the daisy chain, or aspirations-第67章

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Ethel　was　at　first　vehement　in　her　defence；　then　when　stronger
evidence　was　adduced　of　the　woman's　dishonesty；　she　was　dreadfully
shocked；　and　wanted　to　give　up　all　connection　with　her；　and　in　both
moods　was　equally　displeased　with　Richard　for　pausing；　and　not　going
all　lengths　with　her。

Mr。　Wilmot　was　appealed　to；　and　did　his　best　to　investigate；　but　the
only　result　was　to　discover　that　no　one　interrogated　had　any　notion
of　truth；　except　John　Taylor；　and　he　knew　nothing　of　the　matter。　　The
mass　of　falsehood；　spite；　violence；　and　dishonesty；　that　became
evident；　was　perfectly　appalling；　and　not　a　clue　was　to　be　found　to
the　truthscarcely　a　hope　that　minds　so　lost　to　honourable　feeling
were　open　to　receive　good　impressions。　　It　was　a　great　distress　to
Ethelit　haunted　her　night　and　dayshe　lay　awake　pondering　on　the
vain　hopes　for　her　poor　children；　and　slept　to　dream　of　the　angry
faces　and　rude　accusations。　　Margaret　grew　quite　anxious　about　her；
and　her　elders　were　seriously　considering　the　propriety　of　her
continuing　her　labours　at　Cocksmoor。

Mr。　Wilmot　would　not　be　at　Stoneborough　after　Christmas。　　His
father's　declining　health　made　him　be　required　at　home；　and　since
Richard　was　so　often　absent；　it　became　matter　of　doubt　whether　the
Misses　May　ought　to　be　allowed　to　persevere；　unassisted　by　older
heads；　in　such　a　locality。

This　doubt　put　Ethel　into　an　agony。　　Though　she　had　lately　been
declaring　that　it　made　her　very　unhappy　to　goshe　could　not　bear　the
sight　of　Mrs。　Green；　and　that　she　knew　all　her　efforts　were　vain
while　the　poor　children　had　such　homes；　she　now　only　implored　to　be
allowed　to　go　on；　she　said　that　the　badness　of　the　people　only　made
it　more　needful　to　do　their　utmost　for　them；　there　were　no　end　to　the
arguments　that　she　poured　forth　upon　her　ever　kind　listener；
Margaret。

〃Yes；　dear　Ethel；　yes；　but　pray　be　calm；　I　know　papa　and　Mr。　Wilmot
would　not　put　a　stop　to　it　if　they　could　possibly　help　it；　but　if　it
is　not　proper〃

〃Proper！　that　is　as　bad　as　Miss　Winter！〃

〃Ethel；　you　and　I　cannot　judge　of　these　thingsyou　must　leave　them
to　our　elders〃

〃And　men　always　are　so　fanciful　about　ladies〃

〃Indeed；　if　you　speak　in　that　way；　I　shall　think　it　is　really　hurting
you。〃

〃I　did　not　mean　it；　dear　Margaret；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　if　you　knew　what
I　feel　for　poor　Cocksmoor；　you　would　not　wonder　that　I　cannot　bear
it。〃

〃I　do　not　wonder；　dearest；　but　if　this　trial　is　sent　you；　perhaps　it
is　to　train　you　for　better　things。〃

〃Perhaps　it　is　for　my　fault；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Oh；　oh；　if　it　be　that　I
am　too　unworthy！　　And　it　is　the　only　hope；　no　one　will　do　anything　to
teach　these　poor　creatures　if　I　give　it　up。　　What　shall　I　do；
Margaret？〃

Margaret　drew　her　down　close　to　her；　and　whispered；　〃Trust　them
Ethel；　dear。　　The　decision　will　be　whatever　is　the　will　of　God。　　If
He　thinks　fit　to　give　you　the　work；　it　will　come；　if　not；　He　will
give　you　some　other；　and　provide　for　them。〃

〃If　I　have　been　too　neglectful　of　home；　too　vain　of　persevering　when
no　one　but　Richard　would！〃　sighed　Ethel。

〃I　cannot　see　that　you　have；　dearest；〃　said　Margaret　fondly；　〃but
your　own　heart　must　tell　you　that。　　And　now；　only　try　to　be　calm　and
patient。　　Getting　into　these　fits　of　despair　is　the　very　thing　to
make　people　decide　against　you。〃

〃I　will！　　I　will！　　I　will　try　to　be　patient；〃　sobbed　Ethel；　〃I　know
to　be　wayward　and　set　on　it　would　only　hurt。　　I　might　only　do　more
harmI'll　try。　　But　oh；　my　poor　children！〃

Margaret　gave　a　little　space　for　the　struggle　with　herself；　then
advised　her　resolutely　to　fix　her　attention　on　something　else。　　It
was　a　Saturday　morning；　and　time　was　more　free　than　usual；　so
Margaret　was　able　to　persuade　her　to　continue　a　half…forgotten
drawing；　while　listening　to　an　interesting　article　in　a　review；　which
opened　to　her　that　there　were　too　many　Cocksmoors　in　the　world。

