the daisy chain, or aspirations-第40章

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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
Meta　as　soon　as　she　comes。　　When　will　it　be？　　The　day　after
tomorrow？〃

But　little　Meta　watched　in　vain。　　Dr。　May　always　came　with　either
Richard　or　the　groom；　to　drive　him；　and　if　Meta　met　him　and　hoped　he
would　bring　Flora　next　time；　he　only　answered　that　Flora　would　like
it　very　much；　and　he　hoped　soon　to　do　so。

The　truth　was；　it　was　no　such　everyday　matter　as　Meta　imagined。　　The
larger　carriage　had　been　broken；　and　the　only　vehicle　held　only　the
doctorhis　charioteerand　in　a　very　minute　appendage　behind；　a
small　son　of　the　gardener；　to　open　gates；　and　hold　the　horse。

The　proposal　had　been　one　of　those　general　invitations　to　be
fulfilled　at　any　time；　and　therefore　easily　set　aside；　and　Dr。　May；
though　continually　thinking　he　should　like　to　take　his　girls　to
Abbotstoke；　never　saw　the　definite　time　for　so　doing；　and　Flora
herself；　though　charmed　with　Miss　Rivers；　and　delighted　with　the
prospect　of　visiting　her；　only　viewed　it　as　a　distant　prospect。

There　was　plenty　of　immediate　interest　to　occupy　them　at　home；　to　say
nothing　of　the　increasing　employment　that　Cocksmoor　gave　to　thoughts；
legs；　and　needles。　　There　was　the　commencement　of　the　half…year；　when
Tom's　schoolboy　life　was　to　begin；　and　when　it　would　be　proved
whether　Norman　were　able　to　retain　his　elevation。

Margaret　had　much　anxiety　respecting　the　little　boy　about　to　be　sent
into　a　scene　of　temptation。　　Her　great　confidence　was　in　Richard；　who
told　her　that　boys　did　many　more　wrong　things　than　were　known　at
home；　and　yet　turned　out　very　well；　and　that　Tom　would　be　sure　to
right　himself　in　the　end。　　Richard　had　been　blameless　in　his　whole
school　course；　but　though　never　partaking　of　the　other　boys'　evil
practices；　he　could　not　form　an　independent　estimate　of　character；
and　his　tone　had　been　a　little　hurt；　by　sharing　the　school　public
opinion　of　morality。　　He　thought　Stoneborough　and　its　temptations
inevitable；　and　only　wished　to　make　the　best　of　it。　　Margaret　was
afraid　to　harass　her　father　by　laying　the　case　before　him。　　All　her
brothers　had　gone　safely　through　the　school；　and　it　never　occurred　to
her　that　it　was　possible　that；　if　her　father　knew　the　bias　of　Tom's
disposition；　he　might　choose；　for　the　present；　at　least；　some　other
mode　of　education。

She　talked　earnestly　to　Tom；　and　he　listened　impatiently。　　There　is
an　age　when　boys　rebel　against　female　rule；　and　are　not　yet　softened
by　the　chivalry　of　manhood；　and　Tom　was　at　this　time　of　life。　　He　did
not　like　to　be　lectured　by　a　sister；　secretly　disputed　her　right；
and；　proud　of　becoming　a　schoolboy；　had　not　the　generous　deference
for　her　weakness　felt　by　his　elder　brothers；　he　was　all　the　time
peeling　a　stick；　as　if　to　show　that　he　was　not　attending；　and　he
raised　up　his　shoulder　pettishly　whenever　she　came　to　a　mention　of
the　religious　duty　of　sincerity。　　She　did　not　long　continue　her
advice；　and；　much　disappointed　and　concerned；　tried　to　console
herself　with　hoping　that　he　might　have　heeded　more　than　he　seemed　to
do。

He　was　placed　tolerably　high　in　the　school；　and　Norman；　who　had　the
first　choice　of　fags；　took　him　instead　of　Hector　Ernescliffe；　who　had
just　passed　beyond　the　part　of　the　school　liable　to　be　fagged。　　He
said　he　liked　school；　looked　bright　when　he　came　home　in　the
evenings；　and　the　sisters　hoped　all　was　right。

Every　one　was　just　now　anxiously　watching　Norman；　especially　his
father；　who　strove　in　vain　to　keep　back　all　manifestation　of　his
earnest　desire　to　see　him　retain　his　post。　　Resolutely　did　the　doctor
refrain　from　asking　any　questions；　when　the　boys　came　in；　but　he
could　not　keep　his　eyes　from　studying　the　face；　to　see　whether　it
bore　marks　of　mental　fatigue；　and　from　following　him　about　the　room；
to　discover　whether　he　found　it　necessary；　as　he　had　done　last
autumn；　to　spend　the　evening　in　study。　　It　was　no　small　pleasure　to
see　him　come　in　with　his　hand　full　of　horse…chestnut　and　hazel…buds；
and　proceed　to　fetch　the　microscope　and　botany　books；　throwing
himself　eagerly　into　the　study　of　the　wonders　of　their　infant　forms；
searching　deeply　into　them　with　Margaret；　and　talking　them　over　with
his　father；　who　was　very　glad　to　promote　the　pursuitone　in　which　he
had　always　taken　great　interest。

