the daisy chain, or aspirations-第62章

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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　Sunday；　the　notice
of　the　Confirmation　was　read。　　It　was　to　take　place　on　the　following
Thursday；　and　all　those　who　had　already　given　in　their　names　were　to
come　to　Mr。　Ramsden　to　apply　for　their　tickets。　　While　this　was　read；
large　tear…drops　were　silently　falling　on　poor　Harry's　book。

Ethel　and　Norman　walked　together　in　the　twilight；　in　deep　lamentation
over　their　brother's　deprivation；　which　seemed　especially　to　humble
them；　〃for；〃　said　Norman；　〃I　am　sure　no　one　can　be　more　resolved　on
doing　right　than　July；　and　he　has　got　through　school　better　than　I
did。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　〃if　we　don't　get　into　his　sort　of　scrape；　it　is
only　that　we　are　older；　not　better。　　I　am　sure　mine　are　worse；　my
letting　Aubrey　be　nearly　burnedmy　neglects。〃

〃Papa　must　be　doing　right；〃　said　Norman；　〃but　for　July　to　be　turned
back　when　we　are　taken；　makes　me　think　of　man　judging　only　by　outward
appearance。〃

〃A　few　outrageous…looking　acts　of　giddiness　that　are　so　much　grieved
over；　may　not　be　half　so　bad　as　the　hundreds　of　wandering　thoughts
that　one　forgets；　because　no　one　else　can　see　them！〃　said　Ethel。

Meanwhile；　Harry　and　Mary　were　sitting　twisted　together　into　a　sort
of　bundle；　on　the　same　footstool；　by　Margaret's　sofa。　　Harry　had
begged　of　her　to　hear　him　say　the　Catechism　once　more；　and　Mary　had
joined　with　him　in　the　repetition。　　There　was　to　be　only　one　more
Sunday　at　home。　　〃And　that！〃　he　said；　and　sighed。

Margaret　knew　what　he　meant；　for　the　Feast　was　to　be　spread　for　those
newly　admitted　to　share　it。　　She　only　said　a　caressing　word　of
affection。

〃I　wonder　when　I　shall　have　another　chance；〃　said　Harry。　　〃If　we
should　get　to　Australia；　or　New　Zealandbut　then；　perhaps；　there
would　be　no　Confirmation　going　on；　and　I　might　be　worse　by　that
time。〃

〃Oh；　you　must　not　let　that　be！〃

〃Why；　you　see；　if　I　can't　be　good　here；　with　all　this　going　on；　what
shall　I　do　among　those　fellows；　away　from　all？〃

〃You　will　have　one　friend！〃

〃Mr。　Ernescliffe！　　You　are　always　thinking　of　him；　Margaret；　but
perhaps　he　may　not　go；　and　if　he　should；　a　lieutenant　cannot　do　much
for　a　midshipman。　　No；　I　thought；　when　I　was　reading　with　my　father；
that　somehow　it　might　help　me　to　do　what　it　called　putting　away
childish　thingsdon't　you　know？　　I　might　be　able　to　be　stronger　and
steadier；　somehow。　　And　then；　ififyou　know；　if　I　did　tumble
overboard；　or　anything　of　that　sort；　there　is　that　about　thewhat
they　will　go　to　next　Sunday；　being　necessary　to　salvation。〃

Harry　laid　down　his　head　and　cried；　Margaret　could　not　speak　for
tears；　and　Mary　was　incoherently　protesting　against　any　notion　of　his
falling　overboard。

〃It　is　generally　necessary；　Harry；〃　Margaret　said　at　last〃not　in
impossible　cases。〃

〃Yes　if　it　had　been　impossible；　but　it　was　not；　if　I　had　not　been　a
mad　goose　all　this　time；　but　when　a　bit　of　fun　gets　hold　of　me；　I
can't　think。　　And　if　I　am　too　bad　for　that；　I　am　too　bad　forfor
and　I　shall　never　see　mamma　again！　　Margaret；　it　almost　makes　me　af
afraid　to　sail。〃

〃Harry；　don't；　don't　talk　so！〃　sobbed　Mary。　　〃Oh；　do　come　to　papa；
and　let　us　beg　and　pray。　　Take　hold　of　my　hand；　and　Margaret　will　beg
too；　and　when　he　sees　how　sorry　you　are；　I　am　sure　he　will　forgive；
and　let　you　be　confirmed。〃　　She　would　have　dragged　him　after　her。

〃No；　Mary；〃　said　Harry；　resisting　her。　〃It　is　not　that　he　does　not
forgive。　You　don't　understand。　　It　is　what　is　right。　　And　he　cannot
help　it；　or　make　it　right　for　me；　if　I　am　such　a　horrid　wretch　that　I
can't　keep　grave　thoughts　in　my　head。　　I　might　do　it　again　after
that；　just　the　same。〃

