the daisy chain, or aspirations-第44章

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〃Suppose；〃　Ethel　had　once　said　to　him；　〃that　when　you　are　a
clergyman；　you　could　be　Curate　of　Cocksmoor；　when　there　is　a　church
there。〃

〃When？〃　said　Richard；　smiling　at　the　presumption　of　the　scheme；　and
yet　it　formed　itself　into　a　sort　of　definite　hope。　　Perhaps　they
might　persuade　Mr。　Ramsden　to　take　him　as　a　curate　with　a　view　to
Cocksmoor；　and　this　prospect；　vague　as　it　was；　gave　an　object　and
hope　to　his　studies。　　Every　one　thought　the　delay　of　his　examination
favourable　to　him；　and　he　now　read　with　a　determination　to　succeed。
Dr。　May　had　offered　to　let　him　read　with　Mr。　Harrison　but　Richard
thought　he　was　getting　on　pretty　well；　with　the　help　Norman　gave　him；
for　it　appeared　that　ever　since　Norman's　return　from　London；；　he　had
been　assisting　Richard；　who　was　not　above　being　taught　by　a　younger
brother；　while；　on　the　other　hand；　Norman；　much　struck　by　his
humility；　would　not　for　the　world　have　published　that　he　was　fit　to
act　as　his　elder's　tutor。

One　evening；　when　the　two　boys　came　in　from　school；　Tom　gave　a　great
start；　and；　pulling　Mary　by　the　sleeve；　whispered；　〃How　came　that
book　here？〃

〃It　is　Mr。　Harrison's。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；　but　how　came　it　here？〃

〃Richard　borrowed　it　to　look　out　something；　and　Ethel　brought　it
down。〃

A　little　reassured；　Tom　took　up　an　exciting　story…book；　and　ensconced
himself　by　the　fire；　but　his　agonies　were　great　during　the　ensuing
conversation。

〃Norman；〃　Ethel　was　exclaiming　in　delight；　〃do　you　know　this　book？〃

〃Smith？　　Yes；　it　is　in　the　school　library。〃

〃There's　everything　in　it　that　one　wants；　I　do　believe。　　Here　is　such
an　account　of　ancient　galleysI　never　knew　how　they　managed　their
banks　of　rowers　beforeoh！　and　the　Greek　houseslook　at　the
pictures　too。〃

〃Some　of　them　are　the　same　as　Mr。　Rivers's　gems；〃　said　Norman；
standing　behind　her；　and　turning　the　leaves；　in　search　of　a
favourite。

〃Oh！　what　did　I　see？　is　that　ink？〃　said　Flora；　from　the　opposite　side
of　the　table。

〃Yes；　didn't　you　hear？〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Mr。　Harrison　told　Ritchie　when
he　borrowed　it；　that　unluckily　one　day　this　spring　he　left　it　in
school；　and　some　of　the　boys　must　have　upset　an　inkstand　over　it；
but；　though　he　asked　them　all　round；　each　denied　it。　　How　I　should
hate　for　such　things　to　happen！　and　it　was　a　prize…book　too。〃

While　Ethel　spoke　she　opened　the　marked　page；　to　show　the　extent　of
the　calamity；　and　as　she　did　so　Mary　exclaimed；　〃Dear　me！　how　funny！
why；　how　did　Harry's　blotting…paper　get　in　there？〃

Tom　shrank　into　nothing；　set　his　teeth；　and　pinched　his　fingers；
ready　to　wish　they　were　on　Mary's　throat；　more　especially　as　the
words　made　some　sensation。　　Richard　and　Margaret　exchanged　looks；　and
their　father；　who　had　been　reading；　sharply　raised　his　eyes　and　said；
〃Harry's　blotting…paper！　　How　do　you　know　that；　Mary？〃

〃It　is　Harry's；〃　said　she；　all　unconscious；　〃because　of　that　anchor
up　in　one　corner；　and　the　Union　Jack　in　the　other。　　Don't　you　see；
Ethel？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　〃nobody　drew　that　but　Harry。〃

〃Ay；　and　there　are　his　buttons；〃　said　Mary；　much　amused　and　delighted
with　these　relics　of　her　beloved　Harry。　　〃Don't　you　remember　one　day
last　holidays；　papa　desired　Harry　to　write　and　ask　Mr。　Ernescliffe
what　clothes　he　ought　to　have　for　the　naval　school；　and　all　the　time
he　was　writing　the　letter；　he　was　drawing　sailors'　buttons　on　his
blotting…paper。　　I　wonder　how　ever　it　got　into　Mr。　Harrison's　book！〃

Poor　Mary's　honest　wits　did　not　jump　to　a　conclusion　quite　so　fast　as
other　people's；　and　she　little　knew　what　she　was　doing　when；　as　a
great　discovery；　she　exclaimed；　〃I　know！　　Harry　gave　his　paper…case
to　Tom。　　That's　the　way　it　got　to　school！〃

