the daisy chain, or aspirations-第34章

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would　like　to　have　a　few　flowers？〃　said　she。

No　sooner　said　than　done；　the　door　into　the　conservatory　was　opened；
and　Meta；　cutting　sprays　of　beautiful　geranium；　delicious　heliotrope；
fragrant　calycanthus；　deep　blue　tree　violet；　and　exquisite　hothouse
ferns；　perfect　wonders　to　Norman；　who；　at　each　addition　to　the
bouquet；　exclaimed　by　turns；　〃Oh；　thank　you！〃　and；　〃How　she　will　like
it！〃

Her　father　reached　a　magnolia　blossom　from　on　high；　and　the　quick
warm　grateful　emotion　trembled　in　Dr。　May's　features　and　voice；　as　he
said；　〃It　is　very　kind　in　you；　you　have　given　my　poor　girl　a　great
treat。　　Thank　you　with　all　my　heart。〃

Margaret　Rivers　cast　down　her　eyes；　half　smiled；　and　shrank　back；
thinking　she　had　never　felt　anything　like　the　left…handed　grasp；　so
full　of　warmth　and　thankfulness。　　It　gave　her　confidence　to　venture
on　the　one　question　on　which　she　was　bent。　　Her　father　was　in　the
hall；　showing　Norman　his　Greek　nymph；　and　lifting　her　eyes　to　Dr。
May's　face；　then　casting　them　down；　she　coloured　deeper　than　ever；　as
she　said；　in　a　stammering　whisper；　〃Oh；　pleaseif　you　would　tell　me…
…do　you　thinkis　papa　very　ill？〃

Dr。　May　answered　in　his　softest；　most　reassuring　tones：　〃You　need　not
be　alarmed　about　him；　I　assure　you。　　You　must　keep　him　from　too　much
business；〃　he　added；　smiling；　〃make　him　ride　with　you；　and　not　let
him　tire　himself；　and　I　am　sure　you　can　be　his　best　doctor。〃

〃But　do　you　think；〃　said　Meta；　earnestly　looking　up〃do　you　think　he
will　be　quite　well　again？〃

〃You　must　not　expect　doctors　to　be　absolute　oracles；〃　said　he。　〃I
will　tell　you　what　I　told　himI　hardly　think　his　will　ever　be　sound
health　again；　but　I　see　no　reason　why　he　should　not　have　many　years
of　comfort；　and　there　is　no　cause　for　you　to　disquiet　yourself　on　his
accountyou　have　only　to　be　careful　of　him。〃

Meta　tried　to　say　〃thank　you；〃　but　not　succeeding；　looked　imploringly
at　her　governess；　who　spoke　for　her。　　〃Thank　you；　it　is　a　great
relief　to　have　an　opinion；　for　we　were　not　at　all　satisfied　about　Mr。
Rivers。〃

A　few　words　more；　and　Meta　was　skipping　about　like　a　sprite　finding　a
basket　for　the　flowersshe　had　another　shake　of　the　hand；　another
grateful　smile；　and　〃thank　you；〃　from　the　doctor；　and　then；　as　the
carriage　disappeared；　Mrs。　Larpent　exclaimed；　〃What　a　very　nice
intelligent　boy　that　was。〃

〃Particularly　gentlemanlike；〃　said　Mr。　Rivers。　〃Very　cleverthe　head
of　the　school；　as　his　father　tells　meand　so　modest　and　unassuming
though　I　see　his　father　is　very　proud　of　him。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　sure　they　are　so　fond　of　each　other；〃　said　Meta：　〃didn't
you　see　his　attentive　ways　to　his　father　at　luncheon！　　And；　papa；　I
am　sure　you　must　like　Dr。　May；　Mr。　Wilmot's　doctor；　as　much　as　I　said
you　would。〃

〃He　is　the　most　superior　man　I　have　met　with　for　a　long　time；〃　said
Mr。　Rivers。　　〃It　is　a　great　acquisition　to　find　a　man　of　such　taste
and　acquirements　in　this　country　neighbourhood；　when　there　is　not
another　who　can　tell　a　Claude　from　a　Poussin。　　I　declare；　when　once
we　began　talking；　there　was　no　leaving　offI　have　not　met　a　person
of　so　much　conversation　since　I　left　town。　　I　thought　you　would　like
to　see　him；　Meta。〃

〃I　hope　I　shall　know　the　Miss　Mays　some　time　or　other。〃

〃That　is　the　prettiest　little　fairy　I　ever　did　see！〃　was　Dr。　May's
remark；　as　Norman　drove　from　the　door。

〃How　good…natured　they　are！〃　said　Norman；　〃I　just　said　something
about　Margaret；　and　she　gave　me　all　these　flowers。　　How　Margaret　will
be　delighted！　　I　wish　the　girls　could　see　it　all！〃

〃So　you　got　on　well　with　the　ladies；　did　you？〃

〃They　were　very　kind　to　me。　　It　was　very　pleasant！〃　said　Norman；　with
a　tone　of　enjoyment　that　did　his　father's　heart　good。

