the daisy chain, or aspirations-第46章

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〃No；　but　papa　and　Norman　said　so。〃

And　Blanche　showed　that　the　practical　lesson　on　the　pomps　of　the
world　was　not　lost　on　her；　by　beginning　to　wish　they　were　as　rich　as
Miss　Rivers。　　Flora　told　her　it　was　wrong　to　be　discontented；　but　the
answer　was；　〃I　don't　want　it　for　myself；　I　want　to　have　pretty　things
to　give　away。〃

And　her　mind　could　not　be　turned　from　the　thought　by　any　attempt　of
her　sister。　　Even　when　they　met　Dr。　May　coming　out　of　the　hospital；
Blanche　renewed　the　subject。　　She　poured　out　the　catalogue　of　Miss
Rivers's　purchases；　making　appealing　attempts　at　looking　under　his
spectacles　into　his　eyes；　and　he　perfectly　understood　the　tenor　of
her　song。

〃I　have　had　a　sight；　too；　of　little　maidens　preparing　Easter　gifts；〃
said　he。

〃Have　you；　papa？　　What　were　they？　　Were　they　as　nice　as　Miss
Rivers's？〃

〃I　don't　know；　but　I　thought　they　were　the　best　sort　of　gifts；　for　I
saw　that　plenty　of　kind　thought　and　clever　contrivance　went　to　them；
ay；　and　some　little　self…denial　too。〃

〃Papa；　you　look　as　if　you　meant　something；　but　ours　are　nothing　but
nasty　old　rubbish。〃

〃Perhaps　some　fairy；　or　something　better；　has　brought　a　wand　to　touch
the　rubbish；　Blanche；　for　I　think　that　the　maidens　gave　what　would
have　been　worthless　kept；　but　became　precious　as　they　gave　it。〃

〃Do　you　mean　the　list　of　our　flannel　petticoats；　papa；　that　Mary　has
made　into　a　tippet？〃

〃Perhaps　I　meant　Mary's　own　time　and　pains；　as　well　as　the　tippet。
Would　she　have　done　much　good　with　them　otherwise？〃

〃No；　she　would　have　played。　　Oh！　then　you　like　the　presents　because
they　are　our　own　making？　　I　never　thought　of　that。　　Was　that　the
reason　you　did　not　give　us　any　of　your　sovereigns　to　buy　things
with？〃

〃Perhaps　I　want　my　sovereigns　for　the　eleven　gaping　mouths　at　home；
Blanche。　　But　would　not　it　be　a　pity　to　spoil　your　pleasure？　　You
would　have　lost　all　the　chattering　and　laughing　and　buzzing　I　have
heard　round　Margaret　of　late；　and　I　am　quite　sure　Miss　Rivers　can
hardly　be　as　happy　in　the　gifts　that　cost　her　nothing；　as　one　little
girl　who　gives　her　sugar…plums　out　of　her　own　mouth！〃

Blanche　clasped　her　papa's　hand　tight；　and　bounded　five　or　six　times。
〃They　are　our　presents；　not　yours；〃　said　she。　　〃Yes；　I　see。　　I　like
them　better　now。〃

〃Ay；　ay；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃Seeing　Miss　Rivers's　must　not　take　the
shine　out　of　yours；　my　little　maids；　for　if　you　can't　give　much；　you
have　the　pleasure　of　giving　the　best　of　all；　your　labour　of　love。〃
Then　thinking　on；　and　speaking　to　Flora；　〃The　longer　I　live；　the　more
I　see　the　blessing　of　being　born　in　a　state　of　life　where　you　can't
both　eat　your　cake　and　give　it　away。〃

Flora　never　was　at　ease　in　a　conversation　with　her　father；　she　could
not　follow　him；　and　did　not　like　to　show　it。　　She　answered　aside　from
the　mark；　〃You　would　not　have　Blanche　underrate　Miss　Rivers？〃

〃No；　indeed；　she　is　as　good　and　sweet　a　creature　as　ever　came　across
memost　kind　to　Margaret；　and　loving　to　all　the　world。　　I　like　to
see　one　whom　care　and　grief　have　never　set　their　grip　upon。　　Most
likely　she　would　do　like　Ethel；　if　she　had　the　opportunity；　but　she
has　not。〃

〃So　she　has　not　the　same　merit？〃　said　Flora。

〃We　don't　talk　of　merit。　　I　mean　that　the　power　of　sacrifice　is　a
great　advantage。　　The　habit　of　small　sacrifice　that　is　made　necessary
in　a　large　family　is　a　discipline　that　only…children　are　without：　and
so；　with　regard　to　wealth；　I　think　people　are　to　be　pitied　who　can
give　extensively　out　of　such　abundance　that　they　can　hardly　feel　the
want。〃

