the daisy chain, or aspirations-第65章

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Meta　proposed　what　she　called　the　story　play。　　One　was　to　be　sent　out
of　earshot；　and　the　rest　to　agree　upon　a　word；　which　was　then　to　be
guessed　by　each　telling　a　story；　and　introducing　the　word　into　it；
not　too　prominently。　　Meta　volunteered　to　guess；　and　Harry　whispered
to　Mary　it　would　be　no　go；　but；　in　the　meantime；　the　word　was　found；
and　Blanche　eagerly　recalled　Meta；　and　sat　in　the　utmost　expectation
and　delight。　　Meta　turned　first　to　Richard；　but　he　coloured
distressfully；　and　begged　that　Flora　might　tell　his　story　for　himhe
should　only　spoil　the　game。　　Flora；　with　a　little　tinge　of　graceful
reluctance；　obeyed。　　〃No　woman　had　been　to　the　summit　of　Mont　Blanc；〃
she　said；　〃till　one　young　girl；　named　Marie；　resolved　to　have　this
glory。　　The　guides　told　her　it　was　madness；　but　she　persevered。　　She
took　the　staff；　and　everything　requisite；　and；　following　a　party；
began　the　ascent。　　She　bravely　supported　every　fatigue；　climbed　each
precipice；　was　undaunted　by　the　giddy　heights　she　attained；　bravely
crossed　the　fields　of　snow；　supported　the　bitter　cold；　and　finally；
though　suffering　severely；　arrived　at　the　topmost　peak；　looked　forth
where　woman　had　never　looked　before；　felt　her　heart　swell　at　the
attainment　of　her　utmost　ambition；　and　the　name　of　Marie　was
inscribed　as　that　of　the　woman　who　alone　has　had　the　glory　of
standing　on　the　summit　of　the　Giant　of　the　Alps。〃

It　was　prettily　enunciated；　and　had　a　pleasing　effect。　　Meta　stood
conning　the　wordswomangiantmountaingloryand　begged　for
another　tale。

〃Mine　shall　not　be　so　stupid　as　Flora's；〃　said　Harry。　　〃We　have　an
old　sailor　on　board　the　Alcestisa　giant　he　might　be　for　his　voice
but　he　sailed　once　in　the　Glory　of　the　West；　and　there　they　had　a
monkey　that　was　picked　up　in　Africa；　and　one　day　this　old　fellow
found　his　queer　messmate；　as　he　called　him；　spying　through　a　glass；
just　like　the　captain。　　The　captain　had　a　glorious　collection　of　old
coins；　and　the　like；　dug　up　in　some　of　the　old　Greek　colonies；　and
whenever　Master　Monkey　saw　him　overhauling　them；　he　would　get　out　a
brass　button；　or　a　card　or　two；　and　turn　'em　over；　and　chatter　at
them；　and　glory　over　them；　quite　knowing；〃　said　Harry；　imitating　the
gesture；　〃and　I　dare　say　he　saw　V。V。；　and　Tiberius　Caesar；　as　well　as
the　best　of　them。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Harry；〃　said　Meta。　　〃I　think　we　are　at　no　loss　for
monkeys　here。　　But　I　have　not　the　word　yet。　　Who　comes　next？
Ethel〃

〃I　shall　blunder；　I　forewarn　you；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　this　is　mine：
There　was　a　young　king　who　had　an　old　tutor；　whom　he　despised　because
he　was　so　strict；　so　he　got　rid　of　him；　and　took　to　idle　sport。　　One
day；　when　he　was　out　hunting　in　a　forest；　a　white　hind　came　and　ran
before　him；　till　she　guided　him　to　a　castle；　and　there　he　found　a
lady　all　dressed　in　white；　with　a　beamy　crown　on　head；　and　so　nobly
beautiful　that　he　fell　in　love　with　her　at　once；　and　was　only　sorry
to　see　another　prince　who　was　come　to　her　palace　too。　　She　told　them
her　name　was　Gloria；　and　that　she　had　had　many　suitors；　but　the
choice　did　not　depend　on　herselfshe　could　only　be　won　by　him　who
deserved　her；　and　for　three　years　they　were　to　be　on　their　probation；
trying　for　her。　　So　she　dismissed　them；　only　burning　to　gain　her；　and
telling　them　to　come　back　in　three　years'　time。　　But　they　had　not
gone　far　before　they　saw　another　palace；　much　finer；　all　glittering
with　gold　and　silver；　and　their　Lady　Gloria　came　out　to　meet　them；
not　in　her　white　dress；　but　in　one　all　gay　and　bright　with　fine
colours；　and　her　crown　they　now　saw　was　of　diamonds。　　She　told　them
they　had　only　seen　her　everyday　dress　and　house；　this　was　her　best；
and　she　showed　them　about　the　castle；　and　all　the　pictures　of　her
former　lovers。　　There　was　Alexander；　who　had　been　nearer　retaining
her　than　any　one；　only　the　fever　prevented　it；　there　was　Pyrrhus；
always　seeking　her；　but　slain　by　a　tile；　Julius　CaesarTamerlane
all　the　rest；　and　she　hoped　that　one　of　these　two　would　really　prove
worthy　and　gain　her；　by　going　in　the　same　path　as　these　great　people。

