the daisy chain, or aspirations-第2章

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and　began　to　mount　the　broad　shallow…stepped　staircase；　protected　by
low　stout　balusters；　with　a　very　thick；　flat；　and　solid　mahogany
hand…rail；　polished　by　the　boys'　constant　riding　up　and　down　upon　it。
She　was　only　on　the　first　step；　when　the　dining…room　door　opened；　and
there　came　out　a　young　man；　slight；　and　delicate…looking；　with　bright
blue　eyes；　and　thickly…curling　light　hair。　　〃Acting　nurse？〃　he　said；
smiling。　　〃What　an　odd　little　face　it　is！　　I　didn't　think　little
white　babies　were　so　pretty！　　Well；　I　shall　always　consider　myself　as
the　real　godfatherthe　other　is　all　a　sham。〃

〃I　think　so；〃　said　Margaret；　〃but　I　must　not　stand　with　her　in　a
draught；〃　and　on　she　went；　while　he　called　after　her。　　〃So　we　are　to
have　an　expedition　to…day。〃

She　did　not　gainsay　it；　but　there　was　a　little　sigh　of　disappoint…
ment；　and　when　she　was　out　of　hearing；　she　whispered；　〃Oh！　lucky
baby；　to　have　so　many　years　to　come　before　you　are　plagued　with
troublesome　propriety！〃

Then　depositing　her　little　charge　with　the　nurse；　and　trying　to　cheer
up　a　solemn…looking　boy　of　three；　who　evidently　considered　his
deposition　from　babyhood　as　a　great　injury；　she　tripped　lightly　down
again；　to　take　part　in　the　Saturday's　reading　and　catechising。

It　was　pleasant　to　see　that　large　family　in　the　hush　and　reverence　of
such　teaching；　the　mother's　gentle　power　preventing　the　outbreaks　of
restlessness　to　which　even　at　such　times　the　wild　young　spirits　were
liable。　　Margaret　and　Miss　Winter　especially　rejoiced　in　it　on　this
occasion；　the　first　since　the　birth　of　the　baby；　that　she　had　been
able　to　preside。　　Under　her；　though　seemingly　without　her　taking　any
trouble；　there　was　none　of　the　smothered　laughing　at　the　little
mistakes；　the　fidgeting　of　the　boys；　or　Harry's　audacious
impertinence　to　Miss　Winter；　and　no　less　glad　was　Harry　to　have　his
mother　there；　and　be　guarded　from　himself。

The　Catechism　was　repeated；　and　a　comment　on　the　Sunday　Services　read
aloud。　　The　Gospel　was　that　on　the　taking　the　lowest　place；　and　when
they　had　finished；　Ethel　said；　〃I　like　the　verse　which　explains　that：


　　　　　　　〃They　who　now　sit　lowest　here；
　　　　　　　　When　their　Master　shall　appear；
　　　　　　　　He　shall　bid　them　higher　rise；
　　　　　　　　And　be　highest　in　the　skies。〃


〃I　did　not　think　of　that　being　the　meaning　of　'when　He　that　bade　thee
cometh；'〃　said　Norman　thoughtfully。

〃It　seemed　to　be　only　our　worldly　advantage　that　was　meant　before；〃
said　Ethel。

〃Well；　it　means　that　too；〃　said　Flora。

〃I　suppose　it　does；〃　said　Mrs。　May；　〃but　the　higher　sense　is　the　one
chiefly　to　be　dwelt　on。　　It　is　a　lesson　how　those　least　known　and
regarded　here；　and　humblest　in　their　own　eyes；　shall　be　the　highest
hereafter。〃

And　Margaret　looked　earnestly　at　her　mother；　but　did　not　speak。

〃May　we　go；　mamma？〃　said　Mary。

〃Yes；　you　threeall　of　you；　indeed；　unless　you　wish　to　say　any
more。〃

The　〃boys〃　availed　themselves　of　the　permission。　　Norman　tarried　to
put　his　books　into　a　neat　leather　case；　and　Ethel　stood　thinking。
〃It　means　altogetherit　is　a　lesson　against　ambition；〃　said　she。

〃True；〃　said　her　mother；　〃the　love　of　eminence　for　its　own　sake。〃

〃And　in　so　many　different　ways！〃　said　Margaret。

〃Ay；　worldly　greatness；　riches；　rank；　beauty；〃　said　Flora。

〃All　sorts　of　false　flash　and　nonsense；　and　liking　to　be　higher　than
one　ought　to　be；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I　am　sure　there　is　nothing　lower；　or
more　mean　and　shabby；　than　getting　places　and　praise　a　fellow　does
not　deserve。〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃　cried　Ethel；　〃but　no　one　fit　to　speak　to　would　do　that！〃

