the daisy chain, or aspirations-第71章

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been　exposed　to　the　perils　of　window…cleaning；　and；　after　a　frightful
fall；　had　wakened　to　find　herself　in　a　hospital；　and　her　severe
sufferings　had　left　her　a　cripple　for　life。

And　the　baker　had　not　been　an　Alan　Ernescliffe！　　She　did　not　complain
of　himhe　had　come　to　see　her；　and　had　been　much　grieved；　but　she
had　told　him　she　could　never　be　a　useful　wife；　and；　before　she　had
used　her　crutches；　he　was　married　to　her　pretty　fellow…servant。

Cherry　spoke　very　simply；　she　hoped　it　was　better　for　Long；　and
believed　Susan　would　make　him　a　good　wife。　　Ethel　would　have　thought
she　did　not　feel；　but　Margaret　knew　better。

She　stroked　the　thin　slight　fingers；　and　gently　said；　〃Poor　Cherry！〃
and　Cherry　wiped　away　a　tear；　and　said；　〃Yes；　ma'am；　thank　you；　it　is
best　for　him。　　I　should　not　have　wished　him　to　grieve　for　what　cannot
be　helped。〃

〃Resignation　is　the　great　comfort。〃

〃Yes；　ma'am。　　I　have　a　great　deal　to　be　thankful　for。　　I　don't　blame
no　one；　but　I　do　see　how　some；　as　are　married；　seem　to　get　to　think
more　of　this　world；　and　now　and　then　I　fancy　I　can　see　how　it　is　best
for　me　as　it　is。〃

Margaret　sighed；　as　she　remembered　certain　thoughts　before　Alan's
return。

〃Then；　ma'am；　there　has　been　such　goodness！　　I　did　vex　at　being　a
poor　helpless　thing；　nothing　but　a　burden　on　father；　and　when　we　had
to　go　from　home；　and　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Hazlewood　and　all；　I　can't　tell　you
how　bad　it　was；　ma'am。〃

〃Then　you　are　comforted　now？〃

〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　said　Cherry；　brightening。　　〃It　seems　as　if　He　had　given
me　something　to　do；　and　there　are　you；　and　Mr。　Richard；　and　Miss
Ethel；　to　help。　　I　should　like；　please　God；　to　be　of　some　good　to
those　poor　children。〃

〃I　am　sure　you　will；　Cherry；　I　wish　I　could　do　as　much。〃

Cherry's　tears　had　come　again。　　〃Ah！　ma'am；　you〃　and　she　stopped
short；　and　rose　to　depart。　　Margaret　held　out　her　hand　to　wish　her
good…bye。　　〃Please；　miss；　I　was　thinking　how　Mr。　Hazlewood　said　that
God　fits　our　place　to　us；　and　us　to　our　place。〃

〃Thank　you；　Cherry；　you　are　leaving　me　something　to　remember。〃

And　Margaret　lay　questioning　with　herself；　whether　the　schoolmistress
had　not　been　the　most　self…denying　of　the　two；　but　withal　gazing　on
the　hoop　of　pearls　which　Alan　had　chosen　as　the　ring　of　betrothal。

〃The　pearl　of　great　price；〃　murmured　she　to　herself；　〃if　we　hold
that；　the　rest　will　soon　matter　but　little。　　It　remaineth　that　both
they　that　have　wives；　be　as　they　that　have　none；　and　they　that　weep；
as　though　they　wept　not；　and　they　that　rejoice；　as　though　they
rejoiced　not！　　If　ever　Alan　and　I　have　a　home　together　upon　earth；
may　all　too　confident　joy　be　tempered　by　the　fears　that　we　have　begun
with！　　I　hope　this　probation　may　make　me　less　likely　to　be　taken　up
with　the　cares　and　pleasures　of　his　position　than　I　might　have　been
last　year。　　He　is　one　who　can　best　help　the　mind　to　go　truly　upward。
But　oh；　that　voyage！〃




CHAPTER　XXIX。



Heart　affluence　in　household　talk；
From　social　fountains　never　dry。TENNYSON。


〃What　a　bore！〃

〃What's　the　matter　now？〃

〃Here　has　this　old　fellow　asked　me　to　dinner　again！〃

〃A　fine　pass　we　are　come　to！〃　　cried　Dr。　May；　half　amused；　half
irate。　　〃I　should　like　to　know　what　I　should　have　said　at　your　age　if
the　head…master　had　asked　me　to　dinner。〃

〃Papa　is　not　so　very　fond　of　dining　at　Dr。　Hoxton's；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃A
whipper…snapper　schoolboy；　who　might　be　thankful　to　dine　anywhere！〃
continued　Dr。　May；　while　the　girls　burst　out　laughing；　and　Norman
looked　injured。

〃It　is　very　ungrateful　of　Norman；〃　said　Flora；　〃I　cannot　see　what　he
finds　to　complain　of。〃

〃You　would　know；〃　said　Norman；　〃if；　instead　of　playing　those
perpetual　tunes　of　yours；　you　had　to　sit　it　out　in　that　perfumy
drawing…room；　without　anything　to　listen　to　worth　hearing。　　If　I　have
looked　over　that　court　album　once；　I　have　a　dozen　times；　and　there　is
not　another　book　in　the　place。〃

