the daisy chain, or aspirations-第31章

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〃Sufficient　guarantee；〃　said　her　father；　smiling　archly　as　he　looked
up　to　his　son；　whose　fair　face　had　coloured　deep　red。　　〃You　will　keep
the　Unready　in　order；　Ritchie。〃

〃He　does；〃　said　Margaret；　〃he　has　taken　her　education　into　his　hands；
and　I　really　believe　he　has　taught　her　to　hold　up　her　frock　and　stick
in　pins。〃

〃And　to　know　her　right　hand　from　her　left；　eh；　Ethel？　　Well；　you
deserve　some　credit；　then。　　Suppose　we　ask　Mr。　Wilmot　to　tea；　and
talk　it　over。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　papa！　　When　shall　it　be？　　To…morrow？〃

〃Yes；　if　you　like。　　I　have　to　go　to　the　town…council　meeting；　and　am
not　going　into　the　country；　so　I　shall　be　in　early。〃

〃Thank　you。　　Oh；　how　very　nice！〃

〃And　what　about　cost？　　Do　you　expect　to　rob　me？〃

〃If　you　would　help　us；〃　said　Ethel；　with　an　odd　shy　manner；　〃we　meant
to　make　what　we　have　go　as　far　as　may　be；　but　mine　is　only　fifteen
and　sixpence。〃

〃Well；　you　must　make　interest　with　Margaret　for　the　turn…out　of　my
pocket　to…morrow。〃

〃Thank　you；　we　are　very　much　obliged；〃　said　the　brother　and　sister
earnestly；　〃that　is　more　than　we　expected。〃

〃Ha！　don't　thank　too　soon。　　Suppose　to…morrow　should　be　a　blank　day！〃

〃Oh；　it　won't！〃　said　Ethel。　　〃I　shall　tell　Norman　to　make　you　go　to
paying　people。〃

〃There's　avarice！〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃But　look　you　here；　Ethel；　if
you'll　take　my　advice；　you'll　make　your　bargain　for　Tuesday。　　I　have
a　note　appointing　me　to　call　at　Abbotstoke　Grange　on　Mr。　Rivers；　at
twelve　o'clock；　on　Tuesday。　　What　do　you　think　of　that；　Ethel？　　An
old　banker；　rich　enough　for　his　daughter　to　curl　her　hair　in　bank…
notes。　　If　I　were　you；　I'd　make　a　bargain　for　him。〃

〃If　he　had　nothing　the　matter　with　him；　and　I　only　got　one　guinea　out
of　him！〃

〃Prudence！　Well；　it　may　be　wiser。〃

Ethel　ran　up　to　her　room；　hardly　able　to　believe　that　the　mighty
proposal　was　made；　and　it　had　been　so　readily　granted；　that　it　seemed
as　if　Richard's　caution　had　been　vain　in　making　such　a　delay；　that
even　Margaret　had　begun　to　fear　that　the　street　of　by…and…by　was
leading　to　the　house　of　never。　　Now；　however；　it　was　plain　that　he
had　been　wise。　　Opportunity　was　everything；　at　another　moment；　their
father　might　have　been　harassed　and　oppressed；　and　unable　to　give　his
mind　to　concerns；　which　now　he　could　think　of　with　interest；　and
Richard　could　not　have　caught　a　more　favourable　conjuncture。

Ethel　was　in　a　wild　state　of　felicity　all　that　evening　and　the　next
day；　very　unlike　her　brother；　who；　dismayed　at　the　open　step　he　had
taken；　shrank　into　himself；　and　in　his　shyness　dreaded　the　discussion
in　the　evening；　and　would　almost　have　been　relieved；　if　Mr。　Wilmot
had　been　unable　to　accept　the　invitation。　　So　quiet　and　grave　was　he；
that　Ethel　could　not　get　him　to　talk　over　the　matter　at　all　with　her；
and　she　was　obliged　to　bestow　all　her　transports　and　grand　projects
on　Flora　or　Margaret；　when　she　could　gain　their　ears；　besides　conning
them　over　to　herself；　as　an　accompaniment　to　her　lessons；　by　which
means　she　tried　Miss　Winter's　patience　almost　beyond　measure。　　But
she　cared　notshe　saw　a　gathering　school　and　rising　church；　which
eclipsed　all　thought　of　present　inattentions　and　gaucheries。　　She
monopolised　Margaret　in　the　twilight；　and　rhapsodised　to　her　heart's
content；　talking　faster　and　faster；　and　looking　more　and　more
excited。　　Margaret　began　to　feel　a　little　overwhelmed；　and　while
answering　〃yes〃　at　intervals；　was　considering　whether　Ethel　had　not
been　flying　about　in　an　absent　inconsiderate　mood　all　day；　and
whether　it　would　seem　unkind　to　damp　her　ardour；　by　giving　her　a　hint
that　she　was　relaxing　her　guard　over　herself。　　Before　Margaret　had
steeled　herself；　Ethel　was　talking　of　a　story　she　had　read；　of　a
place　something　like　Cocksmoor。　　Margaret　was　not　ready　with　her
recollection；　and　Ethel；　saying　it　was　in　a　magazine　in　the　drawing…
room　chiffonier；　declared　she　would　fetch　it。

