the daisy chain, or aspirations-第48章

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〃it　was　very　kind　of　papa　to　consent。　　You　will　have　Richard　and
Norman；　Margaret；　to　be　with　you　in　the　evening。〃

And；　as　soon　as　they　went　upstairs；　Ethel　began　to　write　down　the
list　of　prizes　in　her　school　journal；　while　Flora　took　out　the　best
evening　frocks；　to　study　whether　the　crape　looked　fresh　enough。

The　invitation　was　a　convenient　subject　of　conversation；　for　Norman
had　so　much　to　tell　his　sisters　of　the　curiosities　they　must　look　for
at　the　Grange；　that　he　was　not　obliged　to　mention　Cocksmoor。　　He　did
not　like　to　mortify　Ethel　by　telling　her　his　intense　disgust；　and　he
knew　he　was　about　to　do　what　she　would　think　a　great　injury　by
speaking　to　his　father　on　the　subject；　but　he　thought　it　for　her　real
welfare；　and　took　the　first　opportunity　of　making　to　his　father　and
Margaret　a　most　formidable　description　of　Ethel's　black…hole。　　It
quite　alarmed　Margaret；　but　the　doctor　smiled；　saying；　〃Ay；　ay；　I
know　the　face　Norman　puts　on　if　he　looks　into　a　cottage。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Norman；　with　some　mortification；　〃all　I　know　is；　that　my
head　ached　all　the　rest　of　the　day。〃

〃Very　likely；　but　your　head　is　not　Ethel's；　and　there　were　twice　as
many　people　as　the　place　was　intended　to　hold。〃

〃A　stuffy　hole；　full　of　peat…smoke；　and　with　a　window　that　can't　open
at　the　best　of　times。〃

〃Peat…smoke　is　wholesome；〃　said　Dr。　May；　looking　provoking。

〃You　don't　know　what　it　is；　papa；　or　you　would　never　let　Ethel　spend
her　life　there。　　It　is　poisonous！〃

〃I'll　take　care　of　Ethel；〃　said　Dr。　May；　walking　off；　and　leaving
Norman　in　a　state　of　considerable　annoyance　at　being　thus　treated。
He　broke　out　into　fresh　exclamations　against　the　horrors　of
Cocksmoor；　telling　Margaret　she　had　no　idea　what　a　den　it　was。

〃But；　Norman；　it　can't　be　so　very　bad；　or　Richard　would　not　allow
it。〃

〃Richard　is　deluded！〃　said　Norman；　〃but　if　he　chooses　to　run　after
dirty　brats；　why　should　he　take　Ethel　there？〃

〃My　dear　Norman；　you　know　it　is　all　Ethel's　doing。〃

〃Yes；　I　know　she　has　gone　crazy　after　them；　and　given　up　all　her
Greek　for　it。　　It　is　past　endurance！〃　said　Norman；　who　had　worked
himself　up　into　great　indignation。

〃Well；　but　surely；　Norman；　it　is　better　they　should　do　what　they　can
for　those　poor　creatures；　than　for　Ethel　to　learn　Greek。〃

〃I　don't　know　that。　　Let　those　who　are　fit　for　nothing　else　go　and
drone　over　A　B　C　with　ragged　children；　if　they　like。　　It　is　just
their　vocation；　but　there　is　an　order　in　everything；　Margaret；　and
minds　of　a　superior　kind　are　intended　for　higher　purposes；　not　to　be
wasted　in　this　manner。〃

〃I　don't　know　whether　they　are　wasted；〃　said　Margaret；　not　quite
liking　Norman's　tone；　though　she　had　not　much　to　say　to　his
arguments。

〃Not　wasted？　　Not　in　doing　what　any　one　can　do？　　I　know　what　you'll
say　about　the　poor。　　I　grant　it；　but　high　ability　must　be　given　for　a
purpose；　not　to　be　thrown　away。　　It　is　common…sense；　that　some　one
must　be　meant　to　do　the　dirty　work。〃

〃I　see　what　you　mean；　Norman；　but　I　don't　quite　like　that　to　be
called　by　such　a　name。　　I　think〃　she　hesitated。　　〃Don't　you　think
you　dislike　such　things　more　than〃

〃Any　one　must　abominate　dirt　and　slovenliness。　　I　know　what　you　mean。
My　father　thinks　'tis　all　nonsense　in　me；　but　his　profession　has　made
him　insensible　to　such　things；　and　he　fancies　every　one　else　is　the
same！　　Now；　Margaret；　am　I　unreasonable？〃

〃I　am　sure　I　don't　know；　dear　Norman；〃　said　Margaret；　hesitating；　and
feeling　it　her　duty　to　say　something；　〃I　dare　say　it　was　very
disagreeable。〃

