the daisy chain, or aspirations-第29章

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oneself。〃

〃It　is　harder；　I　think；　to　feel　so　about　those　we　care　for；〃　said
Margaret；　〃but　after　all；　this　is　just　what　will　show　whether　our
pride　in　Norman　is　the　right　true　loving　pride；　or　whether　it　is　only
the　family　vanity　of　triumphing　over　the　Andersons。〃

Ethel　hung　her　head。　〃There's　some　of　that；〃　she　said；　〃but　it　is　not
all。　　NoI　don't　want　to　triumph　over　them；　nobody　would　do　that。〃

〃Not　outwardly　perhaps；　but　in　their　hearts。〃

〃I　can't　tell；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　it　is　the　being　triumphed　over　that
I　cannot　bear。〃

〃Perhaps　this　is　all　a　lesson　in　humility　for　us；〃　said　Margaret　　〃It
is　teaching　us；　'Whosoever　exalteth　himself　shall　be　abased；　and　he
that　humbleth　himself　shall　be　exalted。'〃

Ethel　was　silent　for　some　little　space；　then　suddenly　exclaimed；　〃And
you　think　he　will　really　be　put　down？〃

Margaret　seemed　to　have　been　talking　with　little　effect；　but　she　kept
her　patience；　and　answered；　〃I　cannot　guess；　Ethel；　but　I'll　tell　you
one　thing…桰　think　there's　much　more　chance　if　he　comes　to　his　work
fresh　and　vigorous　after　a　rest；　than　if　he　went　on　dulling　himself
with　it　all　this　time。〃

With　which　Ethel　was　so　far　appeased　that　she　promised　to　think　as
little　as　she　could　of　the　Andersons；　and　a　walk　with　Richard　to
Cocksmoor　turned　the　current　of　her　thoughts。　　They　had　caught　some
more　Sunday…school　children　by　the　help　of　Margaret's　broth；　but　it
was　uphill　work；　the　servants　did　not　like　such　guests　in　the
kitchen；　and　they　were　still　less　welcome　at　school。

〃What　do　you　think　I　heard；　Ethel？〃　said　Flora；　the　next　Sunday；　as
they　joined　each　other　in　the　walk　from　school　to　church；　〃I　heard
Miss　Graves　say　to　Miss　Boulder；　'I　declare　I　must　remonstrate。　　I
undertook　to　instruct　a　national；　not　a　ragged　school；'　and　then　Miss
Boulder　shook　out　her　fine　watered　silk　and　said；　〃It　positively　is
improper　to　place　ladies　in　contact　with　such　squalid　objects。'〃

〃Ladies！〃　cried　Ethel。　　〃A　stationer's　daughter　and　a　banker's
clerk's！　　Why　do　they　come　to　teach　at　school　at　all？〃

〃Because　our　example　makes　it　genteel；〃　said　Flora。

〃I　hope　you　did　something　more　in　hopes　of　making　it　genteel。〃

〃I　caught　one　of　your　ragged　regiment　with　her　frock　gaping　behind；
and　pinned　it　up。　　Such　rags　as　there　were　under　it！　　Oh；　Ethel！〃

〃Which　was　it？〃

〃That　merry　Irish…looking　child。　　I　don't　know　her　name。〃

〃Oh！　it　is　a　real　charming　Irish　name；　Una　M'Carthy。　　I　am　so　glad
you　did　it；　Flora。　　I　hope　they　were　ashamed。〃

〃I　doubt　whether　it　will　do　good。　　We　are　sure　of　our　station　and　can
do　anything？they　are　struggling　to　be　ladies。〃

〃But　we　ought　not　to　talk　of　them　any　more；　Flora；　here　we　are　almost
at　the　churchyard。〃

The　Tuesday　of　this　week　was　appointed　for　the　visit　of　the　London
surgeon；　Sir　Matthew　Fleet；　and　the　expectation　caused　Dr。　May　to
talk　much　to　Margaret　of　old　times；　and　the　days　of　is　courtship；
when　it　had　been　his　favourite　project　that　his　friend　and　fellow…
student　should　marry　Flora　Mackenzie；　and　there　had　been　a　promising
degree　of　liking；　but　〃Mat〃　had　been　obliged　to　be　prudent；　and　had
ended　by　never　marrying　at　all。　　This　the　doctor；　as　well　as　his
daughters；　believed　was　for　the　sake　of　Aunt　Flora；　and　thus　the
girls　were　a　good　deal　excited　about　his　coming；　almost　as　much　on
his　own　account；　as　because　they　considered　him　as　the　arbiter　of
Margaret's　fate。　　He　only　came　in　time　for　a　seven　o'clock　dinner；
and　Margaret　did　not　see　him　that　night；　but　heard　enough　from　her
sisters；　when　they　came　up　to　tell　the　history　of　their　guest；　and　of
the　first　set　dinner　when　Flora　had　acted　as　lady　of　the　house。　　The
dinner　it　appeared　had　gone　off　very　well。　　Flora　had　managed
admirably；　and　the　only　mishap　was　some　awkward　carving　of　Ethel's
which　had　caused　the　dish　to　be　changed　with　Norman。　　As　to　the
guest；　Flora　said　he　was　very　good…looking　and　agreeable。　　Ethel
abruptly　pronounced；　〃I　am　very　glad　Aunt　Flora　married　Uncle　Arnott
instead。〃

