the daisy chain, or aspirations-第134章

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over　them；〃　said　Meta　Rivers。

Margaret　received　the　reports　of　the　select　few；　who　visited　her
upstairs；　where　she　was　kept　quiet；　and　only　heard　the　hum　of　the
swarm；　whom　Dr。　May；　in　vehement　hospitality；　had　brought　home　to
luncheon；　to　Ethel's　great　dread；　lest　there　should　not　be　enough　for
them　to　eat。

Margaret　pitied　her　sisters；　but　heard　that　all　was　going　well；　that
Flora　was　taking　care　of　the　elders；　and　Harry　and　Mary　were　making
the　younger　fry　very　merry　at　the　table　on　the　lawn。　　Dr。　May　had　to
start　early　to　see　a　sick　gardener　at　Drydale　before　coming　on　to
Cocksmoor；　and　came　up　to　give　his　daughter　a　few　minutes。

〃We　get　on　famously；〃　he　said。　　〃Ethel　does　well　when　she　is　in　for
it；　like　Norman。　　I　had　no　notion　what　was　in　the　lad。　　They　are
perfectly　amazed　with　his　speech。　　It　seems　hard　to　give　such　as　he
is　up　to　those　outlandish　places；　but　there；　his　speech　should　have
taught　me　betterone's　bestand；　now　and　then；　he　seems　my　best。〃

〃One　comfort　is；〃　said　Margaret；　smiling；　you　would　miss　Ethel　more。〃

〃Gallant　old　King！　　I　am　glad　she　has　had　her　wish。　　Good…bye；　my
Margaret；　we　will　think　of　you。　　I　wish〃

〃I　am　very　happy；〃　was　Margaret's　gentle　reassurance。　　〃The　dear
little　Daisy　looks　just　as　her　godfather　imagined　her；〃　and　happy　was
her　face　when　her　father　quitted　her。

Margaret's　next　visitor　was　Meta；　who　came　to　reclaim　her　bonnet；
and；　with　a　merry　smile；　to　leave　word　that　she　was　walking　on　to
Cocksmoor。　　Margaret　remonstrated　on　the　heat。

〃Let　me　alone；〃　said　she；　making　her　pretty　wilful　gesture。　　〃Ethel
and　Mary　ought　to　have　a　lift；　and　I　have　had　no　walking　to…day。〃

〃My　dear；　you　don't　know　how　far　it　is。　　You　can't　go　alone。〃

〃I　am　lying　in　wait　for　Miss　Bracy；　or　something　innocent；〃　said
Meta。　　〃In　good　timehere　comes　Tom。〃

Tom　entered；　declaring　that　he　had　come　to　escape　from　the　clack
downstairs。

〃I'll　promise　not　to　clack　if　you　will　be　so　kind　as　to　take　care　of
me　to　Cocksmoor；〃　said　Meta。

〃Do　you　intend　to　walk？〃

〃If　you　will　let　me　be　your　companion。〃

〃I　shall　be　most　happy；〃　said　Tom；　colouring　with　gratification；　such
as　he　might　not　have　felt；　had　he　known　that　he　was　chosen　for　his
innocence。

He　took　a　passing　glimpse　at　his　neck…tie；　screwed　up　the　nap　of　his
glossy　hat　to　the　perfection　of　its　central　point；　armed　himself　with
a　knowing　little　stick；　and　hurried　his　fair　companion　out　by　the
back　door；　as　much　afraid　of　losing　the　glory　of　being　her　sole
protector　as　she　was　of　falling　in　with　an　escort　of　as　much
consequence；　in　other　eyes；　as　was　Mr。　Thomas　in　his　own。

She　knew　him　less　than　any　of　the　rest；　and　her　first　amusement　was
keeping　silence　to　punish　him　for　complaining　of　clack；　but　he
explained　that　he　did　not　mean　quiet；　sensible　conversationhe　only
referred　to　those　foolish　women's　raptures　over　the　gabble　they　had
been　hearing　at　the　Town　Hall。

She　exclaimed；　whereupon　he　began　to　criticise　the　speakers　with　a
good　deal　of　acuteness；　exposing　the　weak　points；　but　magnanimously
owning　that　it　was　tolerable　for　the　style　of　thing；　and　might　go
down　at　Stoneborough。

〃I　wonder　you　did　not　stay　away　as　Harry　did。〃

〃I　thought　it　would　be　marked；〃　observed　the　thread…paper　Tom；　as　if
he　had　been　at　least　county　member。

〃You　did　quite　right；〃　said　Meta；　really　thinking　so。

〃I　wished　to　hear　Dr。　Spencer；　too；〃　said　Tom。　　〃There　is　a　man　who
does　know　how　to　speak！　　He　has　seen　something　of　the　world；　and
knows　what　he　is　talking　of。〃

〃But　he　did　not　come　near　Norman。〃

〃I　hated　listening　to　Norman；〃　said　Tom。　　〃Why　should　he　go　and　set
his　heart　on　those　black　savages？〃

