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the daisy chain, or aspirations-第78章

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never was afraid to speak to any one;〃 said Margaret; 〃that is one
thing; I believe every difficulty makes the spirit bound higher; till
she springs over it; and finds it; as she says; only a pleasure。〃

〃She need not be afraid to speak;〃 said Ethel; 〃for she always does
it well and winningly。  I have seen her give a reproof in so firm and
kind a way; and so bright in the instant of forgiveness。〃

〃Yes;〃 said Margaret; 〃she does those disagreeable things as well as
Flora does in her way。〃

〃And yet;〃 said Ethel; 〃doing things well does not seem to be a snare
to her。〃

〃Because;〃 whispered Margaret; 〃she fulfils more than almost any one…
…the'Whatsoever ye do; do all to the glory of God。'〃

〃Do you know;〃 said Norman suddenly; 〃the derivation of Margarita?〃

〃No further than those two pretty meanings; the pearl and the daisy;〃
said Ethel。

〃It is from the Persian Mervarid; child of light;〃 said Norman; and;
with a sudden flush of colour; he returned to the garden。

〃A fit meaning for one who carries sunshine with her;〃 said Margaret。
〃I feel in better tune for a whole day after her bright eyes have
been smiling on me。〃

〃You want no one to put you in tune;〃 said Ethel fondly〃you; our
own pearl of light。〃

〃No; call me only an old faded daisy;〃 said Margaret sadly。

〃Not a bit; only our moon; la gran Margarita〃 said Ethel。

〃I hear the real Daisy coming!〃 exclaimed Margaret; her face lighting
up with pleasure as the two youngest children entered; and; indeed;
little Gertrude's golden hair; round open face; fresh red and white
complexion; and innocent looks; had so much likeness to the flower;
as to promote the use of the pet name; though protests were often
made in favour of her proper appellation。  Her temper was daisylike
too; serene and loving; and able to bear a great deal of spoiling;
and resolve as they might; who was not her slave?

Miss Winter no longer ruled the schoolroom。  Her sway had been
brought to a happy conclusion by a proposal from a widowed sister to
keep house with her; and Ethel had reason to rejoice that Margaret
had kept her submissive under authority; which; if not always
judicious; was both kind and conscientious。

Upon the change; Ethel had thought that the lessons could easily be
managed by herself and Flora; while Flora was very anxious for a
finishing governess; who might impart singing to herself; graces to
Ethel; and accomplishments to Mary and Blanche。

Dr。 May; however; took them both by surprise。  He met with a family
of orphans; the eldest of whom had been qualifying herself for a
governess; and needed nothing but age and finish; and in ten minutes
after the project had been conceived; he had begun to put it in
execution; in spite of Flora's prudent demurs。

Miss Bracy was a gentle; pleasing young person; pretty to look at;
with her soft olive complexion; and languid pensive eyes; obliging
and intelligent; and the change from the dry; authoritative Miss
Winter was so delightful; that unedifying contrasts were continually
being drawn。  Blanche struck up a great friendship for her at once;
Mary; always docile; ceased to be piteous at her lessons; and Ethel
moralised on the satisfaction of having sympathy needed instead of
repelled; and did her utmost to make Miss Bracy feel at homeand
like a friendin her new position。

For herself; Ethel had drawn up a beautiful time…table; with all her
pursuits and duties most carefully balanced; after the pattern of
that which Margaret Rivers had made by her advice; on the departure
of Mrs。 Larpent; who had been called away by the ill…health of her
son。  Meta had adhered to hers in an exemplary manner; but she was
her own mistress in a manner that could hardly be the lot of one of a
large family。

Margaret had become subject to languor and palpitations; and the head
of the household had fallen entirely upon Flora; who; on the other
hand; was a person of multifarious occupations; and always had a
great number of letters to write; or songs to copy and practise;
which; together with her frequent visits to Mrs。 Hoxton; made her
glad to devolve; as much as she could; upon her younger sister; and;
〃Oh; Ethel; you will not mind just doing this for me;〃 was said often
enough to be a tax upon her time。

Moreover; Ethel perceived that Aubrey's lessons were in an
unsatisfactory state。  Margaret could not always attend to them; and
suffered from them when she did; and he was bandied about between his
sisters and Miss Bracy in a manner that made him neither attentive
nor obedient。

On her own principle; that to embrace a task heartily renders it no
longer irksome; she called on herself to sacrifice her studies and
her regularity; as far as was needful; to make her available for home
requirements。  She made herself responsible for Aubrey; and; after a
few battles with his desultory habits; made him a very promising
pupil; inspiring so much of herself into him; that he was; if
anything; overfull of her classical tastes。  In fact; he had such an
appetite for books; and dealt so much in precocious wisdom; that his
father was heard to say; 〃Six years old!  It is a comfort that he
will soon forget the whole。〃

Gertrude was also Ethel's pupil; but learning was not at all in her
line; and the sight of 〃Cobwebs to catch Flies;〃 or of the venerated
〃Little Charles;〃 were the most serious clouds; that made the Daisy
pucker up her face; and infuse a whine into her voice。

However; to…day; as usual; she was half dragged; half coaxed; through
her day's portion of the discipline of life; and then sent up for her
sleep; while Aubrey's two hours were spent in more agreeable work;
such as Margaret could not but enjoy hearingso spirited was Ethel's
mode of teachingso eager was her scholar。

