the daisy chain, or aspirations-第28章

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find　himself；　a　tall　schoolboy；　watched　and　soothed　with　motherly
tenderness　and　affection；　with　complete　comprehension　of　his
feelings；　and　delicate　care　of　them。　　His　father's　solicitude　and
sympathy　were　round　him　day　and　night；　and　this；　in　the　midst　of　so
much　toil；　pain；　grief；　and　anxiety　of　his　own；　that　Norman　might
well　feel　overwhelmed　with　the　swelling；　inexpressible　feelings　of
grateful　affection。

How　could　his　father　know　exactly　what　he　would　likesay　the　very
things　he　was　thinkingsee　that　his　depression　was　not　wilful
repiningfind　exactly　what　best　soothed　him！　　He　wondered；　but　he
could　not　have　said　so　to　any　one；　only　his　eye　brightened；　and；　as
his　sisters　remarked；　he　never　seemed　half　so　uncomfortable　when　papa
was　in　the　room。　　Indeed；　the　certainty　that　his　father　felt　the
sorrow　as　acutely　as　himself；　was　one　reason　of　his　opening　to　him。
He　could　not　feel　that　his　brothers　and　sisters　did　so；　for；
outwardly；　their　habits　were　unaltered；　their　spirits　not　lowered；
their　relish　for　things　around　much　the　same　as　before；　and　this　had
given　Norman　a　sense　of　isolation。　　With　his　father　it　was　different。
Norman　knew　he　could　never　appreciate　what　the　bereavement　was　to
himhe　saw　its　traces　in　almost　every　word　and　look；　and　yet
perceived　that　something　sustained　and　consoled　him；　though　not　in
the　way　of　forgetfulness。　　Now　and　then　Norman　caught　at　what　gave
this　comfort；　and　it　might　be　hoped　he　would　do　so　increasingly；
though；　on　this　Christmas　Day；　Margaret　felt　very　sad　about　him；　as
she　watched　him　sitting　over　the　fire；　cowering　with　chilliness　and
headache；　while　every　one　was　gone　to　church；　and　saw　that　the
reading　of　the　service　with　her　had　been　more　of　a　trouble　than　a
solace。

She　tried　to　think　it　bodily　ailment；　and　strove　hard　not　to　pine　for
her　mother；　to　comfort　them　both；　and　say　the　fond　words　of
refreshing　cheering　pity　that　would　have　made　all　light　to　bear。
Margaret's　home　Christmas　was　so　spent　in　caring　for　brother；　father；
and　children；　that　she　had　hardly　time　to　dwell　on　the　sad　change
that　had　befallen　herself。

Christmas　was　a　season　that　none　of　them　knew　well　how　to　meet：
Blanche　was　overheard　saying　to　Mary　that　she　wished　it　would　not
come；　and　Mary；　shaking　her　head；　and　answering　that　she　was　afraid
that　was　naughty；　but　it　was　very　tiresome　to　have　no　fun。　　Margaret
did　her　best　upstairs；　and　Richard　downstairs；　by　the　help　of　prints
and　hymns；　to　make　the　children　think　of　the　true　joy　of　Christmas；
and　in　the　evening　their　father　gathered　them　round；　and　told　them
the　stories　of　the　Shepherds　and　of　the　Wise　Men；　till　Mary　and
Blanche　agreed；　as　they　went　up　to　bed；　that　it　had　been　a　very　happy
evening。

The　next　day　Harry　discomfited　the　schoolroom　by　bursting　in　with　the
news　that　〃Louisa　and　Fanny　Anderson　were　bearing　down　on　the　front
door。〃　　Ethel　and　Flora　were　obliged　to　appear　in　the　drawing…room；
where　they　were　greeted　by　two　girls；　rather　older　than　themselves。
A　whole　shower　of　inquiries　for　Dr。　May；　for　Margaret；　and　for　the
dear　little　baby；　were　first　poured　out；　then　came　hopes　that　Norman
was　well；　as　they　had　not　seen　him　at　church　yesterday。

〃Thank　you；　he　was　kept　at　home　by　a　bad　headache；　but　it　is　better
to…day。〃

〃We　came　to　congratulate　you　on　his　successwe　could　not　help　it
it　must　have　been　such　a　pleasure　to　you。〃

〃That　it　was！〃　exclaimed　Ethel；　pleased　at　participation　in　her
rejoicing。　　〃We　were　so　surprised。〃

Flora　gave　a　glance　of　warning；　but　Ethel's　short…sighted　eyes　were
beyond　the　range　of　correspondence；　and　Miss　Anderson　continued。　　〃It
must　have　been　a　delightful　surprise。　　We　could　hardly　believe　it
when　Harvey　came　in　and　told　us。　　Every　one　thought　Forder　was　sure；
but　they　all　were　put　out　by　the　questions　of　general　information
those　were　all　Mr。　Everard's　doing。〃

〃Mr。　Everard　was　very　much　struck　with　Norman's　knowledge　and
scholarship　too；〃　said　Flora。

