the daisy chain, or aspirations-第142章

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sometimes　think　that　he　might　have　said　something　like　it　to　her。〃

Mrs。　Arnott　gave　no　opinion　on　the　plan　for　Norman　and　Meta；　but
Margaret；　however；　took　all　for　granted；　and　expressed　warm　hopes　for
their　sakes；　that　they　would　go　out　with　Mrs。　Arnott；　then；　when　the
suggestion　seemed　to　astonish　her　aunt；　who　thought　they　were　waiting
for　his　ordination；　she　said；　〃The　fact　is；　that　he　would　like　to　be
ordained　where　he　is　to　work；　but　I　believe　they　do　not　like　to　say
anything　about　the　wedding　because　of　me。　　Now；　of　all　persons；　I
must　chiefly　rejoice　in　what　may　help　to　teach　in　those　islands。　　I
cannot　bear　to　be　a　hindrance。　　Whatever　happens；　Aunt　Flora；　will
you　take　care　that　they　know　this？〃

As　to　her　father；　Margaret　was　at　rest。　　He　had　much　more　calmness
than　when　he　was　more　new　to　grief；　and　could　bear　far　more　patiently
and　hopefully　than　at　first。　　He　lived　more　on　his　affections　above；
and　much　as　he　loved　those　below；　he　did　not　rest　in　them　as　once；
and　could　better　afford　to　have　been　removed。　　〃Besides；〃　said
Margaret　serenely；　〃it　has　been　good　for　him　to　have　been　gradually
weaned　from　depending　on　me；　so　that　it　is　Ethel　who　is　really
necessary　to　him。〃

For　herself；　Margaret　was　perfectly　content　and　happy。　　She　knew　the
temptation　of　her　character　had　been　to　be　the　ruler　and　manager　of
everything；　and　she　saw　it　had　been　well　for　her　to　have　been　thus
assigned　the　part　of　Mary　rather　than　of　Martha。　　She　remembered　with
thankful　joy　the　engagement　with　Alan　Ernescliffe；　and　though　she
still　wore　tokens　of　mourning　for　him；　it　was　with　a　kind　of　pleasure
in　them。　　There　had　been　so　little　promise　of　happiness　from　the
first；　that　there　was　far　more　peace　in　thinking　of　him　as　sinking
into　rest　in　Harry's　arms；　than　as　returning　to　grieve　over　her
decline；　and　that　last　gift　of　his；　the　church；　had　afforded　her
continual　delight；　and　above　all　other　earthly　pursuits；　smoothed
away　the　languor　and　weariness　of　disease；　as　she　slowly　sank　to　join
him。　　Now　that　her　aunt　had　come　to　bring　back　a　sunbeam　of　her
childhood；　Margaret　declared　that　she　had　no　more　grief　or　care；
except　one；　and　that　a　very　deep　and　sad　onenamely　poor　Flora。

Mrs。　Arnott　had　at　first　been　inclined　to　fear　that　her　goddaughter
was　neglecting　her　own　family；　since　she　had　not　been　at　home　this
whole　year；　but　the　slightest　betrayal　of　this　suspicion　roused
Margaret　to　an　eager　defence。　　She　had　not　a　doubt　that　Flora　would
gladly　have　been　with　her；　but　she　believed　that　she　was　not　acting
by　her　own　choice；　or　more　truly；　that　her　husband　was　so　devoted　to
her；　that　she　felt　the　more　bound　to　follow　his　slightest　wishes；
however　contrary　to　her　own。　　The　season　had　been　spent　in　the　same
whirl　that　had；　last　year；　been　almost　beyond　human　power；　even　when
stimulated　by　enjoyment　and　success；　and　now；　when　her　spirits　were
lowered；　and　her　health　weakened；　Meta　had　watched　and　trembled　for
her；　though　never　able　to　obtain　an　avowal　that　it　was　an　overstrain；
and　while　treated　most　affectionately；　never　admitted　within　her
barrier　of　reserve。

〃If　I　could　see　poor　Flora　comforted；　or　if　even　she　would　only　let
me　enter　into　her　troubles；〃　Margaret　said；　sighing；　〃I　should　be
content。〃

The　consecration　day　came　near；　and　the　travellers　began　to　return。
Meta　was　in　a　state　of　restlessness；　which　in　her　was　very　pretty；
under　the　disguise　of　a　great　desire　to　be　useful。　　She　fluttered
about　the　house；　visited　Margaret；　played　with　Gertrude；　set　the
drawing…room　ornaments　to　rightsa　task　which　Ethel　was　very　glad　to
depute　to　her；　and　made　a　great　many　expeditions　into　the　garden　to
put　together　autumn　nosegays　for　the　vasesfinally　discovering　that
Ethel's　potichomanie　vases　on　the　staircase　window　must　have　some　red
and　brown　leaves。

