the daisy chain, or aspirations-第81章

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the　little　demoiselle　can　be？〃

The　great　event　of　the　day　was　over　now　with　Blanche；　and　she　greatly
enjoyed　wandering　about　with　Hector　and　Tom。　　There　was　a　post…office
at　Miss　Cleveland's　stall；　where；　on　paying　sixpence；　a　letter　could
be　obtained　to　the　address　of　the　inquirer。　　Blanche　had　been　very
anxious　to　try；　but　Flora　had　pronounced　it　nonsense；　however；　Hector
declared　that　Flora　was　not　his　master；　tapped　at　the　sliding　panel；
and　charmed　Blanche　by　what　she　thought　a　most　witty　parody　of　his
name　as　Achilles　Lionsrock；　Esquire。　　When　the　answer　came　from
within；　〃Ship　letter；　sir；　double　postage；〃　they　thought　it　almost
uncanny；　and　Hector's　shilling　was　requited　by　something　so　like　a
real　ship　letter；　that　they　had　some　idea　that　the　real　post　had
somehow　transported　itself　thither。　　The　interior　was　decidedly
oracular；　consisting　of　this　one　line；　〃I　counsel　you　to　persevere　in
your　laudable　undertaking。〃

Hector　said　he　wished　he　had　any　laudable　undertaking；　and　Blanche
tried　to　persuade　Tom　to　try　his　fortune；　but　he　pronounced　that　he
did　not　care　to　hear　Harvey　Anderson's　trashhe　knew　his　writing；
though　disguised；　and　had　detected　his　shining　boots　below　the
counter。　　There　Mr。　George　Rivers　came　up；　and　began　to　tease　Blanche
about　the　guards；　asking　her　to　take　his　fifteen　shillingsor　five…
and…twenty；　and　who　had　got　that　one；　which　alone　he　wanted；　till　the
poor　child；　after　standing　perplexed　for　some　moments；　looked　up　with
spirit；　and　said；　〃You　have　no　business　to　ask；〃　and；　running　away；
took　refuge　in　the　back　of　Mrs。　Hoxton's　marquee；　where　she　found
Ethel　packing　up　for　Miss　Hoxton's　purchasers；　and　confiding　to　her
that　Mr。　George　Rivers　was　a　horrid　man；　she　ventured　no　more　from
her　protection。　　She　did；　indeed；　emerge；　when　told　that　papa　was
coming　with　Aubrey　and　Daisy　and　Miss　Bracy；　and　she　had　the　pleasure
of　selling　to　them　some　of　her　wares。　　Dr。　May　bargaining　with　her　to
her　infinite　satisfaction；　and　little　Gertrude's　blue　eyes　opened　to
their　full　width；　not　understanding　what　could　have　befallen　her
sisters。

〃And　what　is　Ethel　doing？〃　asked　the　doctor。

〃Packing　up　parcels；　papa；〃　and　Ethel's　face　was　raised；　looking　very
merry。

〃Packing　parcels！　　How　long　will　they　last　tied　up？〃　said　Dr。　May；
laughing。

〃Lasting　is　the　concern　of　nothing　in　the　fair；　papa；〃　answered　she；
in　the　same　tone。

For　Ethel　was　noted　as　the　worst　packer　in　the　house；　but；　having
offered　to　wrap　up　a　pincushion；　sold　by　a　hurried　Miss　Hoxton；　she
became　involved　in　the　office　for　the　rest　of　the　daythe　same　which
Bellairs　and　her　companion　performed　at　the　Langdale　counter。　　Flora
was　too　ready　and　dexterous　to　need　any　such　aid；　but　the　Misses
Hoxton　were　glad　to　be　spared　the　trouble；　and　Blanche；　whose　fingers
were　far　neater　than　Ethel's；　made　the　task　much　easier；　and　was　kept
constant　to　it　by　her　dread　of　the　dark　moustache；　which　was　often
visible　near　their　tent；　searching；　she　thought；　for　her。

