the daisy chain, or aspirations-第61章

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am　disappointed　in　you。　　A　boy　who　can　choose　such　a　time；　and　such
subjects；　for　insolent；　unfeeling；　practical　jokes；　cannot　be　in　a
fit　state　for　Confirmation。〃

〃Oh；　papa！　papa！〃　cried　the　two　girls；　in　tones　of　entreatywhile
Harry；　with　a　burning　face　and　hasty　step；　dashed　upstairs　without　a
word。

〃You　have　been　as　bad！〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃I　say　nothing　to　you；　Mary；
you　knew　no　better；　but；　to　see　you；　Ethel；　first　encouraging　him　in
his　impertinence；　and　terrifying　Margaret　so；　that　I　dare　say　she　may
be　a　week　getting　over　it；　and　now　defending　him；　and　calling　her
silly；　is　unbearable。　　I　cannot　trust　one　of　you！〃

〃Only　listen；　papa！〃

〃I　will　have　no　altercation；　I　must　go　back　to　Margaret；　since　no　one
else　has　the　slightest　consideration　for　her。〃

An　hour　had　passed　away；　when　Richard　knocked　at　Ethel's　door　to　tell
her　that　tea　was　ready。

〃I　have　a　great　mind　not　to　go　down；〃　said　Ethel；　as　he　looked　in；
and　saw　her　seated　with　a　book。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　cannot　bear　to　go　down　while　poor　Harry　is　so　unjustly　used。〃

〃Hush；　Ethel！〃

〃I　cannot　hush。　　Just　because　Margaret　fancies　robbers　and　murderers；
and　all　sorts　of　nonsense；　as　she　always　did；　is　poor　Harry　to　be
accused　of　wantonly　terrifying　her；　and　shut　up；　and　cut　off　from
Confirmation？　and　just　when　he　is　going　away；　too！　　It　is　unkind；　and
unjust；　and〃

〃Ethel；　you　will　be　sorry〃

〃Papa　will　be　sorry；〃　continued　Ethel；　disregarding　the　caution。　　〃It
is　very　unfair；　that　I　will　say　so。　　It　was　all　nonsense　of
Margaret's；　but　he　will　always　make　everything　give　way　to　her。　　And
poor　Harry　just　going　to　sea！　　No；　Ritchie；　I　cannot　come　down；　I
cannot　behave　as　usual。〃

〃You　will　grieve　Margaret　much　more；〃　said　Richard。

〃I　can't　help　thatshe　should　not　have　made　such　a　fuss。〃

Richard　was　somewhat　in　difficulties　how　to　answer；　but　at　that
moment　Harry's　door；　which　was　next；　was　slightly　opened；　and　his
voice　said；　〃Go　down；　Ethel。　　The　captain　may　punish　any　one　he
pleases；　and　it　is　mutiny　in　the　rest　of　the　crew　to　take　his　part。〃

〃Harry　is　in　the　right；〃　said　Richard。　　〃It　is　our　duty　not　to
question　our　father's　judgments。　　It　would　be　wrong　of　you　to　stay
up。〃

〃Wrong？〃　said　Ethel。

〃Of　course。　　It　would　be　against　the　articles　of　war；〃　said　Harry；
opening　his　door　another　inch。　　〃But；　Ritchie；　I　say；　do　tell　me
whether　it　has　hurt　Margaret。〃

〃She　is　better　now；〃　said　Richard；　〃but　she　has　a　headache；　chiefly；
I　believe；　from　distress　at　having　brought　this　on　you。　　She　is　very
sorry　for　her　fright。〃

〃I　had　not　the　least　intention　of　frightening　the　most　fearsome
little　tender　mouse　on　earth；〃　said　Harry。

〃No；　indeed！〃　said　Ethel。

〃And　at　another　time　it　would　not　have　signified；〃　said　Richard；
〃but；　you　know；　Margaret　always　was　timid；　and　now；　the　not　being
able　to　move；　and　the　being　out　of　health；　has　made　her　nerves　weak；
so　that　she　cannot　help　it。〃

〃The　fault　was　in　our　never　heeding　her　when　we　were　so　eager　to　hear
Harry's　story；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃That　was　what　made　the　palpitation　so
bad。　　But；　now　papa　knows　all；　does　he　not　understand　about　Harry？〃

〃He　was　obliged　to　go　out　as　soon　as　Margaret　was　better；〃　said
Richard；　〃and　was　scarcely　come　in　when　I　came　up。〃

〃Go　down；　Ethel；〃　repeated　Harry。　　〃Never　mind　me。　　Norman　told　me
that　sort　of　joke　never　answered；　and　I　might　have　minded　him。〃

The　voice　was　very　much　troubled；　and　it　brought　back　that　burning
sensation　of　indignant　tears　to　Ethel's　eyes。