〃In　effect；　they　can　do　much　more；〃　said　Flora。

〃I　am　not　sure　of　that。　　They　can；　of　course；　but　it　must　be　at　the
cost　of　personal　labour　and　sacrifice。　　I　have　often　thought　of　the
words；　'Silver　and　gold　have　I　none；　but　such　as　I　have　give　I　thee。'
And　'such　as　we　have'　it　is　that　does　the　good；　the　gold；　if　we　have
it；　but；　at　any　rate；　the　personal　influence；　the　very　proof　of
sincerity；　shown　by　the　exertion　and　self…denial；　tells　far　more　than
money　lightly　come　by；　lightly　spent。〃

〃Do　you　mean　that　a　person　who　maintained　a　whole　school　would　do
less　good　than　one　who　taught　one　child？〃

〃If　the　rich　person　take　no　pains；　and　leave　the　school　to　take　care
of　itselfnay；　if　he　only　visit　it　now　and　then；　and　never　let　it
inconvenience　him；　has　he　the　least　security　that　the　scholars　are
obtaining　any　real　good　from　it？　　If　the　teacher　of　the　one　child　is
doing　his　utmost；　he　is　working　for　himself　at　least。〃

〃Suppose　we　could　build；　say　our　church　and　school；　on　Cocksmoor　at
once；　and　give　our　superintendence　besides？〃

〃If　things　were　ripe　for　it；　the　means　would　come。　　As　it　is；　it　is　a
fine　field　for　Ethel　and　Richard。　　I　believe　it　will　be　the　making　of
them　both。　　I　am　sure　it　is　training　Ethel；　or　making　her　train
herself；　as　we　could　never　have　done　without　it。　　But　here；　come　in
and　see　old　Mrs。　Robins。　　A　visit　from　you　will　cheer　her　up。〃

Flora　was　glad　of　the　interruption；　the　conversation　was
uncomfortable　to　her。　　She　almost　fancied　her　papa　was　moralising　for
their　good；　but　that　he　carried　it　too　far；　for　wealthy　people
assuredly　had　it　in　their　power　to　do　great　things；　and　might　work　as
hard　themselves；　besides；　it　was　finer　in　them；　there　was　so　much
eclat　in　their　stooping　to　charity。　　But　her　knowledge　of　his
character　would　not　allow　her　to　think　for　a　moment　that　he　could　say
aught　but　from　the　bottom　of　his　heartno；　it　was　one　of　his　one…
sided　views　that　led　him　into　paradox。　　〃It　was　just　like　papa；〃　and
so　there　was　no　need　to　attend　to　it。　　It　was　one　of　his　enthusiasms；
he　was　so　very　fond　of　Ethel；　probably　because　of　her　likeness　to
himself。　　Flora　thought　Ethel　put　almost　too　forwardthey　all　helped
at　Cocksmoor；　and　Ethel　was　very　queer　and　unformed；　and　could　do
nothing　by　herself。　　The　only　thing　Flora　did　keep　in　her　mind　was；
that　her　papa　had　spoken　to　her；　as　if　she　were　a　woman　compared　with
Ethel。

Little　Blanche　made　her　report　of　the　conversation　to　Mary；　〃that　it
was　so　nice；　and　now　she　did　not　care　about　Miss　Rivers's　fine
presents　at　all；　for　papa　said　what　one　made　oneself　was　better　to
give　than　what　one　bought。　　And　papa　said；　too；　that　it　was　a　good
thing　not　to　be　rich；　for　then　one　never　felt　the　miss　of　what　one
gave　away。〃

Margaret；　who　overheard　the　exposition；　thought　it　so　much　to
Blanche's　credit；　that　she　could　not　help　repeating　it　in　the
evening；　after　the　little　girl　was　gone　to　bed；　when　Mr。　Wilmot　had
come　in　to　arrange　the　programme　for　Cocksmoor。　　So　the　little　fit　of
discontent　and　its　occasion；　the　meeting　with　Meta　Rivers；　were
discussed。

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　〃those　Riverses　are　open…handed。　　They　really
seem　to　have　so　much　money；　that　they　don't　know　what　to　do　with　it。
My　brother　is　ready　to　complain　that　they　spoil　his　parish。　　It　is
all　meant　so　well；　and　they　are　so　kind…hearted　and　excellent；　that
it　is　a　shame　to　find　fault；　and　I　tell　Charles　and　his　wife　that
their　grumbling　at　such　a　squire　proves　them　the　most　spoiled　of
all。〃

〃Indiscriminate　liberality？〃　asked　the　doctor。　　〃I　should　guess　the
old　gentleman　to　be　rather　soft！〃

〃That's　one　thing。　　The　parish　is　so　small；　and　there　are　so　few　to
shower　all　this　bounty　on；　and　they　are　so　utterly　unused　to　country
people。　　They　seem　to　think　by　laying　out　money　they　can　get　a　show
set　of　peasants　in　rustic　cottages；　just　as　they　have　their　fancy
cows　and　poultryall　that　offends　the　eye　out　of　the　way。〃

