the daisy chain, or aspirations-第42章

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Miss　Winter；　I　should　have　plenty　of　time　for　everything；　and　what
does　one　learn　by　hearing　Mary　read　poetry　she　can't　understand？〃

〃You　work；　don't　you？　　But　indeed；　Ethel；　don't　say　that　I　can　let
you　leave　off　anything。　　I　don't　feel　as　if　I　had　that　authority。　　If
it　be　done　at　all；　it　must　be　by　papa's　consent；　and　if　you　wish　me
to　ask　him　about　it；　I　will；　only　I　think　it　would　vex　Miss　Winter；
and　I　don't　think　dear　mamma　would　have　liked　Greek　and　Cocksmoor　to
swallow　up　all　the　little　common　ladylike　things。〃

Ethel　made　two　or　three　great　gulps；　〃Margaret；　must　I　give　up
everything；　and　forget　all　my　Latin　and　Greek？〃

〃I　should　think　that　would　be　a　great　pity；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃If　you
were　to　give　up　the　verse…making；　and　the　trying　to　do　as　much　as
Norman；　and　fix　some　time　in　the　dayhalf　an　hour；　perhapsfor　your
Greek；　I　think　it　might　do　very　well。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Ethel；　much　relieved；　〃I'm　glad　you　don't　want　me
to　leave　it　all　off。　　I　hope　Norman　won't　be　vexed；〃　she　added；
looking　a　little　melancholy。

But　Norman　had　not　by　any　means　the　sort　of　sentiment　on　the　subject
that　she　had。　　〃Of　course；　you　know；　Ethel；〃　said　he；　〃it　must　have
come　to　this　some　time　or　other；　and　if　you　find　those　verses　too
hard；　and　that　they　take　up　too　much　of　your　time；　you　had　better
give　them　up。〃

Ethel　did　not　like　anything　to　be　said　to　be　too　hard　for　her；　and
was　very　near　pleading　she　only　wanted　time；　but　some　recollection
came　across　her；　and　presently　she　said；　〃I　suppose　it　is　a　wrong
sort　of　ambition　to　want　to　learn　more；　in　one's　own　way；　when　one　is
told　it　is　not　good　for　one。　　I　was　just　going　to　say　I　hated　being　a
woman；　and　having　these　tiresome　little　triflesmy　dutyinstead　of
learning；　which　is　yours；　Norman。〃

〃I'm　glad　you　did　not；〃　said　Norman；　〃for　it　would　have　been　very
silly　of　you；　and　I　assure　you；　Ethel；　it　is　really　time　for　you　to
stop；　or　you　would　get　into　a　regular　learned　lady；　and　be　good　for
nothing。　　I　don't　mean　that　knowing　more　than　other　people　would　make
you　so；　but　minding　nothing　else　would。〃

This　argument　from　Norman　himself　did　much　to　reconcile　Ethel's　mind
to　the　sacrifice　she　had　made；　and　when　she　went　to　bed；　she　tried　to
work　out　the　question　in　her　own　mind；　whether　her　eagerness　for
classical　learning　was　a　wrong　sort　of　ambition；　to　know　what　other
girls　did　not；　and　whether　it　was　right　to　crave　for　more　knowledge
than　was　thought　advisable　for　her。　　She　only　bewildered　herself；　and
went　to　sleep　before　she　had　settled　anything；　but　that　she　knew　she
must　make　all　give　way　to　papa　first；　and；　secondly；　to　Cocksmoor。

Meanwhile　Margaret　had　told　her　father　all　that　had　passed。　　He　was
only　surprised　to　hear　that　Ethel　had　kept　up　so　long　with　Norman；
and　thought　that　it　was　quite　right　that　she　should　not　undertake　so
much；　agreeing　more　entirely　than　Margaret　had　expected　with　Miss
Winter's　view；　that　it　would　be　hurtful　to　body　as　well　as　mind。

〃It　is　perfectly　ridiculous　to　think　of　her　attempting　it！〃　he　said。
〃I　am　glad　you　have　put　a　stop　to　it。〃

〃I　am　glad　I　have；〃　said　Margaret；　〃and　dear　Ethel　behaved　so　very
well。　　If　she　had　resisted；　it　would　have　puzzled　me　very　much；　I
must　have　asked　you　to　settle　it。　　But　it　is　very　odd；　papa；　Ethel　is
the　one　of　them　all　who　treats　me　most　as　if　I　had　real　authority
over　her；　she　lets　me　scold　her；　asks　my　leave；　never　seems　to
recollect　for　a　moment　how　little　older　I　am；　and　how　much　cleverer
she　is。　　I　am　sure　I　never　should　have　submitted　so　readily。　　And
that　always　makes　it　more　difficult　to　me　to　direct　her；　I　don't　like
to　take　upon　me　with　her；　because　it　seems　wrong　to　have　her　obeying
me　as　if　she　were　a　mere　child。〃

