the daisy chain, or aspirations-第80章

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decision；　that　it　was　better　to　yield　to　the　mania；　and　give　up　the
studies　till　they　could　be　pursued　with　a　willing　mind。

Ethel　submitted；　and　only　laughed　with　Norman　at　the　display　of
treasures；　which　the　girls　went　over　daily；　like　the　〃House　that　Jack
built；〃　always　starting　from　〃the　box　that　Mary　made。〃　　Come　when　Dr。
May　would　into　the　drawing…room；　there　was　always　a　line　of　penwipers
laid　out　on　the　floor；　bags　pendent　to　all　the　table…drawers；
antimacassars　laid　out　everywhere。

Ethel　hoped　that　the　holidays　would　create　a　diversion；　but　Mary　was
too　old　to　be　made　into　a　boy；　and　Blanche　drew　Hector　over　to　the
feminine　party；　setting　him　to　gum；　gild；　and　paste　all　the
contrivances　which；　in　their　hands；　were　mere　feeble　gimcracks；　but
which　now　became　fairly　sound；　or；　at　least；　saleable。

The　boys　also　constructed　a　beautiful　little　ship　from　a　print　of　the
Alcestis；　so　successfully；　that　the　doctor　promised　to　buy　it；　and
Ethel　grudged　the　very　sight　of　it　to　the　bazaar。

Tom；　who；　in　person；　was　growing　like　a　little　shadow　or　model　of
Norman；　had；　unlike　him；　a　very　dexterous　pair　of　hands；　and　made
himself　extremely　useful　in　all　such　works。　　On　the　other　hand；　the
Cleveland　stall　seemed　chiefly　to　rely　for　brilliance　on　the　wit　of
Harvey　Anderson；　who　was　prospering　at　his　college；　and　the　pride　of
his　family。　　A　great　talker；　and　extremely　gallant；　he　was　considered
a　far　greater　acquisition　to　a　Stoneborough　drawing…room　than　was　the
silent；　bashful　Norman　May；　and　rather　looked　down　on　his　brother
Edward；　who；　having　gone　steadily　through　the　school；　was　in　the
attorney's　office；　and　went　on　quietly　and　well；　colouring　up
gratefully　whenever　one　of　the　May　family　said　a　kind　word　to　him。




CHAPTER　III。



　　Any　silk；　any　thread；
　　Any　toys　for　your　head；
Of　the　newest　and　finest　wear…a？
　　Come　to　the　pedlar；
　　Money's　a　medlar。
That　doth　utter　all　men's　ware…a。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Winter's　Tale。


〃This　one　day　and　it　will　be　over；　and　we　shall　be　rational　again；〃
thought　Ethel；　as　she　awoke。

Flora　was　sleeping　at　the　Grange；　to　be　ready　for　action　in　the
morning；　and　Ethel　was　to　go　early　with　Mary　and　Blanche；　who　were
frantic　to　have　a　share　in　the　selling。　　Norman　and　the　boys　were　to
walk　at　their　own　time；　and　the　children　to　be　brought　later　by　Miss
Bracy。　　The　doctor　would　be　bound　by　no　rules。

It　was　a　pattern　day；　bright；　clear；　warm；　and　not　oppressive；
perfect　for　an　out…of…doors　fete；　and　Ethel　had　made　up　her　mind　to
fulfil　her　promise　to　Margaret　of　enjoying　herself。　　In　the　brilliant
sunshine；　and　between　two　such　happy　sisters；　it　would　have　been
surly；　indeed；　not　to　enter　into　the　spirit　of　the　day；　and　Ethel
laughed　gaily　with　them；　and　at　their　schemes　and　hopes；　Blanche's
heart　being　especially　set　on　knowing　the　fate　of　a　watch…guard　of
her　own　construction。

Hearing　that　the　ladies　were　in　the　gardens；　they　repaired　thither　at
once。　　The　broad；　smooth　bowling…green　lay　before　them；　a　marquee；
almost　converted　into　a　bower；　bounding　it　on　either　side；　while　in
the　midst　arose；　gorgeous　and　delicious；　a　pyramid　of　flowers
contributions　from　all　the　hot…houses　in　the　neighbourhoodto　be
sold　for　the　benefit　of　the　bazaar。　　Their　freshness　and　fragrance
gave　a　brightness　to　the　whole　scene；　while　shrinking　from　such
light；　as　only　the　beauteous　works　of　nature　could　bear；　was　the
array　accomplished　by　female　fingers。

Under　the　wreathed　canopies　were　the　stalls；　piled　up　with　bright
colours；　most　artistically　arranged。　　Ethel；　with　her　over…minute
knowledge　of　every　article；　could　hardly　believe　that　yonder　glowing
Eastern　pattern　of　scarlet；　black；　and　blue；　was；　in　fact；　a
judicious　mosaic　of　penwipers　that　she　remembered；　as　shreds　begged
from　the　tailor；　that　the　delicate　lace…work　consisted　of　Miss
Bracy's　perpetual　antimacassars；　and　that　the　potichomanie　could　look
so　dignified　and　Etruscan。

