the daisy chain, or aspirations-第55章

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invited　him　back　to　them。　　The　lessons；　where　he　had　a　long
inveterate　habit　of　shuffling；　came　under　Norman's　eye　at　the　same
time。　　He　always　prepared　them　in　his　presence；　instead　of　in　the
most　secret　manner　possible；　and　with　all　Anderson's　expeditious
modes　of　avoiding　the　making　them　of　any　use。　　Norman　sat　by；　and
gave　such　help　as　was　fair　and　just；　showed　him　how　to　learn；　and
explained　difficulties；　and　the　ingenuity　hitherto　spent　in　eluding
learning　being　now　directed　to　gaining　it；　he　began　to　make　real
progress　and　find　satisfaction　in　it。　　The　comfort　of　being　good
dawned　upon　him　once　more；　but　still　there　was　much　to　contend　with；
he　had　acquired　such　a　habit　of　prevarication　that；　if　by　any　means
taken　by　surprise；　his　impulse　was　to　avoid　giving　a　straightforward
answer；　and　when　he　recollected　his　sincerity；　the　truth　came　with
the　air　of　falsehood。　　Moreover；　he　was　an　arrant　coward；　and
provoked　tricks　by　his　manifest　and　unreasonable　terrors。　　It　was　no
slight　exercise　of　patience　that　Norman　underwent；　but　this　was　the
interest　he　had　made　for　himself；　and　the　recovery　of　the　boy's
attachment；　and　his　improvement；　though　slow；　were　a　present
recompense。

Ernescliffe；　Larkins；　and　others　of　the　boys；　held　fast　to　him；　and
after　the　first　excitement　was　past；　all　the　rest　returned　to　their
former　tone。　　He　was　decidedly　as　much　respected　as　ever；　and；　at　the
same　time；　regarded　with　more　favour　than　when　his　strictness　was
resented。　　And　as　for　the　discipline　of　the　school；　that　did　not
suffer。　　Anderson　felt　that；　for　his　own　credit；　he　must　not　allow
the　rules　to　be　less　observed　than　in　May's　reign；　and　he　enforced
them　upon　the　reluctant　and　angry　boys　with　whom　he　had　been
previously　making　common　cause。　　Dr。　Hoxton　boasted　to　the　under…
masters　that　the　school　had　never　been　in　such　good　order　as　under
Anderson；　little　guessing　that　this　was　but　reaping　the　fruits　of　a
past　victory；　or　that　every　boy　in　the　whole　school　gave　the　highest
place　in　their　esteem　to　the　deposed　dux。

To　Anderson；　Norman's　cordial　manner　and　ready　support　were　the
strangest　part　of　all；　only　explained　by　thinking　that　he　deemed　it；
as　he　tried　to　do　himself；　merely　the　fortune　of　war；　and　was
sensible　of　no　injury。

And；　for　Norman　himself；　when　the　first　shock　was　over；　and　he　was
accustomed　to　the　change；　he　found　the　cessation　of　vigilance　a
relief；　and　carried　a　lighter　heart　than　any　time　since　his　mother's
death。　　His　sisters　could　not　help　observing　that　there　was　less
sadness　in　the　expression　of　his　eyes；　that　he　carried　his　head
higher；　walked　with　freedom　and　elasticity　of　step；　tossed　and
flourished　the　Daisy　till　she　shouted　and　crowed；　while　Margaret
shrank　at　such　freaks；　and；　though　he　was　not　much　of　a　laugher
himself；　contributed　much　sport　in　the　way　of　bright　apposite　sayings
to　the　home　circle。

It　was　a　very　unexpected　mode　of　cure　for　depression　of　spirits；　but
there　could　be　no　question　that　it　succeeded；　and　when；　a　few
Saturdays　after；　he　drove　Dr。　May　again　to　Groveswood　to　see　young
Mr。　Lake；　who　was　recovering；　he　brought　Margaret　home　a　whole　pile
of　botanical　curiosities；　and　drew　his　father　into　an　animated　battle
over　natural　and　Linnaean　systems；　which　kept　the　whole　party　merry
with　the　pros　and　cons　every　evening　for　a　week。




CHAPTER　XXIII。



Oh！　the　golden…hearted　daisies；
　　Witnessed　there　before　my　youth；
To　the　truth　of　things；　with　praises
　　Of　the　beauty　of　the　truth。E。　B。　BROWNING。


〃Margaret；　see　here。〃

The　doctor　threw　into　her　lap　a　letter；　which　made　her　cheeks　light
up。

Mr。　Ernescliffe　wrote　that　his　father's　friend；　Captain　Gordon；
having　been　appointed　to　the　frigate　Alcestis；　had　chosen　him　as　one
of　his　lieutenants；　and　offered　a　nomination　as　naval　cadet　for　his
brother。　　He　had　replied　that　the　navy　was　not　Hector's　destination；
but；　as　Captain　Gordon　had　no　one　else　in　view；　had　prevailed　on　him
to　pass　on　the　proposal　to　Harry　May。

