the daisy chain, or aspirations-第45章

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say；　〃Papa；　I　am　very　sorry　you　should　think　I　neglected　Tom。　　I　dare
say　I　might　have　done　better　for　him；　but；　indeed；　I　have　tried。〃

〃I　am　sure　you　have；　Norman。　　I　spoke　hastily；　my　boyyou　will　not
think　more　of　it。　　When　a　thing　like　this　comes　on　a　man；　he　hardly
knows　what　he　says。〃

〃If　Harry　were　here；〃　said　Norman；　anxious　to　turn　from　the　real　loss
and　grief；　as　well　as　to　talk　away　that　feeling　of　being　apologised
to；　〃it　would　all　do　better。　　He　would　make　a　link　with　Tom；　but　I
have　so　little；　naturally；　to　do　with　the　second　form；　that　it　is　not
easy　to　keep　him　in　sight。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know　that　very　well。　　It　is　no　one's　fault　but　my　own；　I
should　not　have　sent　him　there　without　knowing　him　better。　　But　you
see　how　it　is；　NormanI　have　trusted　to　her；　till　I　have　grown
neglectful；　and　it　is　well　if　it　is　not　the　ruin　of　him！〃

〃Perhaps　he　will　take　a　turn；　as　Ethel　says；〃　answered　Norman
cheerfully。　　〃Good…night；　papa。〃

〃I　have　a　blessing　to　be　thankful　for　in　you；　at　least；〃　murmured　the
doctor　to　himself。　　〃What　other　young　fellow　of　that　age　and　spirit
would　have　borne　so　patiently　with　my　injustice？　　Not　I；　I　am　sure！　a
fine　father　I　show　myself　to　these　poor　childrenneglect；
helplessness；　temperOh；　Maggie！〃

Margaret　had　so　bad　a　headache　the　next　day　that　she　could　not　come
downstairs。　　The　punishment　was；　they　heard；　a　flogging　at　the　time；
and　an　imposition　so　long；　that　it　was　likely　to　occupy　a　large
portion　of　the　play…hours　till　the　end　of　the　half…year。　　His　father
said；　and　Norman　silently　agreed；　〃a　very　good　thing；　it　will　keep
him　out　of　mischief；〃　but　Margaret　only　wished　she　could　learn　it　for
him；　and　took　upon　herself　all　the　blame　from　beginning　to　end。　　She
said　little　to　her　father；　for　it　distressed　him　to　see　her　grieved；
he　desired　her　not　to　dwell　on　the　subject；　caressed　her；　called　her
his　comfort　and　support；　and　did　all　he　could　to　console　her；　but　it
was　beyond　his　power；　her　sisters；　by　listening　to　her；　only　made　her
worse。　　〃Dear；　dear　papa；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃how　kind　he　is！　　But　he
can　never　depend　upon　me　againI　have　been　the　ruin　of　my　poor
little　Tom。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Richard　quietly；　〃I　can't　see　why　you　should　put
yourself　into　such　a　state　about　it。〃

This　took　Margaret　by　surprise。　　〃Have　not　I　done　very　wrong；　and
perhaps　hurt　Tom　for　life？〃

〃I　hope　not；〃　said　Richard。　　〃You　and　I　made　a　mistake；　but　it　does
not　follow　that　Tom　would　have　kept　out　of　this　scrape；　if　we　had
told　my　father　our　notion。〃

〃It　would　not　have　been　on　my　conscience；〃　said　Margaret〃he　would
not　have　sent　him　to　school。〃

〃I　don't　know　that；〃　said　Richard。　　〃At　any　rate　we　meant　to　do
right；　and　only　made　a　mistake。　　It　was　unfortunate；　but　I　can't　tell
why　you　go　and　make　yourself　ill；　by　fancying　it　worse　than　it　is。
The　boy　has　done　very　wrong；　but　people　get　cured　of　such　things　in
time；　and　it　is　nonsense　to　fret　as　if　he　were　not　a　mere　child　of
eight　years　old。　　You　did　not　teach　him　deceit。〃

〃No；　but　I　concealed　itpapa　is　disappointed；　when　he　thought　he
could　trust　me。〃

〃Well！　　I　suppose　no　one　could　expect　never　to　make　mistakes；〃　said
Richard；　in　his　sober　tone。

〃Self…sufficiency！〃　exclaimed　Margaret；　〃that　has　been　the　root　of
all！　　Do　you　know；　Ritchie；　I　believe　I　was　expecting　that　I　could
always　judge　rightly。〃

〃You　generally　do；〃　said　Richard；　〃no　one　else　could　do　half　what　you
do。〃

〃So　you　have　said；　papa；　and　all　of　you；　till　you　have　spoilt　me。　　I
have　thought　it　myself；　Ritchie。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Richard。

〃But　then；〃　said　Margaret；　〃I　have　grown　to　think　much　of　it；　and　not
like　to　be　interfered　with。　　I　thought　I　could　manage　by　myself；　and
when　I　said　I　would　not　worry　papa；　it　was　half　because　I　liked　the
doing　and　settling　all　about　the　children　myself。　　Oh！　if　it　could
have　been　visited　in　any　way　but　by　poor　Tom's　faults！〃

