the daisy chain, or aspirations-第143章

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rest；　and；　as　she　was　not　well　enough　to　venture　on　being　present　at
the　consecration；　she　undertook　to　spend　the　day　with　Margaret；　thus
setting　the　others　at　liberty。　　This　settled；　she　took　her　leave；　for
the　journey　had　fatigued　her　greatly。

During　the　short　visit；　Mary　had　moved　and　spoken　so　quietly；　and
looked　so　well…dressed　and　young…lady…like；　that；　in　spite　of　her
comfortable　plump　cheeks；　Ethel　felt　quite　afraid！

But　the　instant　the　carriage　had　driven　off；　there　was　a　skipping；　a
hugging；　a　screaming；　〃Oh；　it　is　so　nice　to　be　at　home　again！〃and
Ethel　knew　she　had　her　own　Mary。　　It　was　only　a　much　better　looking
and　more　mannerly　Mary；　in　the　full　bloom　of　seventeen；　open　and
honest…faced；　her　profuse　light　hair　prettily　disposed；　her　hands　and
arms　more　civilised；　and　her　powers　of　conversation　and　self…
possession　developed。　　Mary…like　were　her　caresses　of　Gertrude；　Mary…
like　her　inquiries　for　Cocksmoor；　Mary…like　her　insisting　on　bringing
her　boxes　into　Margaret's　room；　her　exulting　exhibition　of　all　the
pretty　things　that　Flora　and　George　had　given　to　her；　and　the　still
more　joyous　bestowal　of　presents　upon　everybody。

Her　tastes　were　not　a　whit　altered；　nor　her　simplicity　diminished。
If　she　was　pleased　by　joining　a　large　dinner…party；　her　satisfaction
was　in　the　amusement　of　seeing　well…dressed　people；　and　a　grand
table；　her　knowledge　of　the　world　only　reached　to　pronouncing
everything　unlike　home；　〃so　funny；〃　she　had　relished　most　freshly　and
innocently　every　pleasure　that　she　could　understand；　she　had　learned
every　variety　of　fancy　work　to　teach　Blanche　and　Miss　Bracy；　had　been
the　delight　of　every　schoolroom　and　nursery；　had　struck　up　numberless
eternal　friendships；　and　correspondences　with　girls　younger　and　shyer
than　herself；　and　her　chief　vexations　seemed　to　have　been　first；　that
Flora　insisted　on　her　being　called　Miss　May；　secondly；　that　all　her
delights　could　not　be　shared　by　every　one　at　home；　and　thirdly；　that
poor　Flora　could　not　bear　to　look　at　little　children。

Grievous　complaints　were　preferred　by　the　dwellers　in　the　attics　the
next　morning；　that　Mary　and　Blanche　had　talked　to　an　unmentionable
hour　of　the　night；　but；　on　the　whole；　Blanche　was　rather　doubtful
whether　Mary　had　made　the　most　of　her　opportunities　of　observation。




CHAPTER　XXV。



Behold；　with　pearls　they　glittering　stand；
Thy　peaceful　gates　to　all　expand；
By　grace　and　strength　divinely　shed；
Each　mortal　thither　may　be　led；
Who；　kindled　by　Christ's　love；　will　dare
All　earthly　sufferings　now　to　bear。

By　many　a　salutary　stroke；
By　many　a　weary　blow；　that　broke；
Or　polished；　with　a　workman's　skill；
The　stones　that　form　that　glorious　pile；
They　all　are　fitly　framed　to　lie
In　their　appointed　place　on　high。
　　　　　　　　Ancient　Hymn　for　the　Dedication　of　a　Church。


The　thirtieth　of　November　dawned　with　the　grave　brightness　of　an
autumn　day；　as　the　sun　slowly　mounted　from　the　golden　east；　drinking
up　the　mists　that　rose　tardily；　leaving　the　grass　thickly　bedewed。

The　bells　of　Stoneborough　Minster　were　ringing　gladsome　peals；　and
the　sunshine　had　newly　touched　the　lime　trees；　whose　last　bright
yellow　leaves　were　gently　floating　down；　as　the　carriage；　from　the
Grange；　drew　up　at　Dr。　May's　door。

