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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

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