the daisy chain, or aspirations-第77章

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〃Yes；〃　said　Margaret；　〃she　is　one　of　the　kindest　people　there　is；　and
I　am　sure　that　she　thought　the　gaining　funds　for　Cocksmoor　was　the
best　thing　to　be　done；　that　you　would　be　pleased；　and　a　great　deal　of
pleasant　occupation　provided　for　us　all。〃

〃That　is　the　bright　side；　the　surface　side；〃　said　Ethel。

〃And　not　an　untrue　one；〃　said　Margaret；　〃Meta　will　not　be　vain；　and
will　work　the　more　happily　for　Cocksmoor's　sake。　　Mary　and　Blanche；
poor　Mrs。　Boulder；　and　many　good　ladies　who　hitherto　have　not　known
how　to　help　Cocksmoor；　will　do　so　now　with　a　good　will；　and　though　it
is　not　what　we　should　have　chosen；　I　think　we　had　better　take　it　in
good　part。〃

〃You　think　so？〃

〃Yes；　indeed　I　do。　　If　you　go　about　with　that　dismal　face　and　strong
disapproval；　it　will　really　seem　as　if　it　was　the　having　your
dominion　muddled　with　that　you　dislike。　　Besides；　it　is　putting
yourself　forward　to　censure　what　is　not　absolutely　wrong　in　itself；
and　that　cannot　be　desirable。〃

〃No；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　I　cannot　help　being　sorry　for　Cocksmoor。　　I
thought　patience　would　prepare　the　way；　and　the　means　be　granted　in
good　time；　without　hastinessonly　earnestness。〃

〃You　had　made　a　picture　for　yourself；〃　said　Margaret　gently。　　〃Yes；
we　all　make　pictures　for　ourselves；　and　we　are　the　foremost　figures
in　them；　but　they　are　taken　out　of　our　hands；　and　we　see　others
putting　in　rude　touches；　and　spoiling　our　work；　as　it　seems；　but；　by…
and…by；　we　shall　see　that　it　is　all　guided。〃

Ethel　sighed。　　〃Then　having　protested　to　my　utmost　against　this
concern；　you　think　I　ought　to　be　amiable　about　it。〃

〃And　to　let　poor　Mary　enjoy　it。　　She　would　be　so　happy；　if　you　would
not　bewilder　her　by　your　gloomy　looks；　and　keep　her　to　the　hemming　of
your　endless　glazed　calico　bonnet　strings。〃

〃Poor　old　Mary！　　I　thought　that　was　by　her　own　desire。〃

〃Only　her　dutiful　allegiance　to　you；　and；　as　making　pincushions　is
nearly　her　greatest　delight；　it　is　cruel　to　make　her　think　it；　in
some　mysterious　way；　wrong　and　displeasing　to　you。〃

Ethel　laughed；　and　said；　〃I　did　not　think　Mary　was　in　such　awe　of　me。
I'll　set　her　free；　then。　　But；　Margaret；　do　you　really　think　I　ought
to　give　up　my　time　to　it？〃

〃Could　you　not　just　let　them　have　a　few　drawings；　or　a　little　bit　of
your　company　workjust　enough　for　you　not　to　annoy　every　one；　and
seem　to　be　testifying　against　them？　　You　would　not　like　to　vex　Meta。〃

〃It　will　go　hard；　if　I　do　not　tell　Meta　my　mind。　　I　cannot　bear　to
see　her　deluded。〃

〃I　don't　think　she　is；〃　said　Margaret；　〃but　she　does　not　set　her　face
against　what　others　wish。　　As　papa　says　of　his　dear　little　humming…
bird；　she　takes　the　honey；　and　leaves　the　poison。〃

〃Yes；　amid　all　that　enjoyment；　she　is　always　choosing　the　good；　and
leaving　the　evil；　always　sacrificing　something；　and　then　being　happy
in　the　sacrifice！〃

〃No　one　would　guess　it　was　a　sacrifice；　it　is　so　joyously　doneleast
of　all　Meta　herself。〃

〃Her　coming　home　from　London　was　exactly　a　specimen　of　that
sacrificeand　no　sacrifice；〃　said　Ethel。

〃What　was　that？〃　said　Norman；　who　had　come　up　to　the　window
unobserved；　and　had　been　listening　to　their　few　last　sentences。

〃Did　not　you　hear　of　it？　　It　was　a　sort　of　material　turning　away　from
vanity　that　made　me　respect　the　little　rival　Daisy；　as　much　as　I
always　admired　her。

