the daisy chain, or aspirations-第59章

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none　of　the　eyes　that　look　as　if　they　were　eating　up　one's　words
before　they　come；　and　that　smile　of　comprehension！　　Oh；　they　all　are
such　stupid　little　dolts；　and　so　indifferent！〃

〃Why；　Ethel！〃

〃Fancy　last　FridayMary　and　I　found　only　eight　there〃

〃Do　you　remember　what　a　broiling　day　Friday　was？〃　interrupted
Margaret。　　〃Miss　Winter　and　Norman　both　told　me　I　ought　not　to　let
them　go；　and　I　began　to　think　so　when　they　came　home。　　Mary　was　the
colour　of　a　peony！〃

〃Oh！　it　would　not　have　signified　if　the　children　had　been　good　for
anything；　but　all　their　mothers　were　out　at　work；　and；　of　those　that
did　come；　hardly　one　had　learned　their　lessonsWilly　Blake　had　lost
his　spelling…card；　Anne　Harris　kicked　Susan　Pope；　and　would　not　say
she　was　sorry；　Mary　Hale　would　not　know　M　from　N；　do　all　our　Mary
would；　and　Jane　Taylor；　after　all　the　pains　I　have　taken　with　her；
when　I　asked　how　the　Israelites　crossed　the　Red　Sea；　seemed　never　to
have　heard　of　them。〃

Margaret　could　have　said　that　Ethel　had　come　in　positively　crying
with　vexation；　but　with　no　diminution　of　the　spirit　of　perseverance。

〃I　am　so　glad　you　are　come；　Richard！〃　she　continued。　　〃You　will　put　a
little　new　life　into　them。　　They　all　looked　so　pleased　when　we　told
them　Mr。　Richard　was　coming。〃

〃I　hope　we　shall　get　on；〃　said　Richard。

〃I　want　you　to　judge　whether　the　Popes　are　civilised　enough　to　be
dressed　for　Sunday…school。　　Oh；　and　the　money！　　Here　is　the　account…
book〃

〃How　neatly　you　have　kept　it；　Ethel。〃

〃Ah！　it　was　for　you；　you　know。　　Receiptssee；　aren't　you　surprised？〃

〃Four　pounds　eighteen　and　eightpence！　　That　is　a　great　deal！〃

〃The　three　guineas　were　Mr。　Rivers's　fees；　you　know；　then；　Margaret
gave　us　half…a…sovereign；　and　Mary　a　shilling；　and　there　was　one　that
we　picked　up；　tumbling　about　the　house；　and　papa　said　we　might　have；
and　the　twopence　were　little　Blanche's　savings。　　Oh；　Ritchie！〃　as　a
bright　coin　appeared　on　the　book。

〃That　is　all　I　could　save　this　term；〃　he　said。

〃Oh；　it　is　famous！　　Now；　I　do　think　I　may　put　another　whole　sovereign
away　into　the　purse　for　the　church。　　See；　here　is　what　we　have　paid。
Shoesthose　did　bring　our　money　very　low；　and　then　I　bought　a　piece
of　print　which　cost　sixteen　shillings；　but　it　will　make　plenty　of
frocks。　　So；　you　see；　the　balance　is　actually　two　pounds　nine！　　That
is　something。　　The　nine　shillings　will　go　on　till　we　get　another　fee；
for　I　have　two　frocks　ready　made　for　the　Popes；　so　the　two　pounds　are
a　real　nest…egg　towards　the　church。〃

〃The　church！〃　repeated　Rlchard；　half　smiling。

〃I　looked　in　the　paper　the　other　day；　and　saw　that　a　chapel　had　been
built　for　nine　hundred　pounds；〃　said　Ethel。

〃And　you　have　two！〃

〃Two　in　eight　months；　Ritchie；　and　more　will　come　as　we　get　older。
I　have　a　scheme　in　my　head；　but　I　won't　tell　you　now。〃

〃Nine　hundred！　　And　a　church　has　to　be　endowed　as　well　as　built；　you
know；　Ethel。〃

〃Oh！　never　mind　that　now。　　If　we　can　begin　and　build；　some　good
person　will　come　and　help。　　I'll　run　and　fetch　it；　Ritchie。　　I　drew
out　a　sketch　of　what　I　want　it　to　be。〃

〃What　a　girl　that　is！〃　said　Richard；　as　Ethel　dashed　away。

〃Is　not　she？〃　said　Margaret。　　〃And　she　means　all　so　heartily。　　Do　you
know　she　has　spent　nothing　on　her　own　pleasures；　not　a　book；　not　a
thing　has　she　bought　this　year；　except　a　present　for　Blanche's
birthday；　and　some　silk　to　net　a　purse　for　Harry。〃

〃I　cannot　help　being　sometimes　persuaded　that　she　will　succeed；〃　said
Richard。

〃Faith；　energy；　self…denial；　perseverance；　they　go　a　great　way；〃　said
Margaret。　　〃And　yet　when　we　look　at　poor　dear　Ethel；　and　her　queer
ungainly　ways；　and　think　of　her　building　a　church！〃

