the daisy chain, or aspirations-第58章

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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〃and　his　eye　sparkled；　and　his　smile
beamed；　though　the　tear　was　undried。

〃I　know　you　do！〃　said　Dr。　May；　smiling；　〃and　for　feeling　bad；　my
Harry；　I　fear　you　must　do　that　by　sea；　or　land；　as　long　as　you　are　in
this　world。　　God　be　thanked　that　you　grieve　over　the　feeling。　　But　He
is　ready　to　aid；　and　knows　the　trial；　and　you　will　be　brought　nearer
to　Him　before　you　leave　us。〃

〃Margaret　wrote　about　the　Confirmation。　　Am　I　old　enough？〃

〃If　you　wish　it；　Harry；　under　these　circumstances。〃

〃I　suppose　I　do；〃　said　Harry；　uneasily　twirling　a　button。

〃But　then；　if　I've　got　to　forgive　the　Andersons〃

〃We　won't　talk　any　more　of　that；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃here　is　poor
Mary；　reconnoitring；　to　know　why　I　am　keeping　you　from　her。〃

Then　began　the　scampering　up　and　down　the　house；　round　and　round　the
garden；　visiting　every　pet　or　haunt　or　contrivance；　Mary　and　Harry　at
the　head；　Blanche　and　Tom　in　full　career　after　them；　and　Aubrey
stumping　and　scrambling　at　his　utmost　speed；　far　behind。

Not　a　word　passed　between　Norman　and　Harry　on　the　school
misadventure；　but；　after　the　outbreak　of　the　latter；　he　treated　it　as
a　thing　forgotten；　and　brought　all　his　high　spirits　to　enliven　the
family　party。　　Richard；　too；　returned　later　on　the　same　day；　and
though　not　received　with　the　same　uproarious　joy　as　Harry；　the　elder
section　of　the　family　were　as　happy　in　their　way　as　what　Blanche
called　the　middle…aged。　　The　Daisy　was　brought　down；　and　the　eleven
were　again　all　in　the　same　room；　though　there　were　suppressed　sighs
from　some；　who　reflected　how　long　it　might　be　before　they　could　again
assemble。

Tea　went　off　happily　in　the　garden；　with　much　laughing　and　talking。
〃Pity　to　leave　such　good　company！〃　said　the　doctor；　unwillingly
rising　at　last〃but　I　must　go　to　the　UnionI　promised　Ward　to　meet
him　there。〃

〃Oh；　let　me　walk　with　you！〃　cried　Harry。

〃And　me！〃　cried　other　voices；　and　the　doctor　proposed　that　they
should　wait　for　him　in　the　meads；　and　extend　the　walk　after　the
visit。　　Richard　and　Ethel　both　expressing　their　intention　of　adhering
to　Margaretthe　latter　observing　how　nice　it　would　be　to　get　rid　of
everybody；　and　have　a　talk。

〃What　have　we　been　doing　all　this　time？〃　said　Dr。　May；　laughing。

〃Chattering；　not　conversing；〃　said　Ethel　saucily。

〃Ay！　the　Cocksmoor　board　is　going　to　sit；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃What　is　a　board？〃　inquired　Blanche；　who　had　just　come　down　prepared
for　her　walk。

〃Richard；　Margaret；　and　Ethel；　when　they　sit　upon　Cocksmoor；〃　said
Dr。　May。

〃But　Margaret　never　does　sit　on　Cocksmoor；　papa。〃

〃Only　allegorically；　Blanche；〃　said　Norman。

〃But　I　don't　understand　what　is　a　board？〃　pursued　Blanche。

〃Mr。　May　in　his　ship；〃　was　Norman's　suggestion。

Poor　Blanche　stood　in　perplexity。　　〃What　is　it　really？〃

〃Something　wooden　headed；〃　continued　the　provoking　papa。

〃A　board　is　all　wooden；　not　only　its　head；〃　said　Blanche。

〃Exactly　so；　especially　at　Stoneborough！〃　said　the　doctor。

〃It　is　what　papa　is　when　he　comes　out　of　the　council…room；〃　added
Ethel。

〃Or　what　every　one　is　while　the　girls　are　rigging　themselves；〃　sighed
Harry。　　〃Ha！　here's　Pollynow　we　only　want　Flora。〃

〃And　my　stethoscope！　　Has　any　one　seen　my　stethoscope！〃　exclaimed　the
doctor；　beginning　to　rush　frantically　into　the　study；　dining…room；
and　his　own　room；　but　failing；　quietly　took　up　a　book；　and　gave　up
the　search；　which　was　vigorously　pursued　by　Richard；　Flora；　and　Mary；
until　the　missing　article　was　detected；　where　Aubrey　had　left　it　in
the　nook　on　the　stairs；　after　using　it　for　a　trumpet　and　a　telescope。

〃Ah！　now　my　goods　will　have　a　chance！〃　said　Dr。　May；　as　he　took　it；
and　patted　Richard's　shoulder。　　〃I　have　my　best　right　hand；　and
Margaret　will　be　saved　endless　sufferings。〃