Margaret　knew　what　it　was　to　expect　her　visitors　to　return　〃in　one
moment；〃　and　with　a　〃now…or…never〃　feeling　she　began；　〃Ethel；　dear；
wait；〃　but　Ethel　was　too　impetuous　to　attend。　　〃I'll　be　back　in　a
twinkling；〃　she　called　out；　and　down　she　flew；　in　her　speed　whisking
away；　without　seeing　it；　the　basket　with　Margaret's　knitting　and　all
her　notes　and　papers；　which　lay　scattered　on　the　floor　far　out　of
reach；　vexing　Margaret　at　first；　and　then　making　her　grieve　at　her
own　impatient　feeling。

Ethel　was　soon　in　the　drawing…room；　but　the　right　number　of　the
magazine　was　not　quickly　forthcoming；　and　in　searching　she　became
embarked　in　another　story。　　Just　then；　Aubrey；　whose　stout　legs　were
apt　to　carry　him　into　every　part　of　the　house　where　he　was　neither
expected　nor　wanted；　marched　in　at　the　open　door；　trying　by　dint　of
vehement　gestures　to　make　her　understand；　in　his　imperfect　speech；
something　that　he　wanted。　　Very　particularly　troublesome　she　thought
him；　more　especially　as　she　could　not　make　him　out；　otherwise　than
that　he　wanted　her　to　do　something　with　the　newspaper　and　the　fire。
She　made　a　boat　for　him　with　an　old　newspaper；　a　very　hasty　and　frail
performance；　and　told　him　to　sail　it　on　the　carpet；　and　be　Mr。
Ernescliffe　going　away；　and　she　thought　him　thus　safely　disposed　of。
Returning　to　her　book　and　her　search；　with　her　face　to　the　cupboard；
and　her　book　held　up　to　catch　the　light；　she　was　soon　lost　in　her
story；　and　thought　of　nothing　more　till　suddenly　roused　by　her
father's　voice　in　the　hall；　loud　and　peremptory　with　alarm；　〃Aubrey！
put　that　down！〃　　She　looked；　and　beheld　Aubrey　brandishing　a　great
flaming　paperhe　dropped　it　at　the　exclamationit　fell　burning　on
the　carpet。　　Aubrey's　white　pinafore！　　Ethel　was　springing　up；　but　in
her　cramped；　twisted　position　she　could　not　do　so　quickly；　and　even
as　he　called；　her　father　strode　by　her；　snatched　at　Aubrey's　merino
frock；　which　he　crushed　over　the　scarcely　lighted　pinafore；　and
trampled　out　the　flaming　paper　with　his　foot。　　It　was　a　moment　of
dreadful　fright；　but　the　next　assured　them　that　no　harm　was　done。

〃Ethel！〃　cried　the　doctor；　〃Are　you　mad？　　What　were　you　thinking　of？〃

Aubrey；　here　recollecting　himself　enough　to　be　frightened　at　his
father's　voice　and　manner；　burst　into　loud　cries；　the　doctor　pressed
him　closer　on　his　breast；　caressed　and　soothed　him。　　Ethel　stood　by；
pale　and　transfixed　with　horror。　　Her　father　was　more　angry　with　her
than　she　had　ever　seen　him；　and　with　reason；　as　she　knew；　as　she
smelled　the　singeing；　and　saw　a　large　burnt　hole　in　Aubrey's
pinafore；　while　the　front　of　his　frock　was　scorched　and　brown。　　Dr。
May's　words　were　not　needed；　〃What　could　make　you　let　him？〃

〃I　didn't　see〃　she　faltered。

〃Didn't　see！　　Didn't　look；　didn't　think；　didn't　care！　　That's　it；
Ethel。　　'Tis　very　hard　one　can't　trust　you　in　a　room　with　the　child
any　more　than　the　baby　himself。　　His　frock　perfect　tinder！　　He　would
have　been　burned　to　a　cinder；　if　I　had　not　come　in！〃


Aubrey　roared　afresh；　and　Dr。　May；　kissing　and　comforting　him；
gathered　him　up　in　his　left　arm；　and　carried　him　away；　looking　back
at　the　door　to　say；　〃There's　no　bearing　it！　　I'll　put　a　stop　to　all
schools　and　Greek；　if　it　is　to　lead　to　this；　and　make　you　good　for
nothing！〃

Ethel　was　too　much　terrified　to　know　where　she　was；　or　anything；　but
that　she　had　let　her　little　brother　run　into　fearful　peril；　and
grievously　angered　her　father；　she　was　afraid　to　follow　him；　and
stood　still；　annihilated；　and　in　despair；　till　roused　by　his　return；
then；　with　a　stifled　sob；　she　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　papa！〃　and　could　get　no
further　for　a　gush　of　tears。

