the daisy chain, or aspirations-第139章

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grand　emancipation。　　She　persuaded　old　nurse　to　teach　her　to　be
useful；　and　Margaret　used　to　declare　that　she　witnessed　scenes　as
good　as　a　play　in　her　room；　where　the　little　dexterous　scholar；
apparently　in　jest；　but　really　in　sober；　earnest；　wiled　instruction
from　the　old　woman；　and　made　her　experiments；　between　smiles　and
blushes；　and　merrily　glorying　in　results　that　promised　that　she　would
be　a　notable　housewife。　　Whether　it　were　novelty　or　not；　she
certainly　had　an　aptitude　and　delight　in　domestic　details；　such　as
Ethel　never　could　attain；　and；　as　Dr。　May　said；　the　one　performed　by
a　little　finger　what　the　other　laboured　at　with　a　great　mind。

In　the　schoolroom；　Meta　was　as　highly　appreciated。　　She　found　an　hour
for　helping　Blanche　in　her　music；　and　for　giving；　what　was　still　more
useful；　an　interest　and　spirit　to　studies；　where；　it　must　be　owned；
poor　good　Mary　had　been　a　dead　weight。　　She　enlivened　Miss　Bracy　so
much；　and　so　often　contrived　a　walk　or　a　talk　with　her；　that　the
saucy　Blanche　told　Hector　that　she　thought　Ethel　would　be　quite
second…fiddle　with　Miss　Bracy。

No　such　thing。　　Miss　Bracy's　great　delight　was　in　having　a　listener
for　her　enthusiasm　about　Miss　Ethel。　　She　had　been　lately　having　a
correspondence　with　a　former　school…fellow；　who　was　governess　in　a
family　less　considerate　than　the　Mays；　and　who　poured　out；　in　her
letters；　feelings　much　like　those　with　which　Miss　Bracy　had　begun。

Nothing　could　be　more　salutary　than　to　find　herself　repeating　all
Ethel's　pieces　of　advice；　and；　one　day；　when　her　friend　had　been　more
distressed　than　usual；　she　called　Ethel　herself；　to　consult　on　her
answer；　owning　how　much　she　was　reminded　of　herself。

〃Indeed；〃　she　added；　〃I　am　afraid　it　would　only　tease　you　to　hear　how
much　I　am　indebted　to　your　decision　and　kindness〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Ethel；　laughing　her　awkward　laugh。　　〃You　have　often　had
to　forget　my　savage　ways。〃

〃Pray　don't　say　that〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Ethel；　breaking　in；　〃the　philosophy　is　this：　I
believe　that　it　is　a　trying　life。　　I　know　teaching　takes　a　great　deal
out　of　one；　and　loneliness　may　cause　tendencies　to　dwell　on　fancied
slights　in　trifles；　that　might　otherwise　be　hurried　over。　　But　I
think　the　thing　is；　to　pass　them　over；　and　make　a　conscience　of
turning　one's　mind　to　something　fresh〃

〃As　you　made　me　do；　when　you　brought　me　amusing　books；　and　taught　me
botany〃

〃And；　still　more；　when　you　took　to　working　for　the　infant　school。
Yes；　I　think　the　way　to　be　happy　and　useful　is　to　get　up　many
interests；　so　as　to　be　fresh　and　vigorous；　and　think　not　at　all　of
personalities。　　There's　a　truism！〃

〃Very　true；　though；〃　said　Miss　Bracy。　〃Indeed；　all　your　kindness　and
consideration　would　never　have　done　me　half　the　good　they　have；　dear
Miss　Ethel；　if　you　had　not　taught　me　that　referring　all　to　one's　own
feelings　and　self　is　the　way　to　be　unhappy。〃

〃Just　so；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃It　is　the　surest　way　for　any　one　to　be
miserable。〃

〃If　I　could　only　persuade　poor　dear　Ellen　to　think　that　even　if　a
slight　were　real；　it　ought　to　be　borne　forgivingly；　and　not　brooded
over。　　Ah！　you　are　laughing；　perhaps　you　have　said　the　same　about
me。〃

〃You　would　forgive　it　now；　I　think；〃　said　Ethel。

〃I　never　thought　I　did　not　forgive。　　I　did　not　see　that　brooding　over
vexations　was　not　pardoning　them。　　I　have　told　her　so　now；　and；　oh！
if　she　could　but　have　seen　how　true　sorrows　are　borne　here；　she　would
be　cured；　like　me；　of　making　imaginary　ones。〃

〃None　could　help　being　better　for　living　with　papa；〃　said　Ethel。

Ethel　made　Miss　Bracy　happy　by　a　kiss　before　she　left　her。　　It　was　a
cheering　belief　that；　whatever　the　future　trials　of　her　life　might
be；　the　gentle　little　lady　would　meet　them　with　a　healthier　mind；
more　vigorous　in　overlooking　troubles　and　without　punctilious
sensitiveness　on　the　lookout　for　affronts。　　〃Believing　all　things；
bearing　all　things；　hoping　all　things；　enduring　all　things；〃　would　be
to　her　the　true　secret　of　serenity　of　spirits。

