the daisy chain, or aspirations-第70章

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face　full　of　indescribable　things　as　she　marshals　her　children；　and
Richard　shall　be　curate；　and　read　in　his　steady　soft　tone；　and　your
father　shall　look　sunny　with　his　boys　around　him；　and　you〃

〃Oh；　Alan；〃　said　Margaret；　who　had　been　listening　with　a　smile；　〃it
is；　indeed；　a　long　way　off！〃

〃I　shall　look　to　it　as　the　haven　where　I　would　be；〃　said　the　sailor。

They　often　spoke　together　of　this　scheme；　ever　decking　it　in　brighter
colours。　　The　topic　seemed　to　suit　them　better　than　their　own　future；
for　there　was　no　dwelling　on　that　without　an　occasional　misgiving；
and　the　more　glad　the　anticipation；　the　deeper　the　sigh　that　followed
on　Margaret's　part；　till　Mr。　Ernescliffe　followed　her　lead；　and　they
seldom　spoke　of　these　uncertainties；　but　outwardly　smiled　over　the
present；　inwardly　dwelt　on　the　truly　certain　hopes。　　There　were
readings　shared　together；　made　more　precious　than　all；　by　the
conversations　that　ensued。

The　hour　for　parting　came　at　last。　　Ethel　never　knew　what　passed　in
the　drawing…room；　whence　every　one　was　carefully　excluded。　　Dr。　May
wandered　about；　keeping　guard　over　the　door；　and　watching　the　clock；
till；　at　the　last　moment；　he　knocked；　and　called　in　a　trembling
voice；　〃Ernescliffe！　　Alan！　it　is　past　the　quarter！　　You　must　not
stay！〃

The　other　farewells　were　hurried；　Alan　seemed　voiceless；　only　nodding
in　reply　to　Mary's　vociferous　messages　to　Harry；　and　huskily
whispering　to　Ethel；　〃Good　luck　to　Cocksmoor！〃

The　next　moment　the　door　had　shut　on　him；　and　Dr。　May　and　Flora　had
gone　to　her　sister；　whom　she　found　not　tearful；　but　begging　to　be
left　alone。

When　they　saw　her　again；　she　was　cheerful；　she　kept　up　her　composure
and　animation　without　flagging；　nor　did　she　discontinue　her　new
exertions；　but　seemed　decidedly　the　happier　for　all　that　had　passed。

Letters　came　every　day　for　her；　and　presents　to　every　one。　　Ethel　had
a　gold　chain　and　eyeglass；　which；　it　was　hoped；　might　cure　her　of
frowning　and　stooping；　though　her　various　ways　of　dangling　her　new
possession　caused　her　to　be　so　much　teased　by　Flora　and　Norman；　that；
but　for　regard　to　Margaret's　feelings；　she　would　not　have　worn　it　for
three　days。

To　Mary　was　sent　a　daguerreotype　of　Harry；　her　glory　and　delight。
Say；　who　would；　that　it　had　pig's　eyes；　a　savage　frown；　a　pudding
chin；　there　were　his　own　tight　rings　of　hair；　his　gold…banded　cap；
his　bright　buttons；　how　could　she　prize　it　enough？　　She　exhibited　it
to　the　little　ones　ten　times　a　day；　she　kissed　it　night　and　morning；
and　registered　her　vow　always　to　sleep　with　it　under　her　〃pilow；〃　in
a　letter　of　thanks；　which　Margaret　defended　and　despatched；　in　spite
of　Miss　Winter's　horrors　at　its　disregard　of　orthography。

It　was　nearly　the　last　letter　before　the　Alcestis　was　heard　of　at
Spithead。　　Then　she　sailed；　she　sent　in　her　letters　to　Plymouth；　and
her　final　greetings　by　a　Falmouth　cutterpoor　Harry's　wild　scrawl　in
pencil　looking　very　sea…sick。


〃Dear　papa　and　all；　good…bye。　　We　are　out　of　sight　of　land。　　Three
years；　and　keep　up　a　good　heart。　　I　shall　soon　be　all　right。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　H。　MAY。〃


It　was　enclosed　in　Mr。　Ernescliffe's　envelope；　and　with　it　came
tidings　that　Harry's　brave　spirit　was　not　failing；　even　under
untoward　circumstances；　but　he　had　struggled　on　deck；　and　tried　to
write；　when　all　his　contemporaries　had　given　in；　in　fact；　he　was　a
fine　fellowevery　one　liked　him；　and　Captain　Gordon；　though　chary　of
commendation；　had　held　him　up　to　the　other　youngsters　as　an　example
of　knowing　what　a　sailor　was　meant　to　be　like。

