the daisy chain, or aspirations-第57章

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She　had　missed　one　Sunday's　school　on　account　of　her　aunt's　visit；
but　the　resolution　made　beside　Margaret's　sofa　had　not　been
forgotten。　　She　spent　her　Saturday　afternoon　in　a　call　on　Mrs。
Wilmot；　ending　with　a　walk　through　the　village；　she　confessed　her
ignorance；　apologised　for　her　blunders；　and　put　herself　under　the
direction　which　once　she　had　fancied　too　strict　and　harsh　to　be
followed。

And　on　Sunday　she　was　content　to　teach　the　stupid　girls；　and　abstain
from　making　much　of　the　smooth…faced　engaging　set。　　She　thought　it
very　dull　work；　but　she　could　feel　that　it　was　something　not　done　to
please　herself；　and　whereas　her　father　had　feared　she　would　be　dull
when　her　cousins　were　gone；　he　found　her　more　joyous　than　ever。

There　certainly　was　a　peculiar　happiness　about　Margaret　Rivers；　her
vexations　were　but　ripples；　rendering　the　sunny　course　of　her　life
more　sparkling；　and　each　exertion　in　the　way　of　goodness　was
productive　of　so　much　present　joy　that　the　steps　of　her　ladder
seemed；　indeed；　to　be　of　diamonds。

Her　ladderfor　she　was；　indeed；　mounting　upwards。　　She　was　very
earnest　in　her　Confirmation　preparation；　most　anxious　to　do　right　and
to　contend　with　her　failings；　but　the　struggle　at　present　was　easy；
and　the　hopes；　joys；　and　incentives　shone　out　more　and　more　upon　her
in　this　blithe　stage　of　her　life。

She　knew　there　was　a　dark　side；　but　hope　and　love　were　more　present
to　her　than　was　fear。　　Happy　those　to　whom　such　young　days　are
granted。




CHAPTER　XXIV。



It　is　the　generous　spirit；　who；　when　brought
Among　the　tasks　of　real　life；　hath　wrought
Upon　the　plan　that　pleased　his　childish　thought；
Whose　high　endeavours　are　an　inward　light；
Making　the　path　before　him　always　bright。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WORDSWORTH。


The　holidays　had　commenced　about　a　week　when　Harry；　now　duly
appointed　to　H。　M。　S。　Alcestis；　was　to　come　home　on　leave；　as　he
proudly　expressed　it。

A　glad　troop　of　brothers　and　sisters；　with　the　doctor　himself；　walked
up　to　the　station　to　meet　him；　and　who　was　happiest　when；　from　the
window；　was　thrust　out　the　rosy　face；　with　the　gold　band？　　Mary　gave
such　a　shriek　and　leap；　that　two　passengers　and　one　guard　turned
round　to　look　at　her；　to　the　extreme　discomfiture　of　Flora　and
Norman；　evidenced　by　one　by　a　grave　〃Mary！　Mary！〃　by　the　other；　by
walking　off　to　the　extreme　end　of　the　platform；　and　trying　to　look　as
if　he　did　not　belong　to　them；　in　which　he　was　imitated　by　his　shadow；
Tom。

Sailor　already；　rather　than　schoolboy；　Harry　cared　not　for
spectators；　his　bound　from　the　carriage；　and　the　hug　between　him；　and
Mary　would　have　been　worthy　of　the　return　from　the　voyage。　　The　next
greeting　was　for　his　father；　and　the　sisters　had　had　their　share　by
the　time　the　two　brothers　thought　fit　to　return　from　their　calm　walk
on　the　platform。

Grand　was　it　to　see　that　party　return　to　the　townthe　naval　cadet；
with　his　arm　linked　in　Mary's；　and　Aubrey　clinging　to　his　hand；　and
the　others　walking　behind；　admiring　him　as　he　turned　his　bright　face
every　moment　with　some　glad　question　or　answer；　〃How　was　Margaret？〃
Oh；　so　much　better；　she　had　been　able　to　walk　across　the　room；　with
Norman's　arm　round　herthey　hoped　she　would　soon　use　crutchesand
she　sat　up　more。　　〃And　the　baby？〃　More　charming　than　everfour
teethwould　soon　walksuch　a　darling！　　Then　came　〃my　dirk；　the
ship；　our　berth。〃　　〃Papa；　do　ask　Mr。　Ernescliffe　to　come　here。　　I
know　he　could　get　leave。〃

〃Mr。　Ernescliffe！　　You　used　to　call　him　Alan！〃　said　Mary。

〃Yes；　but　that　is　all　over　now。　　You　forget　what　we　do　on　board。
Captain　Gordon　himself　calls　me　Mr。　May！〃