Their　humble　employment　was　no　sinecure；　for　this　was　the　favourite
stall　with　the　purchasers　of　better　style；　since　the　articles　were；
in　general；　tasteful；　and　fairly　worth　the　moderate　price　set　on
them。　　At　Miss　Cleveland's　counter　there　was　much　noisy　laughter
many　jocular　cheatstricks　for　gaining　money；　and　refusals　to　give
change；　and　it　seemed　to　be　very　popular　with　the　Stoneborough
people；　and　to　carry　on　a　brisk　trade。　　The　only　languor　was　in　Lady
Leonora's　quarterthe　articles　were　too　costly；　and　hung　on　hand；
nor　were　the　ladies　sufficiently　well　known；　nor　active　enough；　to
gain　custom；　excepting　Meta；　who　drove　a　gay　traffic　at　her　end　of
the　stall；　which　somewhat　redeemed　the　general　languor。

Her　eyes　were；　all　the　time；　watching　for　her　father；　and；　suddenly
perceiving　him；　she　left　her　trade　in　charge　of　the　delighted　and
important　Mary；　and　hastened　to　walk　round　with　him；　and　show　him　the
humours　of　the　fair。

Mary；　in　her　absence；　had　the　supreme　happiness　of　obtaining　Norman
as　a　customer。　　He　wanted　a　picture　for　his　rooms　at　Oxford；　and
water…coloured　drawings　were；　as　Tom　had　observed；　suitable　staple
commodities　for　Miss　Rivers。　　Mary　tried　to　make　him　choose　a
brightly…coloured　pheasant；　with　a　pencil　background；　and；　then；　a
fine　foaming　sea…piece；　by　some　unknown　Lady　Adelaide；　that　much
dazzled　her　imagination；　but　nothing　would　serve　him　but　a　sketch　of
an　old　cedar　tree；　with　Stoneborough　Minster　in　the　distance；　and　the
Welsh　hills　beyond；　which　Mary　thought　a　remarkable　piece　of　bad
taste；　sincecould　he　not　see　all　that　any　day　of　his　life？　and　was
it　worth　while　to　give　fourteen　shillings　and　sixpence　for　it？　　But
he　said　it　was　all　for　the　good　of　Cocksmoor；　and　Mary　was　only　too
glad　to　add　to　her　hoard　of　coin；　so　she　only　marvelled　at　his
extravagance；　and　offered　to　take　care　of　it　for　him；　but；　to　this；
he　would　not　consent。　　He　made　her　pack　it　up　for　him；　and　had　just
put　the　whitey…brown　parcel　under　his　arm；　when　Mr。　Rivers　and　his
daughter　came　up；　before　he　was　aware。　　Mary　proudly　advertised　Meta
that　she　had　sold　something　for　her。

〃Indeed！　　What　was　it？〃

〃Your　great　picture　of　Stoneborough！〃　said　Mary。

〃Is　that　gone？　　I　am　sorry　you　have　parted　with　that；　my　dear；　it　was
one　of　your　best；〃　said　Mr。　Rivers；　in　his　soft；　sleepy；　gentle　tone。

〃Oh；　papa；　I　can　do　another。　　But；　I　wonder！　　I　put　that　extortionate
price　on　it；　thinking　no　one　would　give　it；　and　so　that　I　should　keep
it　for　you。　　Who　has　it；　Mary？〃

〃Norman；　there。　　He　would　have　it；　though　I　told　him　it　was　very
dear。〃

Norman；　pressed　near　them　by　the　crowd；　had　been　unable　to　escape；
and　stood　blushing；　hesitating；　and　doubting　whether　he　ought　to
restore　the　prize；　which　he　had　watched　so　long；　and　obtained　so
eagerly。

〃Oh！　it　is　you？〃　said　Mr。　Rivers　politely。　　〃Oh；　no；　do　not　think　of
exchanging　it。　　I　am　rejoiced　that　one　should　have　it　who　can
appreciate　it。　　It　was　its　falling　into　the　hands　of　a　stranger　that
I　disliked。　　You　think　with　me；　that　it　is　one　of　her　best　drawings？〃