〃I　am　glad　there　is　not；〃　said　Flora。　　〃I　am　quite　ashamed　to　see　you
for　ever　turning　over　those　old　pictures。　　You　cannot　guess　how
stupid　you　look。　　I　wonder　Mrs。　Hoxton　likes　to　have　you；〃　she　added；
patting　his　shoulders　between　jest　and　earnest。

〃I　wish　she　would　not；　then。　　It　is　only　to　escort　you。〃

〃Nonsense；　Norman；　you　know　better；〃　cried　Ethel。　　〃You　know　it　is
for　your　own　sake；　and　to　make　up　for　their　injustice；　that　he
invites　you；　or　Flora　either。〃

〃Hush；　Ethel！　he　gives　himself　quite　airs　enough　already；〃　said　the
doctor。

〃Papa！〃　said　Ethel；　in　vexation；　though　he　gave　her　a　pinch　to　show
it　was　all　in　good　humour；　while　he　went　on；　〃I　am　glad　to　hear　they
do　leave　him　to　himself　in　a　corner。　　A　very　good　thing　too！　　Where
else　should　a　great　gawky　schoolboy　be？〃

〃Safe　at　home；　where　I　wish　he　would　let　me　be；〃　muttered　Norman；
though　he　contrived　to　smile；　and　followed　Flora　out　of　the　room；
without　subjecting　himself　to　the　imputation　of　offended　dignity。

Ethel　was　displeased；　and　began　her　defence：　〃Papa；　I　wish〃　and
there　she　checked　herself。

〃Eh！　Miss　Ethel's　bristles　up！〃　said　her　father；　who　seemed　in　a
somewhat　mischievous　mood　of　teasing。

〃How　could　you；　papa？〃　cried　she。

〃How　could　I　what；　Miss　Etheldred？〃

〃Plague　Norman；〃the　words　would　come。　　〃Accuse　him　of　airs。〃

〃I　hate　to　see　young　fellows　above　taking　an　honour　from　their
elders；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃Now；　papa；　papa；　you　know　it　is　no　such　thing。　　Dr。　Hoxton's　parties
are　very　dullyou　know　they　are；　and　it　is　not　fair　on　Norman。　　If
he　was　set　up　and　delighted　at　going　so　often；　then　you　would　call
him　conceited。〃

〃Conceit　has　a　good　many　lurking…places；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃It　is
harder　to　go　and　be　overlooked；　than　to　stay　at　home。〃

〃Now；　papa；　you　are　not　to　call　Norman　conceited；〃　cried　Ethel。　　〃You
don't　believe　that　he　is　any　such　thing。〃

〃Why；　not　exactly；〃　said　Dr。　May；　smiling。　〃The　boy　has　missed　it
marvellously；　but；　you　see；　he　has　everything　that　subtle　imp　would
wish　to　feed　upon；　and　it　is　no　harm　to　give　him　a　lick　with　the
rough　side　of　the　tongue；　as　your　canny　Scots　grandfather　used　to
say。〃

〃Ah！　if　you　knew；　papa〃　began　Ethel。

〃If　I　knew？〃

〃No；　no；　I　must　not　tell。〃

〃What；　a　secret；　is　there？〃

〃I　wish　it　was　not；　I　should　like　to　tell　you　very　much；　but　then；
you　see；　it　is　Norman's；　and　you　are　to　be　surprised。〃

〃Your　surprise　is　likely　to　be　very　much　like　Blanche's　birthday
presents；　a　stage　aside。〃

〃No；　I　am　going　to　keep　it　to　myself。〃

Two　or　three　days　after；　as　Ethel　was　going　to　the　schoolroom　after
breakfast；　Dr。　May　beckoned　her　back　to　the　dining…room；　and；　with
his　merry　look　of　significance；　said；　〃Well；　ma'am；　I　have　found　out
your　mystery！〃

〃About　Norman？　　Oh；　papa！　Did　he　tell　you？〃

〃When　I　came　home　from　the　hospital　last　night；　at　an　hour　when　all
respectable　characters；　except　doctors　and　police；　should　be　in　their
warm　beds；　I　beheld　a　light　in　Norman's　window；　so　methought　I　would
see　what　Gravity　was　doing　out　of　his　bed　at　midnight〃

〃And　you　found　him　at　his　Greek〃

〃So　that　was　the　meaning　of　his　looking　so　lank　and　careworn；　just　as
he　did　last　year；　and　he　the　prince　of　the　school！　　I　could　have
found　it　in　my　heart　to　fling　the　books　at　his　head！〃

〃But　you　consent；　don't　you；　to　his　going　up　for　the　scholarship？〃

〃I　consent　to　anything；　as　long　as　he　keeps　within　due　bounds；　and
does　not　work　himself　to　death。　　I　am　glad　of　knowing　it；　for　now　I
can　put　a　moderate　check　upon　it。〃

