the daisy chain, or aspirations-第49章

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enjoy　it。〃

〃Yes；　I　should　think　he　wouldI　hope　he　will。　　He　must　like　you　to
have　such　a　friend　as　Miss　Rivers。　　How　pretty　she　is！〃

〃Now；　Ethel；　it　is　high　time　to　dress。　　Pray　make　yourself　look　nice…
…don't　twist　up　your　hair　in　that　any…how　fashion。〃

Ethel　sighed；　then　began　talking　fast　about　some　hints　on　school…
keeping　which　she　had　picked　up　for　Cocksmoor。

Flora's　glossy　braids　were　in　full　order；　while　Ethel　was　still
struggling　to　get　her　plait　smooth；　and　was　extremely　beholden　to　her
sister　for　taking　it　into　her　own　hands　and　doing　the　best　with　it
that　its　thinness　and　roughness　permitted。　　And　then　Flora　pinched
and　pulled　and　arranged　Ethel's　frock；　in　vain　attempts　to　make　it
sit　like　her　ownthose　sharp　high　bones　resisted　all　attempts　to
disguise　them。　　〃Never　mind；　Flora；　it　is　quite　tidy；　I　am　sure；
theredo　let　me　be　in　peace。　　You　are　like　old　nurse。〃

〃So　those　are　all　the　thanks　I　get？〃

〃Well；　thank　you　very　much；　dear　Flora。　　You　are　a　famous　person。
How　I　wish　Margaret　could　see　that　lovely　mimosa！〃

〃And；　Ethel；　do　take　care。　　Pray　don't　poke　and　spy　when　you　come
into　the　room；　and　don't　frown　when　you　are　trying　to　see。　　I　hope
you　won't　have　anything　to　help　at　dinner。　　Take　care　how　you
manage。〃

〃I'll　try；〃　said　Ethel　meekly；　though　a　good　deal　tormented；　as　Flora
went　on　with　half　a　dozen　more　injunctions；　closed　by　Meta's　coming
to　fetch　them。　　Little　Meta　did　not　like　to　show　them　her　own
bedroomshe　pitied　them　so　much　when　she　thought　of　the　contrast。
She　would　have　liked　to　put　Flora's　arm　through　her's；　but　she
thought；　it　would　look　neglectful　of　Ethel；　so　she　only　showed　the
way　downstairs。　　Ethel　forgot　all　her　sister's　orders；　for　there
stood　her　father；　and　she　looked　most　earnestly　at　his　face。　　It　was
cheerful；　and　his　voice　sounded　well　pleased　as　he　greeted　Meta；　then
resumed　an　animated　talk　with　Mr。　Rivers。　　Ethel　drew　as　near　him　as
she　could；　she　had　a　sense　of　protection；　and　could　open　to　full
enjoyment　when　she　saw　him　bright。　　At　the　first　pause　in　the
conversation；　the　gentlemen　turned　to　the　young　ladies。　　Mr。　Rivers
began　talking　to　Flora；　and　Dr。　May；　after　a　few　pleasant　words　to
Meta；　went　back　to　Ethel。　　He　wanted　her　to　see　his　favourite
pictureshe　led　her　up　to　them；　made　her　put　on　his　spectacles　to
see　them　better；　and　showed　her　their　special　merits。　　Mr。　Rivers　and
the　others　joined　them；　Ethel　said　little；　except　a　remark　or　two　in
answer　to　her　papa；　but　she　was　very　happyshe　felt　that　he　liked　to
have　her　with　him；　and　Meta；　too；　was　struck　by　the　soundness　of　her
few　sayings；　and　the　participation　there　seemed　to　be　in　all　things
between　the　father　and　daughter。