〃They　are　not　savages　in　New　Zealand。〃

〃They　are　all　niggers　together；〃　said　Tom　vehemently。　　〃I　cannot
think　why　Norman　should　care　for　them　more　than　for　his　own　brothers
and　sisters。　　All　I　know　is；　that　if　I　were　my　father；　I　would　never
give　my　consent。〃

〃It　is　lucky　you　are　not；〃　said　Meta；　smiling　defiance；　though　a　tear
shone　in　her　eye。　　〃Dr。　May　makes　the　sacrifice　with　a　free　heart　and
willing　mind。〃

〃Everybody　goes　and　sacrifices　somebody　else；〃　grumbled　Tom。

〃Who　are　the　victims　now？〃

〃All　of　us。　　What　are　we　to　do　without　Norman？　　He　is　worth　all　of　us
put　together；　and　I〃　Meta　was　drawn　to　the　boy　as　she　had　never
been　before；　as　he　broke　off　short；　his　face　full　of　emotion；　that
made　him　remind　her　of　his　father。

〃You　might　go　out　and　follow　in　his　steps；〃　said　she；　as　the　most
consoling　hope　she　could　suggest。

〃Not　I。　　Don't　you　know　what　is　to　happen　to　me？　　Ah！　　Flora　has　not
told　you。　　I　thought　she　would　not　think　it　grand　enough。　　She　talked
about　diplomacy〃

〃But　what？〃　asked　Meta　anxiously。

〃Only　that　I　am　to　stick　to　the　old　shop；〃　said　Tom。　　〃Don't　tell　any
one；　I　would　not　have　the　fellows　know　it。〃

〃Do　you　mean　your　father's　profession？〃

〃Ay！〃

〃Oh；　Tom！　you　don't　talk　of　that　as　if　you　despised　it？〃

〃If　it　is　good　enough　for　him；　it　is　good　enough　for　me；　I　suppose；〃
said　Tom。　　〃I　hate　everything　when　I　think　of　my　brothers　going　over
the　world；　while　I；　do　what　I　will；　must　be　tied　down　to　this　slow
place　all　the　rest　of　my　days。〃

〃If　you　were　away；　you　would　be　longing　after　it。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　can't　get　away。〃

〃Surely；　if　the　notion　is　so　unpleasant　to　you；　Dr。　May　would　never
insist？〃

〃It　is　my　free　choice；　and　that's　the　worst　of　it。〃

〃I　don't　understand。〃

〃Don't　you　see？　　Norman　told　me　it　would　be　a　great　relief　to　him　if
I　would　turn　my　mind　that　wayand　I　can't　go　against　Norman。　　I
found　he　thought　he　must　if　I　did　not；　and；　you　know；　he　is　fit　for
all　sorts　of　things　that　Besides；　he　has　a　squeamishness　about　him；
that　makes　him　turn　white；　if　one　does　but　cut　one's　finger；　and　how
he　would　ever　go　through　the　hospitals〃

Meta　suspected　that　Tom　was　inclined　to　launch　into　horrors。　　〃So　you
wanted　to　spare　him；〃　she　said。

〃Ay！　and　papa　was　so　pleased　by　my　offering　that　I　can't　say　a　word
of　the　bore　it　is。　　If　I　were　to　back　out；　it　would　come　upon　Aubrey；
and　he　is　weakly；　and　so　young；　that　he　could　not　help　my　father　for
many　years。〃

Meta　was　much　struck　at　the　motives　that　actuated　the　self…sacrifice；
veiled　by　the　sullen　manner　which　she　almost　began　to　respect。　　〃What
is　done　for　such　reasons　must　make　you　happy；〃　she　said；　〃though
there　may　be　much　that　is　disagreeable。〃

〃Not　the　study；〃　said　Tom。　　〃The　science　is　famous　work。　　I　like　what
I　see　of　it　in　my　father's　books；　and　there's　a　splendid　skeleton　at
the　hospital　that　I　long　to　be　at。　　If　it　were　not　for　Stoneborough；
it　would　be　all　very　well；　but；　if　I　should　get　on　ever　so　well　at
the　examinations；　it　all　ends　there！　　I　must　come　back；　and　go　racing
about　this　miserable　circuit；　just　like　your　gold　pheasant　rampaging
in　his　cage；　seeing　the　same　stupid　people　all　my　days。〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Meta；　in　a　low；　heartfelt　voice；　〃it　is　a　noble；
beautiful　thing　to　curb　down　your　ambition　for　such　causes。　　Tom；　I
like　you　for　it。〃

The　glance　of　those　beautiful　eyes　was　worth　having。　　Tom　coloured　a
little；　but　assumed　his　usual　gruffness。　　〃I　can't　bear　sick　people；〃
he　said。

〃It　has　always　seemed　to　me；〃　said　Meta；　〃that　few　lives　could　come
up　to　Dr。　May's。　　Think　of　going　about；　always　watched　for　with　hope；
often　bringing　gladness　and　relief；　if　nothing　else；　comfort　and
kindness；　his　whole　business　doing　good。〃

