the daisy chain, or aspirations-第39章

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is　quite　well。〃

〃And　when　she　is！　　How　famous　it　will　be。〃

〃Then　there's　another　thing；　he　is　very　poor；　you　know。〃

〃I　am　sure　papa　doesn't　care　about　people　being　rich。〃

〃I　suppose　Alan　thinks　he　ought　not　to　marry；　unless　he　could　make
his　wife　comfortable。〃

〃Look　hereit　would　be　all　very　easy：　she　should　stay　with　us；　and
be　comfortable　here；　and　he　go　to　sea；　and　get　lots　of　prize　money。〃

〃And　that's　what　you　call　domestic　felicity！〃　said　Norman；　1aughing。

〃He　might　have　her　when　he　was　at　home；〃　said　Ethel。

〃No；　no；　that　would　never　do；〃　said　Norman。　　〃Do　you　think
Ernescliffe's　a　man　that　would　marry　a　wife　for　her　father　to
maintain　her？〃

〃Why；　papa　would　like　it　very　much。　　He　is　not　a　mercenary　father　in
a　book。〃

〃Hey！　what's　that？〃　said　a　voice　Ethel　little　expected。　　〃Contraband
talk　at　contraband　times？　　What's　this！〃

〃Did　you　hear；　papa？〃　said　Ethel；　looking　down。

〃Only　your　last　words；　as　I　came　up　to　ask　Norman　what　he　had　done
with　my　pocket…book。　　Mind；　I　ask　no　impertinent　questions；　but；　if
you　have　no　objection；　I　should　like　to　know　what　gained　me　the
honour　of　that　compliment。〃

〃Norman？〃　said　Ethel　interrogatively；　and　blushing　in　emulation　of
her　brother；　who　was　crimson。

〃I'll　find　it；〃　said　he；　rushing　off　with　a　sort　of　nod　and　sign；
that　conveyed　to　Ethel　that　there　was　no　help　for　it。

So；　with　much　confusion；　she　whispered　into　her　papa's　ear　that
Norman　had　been　telling　her　something　he　guessed　about　Mr。
Ernescliffe。

Her　father　at　first　smiled；　a　pleased　amused　smile。　　〃Ah！　ha！　so
Master　June　has　his　eyes　and　ears　open；　has　he？　　A　fine　bit　of　gossip
to　regale　you　with　on　his　return！〃

〃He　told　me　to　say　not　one　word；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Rightmind　you　don't；〃　said　Dr。　May；　and　Ethel　was　surprised　to　see
how　sorrowful　his　face　became。　　At　the　same　moment　Norman　returned；
still　very　red；　and　said；　〃I've　put　out　the　pocket…book；　papa。　　I
think　I　should　tell　you　I　repeated　what；　perhaps；　you　did　not　mean　me
to　hearyou　talked　to　yourself　something　of　pitying　Ernescliffe。〃
The　doctor　smiled　again　at　the　boy's　high…minded　openness；　which　must
have　cost　an　effort　of　self…humiliation。　　〃I　can't　say　little
pitchers　have　long　ears；　to　a　May…pole　like　you；　Norman；〃　said　he；　〃I
think　I　ought　rather　to　apologise　for　having　inadvertently　tumbled　in
among　your　secrets；　I　assure　you　I　did　not　come　to　spy　you。〃

〃Oh；　no；　no；　no；　no！〃　repeated　Ethel　vehemently。　〃Then　you　didn't
mind　our　talking　about　it？〃

〃Of　course　not；　as　long　as　it　goes　no　further。　　It　is　the　use　of
sisters　to　tell　them　one's　private　sentiments。　　Is　not　it；　Norman？〃

〃And　do　you　really　think　it　is　so；　papa？〃　Ethel　could　not　help
whispering。

〃I'm　afraid　it　is〃；　said　Dr。　May；　sighing；　then；　as　he　caught　her
earnest　eyes；　〃The　more　I　see　of　Alan；　the　finer　fellow　I　think　him；
and　the　more　sorry　I　am　for　him。　　It　seems　presumptuous；　almost
wrong；　to　think　of　the　matter　at　all　while　my　poor　Margaret　is　in
this　state；　and；　if　she　were　well；　there　are　other　difficulties　which
would；　perhaps；　prevent　his　speaking；　or　lead　to　long　years　of
waiting　and　wearing　out　hope。〃

〃Money？〃　said　Ethel。

〃Ay！　　Though　I　so　far　deserve　your　compliment；　miss；　that　should　be
foolish　enough；　if　she　were　but　well；　to　give　my　consent　to…morrow；
because　I　could　not　help　it；　yet　one　can't　live　forty…six　years　in
this　world　without　seeing　it　is　wrong　to　marry　without　a　reasonable
dependenceand　there　won't　be　much　among　eleven　of　you。　　It　makes　my
heart　ache　to　think　of　it；　come　what　may；　as　far　as　I　can　see；　and
without　her　to　judge。　　The　only　comfort　is；　that　poor　Margaret
herself　knows　nothing　of　it；　and　is　at　peace　so　far。　　It　will　be
ordered　for　them；　anyhow。　　Good…night；　my　dear。〃