〃Plenty　of　people　do；　I　can　tell　you；〃　said　Norman。

〃Then　I　hope　I　shall　never　know　who　they　are！〃　exclaimed　Ethel。　　〃But
I'll　tell　you　what　I　was　thinking　of；　mamma。　　Caring　to　be　clever；
and　get　on；　only　for　the　sake　of　beating　people。〃

〃I　think　that　might　be　better　expressed。〃

〃I　know；〃　said　Ethel；　bending　her　brow；　with　the　fullness　of　her
thought〃I　mean　caring　to　do　a　thing　only　because　nobody　else　can　do
itwanting　to　be　first　more　than　wanting　to　do　one's　best。〃

〃You　are　quite　right；　my　dear　Ethel；〃　said　her　mother；　〃and　I　am　glad
you　have　found　in　the　Gospel　a　practical　lesson；　that　should　be
useful　to　you　both。　　I　had　rather　you　did　so　than　that　you　read　it　in
Greek；　though　that　is　very　nice　too；〃　she　added；　smiling；　as　she　put
her　hand　on　a　little　Greek　Testament；　in　which　Ethel　had　been　reading
it；　within　her　English　Bible。　　〃Now；　go　and　mend　that　deplorable
frock；　and　if　you　don't　dream　over　it；　you　won't　waste　too　much　of
your　holiday。〃

〃I'll　get　it　done　in　no　time！〃　cried　Ethel；　rushing　headlong
upstairs；　twice　tripping　in　it　before　she　reached　the　attic；　where
she　slept；　as　well　as　Flora　and　Marya　large　room　in　the　roof；　the
windows　gay　with　bird…cages　and　flowers；　a　canary　singing　loud　enough
to　deafen　any　one　but　girls　to　whom　headaches　were　unknown；　plenty　of
books　and　treasures；　and　a　very　fine　view；　from　the　dormer　window；　of
the　town　sloping　downwards；　and　the　river　winding　away；　with　some
heathy　hills　in　the　distance。　　Poking　and　peering　about　with　her
short…sighted　eyes；　Ethel　lighted　on　a　work…basket　in　rare　disorder；
pulled　off　her　frock；　threw　on　a　shawl；　and　sat　down　cross…legged　on
her　bed；　stitching　vigorously；　while　meantime　she　spouted　with　great
emphasis　an　ode　of　Horace；　which　Norman　having　learned　by　heart；　she
had　followed　his　example；　it　being　her　great　desire　to　be　even　with
him　in　all　his　studies；　and　though　eleven　months　younger；　she　had
never　yet　fallen　behind　him。　　On　Saturday；　he　showed　her　what　were
his　tasks　for　the　week；　and　as　soon　as　her　rent　was　repaired；　she
swung　herself　downstairs　in　search　of　him　for　this　purpose。　　She
found　him　in　the　drawing…room；　a　pretty；　pleasant　roomits　only
fault　that　it　was　rather　too　low。　　It　had　windows　opening　down　to　the
lawn；　and　was　full　of　pretty　things；　works　and　knick…knacks。　　Ethel
found　the　state　of　affairs　unfavourable　to　her。　　Norman　was　intent　on
a　book　on　the　sofa；　and　at　the　table　sat　Mr。　Ernescliffe；　hard　at
work　with　calculations　and　mathematical　instruments。　　Ethel　would　not
for　the　world　that　any　one　should　guess　at　her　classical　studiesshe
scarcely　liked　to　believe　that　even　her　father　knew　of　them；　and　to
mention　them　before　Mr。　Ernescliffe　would　have　been　dreadful。　　So　she
only　shoved　Norman；　and　asked　him　to　come。

〃Presently；〃　he　said。

〃What　have　you　here？〃　said　she；　poking　her　head　into　the　book。　　〃Oh！
no　wonder　you　can't　leave　off。　　I've　been　wanting　you　to　read　it　all
the　week。〃

She　read　over　him　a　few　minutes；　then　recoiled：　〃I　forgot；　mamma　told
me　not　to　read　those　stories　in　the　morning。　　Only　five　minutes；
Norman。〃

〃Wait　a　bit；　I'll　come。〃

She　fidgeted；　till　Mr。　Ernescliffe　asked　Norman　if　there　was　a　table
of　logarithms　in　the　house。

〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　answered；　〃don't　you　know；　Norman？　　In　a　brown　book　on
the　upper　shelf　in　the　dining…room。　　Don't　you　remember　papa's
telling　us　the　meaning　of　them；　when　we　had　the　grand　book…dusting？〃

He　was　conscious　of　nothing　but　his　book；　however；　she　found　the
logarithms；　and　brought　them　to　Mr。　Ernescliffe；　staying　to　look　at
his　drawing；　and　asking　what　he　was　making　out。　　He　replied；　smiling
at　the　impossibility　of　her　understanding；　but　she　wrinkled　her　brown
forehead；　hooked　her　long　nose；　and　spent　the　next　hour　in　amateur
navigation。

