the daisy chain, or aspirations-第7章

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towards　the　stairs；　but　a　dread　of　what　she　might　meet　came　over　her；
and　she　turned　towards　the　nursery。

The　younger　ones　sat　there　in　a　frightened　huddle。　　Mary　was　on　a　low
chair　by　the　infant's　cot；　Blanche　in　her　lap；　Tom　and　Harry　leaning
against　her；　and　Aubrey　almost　asleep。　　Mary　held　up　her　finger　as
Ethel　entered；　and　whispered；　〃Hush！　don't　wake　baby　for　anything！〃

The　first　true　pang　of　grief　shot　through　Ethel　like　a　dart；　stabbing
and　taking　away　her　breath；　　〃Where　are　they？〃　she　said；　〃how　is
papa？　who　is　with　him？〃

〃Mr。　Ward　and　Alan　Ernescliffe；〃　said　Harry。　　〃Nurse　came　up　just
now；　and　said　they　were　setting　his　arm。〃

〃Where　is　he？〃

〃On　the　bed　in　his　dressing…room；〃　said　Harry。

〃Has　he　come　to　himselfis　he　better？〃

They　did　not　seem　to　know；　and　Ethel　asked　where　to　find　Flora。
〃With　Margaret；〃　she　was　told；　and　she　was　thinking　whether　she　could
venture　to　seek　her；　when　she　herself　came　fast　up　the　stairs。　　Ethel
and　Harry　both　darted　out。　　〃Don't　stop　me；〃　said　Flora〃they　want
some　handkerchiefs。〃

〃What；　is　not　she　in　her　own　room？〃

〃No；〃　said　Harry；　〃in　mamma's；〃　and　then　his　face　quivered　all　over；
and　he　turned　away。　　Ethel　ran　after　her　sister；　and　pulling　out
drawers　without　knowing　what　she　sought；　begged　to　hear　how　papa　and
Margaret　were。

〃We　can't　judge　of　Margaretshe　has　moved；　and　made　a　little
moaningthere　are　no　limbs　broken；　but　we　are　afraid　for　her　head。
Oh！　if　papa　could　but〃

〃And　papa？〃

〃Mr。　Ward　is　with　him　nowhis　arm　is　terribly　hurt。〃

〃But　oh！　Floraone　momentis　he　sensible？〃

〃Hardly；　he　does　not　take　any　noticebut　don't　keep　me。〃

〃Can　I　do　anything？〃　following　her　to　the　head　of　the　stairs。

〃No；　I　don't　see　what　you　can　do。　　Miss　Winter　and　I　are　with
Margaret；　there's　nothing　to　do　for　her。〃

It　was　a　relief。　　Etheldred　shrank　from　what　she　might　have　to
behold；　and　Flora　hastened　down；　too　busy　and　too　useful　to　have　time
to　think。　　Harry　had　gone　back　to　his　refuge　in　the　nursery；　and
Ethel　returned　to　Norman。　　There　they　remained　for　a　long　time；　both
unwilling　to　speak　or　stir；　or　even　to　observe　to　each　other　on　the
noises　that　came　in　to　them；　as　their　door　was　left　ajar；　though　in
those　sounds　they　were　so　absorbed；　that　they　did　not　notice　the　cold
of　a　frosty　October　evening；　or　the　darkness　that　closed　in　on　them。

They　heard　the　poor　babe　crying；　one　of　the　children　going　down　to
call　nurse；　and　nurse　coming　up；　then　Harry；　at　the　door　of　the　room
where　the　boys　slept；　calling　Norman　in　a　low　voice。　　Norman；　now
nearly　recovered；　went　and　brought　him　into　his　sister's　room；　and
his　tidings　were；　that　their　father's　arm　had　been　broken　in　two
places；　and　the　elbow　frightfully　injured；　having　been　crushed　and
twisted　by　the　wheel。　　He　was　also　a　good　deal　bruised；　and　though
Mr。　Ward　trusted　there　was　no　positive　harm　to　the　head；　he　was　in　an
unconscious　state；　from　which　the　severe　pain　of　the　operation　had
only　roused　him；　so　far　as　to　evince　a　few　signs　of　suffering。
Margaret　was　still　insensible。

The　piteous　sound　of　the　baby's　wailing　almost　broke　their　hearts。
Norman　walked　about　the　room　in　the　dark；　and　said　he　should　go　down；
he　could　not　bear　it；　but　he　could　not　make　up　his　mind　to　go；　and
after　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　to　their　great　relief；　it　ceased。

Next　Mary　opened　the　door；　saying；　〃Norman；　here's　Mr。　Wilmot　come　to
ask　if　he　can　do　anythingMiss　Winter　sent　word　that　you　had　better
go　to　him。〃

〃How　is　baby？〃　asked　Harry。

〃Nurse　has　fed　her；　and　is　putting　her　to　bed；　she　is　quiet　now；〃
said　Mary；　〃will　you　go　down；　Norman？〃