But　the　anger　of　the　shock　of　terror　was　over；　and　Dr。　May　was　sorry
for　her　tears；　though　still　he　could　not　but　manifest　some
displeasure。　　〃Yes；　Ethel；〃　he　said；　〃it　was　a　frightful　thing；〃　and
he　could　not　but　shudder　again。　　〃One　moment　later！　　It　is　an　escape
to　be　for　ever　thankful　forpoor　little　fellow！but；　Ethel；　Ethel；
do　let　it　be　a　warning　to　you。〃

〃Oh；　I　hopeI'll　try〃　sobbed　Ethel。

〃You　have　said　you　would　try　before。〃

〃I　know　I　have；〃　said　Ethel；　choked。　　〃If　I　could　but〃

〃Poor　child；〃　said　Dr。　May　sadly；　then　looking　earnestly　at　her；
〃Ethel；　my　dear；　I　am　afraid　of　its　being　with　you　asas　it　has　been
with　me；〃　he　spoke　very　low；　and　drew　her　close　to　him。　　〃I　grew　up；
thinking　my　inbred　heedlessness　a　sort　of　grace；　so　to　say；　rather
manlythe　reverse　of　finikin。　　I　was　spoiled　as　a　boy；　and　my　Maggie
carried　on　the　spoiling；　by　never　letting　me　feel　its　effects。　　By
the　time　I　had　sense　enough　to　regret　this　as　a　fault；　I　had　grown
too　old　for　changing　of　ingrain；　long…nurtured　habitsperhaps　I
never　wished　it　really。　　You　have　seen；〃　and　his　voice　was　nearly
inaudible；　〃what　my　carelessness　has　come　tolet　that　suffice　at
least；　as　a　lesson　that　may　spare　youwhat　your　father　must　feel　as
long　as　he　lives。〃

He　pressed　his　hand　tightly　on　her　shoulder；　and　left　her；　without
letting　her　see　his　face。　　Shocked　and　bewildered；　she　hurried
upstairs　to　Margaret。　　She　threw　herself　on　her　knees；　felt　her　arms
round　her；　and　heard　her　kind　soothing；　and　then；　in　broken　words；
told　how　dreadful　it　had　been；　and　how　kind　papa　had　been；　and　what
he　had　said；　which　was　now　the　uppermost　thought。　　〃Oh；　Margaret；
Margaret；　how　very　terrible　it　is！　　And　does　papa　really　think　so？〃

〃I　believe　he　does；〃　whispered　Margaret。

〃How　can　he；　can　he　bear　it〃〃　said　Ethel；　clasping　her　hands。　　〃Oh！
it　is　enough　to　kill　oneI　can't　think　why　it　did　not！〃

〃He　bears　it；〃　said　Margaret；　〃because　he　is　so　very　good；　that　help
and　comfort　do　come　to　him。　　Dear　papa！　　He　bears　up　because　it　is
right；　and　for　our　sakes；　and　he　has　a　sort　of　rest　in　that　perfect
love　they　had　for　each　other。　　He　knows　how　she　would　wish　him　to
cheer　up　and　look　to　the　end；　and　support　and　comfort　are　given　to
him；　I　know　they　are；　but　oh；　Ethel！　it　does　make　one　tremble　and
shrink；　to　think　what　he　has　been　going　through　this　autumn；
especially　when　I　hear　him　moving　about　late　at　night；　and　now　and
then　comes　a　heavy　groanwhenever　any　especial　care　has　been　on　his
mind。〃

Ethel　was　in　great　distress。　〃To　have　grieved　him　again！〃　said　she；
〃and　just　as　he　seemed　better　and　brighter！　　Everything　I　do　turns
out　wrong；　and　always　will；　I　can't　do　anything　well　by　any　chance。〃

〃Yes　you　can；　when　you　mind　what　you　are　about。〃

〃But　I　never　canI'm　like　him；　every　one　says　so；　and　he　says　the
heedlessness　is　ingrain；　and　can't　be　got　rid　of。〃

〃Ethel；　I　don't　really　think　he　could　have　told　you　so。〃

〃I'm　sure　he　said　ingrain。〃

〃Well；　I　suppose　it　is　part　of　his　nature；　and　that　you　have
inherited　it；　but〃Margaret　paused；　and　Ethel　exclaimed：

〃He　said　his　was　long…nurtured；　yes；　Margaret；　you　guessed　right；　and
he　said　he　could　not　change　it；　and　no　more　can　I。〃

〃Surely；　Ethel；　you　have　not　had　so　many　years。　　You　are　fifteen
instead　of　forty…six；　and　it　is　more　a　woman's　work　than　a　man's　to
be　careful。　　You　need　not　begin　to　despair。　　You　were　growing　much
better；　Richard　said　so；　and　so　did　Miss　Winter。〃

〃What's　the　use　of　it；　if　in　one　moment　it　is　as　bad　as　ever？　　And
to…day；　of　all　days　in　the　year；　just　when　papa　had　been　so　very；
very　kind；　and　given　me　more　than　I　asked。〃

〃Do　you　know；