〃Here　you　are！〃　cried　Meta　Rivers；　springing　to　meet　them。　　〃Good
girls；　to　come　early。　　Where's　my　little　Daisy？〃

〃Coming　in　good　time；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃How　pretty　it　all　looks！〃

〃But　where's　Flora？where's　my　watch…guard？〃　anxiously　asked
Blanche。

〃She　was　here　just　now；〃　said　Meta；　looking　round。　　〃What　a　genius
she　is；　Ethel！　　She　worked　wonders　all　yesterday；　and　let　the　Miss
Hoxtons　think　it　was　all　their　own　doing；　and　she　was　out　before　six
this　morning；　putting　finishing　touches。〃

〃Is　this　your　stall？〃　said　Ethel。

〃Yes；　but　it　will　not　bear　a　comparison　with　hers。　　It　has　a　lady's…
maid　look　by　the　side　of　hers。　　In　fact；　Bellairs　and　my　aunt's　maid
did　it　chiefly；　for　papa　was　rather　ailing　yesterday；　and　I　could　not
be　out　much。〃

〃How　is　he　now？〃

〃Better；　he　will　walk　round　by…and…by。　　I　hope　it　will　not　be　too
much　for　him。〃

〃Oh；　what　beautiful　things！〃　cried　Mary；　in　ecstasy；　at　what　she　was
forced　to　express　by　the　vague　substantive；　for　her　imagination　had
never　stretched　to　the　marvels　she　beheld。

〃Ay；　we　have　been　lazy；　you　see；　and　so　Aunt　Leonora　brought　down　all
these　smart　concerns。　　It　is　rather　like　Howell　and　James's；　isn't
it？〃

In　fact；　Lady　Leonora's　marquee　was　filled　with　costly　knick…knacks；
which；　as　Meta　justly　said；　had　not　half　the　grace　and　appropriate
air　that　reigned　where　Flora　had　arranged；　and　where　Margaret　had
worked；　with　the　peculiar　freshness　and　finish　that　distinguished
everything　to　which　she　set　her　hand。

Miss　Cleveland's　counter　was　not　ill　set…out；　but　it　wanted　the　air
of　ease　and　simplicity；　which　was　even　more　noticeable　than　the
perfect　taste　of　Flora's　wares。　　If　there　had　been　nothing　facetious；
the　effect　would　have　been　better；　but　there　was　nothing　to　regret；
and　the　whole　was　very　bright　and　gay。

Blanche　could　hardly　look；　so　anxious　was　she　for　Flora　to　tell　her
the　locality　of　her　treasure。

〃There　she　is；〃　said　Meta　at　last。　　〃George　is　fixing　that　branch　of
evergreen　for　her。〃

〃Flora！　　I　did　not　know　her；〃　cried　each　sister　amazed；　while　Mary
added；　〃Oh；　how　nice　she　looks！〃

It　was　the　first　time　of　seeing　her　in　the　white　muslin；　and　broad
chip　hatwhich　all　the　younger　saleswomen　of　the　bazaar　had　agreed
to　wear。　　It　was　a　most　becoming　dress；　and　she　did；　indeed；　look
strikingly　elegant　and　well　dressed。　　It　occurred　to　Ethel；　for　the
first　time；　that　Flora　was　decidedly　the　reigning　beauty　of　the
bazaarno　one　but　Meta　Rivers　could　be　compared　to　her；　and　that
little　lady　was　on　so　small　a　scale　of　perfect　finish；　that　she
seemed　fit　to　act　the　fairy；　where　Flora　was　the　enchanted　princess。

Flora　greeted　her　sisters　eagerly；　while　Meta　introduced　her　brother…
…a　great　contrast　to　herself；　though　not　without　a　certain
comeliness；　tall　and　large；　with　ruddy　complexion；　deep　lustreless
black　eyes；　and　a　heavy　straight　bush　of　black　moustache；　veiling
rather　thick　lips。　　Blanche　reiterated　inquiries　for　her　watch…guard。

〃I　don't　know；〃said　Flora。　　〃Somewhere　among　the　rest。〃

Blanche　was　in　despair。

〃You　may　look　for　it；〃　said　Flora；　who；　however　hurried；　never　failed
in　kindness；　〃if　you　will　touch　nothing。〃

So　Blanche　ran　from　place　to　place　in　restless　dismay；　that　caused
Mr。　George　Rivers　to　ask　what　was　the　matter。

〃The　guards！　the　guards！〃　cried　Blanche；　whereupon　he　fell　into　a　fit
of　laughter；　which　disconcerted　her；　because　she　could　not　understand
him；　and　made　Ethel　take　an　aversion　to　him　on　the　spot。