〃She　is　a　fine　creature；〃　said　Dr。　May　emphatically。　　〃It　just　shows
the　fact；　the　higher　the　mind　the　readier　the　submission。　　But　you
don't　mean　that　you　have　any　difficulty　with　the　others？〃

〃Oh；　no；　no。　　Flora　never　could　need　any　interference；　especially
from　me；　and　Mary　is　a　thorough　good　girl。　　I　only　meant　that　Ethel
lays　herself　out　to　be　ruled　in　quite　a　remarkable　way。　　I　am　sure；
though　she　does　love　learning；　her　real　love　is　for　goodness　and　for
you；　papa。〃

Ethel　would　have　thought　her　sacrifice　well　paid　for；　had　she　seen
her　father's　look　of　mournful　pleasure。




CHAPTER　XIX。



0　ruthful　scene！　when　from　a　nook　obscure；
His　little　sister　doth　his　peril　see；
All　playful　as　she　sate；　she　grows　demure；
She　finds　full　soon　her　wonted　spirits　flee；
She　meditates　a　prayer　to　set　him　free。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SHENSTONE。


The　setting　sun　shone　into　the　great　west　window　of　the　school　at
Stoneborough；　on　its　bare　walls；　the　masters'　desks；　the　forms
polished　with　use；　and　the　square；　inky；　hacked　and　hewed　chests；
carved　with　the　names　of　many　generations　of　boys。

About　six　or　eight　little　boys　were　clearing　away　the　books　or　papers
that　they；　or　those　who　owned　them　as　fags；　had　left　astray；　and　a
good　deal　of　talk　and　laughing　was　going；　on　among　them。　　〃Ha！〃
exclaimed　one；　〃here　has　Harrison　left　his　book　behind　him　that　he
was　showing　us　the　gladiators　in！〃　and；　standing　by　the　third
master's　desk；　he　turned　over　a　page　or　two　of　Smith's　'Antiquities'；
exclaiming；　〃It　is　full　of　pictureshere's　an　old　man　blowing　the
bellows〃

〃Let　me　see！〃　cried　Tom　May；　precipitating　himself　across　the　benches
and　over　the　desk；　with　so　little　caution；　that　there　was　an　outcry；
and；　to　his　horror；　he　beheld　the　ink　spilled　over　Mr。　Harrison's
book；　while；　〃There；　August！　you've　been　and　done　it！〃　　〃You'll　catch
it！　〃　resounded　on　all　sides。

〃What　good　will　staring　with　your　mouth　open　do！〃　exclaimed　Edward
Anderson；　the　eldest　present。　　〃Here！　a　bit　of　blotting…paper　this
moment！〃

Tom；　dreadfully　frightened；　handed　a　sheet　torn　from　an　old　paper…
case　that　he　had　inherited　from　Harry；　saying　despairingly；　〃It　won't
take　it　out；　will　it？〃

〃No；　little　stupid　head；　but　don't　you　see；　I'm　stopping　it　from
running　down　the　edges；　or　soaking　in。　　He　won't　be　the　wiser　till　he
opens　it　again　at　that　place。〃

〃When　he　does；　he　will；〃　said　the　bewildered　Tom。

〃Let　him。　　It　won't　tell　tales。〃

〃He's　coming！〃　cried　another　boy；　〃he　is　close　at　the　door。〃

Anderson　hastily　shut　the　book　over　the　blotting…paper；　which　he　did
not　venture　to　retain　in　his　hand；　dragged　Tom　down　from　the　desk；
and　was　apparently　entirely　occupied　with　arranging　his　own　box；　when
Mr。　Harrison　came　in。　　Tom　crouched　behind　the　raised　lid；　quaking　in
every　limb；　conscious　he　ought　to　confess；　but　destitute　of
resolution　to　do　so；　and；　in　a　perfect　agony　as　the　master　went　to
his　desk；　took　up　the　book；　and　carried　it　away；　so　unconscious；　that
Larkins；　a　great　wag；　only　waited　till　his　back　was　turned；　to
exclaim；　〃Ha！　old　fellow；　you　don't　know　what　you've　got　there！〃

〃Hallo！　　May　junior；　will　you　never　leave　off　staring？　you　won't　see
a　bit　farther　for　it；〃　said　Edward　Anderson；　shaking　him　by　the　ear；
〃come　to　your　senses；　and　know　your　friends。〃

〃He'll　open　it！〃　gasped　Tom。

〃So　he　will；　but　I'd　bet　ninety　to　one；　it　is　not　at　that　page；　or　if
he　does；　it　won't　tell　tales；　unless；　indeed；　he　happened　to　see　you
standing　there；　crouching　and　shaking。　　That's　the　right　way　to　bring
him　upon　you。〃