Margaret　smiled；　and　cried　over　the　news　when　she　imparted　itbut
all　serenelyand　though　she　was　glad　to　be　alone；　and　wrote　journals
for　Alan；　when　she　could　not　send　letters；　she　exerted　herself　to　be
the　same　sister　as　usual　to　the　rest　of　the　household；　and　not　to
give　way　to　her　wandering　musings。

From　one　subject　her　attention　never　strayed。　　Ethel　had　never　found
any　lack　of　sympathy　in　her　for　her　Cocksmoor　pursuits；　but　the
change　now　showed　that；　where　once　Margaret　had　been　interested
merely　as　a　kind　sister；　she　now　had　a　personal　concern；　and　she
threw　herself　into　all　that　related　to　it　as　her　own　chief　interest
and　pursuitbecoming　the　foremost　in　devising　plans；　and　arranging
the　best　means　of　using　Mr。　Ernescliffe's　benefaction。

The　Elwood　family　had　grown　in　the　good　opinion　of　the　Mays。　　Charity
had　hobbled　to　church；　leaning　on　her　father's　arm；　and　being　invited
to　dinner　in　the　kitchen；　the　acquaintance　had　been　improved；　and
nurse　herself　had　pronounced　her　such　a　tidy；　good　sort　of　body；　that
it　was　a　pity　she　had　met　with　such　a　misfortune。　　If　Miss　Ethel
brought　in　nothing　but　the　like　of　her；　they　should　be　welcome；　poor
thing；　how　tired　she　was！

Nurse's　opinions　were　apt　to　be　sagacious；　especially　when　in　the
face　of　her　prejudices；　and　this　gave　Margaret　confidence。　　Cherry
proved　to　have　been　carefully　taught　by　a　good　clergyman　and　his
wife；　and　to　be　of　very　different　stamp　from　the　persons　to　whom　the
girls　were　accustomed。　　They　were　charmed　with　her；　and　eagerly
offered　to　supply　her　with　booksrespecting　her　the　more　when　they
found　that　Mr。　Hazlewood　had　already　lent　her　their　chief　favourites。
Other　and　greater　needs　they　had　no　power　to　fill　up。

〃It　is　so　lone　without　the　church　bells；　you　see；　miss；〃　said　Mrs。
Elwood。　　〃Our　tower　had　a　real　fine　peal；　and　my　man　was　one　of　the
ringers。　　I　seems　quite　lost　without　them；　and　there　was　Cherry；　went
a'most　every　day　with　the　children。〃

〃Every　day！〃　cried　Mary；　looking　at　her　with　respect。

〃It　was　so　near；〃　said　Cherry；　〃I　could　get　there　easy；　and　I　got
used　to　it　when　I　was　at　school。〃

〃Did　it　not　take　up　a　great　deal　of　time？〃　said　Ethel。

〃Why；　you　see；　ma'am；　it　came　morning　and　night；　out　of　working
times；　and　I　can't　be　stirring　much。〃

〃Then　you　miss　it　sadly？〃　said　Ethel。

〃Yes；　ma'am；　it　made　the　day　go　on　well　like；　and　settled　a　body's
mind；　when　I　fretted　for　what　could　not　be　helped。　　But　I　try　not　to
fret　after　it　now；　and　Mr。　Hazlewood　said；　if　I　did　my　best　wherever
I　was；　the　Lord　would　still　join　our　prayers　together。〃

Mr。　Hazlewood　was　recollected　by　Mr。　Wilmot　as　an　old　college　friend；
and　a　correspondence　with　him　fully　confirmed　the　favourable　estimate
of　the　Elwoods；　and　was　decisive　in　determining　that　the　day…school；
with　Alan's　ten　pounds　as　salary；　and　a　penny　a　week　from　each　child；
should　be　offered　to　Cherry。

Mr。　Hazlewood　answered　for　her　sound　excellence；　and　aptitude　for
managing　little　children；　though　he　did　not　promise　genius；　such　as
should　fulfil　the　requirements　of　modern　days。　　With　these　Cocksmoor
could　dispense　at　present；　Cherry　was　humbly　gratified；　and　her
parents　delighted　with　the　honour　and　profit；　there　was　a　kitchen
which　afforded　great　facilities；　and　Richard　and　his　carpenter
managed　the　fitting　to　admiration；　Margaret　devised　all　manner　of
useful　arrangements；　settled　matters　with　great　earnestness；　saw
Cherry　frequently；　discussed　plans；　and　learned　the　history　and
character　of　each　child；　as　thoroughly　as　Ethel　herself。　　Mr。　Ramsden
himself　came　to　the　opening　of　the　school；　and　said　so　much　of　the
obligations　of　Cocksmoor　to　the　young　ladies；　that　Ethel　would　not
have　known　which　way　to　look；　if　Flora　had　not　kindly　borne　the　brunt
of　his　compliments。

