the daisy chain, or aspirations-第23章

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vacancy　in　his　home；　and　Harry's　was　swelling　between　the　ardour　of
enterprise　and　the　thought　of　bidding　good…bye　to　each　familiar
object；　and；　above　all；　to　the　brother　who　had　been　his　model　and
admiration　from　babyhood。

〃June！〃　at　length　he　broke　out；　〃I　wish　you　were　going　too。　　I　should
not　mind　it　half　so　much　if　you　were。〃

〃Nonsense；　Harry！　you　want　to　be　July　after　June　all　your　life；　do
you？　　You'll　be　much　more　of　a　man　without　me。〃

That　evening　Dr。　May　called　Harry　into　his　study　to　ask　him　if　his
mind　was　made　up；　he　put　the　subject　fairly　before　him；　and　told　him
not　to　be　deterred　from　choosing　what　he　thought　would　be　for　the
best　by　any　scruples　about　changing　his　mind。　　〃We　shall　not　think　a
bit　the　worse　of　you；　better　now；　than　too　late。〃

There　was　that　in　his　face　and　tone　that　caused　Harry　to　say；　in　a
stifled　voice；　〃I　did　not　think　you　would　care　so　much；　papa；　I　won't
go；　if　you　do。〃

Dr。　May　put　his　hand　on　his　shoulder；　and　was　silent。　　Harry　felt　a
strange　mixture　of　hope　and　fear；　joy　and　grief；　disappointment　and
relief。　　〃You　must　not　give　it　up　on　that　account；　my　dear；〃　he　said
at　length；　〃I　should　not　let　you　see　this；　if　it　did　not　happen　at　a
time　when　I　can't　command　myself　as　I　ought。　　If　you　were　an　only
son；　it　might　be　your　duty　to　stay；　being　one　of　many；　'tis　nonsense
to　make　a　rout　about　parting　with　you。　　If　it　is　better　for　you；　it
is　better　for　all　of　us；　and　we　shall　do　very　well　when　you　are　once
fairly　gone。　　Don't　let　that　influence　you　for　a　moment。〃

Harry　paused；　not　that　he　doubted；　but　he　was　collecting　his
energies〃Then；　papa；　I　choose　the　navy。〃

〃Then　it　is　done；　Harry。　　You　have　chosen　in　a　dutiful；　unselfish
spirit；　and　I　trust　it　will　prosper　with　you；　for　I　am　sure　your
father's　blessingaye；　and　your　mother's　too；　go　with　you！　　Now
then；〃　after　a　pause；　〃go　and　call　Richard。　I　want　him　to　write　to
Ernescliffe　about　that　naval　school。　　You　must　take　your　leave　of　the
Whichcote　foundation　on　Friday。　　I　shall　go　and　give　Dr。　Hoxton
notice　tomorrow；　and　get　Tom's　name　down　instead。〃

And　when　the　name　of　Thomas　May　was　set　down；　Dr。　Hoxton　expressed
his　trust　that　it　would　pass　through　the　school　as　free　from　the
slightest　blemish　as　those　of　Richard；　Norman；　and　Harry　May。

Now　that　Harry's　destiny　was　fixed；　Ethel　began　to　think　of　Cocksmoor
again；　and　she　accomplished　another　walk　there　with　Richard；　Flora；
and　Mary；　to　question　Granny　Hall　about　the　children's　failure。

The　old　woman's　reply　was　a　tissue　of　contradictions：　the　girls　were
idle　hussies；　all　contrary：　they　plagued　the　very　life　out　of　her；
and　she　represented　herself　as　using　the　most　frightful　threats；　if
they　would　not　go　to　school。　　Breaking　every　bone　in　their　skin　was
the　least　injury　she　promised　them；　till　Mary；　beginning　to　think　her
a　cruel　old　woman；　took　hold　of　her　brother's　coat…tails　for
protection。

〃But　I　am　afraid；　Mrs。　Hall；〃　said　Richard；　in　that　tone　which　might
be　either　ironical　or　simple；　〃if　you　served　them　so；　they　would
never　be　able　to　get　to　school　at　all；　poor　things。〃

〃Bless　you；　sir；　d'ye　think　I'd　ever　lay　a　finger　near　them；　it's
only　the　way　one　must　talk　to　children；　you　see；〃　said　she；
patronising　his　inexperience。

〃Perhaps　they　have　found　that　out；〃　said　Richard。　　Granny　looked　much
entertained；　and　laughed　triumphantly　and　shrewdly；　〃ay；　ay；　that
they　have；　the　lassesthey　be　sharp　enough　for　anything；　that　they
be。　　Why；　when　I　tell　little　Jenny　that　there's　the　black　man　coming
after　her；　what　does　she　do　but　she　ups　and　says；　'Granny；　I　know
'tis　only　the　wind　in　the　chimney。'〃