Some　laughed；　others　were　extremely　impressed。

〃Ha！　There's　Ned　Anderson　coming；〃　cried　Mary。　　〃Now！　Let　him　see
you；　Harry。〃

〃What　matters　Ned　Anderson　to　me？〃　said　Harry；　and；　with　an　odd
mixture　of　shamefacedness　and　cordiality；　he　marched　full　up　to　his
old　school…fellow；　and　shook　hands　with　him；　as　if　able；　in　the
plenitude　of　his　officership；　to　afford　plenty　of　good…humoured
superiority。　　Tom　had　meantime　subsided　out　of　all　view。　　But　poor
Harry's　exultation　had　a　fall。

〃Well！〃　graciously　inquired　'Mr。　May'；　〃and　how　is　Harvey？〃

〃Oh；　very　well。　　We　are　expecting　him　home　to…morrow。〃

〃Where　has　he　been？〃

〃To　Oxford；　about　the　Randall。〃

Harry　gave　a　disturbed；　wondering　look　round；　on　seeing　Edward's　air
of　malignant　satisfaction。　　He　saw　nothing　that　reassured　him；　except
the　quietness　of　Norman's　own　face；　but　even　that　altered　as　their
eyes　met。　　Before　another　word　could　be　said；　however；　the　doctor's
hand　was　on　Harry's　shoulder。

〃You　must　not　keep　him　now；　Ned；〃　said　he〃his　sister　has　not　seen
him　yet。〃

And　he　moved　his　little　procession　onwards；　still　resting　on　Harry's
shoulder；　while　a　silence　had　fallen　on　all；　and　even　the　young
sailor　ventured　no　question。　　Only　Tom's　lips　were　quivering；　and
Ethel　had　squeezed　Norman's　hand。　　〃Poor　Harry！〃　he　muttered；　〃this
is　worst　of　all！　　I　wish　we　had　written　it　to　him。〃

〃So　do　I　now；　but　we　always　trusted　it　would　come　right。　　Oh！　if　I
were　but　a　boy　to　flog　that　Edward！〃

〃Hush；　Ethel；　remember　what　we　resolved。〃

They　were　entering　their　own　garden；　where；　beneath　the　shade　of　the
tulip…tree；　Margaret　lay　on　her　couch。　　Her　arms　were　held　out；　and
Harry　threw　himself　upon　her；　but　when　he　rose　from　her　caress；
Norman　and　Tom　were　gone。

〃What　is　this？〃　he　now　first　ventured　to　ask。

〃Come　with　me；〃　said　Dr。　May；　leading　the　way　to　his　study；　where　he
related　the　whole　history　of　the　suspicion　that　Norman　had　incurred。
He　was　glad　that　he　had　done　so　in　private；　for　Harry's　indignation
and　grief　went　beyond　his　expectations；　and　when　at　last　it　appeared
that　Harvey　Anderson　was　actually　Randall…scholar；　after　opening　his
eyes　with　the　utmost　incredulity；　and　causing　it　to　be　a　second　time
repeated；　he　gave　a　gulp　or　two；　turned　very　red；　and　ended　by　laying
his　head　on　the　table；　and　fairly　sobbing　and　crying　aloud；　in　spite
of　dirk；　uniform；　and　manhood。

〃Harry！　why；　Harry；　my　boy！　　We　should　have　prepared　you　for　this；〃
said　the　doctor　affectionately。　　〃We　have　left　off　breaking　our
hearts　about　it。　　I　don't　want　any　comfort　now　for　having　gold
instead　of　glitter；　though　at　first　I　was　as　bad　as　you。〃

〃Oh；　if　I　had　but　been　there！〃　said　Harry；　combating　unsuccessfully
with　his　tears。

〃Ah！　so　we　all　said；　Norman　and　all。　　Your　word　would　have　cleared
himthat　is；　if　you　had　not　been　in　the　thick　of　the　mischief。　　Ha！
July；　should　not　you　have　been　on　the　top　of　the　wall？〃

〃I　would　have　stood　by　him；　at　least。　　Would　not　I　have　given
Axworthy　and　Anderson　two　such　black　eyes　as　they　could　not　have
shown　in　school　for　a　week？　　They　had　better　look　out！〃　cried　Harry
savagely。

〃What！　　An　officer　in　her　Majesty's　service！　　Eh；　Mr。　May？〃

〃Don't；　papa；　don't。　　Oh！　　I　thought　it　would　have　been　so　happy；
when　I　came　home；　to　see　Norman　Randall…scholar。　　Oh！　now　I　don't
care　for　the　ship；　nor　anything。〃　　Again　Harry's　face　went　down　on
the　table。

〃Come；　come；　Harry；〃　said　Dr。　May；　pulling　off　the　spectacles　that
had　become　very　dewy；　〃don't　let　us　make　fools　of　ourselves；　or　they
will　think　we　are　dying　for　the　scholarship。〃

〃I　don't　care　for　the　scholarship；　but　to　have　June　turned　downand
disgrace〃

〃What　I　care　for；　Harry；　is　having　June　what　he　is；　and　that　I　know
better　now。〃

〃He　is！　he　ishe　is　June　himself；　and　no　mistake！〃　cried　Harry；　with
vehemence。

〃The　prime　of　the　year；　is　not　it？〃　said　the　doctor；　smiling；　as　he
stroked　down　the　blue　sleeve；　as　if　he　thought　that　generous　July　did
not　fall　far　short　of　it。

