the daisy chain, or aspirations-第22章

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father；　scarcely　less　fondness　to　his　sweet　motherly　sister；　a
clinging　feeling　to　every　chair　and　table　of　that　room；　which　seemed
still　full　of　his　mother's　presence；　a　numbering　over　of　all　the
others　with　ardent　attachment；　and　a　flinging　from　him　with　horror
the　notion　of　asking　to　be　far　away　from　that　dearest　father；　that
loving　home；　that　arm　that　was　round　him。　　Anything　rather　than　be
without　them　in　the　dreary　world！　　But　then　came　the　remembrance　of
cherished　visions；　the　shame　of　relinquishing　a　settled　purpose；　the
thought　of　weary　morrows；　with　the　tempters　among　his　playmates；　and
his　home　blank　and　melancholy；　and　the　roaming　spirit　of　enterprise
stirred　again；　and　reproached　him　with　being　a　baby；　for　fancying　he
could　stay　at　home　for　ever。　　He　would　come　back　again　with　such
honours　as　Allan　Ernescliffe　had　brought；　and　oh！　if　his　father　so
prized　them　in　a　stranger；　what　would　it　be　in　his　own　son？　　Come
home　to　such　a　greeting　as　would　make　up　for　the　parting！　　Harry's
heart　throbbed　again　for　the　boundless　sea；　the　tall　ship；　and　the
wondrous　foreign　climes；　where　he　had　so　often　lived　in　fancy。
Should　he；　could　he　speak：　was　this　the　moment？　and　he　stood　gazing
at　the　fire；　oppressed　with　the　weighty　reality　of　deciding　his
destiny。　　At　last　Dr。　May　looked　in　his　face；　〃Well；　what　now；　boy？
You　have　your　head　full　of　somethingwhat's　coming　next？〃

Out　it　came；　〃Papa　will　you　let　me　be　a　sailor？〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃that　is　come　on　again；　is　it？　　I　thought　that
you　had　forgotten　all　that。〃

〃No；　papa；〃　said　Harry；　with　the　manly　coolness　that　the　sense　of　his
determination　gave　him〃it　was　not　a　mere　fancy；　and　I　have　never
had　it　out　of　my　head。　　I　mean　it　quite　in　earnestI　had　rather　be　a
sailor。　　I　don't　wish　to　get　away　from　Latin　and　Greek；　I　don't　mind
them；　but　I　think　I　could　be　a　better　sailor　than　anything。　　I　know
it　is　not　all　play；　but　I　am　willing　to　rough　it；　and　I　am　getting　so
old；　it　is　time　to　see　about　it；　so　will　you　consent　to　it；　papa？〃

〃Well！　there's　some　sense　in　your　way　of　putting　it；〃　said　Dr。　May。
〃You　have　it　strong　in　your　head　then；　and　you　know　'tis　not　all
fair…weather　work！〃

〃That　I　do；　Alan　told　me　histories；　and　I've　read　all　about　it；　but
one　must　rough　it　anywhere；　and　if　I　am　ever　so　far　away；　I'll　try
not　to　forget　what's　right。　　I'll　do　my　duty；　and　not　care　for
danger。〃

〃Well　said；　my　man；　but　remember　'tis　easier　talking　by　one's　own
fireside　than　doing　when　the　trial　comes。〃

〃And　will　you　let　me；　papa？〃

〃I'll　think　about　it。　　I　can't　make　up　my　mind　as　'quick　as
directly；'　you　know；　Harry；〃　said　his　father；　smiling　kindly；　〃but　I
won't　treat　it　as　a　boy's　fancy；　for　you've　spoken　in　a　manly　way；
and　deserve　to　be　attended　to。　　Now　run　down；　and　tell　the　girls　to
put　away　their　work；　for　I　shall　come　down　in　a　minute　to　read
prayers。〃

Harry　went；　and　his　father　sighed　and　mused！　　〃That's　a　fine　fellow！
So　this　is　what　comes　of　bringing　sick　sailors　homeone's　own　boys
must　be　catching　the　infection。　　Little　monkey；　he　talks　as　wisely　as
if　he　were　forty！　　He　is　really　set　on　it；　do　you　think；　Margaret？
I'm　afraid　so！〃

〃I　think　so；〃　said　Margaret；　〃I　don't　think　he　ever　has　it　out　of　his
mind！〃

〃And　when　the　roving　spirit　once　lays　hold　of　a　lad；　he　must　have　his
wayhe　is　good　for　nothing　else；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃I　suppose　a　man　may　keep　from　evil　in　that　profession　as　well　as　in
any　other；〃　said　Margaret。

〃Aha！　you　are　bit　too；　are　you？〃　said　the　doctor；　〃'tis　the
husbandman　and　viper；　is　it？〃　　Then　his　smile　turned　into　a　heavy
sigh；　as　he　saw　he　had　brought　colour　to　Margaret's　pale　cheek；　but
she　answered　calmly；　〃Dear　mamma　did　not　think　it　would　be　a　bad
thing　for　him。〃