〃Oh；　Harry！　you　did　not　deserve　to　be　so　punished　for　it。〃

〃That　is　what　you　are　not　to　say；〃　returned　Harry。　　〃I　ought　not　to
have　played　the　trick；　andand　just　now　toobut　I　always　forget
things〃

The　door　shut；　and　they　fancied　they　heard　sobs。　　Ethel　groaned；　but
made　no　opposition　to　following　her　brother　down　to　tea。　　Margaret
lay；　wan　and　exhausted；　on　the　sofathe　doctor　looked　very
melancholy　and　rather　stern；　and　the　others　were　silent。　　Ethel　had
begun　to　hope　for　the　warm　reaction　she　had　so　often　known　after　a
hasty　fit；　but　it　did　not　readily　come；　Harry　was　boy　instead　of
girlthe　fault　and　its　consequence　had　been　more　seriousand　the
anxiety　for　the　future　was　greater。　　Besides；　he　had　not　fully　heard
the　story；　Harry；　in　his　incoherent　narration；　had　not　excused
himself；　and　Margaret's　panic　had　appeared　more　as　if　inspired　by
him；　than；　as　it　was；　in　fact；　the　work　of　her　fancy。

Thus　the　evening　passed　gloomily　away；　and　it　was　not　till　the　others
had　said　good…night　that　Dr。　May　began　to　talk　over　the　affair　with
his　eldest　son；　who　then　was　able　to　lay　before　him　the　facts　of　the
case；　as　gathered　from　his　sisters。　　He　listened　with　a　manner　as
though　it　were　a　reproof；　and　then　said　sadly；　〃I　am　afraid　I　was　in
a　passion。〃

〃It　was　very　wrong　in　Harry；〃　said　Richard；　〃and　particularly　unlucky
it　should　happen　with　the　Andersons。〃

〃Very　thoughtless；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃no　more；　even　as　regarded
Margaret；　but　thoughtlessness　should　not　have　been　treated　as　a
crime。〃

〃I　wish　we　could　see　him　otherwise；〃　said　Richard。

〃He　wants〃　and　there　Dr。　May　stopped　short；　and；　taking　up　his
candle；　slowly　mounted　the　stairs；　and　looked　into　Harry's　room。　　The
boy　was　in　bed；　but　started　up　on　hearing　his　father's　step；　and
exclaimed；　〃Papa；　I　am　very　sorry！　　Is　Margaret　better？〃

〃Yes；　she　is；　and　I　understand　now；　Harry；　that　her　alarm　was　an
accident。　　I　beg　your　pardon　for　thinking　for　a　moment　that　it　was
otherwise〃

〃No；〃　interrupted　Harry；　〃of　course　I　could　never　mean　to　frighten
her；　but　I　did　not　leave　off　the　moment　I　saw　she　was　afraid；　because
it　was　so　very　ridiculous；　and　I　did　not　guess　it　would　hurt　her。〃

〃I　see；　my　honest　boy。　I　do　not　blame　you；　for　you　did　not　know　how
much　harm　a　little　terror　does　to　a　person　in　her　helpless　state。
But；　indeed；　Harry；　though　you　did　not　deserve　such　anger　as　mine
was；　it　is　a　serious　thing　that　you　should　be　so　much　set　on　fun　and
frolic　as　to　forget　all　considerations；　especially　at　such　a　time　as
this。　　It　takes　away　from　much　of　my　comfort　in　sending　you　into　the
world；　and　for　higher　thingshow　can　I　believe　you　really　impressed
and　reverent；　if　the　next　minute〃

〃I'm　not　fit！　　I'm　not　fit！〃　sobbed　Harry；　hiding　his　face。

〃Indeed；　I　hardly　know　whether　it　is　not　so；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃You
are　under　the　usual　age；　and；　though　I　know　you　wish　to　be　a　good
boy；　yet　I　don't　feel　sure　that　these　wild　spirits　do　not　carry　away
everything　serious；　and　whether　it　is　right　to　bring　one　so
thoughtless　to〃

〃No；　no；〃　and　Harry　cried　bitterly；　and　his　father　was　deeply
grieved；　but　no　more　could　then　be　said；　and　they　parted　for　the
nightDr。　May　saying；　as　he　went　away；　〃You　understand；　that　it　is
not　as　punishment　for　your　trick；　if　I　do　not　take　you　to　Mr。　Ramsden
for　a　ticket；　but　that　I　cannot　be　certain　whether　it　is　right　to
bring　you　to　such　solemn　privileges　while　you　do　not　seem　to　me　to
retain　steadily　any　grave　or　deep　feelings。　　Perhaps　your　mother
would　have　better　helped　you。〃

And　Dr。　May　went　away　to　mourn　over　what　he　viewed　as　far　greater
sins　than　those　of　his　son。

Anger　had；　indeed；　given　place　to　sorrow；　and　all　were　grave　the　next
morning；　as　if　each　had　something　to　be　forgiven。

