the daisy chain, or aspirations-第35章

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past。〃

Margaret；　in　words　more　adequate　to　express　the　possession　the
project　had　gained　of　Ethel's　ardent　mind；　explained　the　whole
history　of　it。　　〃I　do　believe　she　looks　on　it　as　a　sort　of　call；〃
said　she；　〃and　I　have　felt　as　if　I　ought　not　to　hinder　her；　and　yet　I
did　not　know　whether　it　was　right；　at　her　age；　to　let　her　undertake
so　much。〃

〃I　understand；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　〃but；　from　what　I　have　seen　of
Ethel；　I　should　think　you　had　decided　rightly。　　There　seems　to　me　to
be　such　a　spirit　of　energy　in　her；　that　if　she　does　not　act；　she　will
either　speculate　and　theorise；　or　pine　and　prey　on　herself。　　I　do
believe　that　hard　homely　work；　such　as　this　school…keeping；　is　the
best　outlet　for　what　might　otherwise　run　to　extravagancemore
especially　as　you　say　the　hope　of　it　has　already　been　an　incentive　to
improvement　in　home　duties。〃

〃That　I　am　sure　it　has；〃　said　Margaret。

〃Moreover；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　〃I　think　you　were　quite　right　in
thinking　that　to　interfere　with　such　a　design　was　unsafe。　　I　do
believe　that　a　great　deal　of　harm　is　done　by　prudent　friends；　who
dread　to　let　young　people　do　anything　out　of　the　common　way；　and　so
force　their　aspirations　to　ferment　and　turn　sour；　for　want　of　being
put　to　use。〃

〃Still　girls　are　told　they　ought　to　wait　patiently；　and　not　to　be
eager　for　self…imposed　duties。〃

〃I　am　not　saying　that　it　is　not　the　appointed　discipline　for　the
girls　themselves；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。　　〃If　they　would　submit；　and　do
their　best；　it　would　doubtless　prove　the　most　beneficial　thing　for
them；　but　it　is　a　trial　in　which　they　often　fail；　and　I　had　rather
not　be　in　the　place　of　such　friends。〃

〃It　is　a　great　puzzle！〃　said　Margaret；　sighing。

〃Ah！　　I　dare　say　you　are　often　perplexed；〃　said　her　friend　kindly。

〃Indeed　I　am。　　There　are　so　many　little　details　that　I　cannot　be
always　teasing　papa　with；　and　yet　which　I　do　believe　form　the
character　more　than　the　great　events；　and　I　never　know　whether　I　act
for　the　best。　　And　there　are　so　many　of　us；　so　many　duties；　I　cannot
half　attend　to　any。　　Lately；　I　have　been　giving　up　almost　everything
to　keep　this　room　quiet　for　Norman　in　the　morning；　because　he　was　so
much　harassed　and　hurt　by　bustle　and　confusion；　and　I　found　to…day
that　things　have　gone　wrong　in　consequence。〃

〃You　must　do　the　best　you　can；　and　try　to　trust　that　while　you　work
in　the　right　spirit；　your　failures　will　be　compensated；〃　said　Mr。
Wilmot。　　〃It　is　a　hard　trial。〃

〃I　like　your　understanding　it；〃　said　Margaret；　smiling　sadly。　　〃I
don't　know　whether　it　is　silly；　but　I　don't　like　to　be　pitied　for　the
wrong　thing。　　My　being　so　helpless　is　what　every　one　laments　over；
but；　after　all；　that　is　made　up　to　me　by　the　petting　and　kindness　I
get　from　all　of　them；　but　it　is　the　being　mistress　of　the　house；　and
having　to　settle　for　every　one；　without　knowing　whether　I　do　right　or
wrong；　that　is　my　trouble。〃

〃I　am　not　sure；　however；　that　it　is　right　to　call　it　a　trouble；
though　it　is　a　trial。〃

〃I　see　what　you　mean；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃I　ought　to　be　thankful。　　I
know　it　is　an　honour；　and　I　am　quite　sure　I　should　be　grieved　if　they
did　not　all　come　to　me　and　consult　me　as　they　do。　　I　had　better　not
have　complained；　and　yet　I　am　glad　I　did；　for　I　like　you　to
understand　my　difficulties。〃

〃And；　indeed；　I　wish　to　enter　into　them；　and　do　or　say　anything　in　my
power　to　help　you。　　But　I　don't　know　anything　that　can　be　of　so　much
comfort　as　the　knowledge　that　He　who　laid　the　burden　on　you；　will
help　you　to　bear　it。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Margaret；　pausing；　and　then；　with　a　sweet　look；　though　a
heavy　sigh；　she　said；　〃It　is　very　odd　how　things　turn　out！　　I　always
had　a　childish　fancy　that　I　would　be　useful　and　important；　but　I
little　thought　how　it　would　be！　　However；　as　long　as　Richard　is　in
the　house；　I　always　feel　secure　about　the　others；　and　I　shall　soon　be
downstairs　myself。　　Don't　you　think　dear　papa　in　better　spirits？〃