She　did　not　come　back　quite　so　soon　with　them；　and　Mrs。　Arnott；　slyly
looking　out　of　window；　reported；　〃Ha！　he　is　come　then！　　At　least；　I
see　the　little　thing　has　found〃

〃Something　extremely　unlike　itself；〃　said　Dr。　May；　laughing。
〃Something　I　could　easily　set　down　as　a　student　at　Edinburgh；　thirty
years　ago。　　That's　the　very　smile！　　I　remember　dear　Maggie　being　more
angry　than　I　ever　saw　her　before；　because　Mr。　Fleet　said　that　you
smiled　to　show　your　white　teeth。〃

〃That　is　the　best　shadow　of　Maggie　I　ever　saw；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃She
has　taught　the　lad　to　smile。　　That　is　what　I　call　a　pretty　sight！〃

〃Come；　Richard；　it　is　a　shame　for　old　folks　like　us　to　stand　spying
them！〃

〃They　care　very　little　for　me；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃but　I　shall　have　them
in。　　Cold　winds　blowing　about　that　little　head！　　Ah！　here　they　are。
Fine　leaves　you　gather；　miss！　　Very　red　and　brown。〃

Meta　rather　liked；　than　otherwise；　those　pretty　teasings　of　Dr。　May；
but　they　always　made　Norman　colour　extremely；　and　he　parried　them　by
announcing　news。　　〃No；　not　the　Bucephalus；　a　marriage　in　high　life；　a
relation。〃

〃Not　poor　Mary！〃　cried　Ethel。

〃Mary！　what　could　make　you　think　of　her？〃

〃As　a　hen　thinks　of　her　ducklings　when　they　go　into　waters　beyond　her
ken；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Well；　as　long　as　it　is　not　Mary；　I　don't　care！〃

〃High　life！〃　repeated　Meta。　　〃Oh；　it　can　be　only　Agatha　Langdale。〃

〃There's　only　Lord　Cosham　further　to　guess；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Eh！　why　not　young　Ogilvie？〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃I　am　right；　I　see。
Well；　who　is　the　lady？〃

〃A　Miss　Dunbara　nice　girl　that　I　met　at　Glenbracken。　　Her　property
fits　in　with　theirs；　and　I　believe　his　father　has　been　wishing　it　for
a　long　time。〃

〃It　does　not　sound　too　romantic；〃　said　Meta。

〃He　writes　as　if　he　had　the　sense　of　having　been　extremely　dutiful；〃
said　Norman。

〃No　doubt　thinking　it　needful　in　addressing　a　namesake；　who　has　had
an　eye　to　the　main　chance；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃Don't　throw　stones；
young　people。〃

〃Well！〃　exclaimed　Meta；　〃he　did　not　look　as　if　he　would　go　and　do
such　a　stupid　thing　as　that！〃

〃Probably；　it　is　anything　but　a　stupid　thing；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃You　are　using　him　very　ill　among　you；〃　said　Norman　eagerly。　　〃I
believe　her　to　be　excellent　in　every　way；　he　has　known　her　from
childhood；　he　writes　as　if　he　were　perfectly　contented；　and　saw　every
chance　of　happiness。〃

〃None　the　less　for　having　followed　his　father's　wishesI　am　glad　he
did；〃　said　Ethel；　coming　to　her　brother's　side。

〃I　dare　say　you　are　right；〃　was　Meta's　answer；　〃but　I　am　disappointed
in　him。　　He　always　promised　to　come　and　stay　with　you；　and　made　such
friends　at　Oxford；　and　he　never　came。〃

〃I　fancy　there　was　a　good　deal　to　hinder　him；〃　said　Norman；　and；　as
Mrs。　Arnott　proceeded　to　inquiries　after　the　Ogilvies　in　general；　the
master　of　Glenbracken　was　allowed　to　drop。

Meta；　however；　renewed　the　subject　when　walking　to　the　minster　that
evening　with　Norman。

〃You　may　defend　Mr。　Ogilvie；　Norman；　but　it　is　not　what　I　should　have
expected　from　him。　　Why　did　he　make　promises；　and　then　neglect　his
relations？〃

〃I　believe　that　conscientiously　he　did　not　dare　to　come；〃　said
Norman。　　〃I　know　that　he　was　greatly　struck　with　Ethel　at　the　time　of
the　Commemoration；　and　therefore　I　could　never　again　press　him　to
come　here。〃

〃Oh；　Norman；　you　hard…hearted　monster！　　What　a　bad　conductor！〃

〃I　do　not　wish　to　be　a　conductor；〃　said　Norman。　　〃If　you　had　seen
Glenbracken　and　the　old　people；　you　would　perceive　that　it　would　not
have　been　suitable　on　our　part　to　promote　anything　of　the　kind。〃

