the daisy chain, or aspirations-第137章

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on　her　couch；　is　a　lesson　of　lessons。〃

〃That　what　is　hallowed　must　be　blest；〃　said　Norman；　〃whatever　the
sundry　and　manifold　changes。〃

Each　was　far　too　humble　to　deny　aloud　any　inequality　with　the
goodness　of　Alan　and　Margaret；　knowing　that　it　would　be　at　once
disputed；　trusting　to　time　to　prevent　the　over…estimate；　and　each
believing　the　other　was　the　one　to　bring　the　blessing。

〃But；　Meta；〃　said　Norman；　〃have　you　heard　nothing　ofof　the　elders？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Meta；　smiling；　〃have　not　you？〃

〃I　have　seen　no　one。〃

〃I　have！〃　said　Meta　merrily。　　〃Uncle　Cosham　is　delighted。　　That
speech　of　yours　has　captivated　him。　　He　calls　me　a　wise　little　woman
to　have　found　out　your　first…rate　abilities。　　There's　for　you；　sir。〃

〃I　don't　understand　it！　　Surely　he　must　be　aware　of　my　intentions？〃

〃He　said　nothing　about　them；　but；　of　course；　Dr。　May　must　have
mentioned　them。〃

〃I　should　have　thought　so；　but　I　cannot　suppose〃

〃That　he　would　be　willing　to　let　me　go；〃　said　Meta。　　〃But　then　you
know　he　cannot　help　it；〃　added　she；　with　a　roguish　look；　at　finding
herself　making　one　of　her　saucy　independent　speeches。

〃I　believe　you　are　taking　a　would…be　missionary　instead　of　Norman
May！〃　he　answered；　with　a　sort　of　teasing　sweetness。

〃All　would…be　missionaries　did　not　make　dear　papa　so　fond　of　them；〃
said　Meta；　very　low；　〃and　you　would　not　be　Norman　May　without　such
purposes。〃

〃The　purpose　was　not　inspired　at　first　by　the　highest　motive；〃　said
Norman；　〃but　it　brought　me　peace；　and；　after　the　kind　of　dedication
that　I　inwardly　made　of　myself　in　my　time　of　trouble；　it　would　take
some　weighty　reason；　amounting　to　a　clear　duty；　or　physical
impossibility；　to　make　me　think　I　ought　to　turn　back。　　I　believe〃
the　tears　rose　to　his　eyes；　and　he　brought　out　the　words　with
difficulty〃that；　if　this　greatest　of　all　joys　were　likely　to　hinder
me　from　my　calling；　I　ought　to　seek　strength　to　regard　it　as　a
temptation；　and　to　forgo　it。〃

〃You　ought；　if　it　were　so；〃　said　Meta；　nevertheless　holding　him
tighter。　　〃I　could　not　bear　to　keep　back　a　soldier。　　If　this　were
last　year；　and　I　had　any　tie　or　duty　here；　it　would　be　very　hard。
But　no　one　needs　me；　and　if　the　health　I　have　always　had　be　continued
to　me；　I　don't　think　I　shall　be　much　in　the　way。　　There；〃drawing
back　a　little；　and　trying　to　laugh　off　her　feeling〃only　tell　me　at
once　if　you　think　me　still　too　much　of　a　fine　lady。〃

〃Iyoua　fine　lady！　　Did　anything　ever　give　you　the　impression　that
I　did？〃

〃I　shall　not　get　poor　Harry　into　a　scrape；　shall　I？　　He　told　me　that
you　said　so；　last　spring；　and　I　feared　you　judged　me　too　truly。〃

After　a　few　exclamations　of　utter　surprise；　it　flashed　on　Norman。　　〃I
know；　I　knowHarry　interpreted　my　words　in　his　own　blunt　fashion！〃

〃Then　you　did　say　something　like　it？〃

〃No；　butbut　In　short；　Meta；　these　sailors'　imaginations　go　to
great　lengths。　Harry　had　guessed　more　than　I　knew　myself；　before　he
had　sailed；　and　taxed　me　with　it。　　It　was　a　subject　I　could　not　bear
then；　and　I　answered　that　you　were　too　far　beyond　my　hopes。〃

〃Six　years　ago！〃　said　Meta　slowly；　blushing　deeper　and　deeper。　　〃Some
eyes　saw　it　all　that　time；　and　youand；〃　she　added；　laughing；　though
rather　tearfully；　〃I　should　never　have　known　it；　if　Tom　had　not　taken
me　through　the　plantations！〃

〃Not　if　I　had　not　discovered　that　your　preferences　did　not　lie〃

〃Among　boudoirs　and　balls？〃　said　Meta。　　〃Harry　was　right。　　You
thought　me　a　fine　lady　after　all。〃