〃So　our　prince　went　home；　his　head　full　of　being　like　Alexander　and
all　the　rest　of　them；　and　he　sent　for　his　good　old　tutor　to　reckon　up
his　armies；　and　see　whom　he　could　conquer　in　order　to　win　her。　　But
the　old　tutor　told　him　he　was　under　a　mistake；　the　second　lady　he　had
seen　was　a　treacherous　cousin　of　Gloria；　who　drew　away　her　suitors　by
her　deceits；　and　whose　real　name　was　Vana　Gloria。　　If　he　wished　to
earn　the　true　Gloria；　he　must　set　to　work　to　do　his　subjects　good；
and　to　be　virtuous。　　And　he　did；　he　taught　them；　and　he　did　justice
to　them；　and　he　bore　it　patiently　and　kindly　when　they　did　not
understand。　　But　by…and…by　the　other　king；　who　had　no　good　tutor　to
help　him；　had　got　his　armies　together；　and　conquered　ever　so　many
people；　and　drawn　off　their　men　to　be　soldiers；　and　now　he　attacked
the　good　prince；　and　was　so　strong　that　he　gained　the　victory；　though
both　prince　and　subjects　fought　manfully　with　heart　and　hand；　but　the
battle　was　lost；　and　the　faithful　prince　wounded　and　made　prisoner；
but　bearing　it　most　patiently；　till　he　was　dragged　behind　the　other's
triumphal　car　with　all　the　rest；　when　the　three　years　were　up；　to　be
presented　to　Vana　Gloria。　　And　so　he　was　carried　into　the　forest；
bleeding　and　wounded；　and　his　enemy　drove　the　car　over　his　body；　and
stretched　out　his　arms　to　Vana　Gloria；　and　found　her　a　vain；　ugly
wretch；　who　grew　frightful　as　soon　as　he　grasped　her。　　But　the　good
dying　prince　saw　the　beautiful　beamy　face　of　his　ladylove　bending
over　him。　　'Oh！'　he　said；　'vision　of　my　life；　hast　thou　come　to
lighten　my　dying　eyes？　　Nevernever；　even　in　my　best　days；　did　I
deem　that　I　could　be　worthy　of　thee；　the　more　I　strove；　the　more　I
knew　that　Gloria　is　for　none　belowfor　me　less　than　all。'

〃And　then　the　lady　came　and　lifted　him　up；　and　she　said；　'Gloria　is
given　to　all　who　do　and　suffer　truly　in　a　good　cause；　for
faithfulness　is　glory；　and　that　is　thine。'〃

Ethel's　language　had　become　more　flowing　as　she　grew　more　eager　in
the　tale；　and　they　all　listened　with　suspended　interest。　　Norman
asked　where　she　got　the　story。　〃Out　of　an　old　French　book；　the
'Magazin　des　enfans；'〃　was　the　answer。

〃But　why　did　you　alter　the　end？〃　said　Flora；　〃why　kill　the　poor　man？
He　used　to　be　prosperous；　why　not？〃

〃Because　I　thought；〃　said　Ethel；　〃that　glory　could　not　properly
belong　to　any　one　here；　and　if　he　was　once　conscious　of　it；　it　would
be　all　spoiled。　　Well；　Meta；　do　you　guess？〃

〃Oh！　the　word！　　I　had　forgotten　all　about　it。　　I　think　I　know　what　it
must　be；　but　I　should　so　like　another　story。　　May　I　not　have　one？〃
said　Meta　coaxingly。　　〃Mary；　it　is　you。〃

Mary　fell　back　on　her　papa；　and　begged　him　to　take　hers。　　Papa　told
the　best　stories　of　all；　she　said；　and　Meta　looked　beseeching。

