the daisy chain, or aspirations-第47章

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a…crown　at　least。　　And　I　have　another　plan　besides〃

But　Flora　had　to　go　down　to　Margaret's　room　to　bed。　　Flora　was　always
ready　to　throw　herself　into　the　present；　and　liked　to　be　the　most
useful　person　in　all　that　went　forward；　so　that　no　thoughts　of
greatness　interfered　with　her　enjoyment　at　Cocksmoor。

The　house　seemed　wild　that　Easter　Monday　morning。　　Ethel；　Mary；　and
Blanche；　flew　about　in　all　directions；　and　in　spite　of　much　undoing
of　their　own　arrangements；　finished　their　preparations　so　much　too
early；　that；　at　half…past　eleven；　Mary　complained　that　she　had
nothing　to　do；　and　that　dinner　would　never　come。

Many　were　the　lamentations　at　leaving　Margaret　behind；　but　she
answered　them　by　talking　of　the　treat　of　having　papa　all　to　herself；
for　he　had　lent　them　the　gig；　and　promised　to　stay　at　home　all　the
afternoon　with　her。

The　first　division　started　on　foot　directly　after　dinner；　the　real
Council　of　education；　as　Norman　called　them；　namely；　Mr。　Wilmot；
Richard；　Ethel；　and　Mary；　Flora；　the　other　member；　waited　to　take
care　of　Blanche　and　Aubrey；　who　were　to　come　in　the　gig；　with　the
cakes；　tea…kettles；　and　prizes；　driven　by　Norman。　　Tom　and　Hector
Ernescliffe　were　invited　to　join　the　party；　and　many　times　did　Mary
wish　for　Harry。

Supremely　happy　were　the　young　people　as　they　reached　the　common；　and
heard　the　shout　of　tumultuous　joy；　raised　by　their　pupils；　who　were
on　the　watch　for　them。　　All　was　now　activity。　　Everybody　tripped　into
Mrs。　Green's　house；　while　Richard　and　Ethel　ran　different　ways　to
secure　that　the　fires　were　burning；　which　they　had　hired；　to　boil
their　kettles；　with　the　tea　in　them。

Then　when　the　kitchen　was　so　full　that　it　seemed　as　if　it　could　hold
no　more；　some　kind　of　order　was　produced；　the　children　were　seated　on
their　benches；　and；　while　the　mothers　stood　behind　to　listen；　Mr。
Wilmot　began　to　examine；　as　well　as　he　could　in　so　crowded　an
audience。

There　was　progress。　　Yes；　there　was。　　Only　three　were　as　utterly　rude
and　idealess　as　they　used　to　be　at　Christmas。　　Glimmerings　had　dawned
on　most；　and　oneUna　M'Carthywas　fit　to　come　forward　to　claim　Mr。
Wilmot's　promise　of　a　Prayer…book。　　She　could　really　read　and　say　the
Catechismher　Irish　wit　and　love　of　learning　had　outstripped　all　the
restand　she　was　the　pride　of　Ethel's　heart；　fit；　now；　to　present
herself　on　equal　terms　with　the　Stoneborough　set；　as　far　as　her　sense
was　concernedthough；　alas！　neither　present　nor　exhortation　had
succeeded　in　making　her　anything；　in　looks；　but　a　picturesque
tatterdemalion；　her　sandy　elf　locks　streaming　over　a　pair　of　eyes；　so
dancing　and　gracieuses；　that　it　was　impossible　to　scold　her。

With　beating　heart；　as　if　her　own　success　in　life　depended　for　ever
on　the　way　her　flock　acquitted　themselves；　Ethel　stood　by　Mr。　Wilmot；
trying　to　read　answers　coming　out　of　the　dull　mouths　of　her　children；
and　looking　exultingly　at　Richard　whenever　some　good　reply　was　made；
especially　when　Una　answered　an　unexpected　question。　　It　was　too
delightful　to　hear　how　well　she　remembered　all　the　history　up　to　the
flood；　and　how　prettily　it　came　out　in　her　Irish　accent！　　That　made
up　for　all　the　atrocious　stupidity　of　others；　who；　after　being　told
every　time　since　they　had　begun　who　gave　their　names；　now　chose　to
forget。

In　the　midst；　while　the　assembly　were　listening　with　admiration　to
the　reading　of　the　scholar　next　in　proficiency　to　Una；　a　boy　who
could　read　words　of　five　letters　without　spelling；　there　was　a　fresh
squeezing　at　the　door；　and；　the　crowd　opening　as　well　as　it　could；　in
came　Flora　and　Blanche；　while　Norman's　head　was　seen　for　a　moment　in
the　doorway。

Flora's　whisper　to　Ethel　was　her　first　discovery　that　the　closeness
and　the　heat　of　the　room　was　nearly　overpowering。　　Her　excitement　had
made　all　be　forgotten。　　〃Could　not　a　window　be　opened？〃