Another　night　Dr。　May　was　for　a　moment　disturbed　by　seeing　the
school…books　put　out；　but　Norman　had　only　some　notes　to　compare；　and
while　he　did　so；　he　was　remarking　on　Flora's　music；　and　joining　in
the　conversation　so　freely　as　to　prove　it　was　no　labour　to　him。　　In
truth；　he　was　evidently　quite　recovered；　entirely　himself　again；
except　that　he　was　less　boyish。　　He　had　been　very　lively　and　full　of
merry　nonsense；　but　his　ardour　for　play　had　gone　off　with　his　high
spirits；　and　there　was　a　manliness　of　manner；　and　tone　of　mind；　that
made　him　appear　above　his　real　age。

At　the　end　of　a　fortnight　he　volunteered　to　tell　his　father　that　all
was　right。　　〃I　am　not　afraid　of　not　keeping　my　place；〃　he　said；　〃you
were　quite　right；　papa。　　I　am　more　up　to　my　work　than　I　was　ever
before；　and　it　comes　to　me　quite　fresh　and　pleasant。　　I　don't　promise
to　get　the　Randall　scholarship；　if　Forder　and　Cheviot　stay　on；　but　I
can　quite　keep　up　to　the　mark　in　school　work。〃

〃That's　right；〃　said　Dr。　May；　much　rejoiced。　　〃Are　you　sure　you　do　it
with　ease；　and　without　its　haunting　you　at　night？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　quite　sure。　　I　can't　think　what　has　made　Dr。　Hoxton　set　us
on　in　such　easy　things　this　time。　　It　is　very　lucky　for　me；　for　one
gets　so　much　less　time　to　oneself　as　dux。〃

〃What！　with　keeping　order？〃

〃Ay；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I　fancy　they　think　they　may　take　liberties
because　I　am　new　and　young。　　I　must　have　my　eye　in　all　corners　of　the
hall　at　once；　and　do　my　own　work　by　snatches；　as　I　can。〃

〃Can　you　make　them　attend　to　you？〃

〃Why；　yes；　pretty　well；　when　it　comes　to　the　point'will　you；　or
will　you　not？'　　Cheviot　is　a　great　help；　too；　and　has　all　the　weight
of　being　the　eldest　fellow　amongst　us。〃

〃But　still　you　find　it　harder　work　than　learning？　　You　had　rather
have　to　master　the　dead　language　than　the　live　tongues？〃

〃A　pretty　deal；〃　said　Norman；　then　added；　〃One　knows　what　to　be　at
with　the　dead；　better　than　with　the　living；　they　don't　make　parties
against　one。　　I　don't　wonder　at　it。　　It　was　very　hard　on　some　of
those　great　fellows　to　have　me　set　before　them；　but　I　do　not　think　it
is　fair　to　visit　it　by　putting　up　the　little　boys　to　all　sorts　of
mischief。〃

〃Shameful！〃　said　the　doctor　warmly；　〃but　never　mind；　Norman；　keep
your　temper；　and　do　your　own　duty；　and　you　are　man　enough　to　put　down
such　petty　spite。〃

〃I　hope　I　shall　manage　rightly；〃　said　Norman；　〃but　I　shall　be　glad　if
I　can　get　the　Randall　and　get　away　to　Oxford；　school　is　not　what　it
used　to　be；　and　if　you　don't　think　me　too　young〃

〃No；　I　don't；　certainly　not。　　Trouble　has　made　a　man　of　you；　Norman；
and　you　are　fitter　to　be　with　men　than　boys。　　In　the　meantime；　if　you
can　be　patient　with　these　fellows；　you'll　be　of　great　use　where　you
are。　　If　there　had　been　any　one　like　you　at　the　head　of　the　school　in
my　time；　it　would　have　kept　me　out　of　no　end　of　scrapes。　　How　does
Tom　get　on？　he　is　not　likely　to　fall　into　this　set；　I　trust。〃

〃I　am　not　sure；〃　said　Norman；　〃he　does　pretty　well　on　the　whole。
Some　of　them　began　by　bullying　him；　and　that　made　him　cling　to
Cheviot　and　Ernescliffe；　and　the　better　party；　but　lately　I　have
thought　Anderson；　junior；　rather　making　up　to　him；　and　I　don't　know
whether　they　don't　think　that　tempting　him　over　to　them　would　be　the
surest　way　of　vexing　me。　　I　have　an　eye　over　him；　and　I　hope　he　may
get　settled　into　the　steadier　sort　before　next　half。〃