〃Well；〃　said　Richard；　〃if　you　felt　so；　it　was　a　pity；　though　I　never
should　have　guessed　it。　　But　you　see　you　will　never　feel　so　again；
and　as　Tom　is　only　one；　and　there　are　nine　to　govern；　it　is　all　for
the　best。〃

His　deliberate　common…sense　made　her　laugh　a　little；　and　she　owned　he
might　be　right。　〃It　is　a　good　lesson　against　my　love　of　being　first。
But　indeed　it　is　difficultpapa　can　so　little　bear　to　be　harassed。〃

〃He　could　not　at　first；　but　now　he　is　strong　and　well；　it　is
different。〃

〃He　looks　terribly　thin　and　worn　still；〃　sighed　Margaret；　〃so　much
older！〃

〃Ay；　I　think　he　will　never　get　back　his　young　looks；　but　except　his
weak　arm；　he　is　quite　well。〃

〃And　then　hishis　quick　way　of　speaking　may　do　harm。〃

〃Yes；　that　was　what　I　feared　for　Tom；〃　said　Richard；　〃and　there　was
the　mistake。　　I　see　it　now。　　My　father　always　is　right　in　the　main；
though　he　is　apt　to　frighten　one　at　first；　and　it　is　what　ought　to　be
that　he　should　rule　his　own　house。　　But　now；　Margaret；　it　is　silly　to
worry　about　it　any　morelet　me　fetch　baby；　and　don't　think　of　it。〃

And　Margaret　allowed　his　reasonableness；　and　let　herself　be
comforted。　　After　all；　Richard's　solid　soberness　had　more　influence
over　her　than　anything　else。




CHAPTER　XX。



Think　how　simple　things　and　lowly；
　　Have　a　part　in　Nature's　plan；
How　the　great　hath　small　beginnings；
　　And　the　child　will　be　a　man。
Little　efforts　work　great　actions；
　　Lessons　in　our　childhood　taught
Mould　the　spirit　of　that　temper
　　Whereby　blessed　deeds　are　wrought。
Cherish；　then；　the　gifts　of　childhood；
　　Use　them　gently；　guard　them　well；
For　their　future　growth　and　greatness
　　Who　can　measure；　who　can　tell！
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MORAL　SONGS。


The　first　shock　of　Tom's　misdemeanour　passed　away；　though　it　still
gave　many　an　anxious　thought　to　such　of　the　family　as　felt
responsible　for　him。

The　girls　were　busily　engaged　in　preparing　an　Easter　feast　for
Cocksmoor。　　Mr。　Wilmot　was　to　examine　the　scholars；　and　buns　and　tea
were　provided；　in　addition　to　which　Ethel　designed　to　make　a　present
to　every　onea　great　task；　considering　that　the　Cocksmoor　funds　were
reserved　for　absolute　necessaries；　and　were　at　a　very　low　ebb。　　So
that　twenty…five　gifts　were　to　be　composed　out　of　nothing！

There　was　a　grand　turn…out　of　drawers　of　rubbish；　all　over　Margaret；
raising　such　a　cloud　of　dust　as　nearly　choked　her。　　What　cannot
rubbish　and　willing　hands　effect！　　Envelopes　and　wafer　boxes　were
ornamented　with　pictures；　bags；　needle…cases；　and　pincushions；
beautiful　balls；　tippets；　both　of　list　and　gay　print；　and　even　sun…
bonnets　and　pinafores　were　contrived；　to　the　supreme　importance　and
delight　of　Mary　and　Blanche；　who　found　it　as　good　or　better　than
play；　and　ranged　their　performances　in　rows；　till　the　room　looked
like　a　bazaar。　　To　provide　for　boys　was　more　difficult；　but　Richard
mended　old　toys；　and　repaired　the　frames　of　slates；　and　Norman's
contribution　of　half…a…crown　bought　mugs；　marbles；　and　penny　knives；
and　there　were　even　hopes　that　something　would　remain　for　bodkins；　to
serve　as　nozzles　to　the　bellows；　which　were　the　pride　of　Blanche's
heart。

Never　were　Easter　gifts　the　source　of　more　pleasure　to　the　givers；
especially　when　the　nursery　establishment　met　Dr。　Hoxton　near　the
pastrycook's　shop；　and　he　bestowed　on　Blanche　a　packet　of　variegated
sugar…plums；　all　of　which　she　literally　poured　out　at　Ethel's　feet；
saying；　〃I　don't　want　them。　　Only　let　me　have　one　for　Aubrey；　because
he　is　so　little。　　All　the　rest　are　for　the　poor　children　at
Cocksmoor。〃

After　this；　Margaret　declared　that　Blanche　must　be　allowed　to　buy　the
bodkin；　and　give　her　bellows　to　Jane　Taylor；　the　only　Cocksmoor　child
she　knew；　and　to　whom　she　always　destined　in　turn　every　gift　that　she
thought　most　successful。