His play afterwards consisted in fighting o'er again the siege of
Troy on the floor; with wooden bricks; shells; and the survivors of a
Noah's ark; while Ethel read to Margaret until Gertrude's descent
from the nursery; when the only means of preventing a dire confusion
in Aubrey's camp was for her elder sisters to become her playfellows;
and so spare Aubrey's temper。  Ethel good…humouredly gave her own
time; till their little tyrant trotted out to make Norman carry her
round the garden on his back。

So sped the morning till Flora came home; full of the intended
bazaar; and Ethel would fain have taken refuge in puzzling out her
Spanish; had she not remembered her recent promise to be gracious。

The matter had been much as she had described it。  Flora had a way of
hinting at anything she thought creditable; and thus the Stoneborough
public had become aware of the exertions of the May family on behalf
of Cocksmoor。

The plan of a fancy fair was started。  Mrs。 Hoxton became more
interested than was her wont; and Flora was enchanted at the opening
it gave for promoting the welfare of the forlorn district。  She held
a position which made her hope to direct the whole。  As she had once
declared; with truth; it only had depended on themselves; whether she
and her sisters should sink to the level of the Andersons and their
set; or belong to the county society; and her tact had resulted in
her being decidedlyas the little dressmaker's apprentice amused
Ethel by saying〃One of our most distinguished patronesses〃a name
that had stuck by her ever since。

Margaret looked on passively; inclined to admire Flora in everything;
yet now and then puzzled; and her father; in his simple…hearted way;
felt only gratitude and exultation in the kindness that his daughter
met with。  As to the bazaar; if it had been started in his own
family; he might have weighed the objections; but; as it was not his
daughter's own concern; he did not trouble himself about it; only
regarding it as one of the many vagaries of the ladies of
Stoneborough。

So the scheme had been further developed; till now Flora came in with
much to tell。  The number of stalls had been finally fixed。  Mrs。
Hoxton undertook one; with Flora as an aide…de…camp; and some nieces
to assist; Lady Leonora was to chaperon Miss Rivers; and a third; to
Flora's regret; had been allotted to Miss Cleveland; a good…natured;
merry; elderly heiress; who would; Flora feared; bring on them the
whole 〃Stoneborough crew。〃  And then she began to reckon up the
present resourcesdrawings; bags; and pincushions。  〃That chip hat
you plaited for Daisy; Margaret; you must let us have that。  It will
be lovely; trimmed with pink。〃

〃Do you wish for this?〃 said Ethel; heaving up a mass of knitting。

〃Thank you;〃 said Flora; 〃so ornamental; especially the original
performance in the corner; which you would perpetrate; in spite of my
best efforts。〃

〃I shall not be offended if you despise it。  I only thought you might
have no more scruple in robbing Granny Hall than in robbing Daisy。〃

〃Pray; send it。  Papa will buy it as your unique performance。〃

〃No; you shall tell me what I am to do。〃

〃Does she mean it?〃 said Flora; turning to Margaret。  〃Have you
converted her?  Well done!  Then; Ethel; we will get some pretty
batiste; and you and Mary shall make some of those nice sun…bonnets;
which you really do to perfection。〃

〃Thank you。  That is a more respectable task than I expected。  People
may have something worth buying;〃 said Ethel; who; like all the
world; felt the influence of Flora's tact。

〃I mean to study the useful;〃 said Flora。  〃The Cleveland set will be
sure to deal in frippery; and I have been looking over Mrs。 Hoxton's
stores; where I see quite enough for mere decoration。  There are two
splendid vases in potichomanie; in an Etruscan pattern; which are
coming for me to finish。〃

〃Mrs。 Taylor; at Cocksmoor; could do that for you;〃 said Ethel。  〃Her
two phials; stuffed with chintz patterns and flour; are quite as
original and tasteful。〃

〃Silly work;〃 said Flora; 〃but it makes a fair show。〃

〃The essence of Vanity Fair;〃 said Ethel。

〃It won't do to be satirical over much;〃 said Flora。  〃You won't get
on without humouring your neighbours' follies。〃

〃I don't want to get on。〃

〃But you wantor; at least; I wantCocksmoor to get on。〃

Ethel saw Margaret looking distressed; and; recalling her resolution
she said; 〃Well; Flora; I don't mean to say any more about it。  I see
it can't be helped; and you all think you intend it for good; so
there's an end of the matter; and I'll do anything for you in
reason。〃

〃Poor old King Ethel!〃 said Flora; smiling in an elder…sisterly
manner。  〃You will see; my dear; your views are very pretty; but very
impracticable; and it is a work…a…day world after alleven papa
would tell you so。  When Cocksmoor school is built; then you may
thank me。  I do not look for it before。〃




CHAPTER II。



Knowledge is second; not the first;
A higher Hand must make her mild;
If all be not in vain; and guide
Her footsteps; moving side by side;
With wisdom; like the younger child;
For she is earthly of the mind;
But knowledge heavenly of the soul。In Memoriam。


Etheldred had not answered her sister; but she did not feel at all
secure that she should have anything to be thankful for; even if the
school were built。

The invasion of Cocksmoor was not only interference wi

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