〃Tell　me；〃　said　Norman。　　〃When　was　it？〃

〃Last　spring。　　You　know　Mr。　Rivers　is　always　ill　in　London：　indeed；
papa　says　it　would　be　the　death　of　him；　but　Lady　Leonora　Langdale
thinks　it　dreadful　that　Meta　should　not　go　to　all　the　gaieties；　and
last　year；　when　Mrs。　Larpent　was　gone；　she　insisted　on　her　coming　to
stay　with　her　for　the　season。　　Now　Meta　thought　it　wrong　to　leave　her
father　alone；　and　wanted　not　to　have　gone　at　all；　but；　to　my
surprise；　Margaret　advised　her　to　yield；　and　go　for　some　short　fixed
time。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Margaret；　〃as　all　her　elders　thought　it　right；　I　did　not
think　we　could　advise　her　to　refuse　absolutely。　　Besides；　it　was　a
promise。〃

〃She　declared　she　would　only　stay　three　weeks；　and　the　Langdales　were
satisfied；　thinking　that；　once　in　London；　they　should　keep　her。　　They
little　knew　Meta；　with　her　pretty　ways　of　pretending　that　her
resolution　is　only　spoiled…child　wilfulness。　　None　of　you　quite
trusted　her；　did　you；　Margaret？　　Even　papa　was　almost　afraid；　though
he　wanted　her　very　much　to　be　at　home；　for　poor　Mr。　Rivers　was　so　low
and　forlorn　without　her；　though　he　would　not　let　her　know；　because
Lady　Leonora　had　persuaded　him　to　think　it　was　all　for　her　good。〃

〃What　did　they　do　with　her　in　London？〃　asked　Norman。

〃They　did　their　utmost；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃They　made　engagements　for　her；
and　took　her　to　parties　and　concertsthose　she　did　enjoy　very　much
and　she　had　lessons　in　drawing　and　music；　but　whenever　she　wanted　to
see　any　exhibitions；　or　do　anything；　they　always　said　there　was　time
to　spare。　　I　believe　it　was　very　charming；　and　she　would　have　been
very　glad　to　stay；　but　she　never　would　promise；and　she　was　always
thinking　of　her　positive　duty　at　home。　　She　seemed　afterwards　to
think　of　her　wishes　to　remain　almost　as　if　they　had　been　a　sin；　but
she　saiddear　little　Metathat　nothing　had　ever　helped　her　so　much
as　that　she　used　to　say　to　herself；　whenever　she　was　going　out；　'I
renounce　the　world。'　　It　came　to　a　crisis　at　last；　when　Lady　Leonora
wanted　her　to　be　presentedthe　Drawing…Room　was　after　the　end　of　her
three　weeksand　she　held　out　against　it；　though　her　aunt　laughed　at
her；　and　treated　her　as　if　she　was　a　silly；　shy　child。　　At　last；　what
do　you　think　Meta　did？　　She　went　to　her　uncle；　Lord　Cosham；　and
appealed　to　him　to　say　whether　there　was　the　least　necessity　for　her
to　go　to　court。〃

〃Then　she　gained　the　day？〃　said　Norman。

〃He　was　delighted　with　that　spirited；　yet　coaxing　way　of　hers；　and
admired　her　determination。　　He　told　papa　so　himselffor　you　must
know；　when　he　heard　all　Meta　had　to　say；　he　called　her　a　very　good
girl；　and　said　he　would　take　her　home　himself　on　the　Saturday　she　had
fixed；　and　spend　Sunday　at　Abbotstoke。　　Oh！　he　was　perfectly　won　by
her　sweet　ways。　　Was　not　it　lucky？　for　before　this　Lady　Leonora　had
written　to　Mr。　Rivers；　and　obtained　from　him　a　letter；　which　Meta　had
the　next　day；　desiring　her　to　stay　for　the　Drawing…Room。　　But　Meta
knew　well　enough　how　it　was；　and　was　not　to　be　conquered　that　way；　so
she　said　she　must　go　home　to　entertain　her　uncle；　and　that　if　her
papa　really　wished　it；　she　would　return　on　Monday。〃

〃Knowing　well　that　Mr。　Rivers　would　be　only　too　glad　to　keep　her。〃

〃Just　so。　　How　happy　they　both　did　look；　when　they　came　in　here　on
their　way　from　the　station　where　he　had　met　her！　　How　she　danced　in；
and　how　she　sparkled　with　glee！〃　said　Margaret；　〃and　poor　Mr。　Rivers
was　quite　tremulous　with　the　joy　of　having　her　back；　hardly　able　to
keep　from　fondling　her　every　minute；　and　coming　again　into　the　room
after　they　had　taken　leave；　to　tell　me　that　his　little　girl　had
preferred　her　home；　and　her　poor　old　father；　to　all　the　pleasures　in
London。　　Oh；　I　was　so　glad　they　came！　　That　was　a　sight　that　did　one
good！　　And　then；　I　fancy　Mr。　Rivers　is　a　wee　bit　afraid　of　his
brother…in…law；　for　he　begged　papa　and　Flora　to　come　home　and　dine
with　them；　but　Flora　was　engaged　to　Mrs。　Hoxton。〃