After　a　silence；　Norman　said；　〃Papa；　there　is　a　thing　I　can't　settle
in　my　own　mind。　　Suppose　there　had　been　wrong　things　done　when　older
boys；　and　excellent　ones　too；　were　at　the　head　of　the　school；　yet
they　never　interfered；　do　you　think　I　ought　to　let　it　go　on？〃

〃Certainly　not；　or　why　is　power　given　to　you？〃

〃So　I　thought；〃　said　Norman；　〃I　can't　see　it　otherwise。　　I　wish　I
could；　for　it　will　be　horrid　to　set　about　it；　and　they'll　think　it　a
regular　shame　in　me　to　meddle。　　Oh！　I　know　what　I　came　into　the　study
for；　I　want　you　to　be　so　kind　as　to　lend　me　your　pocket　Greek
Testament。　　I　gave　Harry　my　little　one。〃

〃You　are　very　welcome。　　What　do　you　want　it　for？〃

Norman　coloured。　　〃I　met　with　a　sermon　the　other　day　that　recommended
reading　a　bit　of　it　every　day；　and　I　thought　I　should　like　to　try；
now　the　Confirmation　is　coming。　　One　can　always　have　some　quiet　by
getting　away　into　the　cloister。〃

〃Bless　you；　my　boy！　while　you　go　on　in　this　way；　I　have　not　much　fear
but　that　you'll　know　how　to　manage。〃

Norman's　rapid　progress　affected　another　of　the　household　in　an
unexpected　way。

〃Margaret；　my　dear；　I　wish　to　speak　to　you；〃　said　Miss　Winter；
reappearing　when　Margaret　thought　every　one　was　gone　out　walking。
She　would　have　said；　〃I　am　very　sorry　for　it〃so　ominous　was　the
commencementand　her　expectations　were　fulfilled　when　Miss　Winter
had　solemnly　seated　herself；　and　taken　out　her　netting。　　〃I　wished　to
speak　to　you　about　dear　Ethel；〃　said　the　governess；　〃you　know　how
unwilling　I　always　am　to　make　any　complaint；　but　I　cannot　be
satisfied　with　her　present　way　of　going　on。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　Margaret。　〃I　am　much　grieved　to　hear　this。　　I　thought
she　had　been　taking　great　pains　to　improve。〃

〃So　she　was　at　one　time。　　I　would　not　by　any　means　wish　to　deny　it；
and　it　is　not　of　her　learning　that　I　speak；　but　of　a　hurried；
careless　way　of　doing　everything；　and　an　irritability　at　being
interfered　with。〃

Margaret　knew　how　Miss　Winter　often　tried　Ethel's　temper；　and　was
inclined　to　take　her　sister's　part。　　〃Ethel's　time　is　so　fully
occupied；〃　she　said。

〃That　is　the　very　thing　that　I　was　going　to　observe；　my　dear。　　Her
time　is　too　much　occupied；　and　my　conviction　is；　that　it　is　hurtful
to　a　girl　of　her　age。〃

This　was　a　new　idea　to　Margaret；　who　was　silent；　longing　to　prove
Miss　Winter　wrong；　and　not　have　to　see　poor　Ethel　pained　by　having　to
relinquish　any　of　her　cherished　pursuits。

〃You　see　there　is　that　Cocksmoor；〃　said　Miss　Winter。　〃You　do　not　know
how　far　off　it　is；　my　dear；　much　too　great　a　distance　for　a　young
girl　to　be　walking　continually　in　all　weathers。〃

〃That's　a　question　for　papa；〃　thought　Margaret。

〃Besides；〃　continued　Miss　Winter；　〃those　children　engross　almost　all
her　time　and　thoughts。　　She　is　working　for　them；　preparing　lessons；
running　after　them　continually。　　It　takes　off　her　whole　mind　from　her
proper　occupations；　unsettles　her；　and　I　do　think　it　is　beyond　what
befits　a　young　lady　of　her　age。〃

Margaret　was　silent。

〃In　addition；〃　said　Miss　Winter；　〃she　is　at　every　spare　moment　busy
with　Latin　and　Greek；　and　I　cannot　think　that　to　keep　pace　with　a　boy
of　Norman's　age　and　ability　can　be　desirable　for　her。〃

〃It　is　a　great　deal；〃　said　Margaret；　〃but〃

〃I　am　convinced　that　she　does　more　than　is　right；〃　continued　Miss
Winter。　　〃She　may　not　feel　any　ill　effects　at　present；　but　you　may
depend　upon　it；　it　will　tell　on　her　by…and…by。　　Besides；　she　does