Alan　wrote　in　high　terms　of　his　captain；　declaring　that　he　esteemed
the　having　sailed　with　him　as　one　of　the　greatest　advantages　he　had
ever　received；　and　adding　that；　for　his　own　part；　Dr。　May　needed　no
promise　from　him　to　be　assured　that　he　would　watch　over　Harry　like
his　own　brother。　　It　was　believed　that　the　Alcestis　was　destined　for
the　South　American　station。

〃A　three　years'　business；〃　said　Dr。　May；　with　a　sigh。　　〃But　the　thing
is　done；　and　this　is　as　good　as　we　can　hope。〃

〃Far　better！〃　said　Margaret。　　〃What　pleasure　it　must　have　given　him！
Dear　Harry　could　not　sail　under　more　favourable　circumstances。〃

〃No；　I　would　trust　to　Ernescliffe　as　I　would　to　Richard。　　It　is
kindly　done；　and　I　will　thank　him　at　once。　　Where　does　he　date　from？〃

〃From　Portsmouth。　　He　does　not　say　whether　he　has　seen　Harry。〃

〃I　suppose　he　waited　for　my　answer。　　Suppose　I　enclose　a　note　for　him
to　give　to　Harry。　　There　will　be　rapture　enough；　and　it　is　a　pity　he
should　not　have　the　benefit　of　it。〃

The　doctor　sat　down　to　write；　while　Margaret　worked　and　mused；
perhaps　on　outfits　and　new　shirtsperhaps　on　Harry's　lion…locks；
beneath　a　blue　cap　and　gold　band；　or；　perchance；　on　the　coral　shoals
of　the　Pacific。

It　was　one　of　the　quiet　afternoons；　when　all　the　rest　were　out；　and
which　the　doctor　and　his　daughter　especially　valued；　when　they　were
able　to　spend　one　together　without　interruption。　　Soon；　however；　a
ring　at　the　door　brought　an　impatient　exclamation　from　the　doctor；
but　his　smile　beamed　out　at　the　words；　〃Miss　Rivers。〃　　They　were
great　friends；　in　fact；　on　terms　of　some　mutual　sauciness；　though
Meta　was；　as　yet；　far　less　at　home　with　his　daughters；　and　came　in；
looking　somewhat　shy。

〃Ah；　your　congeners　are　gone　out！〃　was　the　doctor's　reception。　　〃You
must　put　up　with　our　sober　selves。〃

〃Is　Flora　gone　far？〃　asked　Meta。

〃To　Cocksmoor；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃I　am　very　sorry　she　has　missed　you。〃

〃Shall　I　be　in　your　way？〃　said　Meta　timidly。　　〃Papa　has　several
things　to　do；　and　said　he　would　call　for　me　here。〃

〃Good　luck　for　Margaret；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃So　they　are　gone　to　Cocksmoor！〃　said　Meta。　　〃How　I　envy　them！〃

〃You　would　not　if　you　saw　the　place；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃I　believe
Norman　is　very　angry　with　me　for　letting　them　go　near　it。〃

〃Ah！　but　they　are　of　real　use　there！〃

〃And　Miss　Meta　is　obliged　to　take　to　envying　the　black…hole　of
Cocksmoor；　instead　of　being　content　with　the　eglantine　bowers　of
Abbotstoke！　　I　commiserate　her！〃　said　the　doctor。

〃If　I　did　any　good　instead　of　harm　at　Abbotstoke！〃

〃Harm！〃　exclaimed　Margaret。

〃They　went　on　very　well　without　me；〃　said　Meta；　〃but　ever　since　I
have　had　the　class　they　have　been　getting　naughtier　and　noisier　every
Sunday；　and；　last　Sunday；　the　prettiest　of　allthe　one　I　liked　best；
and　had　done　everything　forshe　began　to　mimic　meheld　up　her
finger；　as　I　did；　and　made　them　all　laugh！〃

〃Well；　that　is　very　bad！〃　said　Margaret；　〃but　I　suppose　she　was　a
very　little　one。〃

〃No；　a　quick　clever　one；　who　knew　much　better；　about　nine　years　old。
She　used　to　be　always　at　home　in　the　week；　dragging　about　a　great
baby；　and　we　managed　that　her　mother　should　afford　to　stay　at　home
and　send　her　to　school。　　It　seemed　such　a　pity　her　cleverness　should
be　wasted。〃

The　doctor　smiled。　　〃Ah！　depend　upon　it；　the　tyrant…baby　was　the　best
disciplinarian。〃

Meta　looked　extremely　puzzled。

〃Papa　means；〃　said　Margaret；　〃that　if　she　was　inclined　to　be
conceited；　the　being　teased　at　home　might　do　her　more　good　than　being
brought　forward　at　school。〃