〃And　you　think；　too；　that　I　made　a　disturbance　for　nothing？〃

〃No；　indeed　I　don't；　nor　does　dear　papa。　　I　have　no　doubt　he　will　see
whether　it　is　proper　for　Ethel。　　All　I　think　he　meant　is；　that
perhaps　your　not　being　well　last　winter　has　made　you　a　little　more
sensitive　in　such　things。〃

Norman　paused；　and　coloured。　He　remembered　the　pain　it　had　given　him
to　find　himself　incapable　of　being　of　use　to　his　father；　and　that　he
had　resolved　to　conquer　the　weakness　of　nerve　of　which　he　was
ashamed；　but　he　did　not　like　to　connect　this　with　his　fastidious
feelings　of　refinement。　　He　would　not　own　to　himself　that　they　were
over　nice；　and；　at　the　bottom　of　all　this　justification；　rankled
Richard's　saying；　that　he　who　cared　for　such　things　was　unfit　for　a
clergyman。　　Norman's　secret　thought　was；　it　was　all　very　well　for
those　who　could　only　aspire　to　parish　work　in　wretched　cottages
people　who　could　distinguish　themselves　were　more　useful　at　the
university；　forming　minds；　and　opening　new　discoveries　in　learning。

Was　Norman　quite　proof　against　the　consciousness　of　daily　excelling
all　his　competitors？　　His　superiority　had　become　even　more　manifest
this　Easter；　when　Cheviot　and　Forder；　the　two　elder　boys　whom　he　had
outstripped；　left　the　school；　avowedly；　because　it　was　not　worth
while　for　them　to　stay；　since　they　had　so　little　chance　of　the
Randall　scholarship。　　Norman　had　now　only　to　walk　over　the　course；　no
one　even　approaching　him　but　Harvey　Anderson。

Meta　Rivers　always　said　that　fine　weather　came　at　her　call；　and　so　it
didglowing　sunshine　streaming　over　the　shaven　turf；　and　penetrating
even　the　solid　masses　of　the　great　cedar。

The　carriage　was　sent　for　the　Misses　May；　and　at　two　o'clock　they
arrived。　　Flora；　extremely　anxious　that　Ethel　should　comport　herself
discreetly；　and　Ethel　full　of　curiosity　and　eagerness；　the　only
drawback　her　fears　that　her　papa　was　doing　what　he　disliked。　　She　was
not　in　the　least　shy；　and　did　not　think　about　her　manner　enough　to　be
troubled　by　the　consciousness　that　it　had　a　good　deal　of　abruptness
and　eagerness；　and　that　her　short　sight　made　her　awkward。　　Meta　met
them　with　outstretched　hands　and　a　face　beaming　with　welcome。　　〃I
told　you　I　should　get　my　way！〃　she　said　triumphantly；　and；　after　her
warm　greeting；　she　looked　with　some　respect　at　the　face　of　the　Miss
May　who　was　so　very　clever。　　It　certainly　was　not　what　she　expected；
not　at　all　like　either　of　the　four　sisters　she　had　already　seen
brown；　sallow；　and　with　that　sharp　long　nose；　and　the　eager　eyes；　and
brow　a　little　knit　by　the　desire　to　see　as　far　as　she　could。　　It　was
pleasanter　to　look　at　Flora。

Ethel　left　the　talk　chiefly　to　Florathere　was　wonder　and　study
enough　farther　in　the　grounds　and　garden；　and　when　Mrs。　Larpent　tried
to　enter　into　conversation　with　her；　she　let　it　drop　two　or　three
times　while　she　was　peering　hard　at　a　picture　and　trying　to　make　out
its　subject。　　However；　when　they　all　went　out　to　walk　to　church；
Ethel　lighted　up；　and　talked；　admired；　and　asked　questions　in　her
quick；　eager　way；　which　interested　Mrs。　Larpent　greatly。　　The
governess　asked　after　Norman；　and　no　more　was　wanted　to　produce　a
volume　of　histories　of　his　successes；　till　Flora　turned　as　she　walked
before　with　Meta；　saying；　〃Why；　Ethel；　you　are　quite　overwhelming
Mrs。　Larpent。〃

But　some　civil　answer　convinced　Ethel　that　what　she　said　was
interesting；　and　she　would　not　be　stopped　in　her　account　of　their
anxieties　on　the　day　of　the　examination。　　Flora　was　pleased　that
Meta；　catching　some　words；　begged　to　hear　more；　and　Flora　gave　an
account　of　the　matter；　soberer　in　terms；　but　quietly　setting　Norman
at　a　much　greater　distance　from　all　his　competitors。