Neither　Richard　nor　Margaret　could　help　laughing；　but　they　checked　it
at　once；　and　the　former　said；　〃That　brave　spirit　is　a　reproof　to　us
all。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Margaret；　〃and　so　is　the　resolution　to　mend　her　little
faults。〃

Ethel　came　back；　having；　of　course；　mislaid　her　sketch；　and；　much
vexed；　wished　to　know　if　it　ought　to　cause　her　first　forfeit；　but
Margaret　thought　these　should　not　begin　till　the　date　of　the
agreement；　and　the　three　resumed　the　Cocksmoor　discussion。

It　lasted　till　the　return　of　the　walking　party；　so　late；　that　they
had　been　star…gazing；　and　came　in；　in　full　dispute　as　to　which　was
Cygnus　and　which　Aquila；　while　Blanche　was　talking　very　grandly　of
Taurus　Poniatouski；　and　Harry　begging　to　be　told　which　constellations
he　should　still　see　in　the　southern　hemisphere。　　Dr。　May　was　the
first　to　rectify　the　globe　for　the　southern　latitudes；　and　fingers
were　affectionately　laid　on　Orion's　studded　belt；　as　though　he　were　a
friend　who　would　accompany　the　sailor…boy。　　Voices　grew　loud　and
eager　in　enumerating　the　stars　common　to　both；　and　so　came　bedtime；
and　the　globe　stood　on　the　table　in　danger　of　being　forgotten。　　Ethel
diligently　lifted　it　up；　and　while　Norman　exclaimed　at　her　tidiness；
Margaret　told　how　a　new　leaf　was　to　be　turned；　and　of　her　voluntary
forfeits。

〃A　very　good　plan；〃　cried　the　doctor。　　〃We　can't　do　better　than
follow　her　example。〃

〃What　you；　papa？　　Oh；　what　fun！〃　exclaimed　Harry。

〃So　you　think　I　shall　be　ruined；　Mr。　Monkey。　　How　do　you　know　I　shall
not　be　the　most　orderly　of　all？　　A　penny　for　everything　left　about；
confiscated　for　the　benefit　of　Cocksmoor；　eh？〃

〃And　twopence　for　pocket…handkerchiefs；　if　you　please；〃　said　Norman；
with　a　gesture　of　disgust。

〃Very　well。　　From　Blanche；　upwards。　　Margaret　shall　have　a　book；　and
set　down　marks　against　ushold　an　audit　every　Saturday　night。　　What
say　you；　Blanche？〃

〃Oh；　I　hope　Flora　will　leave　something　about！〃　cried　Blanche；　dancing
with　glee。




CHAPTER　XXV。



Oh；　no；　we　never　mention　her；
We　never　breathe　her　name。SONG。


A　great　deal　of　merriment　had　come　home　with　Harry；　who　never　was
grave　for　ten　minutes　without　a　strong　reaction；　and　distracted　the
house　with　his　noise　and　his　antics；　in　proportion；　as　it　sometimes
seemed；　to　the　spaces　of　serious　thought　and　reading　spent　in　the
study；　where　Dr。　May　did　his　best　to　supply　Mr。　Ramsden's
insufficient　attention　to　his　Confirmation　candidates；　by　giving　an
hour　every　day　to　Norman；　Ethel；　and　Harry。　　He　could　not　lecture；
but　he　read　with　them；　and　his　own　earnestness　was　very　impressive。

The　two　eldest　felt　deeply；　but　Harry　often　kept　it　in　doubt；　whether
he　were　not　as　yet　too　young　and　wild　for　permanent　impressions；　so
rapid　were　his　transitions；　and　so　overpowering　his　high　spirits。
Not　that　these　were　objected　to；　but　there　was　a　feeling　that　there
might　as　well　be　moderation　in　all　things；　and　that　it　would　have
been　satisfactory　if；　under　present　circumstances；　he　had　been
somewhat　more　subdued　and　diligent。

〃There　are　your　decimals　not　done　yet；　Harry。〃

For　Harry；　being　somewhat　deficient　in　arithmetic；　had　been
recommended　to　work　in　that　line　during　his　visit　at　homean
operation　usually　deferred；　as　at　present；　to　the　evening。

〃I　am　going　to　do　my　sums　now；　Flora；〃　said　Harry；　somewhat　annoyed。

He　really　fetched　his　arithmetic；　and　his　voice　was　soon　heard　asking
how　he　was　ever　to　put　an　end　to　a　sum　that　would　turn　to　nothing　but
everlasting　threes。

〃What　have　you　been　doing；　young　ladies？〃　asked　Dr。　May。　　〃Did　you
call　on　Miss　Walkingham？〃

〃Flora　and　Blanche　did；〃　said　Ethel；　〃I　thought　you　did　not　want　me
to　go；　and　I　had　not　time。　　Besides；　a　London　grand　young　ladyoh！〃
and　Ethel　shook　her　head　in　disgust。