〃I　have　done　everything　wrong；　it　seems；〃　said　Meta；　with　a　shade　of
what　the　French　call　depit。　　〃I　thought　it　must　be　right　and　good
but　it　has　only　done　mischief；　and　now　papa　says　they　are　an
ungrateful　set；　and　that；　if　it　vexes　me；　I　had　better　have　no　more
to　do　with　them！〃

〃It　does　not　vex　you　so　much　as　that；　I　hope；〃　said　Margaret。

〃Oh；　I　could　not　bear　that！〃　said　Meta；　〃but　it　is　so　different　from
what　I　thought！〃

〃Ah！　you　had　an　Arcadia　of　good　little　girls　in　straw　hats；　such　as　I
see　in　Blanche's　little　books；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃all　making　the
young　lady　an　oracle；　and　doing　wrongif　they　do　it　at　allin　the
simplest　way；　just　for　an　example　to　the　others。〃

〃Dr。　May！　　How　can　you　know　so　well？　　But　do　you　really　think　it　is
their　fault；　or　mine？〃

〃Do　you　think　me　a　conjurer？〃

〃Well；　but　what　do　you　think？〃

〃What　do　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Charles　Wilmot　think？〃

〃I　know　Mrs。　Wilmot　thinks　I　spoil　my　class。　　She　spoke　to　me　about
making　favourites；　and　sometimes　has　seemed　surprised　at　things　which
I　have　done。　　Last　Sunday　she　told　me　she　thought　I　had　better　have　a
steadier　class；　and　I　know　whom　she　will　give　methe　great　big；
stupid　ones；　at　the　bottom　of　the　first　class！　　I　do　believe　it　is
only　out　of　good…nature　that　she　does　not　tell　me　not　to　teach　at
all。　　I　have　a　great　mind　I　will　not；　I　know　I　do　nothing　but　harm。〃

〃What　shall　you　say　if　I　tell　you　I　think　so　too？〃　asked　the　doctor。

〃Oh；　Dr。　May；　you　don't　really？　　Now；　does　he；　Miss　May？　　I　am　sure　I
only　want　to　do　them　good。　　I　don't　know　what　I　can　have　done。〃

Margaret　made　her　perceive　that　the　doctor　was　smiling；　and　she
changed　her　tone；　and　earnestly　begged　to　be　told　what　they　thought
of　the　case；　for　if　she　should　show　her　concern　at　home；　her　father
and　governess　would　immediately　beg　her　to　cease　from　all　connection
with　the　school；　and　she　did　not　feel　at　all　convinced　that　Mrs。
Wilmot　liked　to　have　her　there。　　Feeling　injured　by　the　implied
accusation　of　mismanagement；　yet；　with　a　sense　of　its　truth；　used　to
be　petted；　and　new　to　rebuffs；　yet　with　a　sincere　wish　to　act
rightly；　she　was　much　perplexed　by　this；　her　first　reverse；　and　had
come　partly　with　the　view　of　consulting　Flora；　though　she　had　fallen
on　other　counsellors。

〃Margaret；　our　adviser　general；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃what　do　you　say？
Put　yourself　in　the　place　of　Mrs。　Charles　Wilmot；　and　say；　shall　Miss
Rivers　teach　or　not？〃

〃I　had　rather　you　would；　papa。〃

〃Not　II　never　kept　school。〃

〃Well；　then；　I　being　Mrs。　Wilmot；　should　certainly　be　mortified　if
Miss　Rivers　deserted　me　because　the　children　were　naughty。　　I　think；
I　think　I　had　rather　she　came　and　asked　me　what　she　had　better　do。〃

〃And　you　would　answer　'teach；'　for　fear　of　vexing　her；〃　said　Meta。

〃I　should；　and　also　for　the　sake　of　letting　her　learn　to　teach。〃

〃The　point　where　only　trial　shows　one's　ignorance；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃But　I　don't　want　to　do　it　for　my　own　sake；〃　said　Meta。　　〃I　do
everything　for　my　own　sake　already。〃

〃For　theirs；　then；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃If　teaching　will　not　come　by
nature；　you　must　serve　an　apprenticeship；　if　you　mean　to　be　of
service　in　that　line。　　Perhaps　it　was　the　gift　that　the　fairies
omitted。〃

〃But　will　it　do　any　good　to　them？〃

〃I　can't　tell；　but　I　am　sure　it　would　do　them　harm　for　you　to　give　it
up；　because　it　is　disagreeable。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Meta；　with　a　sigh；　〃I'll　go　and　talk　to　Mrs。　Wilmot。　　I
could　not　bear　to　give　up　anything　that　seems　right　just　now；　because
of　the　Confirmation。〃

Margaret　eagerly　inquired；　and　it　appeared　that　the　bishop　had　given
notice　for　a　Confirmation　in　August；　and　that　Mr。　Wilmot　was