The　gay　taunt　was　cut　short　by　a　tap　at　the　door；　and　Flora　looked
in。

〃Dr。　Spencer　has　brought　your　things；　Norman。　　I　am　sorry　to　disturb
youbut　come　down；　MetaI　ran　away　very　uncivilly　to　fetch　you。　　I
hope　it　is　not　too　cruel；〃　as　she　drew　Meta's　arm　into　her　own；　and
added；　〃I　have　not　been　able　speak　to　George。〃

Meta　suspected　that；　in　the　wish　to　spare　her；　Flora　had　abstained
from　seeking　him。

The　evening　went　off　like　any　other　eveningpeople　ate　and　talked；
thought　Mrs。　Rivers　looking　very　ill；　and　Miss　Rivers　very　pretty
Flora　forced　herself　into　being　very　friendly　to　Sir　Henry；
commiserating　the　disappointment　to　which　she　had　led　him；　and　she
hoped　that　he　suspected　the　state　of　affairs；　though　Tom；　no　longer
supplanted　by　his　elder　brother；　pursued　Meta　into　the　sheltered
nook；　where　Flora　had　favoured　her　seclusion；　to　apologise　for　having
left　her　to　the　guidance　of　poor　Norman；　whose　head　was　with　the
blackamoors。　　It　was　all　Harry's　fault。

〃Nonsense；　Tom；〃　said　Harry；　〃don't　you　think　Norman　is　better
company　than　you　any　day？〃

〃Then　why　did　you　not　walk　him　off　instead　of　me？〃　said　Tom；　turning
round　sharply。

〃Out　of　consideration　for　Meta。　　She　will　tell　you　that　she　was　very
much　obliged　to　me〃

Harry　checked　himself；　for　Meta　was　colouring　so　painfully　that　his
own　sunburned　face　caught　the　glow。　　He　pushed　Tom's　slight　figure
aside　with　a　commanding　move　of　his　broad　hand；　and　said；　〃I　beg　your
pardon；　upon　my　word；　though　I　don't　know　what　for。〃

〃Nor　I；〃　said　Meta；　rallying　herself；　and　smiling。　　〃You　have　no
pardon　to　beg。　　You　will　know　it　all　to…morrow。〃

〃Then　I　know　it　now；〃　said　Harry；　sheltering　his　face　by　leaning　over
the　back　of　a　chair；　and　taming　the　hearty　gaiety　of　his　voice。
〃Well　done；　Meta；　there's　nothing　like　old　June　in　all　the　world！
You　may　take　my　word　for　it；　and　I　knew　you　would　have　the　sense　to
find　it　out。〃

They　were　well　out　of　sight；　and　Meta　only　answered　by　a　good　tight
squeeze　of　his　kind　hand　between　both　her　own。　　Tom；　suddenly
recovering　from　his　displeasure　at　being　thrust　aside；　whisked　round；
dropped　on　a　footstool　before　Meta；　locked　up　in　her　face；　and　said；
〃Hallo！〃　in　such　utter　amazement　that　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to
laugh　more　uncontrollably　than　was　convenient。　　〃Come　along；　Tom；〃
said　Harry；　pulling　him　up　by　force；　〃she　does　not　want　any　of　your
nonsense。　　We　will　not　plague　her　now。〃

〃Thank　you；　Harry；〃　said　Meta。　　〃I　cannot　talk　rationally　just　yet。
Don't　think　me　unkind；　Tom。〃

Tom　sat　in　a　sort　of　trance　all　the　rest　of　the　evening。

Lord　Cosham　talked　to　Norman；　who　felt　as　if　he　were　being　patronised
on　false　pretences；　drew　into　his　shell；　and　displayed　none　of　his
〃first…rate　abilities。〃

Dr。　Spencer　discussed　his　architecture　with　the　archdeacon；　but　his
black　eyes　roamed　heedfully　after　the　young　gentleman　and　lady；　in
the　opposite　corners　of　the　room；　and；　as　he　drove　home　afterwards
with　the　youths；　he　hummed　scraps　of　Scottish　songs；　and　indulged　in
silent　smiles。

Those　at　home　had　been　far　more　demonstrative。　　Dr。　May　had　arrived；
declaring　himself　the　proudest　doctor　in　her　Majesty's　dominions；　and
Ethel　needed　nothing　but　his　face　to　explain　why；　and　tell　her　that
dear　old　June's　troubles　were　over；　and　their　pretty　little　Meta　was
their　owna　joy　little　looked　for　to　attend　their　foundation…stone。