〃Tom！〃　exclaimed　his　father；　suddenly　and　angrily；　〃where　are　you
going？〃

〃To　bed；〃　muttered　the　miserable　Tom；　twisting　his　hands。　　A　dead
silence　of　consternation　fell　on　all　the　room。　　Mary　gazed　from　one
to　the　other；　mystified　at　the　effect　of　her　words；　frightened　at　her
father's　loud　voice；　and　at　Tom's　trembling　confusion。　　The　stillness
lasted　for　some　moments；　and　was　first　broken　by　Flora；　as　if　she　had
caught　at　a　probability。　　〃Some　one　might　have　used　the　first
blotting…paper　that　came　to　hand。〃

〃Come　here；　Tom；〃　said　the　doctor；　in　a　voice　not　loud；　but　trembling
with　anxiety；　then　laying　his　hand　on　his　shoulder；　〃Look　in　my
face。〃　　Tom　hung　his　head；　and　his　father　put　his　hand　under　his
chin；　and　raised　the　pale　terrified　face。　　〃Don't　be　afraid　to　tell
us　the　meaning　of　this。　　If　any　of　your　friends　have　done　it；　we　will
keep　your　secret。　　Look　up；　and　speak　out。　　How　did　your　blotting…
paper　come　there？〃

Tom　had　been　attempting　his　former　system　of　silent　sullenness；　but
there　was　anger　at　Mary；　and　fear　of　his　father　to　agitate　him；　and
in　his　impatient　despair　at　thus　being　held　and　questioned；　he　burst
out　into　a　violent　fit　of　crying。

〃I　can't　have　you　roaring　here　to　distress　Margaret；〃　said　Dr。　May。
〃Come　into　the　study　with　me。〃

But　Tom；　who　seemed　fairly　out　of　himself；　would　not　stir；　and　a
screaming　and　kicking　scene　took　place；　before　he　was　carried　into
the　study　by　his　brothers；　and　there　left　with　his　father。　　Mary；
meantime；　dreadfully　alarmed；　and　perceiving　that；　in　some　way；　she
was　the　cause；　had　thrown　herself　upon　Margaret；　sobbing
inconsolably；　as　she　begged　to　know　what　was　the　matter；　and　why　papa
was　angry　with　Tomhad　she　made　him　so？

Margaret　caressed　and　soothed　her　to　the　best　of　her　ability；　trying
to　persuade　her　that；　if　Tom　had　done　wrong；　it　was　better　for　him　it
should　be　known；　and　assuring　her　that　no　one　could　think　her　unkind；
nor　a　tell…tale；　then　dismissing　her　to　bed；　and　Mary　was　not
unwilling　to　go；　for　she　could　not　bear　to　meet　Tom　again；　only
begging　in　a　whisper　to　Ethel；　〃that；　if　dear　Tom　had　not　done　it；
she　would　come　and　tell　her。〃

〃I　am　afraid　there　is　no　hope　of　that！〃　sighed　Ethel；　as　the　door
closed　on　Mary。

〃After　all；〃　said　Flora；　〃he　has　not　said　anything。　　If　he　has　only
done　it；　and　not　confessed；　that　is　not　so　badit　is　only　the　usual
fashion　of　boys。〃

〃Has　he　been　asked？　　Did　he　deny　it？〃　said　Ethel；　looking　in　Norman's
face；　as　if　she　hardly　ventured　to　put　the　question；　and　she　only
received　sorrowful　signs　as　answers。　　At　the　same　moment　Dr。　May
called　him。　　No　one　spoke。　　Margaret　rested　her　head　on　the　sofa；　and
looked　very　mournful；　Richard　stood　by　the　fire　without　moving　limb
or　feature；　Flora　worked　fast；　and　Ethel　leaned　back　on　an　arm…chair；
biting　the　end　of　a　paper…knife。

The　doctor　and　Norman　came　back　together。　　〃I　have　sent　him　up　to
bed；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃I　must　take　him　to　Harrison　to…morrow　morning。
It　is　a　terrible　business！〃

〃Has　he　confessed　it？〃　said　Margaret。

〃I　can　hardly　call　such　a　thing　a　confessionI　wormed　it　out　bit　by
bitI　could　not　tell　whether　he　was　telling　truth　or　not；　till　I
called　Norman　in。〃

〃But　he　has　not　said　anything　more　untrue〃

〃Yes；　he　has　though！〃　said　Dr。　May　indignantly。　　〃He　said　Ned
Anderson　put　the　paper　there；　and　had　been　taking　up　the　ink　with　it…
…'twas　his　doingthen　when　I　came　to　cross…examine　him　I　found　that
though　Anderson　did　take　up　the　ink；　it　was　Tom　himself　who　knocked
it　downI　never　heard　anything　like　itI　never　could　have　believed
it！〃

〃It　must　all　be　Ned　Anderson's　doing！〃　cried　Flora。　　〃They　are　enough
to　spoil　anybody。〃