〃But　suppose　he　opens　it；　and　knows　who　was　in　school？〃

〃What　then？　　D'ye　think　we　can't　stand　by　each　other；　and　keep　our
own　counsel？〃

〃But　the　blotting…papersuppose　he　knows　that！〃

There　was　a　laugh　all　round　at　this；　〃as　if　Harrison　knew　everyone's
blotting…paper！〃

〃Yes；　but　Harry　used　to　write　his　name　all　over　hisseeand　draw
Union　Jacks　on　it。〃

〃If　he　did；　the　date　is　not　there。　　Do　you　think　the　ink　is　going　to
say　March　2nd？　　Why　should　not　July　have　done　it　last　half？〃

〃July　would　have　told　if　he　had；〃　said　Larkins。　　〃That's　no　go。〃

〃Ay！　　That's　the　waythe　Mays　are　all　like　girlscan't　keep　a
secretnot　one　of　them。　　There；　I've　done　more　for　you　than　ever　one
of　them　would　have　doneown　itand　he　strode　up　to　Tom；　and　grasped
his　wrists；　to　force　the　confession　from　him。〃

〃Butbut　he'll　ask　when　he　finds　it　out〃

〃Let　him。　　We　know　nothing　about　it。　　Don't　be　coming　the　good　boy
over　me　like　your　brothers。　　That　won't　doI　know　whose　eyes　are　not
too　short…sighted　to　read　upside　down。〃

Tom　shrank　and　looked　abject；　clinging　to　the　hope　that　Mr。　Harrison
would　not　open　the　book　for　weeks；　months；　or　years。

But　the　next　morning　his　heart　died　within　him；　when　he　beheld　the
unfortunate　piece　of　blotting…paper；　displayed　by　Mr。　Harrison；　with
the　inquiry　whether　any　one　knew　to　whom　it　belonged；　and　what　made
it　worse　was；　that　his　sight　would　not　reach　far　enough　to　assure　him
whether　Harry's　name　was　on　it；　and　he　dreaded　that　Norman　or　Hector
Ernescliffe　should　recognise　the　nautical　designs。　　However；　both　let
it　pass；　and　no　one　through　the　whole　school　attempted　to　identify
it。　　One　danger　was　past；　but　the　next　minute　Mr。　Harrison　opened　his
Smith's　'Antiquities'　at　the　page　where　stood　the　black　witness。　　Tom
gazed　round　in　despair；　he　could　not　see　his　brother's　face；　but
Edward　Anderson；　from　the　second　form；　returned　him　a　glance　of
contemptuous　encouragement。

〃This　book；〃　said　Mr。　Harrison；　〃was　left　in　school　for　a　quarter　of
an　hour　yesterday。　　When　I　opened　it　again；　it　was　in　this　condition。
Do　any　of　you　know　how　it　happened？〃　　A　silence；　and　he　continued；
〃Who　was　in　school　at　this　time？　　Anderson　junior；　can　you　tell　me
anything　of　it？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃You　know　nothing　of　it？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

Cold　chills　crept　over　Tom；　as　Mr。　Harrison　looked　round　to　refresh
his　memory。　　〃Larkins；　do　you　know　how　this　happened？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　said　Larkins　boldly；　satisfying　his　conscience　because　he
had　not　seen　the　manner　of　the　overthrow。

〃Ernescliffe；　were　you　there？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

Tom's　timid　heart　fluttered　in　dim　hope　that　he　had　been　overlooked；
as　Mr。　Harrison　paused；　then　said；　〃Remember；　it　is　concealment　that
is　the　evil；　not　the　damage　to　the　book。　　I　shall　have　a　good　opinion
ever　after　of　a　boy　honest　enough　to　confess；　May　junior；　I　saw　you；〃
he　added；　hopefully　and　kindly。　　〃Don't　be　afraid　to　speak　out　if　you
did　meet　with　a　mischance。〃

Tom　coloured　and　turned　pale。　　Anderson　and　Larkins　grimaced　at　him；
to　remind　him　that　they　had　told　untruths　for　his　sake；　and　that　he
must　not　betray　them。　　It　was　the　justification　he　wanted；　he　was
relieved　to　fancy　himself　obliged　to　tell　the　direct　falsehood；　for
which　a　long　course　of　petty　acted　deceits　had　paved　the　way；　for　he
was　in　deadly　terror　of　the　effects　of　truth。

〃No；　sir。〃　　He　could　hardly　believe　he　had　said　the　words；　or　that
they　would　be　so　readily　accepted；　for　Mr。　Harrison　had　only　the
impression　that　he　knew　who　the　guilty　person　was；　and　would　not
tell；　and；　therefore；　put　no　more　questions　to　him；　but；　after　a　few
more　vain　inquiries；　was　baffled；　and　gave　up　the　investigation。

Tom　thought　he　should　have　been　very　unhappy；　he　had　always　heard
that　deceit　was　a　heavy　burden；　and　would　give　continual　stings；　but
he　was　surprised　to　find　himself　very　comfortable　on　the　whole；　and
able　to　dism