〃Papa！〃

〃Ay！　poor　dear！　don't　I　see　what　she　undergoes；　when　nobody　will
remember　that　useful　proverb；　'A　place　for　everything；　and　everything
in　its　place。'　　I　believe　one　use　of　her　brains　is　to　make　an
inventory　of　all　the　things　left　about　the　drawing…room；　but；　beyond
it；　it　is　past　her　power。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Flora；　rather　aggrieved；　〃I　do　the　best　I　can；　but；　when
nobody　ever　puts　anything　into　its　place；　what　can　I　do；　single…
handed？　　So　no　one　ever　goes　anywhere　without　first　turning　the　house
upside　down　for　their　property；　and　Aubrey；　and　now　even　baby；　are
always　carrying　whatever　they　can　lay　hands　on　into　the　nursery。　　I
can't　bear　it；　and　the　worst　of　it　is　that；〃　she　added；　finishing　her
lamentation；　after　the　others　were　out　at　the　door；　〃papa　and　Ethel
have　neither　of　them　the　least　shame　about　it。〃

〃No；　no；　Flora；　that　is　not　fair！〃　exclaimed　Margaretbut　Flora　was
gone。

〃I　have　shame；〃　sighed　Ethel；　walking　across　the　room　disconsolately；
to　put　a　book　into　a　shelf。

〃And　you　don't　leave　trainants　as　you　used；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃That　is
what　I　meant。〃

〃I　wish　I　did　not；〃　said　Ethel；　〃I　was　thinking　whether　I　had　better
not　make　myself　pay　a　forfeit。　　Suppose　you　keep　a　book　for　me；
Margaret；　and　make　a　mark　against　me　at　everything　I　leave　about；　and
if　I　pay　a　farthing　for　each；　it　will　be　so　much　away　from　Cocksmoor；
so　I　must　cure　myself！〃

〃And　what　shall　become　of　the　forfeits？〃　asked　Richard。

〃Oh；　they　won't　be　enough　to　be　worth　having；　I　hope；〃　said　Margaret。

〃Give　them　to　the　Ladies'　Committee；〃　said　Ethel；　making　a　face。
〃Oh；　Ritchie！　they　are　worse　than　ever。　　We　are　so　glad　that　Flora　is
going　to　join　it；　and　see　whether　she　can　do　any　good。〃

〃We？〃　said　Margaret；　hesitating。

〃Ah！　　I　know　you　aren't；　but　papa　said　she　mightand　you　know　she
has　so　much　tact　and　management〃

〃As　Norman　says；〃　observed　Margaret　doubtfully。　　〃I　cannot　like　the
notion　of　Flora　going　and　squabbling　with　Mrs。　Ledwich　and　Louisa
Anderson！〃

〃What　do　you　think；　Ritchie？〃　asked　Ethel。　　〃Is　it　not　too　bad　that
they　should　have　it　all　their　own　way；　and　spoil　the　whole　female
population？　　Why；　the　last　thing　they　did　was　to　leave　off　reading
the　Prayer…book　prayers　morning　and　evening！　And　it　is　much　expected
that　next　they　will　attack　all　learning　by　heart。〃

〃It　is　too　bad；〃　said　Richard；　〃but　Flora　can　hardly　hinder　them。〃

〃It　will　be　one　voice；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　oh！　if　I　could　only　say　half
what　I　have　in　my　mind；　they　must　see　the　error。　　Why；　these；　these
what　they　call　formalthese　the　tieslinks　on　to　the　Churchon　to
what　is　goodif　they　don't　learn　them　soundlyrammed　down　hardyou
know　what　I　meanso　that　they　can't　remember　the　firstremember
when　they　did　not　know　themthey　will　never　get　to　learnknow
understand　when　they　can　understand！〃

〃My　dear　Ethel；　don't　frown　so　horribly；　or　it　will　spoil　your
eloquence；〃　said　Margaret。

〃I　don't　understand　either；〃　said　Richard　gravely。　　〃Not　understand
when　they　can　understand？　　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Why；　Ritchie；　don't　you　see？　　If　they　don't　learn　themhard；　firm；
by　rote　when　they　can'tthey　won't　understand　when　they　can。〃

〃If　they　don't　learn　when　they　can't；　they　won't　understand　when　they
can？〃　puzzled　Richard；　making　Margaret　laugh；　but　Ethel　was　too　much
in　earnest　for　amusement。

〃If　they　don't　learn　them　by　rote　when　they　have　strong　memories。
Yes；　that's　it！〃　she　continued；　〃they　will　not　know　them　well　enough
to　understand　them　when　they　are　old　enough！〃

〃Who　won't　learn　and　understand　what？〃　said　Richard。

〃Oh；　Ritchie；　Ritchie！　　Why　the　childrenthe　Psalmsthe　Gospels
the　things。　　They　ought　to　know　them；　love　them；　grow　up　to　them；
before　they　know　the　meaning；　or　they　won't　care。　　Memory；
association；　affection；　all　those　come　when　one　is　younger　than
comprehension！〃