〃That　is　not　the　way　you　treat　Meta　Rivers。〃

〃Oh；　Meta　is　different！　　She　has　never　been　out！〃

〃I　should　have　been　glad　for　you　to　have　seen　Miss　Walkingham；〃　said
her　father。　　Pretty　manners　are　improving；　besides；　old　Lady
Walkingham　begged　me　to　send　my　daughters。〃

〃I　should　not　have　seen　her；〃　said　Ethel；　〃for　she　was　not　well
enough　to　let　us　in。〃

〃Was　it　not　pushing？〃　said　Flora。　　〃There　were　the　Andersons　leaving
their　card！〃

〃Those　Andersons！〃　exclaimed　the　doctor；　　〃I　am　sick　of　the　very
sound　of　the　name。　　As　sure　as　my　name　is　Dick　May；　I'll　include　it
in　Margaret's　book　of　fines。〃

Flora　looked　dignified。

〃They　are　always　harping　on　that　little　trumpery　girl's　nonsense；〃
said　Harry。　〃Aught；　aught；　eight；　that　is　eight　thousandths；　eh；
Norman！　　If　it　was　about　those　two　fellows；　the　boys〃

〃You　would　harp　only　on　what　affects　you？〃　said　the　doctor。

〃No；　I　don't；　men　never　do。　　That　is　one　hundred　and　twenty…fifth。〃

〃One　man　does　it　to　an　hundred　and　twenty…five　women？〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃It　is　rather　a　female　defect；　indeed；〃　said　Margaret。

〃Defect！〃　said　Flora。

〃Yes；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃since　it　is　not　only　irksome　to　the　hearers；
but　leads　to　the　breaking　of　the　ninth　commandment。〃

Many　voices　declared；　in　forms　of　varying　severity；　that　it　was
impossible　to　speak　worse　of　the　Andersons　than　they　deserved。

〃Andersons　again！〃　cried　Dr。　May。　　〃One；　two；　three；　four；　five；　six
forfeits！〃

〃Papa　himself；　for　he　said　the　name；〃　saucily　put　in　Blanche。

〃I　think　I　should　like　the　rule　to　be　made　in　earnest；〃　said　Ethel。

〃What！　in　order　to　catch　Flora's　pence　for　Cocksmoor？〃　suggested
Harry。

〃No；　but　because　it　is　malice。　　I　mean；　that　is；　if　there　is　dislike；
or　a　grudge　in　our　hearts　at　themtalking　for　ever　of　nasty　little
miserable　irritations　makes　it　worse。〃

〃Then　why　do　you　do　it？〃　asked　Flora。　　〃I　heard　you　only　on　Sunday
declaiming　about　Fanny　Anderson。〃

〃Ha！〃　cried　out　all　at　once。　　〃There　goes　Flora。〃

She　looked　intensely　serious　and　innocent。

〃I　know；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃It　is　the　very　reason　I　want　the　rule　to　be
made；　just　to　stop　us；　for　I　am　sure　we　must　often　say　more　than　is
right。〃

〃Especially　when　we　come　to　the　pass　of　declaring　that　the　ninth
commandment　cannot　be　broken　in　regard　to　them；〃　observed　the　doctor。

〃Most　likely　they　are　saying　much　the　same　of　us；〃　said　Richard。

〃Or　worse；〃　rejoined　Dr。　May。　　〃The　injured　never　hates　as　much　as
the　injurer。〃

〃Now　papa　has　said　the　severest　thing　of　all！〃　whispered　Ethel。

〃Proving　the　inexpedience　of　personalities；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃and　in
good　time　enter　the　evening　post。Why！　how　now；　Mr。　May；　are　you
gone　mad？〃

〃Hallo！　why　ho！　ha！　hurrah！〃　and　up　went　Harry's　book　of　decimals　to
the　ceiling；　coming　down　upon　a　candle；　which　would　have　been
overturned　on　Ethel's　work；　if　it　had　not　been　dexterously　caught　by
Richard。

〃Harry！〃　indignantly　cried　Ethel　and　Flora；　〃see　what　you　have　done；〃
and　the　doctor's　voice　called　to　order；　but　Harry　could　not　heed。
〃Hear！　hear！　he　has　a　fortune；　an　estate。〃

〃Who？　　Tell　usdon't　be　so　absurd。　　Who？〃

〃Who；　Mr。　Ernescliffe。　　Here　is　a　letter　from　Hector。　　Only　listen：

〃'Did　you　know　we　had　an　old　far…away　English　cousin；　one　Mr。
Halliday？　　I　hardly　did；　though　Alan　was　named　after　him；　and　he
belonged　to　my　mother。　　He　was　a　cross　old　fellow；　and　took　no　notice
of　us；　but　within　the　last　year　or　two；　his　nephew；　or　son；　or
something；　died；　and　now　he　is　just　dead；　and　the　lawyer　wrote　to
tell　Alan　he　is　heir…at…law。　　Mr。　Ernescliffe　of　Maplewood！　　Does　it
not　sound　well？　　It　is　a　beautiful　great　place　in　Shropshire；　and
Alan　and　I　mean　to　run　off　to　see　it　as　soon　as　he　can　have　any　time
on　shore。'〃

Ethel　could　not　he