The　dinner…hour　sounded　too　soon；　and　as　she　was　crossing　the　hall　to
put　away　her　drawing　materials；　the　front　door　gave　the　click
peculiar　to　Dr。　May's　left…handed　way　of　opening　it。　　She　paused；　and
saw　him　enter；　flushed；　and　with　a　look　that　certified　her　that
something　had　happened。

〃Well；　Ethel；　he　is　come。〃

〃Oh；　papa；　Mr。　Ernes〃

He　held　up　his　finger；　drew　her　into　the　study；　and　shut　the　door。
The　expression　of　mystery　and　amusement　gave　way　to　sadness　and
gravity　as　he　sat　down　in　his　arm…chair；　and　sighed　as　if　much
fatigued。　　She　was　checked　and　alarmed；　but　she　could　not　help
asking；　〃Is　he　here？〃

〃At　the　Swan。　　He　came　last　night；　and　watched　for　me　this　morning　as
I　came　out　of　the　hospital。　　We　have　been　walking　over　the　meadows　to
Fordholm。〃

No　wonder　Dr。　May　was　hot　and　tired。

〃But　is　he　not　coming？〃　asked　Ethel。

〃Yes；　poor　fellow；　but　hush；　stop；　say　nothing　to　the　others。　　I　must
not　have　her　agitated　till　she　has　had　her　dinner　in　peace；　and　the
house　is　quiet。　　You　know　she　cannot　run　away　to　her　room　as　you
would。〃

〃Then　he　is　really　come　for　that？〃　cried　Ethel　breathlessly；　and；
perceiving　the　affirmative；　added；　〃But　why　did　he　wait　so　long？〃

〃He　wished　to　see　his　way　through　his　affairs；　and　also　wanted　to
hear　of　her　from　Harry。　　I　am　afraid　poor　July's　colours　were　too
bright。〃

〃And　why　did　he　come　to　the　Swan　instead　of　to　us？〃

〃That　was　his　fine；　noble　feeling。　　He　thought　it　right　to　see　me
first；　that　if　I　thought　the　decision　too　trying　for　Margaret；　in　her
present　state；　or　if　I　disapproved　of　the　long　engagement；　I　might
spare　her　all　knowledge　of　his　coming。〃

〃Oh；　papa；　you　won't！〃

〃I　don't　know　but　that　I　ought；　but　yet；　the　fact　is；　that　I　cannot。
With　that　fine　young　fellow　so　generously；　fondly　attached　I　cannot
find　it　in　my　heart　to　send　him　away　for　four　years　without　seeing
her；　and　yet；　poor　things；　it　might　be　better　for　them　both。　　Oh；
Ethel；　if　your　mother　were　but　here！〃

He　rested　his　forehead　on　his　hands；　and　Ethel　stood　aghast　at　his
unexpected　reception　of　the　addresses　for　which　she　had　so　long
hoped。　　She　did　not　venture　to　speak；　and　presently　he　roused　himself
as　the　dinner…bell　rang。　　〃One　comfort　is；〃　he　said；　〃that　Margaret
has　more　composure　than　I。　　Do　you　go　to　Cocksmoor　this　afternoon？〃

〃I　wished　it。〃

〃Take　them　all　with　you。　　You　may　tell　them　why　when　you　are　out。
I　must　have　the　house　quiet。　　I　shall　get　Margaret　out　into　the
shade；　and　prepare　her；　as　best　I　can；　before　he　comes　at　three
o'clock。〃

It　was　not　flattering　to　be　thus　cleared　out　of　the　way；　especially
when　full　of　excited　curiosity；　but　any　such　sensation　was　quite
overborne　by　sympathy　in　his　great　anxiety；　and　Ethel's　only　question
was；　〃Had　not　Flora　better　stay　to　keep　off　company？〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Dr。　May　impatiently；　〃the　fewer　the　better；〃　and
hastily　passing　her；　he　dashed　up　to　his　room；　nearly　running　over
the　nursery　procession；　and；　in　a　very　few　seconds；　was　seated　at
table；　eating　and　speaking　by　snatches；　and　swallowing　endless
draughts　of　cold　water。

〃You　are　going　to　Cocksmoor！〃　said　he；　as　they　were　finishing。

〃It　is　the　right　day；〃　said　Richard。　〃Are　you　coming；　Flora？〃

〃Not　to…day；　I　have　to　call　on　Mrs。　Hoxton。〃

〃Never　mind　Mrs。　Hoxton；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃you　had　better　go　to…day；
a　fine　cool　day　for　a　walk。〃

