the daisy chain, or aspirations-第136章

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her　mind；　was　applying　the　words　to　him；　whose　head　rested　in　the
Pacific　isle；　while；　in　the　place　which　he　had　chosen；　was　laid　the
foundation　of　the　temple　that　he　had　given　unto　the　Lord。

There　came　forth　the　procession：　the　minster　choristers；　Dr。　Spencer
as　architect；　and；　in　her　white　dress；　little　Gertrude；　led　between
Harry　and　Hector；　Margaret's　special　choice　for　the　occasion；　and
followed　by　the　Stoneborough　clergy。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　Let　thy　priests　be　clothed　with　righteousness。


It　came　in　well　with　the　gentle；　meek；　steadfast　face　of　the　young
curate　of　Cocksmoor；　as　he　moved　on　in　his　white　robe；　and　the
sunlight　shone　upon　his　fair　hair；　and　calm　brow；　thankful　for　the
past；　and　hoping；　more　than　fearing；　for　the　future。

The　prayers　were　said；　and　there　was　a　pause；　while　Dr。　Spencer　and
the　foreman　advanced　to　the　machine　and　adjusted　it。　　The　two　youths
then　led　forward　the　little　girl；　her　innocent　face　and　large　blue
eyes　wearing　a　look　of　childish　obedient　solemnity；　only　half
understanding　what　she　did；　yet　knowing　it　was　something　great。

It　was　very　pretty　to　see　her　in　the　midst　of　the　little　gathering
round　the　foundation；　the　sturdy　workman　smiling　over　his　hod　of
mortar；　Dr。　Spencer's　silver　locks　touching　her　flaxen　curls　as　he
held　the　shining　trowel　to　her；　and　Harry's　bright　head　and　hardy
face；　as　he　knelt　on　one　knee　to　guide　the　little　soft　hand；　while
Hector　stood　by；　still　and　upright；　his　eyes　fixed　far　away；　as　if
his　thoughts　were　roaming　to　the　real　founder。

The　Victoria　coins　were　placedGertrude　scooped　up　the　mass　of
mortar；　and　spread　it　about　with　increasing　satisfaction；　as　it　went
so　smoothly　and　easily；　prolonging　the　operation；　till　Harry　drew　her
back；　while；　slowly　down　creaked　the　ponderous　corner…stone　into　the
bed　that　she　had　prepared　for　it；　and；　with　a　good　will；　she　gave
three　taps　on　it　with　her　trowel。

Harry　had　taken　her　hand；　when；　at　the　sight　of　Dr。　May；　she　broke
from　him；　and；　as　if　taking　sudden　fright　at　her　own　unwonted　part；
ran；　at　full　speed；　straight　up　to　her　father；　and　clung　to　him；
hiding　her　face　as　he　raised　her　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her。

Meanwhile　the　strain　arose：


　　　　　　　　　　　　　Thou　heavenly；　new　Jerusalem；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Vision　of　peace；　in　Prophet's　dream；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　With　living　stones；　built　up　on　high；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　rising　to　the　starry　sky


The　blessing　of　peace　seemed　to　linger　softly　and　gently　in　the
fragrant　summer　breeze；　and　there　was　a　pause　ere　the　sounds　of
voices　awoke　again。

〃Etheldred〃　Mr。　Wilmot　stood　beside　her；　ere　going　to　unrobe　in　the
school　〃Etheldred；　you　must　once　let　me　say；　God　bless　you　for
this。〃

As　she　knelt　beside　her　sister's　sofa；　on　her　return　home；　Margaret
pressed　something　into　her　hand。　　〃If　you　please；　dearest；　give　this
to　Dr。　Spencer；　and　ask　him　to　let　it　be　set　round　the　stem　of　the
chalice；〃　she　whispered。

Ethel　recognised　Alan　Ernescliffe's　pearl　hoop；　the　betrothal　ring；
and　looked　at　her　sister　without　a　word。

〃I　wish　it；〃　said　Margaret　gently。　　〃I　shall　like　best　to　know　it
there。〃

So　Margaret　joined　in　Alan's　offering；　and　Ethel　dared　say　no　more；
as　she　thought　how　the　〃relic　of　a　frail　love　lost〃　was　becoming　the
〃token　of　endless　love　begun。〃　　There　was　more　true　union　in　this；
than　in　clinging　to　the　mere　tangible　emblemfor　broken　and　weak　is
all　affection　that　is　not　knit　together　above　in　the　One　Infinite
Love。




CHAPTER　XXIII。



Of　lowly　fields　you　think　no　scorn；
Yet　gayest　gardens　would　adorn；
　　　And　grace　wherever　set；
Home；　seated　in　your　lowly　bower；
Or　wedded；　a　transplanted　flower；
　　　I　bless　you；　Margaret。CHARLES　LAMB。


George　Rivers　had　an　antipathy　to　ladies'　last　words　keeping　the
horses　standing；　and　his　wife　and　sister　dutifully　seated　themselves
in　the　carriage　at　once；　without　an　attempt　to　linger。

