the daisy chain, or aspirations-第17章

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Norman；　but　she　found　him　with　his　head　sunk　on　his　open　book；　fast
asleep。　　At　dinner…time；　Harry　and　Tom；　rushing　in；　awoke　him　with　a
violent　start。

〃Halloo！　Norman；　that　was　a　jump！〃　said　Harry；　as　his　brother
stretched　and　pinched　himself。　　〃You'll　jump　out　of　your　skin　some　of
these　days；　if　you　don't　take　care！〃

〃It's　enough　to　startle　any　one　to　be　waked　up　with　such　a　noise；〃
said　Ethel。

〃Then　he　ought　to　sleep　at　proper　times；〃　said　Harry；　〃and　not　be
waking　me　up　with　tumbling　about；　and　hallooing　out；　and　talking　in
his　sleep　half　the　night。〃

〃Talking　in　his　sleep！　why；　just　now；　you　said　he　did　not　sleep；〃
said　Ethel。

〃Harry　knows　nothing　about　it；〃　said　Norman。

〃Don't　I？　Well；　I　only　know；　if　you　slept　in　school；　and　were　a
junior；　you　would　get　a　proper　good　licking　for　going　on　as　you　do　at
night。〃

〃And　I　think　you　might　chance　to　get　a　proper　good　licking　for　not
holding　your　tongue；〃　said　Norman；　which　hint　reduced　Harry　to
silence。

Dr。　May　was　not　come　home；　he　had　gone　with　Richard　far　into　the
country；　and　was　to　return　to　tea。　　He　was　thought　to　be　desirous　of
avoiding　the　family　dinners　that　used　to　be　so　delightful。　　Harry　was
impatient　to　depart；　and　when　Mary　and　Tom　ran　after　him；　he　ordered
them　back。

〃Where　can　he　be　going？〃　said　Mary；　as　she　looked　wistfully　after
him。

〃I　know；〃　said　Tom。

〃Where？　　Do　tell　me。〃

〃Only　don't　tell　papa。　　I　went　down　with　him　to　the　playground　this
morning；　and　there　they　settled　it。　　The　Andersons；　and　Axworthy；　and
he；　are　going　to　hire　a　gun；　and　shoot　pee…wits　on　Cocksmoor。〃

But　they　ought　not；　should　they？〃　said　Mary。　　Papa　would　be　very
angry。〃

Anderson　said　there　was　no　harm　in　it；　but　Harry　told　me　not　to　tell。
Indeed；　Anderson　would　have　boxed　my　ears　for　hearing；　when　I　could
not　help　it。〃

〃But　Harry　would　not　let　him？〃

〃Ay。　　Harry　is　quite　a　match　for　Harvey　Anderson；　though　he　is　so
much　younger；　and　he　said　he　would　not　have　me　bullied。〃

〃That's　a　good　Harry！　　But　I　wish　he　would　not　go　out　shooting！〃　said
Mary。

〃Mind；　you　don't　tell。〃

〃And　where's　Hector　Ernescliffe？　　Would　not　he　go？〃

〃No。　　I　like　Hector。　　He　did　not　choose　to　go；　though　Anderson　teased
him；　and　said　he　was　a　poor　Scot；　and　his　brother　didn't　allow　him
tin　enough　to　buy　powder　and　shot。　　If　Harry　would　have　stayed　at
home；　he　would　have　come　up　here；　and　we　might　have　had　some　fun　in
the　garden。〃

〃I　wish　he　would。　　We　never　have　any　fun　now；〃　said　Mary；　〃but　oh！
there　he　is；〃　as　she　spied　Hector　peeping　over　the　gate　which　led
from　the　field　into　the　garden。　　It　was　the　first　time　that　he　had
been　to　Dr。　May's　since　his　brother's　departure；　and　he　was　rather
shy；　but　the　joyful　welcome　of　Mary　and　Tom　took　off　all　reluctance；
and　they　claimed　him　for　a　good　game　at　play　in　the　wood…house。　　Mary
ran　upstairs　to　beg　to　be　excused　the　formal　walk；　and；　luckily　for
her；　Miss　Winter　was　in　Margaret's　room。　　Margaret　asked　if　it　was
very　wet　and　dirty；　and　hearing　〃not　very；〃　gave　gracious　permission；
and　off　went　Mary　and　Blanche　to　construct　some　curious　specimens　of
pottery；　under　the　superintendence　of　Hector　and　Tom。　　There　was　a
certain　ditch　where　yellow　mud　was　attainable；　whereof　the　happy
children　concocted　marbles　and　vases；　which　underwent　a　preparatory
baking　in　the　boys'　pockets；　that　they　might　not　crack　in　the　nursery
fire。　　Margaret　only　stipulated　that　her　sisters　should　be　well
fenced　in　brown　holland；　and　when　Miss　Winter　looked　grave；　said；
〃Poor　things；　a　little　thorough　play　will　do　them　a　great　deal　of
good。〃

