the daisy chain, or aspirations-第4章

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honest　Scottish　face　flushed　like　a　turkey　cock；　〃I　assure　you　that
Alan　rides　like〃

〃Like　a　horse　marine；〃　said　Norman。

Hector　and　Harry　both　looked　furious；　but　〃June〃　was　too　great　a　man
in　their　world　for　them　to　attempt　any　revenge；　and　it　was　left　for
Mary　to　call　out；　〃Why；　Norman；　nonsense！　　Mr。　Ernescliffe　rode　the
new　black　kicking　horse　till　he　made　it　quite　steady。〃

〃Made　it　steady！　　No；　Mary；　that　is　saying　too　much　for　it；〃　said　Mr。
Ernescliffe。

〃It　has　no　harm　in　itcapital　horsesplendid；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃I
shall　take　you　out　with　it　this　afternoon；　Maggie。〃

〃You　have　driven　it　several　times？〃　said　Alan。

〃Yes；　I　drove　him　to　Abbotstoke　yesterdaynever　started；　except　at　a
fool　of　a　woman　with　an　umbrella；　and　at　the　trainand　we'll　take
care　not　to　meet　that。〃

〃It　is　only　to　avoid　the　viaduct　at　half…past　four；〃　said　Mrs。　May；
and　that　is　easily　done。〃

〃So　you　are　bound　for　Cocksmoor？〃　said　the　doctor。　〃I　told　the　poor
fellow　you　were　going　to　see　his　wife；　and　he　was　so　thankful；　that
it　did　one's　heart　good。〃

Is　he　better？　　I　should　like　to　tell　his　wife；〃　said　Flora。

The　doctor　screwed　up　his　face。　　〃A　bad　business；〃　he　said；　he　is　a
shade　better　to…day；　he　may　get　through　yet；　but　he　is　not　my
patient。　　I　only　saw　him　because　I　happened　to　be　there　when　he　was
brought　in；　and　Ward　was　not　in　the　way。〃

〃And　what's　his　name？〃

〃I　can't　telldon't　think　I　ever　heard。〃

〃We　ought　to　know；〃　said　Miss　Winter；　〃it　would　be　awkward　to　go
without。〃

〃To　go　roaming　about　Cocksmoor　asking　where　the　man　in　the　hospital
lives！〃　said　Flora。　　〃We　can't　wait　till　Monday。〃

〃I've　done；〃　said　Norman；　〃I'll　run　down　to　the　hospital　and　find
out。　　May　I；　mamma？〃

〃Without　your　pudding；　old　fellow？〃

〃I　don't　want　pudding；〃　said　Norman；　slipping　back　his　chair。
〃May　I；　mamma？〃

〃To　be　sure　you　may；〃　and　Norman；　with　a　hand　on　the　back　of　Ethel's
chair；　took　a　flying　leap　over　his　own；　that　set　all　the　glasses
ringing。

〃Stop；　stop！　know　what　you　are　going　after；　sir；〃　cried　his　father。
〃What　will　they　know　there　of　Cocksmoor；　or　the　man　whose　wife　has
twins？　　You　must　ask　for　the　accident　in　number　five。〃

〃And　oh；　Norman；　come　back　in　time！〃　said　Ethel。

〃I'll　be　bound　I'm　back　before　Etheldred　the　Unready　wants　me；〃　he
answered；　bounding　off　with　an　elasticity　that　caused　his　mother　to
say　the　boy　was　made　of　india…rubber；　and　then　putting　his　head　in　by
the　window　to　say；　〃By…the…bye；　if　there's　any　pudding　owing　to　me；
that　little　chorister　fellow　of　ours；　Bill　Blake；　has　got　a　lot　of
voracious　brothers　that　want　anything　that's　going。　　Tom　and　Blanche
might　take　it　down　to　'em；　I'm　off！　　Hooray！〃　and　he　scampered
headlong　up　the　garden；　prolonging　his　voice　into　a　tremendous　shout
as　he　got　farther　off；　leaving　every　one　laughing；　and　his　mother
tenderly　observing　that　he　was　going　to　run　a　quarter　of　a　mile　and
back；　and　lose　his　only　chance　of　pudding　for　the　weekold　Bishop
Whichcote's　rules　contemplating　no　fare　but　daily　mutton；　to　be
bought　at　a　shilling　per　sheep。　　A　little　private　discussion　ensued
between　Harry　and　Hector　on　the　merits　of　the　cakes　at　Ballhatchet's
gate；　and　old　Nelly's　pies；　which　led　the　doctor　to　mourn　over　the
loss　of　the　tarts　of　the　cranberries；　that　used　to　grow　on　Cocksmoor；
before　it　was　inhabited；　and　to　be　the　delight　of　the　scholars　of
Stoneborough；　when　he　was　one　of　themand　then　to　enchant　the　boys
by　relations　of　ancient　exploits；　especially　his　friend　Spencer
climbing　up；　and　engraving　a　name　on　the　top　of　the　market　cross；　now
no　moreswept　away　by　the　Town　Council　in　a　fit　of　improvement；
which　had　for　the　last　twenty　years　enraged　the　doctor　at　every
remembrance　of　it。　　　Perhaps　at　this　moment　his　wife　could　hardly
sympathise；　when　she　thought　of　her　boys　emulating　such　deeds。

