the daisy chain, or aspirations-第32章

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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；　Ethel；　I　was　thinking　whether　dear　mamma　would　not　say
that　was　the　reason。　　You　were　so　happy；　that　perhaps　you　were　thrown
off　your　guard。〃

〃I　should　not　wonder　if　that　was　it；〃　said　Ethel　thoughtfully。　　〃You
know　it　was　a　sort　of　probation　that　Richard　put　me　on。　　I　was　to
learn　to　be　steady　before　he　spoke　to　papa；　and　now　it　seemed　to　be
all　settled　and　right；　and　perhaps　I　forgot　I　was　to　be　careful
still。〃

〃I　think　it　was　something　of　the　kind。　　I　was　a　little　afraid　before；
and　I　wish　I　had　tried　to　caution　you；　but　I　did　not　like　to　seem
unkind。〃

〃I　wish　you　had；〃　said　Ethel。　〃Dear　little　Aubrey！　　Oh；　if　papa　had
not　been　there！　　And　I　cannot　think　how；　as　it　was；　he　could　contrive
to　put　the　fire　out；　with　his　one　hand；　and　not　hurt　himself。
Margaret　it　was　terrible。　　How　could　I　mind　so　little！　　Did　you　see
how　his　frock　was　singed？〃

〃Yes；　papa　showed　it　to　me。　　How　can　we　be　thankful　enough！　　One
thing　I　hope；　that　Aubrey　was　well　frightened；　poor　little　boy。〃

〃I　know！　　I　see　now！〃　cried　Ethel；　〃he　must　have　wanted　me　to　make
the　fire　blaze　up；　as　Richard　did　one　evening　when　we　came　in　and
found　it　low；　I　remember　Aubrey　clapping　his　hands　and　shouting　at
the　flame；　but　my　head　was　in　that　unhappy　story；　and　I　never　had
sense　to　put　the　things　together；　and　reflect　that　he　would　try　to　do
it　himself。　　I　only　wanted　to　get　him　out　of　my　way；　dear　little
fellow。　　Oh；　dear；　how　bad　it　was　of　me！　　All　from　being　uplifted；
and　my　head　turned；　as　it　used　to　be　when　we　were　happier。　　Oh！　I
wish　Mr。　Wilmot　was　not　coming！〃

Ethel　sat　for　a　long　time　with　her　head　hidden　in　Margaret's　pillows；
and　her　hand　clasped　by　her　good　elder　sister。　　At　last　she　looked　up
and　said；　〃Oh；　Margaret；　I　am　so　unhappy。　　I　see　the　whole　meaning　of
it　now。　　Do　you　not？　　When　papa　gave　his　consent　at　last；　I　was
pleased　and　set　up；　and　proud　of　my　plans。　　I　never　recollected　what
a　silly；　foolish　girl　I　am；　and　how　unfit。　　I　thought　Mr。　Wilmot
would　think　great　things　of　itit　was　all　wrong　and　self…satisfied。
I　never　prayed　at　all　that　it　might　turn　out　well；　and　so　now　it
won't。〃

〃Dearest　Ethel；　I　don't　see　that。　　Perhaps　it　will　do　all　the　better
for　your　being　humbled　about　it　now。　　If　you　were　wild　and　high
flying；　it　would　never　go　right。〃

〃Its　hope　is　in　Richard；〃　said　Ethel。

〃So　it　is；〃　said　Margaret。

〃I　wish　Mr。　Wilmot　was　not　coming　to…night；〃　said　Ethel　again。　　〃It
would　serve　me　right　if　papa　were　to　say　nothing　about　it。〃

Ethel　lingered　with　her　sister　till　Harry　and　Mary　came　up　with
Margaret's　tea；　and　summoned　her；　and　she　crept　downstairs；　and
entered　the　room　so　quietly；　that　she　was　hardly　perceived　behind　her
boisterous　brother。　　She　knew　her　eyes　were　in　no　presentable　state；
and　cast　them　down；　and　shrank　back　as　Mr。　Wilmot　shook　her　hand　and
greeted　her　kindly。

Mr。　Wilmot　had　been　wont　to　come　to　tea　whenever　he　had　anything　to
say　to　Dr。　or　Mrs。　May；　which　was　about　once　in　ten　or　twelve　days。
He　was　Mary's　godfather；　and　their　most　intimate　friend　in　the　town；
and　he　had　often　been　with　them；　both　as　friend　and　clergyman；
through　their　troubleno　later　than　Christmas　Day；　he　had　come　to
bring　the　feast　of　that　day　to　Margaret　in　her　sick…room。　　Indeed；　it
had　been　chiefly　for　the　sake　of　the　Mays　that　he　had　resolved　to
spend　the　holidays　at　Stoneborough；　taking　the　care　of　Abbotstoke；
while　his　brother；　the　vicar；　went　to　visit　their　father。　　This　was；
however；　the　first　time　he　had　come　in　his　old　familiar　way　to　spend
an　evening；　and　there　was　something　in　the　resumption　of　former
habits　that　painfully　marked　the　change。