Miss　Winter　could　not　see　the　good　of　groping　in　the　dirt；　and
Margaret　perceived　that　it　would　be　one　of　her　difficulties　to　know
how　to　follow　out　her　mother's　views　for　the　children；　without　vexing
the　good　governess　by　not　deferring　to　her。

In　the　meantime；　Norman　had　disconsolately　returned　to　his　Euripides；
and　Ethel；　who　wanted　to　stay　with　him　and　look　out　his　words；　was
ordered　out　by　Miss　Winter；　because　she　had　spent　all　yesterday
indoors。　　Miss　Winter　was　going　to　stay　with　Margaret；　and　Ethel　and
Flora　coaxed　Norman　to　come　with　them；　〃just　one　mile　on　the　turnpike
road　and　back　again；　he　would　be　much　fresher　for　his　Greek
afterwards。〃

He　came；　but　he　did　not　enliven　his　sisters。　　The　three　plodded　on；
taking　a　diligent　constitutional　walk；　exchanging　very　few　words；　and
those　chiefly　between　the　girls。　　Flora　gathered　some　hoary　clematis；
and　red　berries；　and　sought　in　the　hedge…sides　for　some　crimson
〃fairy　baths〃　to　carry　home；　and；　at　the　sight　of　the　amusement
Margaret　derived　from　the　placing　the　beauteous　little　Pezizas　in　a
saucer　of　damp　green　moss；　so　as　to　hide　the　brown　sticks　on　which
they　grew；　Ethel　took　shame　to　herself　for　want　of　perception　of
little　attentions。　　When　she　told　Norman　so；　he　answered；　〃There's　no
one　who　does　see　what　is　the　right　thing。　　How　horrid　the　room　looks！
Everything　is　nohow！〃　added　he；　looking　round　at　the　ornaments　and
things　on　the　tables；　which　had　lost　their　air　of　comfort　and　good
taste。　　It　was　not　disorder；　and　Ethel　could　not　see　what　he　meant。
〃What's　wrong？〃　said　she。

〃Oh；　never　mindyou　can't　do　it。　　Don't　tryyou'll　only　make　it
worse。　　It　will　never　be　the　same　as　long　as　we　live。〃

〃I　wish　you　would　not　be　so　unhappy！〃　said　Ethel。

〃Never　mind；〃　again　said　Norman；　but　he　put　his　arm　round　her。

〃Have　you　done　your　Euripides？　　Can　I　help　you？　　Will　you　construe　it
with　me；　or　shall　I　look　out　your　words？〃

〃Thank　you；　I　don't　mind　that。　　It　is　the　verses！　　I　want　some
sense！〃　said　Norman；　running　his　fingers　through　his　hair　till　it
stood　on　end。　〃'Tis　such　a　horrid　subject；　Coral　Islands！　　As　if
there　was　anything　to　be　said　about　them。〃

〃Dear　me；　Norman；　I　could　say　ten　thousand　things；　only　I　must　not
tell　you　what　mine　are；　as　yours　are　not　done。〃

〃No；　don't；〃　said　Norman　decidedly。

〃Did　you　read　the　description　of　them　in　the　Quarterly？　　I　am　sure
you　might　get　some　ideas　there。　　Shall　I　find　it　for　you？　　It　is　in
an　old　number。〃

〃Well；　do；　thank　you。〃

He　rested　listlessly　on　the　sofa　while　his　sister　rummaged　in　a
chiffonier。　　At　last　she　found　the　article；　and　eagerly　read　him　the
description　of　the　strange　forms　of　the　coral　animals；　and　the
beauties　of　their　flower…like　feelers　and　branching　fabrics。　　It
would　once　have　delighted　him；　but　his　first　comment　was；　〃Nasty
little　brutes！〃　　However；　the　next　minute　he　thanked　her；　took　the
book；　and　said　he　could　hammer　something　out　of　it；　though　it　was　too
bad　to　give　such　an　unclassical　subject。　　At　dusk　he　left　off；　saying
he　should　get　it　done　at　night；　his　senses　would　come　then；　and　he
should　be　glad　to　sit　up。

〃Only　three　weeks　to　the　holidays；〃　said　Ethel；　trying　to　be
cheerful；　but　his　assent　was　depressing；　and　she　began　to　fear　that
Christmas　would　only　make　them　more　sad。

Mary　did　not　keep　Tom's　secret　so　inviolably；　but　that；　while　they
were　dressing　for　tea；　she　revealed　to　Ethel　where　Harry　was　gone。
He　was　not　yet　returned；　though　his　father　and　Richard　were　come　in；
and　the　sisters　were　at　once　in　some　anxiety　on　his　account；　and
doubt　whether　they　ought　to　let　papa　know　of　his　disobedience。

Flora　and　Ethel；　who　were　the　first　in　the　drawing…room；　had　a
consultation。

〃I　should　have　told　mamma　directly；〃　said　Flora。

〃He　never　did　so；〃　sighed　Ethel；　〃things　never　went　wrong　then。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　they　did；　don't　you　remember　how　naughty　Harry　was　about
climbing　the　wall；　and　making　faces　at　Mrs。　Richardson's　servants？〃