〃Where　is　he？〃

〃In　the　drawing…room。〃

Norman　paused　to　ask　what　he　was　to　say。

〃Nothing；〃　said　Mary；　〃nobody　can　do　anything。　　Make　haste。　　Don't
you　want　a　candle？〃

〃No；　thank　you；　I　had　rather　be　in　the　dark。　　Come　up　as　soon　as　you
have　seen　him；〃　said　Etheldred。

Norman　went　slowly　down；　with　failing　knees；　hardly　able　to　conquer
the　shudder　that　came　over　him；　as　he　passed　those　rooms。　　There　were
voices　in　the　drawing…room；　and　he　found　a　sort　of　council　there；
Alan　Ernescliffe；　the　surgeon；　and　Mr。　Wilmot。　　They　turned　as　he
came　in；　and　Mr。　Wilmot　held　out　his　hand　with　a　look　of　affection
and　kindness　that　went　to　his　heart；　making　room　for　him　on　the　sofa；
while　going　on　with　what　he　was　saying。　　〃Then　you　think　it　would　be
better　for　me　not　to　sit　up　with　him。〃

〃I　should　decidedly　say　so；〃　replied　Mr。　Ward。　〃He　has　recognised　Mr。
Ernescliffe；　and　any　change　might　excite　him；　and　lead　him　to　ask
questions。　　The　moment　of　his　full　consciousness　is　especially　to　be
dreaded。〃

〃But　you　do　not　call　him　insensible？〃

〃No；　but　he　seems　stunnedstupified　by　the　shock；　and　by　pain。　　He
spoke　to　Miss　Flora　when　she　brought　him　some　tea。〃

〃And　admirably　she　managed；〃　said　Alan　Ernescliffe。　　〃I　was　much
afraid　of　some　answer　that　would　rouse　him；　but　she　kept　her　self…
possession　beautifully；　and　seemed　to　compose　him　in　a　moment。〃

〃She　is　valuable　indeedso　much　judgment　and　activity；〃　said　Mr。
Ward。　　〃I　don't　know　what　we　should　have　done　without　her。　　But　we
ought　to　have　Mr。　Richardhas　no　one　sent　to　him？〃

Alan　Ernescliffe　and　Norman　looked　at　each　other。

〃Is　he　at　Oxford；　or　at　his　tutor's？〃　asked　Mr。　Wilmot。

〃At　Oxford；　he　was　to　be　there　to…day；　was　he　not；　Norman？〃

〃What　o'clock　is　it？　　Is　the　post　gonesevenno；　it　is　all　safe；〃
said　Mr。　Ward。

Poor　Norman！　he　knew　he　was　the　one　who　ought　to　write；　but　his　icy
trembling　hand　seemed　to　shake　more　helplessly　than　ever；　and　a
piteous　glance　fell　upon　Mr。　Wilmot。

〃The　best　plan　would　be；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　〃for　me　to　go　to　him　at
once　and　bring　him　home。　　If　I　go　by　the　mail…train；　I　shall　get　to
him　sooner　than　a　letter　could。〃

〃And　it　will　be　better　for　him；〃　said　Mr。　Ward。　　〃He　will　feel　it
dreadfully；　poor　boy。　　But　we　shall　all　do　better　when　we　have　him。
You　can　get　back　to…morrow　evening。〃

〃Sunday；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　〃I　believe　there　is　a　train　at　four。〃

〃Oh！　thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Norman。

〃Since　that　is　settled；　perhaps　I　had　better　go　up　to　the　doctor；〃
said　Alan；　〃I　don't　like　leaving　Flora　alone　with　him；〃　and　he　was
gone。

〃How　fortunate　that　that　youth　is　here；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot〃he　seems
to　be　quite　taking　Richard's　place。〃

〃And　to　feel　it　as　much；〃　said　Mr。　Ward。　　〃He　has　been　invaluable
with　his　sailor's　resources　and　handiness。〃

〃Well；　what　shall　I　tell　poor　Richard？〃　asked　Mr。　Wilmot。

〃Tell　him　there　is　no　reason　his　father　should　not　do　very　well；　if
we　can　keep　him　from　agitationbut　there's　the　point。　　He　is　of　so
excitable　a　constitution；　that　his　faculties　being　so　far　confused　is
the　best　thing；　perhaps；　that　could　be。　　Mr。　Ernescliffe　manages　him
very　wellused　to　illness　on　that　African　coast；　and　the　doctor　is
very　fond　of　him。　　As　to　Miss　May；　one　can't　tell　what　to　say　about
her　yetthere's　no　fracture；　at　leastit　must　be　a　work　of　time　to
judge。〃

Flora　at　that　moment　half…opened　the　door；　and　called　Mr。　Ward；
stopping　for　a　moment　to　say　it　was　for　nothing　of　any　consequence。
Mr。　Wilmot　and　Norman　were　left　together。　　Norman　put　his　hands　over
his　face　and　groanedhis　master　looked　at　him　with　kind　anxiety；　but
did　not　feel　as　if　it　were　yet　time　to　speak　of　consolation。