Ethel；　on　coming　in；　found　Flora　making　tea；　her　father　leaning　back
in　his　great　chair　in　silence；　Richard　diligently　cutting　bread；　and
Blanche　sitting　on　Mr。　Wilmot's　knee；　chattering　fast　and
confidentially。　　Flora　made　Harry　dispense　the　cups；　and　called　every
one　to　their　places；　Ethel　timidly　glanced　at　her　father's　face；　as
he　rose　and　came　into　the　light。　　She　thought　the　lines　and　hollows
were　more　marked　than　ever；　and　that　he　looked　fatigued　and　mournful；
and　she　felt　cut　to　the　heart；　but　he　began　to　exert　himself；　and　to
make　conversation；　not；　however；　about　Cocksmoor；　but　asking　Mr。
Wilmot　what　his　brother　thought　of　his　new　squire；　Mr；　Rivers。

〃He　likes　him　very　much；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。　　〃He　is　a　very　pleasing
person；　particularly　kind…hearted　and　gentle；　and　likely　to　do　a
great　deal　for　the　parish。　　They　have　been　giving　away　beef　and
blankets　at　a　great　rate　this　Christmas。〃

〃What　family　is　there？〃　asked　Flora。

〃One　daughter；　about　Ethel's　age；　is　there　with　her　governess。　　He
has　been　twice　married；　and　the　first　wife　left　a　son；　who　is　in　the
Dragoons；　I　believe。　　This　girl's　mother　was　Lord　Cosham's　daughter。〃

So　the　talk　lingered　on；　without　much　interest　or　life。　　It　was
rather　keeping　from　saying　nothing　than　conversation；　and　no　one　was
without　the　sensation　that　she　was　missing；　round　whom　all　had　been
free　and　joyousnot　that　she　had　been　wont　to　speak　much　herself；
but　nothing　would　go　on　smoothly　or　easily　without　her。　　So　long　did
this　last；　that　Ethel　began　to　think　her　father　meant　to　punish　her
by　not　beginning　the　subject　that　night；　and　though　she　owned　that
she　deserved　it；　she　could　not　help　being　very　much　disappointed。

At　length；　however；　her　father　began：　〃We　wanted　you　to　talk　over　a
scheme　that　these　young　ones　have　been　concocting。　　You　see；　I　am
obliged　to　keep　Richard　at　home　this　next　termit　won't　do　to　have
no　one　in　the　house　to　carry　poor　Margaret。　　We　can't　do　without　him
anyway；　so　he　and　Ethel　have　a　scheme　of　seeing　what　can　be　done　for
that　wretched　place；　Cocksmoor。〃

〃Indeed！〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　brightening　and　looking　interested。　　〃It
is　sadly　destitute。　　It　would　be　a　great　thing　if　anything　could　be
done　for　it。　　You　have　brought　some　children　to　school　already；　I
think。　　I　saw　some　rough…looking　boys；　who　said　they　came　from
Cocksmoor。〃

This　embarked　the　doctor　in　the　history　of　the　ladies　being　too　fine
to　teach　the　poor　Cocksmoor　girls；　which　he　told　with　kindling
vehemence　and　indignation；　growing　more　animated　every　moment；　as　he
stormed　over　the　wonted　subject　of　the　bad　system　of　management
ladies'　committee；　negligent　incumbent；　insufficient　clergy；
misappropriated　titheswhile　Mr。　Wilmot；　who　had　mourned　over　it；
within　himself；　a　hundred　times　already；　and　was　doing　a　curate's
work　on　sufferance；　with　no　pay；　and　little　but　mistrust　from　Mr。
Ramsden；　and　absurd　false　reports　among　the　more　foolish　part　of　the
town；　sat　listening　patiently；　glad　to　hear　the　doctor　in　his　old
strain；　though　it　was　a　hopeless　matter　for　discussion；　and　Ethel
dreaded　that　the　lamentation　would　go　on　till　bedtime；　and　Cocksmoor
be　quite　forgotten。

After　a　time　they　came　safely　back　to　the　project；　and　Richard　was
called　on　to　explain。　　Ethel　left　it　all　to　him；　and　he　with　rising
colour；　and　quiet；　unhesitating；　though　diffident　manner；　detailed
designs　that　showed　themselves　to　have　been　well　matured。　　Mr。　Wilmot
heard；　cordially　approved；　and；　as　all　agreed　that　no　time　was　to　be
lost；　while　the　holidays　lasted；　he　undertook　to　speak　to　Mr。　Ramsden
on　the　subject　the　next　morning；　and　if　his　consent　to　their　schemes
could　be　gained；　to　come　in　the　afternoon　to　walk　with　Richard　and
Ethel　to　Cocksmoor；　and　set　their　affairs　in　order。　　All　the　time
Ethel　said　not　a　word；　except　when　referred　to　by　her　brother；　but
when　Mr。　Wilmot　took　leave；　he　shook　her　hand　warmly；　as　if　he　was
much　pleased　with　her。　　〃Ah！〃　she　thought；　〃if　he　knew　how　ill　I　have
behaved！　　It　is　all　show　and　hollowness　with　me。〃