〃Making　it　a　matter　of　taste；〃　said　the　doctor。

〃I'm　sure　I　would；〃　said　Norman　aside　to　Ethel。　　〃What's　the　use　of
getting　oneself　disgusted？〃

〃One　must　not　begin　with　showing　dislike；〃　began　Ethel；　〃or〃

〃Ayyou　like　rags；　don't　you？　but　hush！〃

〃That　is　just　what　I　should　expect　of　Mr。　Rivers；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃he
has　cultivated　his　taste　till　it　is　getting　to　be　a　disease；　but　his
daughter　has　no　lack　of　wit。〃

〃Perhaps　not。　　Charles　and　Mary　are　very　fond　of　her；　but　she　is
entirely　inexperienced；　and　that　is　a　serious　thing　with　so　much
money　to　throw　about。　　She　pays　people　for　sending　their　children　to
school；　and　keeping　their　houses　tidy；　and　there　is　so　much　given
away；　that　it　is　enough　to　take　away　all　independence　and　motive　for
exertion。　　The　people　speculate　on　it；　and　take　it　as　a　right；　by…
and…by　there　will　be　a　reactionshe　will　find　out　she　is　imposed
upon；　take　offence；　and　for　the　rest　of　her　life　will　go　about　saying
how　ungrateful　the　poor　are！〃

〃It　is　a　pity　good　people　won't　have　a　little　common…sense；〃　said　Dr。
May。　　〃But　there's　something　so　bewitching　in　that　little　girl；　that
I　can't　give　her　up。　　I　verily　believe　she　will　right　herself。〃

〃I　have　scarcely　seen　her；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。　　〃She　has　won　papa's
heart　by　her　kindness　to　me；〃　said　Margaret；　smiling。　　〃You　see　her
beautiful　flowers？　　She　seems　to　me　made　to　lavish　pleasures　on
others　wherever　she　goes。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　they　are　most　kind…hearted；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。　　〃It　is　only
the　excess　of　a　virtue　that　could　be　blamed　in　them；　and　they　are
most　valuable　to　the　place。　　She　will　learn　experience　in　timeI
only　hope　she　will　not　be　spoiled。〃

Flora　felt　as　if　her　father　must　be　thinking　his　morning's　argument
confirmed；　and　she　was　annoyed。　　But　she　thought　there　was　no　reason
why　wealth　should　not　be　used　sensibly；　and　if　she　were　at　the　head
of　such　an　establishment　as　the　Grange；　her　charity　should　be　so　well
regulated　as　to　be　the　subject　of　general　approbation。

She　wanted　to　find　some　one　else　on　her　side；　and；　as　they　went　to
bed；　she　said　to　Ethel；　〃Don't　you　wish　we　had　some　of　this
superfluity　of　the　Riverses　for　poor　Cocksmoor？〃

〃I　wish　we　had　anything　for　Cocksmoor！　　Here's　a　great　hole　in　my
boot；　and　nurse　says　I　must　get　a　new　pair；　that　is　seven…and…
sixpence　gone！　　I　shall　never　get　the　first　pound　made　up　towards
building！〃

〃And　pounds　seem　nothing　to　them；〃　said　Flora。

〃Yes；　but　if　they　don't　manage　right　with　them！　　I'll　tell　you；
Flora；　I　got　into　a　fit　of　wishing　the　other　day；　it　does　seem　such　a
grievous　pity　to　see　those　children　running　to　waste　for　want　of
daily　teaching；　and　Jenny　Hall　had　forgotten　everything。　　I　was
vexed；　and　thought　it　was　all　no　use　while　we　could　not　do　more；　but
just　then　I　began　to　look　out　the　texts　Ritchie　had　marked　for　me　to
print　for　them　to　learn；　and　the　first　was；　'Be　thou　faithful　over　a
few　things；　and　I　will　make　thee　ruler　over　many　things；'　and　then　I
thought　perhaps　we　were　learning　to　be　faithful　with　a　few　things。　　I
am　sure　what　they　said　to…night　showed　it　was　lucky　we　have　not　more
in　our　hands。　　I　should　do　wrong　for　ever　with　the　little　we　have　if
it　were　not　for　Ritchie　and　Margaret。　　By　the　time　we　have　really　got
the　money　together　for　the　school；　perhaps　I　shall　have　more　sense。〃

〃Got　the　money！　　As　if　we　ever　could！〃

〃Oh；　yes！　we　shall　and　will。　　It　need　not　be　more　than　？0；　Ritchie
says；　and　I　have　twelve　shillings　for　certain；　put　out　from　the　money
for　hire　of　the　room；　and　the　books　and　clothes；　and；　in　spite　of
these　horrid　boots；　I　shall　save　something　out　of　this　quarter；　half…
a…crown　at　least。　　And　I　have　another　plan　besides〃

But　Flora　had　to　go　down　to