〃That　he　is！〃　exclaimed　Harry。　　〃I　have　never　met　one　fellow　like
him。〃

〃It　will　be　a　chance　if　you　ever　do；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃That　is　better
than　scholarships！〃

〃It　should　have　been　both；〃　said　Harry。

〃Norman　thinks　the　disappointment　has　been　very　good　for　him；〃　said
the　doctor。

〃Perhaps　it　made　him　what　he　is　now。　　All　success　is　no　discipline；
you　know。〃

Harry　looked　as　if　he　did　not　know。

〃Perhaps　you　will　understand　better　by…and…by；　but　this　I　can　tell
you；　Harry；　that　the　patient　bearing　of　his　vexation　has　done　more　to
renew　Norman's　spirits　than　all　his　prosperity。　　See　if　if　has　not。
I　believe　it　is　harder　to　every　one　of　us；　than　to　him。　　To　Ethel；
especially；　it　is　a　struggle　to　be　in　charity　with　the　Andersons。〃

〃In　charity！〃　repeated　Harry。　　〃Papa！　you　don't　want　us　to　like　a
horrid；　sneaking；　mean…spirited　pair　like　those；　that　have　used
Norman　in　that　shameful　way？〃

〃No；　certainly　not；　I　only　want　you　to　feel　no　more　personal　anger
than　if　it　had　been　Cheviot；　or　some　indifferent　person；　that　had
been　injured。〃

〃I　should　have　hated　them　all　the　same！〃　cried　Harry。

〃If　it　is　all　the　same；　and　it　is　the　treachery　you　hate；　I　ask　no
more；〃　said　the　doctor。

〃I　can't　help　it；　papa；　I　can't！　　If　I　were　to　meet　those　fellows；　do
you　think　I　could　shake　hands　with　them？　　If　I　did　not　lick　Ned　all
down　Minster　Street；　he　might　think　himself　lucky。〃

〃Well；　Harry；　I　won't　argue　any　more。　　I　have　no　right　to　preach
forbearance。　　　Your　brother's　example　is　better　worth　than　my
precept。　　Shall　we　go　back　to　Margaret；　or　have　you　anything　to　say
to　me？〃

Harry　made　no　positive　answer；　but　pressed　close　to　his　father；　who
put　his　arm　round　him；　while　the　curly　head　was　laid　on　his　shoulder。
Presently　he　said；　with　a　great　sigh；　〃There's　nothing　like　home。〃

〃Was　that　what　you　wanted　to　say？〃　asked　Dr。　May；　smiling；　as　he　held
the　boy　more　closely　to　him。

〃No；　but　it　will　be　a　long　time　before　I　come　back。　　They　think　we
shall　have　orders　for　the　Pacific。〃

〃You　will　come　home　our　real　lion；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃How　much　you
will　have　to　tell！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　oh！　it　is　very　different　from　coming　home
every　night；　not　having　any　one　to　tell　a　thing　to。〃

〃Do　you　want　to　say　anything　now？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I　told　you　in　my　letter　about　the　half…sovereign。〃

〃Ay；　never　mind　that。〃

〃And　there　was　one　night；　I　am　afraid；　I　did　not　stand　by　a　little
fellow　that　they　bullied　about　his　prayers。　　Perhaps　he　would　have
gone　on；　if　I　had　helped　him！〃

〃Does　he　sail　with　you？〃

〃No；　he　was　at　school。　　If　I　had　told　him　that　he　and　I　would　stand
by　each　otherbut　he　looked　so　foolish；　and　began　to　cry！　　I　am
sorry　now。〃

〃Weak　spirits　have　much　to　bear；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃and　you　stronger
ones；　who　don't　mind　being　bullied；　are　meant；　I　suppose；　to　help
them；　as　Norman　has　been　doing　by　poor　little　Tommy。〃

〃It　was　thinking　of　Normanthat　made　me　sorry。　　I　knew　there　was
something　else；　but　you　see　I　forget　when　I　don't　see　you　and
Margaret　every　day。〃

〃You　have　One　always　near；　my　boy。〃

〃I　know；　but　I　cannot　always　recollect。　　And　there　is　such　a　row　at
night　on　board；　I　cannot　think　or　attend　as　I　ought；〃　murmured　Harry。

〃Yes；　your　life；　sleeping　at　home　in　quiet；　has　not　prepared　you　for
that　trial；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃But　others　have　kept　upright　habits
under　the　same；　you　knowand　God　helps　those　who　are　doing　their
best。〃

Harry　sighed。

〃I　mean　to　do　my　best；〃　he　added；　〃and　if　it　was　not　for　feeling　bad；
I　should　like　it。　　I　do　like　it〃