Margaret；　especially；　felt　guilty　of　the　fears　which；　perhaps；　had
not　been　sufficiently　combated　in　her　days　of　health；　and　now　were
beyond　control；　and　had　occasioned　so　much　pain。　　Ethel　grieved　over
the　words　she　had　yesterday　spoken　in　haste　of　her　father　and　sister；
Mary　knew　herself　to　have　been　an　accomplice　in　the　joke；　and　Norman
blamed　himself　for　not　having　taken　the　trouble　to　perceive　that
Harry　had　not　been　talking　rhodomontade；　when　he　had　communicated
〃his　capital　scheme〃　the　previous　morning。

The　decision　as　to　the　Confirmation　was　a　great　grief　to　all。　　Flora
consoled　herself　by　observing　that；　as　he　was　so　young；　no　one　need
know　it；　nor　miss　him；　and　Ethel；　with　a　trembling；　almost　sobbing
voice；　enumerated　all　Harry's　excellences；　his　perfect　truth；　his
kindness；　his　generosity；　his　flashes　of　intense　feelingdeclared
that　nobody　might　be　confirmed　if　he　were　not；　and　begged　and
entreated　that　Mr。　Wilmot　might　be　written　to；　and　consulted。　　She
would　almost　have　done　so　herself；　if　Richard　had　not　shown　her　it
would　be　undutiful。

Harry　himself　was　really　subdued。　　He　made　no　question　as　to　the
propriety　of　the　decision；　but　rather　felt　his　own　unworthiness；　and
was　completely　humbled　and　downcast。　　When　a　note　came　from　Mrs。
Anderson；　saying　that　she　was　convinced　that　it　could　not　have　been
Dr。　May's　wish　that　she　should　be　exposed　to　the　indignity　of　a
practical　joke；　and　that　a　young　lady　of　the　highest　family　should
have　been　insulted；　no　one　had　spirits　to　laugh　at　the　terms；　and
when　Dr。　May　said；　〃What　is　to　be　done？〃　Harry　turned　crimson；　and
was　evidently　trying　to　utter　something。

〃I　see　nothing　for　it　but　for　him　to　ask　their　pardon；〃　said　Dr。　May；
and　a　sound　was　heard；　not　very　articulate；　but　expressing　full
assent。

〃That　is　right；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃I'll　come　with　you。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you！〃　cried　Harry；　looking　up。

They　set　off　at　once。　　Mrs。　Anderson　was　neither　an　unpleasing　nor
unkind　personher　chief　defect　being　a　blind　admiration　of　her　sons
and　daughters；　which　gave　her；　in　speaking　of　them；　a　tone　of
pretension　that　she　would　never　have　shown　on　her　own　account。

Her　displeasure　was　pacified　in　a　moment　by　the　sight　of　the　confused
contrition　of　the　culprit；　coupled　with　his　father's　frank　and　kindly
tone　of　avowal；　that　it　had　been　a　foolish　improper　frolic；　and　that
he　had　been　much　displeased　with　him　for　it。

〃Say　no　morepray；　say　no　more；　Dr。　May。　　We　all　know　how　to
overlook　a　sailor's　frolic；　and；　I　am　sure；　Master　Harry's　present
behaviour；　but　you'll　take　a　bit　of　luncheon；〃　and；　as　something　was
said　of　going　home　to　the　early　dinner；　〃I　am　sure　you　will　wait　one
minute。　　Master　Harry　must　have　a　piece　of　my　cake；　and　allow　me　to
drink　to　his　success。〃

Poor　Mr。　May！　to　be　called　Master　Harry；　and　treated　to　sweet　cake！
But　he　saw　his　father　thought　he　ought　to　endure；　and　he　even　said；
〃Thank　you。〃

The　cake　stuck　in　his　throat；　however；　when　Mrs。　Anderson　and　her
daughters　opened　their　full　course　of　praise　on　their　dear　Harvey　and
dearest　Edward；　telling　all　the　flattering　things　Dr。　Hoxton　had　said
of　the　order　into　which　Harvey　had　brought　the　school；　and　insisting
on　Dr。　May's　reading　the　copy　of　the　testimonial　that　he　had　carried
to　Oxford。　　〃I　knew　you　would　be　kind　enough　to　rejoice；〃　said　Mrs。
Anderson；　〃and　that　you　would　have　nono　feeling　about　Mr。　Norman；
for；　of　course；　at　his　age；　a　little　matter　is　nothing；　and　it　must
be　better　for　the　dear　boy　himself　to　be　a　little　while　under　a
friend　like　Harvey；　than　to　have　authority　while　so　young。〃

〃I　believe　it　has　done　him　no　harm；〃　was　all　that　the　doctor　could
bring　himself　to　say；　and　thinking　that　he　and　his　son　had　endured
quite　enough；　he　took　his　leave　as　soon　as　Harry　had　convulsively
bolted　the　last　mouthful。

Not　a　word　was　spoken　all　the　way　home。　　Harry's　own　trouble　had
overpowered　even　this　subject　of　resentment。　　On　Sund