〃My　story　will　not　be　as　long　as　Ethel's；〃　said　the　doctor；　yielding
with　a　half…reluctant　smile。　　〃My　story　is　of　a　humming…bird；　a
little　creature　that　loved　its　master　with　all　its　strength；　and
longed　to　do　somewhat　for　him。　　It　was　not　satisfied　with　its　lot；
because　it　seemed　merely　a　vain　and　profitless　creature。　　The
nightingale　sang　praise；　and　the　woods　sounded　with　the　glory　of　its
strains；　the　fowl　was　valued　for　its　flesh；　the　ostrich　for　its
plume；　but　what　could　the　little　humming…bird　do；　save　rejoice　in　the
glory　of　the　flood　of　sunbeams；　and　disport　itself　over　the　flowers；
and　glance　in　the　sunny　light；　as　its　bright　breastplate　flashed　from
rich　purple　to　dazzling　flame…colour；　and　its　wings　supported　it；
fluttering　so　fast　that　the　eye　could　hardly　trace　them；　as　it　darted
its　slender　beak　into　the　deep…belled　blossoms。　　So　the　little　bird
grieved；　and　could　not　rest；　for　thinking　that　it　was　useless　in　this
world；　that　it　sought　merely　its　own　gratification；　and　could　do
nothing　that　could　conduce　to　the　glory　of　its　master。　　But　one　night
a　voice　spoke　to　the　little　bird；　'Why　hast　thou　been　placed　here；'
it　said；　'but　at　the　will　of　thy　master？　　Was　it　not　that　he　might
delight　himself　in　thy　radiant　plumage；　and　see　thy　joy　in　the
sunshine？　　His　gifts　are　thy　buoyant　wing；　thy　beauteous　colours；　the
love　of　all　around；　the　sweetness　of　the　honey…drop　in　the　flowers；
the　shade　of　the　palm　leaf。　　Esteem　them；　then；　as　his；　value　thine
own　bliss；　while　it　lasts；　as　the　token　of　his　care　and　love；　and
while　thy　heart　praises　him　for　them；　and　thy　wings　quiver　and　dance
to　the　tune　of　that　praise；　then；　indeed；　thy　gladness　conduces　to　no
vain…glory　of　thine　own；　in　beauty；　or　in　graceful　flight；　but　thou
art　a　creature　servingas　best　thou　canst　to　his　glory。'〃

〃I　know　the　word；〃　half　whispered　Meta；　not　without　a　trembling　of
the　lip。　　〃I　know　why　you　told　the　story；　Dr。　May；　but　one　is　not　as
good　as　the　humming…birds。〃

The　elder　ladies　had　begun　to　look　at　watches；　and　talk　of　time　to　go
home；　and　Jem　Jemmings　having　been　seen　rearing　himself　up　from
behind　the　barrow；　the　doctor　proceeded　to　investigate　his　case；　was
perfectly　satisfied　of　the　boy's　truth；　and　as　ready　as　the　young
ones　to　befriend　him。　　A　letter　should　be　written　at　once；　desiring
his　father　to　look　out　for　him　on　Friday；　when　he　should　go　by　the
same　train　as　Harry；　who　was　delighted　at　the　notion　of　protecting
him　so　far；　and　begged　to　be　allowed　to　drive　him　home　to
Stoneborough　in　the　gig。

Consent　was　given；　and　Richard　being　added　to　give　weight　and
discretion；　the　gig　set　out　at　oncethe　doctor；　much　to　Meta's
delight；　took　his　place　in　the　brake。　　Blanche；　who；　in　the　morning；
had　been　inclined　to　despise　it　as　something　akin　to　a　cart；　now
finding　it　a　popular　conveyance；　was　urgent　to　return　in　it；　and
Flora　was　made　over　to　the　carriage；　not　at　all　unwillingly；　for；
though　it　separated　her　from　Meta；　it　made　a　senior　of　her。

Norman's　fate　conveyed　him　to　the　exalted　seat　beside　the　driver　of
the　brake；　where　he　could　only　now　and　then　catch　the　sounds　of　mirth
from　below。　　He　had　enjoyed　the　day　exceedingly；　with　that　sort　of
abandon　more　than　ordinarily　delicious　to　grave　or　saddened
temperaments；　when　roused　or　drawn　out　for　a　time。　　Meta's　winning
grace　and　sweetness　had　a　peculiar　charm　for　him；　and；　perhaps；　his
having　been　originally　introduced　to　her　as　ill；　and　in　sorrow；　had
given　her　manner　towards　him　a　sort　of　kindness　which　was　very
gratifying。

And　now　he　felt　as　if　he　was　going　back　to　a　very　dusky　dusty　world；
the　last　and　blithest　day　of　his　holidays　was　past；　and　he　must
return　to　the　misapprehensions　and　injustice　that　had　blighted　his
school　career；　be　kept　beneath　boys　with　half　his　ability；　and
without　generous　feeling；　and　find　all　his　attainments　useless　in
restoring　his　position。　　Dr。　Hoxton's　dull　scholarship　would　chill
all　pleasure　in　his　studiesthere　would　be　no　companionship　among
the　boyseven　his　supporters；　Ernescliffe　and　Larkins；　were　gone；
and　Harry　would　leave　him　still　under　a　cloud。

Norman　felt　it　more　as　disgrace　than　he　had　done　since　the　first；　and
wished　he　had　consented　to　quit　the　school　when　it　had　been　offered
be　made　a　man；　instead　of　suffering　these　doubly　irksome
provocations；　which　rose　before　him　in　renewed　force。　　〃And　what
would　that　little