〃So　every　one　says。　　It　was　all　Mr。　Everard's　doing。　　Miss　Harrison
told　mamma；　but；　for　my　part；　I　am　very　glad　for　the　sake　of
Stoneborough；　I　like　a　town　boy　to　be　at　the　head。〃

〃Norman　was　sorry　for　Forder　and　Cheviot；〃　began　Ethel。　　Flora　tried
to　stop　her；　but　Louisa　Anderson　caught　at　what　she　said；　and　looked
eagerly　for　more。　　〃He　felt；〃　said　she；　only　thinking　of　exalting　her
generous　brother；　〃as　if　it　was　hardly　right；　when　they　are　so　much
his　seniors；　that　he　could　scarcely　enjoy　it。〃

〃Ah！　that　is　just　what　people　say；〃　replied　Louisa。　　〃But　it　must　be
very　gratifying　to　you；　and　it　makes　him　certain　of　the　Randal
scholarship　too；　I　suppose。　　It　is　a　great　thing　for　him！　　He　must
have　worked　very　hard。〃

〃Yes；　that　he　has；〃　said　Flora；　〃he　is　so　fond　of　study；　and　that
goes　halfway。〃

〃So　is　dear　Harvey。　　How　earnest　he　is　over　his　books！　　Mamma
sometimes　says；　'Now　Harvey；　dear；　you'll　be　quite　stupified；　you'll
be　ill；　I　really　shall　get　Dr。　May　to　forbid　you。'　　I　suppose　Norman
is　very　busy　too；　it　is　quite　the　fashion　for　boys　not　to　be　idle
now。〃

〃Poor　Norman　can't　help　it；〃　said　Ethel　piteously。　　〃Papa　will　not
hear　of　his　doing　any　Latin　or　Greek　these　whole　holidays。〃

〃He　thinks　he　will　come　to　it　better　again　for　entire　rest；〃　said
Flora；　launching　another　look　at　her　sister；　which　again　fell　short。

A　great　deal　of　polite　inquiry　whether　they　were　uneasy　about　him
followed；　mixed　with　a　little　boasting　of　dear　Harvey's　diligence。

〃By…the…bye；　Ethel；　it　is　you　that　are　the　great　patroness　of　the
wild　Cocksmoor　childrenare　not　you？〃

Ethel　coloured；　and　mumbled；　and　Flora　answered　for　her；　〃Richard　and
Ethel　have　been　there　once　or　twice。　　You　know　our　under　nursery…maid
is　a　Cocksmoor　girl。〃

〃Well；　mamma　said　she　could　not　think　how　Miss　May　could　take　one
from　thence。　　The　whole　place　is　full　of　thieves；　and　do　you　know；
Bessie　Boulder　has　lost　her　gold　pencil…case。〃

〃Has　she？〃　said　Flora。

〃And　she　had　it　on　Sunday　when　she　was　teaching　her　class。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　Ethel　vehemently；　〃surely　she　does　not　suspect　any　of
those　poor　children！〃

〃I　only　know　such　a　thing　never　happened　at　school　before；〃　said
Fanny；　〃and　I　shall　never　take　anything　valuable　there　again。〃

〃But　is　she　sure　she　lost　it　at　school？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　quite　certain。　　She　will　not　accuse　any　one；　but　it　is　not
comfortable。　　And　how　those　children　do　behave　at　church！〃

〃Poor　things！　they　have　been　sadly　neglected；〃　said　Flora。

〃They　are　quite　spoiling　the　rest；　and　they　are　such　figures！　　Why
don't　you；　at　least；　make　them　cut　their　hair？　　You　know　it　is　the
rule　of　the　school。〃

〃I　know；　but　half　the　girls　in　the　first　class　wear　it　long。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　but　those　are　the　superior　people；　that　one　would　not　be
strict　with；　and　they　dress　it　so　nicely　too。　　Now　these　are　like
little　savages。〃

〃Richard　thinks　it　might　drive　them　away　to　insist　at　first；〃　said
Ethel；　〃we　will　try　to　bring　it　about　in　time。〃

〃Well；　Mrs。　Ledwich　is　nearly　resolved　to　insist；　so　you　had　better
be　warned；　Ethel。　　She　cannot　suffer　such　untidiness　and　rags　to
spoil　the　appearance　of　the　school；　and；　I　assure　you；　it　is　quite
unpleasant　to　the　teachers。〃

〃I　wish　they　would　give　them　all　to　me！〃　said　Ethel。　　〃But　I　do　hope
Mrs。　Ledwich　will　have　patience　with　them；　for　they　are　only　to　be
gained　gently。〃

The　visitors　took　their　leave；　and　the　two　sisters　began　exclaiming
Ethel　at　their　dislike　of　her　proteges；　and　Flora　at　what　they　had
said　of　Norman。　　〃And　you；　Ethel；　how　could　you　go　and　tell　them　we
were　surprised；　and　Norman　thought　it　was　hard　on　the　other　boys？
They'll　have　it　all　over　the　town　that　he　got　it　unjustly；　and　knows
it；　as　they　say　already　it　was　partiality　of　Mr。　Everard's。〃