〃I　thought　so　to…day；〃and　here　the　doctor　returned；　talking　of
Abbotstoke　Grange；　where　he　had　certainly　been　much　pleased。　　〃It　was
a　lucky　chance；〃　he　said；　〃that　they　brought　Norman　in。　　It　was
exactly　what　I　wanted　to　rouse　and　interest　him；　and　he　took　it　all
in　so　well；　that　I　am　sure　they　were　pleased　with　him。　　I　thought　he
looked　a　very　lanky　specimen　of　too　much　leg　and　arm　when　I　called
him　in；　but　he　has　such　good　manners；　and　is　so　ready　and
understanding；　that　they　could　not　help　liking　him。　　It　was　fortunate
I　had　him　instead　of　RichardRitchie　is　a　very　good　fellow；
certainly；　but　he　had　rather　look　at　a　steam…engine；　any　day；　than　at
Raphael　himself。〃

Norman　had　his　turn　by…and…by。　　He　came　up　after　tea；　reporting　that
papa　was　fast　asleep　in　his　chair；　and　the　others　would　go　on　about
Cocksmoor　till　midnight；　if　they　were　let　alone；　and　made　up　for　his
previous　yielding　to　Ethel；　by　giving；　with　much　animation；　and　some
excitement；　a　glowing　description　of　the　Grange；　so　graphic；　that
Margaret　said　she　could　almost　fancy　she　had　been　there。

〃Oh；　Margaret；　I　wonder　if　you　ever　will！　　I　would　give　something　for
you　to　see　the　beautiful　conservatory。　　It　is　a　real　bower　for　a
maiden　of　romance；　with　its　rich　green　fragrance　in　the　midst　of
winter。　　It　is　like　a　picture　in　a　dream。　　One　could　imagine　it　a
fairy　land；　where　no　care；　or　grief；　or　weariness　could　come；　all
choice　beauty　and　sweetness　waiting　on　the　creature　within。　　I　can
hardly　believe　that　it　is　a　real　place；　and　that　I　have　seen　it。〃

〃Though　you　have　brought　these　pretty　tokens　that　your　fairy　is　as
good　as　she　is　fair！〃　said　Margaret；　smiling。




CHAPTER　XVI。



EVANS。　　　Peace　your　tattlings。　What　is　fair；　William？
WILLIAM。　PULCHER。
QUICKLY。　Poulcats！　there　are　fairer　things　than　poulcats　sure！
EVANS。　　　I　pray　you　have　your　remembrance；　child；　accusative
　　　　　　　　　HING　HANG　HOG。
QUICKLY。　HANG　HOG　is　Latin　for　bacon；　I　warrant　you。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SHAKESPEARE。


In　a　large　family　it　must　often　happen；　that　since　every　member　of　it
cannot　ride　the　same　hobby；　nor　at　the　same　time；　their　several
steeds　must　sometimes　run　counter　to　each　other；　and　so　Ethel　found
it；　one　morning　when　Miss　Winter；　having　a　bad　cold；　had　given　her　an
unwonted　holiday。

Mr。　Wilmot　had　sent　a　large　parcel　of　books　for　her　to　choose　from
for　Cocksmoor；　but　this　she　could　not　well　do　without　consultation。
The　multitude　bewildered　her；　she　was　afraid　of　taking　too　many　or
too　few；　and　the　being　brought　to　these　practical　details　made　her
sensible　that　though　her　schemes　were　very　grand　and　full　for　future
doings；　they　passed　very　lightly　over　the　intermediate　ground。　　The
Paulo　post　fulurum　was　a　period　much　more　developed　in　her
imagination　than　the　future；　that　the　present　was　flowing　into。

Where　was　her　coadjutor；　Richard？　　Writing　notes　for　papa；　and　not　to
be　disturbed。　　She　had　better　have　waited　tranquilly；　but　this　would
not　suit　her　impatience；　and　she　ran　up　to　Margaret's　room。　　There
she　found　a　great　display　of　ivy　leaves；　which　Norman；　who　had　been
turning　half　the　shops　in　the　town　upside　down　in　search　of
materials；　was　instructing　her　to　imitate　in　leather…worka　regular
mania　with　him；　and　apparently　the　same　with　Margaret。

In　came　Ethel。　　〃Oh；　Margaret；　will　you　look　at　these　'First　Truths？'
Do　you　think　they　would　be　easy　enough？　　Shall　I　take　some　of　the
Parables　and　Miracles　at　once；　or　content　myself　with　the　book　about
'Jane　Sparks？'〃

〃There's　some　very　easy　reading　in　'Jane　Sparks'；　isn't　there？　　I
would　not　make　the　little　books　from　the　New　Testament　too　common。〃