Mrs。　Green　interferedit　had　been　nailed　up　because　her　husband　had
the　rheumatiz！

〃Where's　Aubrey？〃　asked　Mary。

〃With　Norman。　　Norman　said　he　would　not　let　him　go　into　the　black…
hole；　so　he　has　got　him　out　of　doors。　　Ethel；　we　must　come　out！　　You
don't　know　what　an　atmosphere　it　is！　　Blanche；　go　out　to　Norman！〃

〃Flora；　Flora！　you　don't　consider；〃　said　Ethel；　in　an　agony。

〃Yes；　yes。　　It　is　not　at　all　cold。　　Let　them　have　their　presents　out
of　doors　and　eat　their　buns。〃

Richard　and　Mr。　Wilmot　agreed　with　Flora；　and　the　party　were　turned
out。　　Ethel　did　own；　when　she　was　in　the　open　air；　〃that　it　had　been
rather　hot。〃

Norman's　face　was　a　sight；　as　he　stood　holding　Aubrey　in　his　arms；　to
gratify　the　child's　impatience。　　The　stifling　den；　the　uncouth　aspect
of　the　children；　the　head　girl　so　very　ragged　a　specimen；　thoroughly
revolted　his　somewhat　fastidious　disposition。　　This　was　Ethel's
delight！　to　this　she　made　so　many　sacrifices！　this　was　all　that　her
time　and　labour　had　effected！　　He　did　not　wish　to　vex　her　but　it　was
more　than　he　could　stand。

However；　Ethel　was　too　much　engrossed　to　look　for　sympathy。　　It　was　a
fine　spring　day；　and　on　the　open　space　of　the　common　the　arrangements
were　quickly　made。　　The　children　stood　in　a　long　line；　and　the
baskets　were　unpacked。　　Flora　and　Ethel　called　the　names；　Mary　and
Blanche　gave　the　presents；　and　assuredly　the　grins；　courtesies；　and
pulls　of　the　forelock　they　elicited；　could　not　have　been　more　hearty
for　any　of　Miss　Rivers's　treasures。　　The　buns　and　the　kettles　of　tea
followedit　was　perfect　delight　to　entertainers　and　entertained；
except　when　Mary's　dignity　was　cruelly　hurt　by　Norman's
authoritatively　taking　a　kettle　out　of　her　hands；　telling　her　she
would　be　the　death　of　herself　or　somebody　else；　and　reducing　her　to
the　mere　rank　of　a　bun　distributor；　which　Blanche　and　Aubrey　could　do
just　as　well；　while　he　stalked　along　with　a　grave　and　resigned
countenance；　filling　up　the　cups　held　out　to　him　by　timid…looking
children。　　Mary　next　fell　in　with　Granny　Hall；　who　had　gone　into　such
an　ecstasy　over　Blanche　and　Aubrey；　that　Blanche　did　not　know　which
way　to　look；　and　Aubrey；　in　some　fear　that　the　old　woman　might　intend
to　kiss　him；　returned　the　compliments　by　telling　her　she　was　〃ugly　up
in　her　face；〃　at　which　she　laughed　heartily；　and　uttered　more
vehement　benedictions。

Finally；　the　three　best　children；　boys　and　girls；　were　to　be　made　fit
to　be　seen；　and　recommended　by　Mr。　Wilmot　to　the　Sunday…school　and
penny　club　at　Stoneborough；　and；　this　being　proclaimed　and　the
children　selected；　the　assembly　dispersed；　Mr。　Wilmot　rejoicing　Ethel
and　Richard　by　saying；　〃Well；　really；　you　have　made　a　beginning。
There　is　an　improvement　in　tone　among　those　children；　that　is　more
satisfactory　than　any　progress　they　may　have　made。〃

Ethel's　eyes　beamed；　and　she　hurried　to　tell　Flora。　　Richard　coloured
and　gave　his　quiet　smile；　then　turned　to　put　things　in　order　for
their　return。

〃Will　you　drive　home；　Richard？〃　said　Norman；　coming　up　to　him。

〃Don't　you　wish　it？〃　said　Richard；　who　had　many　minor　arrangements　to
make；　and　would　have　preferred　walking　home　independently。

〃No；　thank　you；　I　have　a　headache；　and　walking　may　take　it　off；〃　said
Norman；　taking　off　his　hat　and　passing　his　fingers　through　his　hair。

〃A　headache　againI　am　sorry　to　hear　it。〃

〃It　is　only　that　suffocating　den　of　yours。　　My　head　ached　from　the
moment　I　looked　into　it。　　How　can　you　take　Ethel　into　such　a　hole；
Richard？　　It　is　enough　to　kill　her　to　go　on　with　it　for　ever。〃

〃It　is　not　so　every　day；〃　said　the　elder　brother　quietly。　　〃It　is　a
warm　day；　and　there　was　an　unusual　crowd。〃