〃I　can't　think　why；〃　said　Flora。　〃I　never　saw　a　person　of　pleasanter
manners。〃

〃Did　they　talk　of　old　times？〃　said　Margaret。

〃No；〃　said　Ethel；　〃that　was　the　thing。〃

〃You　would　not　have　them　talk　of　those　matters　in　the　middle　of
dinner；〃　said　Flora。

〃No；〃　again　said　Ethel；　〃but　papa　has　a　waydon't　you　know；
Margaret；　how　one　can　tell　in　a　moment　if　it　is　company　talk。〃

〃What　was　the　conversation　about？〃　said　Margaret。

〃They　talked　over　some　of　their　fellow…students；〃　said　Flora。

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　〃and　then　when　papa　told　him　that　beautiful
history　of　Dr。　Spencer　going　to　take　care　of　those　poor　emigrants　in
the　fever；　what　do　you　think　he　said？　　'Yes；　Spencer　was　always　doing
extravagant　things。'　　Fancy　that　to　papa；　who　can　hardly　speak　of　it
without　having　to　wipe　his　spectacles；　and　who　so　longs　to　hear　of
Dr。　Spencer。〃

〃And　what　did　he　say？〃

〃Nothing；　so　Flora　and　Sir　Matthew　got　to　pictures　and　all　that　sort
of　thing；　and　it　was　all　company　talk　after　that。〃

〃Most　entertaining　in　its　kind；〃　said　Flora：　〃butoh；　Norman！〃　as　he
entered〃why；　they　are　not　out　of　the　dining…room　yet！〃

〃No；　they　are　talking　of　some　new　invention；　and　most　likely　will　not
come　for　an　hour。〃

〃Are　you　going　to　bed？〃

〃Papa　followed　me　out　of　the　dining…room　to　tell　me　to　do　so　after
tea。〃

〃Then　sit　down　there；　and　I'll　go　and　make　some；　and　let　it　come　up
with　Margaret's。　　Come；　Ethel。　　Good…night；　Norman。　　Is　your　head
aching　to…night？〃

〃Not　much；　now　I　have　got　out　of　the　dining…room。〃

〃It　would　have　been　wiser　not　to　have　gone　in；〃　said　Flora；　leaving
the　room。

〃It　was　not　the　dinner；　but　the　man；〃　said　Norman。　　〃It　is
incomprehensible　to　me　how　my　father　could　take　to　him。　　I'd　as　soon
have　Harvey　Anderson　for　a　friend！〃

〃You　are　like　me；〃　said　Ethel；　〃in　being　glad　he　is　not　our
uncle。〃

〃He　presume　to　think　of　falling　in　love　with　Aunt　Flora！〃　cried
Norman　indignantly。

〃Why；　what　is　the　matter　with　him？〃　asked　Margaret。　　〃I　can't　find
much　ground　for　Ethel's　dislike；　and　Flora　is　pleased。〃

〃She　did　not　hear　the　worst；　nor　you　either；　Ethel；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I
could　not　stand　the　cold　hard　way　he　spoke　of　hospital　patients。　　I
am　sure　he　thinks　poor　people　nothing　but　a　study；　and　rich　ones
nothing　but　a　profit。　　And　his　half　sneers！　　But　what　I　hated　most
was　his　way　of　avoiding　discussions。　　When　he　saw　he　had　said　what
would　not　go　down　with　papa；　he　did　not　honestly　stand　up　to　the
point；　and　argue　it　out；　but　seemed　to　have　no　mind　of　his　own；　and
to　be　only　talking　to　please　papabut　not　knowing　how　to　do　it。
He　understand　my　father　indeed！〃

Norman's　indignation　had　quite　revived　him；　and　Margaret　was　much
entertained　with　the　conflicting　opinions。　　The　next　was　Richard's；
when　he　came　in　late　to　wish　her　good…night；　after　he　had　been
attending　on　Sir　Matthew's　examination　of　his　father's　arm。　　He　did
nothing　but　admire　the　surgeon's　delicacy　of　touch　and　understanding
of　the　case；　his　view　agreeing　much　better　with　Dr。　May's　own　than
that　with　Mr。　Ward's。　　Dr。　May　had　never　been　entirely　satisfied　with
the　present　mode　of　treatment；　and　Richard　was　much　struck　by　hearing
him　say；　in　answer　to　Sir　Matthew；　that　he　knew　his　recovery　might
have　been　more　speedy　and　less　painful　if　he　had　been　able　to　attend
to　it　at　first；　or　to　afford　time　for　being　longer　laid　up。　　A　change
of　treatment　was　now　to　be　made；　likely　soon　to　relieve　the　pain；　to
be　less　tedious　and　troublesome；　and　to　bring　about　a　complete　cure
in　three　or　four　months　at　latest。　　In　hearing　such　tidings；　there
could　be　little　thought　of　the　person　who　brought　them；　and　Margaret
did　not；　till　the　last　moment；　learn　that　Richard　thought　Sir　Matthew
very　clever　and　sensible；　and　certain　to　understand　her　case。　　Her
last　visitor　was　her　father：　〃Asleep；　Margaret？　　I　thought　I　had
better　go　to　Norman　first　in　case　he　should　be　awake。〃