〃Take　care；　that　leaf　has　five　points；〃　said　Norman。

〃Shall　I　bring　you　up　'Jane　Sparks'　to　see？　　Because　then　you　can
judge；〃　said　Ethel。

〃There；　Norman；　is　that　right？what　a　beauty！　　I　should　like　to　look
over　them　by…and…by；　dear　Ethel；　very　much。〃

Ethel　gazed　and　went　away；　more　put　out　than　was　usual　with　her。
〃When　Margaret　has　a　new　kind　of　fancy　work；〃　she　thought；　〃she　cares
for　nothing　else！　as　if　my　poor　children　did　not　signify　more　than
trumpery　leather　leaves！〃　She　next　met　Flora。

〃Oh；　Flora；　see　here；　what　a　famous　parcel　of　books　Mr。　Wilmot　has
sent　us　to　choose　from。〃

〃All　those！〃　said　Flora；　turning　them　over　as　they　lay　heaped　on　the
drawing…room　sofa；　〃what　a　confusion！〃

〃See；　such　a　parcel　of　reading　books。　　I　want　to　know　what　you　think
of　setting　them　up　with　'Jane　Sparks'；　as　it　is　week…day　teaching。〃

〃You　will　be　very　tired　of　hearing　those　spelled　over　for　ever；　they
have　some　nicer　books　at　the　national　school。〃

〃What　is　the　name　of　them？　　Do　you　see　any　of　them　here？〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　I　do；　but　I　can't　wait　to　look　now。　　I　must　write
some　letters。　　You　had　better　put　them　together　a　little。　　If　you
were　to　sort　them；　you　would　know　what　is　there。　　Now；　what　a　mess
they　are　in。〃

Ethel　could　not　deny　it；　and　began　to　deal　them　out　in　piles；　looking
somewhat　more　fitting；　but　still　felt　neglected　and　aggrieved；　at　no
one　being　at　leisure　but　Harry；　who　was　not　likely　to　be　of　any　use
to　her。

Presently　she　heard　the　study　door　open；　and　hoped；　but　though　it　was
Richard　who　entered　the　room；　he　was　followed　by　Tom；　and　each　held
various　books　that　boded　little　good　to　her。　　Miss　Winter　had；　much
to　her　own　satisfaction；　been　relieved　from　the　charge　of　Tom；　whose
lessons　Richard　had　taken　upon　himself；　and　thus　Ethel　had　heard　so
little　about　them　for　a　long　time　past；　that　even　in　her　vexation　and
desire　to　have　them　over；　she　listened　with　interest；　desirous　to
judge　what　sort　of　place　Tom　might　be　likely　to　take　in　school。

She　did　not　perceive　that　this　made　Richard　nervous　and　uneasy。　　He
had　a　great　dislike　to　spectators　of　Latin　lessons；　he　never　had
forgotten　an　unlucky　occasion；　some　years　back；　when　his　father　was
examining　him　in　the　Georgics；　and　he；　dull　by　nature；　and　duller　by
confusion　and　timidity；　had　gone　on　rendering　word　for　wordenim
for；　seges　a　crop；　lini　of　mud；　urit　burns；　campum　the　field；　avenae
a　crop　of　pipe；　urit　burns　it；　when　Norman　and　Ethel　had　first　warned
him　of　the　beauty　of　his　translation　by　an　explosion　of　laughing；
when　his　father　had　shut　the　book　with　a　bounce；　shaken　his　head　in
utter　despair；　and　told　him　to　give　up　all　thoughts　of　doing
anythingand　when　Margaret　had　cried　with　vexation。　　Since　that
time；　he　had　never　been　happy　when　any　one　was　in　earshot　of　a
lesson；　but　to…day　he　had　no　escapeHarry　lay　on　the　rug　reading；
and　Ethel　sat　forlorn　over　her　books　on　the　sofa。　　Tom；　however；　was
bright　enough；　declined　his　Greek　nouns　irreproachably；　and　construed
his　Latin　so　well；　that　Ethel　could　not　help　putting　in　a　word　or　two
of　commendation；　and　auguring　the　third　form。　　〃Do　let　him　off　the
parsing；　Ritchie；〃　said　she　coaxingly〃he　has　said　it　so　well；　and　I
want　you　so　much。〃

〃I　am　afraid　I　must　not；〃　said　Richard；　who；　to　her　surprise；　did　not
look　pleased　or　satisfied　with　the　prosperous　translation；　〃but　come；
Tom；　you　shan't　have　many　words；　if　you　really　know　them。〃

Tom　twisted　and　looked　rather　cross；　but　when　asked　to　parse　the　word
viribus；　answered　readily　and　correctly。

〃Very　well；　only　two　moreaffuit？〃

〃Third　person　singular；　prae