〃Younger　than　one's　own　comprehension？〃

〃Richard；　you　are　grown　more　tiresome　than　ever。　　Are　you　laughing　at
me？〃

〃Indeed；　I　beg　your　pardonI　did　not　mean　it；〃　said　Richard。　　〃I　am
very　sorry　to　be　so　stupid。〃

〃My　dear　Ritchie；　it　was　only　my　blundering…never　mind。〃

〃But　what　did　you　mean？　　I　want　to　know；　indeed；　Ethel。〃

〃I　mean　that　memory　and　association　come　before　comprehension；　so
that　one　ought　to　know　all　good　thingsfawith　familiarity　before
one　can　understand；　because　understanding　does　not　make　one　love。
Oh！　one　does　that　before；　and；　when　the　first　little　gleam；　little
bit　of　a　sparklet　of　the　meaning　does　come；　then　it　is　so　valuable
and　so　delightful。〃

〃I　never　heard　of　a　little　bit　of　a　sparklet　before；〃　said　Richard；
〃but　I　think　I　do　see　what　Ethel　means；　and　it　is　like　what　I　heard
and　liked　in　a　university　sermon　some　Sundays　ago；　saying　that　these
lessons　and　holy　words　were　to　be　impressed　on　us　here　from　infancy
on　earth；　that　we　might　be　always　unravelling　their　meaning；　and
learn　it　fully　at　lastwhere　we　hope　to　be。〃

〃The　very　same　thought！〃　exclaimed　Margaret；　delighted；　〃but；〃　after
a　pause；　〃I　am　afraid　the　Ladies'　Committee　might　not　enter　into　it
in　plain　English；　far　less　in　Ethel's　language。〃

〃Now；　Margaret！　　You　know　I　never　meant　myself。　　I　never　can　get　the
right　words　for　what　I　mean。〃

〃And　you　leave　about　your　faux　commencements；　as　M。　Ballompre　would
call　them；　for　us　to　stumble　over；〃　said　Margaret。

〃But　Flora　would　manage！〃　said　Ethel。　　〃She　has　power　over　people；
and　can　influence　them。　　Oh；　Ritchie；　don't　persuade　papa　out　of
letting　her　go。〃

〃Does　Mr。　Wilmot　wish　it？〃　asked　Richard。

〃I　have　not　heard　him　say；　but　he　was　very　much　vexed　about　the
prayers；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Will　he　stay　here　for　the　holidays？〃

〃No；　his　father　has　not　been　well；　and　he　is　gone　to　take　his　duty。
He　walked　with　us　to　Cocksmoor　before　he　went；　and　we　did　so　wish　for
you。〃

〃How　have　you　been　getting　on？〃

〃Pretty　well；　on　the　whole；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but；　oh；　dear！　oh；　dear；
Richard；　the　M'Carthys　are　gone！〃

〃Gone；　where？〃

〃Oh；　to　Wales。　　I　knew　nothing　of　it　till　they　were　off。　　Una　and
Fergus　were　missing；　and　Jane　Taylor　told　me　they　were　all　gone。　　Oh；
it　is　so　horrid！　　Una　had　really　come　to　be　so　good　and　so　much　in
earnest。　　She　behaved　so　well　at　school　and　church；　that　even　Mrs。
Ledwich　liked　her；　and　she　used　to　read　her　Testament　half　the　day；
and　bring　her　Sunday…school　lessons　to　ask　me　about！　　Oh！　　I　was　so
fond　of　her；　and　it　really　seemed　to　have　done　some　good　with　her。
And　now　it　is　all　lost！　　Oh；　I　wish　I　knew　what　would　become　of　my
poor　child！〃

〃The　only　hope　is　that　it　may　not　be　all　lost；〃　said　Margaret。

〃With　such　a　woman　for　a　mother！〃　said　Ethel；　〃and　going　to　some
heathenish　place　again！　　If　I　could　only　have　seen　her　first；　and
begged　her　to　go　to　church　and　say　her　prayers。　　If　I　only　knew　where
she　is　gone！　but　I　don't。　　I　did　think　Una　would　have　come　to　wish　me
good…bye！〃

〃I　am　very　sorry　to　lose　her；〃　said　Richard。

〃Mr。　Wilmot　says　it　is　bread　cast　on　the　waters；〃　said　Margaret〃he
was　very　kind　in　consoling　Ethel；　who　came　home　quite　in　despair。〃

〃Yes；　he　said　it　was　one　of　the　trials；〃　said　Ethel；　〃and　that　it
might　be　better　for　Una　as　well　as　for　me。　　And　I　am　trying　to　care
for　the　rest　still；　but　I　cannot　yet　as　I　did　for　her。　　There　are
none　of　the　eyes　that　look　as　if　they　were　eating　up　one's　words
before　they　come；　and