So　Blanche　went　with　Flora　to　the　toy…shop；　and　there　fell　in　love
with　a　little　writing…box；　that　so　eclipsed　the　bellows；　that　she
tried　to　persuade　Flora　to　buy　it　for　Jane　Taylor；　to　be　kept　till
she　could　write；　and　was　much　disappointed　to　hear　that　it　was　out　of
the　question。　　Just　then　a　carriage　stopped；　and　from　it　stepped　the
pretty　little　figure　of　Meta　Rivers。

〃Oh！　how　do　you　do？　　How　delightful　to　meet　you！　　I　was　wondering　if
we　should！　　Little　Blanche　too！〃　kissing　her；　〃and　here's　Mrs。
LarpentMrs。　LarpentMiss　Flora　May。　　How　is　Miss　May？〃

This　was　all　uttered　in　eager　delight；　and　Flora；　equally　pleased；
answered　the　inquiries。　　〃I　hope　you　are　not　in　a　hurry；〃　proceeded
Meta；　〃I　want　your　advice。　　You　know　all　about　schools；　don't　you？　　I
am　come　to　get　some　Easter　presents　for　our　children；　and　I　am　sure
you　can　help　me。〃

〃Are　the　children　little　or　big？〃　asked　Flora。

〃Oh！　all　sorts　and　sizes。　　I　have　some　books　for　the　great　sensible
ones；　and　some　stockings　and　shoes　for　the　tiresome　stupid　ones；　but
there　are　some　dear　little　pets　that　I　want　nice　things　for。　　There
there's　a　doll　that　looks　just　fit　for　little　curly…headed　Annie
Langley；　don't　you　think　so；　Mrs。　Larpent？〃

The　price　of　the　doll　was　a　shilling；　and　there　were　quickly　added　to
it；　boxes　of　toys；　elaborate　bead…work　pincushions；　polished　blue　and
green　boxes；　the　identical　writing…caseeven　a　small　Noah's　ark。
Meta　hardly　asked　the　prices；　which　certainly　were　not　extravagant；
since　she　had　nearly　twenty　articles　for　little　more　than　a　pound。

〃Papa　has　given　me　a　benefaction　of　？　for　my　school…gifts；〃　said
she；　〃is　not　that　charming？　　I　wish　you　would　come　to　the　feast。
Now；　do！　　It　is　on　Easter　Tuesday。　　Won't　you　come？〃

〃Thank　you；　I　am　afraid　we　can't。　　I　should　like　it　very　much。〃

〃You　never　will　come　to　me。　　You　have　no　compassion。〃

〃We　should　enjoy　coming　very　much。　　Perhaps；　in　the　summer；　when
Margaret　is　better。〃

〃Could　not　she　spare　any　of　you？　　Well；　I　shall　talk　to　papa；　and
make　him　talk　to　Dr。　May。　　Mrs。　Larpent　will　tell　you　I　always　get　my
way。　　Don't　I？　　Good…bye。　　See　if　I　don't。〃

She　departed；　and　Flora　returned　to　her　own　business；　but　Blanche's
interest　was　gone。　　Dazzled　by　the　more　lavish　gifts；　she　looked
listlessly　and　disdainfully　at　bodkins；　three　for　twopence。　　〃I　wish
I　might　have　bought　the　writing…box　for　Janet　Taylor！　　Why　does　not
papa　give　us　money　to　get　pretty　things　for　the　children？〃　said　she；
as　soon　as　they　came　out。

〃Because　he　is　not　so　rich　as　Miss　Rivers's　papa。〃

Flora　was　interrupted　by　meeting　the　Misses　Anderson；　who　asked；　〃Was
not　that　carriage　Mr。　Rivers's　of　Abbotstoke　Grange？〃

〃Yes。　　We　like　Miss　Rivers　very　much；〃　said　Flora；　resolved　to　show
that　she　was　acquainted。

〃Oh！　do　you　visit　her？　　I　knew　he　was　a　patient　of　Dr。　May。〃　　Flora
thought　there　was　no　need　to　tell　that　the　only　call　had　been　owing
to　the　rain；　and　continued；　〃She　has　been　begging　us　to　come　to　her
school　feast；　but　I　do　not　think　we　can　manage　it。〃

〃Oh；　indeed！　the　Grange　is　very　beautiful；　is　it　not？〃

〃Very；〃　said　Flora。　　〃Good…morning。〃

Flora　had　a　little　uneasiness　in　her　conscience；　but　it　was
satisfactory　to　have　put　down　Louisa　Anderson；　who　never　could　aspire
to　an　intimacy　with　Miss　Rivers。　　Her　little　sister　looked　up〃Why；
Flora；　have　you　seen　the　Grange？〃

〃No；　but　papa　and　Norman　said　so。〃

And　Blanche　showed　that　the　practical　lesson　on　the　pomps　of　the
world　was　not