Four　of　the　young　gentlemen　were　to　walk　across　to　Abbotstoke　and
dine　at　the　Grange；　and　Tom；　who；　reasoning　from　analogy；　had　sent　on
his　black　tie　and　agate　studs；　was　so　dismally　disconcerted　on
finding　that　Norman　treated　his　own　going　as　a　matter　of　course；　that
Richard；　whose　chief　use　of　his　right　of　primogeniture　was　to　set
himself　aside；　discovered　that　he　was　wanted　at　home；　and　that　Tom
would　be　much　better　at　the　Grange；　offering；　at　the　same　time；　to
send　Norman's　dressing　things　by　Dr。　Spencer。

〃Which；〃　observed　Thomas；　〃he　would　never　have　recollected　for
himself。〃

〃Tom　would　have　had　to　lend　him　the　precious　studs。〃〃He　would　not
have　had　them；　who　would　wear　imitation？〃　　〃I　say；　Tom；　what　did　you
give　for　them？〃　　〃Better　ask　what　the　Jew　gave　for　them；　that　bought
them　at　Windsor　Fair；　not　a　bad　imitation；　eitherpity　they　weren't
Malachite；　but；　no　doubt；　the　Jew　thought　green　would　be　personal。〃
〃As　if　they　had　any　business　to　talk；　who　didn't　know　a　respectable
stud　when　they　saw　itHarry；　especially；　with　his　hat　set　on　the
back　of　his　head；　like　a　sailor　on　the　stage〃（a　leap　to　set　it　to
rightsa　skirmish；　knocking　Tom　nearly　into　the　ditch）。　　〃Fine
experience　of　the　stageall　came　from　Windsor　Fair。〃　　〃Ay；　Hector
might　talk；　but　didn't　he　pay　a　shilling　to　see　the　Irish　giant。　　He
wouldn't　confess；　but　it　was　a　famous　take　ingiant　had　potatoes　in
his　shoes。〃　　〃Not　he；　he　was　seven　feet　ten　high。〃　　〃Ay；　when　he
stood　upon　a　stoolHector　would　swallow　anythingeven　the　lady　of　a
million　postage　stamps　had　not　stuck　in　his　throathe　had　made
Margaret　collect　for　her。〃　　〃And；　had　not　Tom；　himself；　got　a　bottle
of　ointment　to　get　the　red　out　of　his　hair？〃（great　fury）。　　〃His
hair　wasn't　reddidn't　want　to　change　the　colournot　half　so　red　as
Hector's　own。〃　　〃What　was　it　then？　lively　auburn？〃　　But　for　fear　of
Norman's　losing　his　bearings；　Harry　would　fetch　a　carrot；　to　compare。
〃Better　colour　than　theirs　could　ever　be。〃　　〃Then　what　was　the
ointment　for？　to　produce　whiskers？　that　was　the　reason　Tom　oiled
himself　like　a　Loyalty　islanderhis　hair　was　so　shiny；　that　Harry
recommended　a　top…knot；　like　theirs；　etc。〃

Norman　was；　like　the　others；　in　such　towering　glee；　and　took　so　full
a　share　of　the　witticisms；　that　were　the　more　noisily　applauded；　the
worse　they　were；　that　Harry　suggested　that　〃old　June　had　lost　his
way；　and　found　his　spirits　in　Drydalehe　must　have　met　with　a
private　grog…shop　in　the　plantationswould　not　Tom　confess〃〃not
he；　it　was　all　in　private。　　He　thought　it　was　laughing…gas；　or　the
reaction　of　being　fried　all　the　morning；　holding　forth　in　that　Town
Hall。　　He　had　longed　to　make　a　speech　himselfno　end　of　the　good　it
would　have　done　the　old　stagers　to　come　out　with　something　to　the
purpose。　　What　would　old　Hoxton　have　thought　of　it？


They　shall　dive　for　alligators；　catch　the　wild　goats　by　the　beard；
Whistle　to　the　cockatoos；　and　mock　the　hairy…faced　baboon；
Worship　mighty　Mumbo　Jumbo　in　the　mountains　of　the　moon。
I　myself；　in　far　Timbuctoo；　leopard's　blood　shall　daily　quaff；
Ride　a　tiger　hunting；　mounted　on　a　thoroughbred　giraffe。


〃Not　you；　Tom！〃　cried　Hector。


You；　the　swell；　the　Eton　fellow！　　You；　to　seek　such　horrid　places。
You　to　haunt　with　squalid　negroes；　blubber　lips；　and　monkey　faces。
Fool；　again　the　dream；　the　fancy；　don't　I　know　the　words　are　mad；
For　you　count　the　gray　barbarian　lower　than　the　Brocas　cad！


〃Nay；　it　is　the　consequence　of　misanthropy　at　the　detection　of　the
frauds　of　unsophisticated　society；〃　said　Norman。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　edge　of　life　is　rusted；
　The　agate　studs　and　whisker　ointment　left　him　very　much　disgusted。