After　church　came　the　feast　in　the　school。　　It　was　a　large　commodious
building。　　Meta　declared　it　was　very　tiresome　that　it　was　so　good
inside；　it　was　so　ugly；　she　should　never　rest　till　papa　had　built　her
a　real　beauty。　　They　found　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Charles　Wilmot　in　the　school；
with　a　very　nice　well…dressed　set　of　boys　and　girls；　and　But　there
is　no　need　to　describe　the　roast…beef　and　plum…pudding；　〃the　feast
ate　merrily；〃　and　Ethel　was　brilliantly　happy　waiting　on　the
children；　and　so　was　sunny…hearted　Meta。　　Flora　was　too　busy　in
determining　what　the　Riverses　might　be　thinking　of　her　and　her　sister
to　give　herself　up　to　the　enjoyment。

Ethel　found　a　small　boy　looking　ready　to　cry　at　an　untouched　slice　of
beef。　　She　examined　him　whether　he　could　cut　it；　and　at　last
discovered　that；　as　had　been　the　case　with　one　or　two　of　her　own
brothers　at　the　same　age；　meat　was　repugnant　to　him。　　In　her　vehement
manner　she　flew　off　to　fetch　him　some　pudding；　and　hurrying　up；　as
she　thought；　to　Mr。　Charles　Wilmot；　who　had　been　giving　it　out；　she
thrust　her　plate　between　him　and　the　dish；　and　had　begun　her
explanation　when　she　perceived　it　was　a　stranger；　and　she　stood；
utterly　discomfited；　not　saying；　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　but　only
blushing；　awkward　and　confused；　as　he　spoke　to　her；　in　a　good…
natured；　hospitable　manner；　which　showed　her　it　must　be　Mr。　Rivers。
She　obtained　her　pudding；　and；　turning　hastily；　retreated。

〃Meta；〃　said　Mr。　Rivers；　as　his　daughter　came　out　of　the　school　with
him；　for；　open　and　airy　as　it　was；　the　numbers　and　the　dinner　made
him　regard　it　as　Norman　had　viewed　the　Cocksmoor　room；　〃was　that　one
of　the　Miss　Mays？〃

〃Yes；　papa；　Ethel；　the　third；　the　clever　one。〃

〃I　thought　she　must　be　one　of　them　from　her　dress；　but　what　a
difference　between　her　and　the　others！〃

Mr。　Rivers　was　a　great　admirer　of　beauty；　and　Meta；　brought　up　to　be
the　same；　was　disappointed；　but　consoled　herself　by　admiring　Flora。
Ethel；　after　the　awkwardness　was　over；　thought　no　more　of　the　matter；
but　went　on　in　full　enjoyment　f　the　feast。　　The　eating　finished；　the
making　of　presents　commenced；　and　choice　ones　they　were。　The　smiles
of　Meta　and　of　the　children　were　a　pretty　sight；　and　Ethel　thought
she　had　never　seen　anything　so　like　a　beneficent　fairy。　　Mr。　and　Mrs。
Wilmot　said　their　words　of　counsel　and　encouragement；　and；　by　five
o'clock；　all　was　over。

〃Oh；　I　am　sorry！〃　said　Meta；　〃Easter　won't　come　again　for　a　whole
year；　and　it　has　been　so　delightful。　　How　that　dear　little　Annie
smiled　and　nursed　her　doll！　　I　wish　I　could　see　her　show　it　to　her
mother！　　Oh；　how　nice　it　is！　　I　am　so　glad　papa　brought　me　to　live　in
the　country。　　I　don't　think　anything　can　be　so　charming　in　all　the
world　as　seeing　little　children　happy！〃

Ethel　could　not　think　how　the　Wilmots　could　have　found　it　in　their
heart　to　regret　the　liberality　of　this　sweet　damsel；　on　whom　she
began　to　look　with　Norman's　enthusiastic　admiration。

There　was　time　for　a　walk　round　the　grounds；　Meta　doing　the　honours
to　Flora；　and　Ethel　walking　with　Mrs。　Larpent。　　Both　pairs　were　very
good　friends；　and　the　two　sisters　admired　and　were　charmed　with　the
beauty　of　the　gardens　and　conservatoriesEthel　laying　up　a　rich
store　of　intelligence　for　Margaret；　but　still　she　was　not　entirely
happy；　her　papa　was　more　and　more　on　her　mind。　　He　had　looked
dispirited　at　breakfast；　he　had　a　long　hard　day's　work　before　him；
and　she　was　increasingly　uneasy　at　the　thought　that　it　would　be　a
painful　effort　to　him　to　join　them　in　the　evening。　　Her　mind　was　full
of　it　when　she　was　conducted；　with　Flora；　to　the　room　where　they　were
to　dress；　and　when　Flora　began　to　express　her　delight；　her　answer　was
only　that　she　hoped　it　was　not　very　unpleasant　to　papa。

〃It　is　not　worth　while　to　be　unhappy　about　that；　Ethel。　　If　it　is　an
effort；　it　will　be　good　for　him　when　he　is　once　here。　　I　know　he　will
enjoy　it。〃

〃Yes；　I　should　think　he　wouldI　hope　he　will。　　He　must　like　you　to
have　such　a