Ethel　sought　her　room；　with　graver；　deeper　thoughts　of　life　than　she
had　carried　upstairs。




CHAPTER　XVIII。



Saw　ye　never　in　the　meadows；
　　Where　your　little　feet　did　pass；
Down　below；　the　sweet　white　daisies
　　Growing　in　the　long　green　grass？

Saw　you　never　lilac　blossoms；
　　Or　acacia　white　and　red；
Waving　brightly　in　the　sunshine；
　　On　the　tall　trees　over　head？
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HYMNS　FOR　CHILDREN；　C。　F。　A。


〃My　dear　child；　what　a　storm　you　have　had！　how　wet　you　must　be！〃
exclaimed　Mrs。　Larpent；　as　Meta　Rivers　came　bounding　up　the　broad
staircase　at　Abbotstoke　Grange。

〃0h　no；　I　am　quite　dry；　feel。〃

〃Are　you　sure？〃　said　Mrs。　Larpent；　drawing　her　darling　into　a
luxurious　bedroom；　lighted　up　by　a　glowing　fire；　and　full　of　pretty
things。　　〃Here；　come　and　take　off　your　wet　things；　my　dear；　and
Bellairs　shall　bring　you　some　tea。〃

〃I'm　dry。　　I'm　warm；〃　said　Meta；　tossing　off　her　plumy　hat；　as　she
established　herself；　with　her　feet　on　the　fender。　　〃But　where　do　you
think　I　have　been？　　You　have　so　much　to　hear。　　But　firstthree
guesses　where　we　were　in　the　rain！〃

〃In　the　Stoneborough　Cloisters；　that　you　wanted　to　see？　　My　dear；　you
did　not　keep　your　papa　in　the　cold　there？〃

〃No；　no；　we　never　got　there　at　all；　guess　again。〃

〃At　Mr。　Edward　Wilmot's？〃

〃No！〃

〃Could　it　have　been　at　Dr。　May's？　　Really；　then；　you　must　tell　me。〃

〃There　I　you　deserve　a　good　long　story；　beginning　at　the　beginning；〃
said　Meta；　clapping　her　hands；　〃wasn't　it　curious？　as　we　were　coming
up　the　last　hill；　we　met　some　girls　in　deep　mourning；　with　a　lady　who
looked　like　their　governess。　　I　wondered　whether　they　could　be　Dr。
May's　daughters；　and　so　it　turned　out　they　were。

Presently　there　began　to　fall　little　square　lumps；　neither　hail；　nor
snow；　nor　rain；　it　grew　very　cold；　and　rain　came　on。　　It　would　have
been　great　fun；　if　I　had　not　been　afraid　papa　would　catch　cold；　and
he　said　we　would　canter　on　to　the　inn。　　But；　luckily；　there　was　Dr。
May　walking　up　the　street；　and　he　begged　us　to　come　into　his　house。
I　was　so　glad！　　We　were　tolerably　wet；　and　Dr。　May　said　something
about　hoping　the　girls　were　at　home；　well；　when　he　opened　the
drawing…room　door；　there　was　the　poor　daughter　lying　on　the　sofa。〃

〃Poor　girl！　tell　me　of　her。〃

〃Oh！　you　must　go　and　see　her；　you　won't　look　at　her　without　losing
your　heart。　　Papa　liked　her　so　muchsee　if　he　does　not　talk　of　her
all　the　evening。　　She　looks　the　picture　of　goodness　and　sweetness。
Only　think　of　her　having　some　of　the　maidenhair　and　cape　jessamine
still　in　water；　that　we　sent　her　so　long　ago。　　She　ahall　have　some
flowers　every　three　days。　　Well；　Dr。　May　said；　'There　is　one　at
least；　that　is　sure　to　be　at　home。'　　She　felt　my　habit；　and　said　I
must　go　and　change　it；　and　she　called　to　a　little　thing　of　six；
telling　her　to　show　me　the　way　to　Flora。　　She　smiled；　and　said　she
wished　she　could　go　herself；　but　Flora　would　take　care　of　me。　　Little
Blanche　came　and　took　hold　of　my　hand；　chattering　away；　up　we　went；
up　two　staircases；　and　at　the　top　of　the　last　stood　a　girl　about
seventeen；　so　pretty！　such　deep　blue　eyes；　and　such　a　complexion！
'That's　Flora；'　little　Blanche　said；　'Flora；　this　is　Miss　Rivers；　and
she's　wet；　and　Margaret　says　you　are　to　take　care　of　her。'〃

〃So　that　was　your　introduction？〃

〃Yes；　we　got　acquainted　in　a　minute。　　She　took　me　into　her　roomsuch
a　room！　　I　believe　Bellairs　would　be　angry　if　she　had　such　a　one；　all
up　in　the　roof；　no　fire；　no　carpet；　except　little　strips　by　the　beds；
there　were　three　beds。　　Flora　used　to　sleep　there　till　Miss　May　was
ill；　and　now　she　dresses　there。　　Yet　I　am　sure　they　are　as　much
ladies　as　I　am。〃