〃Perhaps　it　was　Miss　Rivers　forsaking　him。　　Was　not　that　rather
spider…hearted；　Tom？〃

〃Come；　Harry；　it　is　time　to　have　done。　　We　are　getting　into　civilised
societyhere's　Abbotstoke。〃

〃Poor　Norman；　he　is　very　far　gone！　　He　takes　that　scarecrow　for
civilised　society！〃

〃Much　better　clothed　than　the　society　you　have　been　accustomed　to；
July。〃　　〃What　a　prize　his　wardrobe　would　be　to　the　Black　Prince！〃
〃Don't　insult　your　betters！〃　　〃Which？　　The　scarecrow；　or　the　Black
Prince？〃

Norman　tried　to　call　his　companions　to　order；　for　they　were　close
upon　the　village；　and　he　began　to　tax　himself　with　unbecoming　levity；
the　effect　of　spirits　pitched　rather　low；　which　did　not　easily　find
their　balance；　under　unwonted　exhilaration；　but　Harry's　antics　were
less　easily　repressed　than　excited；　and　if　Tom　had　not　heard　the
Grange　clock　strike　half…past　six；　and　had　not　been　afraid　of　not
having　time　to　array　himself；　and　watch　over　Harry's　neckcloth；　they
would　hardly　have　arrived　in　reasonable　time。　　Dr。　May　had　gone　home；
and　there　was　no　one　in　the　drawing…room；　but；　as　Norman　was
following　the　boys　upstairs；　Flora　opened　her　sitting…room　door；　and
attracted　his　attention　by　silently　putting　her　cold　fingers　into　his
hand；　and　drawing　him　into　the　room。

〃Dear　Norman；　this　is　pleasant；〃　she　said　affectionately；　but　in　a
voice　so　sunken；　that　all　gladness　seemed　to　be　dead　within；　and　the
effect　was　far　more　mournful　than　if　she　had　not　attempted　to　smile
congratulation。

〃I　will　give　you　till　Dr。　Spencer　comes；〃　she　said。　　〃Then　Norman　can
dress；　and　you　must　be　a　good　child；　and　come　down　to　me。〃

The　playfulness　ill　suited　the　wan；　worn　face　that　seemed　to　have
caught　a　gray　tint　from　her　rich　poplin；　her　full　toilet　making　the
contrast　almost　more　painful；　and；　as　she　closed　the　door；　her
brother　could　only　exclaim；　〃Poor　Flora！〃

〃She　is　so　kind；〃　said　the　voice　of　the　white　figure　that　moved
towards　him。　　〃Oh；　if　we　could　comfort　her！〃

〃I　trust　to　her　own　kindness　working　comfort　to　her；　at　last；〃　said
Norman。　　〃But　is　she　often　thus？〃

〃Whenever　she　is　not　bearing　up　for　George's　sake；〃　said　Meta。　　〃She
never　says　anything　when　she　is　alone　with　me；　only　she　does　not
struggle　with　her　looks。〃

〃It　must　be　very　trying　for　you。〃

〃Nay；　I　feel　grateful　to　her　for　even　so　far　relaxing　the　restraint。
If　I　could　but　do　her　any　good。〃

〃You　cannot　help　doing　her　good；〃　said　Norman。

Meta　sighed；　and　shook　her　head　slightly；　as　she　said；　〃She　is　so
gentle　and　considerate。　　I　think　this　has　been　no　fresh　pain　to　her
to…day；　but　I　cannot　tell。　　The　whole　day　has　been　a　strange
intermixture。〃

〃The　two　strands　of　joy　and　grief　have　been　very　closely　twisted；〃
said　Norman。　　〃That　rose　is　shedding　its　fragrant　leaves　in　its
glory；　and　there　is　much　that　should　have　chastened　the　overflowing
gladness　of　to…day。〃

〃As　I　was　thinking；〃　whispered　Meta；　venturing　nearer　to　him；　and
looking　into　his　face　with　the　sweet　reliance　of　union　in　thought。
She　meant　him　to　proceed；　but　he　paused；　saying；　〃You　were　thinking…〃

〃I　had　rather　hear　it　from　you。〃

〃Was　it　not　that　we　were　taught　to…day　what　is　enduring；　and　gives
true　permanence　and　blessedness　to　suchto　what　there　was　between
Ernescliffe　and　Margaret？〃

Her　dewy　eyes；　and　face　of　deep　emotion；　owned　that　he　had
interpreted　her　thought。

〃Theirs　would；　indeed；　be　a　disheartening　example；〃　he　said；　〃if　it
did　not　show　the　strength　and　peace　that　distance；　sickness；　death；
cannot　destroy。〃

〃Yes。　　To　see　that　church　making　Margaret　happy　as　she　lies　smiling
on　her　couch；　is　a　lesson　of　lessons。〃

〃That　what　is　hallowed　must　be　blest；