〃I　am　afraid　they　have　done　him　a　great　deal　of　harm；〃　said　Norman。

〃And　what　have　you　been　about　all　the　time？〃　exclaimed　the　doctor；
too　keenly　grieved　to　be　just。　　〃I　should　have　thought　that　with　you
at　the　head　of　the　school；　the　child　might　have　been　kept　out　of
mischief；　but　there　have　you　been　going　your　own　way；　and　leaving　him
to　be　ruined　by　the　very　worst　set　of　boys！〃

Norman's　colour　rose　with　the　extreme　pain　this　unjust　accusation
caused　him；　and　his　voice；　though　low；　was　not　without　irritation；　〃I
have　tried。　　I　have　not　done　as　much　as　I　ought；　perhaps；　but〃

〃No；　I　think　not；　indeed！〃　interrupted　his　father。　　〃Sending　a　boy
there；　brought　up　as　he　had　been；　without　the　least　tendency　to
deceit〃

Here　no　one　could　see　Norman's　burning　cheeks；　and　brow　bent
downwards　in　the　effort　to　keep　back　an　indignant　reply；　without
bursting　out　in　exculpation；　and　Richard　looked　up；　while　the　three
sisters　all　at　once　began；　〃Oh；　no；　no；　papa〃and　left　Margaret　to
finish〃Poor　little　Tom　had　not　always　been　quite　sincere。〃

〃Indeed！　and　why　was　I　left　to　send　him　to　school　without　knowing　it？
The　place　of　all　others　to　foster　deceit。〃

〃It　was　my　fault；　papa；〃　said　Margaret。

〃And　mine；〃　put　in　Richard；　and　she　continued；　〃Ethel　told　us　we　were
very　wrong；　and　I　wish　we　had　followed　her　advice。　　It　was　by　far　the
best；　but　we　were　afraid　of　vexing　you。〃

〃Every　one　seems　to　have　been　combined　to　hide　what　they　ought　not！〃
said　Dr。　May；　though　speaking　to　her　much　more　softly　than　to　Norman；
to　whom　he　turned　angrily　again。　　〃Pray；　how　came　you　not　to　identify
this　paper？〃

〃I　did　not　know　it；〃　said　Norman；　speaking　with　difficulty。　　〃He
ought　never　to　have　been　sent　to　school；〃　said　the　doctor〃that
tendency　was　the　very　worst　beginning。〃

〃It　was　a　great　pity；　I　was　very　wrong；〃　said　Margaret；　in　great
concern。

〃I　did　not　mean　to　blame　you；　my　dear；〃　said　her　father
affectionately。　　〃I　know　you　only　meant　to　act　for　the　best；　but
〃and　he　put　his　hand　over　his　face；　and　then　came　the　sighing　groan；
which　pained　Margaret　ten　thousand　times　more　than　reproaches；　and
which；　in　an　instant；　dispersed　all　the　indignation　burning　within
Norman；　though　the　pain　remained　at　his　father's　thinking　him　guilty
of　neglect；　but　he　did　not　like；　at　that　moment；　to　speak　in　self…
justification。

After　a　short　space；　Dr。　May　desired　to　hear　what　were　the　deceptions
to　which　Margaret　had　alluded；　and　made　Norman　tell　what　he　knew　of
the　affair　of　the　blotted　book。　　Ethel　spoke　hopefully　when　she　had
heard　it。　　〃Well；　do　you　know；　I　think　be　will　do　better　now。　　You
see；　Edward　made　him　conceal　it；　and　he　has　been　going　on　with　it　on
his　mind；　and　in　that　boy's　power　ever　since；　but　now　it　is　cleared
up　and　confessed；　he　will　begin　afresh　and　do　better。　　Don't　you
think　so；　Norman？　don't　you；　papa？〃

〃I　should　have　more　hope　if　I　had　seen　anything　like　confession　or
repentance；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃but　that　provoked　me　more　than　allI
could　only　perceive　that　he　was　sorry　to　be　found　out；　and　afraid　of
punishment。〃

〃Perhaps；　when　he　has　recovered　the　first　fright；　he　will　come　to　his
better　self；〃　said　Margaret；　for　she　guessed；　what　indeed　was　the
case；　that　the　doctor's　anger　on　this　first　shock　of　the　discovery　of
the　fault　he　most　abhorred　had　been　so　great；　that　a　fearful　cowering
spirit　would　be　completely　overwhelmed；　and；　as　there　had　been　no
sorrow　shown　for　the　fault；　there　had　been　none　of　that　softening　and
relenting　that　won　so　much　love　and　confidence。

Every　one　felt　that　talking　only　made　them　more　unhappy；　they　tried
to　return　to　their　occupations；　and　so　passed　the　time　till　night。
Then；　as　Richard　was　carrying　Margaret　upstairs；　Norman　lingered　to
say；　〃Papa；　I　am　very　sorry　you　should　think　I　neglected　Tom。　　I　dare
say　I　might　have　done　better　for　him；