〃Papa；〃　said　Ethel；　〃will　you　lend　me　a　pair　of　spectacles　for　the
walk？〃

〃And　make　yourself　one；　Ethel；〃　said　Flora。

〃I　don't　careI　want　to　see　the　view。〃

〃It　is　very　bad　for　you；　Ethel；〃　further　added　her　mother；　〃you　will
make　your　sight　much　shorter　if　you　accustom　your　eyes　to　them。〃

〃Well；　mamma；　I　never　do　wear　them　about　the　house。〃

〃For　a　very　good　reason；〃　said　Margaret；　〃because　you　haven't　got
them。〃

〃No；　I　believe　Harry　stole　them　in　the　holidays。〃

〃Stole　them！〃　said　the　doctor；　〃as　if　they　weren't　my　property；
unjustifiably　appropriated　by　her！〃

〃They　were　that　pair　that　you　never　could　keep　on；　papa；〃　said
Ethel〃no　use　at　all　to　you。　　Come；　do　lend　me　them。〃

〃I'm　sure　I　shan't　let　you　wear　them；〃　said　Harry。　　〃I　shan't　go；
if　you　choose　to　make　yourself　such　an　object。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　father；　〃the　boys　thought　it　time　to　put　a　stop　to　it
when　it　came　to　a　caricature　of　the　little　doctor　in　petticoats。〃

〃Yes；　in　Norman's　Lexicon；〃　said　Ethel；　〃a　capital　likeness　of　you；
papa；　but　I　never　could　get　him　to　tell　me　who　drew　it。〃

Nor　did　Ethel　know　that　that　caricature　had　been　the　cause　of　the
black　eye　that　Harry　had　brought　home　last　summer。　　Harry　returned；
to　protest　that　he　would　not　join　the　walk；　if　she　chose　to　be　seen
in　the　spectacles；　while　she　undauntedly　continued　her　petition；
though　answered　that　she　would　attract　the　attacks　of　the　quarrymen；
who　would　take　her　for　an　attenuated　owl。

〃I　wish　you　were　obliged　to　go　about　without　them　yourself；　papa！〃
cried　Ethel；　〃and　then　you　would　know　how　tiresome　it　is　not　to　see
twice　the　length　of　your　own　nose。〃

〃Not　such　a　very　short　allowance　either；〃　said　the　doctor　quaintly；
and　therewith　the　dinner　concluded。　　There　was　apt　to　be　a　race
between　the　two　eldest　girls　for　the　honour　of　bringing　down　the
baby；　but　this　time　their　father　strode　up　three　steps　at　once；
turned　at　the　top　of　the　first　flight；　made　his　bow　to　them；　and
presently　came　down　with　his　little　daughter　in　his　arms；　nodded
triumphantly　at　the　sisters；　and　set　her　down　on　her　mother's　lap。

〃There；　Maggie；　you　are　complete；　you　old　hen…and…chicken　daisy。
Can't　you　take　her　portrait　in　the　character；　Margaret？〃

〃With　her　pink　cap；　and　Blanche　and　Aubrey　as　they　are　now；　on　each
side？〃　said　Flora。

〃Margaret　ought　to　be　in　the　picture　herself；〃　said　Ethel。　〃Fetch　the
artist　in　Norman's　Lexicon；　Harry。〃

〃Since　he　has　hit　off　one　of　us　so　well；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃Well！
I'm　off。　　I　must　see　old　Southern。　　You'll　be　ready　by　three？　　Good…
bye；　hen　and　chicken。〃

〃And　I　may　have　the　spectacles？〃　said　Ethel；　running　after　him；　〃you
know　I　am　an　injured　individual；　for　mamma　won't　let　me　carry　baby
about　the　house　because　I　am　so　blind。〃

〃You　are　welcome　to　embellish　yourself；　as　far　as　I　am　concerned。〃

A　general　dispersion　ensued；　and　only　Mrs。　May；　Margaret；　and　the
baby；　remained。

〃Oh；　no！〃　sighed　Margaret；　〃you　can't　be　the　hen…and…chicken　daisy
properly；　without　all　your　chickens。　　It　is　the　first　christening　we
ever　had　without　our　all　being　there。〃

〃It　was　best　not　to　press　it；　my　dear；〃　said　her　mother。　〃Your　papa
would　have　had　his　thoughts　turned　to　the　disappointment　again　and　it
makes　Richard　himself　so　unhappy　to　see　his　vexation；　that　I　believe
it　is　better　not　to　renew　it。〃

〃But　to　miss　him　for　so　long！〃　said　Margaret。　〃Perhaps　it　is　best；
〃for　it　is　very　miserable　when　papa　is　sarcastic　and　sharp；　and　he
cannot　understand　it；　and　takes　it　as　meaning　so　much　more　than　it
really　does；　and　grows　all　the　more　frightened　and　diffident。　　I
cannot　think　what　he　would　do　without　you　to　encourage　him。〃