〃Oh；　no；　no；　they　never　can　be　so　bad！〃　cried　Ethel；　〃they　must　have
understood　better　that　it　was　his　noble　humility　and　generosity。〃

〃They　understand　anything　noble！　　No；　indeed！　　They　think　every　one
like　their　own　beautiful　brother！　　I　knew　what　they　came　for　all　the
time；　they　wanted　to　know　whether　Norman　was　able　to　work　these
holidays；　and　you　told　them　the　very　thing　they　wanted　to　hear。　　How
they　will　rejoice　with　that　Harvey；　and　make　sure　of　the　Randall！〃

〃Oh；　no；　no！〃　cried　Ethel；　〃Norman　must　get　that！〃

〃I　don't　think　he　will；〃　said　Flora；　〃losing　all　this　time；　while
they　are　working。　　It　cannot　be　helped；　of　course；　but　it　is　a　great
pity。〃

〃I　almost　wish　he　had　not　been　put　up　at　all；　if　it　is　to　end　in　this
way；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃It　is　very　provoking；　and　to　have　them　triumphing
as　they　will！　　There's　no　bearing　it！〃

〃Norman；　certainly；　is　not　at　all　well；　poor　fellow；〃　said　Flora；
〃and　I　suppose　he　wants　rest；　but　I　wish　papa　would　let　him　do　what
he　can。　　It　would　be　much　better　for　him　than　moping　about　as　he　is
always　doing　now；　and　the　disappointment　of　losing　his　place　will　be
grievous；　though　now　he　fancies　he　does　not　care　for　it。〃

〃I　wonder　when　he　will　ever　care　for　anything　again。　　All　I　read　and
tell　him　only　seems　to　tease　him；　though　he　tries　to　thank　me。〃

〃There　is　a　strange　apathy　about　him；〃　said　Flora；　〃but　I　believe　it
is　chiefly　for　want　of　exertion。　　I　should　like　to　rouse　him　if　papa
would　let　me；　I　know　I　could；　by　telling　him　how　these　Andersons　are
reckoning　on　his　getting　down。　　If　he　does；　I　shall　be　ready　to　run
away；　that　I　may　never　meet　any　one　here　again。〃

Ethel　was　very　unhappy　till　she　was　able　to　pour　all　this　trouble　out
to　Margaret；　and　worked　herself　almost　into　crying　about　Norman's
being　passed　by　〃that　Harvey；〃　and　his　sisters　exulting；　and　papa
being　vexed；　and　Norman　losing　time　and　not　caring。

〃There　you　are　wrong；〃　said　Margaret；　〃Norman　did　care　very　much；　and
it　was　not　till　he　had　seen　clearly　that　it　was　a　matter　of　duty　to
do　as　papa　thought　right；　and　not　agitate　his　mind　about　his　chances
of　keeping　up；　that　he　could　bear　to　give　up　his　work；〃　and　she　told
Ethel　a　little　of　what　had　passed。

Ethel　was　much　struck。　　〃But　oh；　Margaret；　it　is　very　hard；　just　to
have　him　put　up　for　the　sake　of　being　put　down；　and　pleasing　the
Andersons！〃

〃Dear　Ethel；　why　should　you　mind　so　much　about　the　Andersons？　　May
they　not　care　about　their　brother　as　we　do　for　ours？〃

〃Such　a　brother　to　care　about！〃　said　Ethel。

〃But　I　suppose　they　may　like　him　the　best；〃　said　Margaret；　smiling。

〃I　suppose　they　do；〃　said　Ethel　grudgingly；　〃but　still　I　cannot　bear
to　see　Norman　doing　nothing；　and　I　know　Harvey　Anderson　will　beat
him。〃

〃Surely　you　had　rather　he　did　nothing　than　made　himself　ill！〃

〃To　be　sure；　but　I　wish　it　wasn't　so。〃

〃Yes；　but；　Ethel；　whose　doing　is　his　getting　into　this　state？〃

Ethel　looked　grave。　　〃It　was　wrong　of　me；〃　said　she；　〃but　then　papa
is　not　sure　that　Greek　would　hurt　him。〃

〃Not　sure；　but　he　thinks　it　not　wise　to　run　the　risk。　　But；　Ethel；
dear；　why　are　you　so　bent　on　his　being　dux　at　all　costs？〃

〃It　would　be　horrid　if　he　was　not。〃

〃Don't　you　remember　you　used　to　say　that　outward　praise　or　honour　was
not　to　be　cared　for　as　long　as　one　did　one's　duty；　and　that　it　might
be　a　temptation？〃

〃Yes；　I　know　I　did；〃　said　Ethel；　faltering；　〃but　that　was　for
oneself。〃

〃It　is　harder；　I　think；　to　feel　so　about　tho