〃Would　they　have　been　so　violent？〃

〃Not　violent；　but　it　would　have　been　a　severe　struggle。　　They　are
good；　kind　people；　but　with　strong　prejudices；　and；　though　I　have　no
doubt　they　would　have　yielded　to　steady　attachment　on　their　son's
part；　and　such　conduct　as　Ethel's　would　have　been；　I　could　not　lead
in　that　direction。〃

〃Is　that　pride；　Norman？〃

〃I　hope　not。〃

〃It　is　doing　by　others　as　you　were　doing　by　yourself；〃　half　whispered
Meta；　〃but；　after　all；　if　he　had　no　constancy；　Ethel　had　an　escape。〃

〃I　was　afraid　that　she　had　been　rather　touched；　but　I　am　glad　to　find
myself　mistaken。〃

〃If　you　thought　so；　how　could　you　make　such　a　public　announcement？〃

He　laughed。　　〃I　had　made　myself　so　nervous　as　to　the　effect；　that；　in
desperation；　I　took　her　own　way；　and　came　out　at　once　with　it　as
unconsciously　as　I　could。〃

〃Very　naturally　you　acted　unconsciousness！　　It　was　better　than
insulting　her　by　seeming　to　condole。　　Not　that　I　do；　though；　for　she
deserves　more　steadiness　than　he　has　shown！　　If　a　man　could
appreciate　her　at　all；　I　should　have　thought　that　it　would　have　been
once　and　for　ever。〃

〃Remember；　he　had　barely　known　her　a　fortnight；　and　probably　had　no
reason　to　believe　that　he　had　made　any　impression　on　her。　　He　knew
how　such　an　attachment　would　grieve　his　parents；　and；　surely；　he　was
acting　dutifully；　and　with　self…denial　and　consideration；　in　not
putting　himself　in　the　way　of　being　further　attracted。〃

〃Umph！　　You　make　a　good　defence；　Norman；　but　I　cannot　forgive　him　for
marrying　somebody　else；　who　cannot　be　Ethel's　equal。〃

〃She　is　a　good　little　girl；　he　will　form　her；　and　be　very　happy；
perhaps　more　so　than　with　a　great　soul　and　strong　nature　like
Ethel's。〃

〃Only　he　is　a　canny　Scot；　and　not　a　Dr。　Spencer！〃

〃Too　short　acquaintance！　besides；　there　were　the　parents。　　Moreover；
what　would　become　of　home　without　Ethel？〃

〃The　unanswerable　argument　to　make　one　contented；〃　said　Meta。　　And；
certainly；　to　be　wife　to　a　Member　of　Parliament　is　not　so　very
delightful　that　one　would　covet　it　for　her。〃

〃Any　more　than　she　does　for　herself。〃

Norman　was　right　in　his　view　of　his　friend's　motives；　as　well　as　of
Ethel's　present　feelings。　　If　there　had　ever　been　any　disappointment
about　Norman　Ogilvie；　it　had　long　since　faded　away。　　She　had　never
given　away　the　depths　of　her　heart；　though　the　upper　surface　had　been
stirred。　　All　had　long　subsided；　and　she　could　think　freely　of　him　as
an　agreeable　cousin；　in　whose　brilliant　public　career　she　should
always　be　interested；　without　either　a　wish　to　partake　it；　or　a　sense
of　injury　or　neglect。　　She　had　her　vocation；　in　her　father；　Margaret；
the　children；　home；　and　Cocksmoor；　her　mind　and　affections　were
occupied；　and　she　never　thought　of　wishing　herself　elsewhere。

The　new　church　and　the　expected　return　of　her　sisters　engrossed　many
more　of　her　thoughts　than　did　anything　relating　to　Glenbracken。

She　could　not　bear　to　talk　of　Flora；　though　almost　as　uneasy　as　was
Margaret；　and　not　able　to　lay　aside　misgivings；　lest　even　her　good
simple　Mary　might　have　had　her　head　turned　by　gaiety。

Mr。　and　Mrs。　Rivers　arrived　on　the　Saturday　before　the　Tuesday　fixed
for　the　consecration；　and　stopped　on　their　way；　that　they　might　see
Margaret；　deposit　Mary；　and　resume　Meta。

It　was　a　short　visit；　and　all　that　Ethel　could　discover　was；　that
Flora　was　looking　very　ill；　no　longer　able　to　conceal　the　worn　and
fagged　expression　of　her　countenance；　and　evidently　dreadfully
shocked　by　the　sight　of　the　havoc　made　by　disease　on　Margaret's
frame。　　Yet　she　talked　with　composure　of　indifferent　subjectsthe
yacht；　the　visits；　the　Bucephalus；　the　church；　and　the　arrangements
for　St。　Andrew's　Day。　　She　owned　herself　overworked；　and　in　need　of
rest；　and；　as　she　was　not　well　enough　to　venture　on　being　present　at