He　did　not　look　as　if　he　had　found　it　so。

〃Oh；　yes；　Flora；　you　must　come；〃　said　Ethel；　〃we　want　you。〃

〃I　have　engagements　at　home；〃　replied　Flora。

〃And　it　really　is　a　trying　walk；〃　said　Miss　Winter。

〃You　must；〃　reiterated　Ethel。　　〃Come　to　our　room；　and　I　will　tell　you
why。〃

〃I　do　not　mean　to　go　to　Cocksmoor　till　something　positive　is　settled。
I　cannot　have　anything　to　do　with　that　woman。〃

〃If　you　would　only　come　upstairs；〃　implored　Ethel；　at　the　door；　〃I
have　something　to　tell　you　alone。〃

〃I　shall　come　up　in　due　time。　　I　thought　you　had　outgrown　closetings
and　foolish　secrets；〃　said　Flora。

Her　movements　were　quickened；　however；　by　her　father；　who；　finding
her　with　Margaret　in　the　drawing…room；　ordered　her　upstairs　in　a
peremptory　manner；　which　she　resented；　as　treating　her　like　a　child；
and　therefore　proceeded　in　no　amiable　mood　to　the　room；　where　Ethel
awaited　her　in　wild　tumultuous　impatience。

〃Well；　Ethel；　what　is　this　grand　secret？〃

〃Oh；　Flora！　　Mr。　Ernescliffe　is　at　the　Swan！　　He　has　been　speaking　to
papa　about　Margaret。〃

〃Proposing　for　her；　do　you　mean？〃　said　Flora。

〃Yes；　he　is　coming　to　see　her　this　afternoon；　and　that　is　the　reason
that　papa　wants　us　to　be　all　out　of　the　way。〃

〃Did　papa　tell　you　this？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　beginning　to　perceive　the　secret　of　her
displeasure；　〃but　only　because　I　was　the　first　person　he　met；　and
Norman　guessed　it　long　ago。　　Do　put　on　your　things！　　I'll　tell　you
all　I　know　when　we　are　out。　　Papa　is　so　anxious　to　have　the　coast
clear。〃

〃I　understand；〃　said　Flora；　〃but　I　shall　not　go　with　you。　　Do　not　be
afraid　of　my　interfering　with　any　one。　　I　shall　sit　here。〃

〃But　papa　said　you　were　to　go。〃

〃If　he　had　done　me　the　favour　of　speaking　to　me　himself；〃　said　Flora；
〃I　should　have　shown　him　that　it　is　not　right　that　Margaret　should　be
left　without　any　one　at　hand　in　case　she　should　be　overcome。　　He　is
of　no　use　in　such　cases；　only　makes　things　worse。　　I　should　not　feel
justified　in　leaving　Margaret　with　no　one　else；　but　he　is　in　one　of
those　hand…over…head　moods；　when　it　is　not　of　the　least　use　to　say　a
word　to　him。〃

〃Flora；　how　can　you；　when　he　expressly　ordered　you？〃

〃All　he　meant　was；　do　not　be　in　the　way；　and　I　shall　not　show　myself
unless　I　am　needed；　when　he　would　be　glad　enough　of　me。　　I　am　not
bound　to　obey　the　very　letter；　like　Blanche　or　Mary。〃

Ethel　looked　horrified　by　the　assertion　of　independence；　but　Richard
called　her　from　below；　and；　with　one　more　fruitless　entreaty；　she　ran
downstairs。

Richard　had　been　hearing　all　from　his　father；　and　it　was　comfortable
to　talk　the　matter　over　with　him；　and　hear　explained　the　anxiety
which　frightened　her；　while　she　scarcely　comprehended　it；　how　Dr。　May
could　not　feel　certain　whether　it　was　right　or　expedient　to　promote
an　engagement　which　must　depend　on　health　so　uncertain　as　poor
Margaret's；　and　how　he　dreaded　the　effect　on　the　happiness　of　both。

Ethel's　romance　seemed　to　be　turning　to　melancholy；　and　she　walked　on
gravely　and　thoughtfully；　though　repeating　that　there　could　be　no
doubt　of　Margaret's　perfect　recovery　by　the　time　of　the　return　from
the　voyage。

Her　lessons　were　somewhat　nervous　and　flurried；　and　even　the　sight　of
two　very　nice　neat　new　scholars；　of　very　different　appearance　from
the　rest；　and　of　much　superior　attainments；　only　half　interested　her。
Mary　was　enchanted　at　them　as　a　pair　of　prodigies；　actually　able　to
read！　and　had　made　out　their　names；　and　their　former　abodes；　and　how
they　had　been　used　to　go　to　school；　and　had　just　come　to　live　in　the
cottage　deserted　by　the　lamented　Una。

Ethel　thought　it　quite　provoking　in　her　brother　to　accede　to　Mary's
entreaties　that　they　should　go　and　call　on　this　promising
importation。　　Even　the　children's　information　that　they　were　taught
now　by　〃Sister　Cherry〃　failed　to　attract　her；　but　Richard　looked　at
his　watch；　and　decided　that　it　was　too　soon　to　go　home；　and　she　had
to　submit　to　her