〃I　shall　speak　to　my　father；〃　exclaimed　Norman；　with　somewhat　of　the
supercilious　tone　that　he　had　now　and　then　been　tempted　to　address　to
his　brother。　　〃It　is　not　fit　that　Ethel　should　give　up　everything；
health　and　all；　to　such　a　set　as　these。　　They　look　as　if　they　had
been　picked　out　of　the　gutterdirt；　squalor；　everything　disgusting；
and　summer　coming　on；　too；　and　that　horrid　place　with　no　window　to
open！　　It　is　utterly　unbearable！〃

Richard　stooped　to　pick　up　a　heavy　basket；　then　smiled　and　said；　〃You
must　get　over　such　things　as　these　if　you　mean　to　be　a　clergyman；
Norman。〃

〃Whatever　I　am　to　be；　it　does　not　concern　the　girls　being　in　such　a
place　as　this。　　I　am　surprised　that　you　could　suffer　it。〃

There　was　no　answerRichard　was　walking　off　with　his　basket；　and
putting　it　into　the　carriage。　　Norman　was　not　pleased　with　himself；
but　thought　it　his　duty　to　let　his　father　know　his　opinion　of　Ethel's
weekly　resort。　　All　he　wished　was　to　avoid　Ethel　herself；　not　liking
to　show　her　his　sentiments；　and　he　was　glad　to　see　her　put　into　the
gig　with　Aubrey　and　Mary。

They　rushed　into　the　drawing…room；　full　of　glee；　when　they　came　home；
all　shouting　their　news　together；　and　had　not　at　first　leisure　to
perceive　that　Margaret　had　some　tidings　for　them　in　return。　　Mr。
Rivers　had　been　there；　with　a　pressing　invitation　to　his　daughter's
school…feast；　and　it　had　been　arranged　that　Flora　and　Ethel　should　go
and　spend　the　day　at　the　Grange；　and　their　father　come　to　dine；　and
fetch　them　home　in　the　evening。　　Margaret　had　been　much　pleased　with
the　manner　in　which　the　thing　was　done。　　When　Dr。　May；　who　seemed
reluctant　to　accept　the　proposal　that　related　to　himself；　was　called
out　of　the　room；　Mr。　Rivers　had；　in　a　most　kind　manner；　begged　her　to
say　whether　she　thought　it　would　be　painful　to　him；　or　whether　it
might　do　his　spirits　good。　　She　decidedly　gave　her　opinion　in　favour
of　the　invitation；　Mr。　Rivers　gained　his　point；　and　she　had　ever
since　been　persuading　her　father　to　like　the　notion；　and　assuring　him
it　need　not　be　made　a　precedent　for　the　renewal　of　invitations　to
dine　out　in　the　town。　　He　thought　the　change　would　be　pleasant　for
his　girls；　and　had；　therefore；　consented。

〃Oh；　papa；　papa！　thank　you！〃　cried　Ethel；　enraptured；　as　soon　as　he
came　into　the　room。　　〃How　very　kind　of　you！　　How　I　have　wished　to　see
the　Grange；　and　all　Norman　talks　about！　　Oh；　dear！　　I　am　so　glad　you
are　going　there　too！〃

〃Why；　what　should　you　do　with　me？〃　said　Dr。　May；　who　felt　and　looked
depressed　at　this　taking　up　of　the　world　again。

〃Oh；　dear！　　I　should　not　like　it　at　all　without　you！　　It　would　be　no
fun　at　all　by　ourselves。　　I　wish　Flora　would　come　home。　　How　pleased
she　will　be！　　Papa；　I　do　wish　you　would　look　as　if　you　didn't　mind
it！　　I　can't　enjoy　it　if　you　don't　like　going。〃

〃I　shall　when　I　am　there；　my　dear；〃　said　the　doctor　affectionately；
putting　his　arm　around　her　as　she　stood　by　him。　　〃It　will　be　a　fine
day's　sport　for　you。〃

〃But　can't　you　like　it　beforehand；　papa？〃

〃Not　just　this　minute；　Ethel；〃　said　he；　with　his　bright；　sad　smile。
〃All　I　like　just　now　is　my　girl's　not　being　able　to　do　without　me；
but　we'll　do　the　best　we　can。　　So　your　flock　acquitted　themselves
brilliantly？　　Who　is　your　Senior　Wrangler？〃

Ethel　threw　herself　eagerly　into　the　history　of　the　examination；　and
had　almost　forgotten　the　invitation　till　she　heard　the　front　door
open。　　Then　it　was　not　she；　but　Margaret；　who　told　FloraEthel　could
not；　as　she　said；　enjoy　what　seemed　to　sadden　her　father。　　Flora
received　it　much　more　calmly。　　〃It　will　be　very　pleasant；〃　said　she；
〃it　was　very　kind　of　papa　to　consent。　　You　will　have　Richard　and
Norman；　Margar