At　dinner　Ethel　went　on　pretty　well。　　She　was　next　to　her　father；　and
was　very　glad　to　find　the　dinner　so　grand；　that　no　side…dish　fell　to
her　lot　to　be　carved。　　There　was　a　great　deal　of　pleasant　talk；　such
as　the　girls　could　understand；　though　they　did　not　join　much　in　it；
except　that　now　and　then　Dr。　May　turned　to　Ethel　as　a　reference　for
names　and　dates。　　To　make　up　for　silence　at　dinner；　there　was　a　most
confidential　chatter　in　the　drawing…room。　　Flora　and　Meta　on　one
side；　hand　in　hand；　calling　each　other　by　their　Christian　names；　Mrs。
Larpent　and　Ethel　on　the　other。　　Flora　dreaded　only　that　Ethel　was
talking　too　much；　and　revealing　too　much　in　how　different　style　they
lived。　　Then　came　the　gentlemen；　Dr。　May　begging　Mr。　Rivers　to　show
Ethel　one　of　his　prints；　when　Ethel　stooped　more　than　ever；　as　if　her
eyelashes　were　feelers；　but　she　was　in　transports　of　delight；　and　her
embarrassment　entirely　at　an　end　in　her　admiration；　as　she　exclaimed
and　discussed　with　her　papa；　and　by　her　hearty　appreciation　made　Mr。
Rivers　for　the　time　forget　her　plainness。　　Music　followed；　Flora
played　nicely；　Meta　like　a　well…taught　girl；　Ethel　went　on　musing
over　the　engravings。　　The　carriage　was　announced；　and　so　ended　the
day　in　Norman's　fairy…land。　　Ethel　went　home；　leaning　hard　against
her　papa；　talking　to　him　of　Raphael's　Madonnas；　and　looking　out　at
the　stars；　and　thinking　how　the　heavenly　beauty　of　those　faces　that；
in　the　prints　she　had　been　turning　over；　seemed　to　be　connected　with
the　glories　of　the　dark…blue　sky　and　glowing　stars。　　〃As　one　star
differeth　from　another　star　in　glory；〃　murmured　she；　〃that　was　the
lesson　to…day；　papa；〃　and　when　she　felt　him　press　her　hand；　she　knew
he　was　thinking　of　that　last　time　she　had　heard　the　lesson；　when　he
had　not　been　with　her；　and　her　thoughts　went　with　his；　though　not
another　word　was　spoken。

Flora　hardly　knew　when　they　ceased　to　talk。　　She　had　musings　equally
engrossing　of　her　own。　　She　saw　she　was　likely　to　be　very　intimate
with　Meta　Rivers；　and　she　was　roaming　away　into　schemes　for　not
letting　the　intercourse　drop；　and　hopes　of　being　admitted　to　many　a
pleasure　as　yet　little　within　her　reachparties；　balls；　London；
itself；　and；　above　all；　the　satisfaction　of　being　admired。　　The
certainty　that　Mr。　Rivers　thought　her　pretty　and　agreeable　had
gratified　her　all　the　evening；　and　if　he；　with　his　refined　taste；
thought　so；　what　would　others　think？　　Her　only　fear　was；　that　Ethel's
awkwardness　might　make　an　unfavourable　impression；　but；　at　least；　she
said　to　herself；　it　was　anything　but　vulgar　awkwardness。

Their　reflections　were　interrupted　by　the　fly　stopping。　　It　was　at　a
little　shop　in　the　outskirts　of　the　town；　and　Dr。　May；　explained　that
he　wanted　to　inquire　for　a　patient。　　He　went　in　for　a　moment；　then
came　back　to　desire　that　they　would　go　home；　for　he　should　be
detained　some　little　time。　　No　one　need　sit　up　for　himhe　would　let
himself　in。

It　seemed　a　comment　on　Ethel's　thoughts；　bringing　them　back　to　the
present　hour。　　That　daily　work　of　homely　mercy；　hoping　for　nothing
again；　was　surely　the　true　way　of　doing　service。




CHAPTER　XXI。


WATCHMAN。　How；　if　he　will　not　stand？
DOGBERRY。　Why；　then；　take　no　note　of　him；　but　let　him　go。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Much　Ado　about　Nothing。


Dr。May　promised　Margaret　that　he　would　see　whether　the　black…hole　of
Cocksmoor　was　all　that　Norman　depicted　it；　and；　accordingly；　he　came
home　that　way　on　Tuesday　evening　the　next　week；　much　to　the
astonishment　of　Richard；　who　was　in　the　act　of　so　mending　the　window
that　it　might　let　in　air　when　open；　and　keep　it　out　when　shut；
neither　of　which　purposes　had　it　ever　yet　answered。

Dr。　May　walked　in；　met　his　daughter's　look　of　delight　and　surprise；
spoke　cheerfully　to　Mrs。　Green；　a　hospital　acquaintance　of　his；　like
half　the　rest　of　the　country；　and　made　her　smile　and　curtsey　by
asking　if　she　was　not　surprised　at　such　doings　in　her　house；　then
looked　at　the　children；　and　patted　the　head　that　looked　most　fit　to
pat；　inquired　who　was　the　best　scholar；　and　offered　a　penny　to
whoever　could　spell　copper　tea…kettle；　which　being　done　by　three
merry　mortals；　and　having　made　him　extremely　popular；　he　offered
Ethel　a　lift；　and　carried　her　off　between　him　and　Adams；　on　whom　he
now　depended　for　driving　him；　since　Richard　was　going　to　Oxford　at
once。

