the daisy chain, or aspirations-第30章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


all　from　her。　　She　found　her　spirits　too　much　agitated　to　talk　to　her
sisters；　and　quietly　begged　them　to　let　her　be　quite　alone　till　the
consultation　was　over；　and　she　lay　trying　to　prepare　herself　to
submit　thankfully；　whether　she　might　be　bidden　to　resign　herself　to
helplessness；　or　to　let　her　mind　open　once　more　to　visions　of　joyous
usefulness。　　Every　step　she　hoped　would　prove　to　be　her　father's
approach；　and　the　longest　hour　of　her　life　was　that　before　he　entered
her　room。　　His　face　said　that　the　tidings　were　good；　and　yet　she
could　not　ask。

〃Well；　Margaret；　I　am　glad　we　had　him　down。　　He　thinks　you　may　get
about　again；　though　it　may　be　a　long　time　first。〃

〃Does　he？oh；　papa！〃　and　the　colour　spread　over　her　face；　as　she
squeezed　his　hand　very　fast。

〃He　has　known　the　use　of　the　limbs　return　almost　suddenly　after　even
a　year　or　two；〃　and　Dr。　May　gave　her　the　grounds　of　the　opinion；　and
an　account　of　other　like　cases；　which　he　said　had　convinced　him；
〃though；　my　poor　child；〃　he　said；　〃I　feared　the　harm　I　had　done　you
was　irremediable；　but　thanks〃　He　turned　away　his　face；　and　the
clasp　of　their　hands　spoke　the　rest。

Presently　he　told　Margaret　that　she　was　no　longer　to　be　kept
prostrate；　but　she　was　to　do　exactly　as　was　most　comfortable　to　her；
avoiding　nothing　but　fatigue。　　She　might　be　lifted　to　the　sofa　the
next　day；　and　if　that　agreed　with　her；　she　might　be　carried
downstairs。

This；　in　itself；　after　she　had　been　confined　to　her　bed　for　three
months；　was　a　release　from　captivity；　and　all　the　brothers　and
sisters　rejoiced　as　if　she　was　actually　on　her　feet　again。　　Richard
betook　himself　to　constructing　a　reading…frame　for　the　sofa；　Harry
tormented　Miss　Winter　by　insisting　on　a　holiday　for　the　others；　and
gained　the　day　by　an　appeal　to　his　father；　then　declared　he　should　go
and　tell　Mr。　Wilmot　the　good　news；　and　Norman；　quite　enlivened；　took
up　his　hat；　and　said　he　would　come　too。

In　all　his　joy；　however；　Dr。　May　could　not　cease　bewailing　the
alteration　in　his　old　friend；　and　spent　half　the　evening　in　telling
Margaret　how　different　he　had　once　been；　in　terms　little　less
measured　than　Ethel's：　〃I　never　saw　such　a　change。　　Mat　Fleet　was　one
of　the　most　warm；　open…hearted　fellows　in　the　world；　up　to　anything。
I　can　hardly　believe　he　is　the　sameturned　into　a　mere　machine；　with
a　moving　spring　of　self…interest！　　I　don't　believe　he　cares　a　rush
for　any　living　thing！　　Except　for　your　sake；　Margaret；　I　wish　I　had
never　seen　him　again；　and　only　remembered　him　as　he　was　at　Edinburgh；
as　I　remembered　dear　old　Spencer。　　It　is　a　grievous　thing！　　Ruined
entirely！　　No　doubt　that　London　life　must　be　tryingthe　constant
change　and　bewilderment　of　patients　preventing　much　individual　care
and　interest。　　It　must　be　very　hardening。　　No　family　ties　either；
nothing　to　look　to　but　pushing　his　way。　　Yes！　there's　great　excuse
for　poor　Mat。　　I　never　knew　fully　till　now　the　blessing　it　was　that
your　dear　mother　was　willing　to　take　me　so　early；　and　that　this　place
was　open　to　me　with　all　its　home　connections　and　interests。　　I　am
glad　I　never　had　anything　to　do　with　London！〃

And　when　he　was　alone　with　Norman；　he　could　not　help　saying；　〃Norman；
my　boy；　I'm　more　glad　than　ever　you　yielded　to　me　about　your　Greek
these　holidays；　and　for　the　reason　you　did。　　Take　care　the　love　of
rising　and　pushing　never　gets　hold　of　you；　there's　nothing　that
faster　changes　a　man　from　his　better　self。〃

Meanwhile；　Sir　Matthew　Fleet　had　met　another　old　college　friend　in
London；　and　was　answering　his　inquiries　for　the　Dick　May　of　ancient
times。