Market　Stoneborough　was　a　fine　old　town。　　The　Minster；　grand　with　the
architecture　of　the　time　of　Henry　III。；　stood　beside　a　broad　river；
and　round　it　were　the　buildings　of　a　convent；　made　by　a　certain　good
Bishop　Whichcote；　the　nucleus　of　a　grammar　school；　which　had　survived
the　Reformation；　and　trained　up　many　good　scholars；　among　them；　one
of　England's　princely　merchants；　Nicholas　Randall；　whose　effigy　knelt
in　a　niche　in　the　chancel　wall；　scarlet…cloaked；　white…ruffed；　and
black　doubletted；　a　desk　bearing　an　open　Bible　before　him；　and　a
twisted　pillar　of　Derbyshire　spar　on　each　side。　　He　was　the　founder
of　thirteen　almshouses；　and　had　endowed　two　scholarships　at　Oxford；
the　object　of　ambition　of　the　Stoneborough　boys；　every　eighteen
months。

There　were　about　sixty　or　seventy　boarders；　and　the　town　boys　slept
at　home；　and　spent　their　weekly　holiday　there　on　Saturdaythe
happiest　day　in　the　week　to　the　May　family；　when　alone；　they　had　the
company　at　dinner　of　Norman　and　Harry；　otherwise　known　by　their
school　names　of　June　and　July；　given　them　because　their　elder　brother
had　begun　the　series　of　months　as　May。

Some　two　hundred　years　back；　a　Dr。　Thomas　May　had　been　headmaster；
but　ever　since　that　time　there　had　always　been　an　M。　D。；　not　a　D。　D。；
in　the　family；　owning　a　comfortable　demesne　of　spacious　garden；　and
field　enough　for　two　cows；　still　green　and　intact；　among　modern
buildings　and　improvements。

The　present　Dr。　May　stood　very　high　in　his　profession；　and　might　soon
have　made　a　large　fortune　in　London；　had　he　not　held　fast　to　his　home
attachments。　　He　was　extremely　skilful　and　clever；　with　a　boyish
character　that　seemed　as　if　it　could　never　grow　older；　ardent；
sensitive；　and　heedless；　with　a　quickness　of　sympathy　and　tenderness
of　heart　that　was　increased；　rather　than　blunted；　by　exercise　in
scenes　of　suffering。

At　the　end　of　the　previous　summer　holidays；　Dr。　May　had　been　called
one　morning　to　attend　a　gentleman　who　had　been　taken　very　ill；　at　the
Swan　Inn。

He　was　received　by　a　little　boy　of　ten　years　old；　in　much　grief；
explaining　that　his　brother　had　come　two　days　ago　from　London；　to
bring　him　to　school　here；　he　had　seemed　unwell　ever　since　they　met；
and　last　night　had　become　much　worse。　　And　extremely　ill　the　doctor
found　him；　a　youth　of　two　or　three　and　twenty；　suffering　under　a
severe　attack　of　fever；　oppressed；　and　scarcely　conscious；　so　as
quite　to　justify　his　little　brother's　apprehensions。　　He　advised　the
boy　to　write　to　his　family；　but　was　answered　by　a　look　that　went　to
his　heart〃Alan〃　was　all　he　had　in　the　worldfather　and　mother　were
dead；　and　their　relations　lived　in　Scotland；　and　were　hardly　known　to
them。

〃Where　have　you　been　living；　then？〃

〃Alan　sent　me　to　school　at　Miss　Lawler's　when　my　mother　died；　and
there　I　have　been　ever　since；　while　he　has　been　these　three　years　and
a　half　on　the　African　station。〃

〃What；　is　he　in　the　navy？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　boy　proudly；　〃Lieutenant　Ernescliffe。　　He　got　his
promotion　last　week。　　My　father　was　in　the　battle　of　Trafalgar；　and
Alan　has　been　three　years　in　the　West　Indies；　and　then　he　was　in　the
Mediterranean；　and　now　on　the　coast　of　Africa；　in　the　Atalantis。　　You
must　have　heard　about　him；　for　it　was　in　the　newspaper；　how；　when　he
was　mate；　he　had　the　command　of　the　Santa　Isabel；　the　slaver　they
captured。〃

The　boy　would　have　gone　on　for　ever；　if　Dr。　May　had　not　recalled　him
to　his　brother's　present　condition；　and　proceeded　to　take　every
measure　for　the　welfare　and　comfort　of　the　forlorn　pair。　　He　learned
from　other　sources　that　the　Ernescliffes　were　well　connected。　　The
father　had　been　a　distinguished　officer；　but　had　been　ill　able　to
provide　for　his　sons；　indeed；　he　died；　without　ever　having　seen
little　Hector；　who　was　born　during　his　absence　on　a　voyagehis　last；
and　Alan's　first。　　Alan；　the　elder　by