〃I　know；〃　said　the　doctor；　pausing；　〃but　it　never　came　to　this　with
her。〃

〃I　wish　he　had　chosen　something　else；　but〃　and　Margaret　thought　it
right　to　lay　before　her　father　some　part　of　what　he　had　said　of　the
temptations　of　the　school　at　Stoneborough。　　The　doctor　listened　and
considered　at　last　he　rose；　and　said；　〃Well；　I'll　set　Ritchie　to
write　to　Ernescliffe；　and　hear　what　he　says。　　What　must　be；　must　be。
'Tis　only　asking　me　to　give　up　the　boy；　that's　all；〃　and　as　he　left
the　room；　his　daughter　again　heard　his　sigh　and　half…uttered　words；
〃Oh；　Maggie；　Maggie！




CHAPTER　X。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　tale
Would　rouse　adventurous　courage　in　a　boy；
And　make　him　long　to　be　a　mariner；
That　he　might　rove　the　main。SOUTHEY。


Etheldred　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　the　Taylors　at　school　on
Sunday；　but　no　Halls　made　their　appearance；　and；　on　inquiry；　she　was
told；　〃Please　ma'am；　they　said　they　would　not　come；〃　so　Ethel
condemned　Granny　Hall　as　〃a　horrid；　vile；　false；　hypocritical　old
creature！　　It　was　no　use　having　anything　more　to　do　with　her。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Richard；　〃then　I　need　not　speak　to　my　father。〃

〃Ritchie　now！　you　know　I　meant　no　such　thing！〃

〃You　know；　it　is　just　what　will　happen　continually。〃

〃Of　course　there　will　be　failures；　but　this　is　so　abominable；　when
they　had　those　nice　frocks；　and　those　two　beautiful　eighteen…penny
shawls！　　There　are　three　shillings　out　of　my　pound　thrown　away！〃

〃Perhaps　there　was　some　reason　to　prevent　them。　　We　will　go　and　see。〃

〃We　shall　only　hear　some　more　palavering。　　I　want　to　have　no　more　to
say　to〃　but　here　Ethel　caught　herself　up；　and　began　to　perceive
what　a　happiness　it　was　that　she　had　not　the　power　of　acting　on　her
own　impulses。

The　twins　and　their　little　brother　of　two　years　old　were　christened
in　the　afternoon；　and　Flora　invited　the　parents　to　drink　tea　in　the
kitchen；　and　visit　Lucy；　while　Ethel　and　Mary　each　carried　a　baby
upstairs　to　exhibit　to　Margaret。

Richard；　in　the　meantime；　had　a　conversation　with　John　Taylor；　and
learned　a　good　deal　about　the　district；　and　the　number　of　the　people。
At　tea；　he　began　to　rehearse　his　information；　and　the　doctor　listened
with　interest；　which　put　Ethel　in　happy　agitation；　believing　that　the
moment　was　come；　and　Richard　seemed　to　be　only　waiting　for　the
conclusion　of　a　long　tirade　against　those　who　ought　to　do　something
for　the　place；　when　behold！　Blanche　was　climbing　on　her　father's
knee；　begging　for　one　of　his　Sunday　stories。

Etheldred　was　cruelly　disappointed；　and　could　not　at　first　rejoice　to
see　her　father　able　again　to　occupy　himself　with　his　little　girl。
The　narration；　in　his　low　tones；　roused　her　from　her　mood　of
vexation。　　It　was　the　story　of　David；　which　he　told　in　language
scriptural　and　poetical；　so　pretty　and　tender　in　its　simplicity；　that
she　could　not　choose　but　attend。　　Ever　and　anon　there　was　a　glance
towards　Harry；　as　if　he　were　secretly　likening　his　own　〃yellow…haired
laddie〃　to　the　〃shepherd　boy；　ruddy；　and　of　a　fair　countenance。〃

〃So　Tom　and　Blanche；〃　he　concluded；　〃can　you　tell　me　how　we　may　be
like　the　shepherd…boy；　David？〃

〃There　aren't　giants　now；〃　said　Tom。

〃Wrong　is　a　giant；〃　said　his　little　sister。

〃Right；　my　white　May…flower；　and　what　then？〃

〃We　are　to　fight；〃　said　Tom。

〃Yes；　and　mind；　the　giant　with　all　his　armour　may　be　some　great　thing
we　have　to　do：　but　what　did　David　begin　with　when　he　was　younger？〃

〃The　lion　and　the　bear。〃

〃Ay；　and　minding　his　sheep。　　Perhaps　little　things；　now　you　are
little　children；　may　be　like　the　lion　and　the　bearso　kill　them　off…
…get　rid　of　themcure　yourself　of　whining　or　dawdling；　or　whatever
it　be；　and　mind　your　sheep　well；〃　said　he；　smiling　sweetly　in　answer
to　the　children's　earnest　looks　as　they　caught　his　meaning；　〃and　if
you　do；　you　will　not　find　it　near　so　hard　to　deal　with　your　great
giant　struggle　when　it　comes。〃