Ethel　might　not　have　been　blameless　or　consistent　in　her　dealings　in
this　difficult　intercourse；　but　her　kind　heart；　upright　intention；
and　force　of　character；　had　influence　far　beyond　her　own　perception。
Indeed；　she　knew　not　that　she　had　personal　influence　at　all；　but　went
on　in　her　own　straightforward　humility。




CHAPTER　XXIV。



〃Enough　of　foresight　sad；　too　much
　Of　retrospect　have　I；
And　well　for　me；　that　I；　sometimes；
　Can　put　those　feelings　by。

There　speaks　the　man　we　knew　of　yore；
　Well　pleased；　I　hear　them　say；
Such　was　he；　in　his　lighter　moods；
　Before　our　heads　were　gray。

Buoyant　he　was　in　spirit；　quick
　Of　fancy；　light　of　heart；
And　care；　and　time；　and　change　have　left
　Untouch'd　his　better　part。〃SOUTHEY。


Etheldred　May　and　Meta　Rivers　were　together　in　the　drawing…room。　　The
timepiece　pointed　towards　ten　o'clock；　but　the　tea…things　were　on　the
table；　prepared　for　a　meal；　the　lamp　shone　with　a　sort　of
consciousness；　and　Ethel　moved　restlessly　about；　sometimes　settling
her　tea　equipage；　sometimes　putting　away　a　stray　book；　or　resorting
by　turns　to　her　book；　or　to　work　a　red　and　gold　scroll　on　coarse
canvas；　on　the　other　end　of　which　Meta　was　employed。

〃Nervous；　Ethel？〃　said　Meta；　looking　up　with　a　merry　provoking　smile；
knowing　how　much　the　word　would　displease。

〃That　is　for　you；〃　retorted　Ethel；　preferring　to　carry　the　war　into
the　enemy's　quarters。　　〃What；　don't　you　know　that　prudent　people　say
that　your　fate　depends　on　her　report？〃

〃At　least；〃　said　Meta；　laughing；　〃she　is　a　living　instance　that　every
one　is　not　eaten　up；　and　we　shall　see　if　she　fulfils　Tom's　prediction
of　being　tattooed；　or　of　having　a　slice　out　of　the　fattest　part　of
her　cheek。〃

〃I　know　very　well；〃　said　Ethel；　〃the　worst　she　said　it　would　be；　the
more　you　would　go。〃

〃Not　quite　that；〃　said　Meta；　blushing；　and　looking　down。

〃Come；　don't　be　deceitful！〃　said　Ethel。　　〃You　know　very　well　that　you
are　still　more　bent　on　it　than　you　were　last　year。〃

〃To　be　sure　I　am！〃　said　Meta；　looking　up　with　a　sudden　beamy　flash　of
her　dark　eyes。　　〃Norman　and　I　know　each　other　so　much　better　now；〃
she　added；　rather　falteringly。

〃Ay！　　I　know　you　are　ready　to　go　through　thick　and　thin；　and　that　is
why　I　give　my　consent　and　approbation。　　You　are　not　to　be　stopped　for
nonsense。〃

〃Not　for　nonsense；　certainly；〃　said　Meta；　〃but〃and　her　voice　became
tremulous〃if　Dr。　May　deliberately　said　it　would　be　wrong；　and　that
I　should　be　an　encumbrance　and　perplexity；　I　am　making　up　my　mind　to
the　chance。〃

〃But　what　would　you　do？〃　asked　Ethel。

〃I　don't　know。　　You　should　not　ask　such　questions；　Ethel。〃

〃Well！　it　won't　happen；　so　it　is　no　use　to　talk　about　it；〃　said
Ethel。　　〃Fancy　my　having　made　you　cry。〃

〃Very　silly　of　me；〃　said　Meta；　brightening　and　laughing；　but　sighing。
〃I　am　only　afraid　Mrs。　Arnott　may　think　me　individually　unfit　for　the
kind　of　life；　as　if　I　could　not　do　what　other　women　can。　　Do　I　look
so？〃

〃You　look　as　if　you　were　meant　to　be　put　under　a　glass　case！〃　said
Ethel；　surveying　the　little　elegant　figure；　whose　great
characteristic　was　a　look　of　exquisite　finish；　not　only　in　the
features　and　colouring；　the　turn　of　the　head；　and　the　shape　of　the
small　rosy…tipped　fingers；　but　in　everything　she　wore；　from　the
braids　of　black　silk　hair；　to　the　little　shoe　on　her　foot；　and　even
in　the　very　lightness　and　gaiety　of　her　movements。

〃Oh；　Ethel！〃　cried　Meta；　springing　up　in　dismay；　and　looking　at
herself　in　the　glass。　　〃What　is　the　matter　with　me？　　Do　tell　me！〃