〃Poor　May！　　I　never　saw　a　man　so　thrown　away。　　With　his　talent　and
acuteness；　he　might　be　the　most　eminent　man　of　his　day；　if　he　had
only　known　how　to　use　them。　　But　he　was　always　the　same　careless；
soft…hearted　fellow；　never　knowing　how　to　do　himself　any　good；　and　he
is　the　same　still；　not　a　day　older　nor　wiser。　　It　was　a　fatal　thing
for　him　that　there　was　that　country　practice　ready　for　him　to　step
into；　and　even　of　that　he　does　not　make　as　good　a　thing　as　he　might。
Of　course；　he　married　early；　and　there　he　is；　left　a　widower　with　a
house　full　of　childrenscreaming　babies；　and　great　tall　sons　growing
up；　and　he　without　a　notion　what　he　shall　do　with　them；　as　heedless
as　eversaving　nothing；　of　course。　　I　always　knew　it　was　what　he
would　come　to；　if　he　would　persist　in　burying　himself　in　that
wretched　little　country　town；　but　I　hardly　thought；　after　all　he　has
gone　through；　to　find　him　such　a　mere　boy　still。　　And　yet　he　is　one
of　the　cleverest　men　I　ever　metwith　such　talent；　and　such　thorough
knowledge　of　his　profession；　that　it　does　one　good　to　hear　him　talk。
Poor　May！　　I　am　sorry　for　him；　he　might　have　been　anything；　but　that
early　marriage　and　country　practice　were　the　ruin　of　him。〃




CHAPTER　XIV。



To　thee；　dear　maid；　each　kindly　wile
　　Was　known；　that　elder　sisters　know；
To　check　the　unseasonable　smile；
　　With　warning　hand　and　serious　brow。

From　dream　to　dream　with　her　to　rove；
　　Like　fairy　nurse　with　hermit　child；
Teach　her　to　think；　to　pray；　to　love；
　　Make　grief　less　bitter；　joy　less　wild。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LINES　ON　A　MONUMENT　AT　LICHFIELD。


Sir　Matthew　Fleet's　visit　seemed　like　a　turning…point　with　the　May
family；　rousing　and　giving　them　revived　hopes。　　Norman　began　to　shake
off　his　extreme　languor　and　depression；　the　doctor　was　relieved　from
much　of　the　wearing　suffering　from　his　hurt；　and　his　despondency　as
to　Margaret's　ultimate　recovery　had　been　driven　away。　　The　experiment
of　taking　her　up　succeeded　so　well；　that　on　Sunday　she　was　fully
attired；　〃fit　to　receive　company。〃　　As　she　lay　on　the　sofa　there
seemed　an　advance　toward　recovery。　　Much　sweet　coquetry　was　expended
in　trying　to　look　her　best　for　her　father；　and　her　best　was　very
well；　for　though　the　brilliant　bloom　of　health　was　gone；　her　cheeks
had　not　lost　their　pretty　rounded　contour；　and　still　had　some
rosiness；　while　her　large　bright　blue　eyes　smiled　and　sparkled。　　A
screen　shut　out　the　rest　of　the　room；　making　a　sort　of　little　parlour
round　the　fire；　where　sundry　of　the　family　were　visiting　her　after
coming　home　from　church　in　the　afternoon。　　Ethel　was　in　a　vehement
state　of　indignation　at　what　had　that　day　happened　at　school。　　〃Did
you　ever　hear　anything　like　it！　　When　the　point　was；　to　teach　the
poor　things　to　be　Christians；　to　turn　them　back；　because　their　hair
was　not　regulation　length！〃

〃What's　that！　　Who　did？〃　said　Dr。　May；　coming　in　from　his　own　room；
where　he　had　heard　a　few　words。

〃Mrs。　Ledwich。　　She　sent　back　three　of　the　Cocksmoor　children　this
morning。　　It　seems　she　warned　them　last　Sunday　without　saying　a　word
to　us。〃

〃Sent　them　back　from　church！〃　said　the　doctor。

〃Not　exactly　from　church；〃　said　Margaret。

〃It　is　the　same　in　effect；〃　said　Ethel；　〃to　turn　them　from　school；
for　if　they　did　try　to　go　alone；　the　pew…openers　would　drive　them
out。〃

〃It　is　a　wretched　state　of　things！〃　said　Dr。　May；　who　never　wanted
much　provocation　to　begin　storming　about　parish　affairs。　　〃When　I　am
churchwarden　again；　I'll　see　what　can　be　done　about　the　seats；　but
it's　no　sort　of　use；　while　Ramsden　goes　on　as　he　does。〃

〃Now　my　poor　children　are　done　for！〃　said　Ethel。　〃They　will　never
come　again。　　And　it's　horrid；　papa；　there　are　lots　of　town　children
who　wear　immense　long　plaits　of　hair；　and　Mrs。　Ledwich　never
interferes　with　them。　　It　is　entirely　to　drive　the　poor　Cocksmoor
ones　awayfor　nothing　else；　and　all　out　of　Fanny　Anderson's
chatter。〃