〃You　have　been　grave　enough　of　late；〃　said　Mary。

〃This　was　enough　to　make　me　so；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　even　at　church；
since　I　came　home；　I　have　behaved　ill！　　I　kicked　Tom；　to　make　him
look　at　old　Levitt　asleep；　and　then　I　went　on；　because　he　did　not
like　it。　　I　know　I　am　too　idle。〃

On　the　Tuesday；　Dr。　May　had　said　he　would　take　Norman　and　Etheldred
to　Mr。　Ramsden。　　Ethel　was　gravely　putting　on　her　walking　dress；　when
she　heard　her　father's　voice　calling　Harry；　and　she　started　with　a
joyful　hope。

There；　indeed；　when　she　came　downstairs；　stood　Harry；　his　cap　in　his
hand；　and　his　face　serious；　but　with　a　look　on　it　that　had　as　much
subdued　joy　as　awe。

〃Dear；　dear　Harry！　you　are　going　with　us　then？〃

〃Yes；　papa　wrote　to　ask　what　Mr。　Wilmot　thought；　and　he　said〃

Harry　broke　off　as　his　father　advanced；　and　gave　her　the　letter
itself　to　read。　　Mr。　Wilmot　answered　that　he　certainly　should　not
refuse　such　a　boy　as　Harry；　on　the　proof　of　such　entire　penitence　and
deep　feeling。　　Whether　to　bring　him　to　the　further　privilege　might　be
another　question；　but；　as　far　as　the　Confirmation　was　concerned；　the
opinion　was　decided。

Norman　and　Ethel　were　too　happy　for　words；　as　they　went　arm　in　arm
along　the　street；　leaving　their　dear　sailor　to　be　leaned　on　by　his
father。

Harry's　sadness　was　gone；　but　he　still　was　guarded　and　gentle　during
the　few　days　that　followed；　he　seemed　to　have　learned　thought；　and　in
his　gratitude　for　the　privileges　he　had　so　nearly　missed；　to　rate
them　more　highly　than　he　might　otherwise　have　done。　　Indeed；　the
doubt　for　the　Sunday　gave　him　a　sense　of　probation。

The　Confirmation　day　came。　　Mr。　Rivers　had　asked　that　his　daughter
might　be　with　Miss　May；　and　Ethel　had　therefore　to　be　called　for　in
the　Abbotstoke　carriage；　quite　contrary　to　her　wishes；　as　she　had　set
her　heart　on　the　walk　to　church　with　her　father　and　brothers。　　Flora
would　not　come；　for　fear　of　crowding　Mr。　Rivers；　who；　with　Mrs。
Larpent；　accompanied　his
darling。

〃Oh；　Margaret；〃　said　Flora；　after　putting　her　sister　into　the
carriage；　〃I　wish　we　had　put　Ethel　into　a　veil！　　There　is　Meta　all
white　from　head　to　foot；　with　such　a　veil！　and　Ethel；　in　her　little
white　cap；　looks　as　if　she　might　be　Lucy　Taylor；　only　not　so　pretty。〃

〃Mamma　thought　the　best　rule　was　to　take　the　dress　that　needs　least
attention　from　ourselves；　and　will　be　least　noticed；〃　said　Margaret。

〃There　is　Fanny　Anderson　gone　by　in　the　fly　with　a　white　veil　on！〃
cried　Mary；　dashing　in。

〃Then　I　am　glad　Ethel　has　not　one；〃　said　Flora。　　Margaret　looked
annoyed；　but　she　had　not　found　the　means　of　checking　Flora　without
giving　offence；　and　she　could　only　call　Mary　and　Blanche　to　order；
beg　them　to　think　of　what　the　others　were　doing；　and　offer　to　read　to
them　a　little　tale　on　Confirmation。

Flora　sat　and　worked；　and　Margaret；　stealing　a　glance　at　her；
understood　that；　in　her　quiet　way；　she　resented　the　implied　reproof。
〃Making　the　children　think　me　worldly　and　frivolous！〃　she　thought；
〃as　if　Margaret　did　not　know　that　I　think　and　feel　as　much　as　any
reasonable　person！〃

The　party　came　home　in　due　time；　and　after　one　kiss　to　Margaret；
given　in　silence；　dispersed；　for　they　could　not　yet　talk　of　what　had
passed。

Only　Ethel；　as　she　met　Richard　on　the　stairs；　said；　〃Ritchie；　do　you
know　what　the　bishop's　text　was？　　'No　man　having　put　his　hand　to　the
plough；　and　looking　back；　is　fit　for　the　kingdom　of　God。'〃

〃Yes？〃　said　Richard　interrogatively。

〃I　thought　it　might　be　a　voice　to　me；〃　said　Ethel；　〃besides　what　it
says　to　all；　about　our　Christian　course。　　It　seems　to　tell　me　not　to
be　out　of　heart　about　all　those　vexations　at　Cocksmoor。　　Is　it　not　a
sort　of　putting　our　hand　to　the　plough？〃