〃I　was　glad　you　should　come　in。　　Such　a　curiosity　shop　is　a　sight；
and　those　pictures　were　some　of　them　well　worth　seeing。　　That　was　a
splendid　Titian。〃

〃That　cast　of　the　Pallas　of　the　Parthenonhow　beautiful　it　wasI
knew　it　from　the　picture　in　Smith's　dictionary。　　Mr。　Rivers　said　he
would　show　me　all　his　antiques　if　you　would　bring　me　again。〃

〃I　saw　he　liked　your　interest　in　them。　　He　is　a　good；　kind…hearted
dilettante　sort　of　old　man；　he　has　got　all　the　talk　of　the　literary；
cultivated　society　in　London；　and　must　find　it　dullish　work　here。〃

〃You　liked　him；　didn't　you？〃

〃He　is　very　pleasant；　I　found　he　knew　my　old　friend；　Benson；　whom　I
had　not　seen　since　we　were　at　Cambridge　together；　and　we　got　on　that
and　other　matters；　London　people　have　an　art　of　conversation　not
learned　here；　and　I　don't　know　how　the　time　slipped　away；　but　you
must　have　been　tolerably　tired　of　waiting。〃

〃Not　to　signify；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I　only　began　to　think　he　must　be
very　ill；　I　hope　there　is　not　much　the　matter　with　him。〃

〃I　can't　say。　　I　am　afraid　there　is　organic　disease；　but　I　think　it
may　be　kept　quiet　a　good　while　yet；　and　he　may　have　a　pleasant　life
for　some　time　to　come；　arranging　his　prints；　and　petting　his　pretty
daughter。　　He　has　plenty　to　fall　back　upon。〃

〃Do　you　go　there　again？〃

〃Yes；　next　week。　　I　am　glad　of　it。　　I　shall　like　to　have　another　look
at　that　little　Madonna　of　hisit　is　the　sort　of　picture　that　does
one　good　to　carry　away　in　one's　eye。　　Whay！　　Stop。　　There's　an　old
woman　in　here。　　It　is　too　late　for　Fordholm；　but　these　cases　won't
wait。〃

He　went　into　the　cottage；　and　soon　returned；　saying；　〃Fine　new
blankets；　and　a　great　kettle　of　soup；　and　such　praises　of　the　ladies
at　the　Grange！〃　　And；　at　the　next　house；　it　was　the　same　story。
〃Well；　'tis　no　mockery　now　to　tell　the　poor　creatures　they　want
nourishing　food。　　Slices　of　meat　and　bottles　of　port　wine　rain　down
on　Abbotstoke。〃

A　far　more　talkative　journey　than　usual　ensued；　the　discussion　of　the
paintings　and　antiques　was　almost　equally　delightful　to　the　father
and　son；　and　lasted　till；　about　a　mile　from　Stoneborough；　they
descried　three　figures　in　the　twilight。

〃Ha！　　How　are　you；　Wilmot？　　So　you　braved　the　rain；　Ethel。　　Jump　in；〃
called　the　doctor；　as　Norman　drew　up。

〃I　shall　crowd　youI　shall　hurt　your　arm；　papa；　thank　you。〃

〃No；　you　won'tjump　inthere's　room　for　three　thread…papers　in　one
gig。　　Why；　Wilmot；　your　brother　has　a　very　jewel　of　a　squire！　　How
did　you　fare？〃

〃Very　well　on　the　whole；〃　was　Mr。　Wllmot's　answer；　while　Ethel
scrambled　in；　and　tried　to　make　herself　small；　an　art　in　which　she
was　not　very　successful；　and　Norman　gave　an　exclamation　of　horrified
warning；　as　she　was　about　to　step　into　the　flower…basket；　then　she
nearly　tumbled　out　again　in　dismay；　and　was　relieved　to　find　herself
safely　wedged　in；　without　having　done　any　harm；　while　her　father
called　out　to　Mr。　Wilmot；　as　they　started；　〃I　say！　　You　are　coming
back　to　tea　with　us。〃

That　cheerful　tone；　and　the　kindness　to　herself；　were　a　refreshment
and　revival　to　Ethel；　who　was　still　sobered　and　shocked　by　her
yesterday's　adventure；　and　by　the　sense　of　her　father's　sorrowful
displeasure。　　Expecting　further　to　be　scolded　for　getting　in　so
awkwardly；　she　did　not　venture　to　volunteer　anything；　and　even　when
he　kindly　said；　〃I　hope　you　were　prosperous　in　your　expedition；〃　she
only　made　answer；　in　a　very　grave　voice；　〃Yes；　papa；　we　have　taken　a
very　nice　tidy　room。〃