〃Or　you；　you　good　sister；〃　said　her　mother；　smiling。　　〃If　we　could
only　teach　him　not　to　mind　being　laughed　at；　and　to　have　some
confidence　in　himself；　he　and　papa　would　get　on　together。〃

〃It　is　very　hard；〃　cried　Margaret；　almost　indignantly；　〃that　papa
won't　believe　it；　when　he　does　his　best。〃

〃I　don't　think　papa　can　bear　to　bring　himself　to　believe　that　it　is
his　best。〃

〃He　is　too　clever　himself　to　see　how　other　people　can　be　slow；〃　said
Margaret；　〃and　yet〃the　tears　came　into　her　eyes〃I　cannot　bear　to
think　of　his　telling　Richard　it　was　no　use　to　think　of　being　a
clergyman；　and　he　had　better　turn　carpenter　at　once；　just　because　he
failed　in　his　examination。〃

〃My　dear；　I　wish　you　would　forget　that；〃　said　Mrs。　May。　〃You　know
papa　sometimes　says　more　than　he　means；　and　he　was　excessively　vexed
and　disappointed。　　I　know　he　was　pleased　with　Ritchie's　resolve　not
to　come　home　again　till　he　had　passed；　and　it　is　best　that　it　should
not　be　broken。〃

〃The　whole　vacation；　studying　so　hard；　and　this　christening！〃　said
Margaret；　〃it　is　treating　him　as　if　he　had　done　wrong。　　I　do　believe
Mr。　Ernescliffe　thinks　he　hasfor　papa　always　turns　away　the
conversation　if　his　name　is　mentioned！　　I　wish　you　would　explain　it；
mamma；　I　can't　bear　that。〃

〃If　I　can；〃　said　Mrs。　May；　rather　pleased　that　Margaret　had　taken　on
herself　this　vindication　of　her　favourite　brother　her　father's
expense。　　〃But；　after　all；　Margaret；　I　never　feel　quite　sure　that
poor　Ritchie　does　exert　himself　to　the　utmost；　he　is　too　desponding
to　make　the　most　of　himself。〃

〃And　the　more　vexed　papa　is；　the　worse　it　grows！〃　said　Margaret。
〃It　is　provoking；　though。　　How　I　do　wish　sometimes　to　give　Ritchie　a
jog；　when　there　is　some　stumbling…block　that　he　sticks　fast　at。
Don't　you　remember　those　sums；　and　those　declensions？　　When　he　is　so
clear　and　sensible　about　practical　matters　tooanything　but
learningI　cannot　think　whyand　it　is　very　mortifying！〃

〃I　dare　say　it　is　very　good　for　us　not　to　have　our　ambition
gratified；〃　said　her　mother。　　〃There　are　so　many　troubles　worse　than
these　failures；　that　it　only　shows　how　happy　we　are　that　we　should
take　them　so　much　to　heart。〃

〃They　are　a　very　real　trouble！〃　said　Margaret。　　〃Don't　smile；　mamma。
Only　remember　how　wretched　his　schooldays　were；　when　papa　could　not
see　any　difficulty　in　what　to　him　was　so　hard；　and　how　all　papa's
eagerness　only　stupified　him　the　more。〃
〃They　are　a　comfort　not　to　have　that　over　again！　　Yet；〃　said　the
mother；　〃I　often　think　there　is　more　fear　for　Norman。　　I　dread　his
talent　and　success　being　snares。〃

〃There　is　no　self…sufficiency　about　him；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃I　hope
not；　and　he　is　so　transparent；　that　it　would　be　laughed　down　at　the
first　bud：　but　the　universal　good　report；　and　certainty　of　success；
and　being　so　often　put　in　comparison　with　Richard；　is　hardly　safe。
I　was　very　glad　he　heard　what　Ethel　said　to…day。〃

〃Ethel　spoke　very　deeply；〃　said　Margaret；　〃I　was　a　good　deal　struck
by　itshe　often　comes　out　with　such　solid　thoughts。〃

〃She　is　an　excellent　companion　for　Norman。〃

〃The　desire　of　being　first！〃　said　Margaret；　〃I　suppose　that　is　a　form
of　caring　for　oneself！　　It　set　me　thinking　a　good　deal；　mamma；　how
many　forms　of　ambition　there　are。　　The　craving　for　rank；　or　wealth；
or　beauty；　are　so　clearly　wrong；　that　one　does　not　question　about
them；　but　I　suppose；　as　Ethel　said；　the　caring　to　be　first　in
attainments　is　as　bad。〃

〃Or　in　affection；〃　said　Mrs。　May。

〃In　affectionoh；　mamma；　there　is　always　some　one　person　with　whom
one　is　first！〃　said　Margaret　eagerly；　and　then；　her　colour　deepening；
as　she　saw　her　mother　looking　at　her；　she　said　hastily；　〃RitchieI
never　considered　itbut　I　knowit