〃You'll　never　get　rid　of　it；〃　said　Ethel；　〃unless　you　get　yourself
tattooed！　　Even　separation　from　Bellairs　hasn't　answered。　　And；　after
all；　I　don't　think　it　would　be　any　satisfaction　to　Norman　or　papa。　　I
assure　you；　Meta；　whatever　you　may　think　of　it；　it　is　not　so　much
bother　to　be　prettier　than　needful；　as　it　is　to　be　uglier　than
needful。〃

〃What　is　needful？〃　said　Meta；　much　amused。

〃I　suppose　to　be　like　Mary；　so　that　nobody　should　take　notice　of　one；
but　that　one's　own　people　may　have　the　satisfaction　of　saying；　'she
is　pleasing；'　or　'she　is　in　good　looks。'　　I　think　Gertrude　will　come
to　that。　　That's　one　comfort。〃

〃That　is　your　own　case；　Ethel。　　I　have　heard　those　very　things　said
of　you。〃

〃Of　my　hatchet　face！〃　said　Ethel　contemptuously。　　〃Some　one　must　have
been　desperately　bent　on　flattering　the　Member's　family。〃

〃I　could　repeat　more；〃　said　Meta；　〃if　I　were　to　go　back　to　the
Commemoration；　and　to　the　day　you　went　home。〃

Ethel　crimsoned；　and　made　a　sign　with　her　hand；　exclaiming；　〃Hark！〃

〃It　went　past。〃

〃It　was　the　omnibus。　　She　must　be　walking　down！〃　Ethel　breathed
short；　and　wandered　aimlessly　about；　Meta　put　her　arm　round　her
waist。

〃I　did　not　think　this　would　be　so　much　to　you；〃　she　said。

〃Oh；　Meta；　it　seems　like　dear　mamma　coming　to　see　how　we　have　been
going　on。　　And　then　papa！　　I　wish　I　had　gone　up　to　the　station　with
him。〃

〃He　has　Richard。〃

〃Ay；　but　I　am　afraid　Margaret　is　listening　and　will　be　restless；　and
have　a　palpitation；　and　I　can't　go　and　see；　or　I　shall　disturb　her。
Oh；　I　wish　it　were　over。〃

Meta　stroked　her；　and　soothed　her；　and　assured　her　that　all　would　do
well；　and　presently　they　heard　the　click　of　the　door。　　Ethel　flew
into　the　hall；　where　she　stopped　short；　her　heart　beating　high　at　the
sound　of　overpoweringly　familiar　accents。

She　was　almost　relieved　by　detecting　otherwise　little　resemblance；
the　height　was　nearly　the　same；　but　there　was　not　the　plump　softness
of　outline。　　Mrs。　Arnott　was　small；　thin；　brisk　and　active；　with　a
vivacious　countenance；　once　evidently　very　fair　and　pretty；　but　aged
and　worn　by　toil；　not　trouble；　for　the　furrows　were　the　traces　of
smiles　around　her　merry　mouth；　and　beautiful　blue　eyes；　that　had　a
tendency　lo　laugh　and　cry　both　at　once。　　Dr。　May　who　had　led　her　into
the　light；　seemed　to　be　looking　her　all　over；　while　Richard　was
taking　the　wraps　from　her；　and　Ethel　tried　to　encourage　herself　to　go
forward。

〃Ay！〃　said　the　doctor；　kissing　her。　　〃I　see　you；　Flora；　now。　　I　have
found　you　again。〃

〃I　found　you　as　soon　as　I　heard　your　voice；　Richard；〃　said　she。　　〃And
now　for　the　bairnies。〃

〃Here　is　one；　but　there　is　but　a　poor　show　forthcoming　to…night。　　Do
you　know　her？〃

There　was　an　unspeakable　joy　in　being　pressed　in　Aunt　Flora's　arms；
like　a　returning　beam　from　the　sunshine　of　seven　years　ago。

〃This　must　be　Ethel！　　My　dear；　how　you　tower　above　meyou　that　I
left　in　arms！　　And；〃　as　she　advanced　into　the　drawing…room〃why；
surely　this　is　not　Margaret！〃

〃A　Margaretnot　the　Margaret。　　I　wish　I　were；〃　said　Meta；　as　Mrs。
Arnott　stood　with　an　arm　on　her　shoulder；　in　the　midst　of　an　embrace；
Dr。　May　enjoying　her　perplexity　and　Meta's　blushes。　　〃See；　Flora；
these　black　locks　never　belonged　to　Calton　Hill　daisies；　yet　a　daisy
of　my　own　she　is。　　Can't　you　guess？〃

〃Miss　Rivers！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Arnott；　and　though　she　kissed　her
cordially；　Meta　suspected　a　little　doubt　and　disappointment。

〃Yes；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃We　change　Mary　for　this　little　woman　as
Flora's　lady…in…waiting；　when　she　and　her　husband　go　out　yachting　and
shooling。〃

〃Flora　and　her　husband！　　There's　a　marvellous　sound！　　Where　are
they？〃

〃They　are　staying