the
ladies　and　gentlemen　to　resolve　that　the　S。　P。　G。　wanted　help；　Mr。
Lake　made　a　stammering；　and　Mr。　Rivers；　with　his　good…natured　face；
hearty　manner；　and　good　voice；　came　in　well　after　him　with　a
straightforward；　speech；　so　brief；　that　Ethel　gave　Flora　credit　for
the　best　she　had　yet　heard。

Mr。　Wilmot　said　something　which　the　sharpest　ears　in　the　front　row
might；　perhaps；　have　heard；　and　which　resulted　in　Dr。　Spencer
standing　up。　　Ethel　hardly　would　have　known　who　was　speaking　had　her
eyes　been　shut。　　His　voice　was　so　different；　when　raised　and　pitched；
so　as　to　show　its　power　and　sweetness；　the　fine　polish　of　his　manner
was　redoubled；　and　every　sentence　had　the　most　graceful　turn。　　It　was
like　listening　to　a　well…written　book；　so　smooth　and　so　fluent；　and
yet　so　earnesthis　pictures　of　Indian　life　so　beautiful；　and　his
strong　affection　for　the　converts　he　described　now　and　then　making
his　eyes　fill；　and　his　voice　falter；　as　if　losing　the　thread　of　his
studied　compositiona　true　and　dignified　work　of　art；　that　made　Dr。
May　whisper　to　Flora；　〃You　see　what　he　can　do。　　They　would　have　given
anything　to　have　had　him　for　a　lecturer。〃

With　half　a　sigh；　Ethel　saw　Norman　rise；　and　step　forward。　　He　began；
with　eyes　fixed　on　the　ground；　and　in　a　low　modest　tone；　to　speak　of
the　islands　that　Harry　had　visited；　but　gradually　the　poetic　nature；
inherent　in　him；　gained　the　mastery；　and　though　his　language　was
strikingly　simple；　in　contrast　with　Dr。　Spencer's　ornate　periods；　and
free　from　all　trace　of　〃the　lamp；〃　it　rose　in　beauty　and　fervour　at
every　sentence。　　The　feelings　that　had　decided　his　lot　gave　energy　to
his　discourse；　and　repressed　as　they　had　been　by　reserve　and
diffidence；　now　flowed　forth；　and　gave　earnestness　to　natural　gifts
of　eloquence　of　the　highest　order。　　After　his　quiet；　unobtrusive
beginning；　there　was　the　more　wonder　to　find　how　he　seemed　to　raise
up　the　audience　with　him；　in　breathless　attention；　as　to　a　strain　of
sweet　music；　carrying　them　without　thought　of　the　scene；　or　of　the
speaker；　to　the　lovely　isles；　and　the　inhabitants　of　noble　promise；
but　withering　for　lack　of　knowledge；　and　finally　closing　his　speech；
when　they　were　wrought　up　to　the　highest　pitch；　by　an　appeal　that
touched　them　all　home；　〃for　well　did　he　know；〃　said　he；　〃that　the
universal　brotherhood　was　drawn　closest　in　circles　nearer　home；　that
beneath　the　shadow　of　their　own　old　minster；　gladness　and　mourning
floated　alike　for　all；　and　that　all　those　who　had　shared　in　the
welcome　to　one；　given　back　as　it　were　from　the　grave；　would　own　the
same　debt　of　gratitude　to　the　hospitable　islanders。〃

He　ceased。　　His　father　wiped　his　spectacles；　and　almost　audibly
murmured；　〃Bless　him！〃　　Ethel；　who　had　sat　like　one　enchanted；
forgetting　who　spoke；　forgetting　all　save　the　islanders；　half　turned；
and　met　Richard's　smiling　eyes；　and　his　whisper；　〃I　told　you　so。〃

The　impress　of　a　man　of　true　genius　and　power　had　been　made
throughout　the　whole　assembly；　the　archdeacon　put　Norman　out　of
countenance　by　the　thanks　of　the　meeting　for　his　admirable　speech；
and　all　the　world；　except　the　Oxford　men；　were　in　a　state　of　as　much
surprise　as　pleasure。

〃Splendid　speaker；　Norman　May；　if　he　would　oftener　put　himself　out；〃
Harvey　Anderson　commented。　　〃Pity　he　has　so　many　of　the　good　doctor's
prejudices！〃

〃Well；　to　be　sure！〃　quoth　Mrs。　Ledwich。　　〃I　knew　Mr。　Norman　was　very
clever；　but　I　declare　I　never　thought　of　such　as　this！　　I　will　try　my
poor　utmost　for　those　interesting　natives。〃

〃That　youth　has　first…rate　talents；〃　said　Lord　Cosham。　　〃Do　you　know
what　he　is　designed　for？　　I　should　like　to　bring　him　forward。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Dr。　Hoxton。　　〃The　year　I　sent　off　May　and　Anderson　was　the
proudest　year　of　my　life！〃

〃Upon　my　word！〃　declared　Mrs。　Elwood。　　〃That　Dr。　Spencer　is　as　good
as　a　book；　but　Mr。　Norman　I　say；　father；　we　will　go　without　the　new
clock；　but　we'll　send　somewhat　to　they　men　that　built　up　the　church；
and　has　no　minister。〃

〃A　good　move　that；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer。　　〃Worth　at　least　twenty　pounds。
That　boy　has　the　temperament　of　an　orator；　if　the　morbid　were　but　a
grain　less。〃

〃Oh；　Margaret；〃　exclaimed　Blanche。　　〃Dr。　Spencer　made　the　finest
speech　you　ever　heard；　only　it　was　rather　tiresome；　and　Norman　made
everybody　cryand　Mary　worse　than　all！〃

〃There　is　no　speaking　of　it。　　One　should　live　such　things；　not　talk
over　them；〃　said　Meta　Rivers。

Margaret　received　the　reports　of　the　select　few；　who　visited　her
upstairs；　where　she　was　kept　quiet；　and