Every　one　was　pleased；　except　Mrs。　Green；　who　took　upon　herself　to
set　about　various　malicious　reports　of　Cherry　Elwood；　but　nobody
cared　for　them；　except　Mrs。　Elwood；　who　flew　into　such　passions；　that
Ethel　was　quite　disappointed　in　her；　though　not　in　Cherry；　who　meekly
tried　to　silence　her　mother；　begged　the　young　ladies　not　to　be　vexed；
and　showed　a　quiet　dignity　that　soon　made　the　shafts　of　slander　fall
inoffensively。

All　went　well；　there　was　a　school　instead　of　a　hubbub；　clean　faces
instead　of　dirty；　shining　hair　instead　of　wild　elf…locks；　orderly
children　instead　of　little　savages。　　The　order　and　obedience　that
Ethel　could　not　gain　in　six　months；　seemed　impressed　in　six　days　by
Cherry；　the　neat　work　made　her　popular　with　the　mothers；　her　firm
gentleness　won　the　hearts　of　the　children；　and　the　kitchen　was　filled
not　only　with　boys　and　girls　from　the　quarry；　but　with　some　little
ones　from　outlying　cottages　of　Fordholm　and　Abbotstoke；　and　there　was
even　a　smart　little　farmer；　who　had　been　unbearable　at　home。

Margaret's　unsuccessful　bath…chair　was　lent　to　Cherry；　and　in　it　her
scholars　drew　her　to　Stoneborough　every　Sunday；　and　slowly　began　to
redeem　their　character　with　the　ladies；　who　began　to　lose　the　habit
of　shrinking　out　of　their　waythe　Stoneborough　children　did　so
instead；　and　Flora　and　Ethel　were　always　bringing　home　stories　of
injustice　to　their　scholars；　fancied　or　real；　and　of　triumphs　in
their　having　excelled　any　national　school　girl。　　The　most　stupid
children　at　Cocksmoor　always　seemed　to　them　wise　in　comparison　with
the　Stoneborough　girls；　and　the　Sunday…school　might　have　become　to
Ethel　a　school　of　rivalry；　if　Richard　had　not　opened　her　eyes　by　a
quiet　observation；　that　the　town　girls　seemed　to　fare　as　ill　with
her；　as　the　Cocksmoor　girls　did　with　the　town　ladies。　　Then　she
caught　herself　up；　tried　to　be　candid；　and　found　that　she　was　not
always　impartial　in　her　judgments。　　Why　would　competition　mingle　even
in　the　best　attempts？

Cherry　did　not　so　bring　forward　her　scholars　that　Ethel　could　have
many　triumphs　of　this　dangerous　kind。　　Indeed；　Ethel　was　often　vexed
with　her；　for　though　she　taught　needlework　admirably；　and　enforced
correct　reading；　and　reverent　repetition；　her　strong　provincial
dialect　was　a　stumbling…block；　she　could　not　put　questions　without
book；　and　nothing　would　teach　her　Ethel's　rational　system　of
arithmetic。　　That　she　was　a　capital　dame；　and　made　the　children　very
good；　was　allowed；　but　now　and　then；　when　mortified　by　hearing　what
was　done　at　Stoneborough；　Fordholm；　or　Abbotstoke；　Ethel　would　make
vigorous　efforts；　which　resulted　only　in　her　coming　home　fuming　at
Cherry's　〃outrageous　dullness。〃

These　railings　always　hurt　Margaret；　who　had　made　Cherry　almost　into
a　friend；　and　generally　liked　to　have　a　visit　from　her　during　the
Sunday；　when　she　always　dined　with　the　servants。　　Then　school
questions；　Cocksmoor　news；　and　the　tempers　of　the　children；　were
talked　over；　and　Cherry　was　now　and　then　drawn　into　home
reminiscences；　and　descriptions　of　the　ways　of　her　former　school。
There　was　no　fear　of　spoiling　hernotice　from　her　superiors　was
natural　to　her；　and　she　had　the　lady…likeness　of　womanly　goodness；　so
as　never　to　go　beyond　her　own　place。　　She　had　had　many　trials　too；
and　Margaret　learned　the　true　history　of　them；　as　she　won　Cherry's
confidence；　and　entered　into　them；　feeling　their　likeness；　yet
dissimilarity；　to　her　own。

Cherry　had　been　a　brisk　happy　girl　in　a　good　place；　resting　in　one　of
the　long　engagements　that　often　extend　over　half　the　life　of　a
servant；　enjoying　the　nod　of　her　baker　as　he　left　his　bread；　and　her
walk　from　church　with　him　on　alternate　Sundays。　　But　poor　Cherry　had
been　exposed　to　the　perils　of　window…cleaning；　and；　after　a　frightful
fall；　had　wakened　to　find　herself　in　a　hospital；　and　her　se