〃Then　I　don't　think　it　seems　to　answer；〃　said　Richard。　　〃Just　suppose
you　were　to　try　for　once；　really　punishing　them　when　they　won't　obey
you；　perhaps　they　would　do　it　next　time。〃

〃Why；　sir；　you　see　I　don't　like　to　take　the　stick　to　them；　they've
got　no　mother；　you　see；　sir。〃

Mary　thought　her　a　kind　grandmother；　and　came　out　from　behind　her
brother。

〃I　think　it　would　be　kinder　to　do　it　for　once。　　What　do　you　think
they　will　do　as　they　grow　older；　if　you　don't　keep　them　in　order　when
they　are　little？〃

This　was　foresight　beyond　Granny　Hall；　who　began　to　expatiate　on　the
troubles　she　had　undergone　in　their　service；　and　the　excellence　of
Sam。　　There　was　certainly　a　charm　in　her　manners；　for　Ethel　forgot
her　charge　of　ingratitude；　the　other　sisters　were　perfectly　taken
with　her；　nor　could　they　any　of　them　help　giving　credence　to　her
asseverations　that　Jenny　and　Polly　should　come　to　school　next　Sunday。

They　soon　formed　another　acquaintance；　a　sharp…faced　woman　stood　in
their　path；　with　a　little　girl　in　her　hand；　and　arrested　them　with　a
low　curtsey；　and　not　a　very　pleasant　voice；　addressing　herself　to
Flora；　who　was　quite　as　tall　as　Richard；　and　appeared　the　person　of
most　consequence。

〃If　you　please；　miss；　I　wanted　to　speak　to　you。　I　have　got　a　little
girl　here；　and　I　want　to　send　her　to　school；　only　I　have　no　shoes　for
her。〃

〃Why；　surely；　if　she　can　run　about　here　on　the　heath；　she　can　go　to
school；〃　said　Flora。

〃Oh！　but　there　is　all　the　other　children　to　point　at　her。　　The　poor
thing　would　be　daunted；　you　see；　miss；　if　I　could　but　get　some　friend
to　give　her　a　pair　of　shoes；　I'd　send　her　in　a　minute。　　I　want　her　to
get　some　learning；　as　I　am　always　saying；　I'd　never　keep　her　away；　if
I　had　but　got　the　clothes　to　send　her　in。　　I　never　lets　her　be
running　on　the　common；　like　them　Halls；　as　it's　a　shame　to　see　them
in　nice　frocks；　as　Mrs。　Hall　got　by　going　hypercriting　about。〃

〃What　is　your　name？　〃　said　Richard；　cutting　her　short。

〃Watts；　if　you　please；　sir；　we　heard　there　was　good　work　up　here；
sir；　and　so　we　came；　but　I'd　never　have　set　foot　in　it　if　I　had　known
what　a　dark　heathenish　place　it　is；　with　never　a　Gospel　minister　to
come　near　it；〃　and　a　great　deal　more　to　the　same　purpose。

Mary　whispered　to　Flora　something　about　having　outgrown　her　boots；
but　Flora　silenced　her　by　a　squeeze　of　the　hand；　and　the　two　friends
of　Cocksmoor　felt　a　good　deal　puzzled。

At　last　Flora　said；　〃You　will　soon　get　her　clothed　if　she　comes
regularly　to　school　on　Sundays；　for　she　will　be　admitted　into　the
club；　I　will　recommend　her　if　she　has　a　good　character　and　comes
regularly。　　Good…morning；　Mrs。　Watts。　　Now　we　must　go；　or　it　will　be
dark　before　we　get　home。〃　　And　they　walked　hastily　away。

〃Horrid　woman！〃　was　Ethel's　exclamation。

〃But　Flora；〃　said　innocent　Mary；　〃why　would　you　not　let　me　give　the
little　girl　my　boots？〃

〃Perhaps　I　may；　if　she　is　good　and　comes　to　school；　said　Flora。

〃I　think　Margaret　ought　to　settle　what　you　do　with　your　boots；〃　said
Richard；　not　much　to　Flora's　satisfaction。

〃It　is　the　same；〃　she　said。　〃If　I　approve；　Margaret　will　not　object。〃

〃How　well　you　helped　us　out；　Flora；〃　said　Ethel；　〃I　did　not　know　in
the　least　what　to　say。〃

〃It　will　be　the　best　way　of　testing　her　sincerity；　said　Flora；　and　at
least　it　will　do　the　child　good；　but　I　congratulate　you　on　the
promising　aspect　of　Cocksmoor。〃

〃We　did　not　expect　to　find　a　perfect　place；〃　said　Ethel；　if　it　were；
it　would　be　of　no　use　to　go　to　it。〃

Ethel　could　answer　with　dignity；　but　her　heart　sank　at　the　aspect　of
what　she　had　undertaken。　　She　knew　there　would　be　evil；　but　she　had
expected　it　in　a　more　striking　and　less　disagreeable　form。