〃Was　he？〃

〃Yes；　but　his　pulse　is　better　to…night。　　He　was　lying　awake　to　hear
what　Fleet　thought　of　me。　　I　suppose　Richard　told　you？〃

〃Yes；　dear　papa；　what　a　comfort　it　is！〃

〃Those　fellows　in　London　do　keep　up　to　the　mark！　　But　I　would　not　be
there　for　something。　　I　never　saw　a　man　so　altered。　　However；　if　he
can　only　do　for　you　as　wellbut　it　is　of　no　use　talking　about　it。
I　may　trust　you　to　keep　yourself　calm；　my　dear？〃

〃I　am　tryingindeed　I　am；　dear　papa。　　If　you　could　help　being
anxious　for　methough　I　know　it　is　worse　for　you；　for　I　only　have　to
lie　still；　and　you　have　to　settle　for　me。　　But　I　have　been　thinking
how　well　off　I　am；　able　to　enjoy　so　much；　and　be　employed　all　day
long。　　It　is　nothing　to　compare　with　that　poor　girl　you　told　me　of；
and　you　need　not　be　unhappy　for　me。　　I　have　some　verses　to　say　over
to　myself　to…night：


　　　　　　　　0　Lord　my　God；　do　Thou　Thy　holy　will；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　I　will　lie　still；
　　　　　　　　I　will　not　stir；　lest　I　forsake　Thine　arm
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　break　the　charm
　　　　　　　　That　lulls　me；　clinging　to　my　Father's　breast
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　In　perfect　rest。


Is　not　that　comfortable？〃

〃My　childmy　dear　childI　will　say　no　more；　lest　I　should　break
your　sweet　peace　with　my　impatience。　　I　will　strive　for　the　same
temper；　my　Margaret。　Bless　you；　dearest；　good…night。〃

After　a　night　spent　in　waking　intervals　of　such　thoughts；　Margaret
found　the　ordinary　morning；　and　the　talk　she　could　not　escape；
somewhat　oppressive。　　Her　brothers　and　sisters　disturbed　her　by　their
open　expressions　of　hope　and　anxiety；　she　dreaded　to　have　the　balance
of　tranquillity　overset；　and　then　blamed　herself　for　selfishness　in
not　being　as　ready　to　attend　to　them　as　usual。　　Ethel　and　Norman　came
up　after　breakfast；　their　aversion　by　no　means　decreased　by　further
acquaintance。　　Ethel　was　highly　indignant　at　the　tone　in　which　he　had
exclaimed；　〃What；　May；　have　you　one　as　young　as　this？〃　on　discovering
the　existence　of　the　baby；　and　when　Norman　observed　that　was　not　so
atrocious　either；　she　proceeded；　〃You　did　not　hear　the　contemptuous；
compassionate　tone　when　he　asked　papa　what　he　meant　to　do　with　all
these　boys。〃

〃I'm　glad　he　has　not　to　settle；〃　said　Norman。

〃Papa　said　Harry　was　to　be　a　sailor；　and　he　said　it　was　a　good　way　to
save　expenses　of　educationa　good　thing。〃

〃No　doubt；〃　said　Norman；　〃he　thinks　papa　only　wants　to　get　rid　of　us；
or　if　not；　that　it　is　an　amiable　weakness。〃

〃But　I　can't　see　anything　so　shocking　in　this；〃　said　Margaret。

〃It　is　not　the　words；〃　said　Norman；　〃the　look　and　tone　convey　it；　but
there　are　different　opinions。　　Flora　is　quite　smitten　with　him；　he
talks　so　politely　to　her。〃

〃And　Blanche！〃　said　Ethel。　　〃The　little　affected　pussy…cat　made　a　set
at　him；　bridled　and　talked　in　her　mincing　voice；　with　all　her　airs；
and　made　him　take　a　great　deal　of　notice　of　her。〃

Nurse　here　came　to　prepare　for　the　surgeon's　visit。

It　was　over；　and　Margaret　awaited　the　judgment。　　Sir　Matthew　had
spoken　hopefully　to　her；　but　she　feared　to　fasten　hopes　on　what　might
have　no　meaning；　and　could　rely　on　nothing；　till　she　had　seen　her
father；　who　never　kept　back　his　genuine　pinion；　and　would　least　of
all　from　her。　　She　found　her　spirits　too　much　agitated　to　talk　to　her
sisters；　and　quietly　begged　them　to　let　h