Dr。　May　gave　his　own　history　of　the　Confirmation　to　Margaret。　　〃It
was　a　beautiful　thing　to　watch；〃　he　said；　〃the　faces　of　our　own　set。
Those　four　were　really　like　a　poem。　　There　was　little　Meta　in　her
snowy　whiteness；　looking　like　innocence　itself；　hardly　knowing　of
evil；　or　pain；　or　struggle；　as　that　soft　earnest　voice　made　her　vow
to　be　ready　for　it　all；　almost　as　unscathed　and　unconscious　of　trial；
as　when　they　made　it　for　her　at　her　baptism；　pretty　little　thingmay
she　long　be　as　happy。　　And　for　our　own　Ethel；　she　looked　as　if　she
was　promising　on　and　on；　straight　into　eternity。　　I　heard　her　'I　do；'
dear　child；　and　it　was　in　such　a　tone　as　if　she　meant　to　be　ever
doing。〃

〃And　for　the　boys？〃

〃There　was　Norman　grave　and　steadfast；　as　if　he　knew　what　he　was
about；　and　was　manfully　and　calmly　readyhe　might　have　been　a　young
knight；　watching　his　armour。〃

〃And　so　he　is；〃　said　Margaret　softly。　　〃And　poor　Harry？〃

The　doctor　could　hardly　command　voice　to　tell　her。　　〃Poor　Harry；　he
was　last　of　all；　he　turned　his　back　and　looked　into　the　corner　of　the
seat；　till　all　the　voices　had　spoken；　and　then　turned　about　in　haste；
and　the　two　words　came　on　the　end　of　a　sob。〃

〃You　will　not　keep　him　away　on　Sunday？〃　said　Margaret。

〃Far　be　it　from　me。　　I　know　not　who　should　come；　if　he　should　not。〃




CHAPTER　XXVI。



What　matter；　whether　through　delight；
　　Or　led　through　vale　of　tears；
Or　seen　at　once；　or　hid　from　sight；
　　The　glorious　way　appears？
If　step　by　step　the　path　we　see；
　　That　leads；　my　Saviour；　up　to　Thee！


〃I　could　not　help　it；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃that　little　witch〃

〃Meta　Rivers？　　Oh！　what；　papa？〃

〃It　seems　that　Wednesday　is　her　birthday；　and　nothing　will　serve　her
but　to　eat　her　dinner　in　the　old　Roman　camp。〃

〃And　are　we　to　go？　　Oh；　which　of　us？〃

〃Every　one　of　anything　like　rational　years。　　Blanche　is　especially
invited。〃

There　were　transports　till　it　was　recollected　that　on　Thursday
morning　school　would　recommence；　and　that　on　Friday　Harry　must　join
his　ship。

However；　the　Roman　camp　had　long　been　an　object　of　their　desires；　and
Margaret　was　glad　that　the　last　day　should　have　a　brilliancy；　so　she
would　not　hear　of　any　one　remaining　to　keep　her　company；　talked　of
the　profit　she　should　gain　by　a　leisure　day；　and　took　ardent　interest
in　every　one's　preparations　and　expectations；　in　Ethel's　researches
into　county　histories　and　classical　dictionaries；　Flora's　sketching
intentions；　Norman's　promises　of　campanula　glomerata；　and　a　secret
whispered　into　her　ear　by　Mary　and　Harry。

〃Meta's　weather；〃　as　they　said；　when　the　August　sun　rose　fresh　and
joyous；　and　great　was　the　unnecessary　bustle；　and　happy　confusion
from　six　o'clock　till　eleven；　when　Dr。　May；　who　was　going　to　visit
patients　some　way　farther　on　the　same　road；　carried　off　Harry　and
Mary；　to　set　them　down　at　the　place。

The　rest　were　called　for　by　Mr。　Rivers's　carriage　and　brake。　　Mrs。
Charles　Wilmot　and　her　little　girl　were　the　only　additions　to　the
party；　and　Meta；　putting　Blanche　into　the　carriage　to　keep　company
with　her　contemporary；　went　herself　in　the　brake。　　What　a　brilliant
little　fairy　she　was；　in　her　pink　summer　robes；　fluttering　like　a
butterfly；　and　with　the　same　apparent　felicity　in　basking　in　joy；　all
gaiety；　glee；　and　light…heartedness　in　making　others　happy。　　On　they
went；　through　honeysuckled　lanes；　catching　glimpses　of　sunny　fields
of　corn　falling　before　the　reaper；　and　happy　knots　of　harvest　folks
dining　beneath　the　shelter　of　their　sheaves；　with　the　sturdy　old
green　umbrella　sheltering　them　from　the　sun。

Snatches　of　song；　peals　of　laughter；　merry　nonsense；　passed　from　one
to　the　other；　Norman；　roused　into　blitheness；　found　wit；　the　young
ladies　found　laughter；　and　Richard's　eyes　and　m