The　dreaded　conference　with　Lord　Cosham　had　proved　highly　gratifying。
There　might　be　something　in　the　fact　that　he　could　not　help　it；　which
assisted　in　his　ready　acquiescence；　but　he　was　also　a　sensible　right…
minded　man；　who　thought　that　the　largeness　of　Meta's　fortune　was　no
reason　that　it　should　be　doubled；　considered　that；　in　the　matter　of
connection；　the　May　family　had　the　advantage；　and　saw　in　Norman；　a
young　man　whom　any　one　might　have　pleasure　in　bringing　forward。
Oxford　had　established　confidence　both　in　his　character　and　talents；
and　his　speech　had　been　such　as　to　impress　an　experienced　man；　like
Lord　Cosham；　with　an　opinion　of　his　powers；　that　prepared　a　welcome
for　him；　such　as　no　one　could　have　dared　to　expect。　　His　lordship
thought　his　niece　not　only　likely　to　be　happier；　but　to　occupy　a　more
distinguished　position　with　such　a　man　as　Norman　May；　than　with　most
persons　of　ready…made　rank　and　fortune。

The　blushing　and　delighted　Dr。　May　had　thought　himself　bound　to　speak
of　his　son's　designs；　but　he　allowed　that　the　project　had　been　formed
under　great　distress　of　mind；　and　when　he　saw　it　treated　by　so　good　a
man；　as　a　mere　form　of　disappointed　love；　he　felt　himself　reprieved
from　the　hardest　sacrifice　that　he　had　ever　been　called　on　to　make；
loved　little　Meta　the　better　for　restoring　his　son；　and　once　more
gave　a　free　course　to　the　aspirations　that　Norman's　brilliant　boyhood
had　inspired。　　Richard　took　the　same　view；　and　the　evening　passed
away　in　an　argumentas　if　any　one　had　been　disputing　with　themthe
father　reasoning　loud；　the　son　enforcing　it　low；　that　it　had　become
Norman's　duty　to　stay　at　home　to　take　care　of　Meta；　whose　father
would　have　been　horrified　at　his　taking　her　to　the　Antipodes。　　They
saw　mighty　tasks　for　her　fortune　to　effect　in　England；　they　enhanced
each　other's　anticipations　of　Norman's　career；　overthrew　abuses
before　him；　heaped　distinctions　upon　him；　and　had　made　him　Prime
Minister　and　settled　his　policy；　before　ten　o'clock　brought　their
schemes　to　a　close。

Mary　gazed　and　believed；　Margaret　lay　still　and　gently　assented；
Ethel　was　silent　at　first；　and　only　when　the　fabric　became　extremely
airy　and　magnificent；　put　in　her　word　with　a　vehement　dash　at　the
present　abuses；　which　grieved　her　spirit　above　all；　and；　whether
vulnerable　or　not；　Norman　was　to　dispose　of；　like　so　many　giants
before　Mr。　Great…heart。

She　went　upstairs；　unable　to　analyse　her　sentiments。　　To　be　spared
the　separation　would　be　infinite　reliefall　this　prosperity　made　her
exultthe　fair　girl　at　the　Grange　was　the　delight　of　her　heart；　and
yet　there　was　a　sense　of　falling　off；　she　disliked　herself　for　being
either　glad　or　sorry；　and　could　have　quarrelled　with　the　lovers　for
perplexing　her　feelings　so　uncomfortably。

Though　she　sat　up　till　the　party　returned；　she　was　inclined　to　be
supposed　in　bed；　so　as　to　put　off　the　moment　of　meeting；　but
Margaret；　who　she　hoped　was　asleep；　said　from　her　pillow；　〃Ask　dear
Norman　to　let　me　give　him　one　kiss。〃

She　ran　down　headlong；　clutched　Norman　as　he　was　taking　off　his
greatcoat；　told　him　that　Margaret　wanted　him；　and　dragged　him　up
without　letting　him　go；　till　she　reached　the　first　landing；　where　she
stood　still；　saying　breathlessly；　〃New　Zealand。〃

〃If　I　wished　to　fail；　she　would　keep　me　to　it。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Ethel；　claiming　heartily　his　caress。　　〃I
was　wrong　to　doubt　either　of　you。　　Now；　I　know　how　to　feel！　　But
Margaret　must　not　wait。〃

The　happy　youth；　in　the　flush　of　love　and　joy；　bent　gently；　almost
tearfully；　down　in　silence　to　the　white　form；　half　seen　in　the
twilight；　whose　hopes　had　fleeted　away　from　earth；　and　who　was
calmly；　softly　gliding　after　them。　　Hardly　a　word　was　uttered；　but　of
all　the　many　heartfelt　thoughts　that　had　passed　while　the　face　was
pressed　into　Margaret's　pillow；　and　her　sympathising　arms　round　the
neck；　surely　none　was　ever　deeper；　than　was　his　prayer　and　vow　that
his　affection　should　be　like　hers；　unearthly；　and　therefore　enduring。

The　embrace　was　all；　Margaret　must　not　be　agitated；　and；　indeed；　the
events　of　the　day　had　been　too　much　for　her；　and　the　ensuing　morning
brought　the　fluttering　of　heart　and　prostration　of　strength；　no
longer　a　novelty　and　occasion　of　immediate　terror；　but　the　token　of
the　waning　power　of　life。

Till　she　was　better；　her　father　had　no　t