That　walk　certainly　made　her　less　impatient；　though　it　did　not　relax
her　determination；　nor　the　guard　over　her　lion　and　bear；　which　her
own　good　feeling；　aided　by　Margaret's　council；　showed　her　were　the
greatest　hindrances　to　her　doing　anything　good　and　great。

Though　she　was　obliged　to　set　to　work　so　many　principles　and
reflections　to　induce　herself　to　wipe　a　pen；　or　to　sit　straight　on
her　chair；　that　it　was　like　winding　up　a　steam…engine　to　thread　a
needle；　yet　the　work　was　being　doneshe　was　struggling　with　her
faults；　humbled　by　them；　watching　them；　and　overcoming　them。

Flora；　meanwhile；　was　sitting　calmly　down　in　the　contemplation　of　the
unexpected　services　she　had　rendered；　confident　that　her　character
for　energy　and　excellence　was　established；　believing　it　herself；　and
looking　back　on　her　childish　vanity　and　love　of　domineering　as　long
past　and　conquered。　　She　thought　her　grown…up　character　had　begun；
and　was　too　secure　to　examine　it　closely。




CHAPTER　XI。



One　thing　is　wanting　in　the　beamy　cup
　　Of　my　young　life！　one　thing　to　be　poured　in；
Ay；　and　one　thing　is　wanting　to　fill　up
　　The　measure　of　proud　joy；　and　make　it　sin。F。　W。　F。


Hopes　that　Dr。　May　would　ever　have　his　mind　free；　seemed　as
fallacious　as　mamma's　old　promise　to　Margaret；　to　make　doll's　clothes
for　her　whenever　there　should　be　no　live　dolls　to　be　worked　for　in
the　nursery。

Richard　and　Ethel　themselves　had　their　thoughts　otherwise　engrossed。
The　last　week　before　the　holidays　was　an　important　one。　　There　was　an
examination；　by　which　the　standing　of　the　boys　in　the　school　was
determined；　and　this　time　it　was　of　more　than　ordinary　importance；　as
the　Randall　scholarship　of　？00　a　year　for　three　years　would　be　open
in　the　summer　to　the　competition　of　the　first　six　boys。　　Richard　had
never　come　within　six　of　the　top；　but　had　been　past　at　every
examination　by　younger　boys；　till　his　father　could　bear　it　no　longer；
and　now　Norman　was　too　young　to　be　likely　to　have　much　chance　of
being　of　the　number。　　There　were　eight　decidedly　his　seniors；　and
Harvey　Anderson；　a　small；　quick…witted　boy；　half　a　year　older；　who
had　entered　school　at　the　same　time；　and　had　always　been　one　step
below　him；　had；　in　the　last　three　months；　gained　fast　upon　him。

Harry；　however；　meant　Norman　to　be　one　of　the　six；　and　declared　all
the　fellows　thought　he　would　be；　except　Andersen's　party。　　Mr。
Wilmot；　in　a　call　on　Ethel　and　Flora；　told　them　that　he　thought　their
brother　had　a　fair　chance；　but　he　feared　he　was　over…working　himself；
and　should　tell　the　doctor　so；　whenever　he　could　catch　him；　but　this
was　difficult；　as　there　was　a　great　deal　of　illness　just　then；　and　he
was　less　at　home　than　usual。

All　this　excited　the　home　party；　but　Norman　only　seemed　annoyed　by
talk　about　it；　and　though　always　with　a　book　in　his　hand；　was　so
dreamy　and　listless；　that　Flora　declared　that　there　was　no　fear　of
his　doing　too　muchshe　thought　he　would　fail　for　want　of　trying。

〃I　mean　to　try；〃　said　Norman；　〃say　no　more　about　it；　pray。〃

The　great　day　was　the　20th　of　December；　and　Ethel　ran　out；　as　the
boys　went　to　school；　to　judge　of　Norman's　looks；　which　were　not
promising。　　〃No　wonder；〃　said　Harry；　since　he　had　stayed　up　doing
Euripides　and　Cicero　the　whole　length　of　a　candle　that　had　been　new
at　bedtime。　　〃But　never　mind；　Ethel；　if　he　only　beats　Anderson；　I
don't　care　for　anything　else。〃

〃Oh；　it　will　be　unbearable　if　he　does　not！　　Do　try；　Norman；　dear。〃

〃Never　you　mind。〃

〃He'll　light　up　at　the　last　moment；〃　said　Ethel；　consolingly；　to
Harry；　but　she　was　very　uneasy　herself；　for　she　had　set　her　heart　on
his　surpassing　Harvey　Anderson。　　No　more　was　heard　all　day。　　Tom　went
at　dinner…time　to　see　if　he　could　pick　up　any　news；　but　he　was　shy；
or　was　too　late；　and　gained　no　intelligence。　　Dr。　May　and　Richard
talked　of　going　to　hear　the　speeches