Norman　opened　it；　to　claim　Meta　at　once　for　the　walk；　Mrs。　Arnott　and
Mary　had　gone　on　to　assist　Richard　in　his　final　arrangements；　but
even　before　Cocksmoor；　with　Ethel；　was　now　the　care　of　Margaret；　and
she　had　waited　with　her　father　to　keep　all　bustle　from　her　room；　and
to　commit　her　into　the　charge　of　Flora　and　of　nurse。　　Ethel　seemed
quite　unwilling　to　go。　　There　was　that　strange　oppressed　feeling　on
her　as　if　the　attainment　of　her　wishes　were　joy　too　great　to　be　real…
…as　if　she　would　fain　hold　off　from　it　at　the　climax；　and　linger　with
the　sister　who　had　shared　all　with　her；　and　to　whom　that　church　was
even　more　than　to　herself。　　She　came　back；　and　back　again；　with　fresh
injunctions；　sometimes　forgetting　the　very　purpose　of　her　return；　as
if　it　had　been　only　an　excuse　for　looking　at　Margaret's　countenance；
and　drinking　in　her　sympathy　from　her　face；　but　she　was　to　go　in
George's　carriage；　and　he　was　not　a　man　to　allow　of　loitering。　　He
became　so　impatient　of　Ethel's　delays；　that　she　perceived　that　he
could　bear　them　no　longer；　gave　her　final　kiss；　and　whispered；　〃In
spirit　with　us！〃　then　ran　down　and　was　seized　on　by　George；　who　had
already　packed　in　the　children　and　Miss　Bracy；　and　was　whirled　away。

〃Flora　dear；〃　said　Margaret；　〃do　you　dislike　having　the　window
opened？〃

Flora　threw　it　up；　protesting；　in　reply　to　her　sister's　scruples；
that　she　liked　the　air。　　〃You　always　spoiled　me；〃　said　Margaret
fondly。　　〃Come　and　lie　down　by　me。　　It　is　very　nice　to　have　you
here；〃　she　added；　as　Flora　complied；　and　she　took　her　hand　and
fondled　it；　〃It　is　like　the　old　times　to　have　you　here　taking　care　of
me。〃

〃Very　unlike　them　in　some　ways；〃　said　Flora。

〃It　has　been　a　great　renewal　of　still　older　times；〃　said　Margaret；
〃to　have　Aunt　Flora　here。　　I　hope　you　will　get　to　know　her；　　Flora；
it　is　so　like　having　mamma　here；〃　and　she　looked　in　her　sister's　face
as　she　spoke。

Flora　did　not　reply；　but　she　lay　quite　still；　as　if　there　were　a
charm　in　the　perfect　rest　of　being　alone　with　Margaret；　making　no
effort；　and　being　able　to　be　silent。　　Time　passed　on；　how　long　they
knew　not；　but；　suddenly；　a　thrill　shot　through　Margaret's　frame；　she
raised　her　hand　and　lifted　her　head；　with　an　eager　〃Hark！〃

Flora　could　hear　nothing。

〃The　bellshis　bells！〃　said　Margaret；　all　one　radiant　look　of
listening；　as　Flora　opened　the　window　further；　and　the　breeze　wafted
in　the　chime；　softened　by　distance。　　The　carnation　tinted　those　thin
white　cheeks；　eyes　and　smile　beamed　with　joy；　and　uplifted　finger　and
parted　lips　seemed　marking　every　note　of　the　cadence。

It　ceased。　〃Alan！　Alan！〃　said　she。　　〃It　is　enough！　　I　am　ready！〃

The　somewhat　alarmed　look　on　Flora's　face　recalled　her；　and；　smiling；
she　held　out　her　hands　for　the　consecration　books；　saying；　〃Let　us
follow　the　service。　　It　will　be　best　for　us　both。〃

Slowly；　softly；　and　rather　monotonously；　Flora　read　on；　till　she　had
come　more　than　half　through　the　first　lesson。　　Her　voice　grew　husky；
and　she　sometimes　paused　as　if　she　could　not　easily　proceed。
Margaret　begged　her　to　stop；　but　she　would　not　cease；　and　went　on
reading；　though　almost　whispering；　till　she　came　to；　〃If　they　return
to　Thee　with　all　their　heart　and　with　all　their　soul　in　the　land　of
their　captivity；　whither　they　have　carried　them　captives；　and　pray
toward　their　land；　which　Thou　gavest　unto　their　fathers；　and　toward
the　City　which　Thou　hast　chosen；　and　toward　the　House　which　I　have
built　for　Thy　Name；　then　hearing　from　the　Heavens；　even　from　Thy
dwelling…place〃

Flora　could　go　no　further；　she　strove；　but　one　of　her　tearless　sobs
cut　her　short。　　She　turned　her　face　aside；　and；　as　Margaret　began　to
say　something　tender；　she　exclaimed；　with　low；　hasty　utterance；
〃Margaret！　　Margaret！　pray　for　me；　for　it　is　a　hard　captivity；　and　my
heart　is　very；　very　sore。　　Oh！　pray　for　me；　that　it　may　all　be
forgiven　meand　that　I　may　see　my　child　again！〃

〃My　Flora；　my　own　poor；　dear　Flora！　do　I　not　pray？　　Oh！　look　up；　look
up。　　Think　how　He　loves　you。　　If　I　love　you　so　much；　how　much　more
does　not　He？　　Come　near　me；　Flora。　　Be　patient；　and　I　know　peace　will
come！〃