〃What　do　you　pay　for　it？〃

〃Fourpence　for　each　time。〃

〃Well；　here's　for　you；〃　said　Dr。　May。　〃It　is　only　two　guineas　to…day；
that　banker　at　the　Grange　beguiled　us　of　our　time；　but　you　had　better
close　the　bargain　for　him；　Ethelhe　will　be　a　revenue　for　you；　for
this　winter　at　least。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　papa；〃　was　all　Ethel　could　say；　overpowered　by　his
kindness；　and　more　repressed　by　what　she　felt　so　unmerited；　than　she
would　have　been　by　coldness；　she　said　few　words；　and　preferred
listening　to　Norman；　who　began　to　describe　their　adventures　at　the
Grange。

All　her　eagerness　revived；　however；　as　she　sprang　out　of　the
carriage；　full　of　tidings　for　Margaret；　and　it　was　almost　a　race
between　her　and　Norman　to　get　upstairs；　and　unfold　their　separate
budgets。

Margaret's　lamp　had　just　been　lighted；　when　they　made　their　entrance；
Norman　holding　the　flowers　on　high。

〃Oh；　how　beautiful！　how　delicious！　　For　me？　Where　did　you　get　them？〃

〃From　Abbotstoke　Grange；　Miss　Rivers　sent　them　to　you。〃

〃How　very　kind！　　What　a　lovely　geranium；　and　oh；　that　fern！　　I　never
saw　anything　so　choice。　　How　came　she　to　think　of　me？〃

〃They　asked　me　in　because　it　rained；　and　she　was　making　the　prettiest
things；　leather　leaves　and　flowers　for　picture　frames。　　I　thought　it
was　work　that　would　just　suit　you；　and　learned　how　to　do　it。　　That
made　them　ask　about　you；　and　it　ended　by　her　sending　you　this
nosegay。〃

〃How　very　kind　everybody　is！　　Well；　Ethel；　are　you　come　home　too？〃

〃Papa　picked　me　up。　　Oh；　Margaret；　we　have　found　such　a　nice　room；　a
clean　sanded　kitchen〃

〃You　never　saw　such　a　conservatory〃

〃And　it　is　to　be　let　to　us　for　fourpence　a　time〃

〃The　house　is　full　of　beautiful　things；　pictures　and　statues。　　Only
think　of　a　real　Titian；　and　a　cast　of　the　Apollo！〃

〃Twenty　children　to　begin　with；　and　Richard　is　going　to　make　some
forms。〃

〃Mr。　Rivers　is　going　to　show　me　all　his　casts。〃

〃Oh；　is　he？　　But　only　think　how　lucky　we　were　to　find　such　a　nice
woman；　Mr。　Wilmot　was　so　pleased　with　her。〃

Norman　found　one　story　at　a　time　was　enough；　and　relinquished　the
field；　contenting　himself　with　silently　helping　Margaret　to　arrange
the　flowers；　holding　the　basket　for　her；　and　pleased　with　her
gestures　of　admiration。　　Ethel　went　on　with　her　history。　　〃The　first
place　we　thought　of　would　not　do　at　all；　the　woman　said　she　would　not
take　half…a…crown　a　week　to　have　a　lot　of　children　stabbling　about；
as　she　called　it；　so　we　went　to　another　house；　and　there　was　a　very
nice　woman　indeed；　Mrs。　Green；　with　one　little　boy；　whom　she　wanted
to　send　to　school；　only　it　is　too　far。　　She　says　she　always　goes　to
church　at　Fordholm　because　it　is　nearer；　and　she　is　quite　willing　to
let　us　have　the　room。　　So　we　settled　it；　and　next　Friday　we　are　to
begin。　　Papa　has　given　us　two　guineas；　and　that　will　pay　for；　let　me
see；　a　hundred　and　twenty…six　times；　and　Mr。　Wilmot　is　going　to　give
us　some　books；　and　Ritchie　will　print　some　alphabets。　　We　told　a
great　many　of　the；　people；　and　they　are　so　glad。　　Old　Granny　Hall
said；　'Well；　I　never！'　and　told　the　girls　they　must　be　as　good　as
gold　now　the　gentlefolks　was　coming　to　teach　them。　　Mr。　Wilmot　is
coming　with　us　every　Friday　as　long　as　the　holidays　last。〃

Ethel　departed　on　her　father's　coming　in　to　ask　Margaret　if　she　would
like　to　have　a　visit　from　Mr。　Wilmot。　　She　enjoyed　this　very　much；
and　he　sat　there　nearly　an　hour；　talking　of　many　matters；　especially
the　Cocksmoor　scheme；　on　which　she　was　glad　to　hear　his　opinion　at
first　hand。

〃I　am　very　glad　you　think　well　of　it；〃　she　said。　　〃It　is　most
desirable　that　something　should　be　done　for　those　poor　people；　and
Richard　would　never　act　rashly；　but　I　have　longed　for　advice　whether
it　was　right　to　promote　Ethel's　undertaking。　　I　suppose　Richard　told
you　how　bent　on　it　she　was；　long　before　papa　was　told　of　it。〃

〃He　said　it　was　her　great　wish；　and　had　been　so　for　a　long　time
past。〃

Margaret；　in　words　more　adequate　to　express　the　possession　the
project　had　gained　of　Ethel's　ar