It　was　possible　to　spare　him　now。　　Dr。　May's　arm　was　as　well　as　he
expected　it　ever　would　be；　he　had　discarded　the　sling；　and　could　use
his　hand　again；　but　the　arm　was　still　stiff　and　weakhe　could　not
stretch　it　out；　nor　use　it　for　anything　requiring　strength；　it　soon
grew　tired　with　writing；　and　his　daughters　feared　that　it　ached　more
than　he　chose　to　confess；　when　they　saw　it　resting　in　the　breast　of
his　waistcoat。　　Driving　he　never　would　have　attempted　again；　even　if
he　could；　and　he　had　quite　given　up　carvinghe　could　better　bear　to
sit　at　the　side　than　at　the　bottom　of　the　dinner…table。

Means　of　carrying　Margaret　safely　had　been　arranged　by　Richard；　and
there　was　no　necessity　for　longer　delaying　his　going　to　Oxford；　but
he　was　so　unwillingly　spared　by　all；　as　to　put　him　quite　into　good
spirits。　　Ethel　was　much　concerned　to　lose　him　from　Cocksmoor；　and
dreaded　hindrances　to　her　going　thither　without　his　escort；　but　she
had　much　trust　in　having　her　father　on　her　side；　and　meant　to　get
authority　from　him　for　the　propriety　of　going　alone　with　Mary。

She　did　not　know　how　Norman　had　jeopardised　her　projects；　but　the
danger　blew　over。　　Dr。　May　told　Margaret　that　the　place　was　clean　and
wholesome；　and　though　more　smoky　than　might　be　preferred；　there　was
nothing　to　do　any　one　in　health　any　harm；　especially　when　the　walk
there　and　back　was　over　the　fresh　moor。　　He　lectured　Ethel　herself　on
opening　the　window；　now　that　she　could；　and　advised　Norman　to　go　and
spend　an　hour　in　the　school；　that　he　might　learn　how　pleasant　peat…
smoke　wasa　speech　Norman　did　not　like　at　all。　　The　real　touchstone
of　temper　is　ridicule　on　a　point　where　we　do　not　choose　to　own
ourselves　fastidious；　and　if　it　and　been　from　any　one　but　his　father；
Norman　would　not　have　so　entirely　kept　down　his　irritation。

Richard　passed　his　examination　successfully；　and　Dr。　May　wrote
himself　to　express　his　satisfaction。　　Nothing　went　wrong　just　now
except　little　Tom；　who　seemed　to　be　justifying　Richard's　fears　of　the
consequence　of　exciting　his　father's　anger。　　At　home；　he　shrank　and
hesitated　at　the　simplest　question　if　put　by　his　father　suddenly；　and
the　appearance　of　cowardice　and　prevarication　displeasing　Dr。　May
further；　rendered　his　tone　louder；　and　frightened　Tom　the　more；
giving　his　manner　an　air　of　sullen　reserve　that　was　most　unpleasant。
At　school　it　was　much　the　samehe　kept　aloof　from　Norman；　and　threw
himself　more　into　the　opposite　faction；　by　whom　he　was　shielded　from
all　punishment；　except　what　they　chose　themselves　to　inflict　on　him。

Norman's　post　as　head　of　the　school　was　rendered　more　difficult　by
the　departure　of　his　friend　Cheviot；　who　had　always　upheld　his
authority；　Harvey　Anderson　did　not　openly　transgress；　for　he　had　a
character　to　maintain；　but　it　was　well　known　throughout　the　school
that　there　was　a　wide　difference　between　the　boys；　and　that　Anderson
thought　it　absurd；　superfluous；　and　troublesome　in　May　not　to　wink　at
abuses　which　appeared　to　be　licensed　by　long　standing。　　When　Edward
Anderson；　Axworthy；　and　their　set；　broke　through　rules；　it　was　with
the　understanding　that　the　second　boy　in　the　school　would　support
them；　if　he　durst。

The　summer　and　the　cricket　season　brought　the　battle　of　Ballhatchet's
house　to　issue。　　The　cricket　ground　was　the　field　close　to　it；　and
for　the　last　two　or　three　years　there　had　been　a　frequent　custom　of
despatching　juniors　to　his　house　for　tarts　and　ginger…beer　bottles。
Norman　knew　of　instances　last　year　in　which　this　had　led　to　serious
mischief；　and　had　made　up　his　mind　that；　at　whatever　loss　of
popularity；　it　was　his　duty　to　put　a　stop　to　the　practice。

He　was　an　ardent　cricketer　himself；　and　though　the　game　did　not；　in
anticipation；　seem　to　him　to　have　all　the　charms　of　last　year；　he
entered　into　it　with　full　zest　when　once　engaged。　　But　his　eye　was　on
all　parts　of　the　field；　and　especially　on　the　corner　by　the　bridge；
and　the　boys　knew　him　well　enough　to　attempt　nothing　unlawful　within
the　range　of　that　glance。　　However；　the　constant　vigilance　was　a
strain　too　great　to　be　always　kept　up；　and　he　had　reason　to　believe
he　was　eluded　more