The　words　had　burst　from　Flora　uncontrollably。　　She　was　aware；　the
next　instant；　that　she　had　given　way　to　harmful　agitation；　and；
resuming　her　quiescence；　partly　by　her　own　will；　partly　from　the
soothing　effect　of　Margaret's　words　and　tone；　she　allowed　herself　to
be　drawn　close　to　her　sister；　and　hid　her　face　in　the　pillow；　while
Margaret's　hands　were　folded　over　her；　and　words　of　blessing　and
prayer　were　whispered　with　a　fervency　that　made　them　broken。

Ethel；　meanwhile；　stood　between　Aubrey　and　Gertrude；　hardly　able　to
believe　it　was　not　a　dream；　as　she　beheld　the　procession　enter　the
aisle；　and　heard　the　psalm　that　called　on　those　doors　to　lift　up
their　heads　for　Him　who　should　enter。　　There　was　an　almost　bewildered
feelingcould　it　indeed　be　true；　as　she　followed　the　earlier　part　of
the　service；　which　set　apart　that　building　as　a　temple　for　ever；
separate　from　all　common　uses。　　She　had　imagined　the　scene　so　often
that　she　could　almost　have　supposed　the　present；　one　of　her　many
imaginations；　but；　by　and　by；　the　strangeness　passed　off；　and　she　was
able　to　enter　into；　not　merely　to　follow；　the　prayers；　and　to　feel
the　deep　thanksgiving　that　such　had　been　the　crown　of　her　feeble
efforts。　　Margaret　was　in　her　mind　the　whole　time；　woven；　as　it　were；
into　every　supplication　and　every　note　of　praise；　and　when　there　came
the　intercession　for　those　in　sickness　and　suffering；　flowing　into
the　commemoration　of　those　departed　in　faith　and　fear；　Ethel's　spirit
sank　for　a　moment　at　the　conviction　that　soon　Margaret；　like　him；
whom　all　must　bear　in　mind　on　that　day；　might　be　included　in　that
thanksgiving；　yet；　as　the　service　proceeded；　leaving　more　and　more　of
earth　behind；　and　the　voices　joined　with　angel　and　archangel；　Ethel
could　lose　the　present　grief；　and　only　retain　the　certainty　that；
come　what　might；　there　was　joy　and　union　amid　those　who　sung　that
hymn　of　praise。　　Never　had　Ethel　been　so　happynot　in　the　sense　of
the　finished　workno；　she　had　lost　all　that；　but　in　being　more
carried　out　of　herself　than　ever　she　had　been　before；　the　free　spirit
of　praise　so　bearing　up　her　heart　that　the　cry　of　glory　came　from　her
with　such　an　exultant　gladness；　as　might　surely　be　reckoned　as　one　of
those　foretastes　of　our　everlasting　life；　not　often　vouchsafed　even
to　the　faithful；　and　usually　sent　to　prepare　strength　for　what　may　be
in　store。

The　blessing　brought　the　sense　of　peace；　which　hung　on　her　even　while
the　sounds　of　movement　began；　and　the　congregation　were　emerging。　　As
she　came　out；　greetings；　sentences　of　admiration　of　the　church；　and
of　inquiry　for　her　absent　sisters；　were　crowded　upon　her；　as　people
moved　towards　the　school；　where　a　luncheon　was　provided　for　them；　to
pass　away　the　interval　until　evening　service。　　The　half…dozen　oldest
Cocksmoorites　were；　meantime；　to　have　a　dinner　in　the　former
schoolroom；　at　the　Elwoods'　house；　and　Ethel　was　anxious　so　see　that
all　was　right　there；　so；　while　the　rest　of　her　party　were　doing　civil
things；　she　gave　her　arm　to　Cherry；　whose　limping　walk　showed　her　to
be　very　tired。

〃Oh；　Miss　Ethel！〃　said　Cherry；　〃if　Miss　May　could　only　have　been
here！〃

〃Her　heart　is；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Well；　ma'am；　I　believe　it　is。　　You　would　not　think；　ma'am；　how　all
the　children　take　heed　to　anything　about　her。　　If　I　only　begin　to　say
'Miss　May　told　me'　they　are　all　like　mice。〃

〃She　has　done　more　for　the　real　good　of　Cocksmoor　than　any　one　else；〃
said　Ethel。

More　might　have　been　said；　but　they　perceived　that　they　were　being
overtaken　by　the　body　of　clergy；　who　had　been　unrobing　in　the　vestry。
Ethel　hastened　to　retreat　within　Mrs。　Elwood's　wicket　gate；　but　she
was　arrested　by　Richard；　and　found　herself　being　presented　to　the
bishop；　and　the　bishop　shaking　hands　with　her；　and　saying　that　he　had
much　wished　to