〃One　is　paid　for　it；〃　said　Tom。

〃Nothing　could　ever　repay　Dr。　May；〃　said　Meta。　　〃Can　any　one　feel　the
fee　anything　but　a　mere　form？　　Besides；　think　of　the　numbers　and
numbers　that　he　takes　nothing　from；　and　oh！　to　how　many　he　has
brought　the　most　real　good；　when　they　would　have　shut　their　doors
against　it　in　any　other　form！　　Oh；　Tom；　I　think　none　of　you　guess　how
every　one　feels　about　your　father。　　I　recollect　one　poor　woman
saying；　after　he　had　attended　her　brother；　'He　could　not　save　his
body；　but；　surely；　ma'am；　I　think　he　was　the　saving　of　his　soul。'〃

〃It　is　of　no　use　to　talk　of　my　being　like　my　father；〃　said　Tom。

Meta　thought　perhaps　not；　but　she　was　full　of　admiration　of　his
generosity；　and　said；　〃You　will　make　it　the　same　work　of　love；　and
charity　is　the　true　glory。〃

Any　inroad　on　Tom's　reserved　and　depressed　nature　was　a　benefit；　and
he　was　of　an　age　to　be　susceptible　of　the　sympathy　of　one　so　pretty
and　so　engaging。　　He　had　never　been　so　much　gratified　or　encouraged；
and；　wishing　to　prolong　the　tete…a…tete；　he　chose　to　take　the　short
cut　through　the　fir…plantations；　unfrequented　on　account　of　the
perpendicular；　spiked　railings　that　divided　it　from　the　lane。

Meta　was　humming…bird　enough　to　be　undismayed。　　She　put　hand　and　foot
wherever　he　desired；　flattered　him　by　letting　him　handily　help　her
up；　and　bounded　light　as　a　feather　down　on　the　other　side；
congratulating　herself　on　the　change　from　the　dusty　lane　to　the
whispering　pine　woods；　between　which　wound　the　dark　path；　bestrewn
with　brown　slippery　needle…leaves；　and　edged　with　the　delicate
feathering　ling　and　tufts　of　soft　grass。

Tom　had　miscalculated　the　chances　of　interruption。　　Meta　was
lingering　to　track　the　royal　highway　of　some　giant　ants　to　their　fir…
leaf　hillock；　when　they　were　hailed　from　behind；　and　her　squire　felt
ferocious　at　the　sight　of　Norman　and　Harry　closing　the　perspective　of
fir…trunks。

〃Hallo！　Tom；　what　a　guide　you　are！〃　exclaimed　Norman。　　〃That　fence
which　even　Ethel　and　Mary　avoid！〃

〃Mary　climbs　like　a　cow；　and　Ethel　like　a　father…long…legs；〃　said
Tom。　　〃Now　Meta　flies　like　a　bird。〃

〃And　Tom　helped　me　so　cleverly；〃　said　Meta。　　〃It　was　an　excellent
move；　to　get　into　the　shade　and　this　delicious　pine　tree　fragrance。〃

〃Halt！〃　said　Norman〃this　is　too　fast　for　Meta。〃

〃I　cannot；〃　said　Harry。　　〃I　must　get　there　in　time　to　set　Dr。
Spencer's　tackle　to　rights。　　He　is　tolerably　knowing　about　knots；　but
there　is　a　dodge　beyond　him。　　Come　on；　Tom。〃

He　drew　on　the　reluctant　Etonian；　who　looked　repiningly　back　at　the
increasing　distance　between　him　and　the　other　pair；　till　a　turn　in
the　path　cut　off　his　view。

〃I　am　afraid　you　do　not　know　what　you　have　undertaken；〃　said　Norman。

〃I　am　a　capital　walker。　　And　I　know；　or　do　not　know；　how　often　Ethel
takes　the　same　walk。〃

〃Ethel　is　no　rule。〃

〃She　ought　to　be；〃　said　Meta。　　〃To　be　like　her　has　always　been　my
ambition。〃

〃Circumstances　have　formed　Ethel。〃

〃Circumstances！　　What　an　ambiguous　word！　　Either　Providence　pointing
to　duty；　or　the　world　drawing　us　from　it。〃

〃Stepping…stones；　or　stumbling…blocks。〃

〃And；　oh！　the　difficult　question；　when　to　bend　them；　or　to　bend　to
them！〃

〃There　must　be　always　some　guiding；〃　said　Norman。

〃I　believe　there　is；〃　said　Meta；　〃but　when　trumpet…peals　are　ringing
around；　it　is　hard　to　know　whether　one　is　really　'waiting　beside　the
tent；'　or　only　dawdling。〃

〃It　is　great　self…denial　in　the　immovable　square　not　to　join　the
charge；〃　said　Norman。

〃Yes；　but　they；　being　shot　at；　are　not　deceiving　themselves。〃

〃I　suppose　self…deception　on　those　points　is　very　common。〃

〃Especially　among　young　ladies；〃　said　Meta。　　〃I　hear　so　much　of　what
girls　would　do；　if　they　might；　or　could；　that　I　long　to　see　them　like
Etheldo　what　they　can。　　And　th