However；　he　was　very　good…natured；　he　took　Blanche's　reluctant　hand；
and　conducted　her　all　along　the　stall；　even　proceeding　to　lift　her　up
where　she　could　not　command　a　view　of　the　whole；　thus　exciting　her
extreme　indignation。　　She　shook　herself　out　when　he　set　her　down；
surveyed　her　crumpled　muslin；　and　believed　he　took　her　for　a　little
girl！　　She　ought　to　have　been　flattered　when　the　quest　was
successful；　and　he　insisted　on　knowing　which　was　the　guard；　and
declared　that　he　should　buy　it。　　She　begged　him　to　do　no　such　thing；
and　he　desired　to　know　whyinsisting　that　he　would　give　five
shillingsfifteentwenty…five　for　that　one！　till　she　did　not　know
whether　he　was　in　earnest；　and　she　doing　an　injury　to　the　bazaar。

Meantime；　the　hour　had　struck；　and　Flora　had　placed　Mrs。　Hoxton　in　a
sheltered　spot；　where　she　could　take　as　much　or　as　little　trouble　as
she　pleased。　　Lady　Leonora　and　Miss　Langdale　came　from　the　house；
and；　with　the　two　ladies'…maids　in　the　background；　took　up　their
station　with　Miss　Rivers。　　Miss　Cleveland　called　her　party　to　order；
and　sounds　of　carriages　were　heard　approaching。

Mary　and　Blanche　disbursed　the　first　money　spent　in　the　〃fancy　fair；〃
Mary；　on　a　blotting…book　for　Harry；　to　be　placed　among　the　presents；
to　which　she　added　on　every　birthday；　while　Blanche　bought　a　sixpenny
gift　for　every　one；　with　more　attention　to　the　quantity　than　the
quality。　　Then　came　a　revival　of　her　anxieties　for　the　guards；　and
while　Mary　was　simply　desirous　of　the　fun　of　being　a　shopwoman；　and
was　made　happy　by　Meta　Rivers　asking　her　help；　Blanche　was　in
despair；　till　she　had　sidled　up　to　their　neighbourhood；　and　her
piteous　looks　had　caused　good…natured　Mrs。　Hoxton　to　invite　her　to
assist；　when　she　placed　herself　close　to　the　precious　object。

A　great　fluttering　of　heart　went　to　that　manoeuvre；　but　still
felicity　could　not　be　complete。　　That　great　troublesome　Mr。　George
Rivers　had　actually　threatened　to　buy　nothing　but　that　one　watch…
chain；　and　Blanche's　eye　followed　him　everywhere　with　fear；　lest　he
should　come　that　way。　　And　there　were　many　other　gentlemenwhat
could　they　want　but　watch…guards；　and　of　themwhatsave　this
paragon？

Poor　Blanche；　what　did　she　not　undergo　whenever　any　one　cast　his　eye
over　her　range　of　goods？　and　this　was　not　seldom；　for　there　was　an
attraction　in　the　pretty　little　eager　girl；　glowing　and　smiling。　　One
old　gentleman　actually　stopped；　handled　the　guards　themselves；　and
asked　their　price。

〃Eighteen…pence；〃　said　Blanche；　colouring　and　faltering；　as　she　held
up　one　in　preference。

〃Eh！　is　not　this　the　best？〃　said　he；　to　the　lady　on　his　arm。

〃Oh！　please；　take　that　instead？〃　exclaimed　Blanche；　in　extremity。

〃And　why？〃　asked　the　gentleman；　amused。

〃I　made　this；〃　she　answered。

〃Is　that　the　reason　I　must　not　have　it？〃

〃No；　don't　tease　her；〃　the　lady　said　kindly；　and　the　other　was
taken。

〃I　wonder　for　what　it　is　reserved！〃　the　lady　could　not　help　saying；
as　she　walked　away。

〃Let　us　watch　her　for　a　minute　or　two。　　What　an　embellishment
children　are！　　Ha！　don't　you　seethe　little　maid　is　fluttering　and
reddeningnow！　　How　pretty　she　looks！　　Ah！　I　see！　here's　the
favoured！　　Don't　you　see　that　fine　bronzed　ladEtonone　can　see　at
a　glance！　　It　is　a　little　drama。　　They　are　pretending　to　be
strangers。　　He　is　turning　over　the　goods　with　an　air；　she　trying　to
look　equally　careless；　but　what　a　pretty　carnation　it　is！　　Ha！　ha！　he
has　come　to　ithe　has　it！　　Now　the　acting　is　over；　and　they　are
having　their　laugh　out！　　How　joyously！　　What　next！　　Oh！　she　begs　off
from　keeping　shopshe　darts　out　to　him；　goes　off　in　his　handI
declare　that　is　the　prettiest　sight　in　the　whole　fair！　　I　wonder　who
the　little　demoiselle　can　be？〃

The　great　event　of　the　day　was　over　no