〃Ethel；　my　dear；〃　said　Margaret　pleadingly。

〃Didn't　I　tell　you；　Margaret；　how；　as　soon　as　Flora　knew　what　Mrs。
Ledwich　was　going　to　do；　she　went　and　told　her　this　was　the
children's　only　chance；　and　if　we　affronted　them　for　a　trifle；　there
would　be　no　hope　of　getting　them　back。　　She　said　she　was　sorry；　if　we
were　interested　for　them；　but　rules　must　not　be　broken；　and　when
Flora　spoke　of　all　who　do　wear　long　hair　unmolested；　she　shuffled　and
said；　for　the　sake　of　the　teachers；　as　well　as　the　other　children；
rags　and　dirt　could　not　be　allowed；　and　then　she　brought　up　the　old
story　of　Miss　Boulder's　pencil；　though　she　has　found　it　again；　and
ended　by　saying　Fanny　Anderson　told　her　it　was　a　serious　annoyance　to
the　teachers；　and　she　was　sure　we　should　agree　with　her；　that
something　was　due　to　voluntary　assistants　and　subscribers。〃

〃I　am　afraid　there　has　been　a　regular　set　at　them；〃　said　Margaret；
〃and　perhaps　they　are　troublesome；　poor　things。〃

〃As　if　school…keeping　were　for　luxury！〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃It　is　the
worst　thing　I　have　heard　of　Mrs。　Ledwich　yet！　　One's　blood　boils　to
think　of　those　poor　children　being　cast　off　because　our　fine　young
ladies　are　too　grand　to　teach　them！　　The　clergyman　leaving　his　work
to　a　set　of　conceited　women；　and　they　turning　their　backs　on
ignorance；　when　it　comes　to　their　door！　　Voluntary　subscribers；
indeed！　　I've　a　great　mind　I'll　be　one　no　longer。〃

〃Oh；　papa；　that　would　not　be　fair〃began　Ethel；　but　Margaret　knew　he
would　not　act　on　this；　squeezed　her　hand；　and　silenced　her。

〃One　thing　I've　said；　and　I'll　hold　to　it；〃　continued　Dr。　May；　〃if
they　outvote　Wilmot　again　in　your　Ladies'　Committee；　I'll　have　no
more　to　do　with　them；　as　sure　as　my　name's　Dick　May。　　It　is　a　scandal
the　way　things　are　done　here！〃

〃Papa；〃　said　Richard；　who　had　all　the　time　been　standing　silent；
〃Ethel　and　I　have　been　thinking；　if　you　approved；　whether　we　could
not　do　something　towards　teaching　the　Cocksmoor　children；　and
breaking　them　in　for　the　Sunday…school。〃

What　a　bound　Ethel's　heart　gave；　and　how　full　of　congratulation　and
sympathy　was　the　pressure　of　Margaret's　hand！

〃What　did　you　think　of　doing？〃　said　the　doctor。　　Ethel　burned　to
reply；　but　her　sister's　hand　admonished　her　to　remember　her　compact。
Richard　answered；　〃We　thought　of　trying　to　get　a　room；　and　going
perhaps　once　or　twice　a　week　to　give　them　a　little　teaching。　　It
would　be　little　enough；　but　it　might　do　something　towards　civilising
them；　and　making　them　wish　for　more。〃

〃How　do　you　propose　to　get　a　room？〃

〃I　have　reconnoitred；　and　I　think　I　know　a　cottage　with　a　tolerable
kitchen；　which　I　dare　say　we　might　hire　for　an　afternoon　for
sixpence。〃

Ethel；　unable　to　bear　it　any　longer；　threw　herself　forward；　and
sitting　on　the　ground　at　her　father's　feet；　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　papa！
papa！　do　say　we　may！〃

〃What's　all　this　about？〃　said　the　doctor；　surprised。

〃Oh！　you　don't　know　how　I　have　thought　of　it　day　and　night　these　two
months！〃

〃What！　　Ethel；　have　a　fancy　for　two　whole　months；　and　the　whole　house
not　hear　of　it！〃　said　her　father；　with　a　rather　provoking　look　of
incredulity。

〃Richard　was　afraid　of　bothering　you；　and　wouldn't　let　me。　　But　do
speak；　papa。　　May　we？〃

〃I　don't　see　any　objection。〃

She　clasped　her　hands　in　ecstasy。　　〃Thank　you！　thank　you；　papa！　　Oh；
Ritchie！　　Oh；　Margaret！〃　cried　she；　in　a　breathless　voice　of
transport。

〃You　have　worked　yourself　up　to　a　fine　pass；〃　said　the　doctor；
patting　the　agitated　girl　fondly　as　she　leaned　against　his　knee。
〃Remember；　slow　and　steady。〃

〃I've　got　Richard　to　help　me；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Sufficient　guarantee；〃　said　her　father；　smiling　archly　as　he　looked
up　to　his　son；　whose　fair　face　ha