〃And　how　ill　I　behaved　the　first　day　of　last　Christmas　holidays？〃

〃She　knew；　but　I　don't　think　she　told　papa。〃

〃Not　that　we　knew　of；　but　I　believe　she　did　tell　him　everything；　and
I　think；　Flora；　he　ought　to　know　everything；　especially　now。　　I　never
could　bear　the　way　the　Mackenzies　used　to　have　of　thinking　their
parents　must　be　like　enemies；　and　keeping　secrets　from　them。〃

〃They　were　always　threatening　each　other；　'I'll　tell　mamma；'〃　said
Flora；　〃and　calling　us　tell…tales　because　we　told　our　own　dear　mamma
everything。　　But　it　is　not　like　that　nowI　neither　like　to　worry
papa；　nor　to　bring　Harry　into　disgracebesides；　Tom　and　Mary　meant
it　for　a　secret。〃

〃Papa　would　not　be　angry　with　him　if　we　told　him　it　was　a　secret；〃
said　Ethel；　〃I　wish　Harry　would　come　in。　　There's　the　dooroh！　it　is
only　you。〃

〃Whom　did　you　expect？〃　said　Richard；　entering。

The　sisters　looked　at　each　other；　and　Ethel；　after　an　interval；
explained　their　doubts　about　Harry。

〃He　is　come　in；〃　said　Richard；　〃I　saw　him　running　up　to　his　own　room；
very　muddy。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　glad！　　But　do　you　think　papa　ought　to　hear　it？　　I　don't　know
what's　to　be　done。　　'Tis　the　children's　secret；〃　said　Flora。

〃It　will　never　do　to　have　him　going　out　with　those　boys　continually；〃
said　Ethel〃Harvey　Anderson　close　by　all　the　holidays！〃

〃I'll　try　what　I　can　do　with　him；〃　said　Richard。　　〃Papa　had　better
not　hear　it　now；　at　any　rate。　　He　is　very　tired　and　sad　this　evening！
and　his　arm　is　painful　again；　so　we　must　not　worry　him　with　histories
of　naughtiness　among　the　children。〃

〃No；〃　said　Ethel　decidedly；　〃I　am　glad　you　were　there；　Ritchie；　I
never　should　have　thought　of　one　time　being　better　than　another。〃

〃Just　like　Ethel！〃　said　Flora；　smiling。

〃Why　should　not　you　learn？〃　said　Richard　gently。

〃I　can't；〃　said　Ethel；　in　a　desponding　way。

〃Why　not？　　You　are　much　sharper　than　most　people；　and；　if　you　tried；
you　would　know　those　things　much　better　than　I　do；　as　you　know　how　to
learn　history。〃

〃It　is　quite　a　different　sort　of　cleverness；〃　said　Flora。　　〃Recollect
Sir　Isaac　Newton；　or　Archimedes。〃

〃Then　you　must　have　both　sorts；〃　said　Ethel；　〃for　you　can　do　things
nicely；　and　yet　you　learn　very　fast。〃

〃Take　care；　Ethel；　you　are　singeing　your　frock！　　Well；　I　really　don't
think　you　can　help　those　things！〃　said　Flora。　　〃Your　short　sight　is
the　reason　of　it；　and　it　is　of　no　use　to　try　to　mend　it。〃

〃Don't　tell　her　so；〃　said　Richard。　　〃It　can't　be　all　short　sightit
is　the　not　thinking。　　I　do　believe　that　if　Ethel　would　think；　no　one
would　do　things　so　well。　　Don't　you　remember　the　beautiful
perspective　drawing　she　made　of　this　room　for　me　to　take　to　Oxford？
That　was　very　difficult；　and　wanted　a　great　deal　of　neatness　and
accuracy；　so　why　should　she　not　be　neat　and　accurate　in　other　things？
And　I　know　you　can　read　faces；　Ethelwhy　don't　you　look　there　before
you　speak？〃

〃Ah！　before　instead　of　after；　when　I　only　see　I　have　said　something
malapropos；〃　said　Ethel。

〃I　must　go　and　see　about　the　children；〃　said　Flora；　〃if　the　tea　comes
while　I　am　gone；　will　you　make　it；　Ritchie？〃

〃Flora　despairs　of　me；〃　said　Ethel。

〃I　don't；〃　said　Richard。　　〃Have　you　forgotten　how　to　put　in　a　pin
yet？〃

〃No；　I　hope　not。〃

〃Well；　then；　see　if　you　can't　learn　to　make　tea；　and；　by…the…bye；
Ethel；　which　is　the　next　christening　Sunday？〃

〃The　one　after　next；　surely。　　The　first　of　December　is　Mondayyes；
to…morrow　week　is　the　next。〃

〃Then　I　have　thought　of　something；　it　would　cost　eighteenpence　to
hire　Joliffe's　spring…cart；　and　we　might　have　Mrs。　Taylor　and　the
twins　brought　to　church　in　it。　　Should　you　like　to　walk　to　Cocksmoor