Ah！　thought　Ethel；　it　suits　me　as　well　as　the　children。　　I　have　a
great　giant　on　Cocksmoor；　and　here　I　am；　not　allowed　to　attack　him；
because；　perhaps；　I　am　not　minding　my　sheep；　and　letting　my　lion　and
my　bear　run　loose　about　the　house。

She　was　less　impatient　this　week；　partly　from　the　sense　of　being　on
probation；　and　partly　because　she；　in　common　with　all　the　rest；　was
much　engrossed　with　Harry's　fate。　　He　came　home　every　day　at　dinner…
time　with　Norman　to　ask　if　Alan　Ernescliffe's　letter　had　come；　and　at
length　Mary　and　Tom　met　them　open…mouthed　with　the　news　that　Margaret
had　it　in　her　room。

Thither　they　hastened。　　Margaret　held　it　out　with　a　smile　of
congratulation。　　〃Here　it　is；　Harry；　papa　said　you　were　to　have　it；
and　consider　it　well；　and　let　him　know；　when　you　had　taken　time。
You　must　do　it　soberly。　　It　is　once　for　all。〃

Harry's　impetuosity　was　checked；　and　he　took　the　letter　quietly。
His　sister　put　her　hand　on　his　shoulder；　〃Would　you　mind　my　kissing
you；　dear　Harry？〃　and　as　he　threw　his　arms　round　her　neck；　she
whispered；　〃Pray　that　you　may　choose　right。〃

He　went　quietly　away；　and　Norman　begged　to　know　what　had　been　Alan
Ernescliffe's　advice。

〃I　can　scarcely　say　he　gave　any　direct　advice；〃　said　Margaret；　〃He
would　not　have　thought　that　called　for。　　He　said；　no　doubt　there　were
hardships　and　temptations；　more　or　less；　according　to　circumstances；
but　weighing　one　thing　with　another；　he　thought　it　gave　as　fair　a
chance　of　happiness　as　other　professions；　and　the　discipline　and
regularity　had　been　very　good　for　himself；　as　well　as　for　many　others
he　had　known。　　He　said；　when　a　man　is　willing　to　go　wrong　there　is
much　to　help　him；　but　when　he　is　resolved　on　doing　right；　he　need　not
be　prevented。〃

〃That　is　what　you　may　say　of　anything；〃　said　Norman。

〃Just　so；　and　it　answered　papa's　question；　whether　it　was　exposing
Harry　to　more　temptation　than　he　must　meet　with　anywhere。　　That　was
the　reason　it　was　such　a　comfort　to　have　anyone　to　write　to；　who
understands　it　so　well。〃

〃Yes；　and　knows　Harry's　nature。〃

〃He　said　he　had　been　fortunate　in　his　captains；　and　had　led；　on　the
whole；　a　happy　life　at　sea；　and　he　thought　if　it　was　so　with　him；
Harry　was　likely　to　enjoy　it　more；　being　of　a　hardy　adventurous
nature；　and　a　sailor　from　choice；　not　from　circumstances。〃

〃Then　he　advised　for　it？　　I　did　not　think　he　would；　you　know　he　will
not　let　Hector　be　a　sailor。〃

〃He　told　me　he　thought　only　a　strong　natural　bent　that　way　made　it
desirable；　and　that　he　believed　Hector　only　wished　it　from　imitation
of　him。　　He　said　too；　long　ago；　that　he　thought　Harry　cut　out　for　a
sailor。

〃A　spirited　fellow！〃　said　Norman；　with　a　look　of　saddened　pride　and
approval；　not　at　all　like　one　so　near　the　same　age。　　〃He　is　up　to
anything；　afraid　of　nothing；　he　can　lick　any　boy　in　the　school
already。　　It　will　be　worse　than　ever　without　him！〃

〃Yes；　you　will　miss　your　constant　follower。　　He　has　been　your　shadow
ever　since　he　could　walk。　　But　there's　the　clock；　I　must　not　keep　you
any　longer；　good…bye；　Norman。〃

Harry　gave　his　brother　the　letter　as　soon　as　they　were　outside　the
house；　and；　while　he　read　it；　took　his　arm　and　guided　him。　　〃Well；〃
said　Norman　as　he　finished。

〃It　is　all　right；〃　said　Harry；　and　the　two　brothers　said　no　more；
there　was　something　rising　up　in　their　throats　at　the　thought　that
they　had　very　few　more　walks　to　take　together　to　Bishop　Whichcote's
school；　Norman's　heart　was　very　full　at　the　prospect　of　another
vacancy　in　his　home；　and　Harry's　was　swelling　between　the　ardour