She　did　not　know　that　Mr。　Wilmot　thought　her　silence　one　of　the　best
signs　for　the　plan；　nor　how　much　more　doubtful　he　would　have　thought
her　perseverance；　if　he　had　seen　her　wild　and　vehement。　　As　it　was；
he　was　very　much　pleased；　and　when　the　doctor　came　out　with　him　into
the　hall；　he　could　not　help　expressing　his　satisfaction　in　Richard's
well…judged　and　sensibly…described　project。

〃Ay；　ay！〃　said　the　doctor；　〃there's　much　more　in　the　boy　than　I　used
to　think。　　He's　a　capital　fellow；　and　more　like　his　mother　than　any
of　them。〃

〃He　is；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　〃there　was　a　just；　well…weighed　sense　and
soberness　in　his　plans　that　put　me　in　mind　of　her　every　moment。〃

Dr。　May　gave　his　hand　a　squeeze；　full　of　feeling；　and　went　up　to　tell
Margaret。　　She；　on　the　first　opportunity；　told　Richard；　and　made　him
happier　than　he　had　been　for　months；　not　so　much　in　Mr。　Wilmot's
words；　as　in　his　father's　assent　to；　and　pleasure　in　them。




CHAPTER　XV。



Pitch　thy　behaviour　low；　thy　projects　high；
　　So　shalt　thou　humble　and　magnanimous　be；
Sink　not　in　spirit；　who　aimeth　at　the　sky
　　Shoots　higher　much　than　he　that　means　a　tree。
　　　　A　grain　of　glory　mixed　with　humbleness；
　　　　Cures　both　a　fever　and　lethargicness。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HERBERT。


〃Norman；　do　you　feel　up　to　a　long　day's　work？〃　said　Dr。　May；　on　the
following　morning。　　〃I　have　to　set　off　after　breakfast　to　see　old
Mrs。　Gould；　and　to　be　at　Abbotstoke　Grange　by　twelve；　then　I　thought
of　going　to　Fordholm；　and　getting　Miss　Cleveland　to　give　us　some
luncheonthere　are　some　poor　people　on　the　way　to　look　at；　and　that
girl　on　Far…view　Hill；　and　there's　another　place　to　call　in　at　coming
home。　　You'll　have　a　good　deal　of　sitting　in　the　carriage；　holding
Whitefoot；　so　if　you　think　you　shall　be　cold　or　tired；　don't　scruple
to　say　so；　and　I'll　take　Adams　to　drive　me。〃

〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　Norman　briskly。　　〃This　frost　is　famous。〃

〃It　will　turn　to　rain；　I　expectit　is　too　white；〃　said　the　doctor；
looking　out　at　the　window。　　〃How　will　you　get　to　Cocksmoor；　good
people？〃

〃Ethel　won't　believe　it　rains　unless　it　is　very　bad；〃　said　Richard。

Norman　set　out　with　his　father；　and　prosperously　performed　the
expedition；　arriving　at　Abbotstoke　Grange　at　the　appointed　hour。

〃Ha！〃　said　the　doctor；　as　the　iron　gates　of　ornamental　scrollwork
were　swung　back；　〃there's　a　considerable　change　in　this　place　since　I
was　here　last。　　Well　kept　up　indeed！　　Not　a　dead　leaf　left　under　the
old　walnuts；　and　the　grass　looks　as　smooth　as　if　they　had　a　dozen
gardeners　rolling　it　every　day。〃

〃And　the　drive；〃　said　Norman；　〃more　like　a　garden　walk　than　a　road！
But　oh！　what　a　splendid　cedar！〃

〃Isn't　it！　I　remember　that　as　long　as　I　remember　anything。　　All　this
fine　rolling　of　turf；　and　trimming　up　of　the　place；　does　not　make
much　difference　to　you；　old　fellow；　does　it？　　You　don't　look　altered
since　I　saw　you　last；　when　old　Jervis　was　letting　the　place　go　to
rack　and　ruin。　　So　they　have　a　new　entrancevery　handsome
conservatoryflowersthe　banker　does　things　in　style。　　There；〃　as
Norman　helped　him　off　with　his　plaid；　〃wrap　yourself　up　well；　don't
get　cold。　　The　sun　is　gone　in；　and　I　should　not　wonder　if　the　rain
were　coming　after　all。　　I'll　not　be　longer　than　I　can　help。〃

Dr。　May　disappeared　from　his　son's　sight　through　the　conservatory；
where；　through　the　plate…glass；　the　exotics　looked　so　fresh　and