〃And　did　he　tell　you　all　about　it？〃

〃He　told　me　he　felt　as　if　he　owed　it　to　us　to　gain　something　for
himself；　since　I　had　given　up　the　Randall　to　gratify　hima　pretty
sort　of　gratification。〃

〃Yes；　and　he　will　be　glad　to　get　away　from　school。　　He　says　he　knows
it　is　bad　for　himas　it　is　uncomfortable　to　be　singled　out　in　the
way　Dr。　Hoxton　does　now。　　You　know；〃　pleaded　Ethel；　〃it　is　not
ingratitude　or　elation；　but　it　is；　somehow；　not　nice　to　be　treated　as
he　is；　set　apart　from　the　rest。〃

〃True；　Dr。　Hoxton　never　had　taste　or　judgment。　　If　Norman　were　not　a
lusus　naturae；〃　said　Dr。　May；　hesitating　for　a　word；　〃his　head　would
have　been　turned　long　ago。　　And　he　wants　companions　toohe　has　been
forced　out　of　boyhood　too　soon；　poor　fellowand　Harry　gone　too。　　He
does　not　get　anything　like　real　relaxation；　and　he　will　be　better
among　youths　than　boys。　　Stoneborough　will　never　be　what　it　was　in　my
time！〃　added　the　doctor　mournfully。　　〃I　never　thought　to　see　the　poor
old　place　come　to　this；　but　therewhen　all　the　better　class　send
their　sons　to　the　great　public　schools；　and　leave　nothing　but　riff…
raff　here；　one　is　forced；　for　a　boy's　own　sake；　to　do　the　same。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　so　glad！　　Then　you　have　consented　to　the　rest　of　Norman's
scheme；　and　will　not　keep　poor　little　Tom　at　school　here　without
him？〃

〃By　what　he　tells　me　it　would　be　downright　ruin　to　the　boy。　　I　little
thought　to　have　to　take　a　son　of　mine　away　from　Stoneborough；　but
Norman　is　the　best　judge；　and　he　is　the　only　person　who　seems　to　have
made　any　impression　on　Tom；　so　I　shall　let　it　be。　　In　fact；〃　he
added；　half　smiling；　〃I　don't　know　what　I　could　refuse　old　June。〃

〃That's　right！〃　cried　Ethel。　　〃That　is　so　nice！　　Then；　if　Norman　gets
the　scholarship；　Tom　is　to　go　to　Mr。　Wilmot　first；　and　then　to　Eton！〃

〃If　Norman　gains　the　scholarship；　but　that　is　an　if；〃　said　Dr。　May；
as　though　hoping　for　a　loop…hole　to　escape　offending　the　shade　of
Bishop　Whichcote。

〃Oh；　papa；　you　cannot　doubt　of　that！〃

〃I　cannot　tell；　Ethel。　　He　is　facile　princeps　here　in　his　own　world；
but　we　do　not　know　how　it　may　be　when　he　is　measured　with　public
schoolmen；　who　have　had　more　first…rate　tutorship　than　poor　old
Hoxton's。〃

〃Ah！　he　says　so；　but　I　thought　that　was　all　his　humility。〃

〃Better　he　should　be　prepared。　　If　he　had　had　all　those　advantages
but　it　may　be　as　well　after　all。　　I　always　had　a　hankering　to　have
sent　him　to　Eton；　but　your　dear　mother　used　to　say　it　was　not　fair　on
the　others。　　And　now；　to　see　him　striving　in　order　to　give　the
advantage　of　it　to　his　little　brother！　　I　only　hope　Master　Thomas　is
worthy　of　itbut　it　is　a　boy　I　can't　understand。〃

〃Nor　I；〃　said　Ethel；　he　never　seems　to　say　anything　he　can　help；　and
goes　after　Norman　without　talking　to　any　one　else。〃

〃I　give　him　up　to　Norman's　management；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃He　says　the
boy　is　very　clever；　but　I　have　not　seen　it；　and；　as　to　more　serious
matters　However；　I　must　take　it　on　Norman's　word　that　he　is　wishing
to　learn　truth。　　We　made　an　utter　mistake　about　him；　I　don't　know　who
is　to　blame　for　it。〃

〃Have　you　told　Margaret　about　Norman's　plan？〃　asked　Ethel。

〃No；　he　desired　me　to　say　nothing。　　Indeed；　I　should　not　like　Tom's
leaving　school　to　be　talked　of　beforehand。〃

〃Norman　said　he　did　not　want　Flora　to　hear；　because　she　is　so　much
with　the　Hoxton's；　and　he　said　they　would　all　watch　him。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　and　we　must　keep　his　secret。　　What　a　boy　it　is！　　But　it　is
not　safe　to　say　conceited　things。　　We　shall　have　a　fall　yet；　Ethel。
Not　seventeen；　remember；　and　brought　up　at　a　mere　grammar…school。〃

〃But　we　shall　still　have　the　spirit　that　made　him　try；〃　said　Ethel；
〃and　that　is　the　thing。〃

〃And；　to　tell　the　truth；〃　said　the　doctor；　lingering；　〃for　my　own
part；　I　don't　care　a