〃God　bless　and　support　you；　and　turn　this　to　your　good；　my　dear　boy；〃
said　he　affectionately；　as　he　pressed　his　hand；　〃I　hope　to　bring　your
brother　to…morrow。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　was　all　Norman　could　say；　and　as　Mr。　Wilmot　went
out　by　the　front　door；　he　slowly　went　up　again；　and；　lingering　on　the
landing…place；　was　met　by　Mr。　Ward；　who　told　him　to　his　relieffor
the　mere　thinking　of　it　renewed　the　faint　sensationthat　he　had
better　not　go　to　his　father's　room。

There　was　nothing　to　be　done　but　to　return　to　Ethel　and　Harry；　and
tell　them　all；　with　some　humiliation　at　being　helpless；　where　Flora
was　doing　so　much；　and　to　leave　their　father　to　be　watched　by　a
stranger。　　If　he　had　been　wanted；　Norman　might　have　made　the　effort；
but　being　told　that　he　would　be　worse　than　useless；　there　was　nothing
for　him　but　to　give　way。

They　sat　together　in　Ethel's　room　till　somewhere　between　eight　and
nine　o'clock；　when　good　old　nurse；　having　put　her　younger　ones　to
bed；　came　in　search　of　them。　　〃Dear；　dear！　poor　darlings；〃　said　she；
as　she　found　them　sitting　in　the　dark；　she　felt　their　cold　hands；　and
made　them　all　come　into　the　nursery；　where　Mary　was　already；　and；
fondling　them；　one　by　one；　as　they　passively　obeyed　her；　she　set　them
down　on　their　little　old　stools　round　the　fire；　took　away　the　high
fender；　and　gave　them　each　a　cup　of　tea。　　Harry　and　Mary　ate　enough
to　satisfy　her；　from　a　weary　craving　feeling；　and　for　want　of
employment；　Norman　sat　with　his　elbow　on　his　knee；　and　a　very　aching
head　resting　on　his　hand；　glad　of　drink；　but　unable　to　eat；　Ethel
could　be　persuaded　to　do　neither；　till　she　found　old　nurse　would　let
her　have　no　peace。

The　nurse　sent　them　all　to　bed；　taking　the　two　girls　to　their　own
room；　undressing　them；　and　never　leaving　them　until　Mary　was　in　a
fair　way　of　crying　herself　to　sleepfor　saying　her　prayers　had
brought　the　tears；　while　Ethel　lay　so　wide　awake　that　it　was　of　no
use　to　wait　for　her；　and　then　she　went　to　the　boys；　tucked　them　each
in；　as　when　they　were　little　children；　and　saying；　〃Bless　your　dear
hearts！〃　bestowed　on　each　of　them　a　kiss　which　came　gratefully　to
Norman's　burning　brow；　and　which　even　Harry's　boyish　manliness　could
not　resist。

Flora　was　in　Margaret's　room；　too　useful　to　be　spared。

So　ended　that　dreadful　Saturday。




CHAPTER　IV。



They　may　not　mar　the　deep　repose
　　Of　that　immortal　flower：
Though　only　broken　hearts　are　found
　　To　watch　her　cradle　by；
No　blight　is　on　her　slumbers　found；
　　No　touch　of　harmful　eye。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LYRA　INNOCENTIUM。


Such　a　strange　sad　Sunday！　　No　going　to　church；　but　all　the　poor
children　moving　in　awe　and　oppression　about　the　house；　speaking　under
their　breath；　as　they　gathered　in　the　drawing…room。　　Into　the　study
they　might　not　go；　and　when　Blanche　would　have　asked　why；　Tom　pressed
her　hand　and　shuddered。

Etheldred　was　allowed　to　come　and　look　at　Margaret；　and　even　to　sit
in　the　room　for　a　little　while；　to　take　the　place　of　Miss　Winter；　but
she　was　not　sensible　of　sufficient　usefulness　to　relieve　the　burden
of　fear　and　bewilderment　in　the　presence　of　that　still；　pale　form；
and；　what　was　almost　worse；　the　sight　of　the　familiar　objects；　the
chair　by　the　fire；　the　sofa；　the　books；　the　work…basket；　the　letter…
case；　the　dressing　things；　all　these　were　too　oppressive。　　She　sat
crouched　up；　with　her　face　hidden　in　her　hands；　and　the　instant　she
was　released；　hastened　back　to　Norman。　　She　was　to　tell　him　that　he
might　go　into　the　room；　but　he　did　not　move；　and　Mary　alone　went　in
and　out　with　messages。

Dr。　May　was　not　to　be　visited；　for　he　was　in　the　same　half…conscious
state；　apparently　sensible　only　of　bodily　suffering；　though　he
answered　when　addressed；　and　no　one　was　trusted　to　speak　to　him　but
Flora　and　Ernescliffe。

The　rest　wore　through　the　day　as　best　they　might。　　Harry　slept　a　good
deal；　Ethel　read　to　herself；　and　tried　to　g