〃Ha！　　Flora！〃　said　Norman；　as　if　he　rather　enjoyed　her　losing
something　through　her　going　to　Mrs。　Hoxton。　　〃I　suppose　she　would
have　given　the　world　to　go！〃

〃I　was　so　sorry；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　I　had　to　go　instead；　and　it　was
delightful。　　Papa　made　great　friends　with　Lord　Cosham；　while　Mr。
Rivers　went　to　sleep　after　dinner；　and　I　had　such　a　delightful
wandering　with　Meta；　listening　to　the　nightingales；　and　hearing　all
about　it。　　I　never　knew　Meta　so　well　before。〃

〃And　there　was　no　more　question　of　her　going　back？〃　said　Norman。

〃No；　indeed！　　She　said；　when　her　uncle　asked　in　joke；　on　Monday
morning；　whether　she　had　packed　up　to　return　with　him；　Mr。　Rivers　was
quite　nervously　alarmed　the　first　moment；　lest　she　should　intend　it。〃

〃That　little　Meta；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃Her　wishes　for　substantial　use
have　been　pretty　well　realised！〃

〃Um！〃　said　Ethel。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　Norman　sharply。　　〃I　should　call　her　present
position　the　perfection　of　feminine　usefulness。〃

〃So　perhaps　it　is；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　though　she　does　it　beautifully；
and　is　very　valuable；　to　be　the　mistress　of　a　great　luxurious　house
like　that　does　not　seem　to　me　the　subject　of　aspirations　like
Meta's。〃

〃Think　of　the　contrast　with　what　she　used　to　be；〃　said　Margaret
gently；　〃the　pretty；　gentle；　playful　toy　that　her　father　brought　her
up　to　be；　living　a　life　of　mere　accomplishments　and　self…indulgence；
kind　certainly；　but　never　so　as　to　endure　any　disagreeables；　or　make
any　exertion。　　But　as　soon　as　she　entered　into　the　true　spirit　of　our
calling；　did　she　not　begin　to　seek　to　live　the　sterner　life；　and
train　herself　in　duty？　　The　quiet　way　she　took　always　seemed　to　me
the　great　beauty　of　it。　　She　makes　duties　of　her　accomplishments　by
making　them　loving　obedience　to　her　father。〃

〃Not　that　they　are　not　pleasant　to　her？〃　interposed　Norman。

〃Certainly；〃　said　Margaret；　〃but　it　gives　them　the　zest；　and
confidence　that　they　are　right；　which　one　could　not　have　in　such
things　merely　for　one's　own　amusement。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　〃she　does　more；　she　told　me　one　day　that　one
reason　she　liked　sketching　was；　that　looking　into　nature　always　made
psalms　and　hymns　sing　in　her　ears；　and　so　with　her　music　and　her
beautiful　copies　from　the　old　Italian　devotional　pictures。　　She　says
our　papa　taught　her　to　look　at　them　so　as　to　see　more　than　the　mere
art　and　beauty。〃

〃Think　how　diligently　she　measures　out　her　day；〃　said　Margaret；
〃getting　up　early；　to　be　sure　of　time　for　reading　her　serious　books；
and　working　hard　at　her　tough　studies。〃

〃And　what　I　care　for　still　more；〃　said　Ethel；　〃her　being　bent　on
learning　plain　needlework　and　doing　it　for　her　poor　people。　　She　is
so　useful　amongst　the　cottagers　at　Abbotstoke！〃

〃And　a　famous　little　mistress　of　the　house；〃　added　Margaret。　　〃When
the　old　housekeeper　went　away　two　years　ago；　she　thought　she　ought　to
know　something　about　the　government　of　the　house；　so　she　asked　me
about　it；　and　proposed　to　her　father　that　the　new　one　should　come　to
her　for　orders；　and　that　she　should　pay　the　wages　and　have　the
accounts　in　her　hands。　　Mr。　Rivers　thought　it　was　only　a　freak；　but
she　has　gone　on　steadily；　and　I　assure　you；　she　has　had　some
difficulties；　for　she　has　come　to　me　about　them。　　Perhaps　Ethel　does
not　believe　in　them？〃

〃No；　I　was　only　thinking　how　I　should　hate　ordering　those　fanciful
dinners　for　Mr。　Rivers。　　I　know　what　you　mean；　and　how　she　had
difficulties　about　sending　the　maids　to　church；　and　in　dealing　with
the　cook；　who　did　harm　to　the　other　servants；　and　yet　sent　up　dinners
that　he　liked；　and　how　puzzled　she　was　to　avoid　annoying　him。　　Oh！
she　has　got　into　a　peck　of　troubles　by　making　herself　manager。〃

〃And　had　she　not　been　the　Meta　she　is；　she　would　either　have　fretted；
or　thrown　it　all　up；　instead　of　humming　briskly　through　all。　　She
never　was　afraid　to　speak　to　any　one；〃　said　Margaret；　〃that　is　one
thing；　I　believe　every　difficulty　makes　the　s