〃You　are　an　only　daughter；　my　dear；　and　a　petted　one；〃　said　Mrs。
Larpent；　smiling。　　〃There　are　too　many　of　them　to　make　much　of；　as　we
do　of　our　Meta。〃

〃I　suppose　so；　but　I　did　not　know　gentlewomen　lived　in　such　a　way；〃
said　Meta。　　〃There　were　nice　things　about；　a　beautiful　inlaid　work…
box　of　Flora's；　and　a　rosewood　desk；　and　plenty　of　books；　and　a　Greek
book　and　dictionary　were　spread　open。　　I　asked　Flora　if　they　were
hers；　and　she　laughed　and　said　no；　and　that　Ethel　would　be　much
discomposed　that　I　had　see　them。　　Ethel　keeps　up　with　her　brother
Normanonly　fancy！　and　he　at　the　head　of　the　school。　　How　clever　she
must　be！〃

〃But；　my　dear；　were　you　standing　in　your　wet　things　all　this　time！〃

〃No；　I　was　trying　on　their　frocks；　but　they　trailed　on　the　ground
upon　me；　so　she　asked　if　I　would　come　and　sit　by　the　nursery　fire
till　my　habit　was　dry；　and　there　was　a　dear　little　good…humoured
baby；　so　fair　and　pretty。　　She　is　not　a　bit　shy；　will　go　to　anybody；
but；　they　say；　she　likes　no　one　so　well　as　her　brother　Norman。〃

〃So　you　had　a　regular　treat　of　baby…nursing。〃

〃That　I　had；　I　could　not　part　with　her；　the　darling。　　Flora　thought
we　might　take　her　down；　and　I　liked　playing　with　her　in　the　drawing…
room　and　talking　to　Miss　May；　till　the　fly　came　to　take　us　home。　　I
wanted　to　have　seen　Ethel；　but；　only　think；　papa　has　asked　Dr。　May　to
bring　Flora　some　day；　how　I　hope　he　will！〃

Little　Meta　having　told　her　story；　and　received　plenty　of　sympathy；
proceeded　to　dress；　and；　while　her　maid　braided　her　hair；　a　musing
fit　fell　upon　her。　　〃I　have　seen　something　of　life　to…day；〃　thought
she。　　〃I　had　thought　of　the　great　difference　between　us　and　the　poor；
but　I　did　not　know　ladies　lived　in　such　different　ways。　　I　should　be
very　miserable　without　Bellairs；　or　without　a　fire　in　my　room。　　I
don't　know　what　I　should　do　if　I　had　to　live　in　that　cold；　shabby
den；　and　do　my　own　hair；　yet　they　think　nothing　of　it；　and　they　are
cultivated　and　ladylike！　　Is　it　all　fancy；　and　being　brought　up　to
it？　　I　wonder　if　it　is　right？　　Yet　dear　papa　likes　me　to　have　these
things；　and　can　afford　them。　　I　never　knew　I　was　luxurious　before；
and　yet　I　think　I　must　be！　　One　thing　I　do　wish；　and　that　is；　that　I
was　of　as　much　use　as　those　girls。　I　ought　to　be。　　I　am　a　motherless
girl　like　them；　and　I　ought　to　be　everything　to　papa；　just　as　Miss
May　is；　even　lying　on　the　sofa　there；　and　only　two　years　older　than　I
am。　　I　don't　think　I　am　of　any　use　at　all；　he　is　fond　of　me；　of
course；　dear　papa；　and　if　I　died；　I　don't　know　what　would　become　of
him；　but　that's　only　because　I　am　his　daughterhe　has　only　George
besides　to　care　for。　　But；　really　and　truly；　he　would　get　on　as　well
without　me。　　I　never　do　anything　for　him；　but　now　and　then　playing　to
him　in　the　evening；　and　that　not　always；　I　am　afraid；　when　I　want　to
be　about　anything　else。　　He　is　always　petting　me；　and　giving　me　all　I
want；　but　I　never　do　anything　but　my　lessons；　and　going　to　the
school；　and　the　poor　people；　and　that　is　all　pleasure。　　I　have　so
much　that　I　never　miss　what　I　give　away。　　I　wonder　whether　it　is　all
right！　　Leonora　and　Agatha　have　not　so　much　money　to　do　as　they
please　withthey　are　not　so　idolised。　　George　said；　when　he　was
angry；　that　papa　idolises　me；　but　they　have　all　these　comforts　and
luxuries；　and　never　think　of　anything　but　doing　what　they　like。　　They
never　made　me　consider　as　these　Mays　do。　　I　should　like　to　know　them
more。　　I　do　so　much　want　a　friend　of　my　own　age。　　It　is　the　only　want
I　have。　　I　have　tried　to　make　a　friend　of　Leonora；　but　I　cannot；　she
never　cares　for　what　I　do。　　If　she　saw　these　Mays　she　would　look　down
on　them。　　Dear　Mrs。　Larpent　is　better　than　any　one；　but　then　she　is
so　much　older。　　Flora　May　shall　be　my　friend。　　I'll　make　her　call　me