〃Yes；　I　do；〃　said　Norman；　still　rather　hesitating。　　〃She　did　that
with　C；　when　he　was　here　last　year。　　He　taught　her　very　well。　　Have
you　that　other　here；　that　you　took　with　him；　my　dear？　　The　view　from
the　gate；　I　mean。〃

〃No；　dear　papa。　　You　told　me　not　to　sell　that。〃

〃Ah！　I　remember；　that　is　right。　　But　there　are　some　very　pretty
copies　from　Prout　here。〃

While　he　was　seeking　them；　Meta　contrived　to　whisper；　〃If　you　could
persuade　him　to　go　indoorsthis　confusion　of　people　is　so　bad　for
him；　and　I　must　not　come　away。　　I　was　in　hopes　of　Dr。　May；　but　he　is
with　the　little　ones。〃

Norman　signed　comprehension；　and　Meta　said；　〃Those　copies　are　not
worth　seeing；　but　you　know；　papa；　you　have　the　originals　in　the
library。〃

Mr。　Rivers　looked　pleased；　but　was　certain　that　Norman　could　not
prefer　the　sketches　to　this　gay　scene。　　However；　it　took　very　little
persuasion　to　induce　him　to　do　what　he　wished；　and　he　took　Norman's
arm；　crossed　the　lawn；　and　arrived　in　his　own　study；　where　it　was　a
great　treat　to　him　to　catch　any　one　who　would　admire　his　accumulation
of　prints；　drawings；　coins；　etc。；　and　his　young　friend　was　both　very
well　amused　and　pleased　to　be　setting　Miss　Rivers's　mind　at　ease　on
her　father's　account。　　It　was　not　till　half…past　four　that　Dr。　May
knocked　at　the　door；　and　stood　surprised　at　finding　his　son　there。
Mr。　Rivers　spoke　warmly　of　the　young　Oxonian's　kindness　in　leaving
the　fair　for　an　old　man；　and　praised　Norman's　taste　in　art。　　Norman
rose　to　take　leave；　but　still　thought　it　incumbent　on　him　to　offer　to
give　up　the　picture；　if　Mr。　Rivers　set　an　especial　value　on　it。　　But
Mr。　Rivers　went　to　the　length　of　being　very　glad　that　it　was　in　his
possession；　and　added　to　it　a　very　pretty　drawing　of　the　same　size；
by　a　noted　master；　which　had　been　in　the　water…colour　exhibition；
and；　while　Norman　walked　away；　well　pleased；　Mr。　Rivers　began　to
extol　him　to　his　father；　as　a　very　superior　and　sensible　young　man；
of　great　promise；　and　began　to　wish　George　had　the　same　turn。

Norman；　on　returning　to　the　fancy　fair；　found　the　world　in　all　the
ardour　of　raffles。　　Lady　Leonora's　contributions　were　the　chief
prizes；　which　attracted　every　one；　and；　of　course；　the　result　was
delightfully　incongruous。　　Poor　Ethel；　who　had　been　persuaded　to
venture　a　shilling　to　please　Blanche；　who　had　spent　all　her　own；
obtained　the　two　jars　in　potichomanie；　and　was　regarding　them　with　a
face　worth　painting。　　Harvey　Anderson　had　a　doll；　George　Rivers　a
wooden　monkey；　that　jumped　over　a　stick；　and；　if　Hector　Ernescliffe
was　enchanted　at　winning　a　beautiful　mother…of…pearl　inlaid　workbox；
which　he　had　vainly　wished　to　buy　for　Margaret；　Flora　only　gained　a
match…box　of　her　own；　well　known　always　to　miss　fire；　but　which　had
been　decided　to　be　good　enough　for　the　bazaar。

Bv　fair　means　or　foul；　the　commodities　were　cleared　off；　and；　while
the　sunbeams　faded　from　the　trodden　grass；　the　crowds　disappeared；
and　the　vague　compliment；　〃a　very　good　bazaar；〃　was　exchanged　between
the　lingering　sellers　and　their　friends。

Flora　was　again　to　sleep　at　the　Grange；　and　return　the　next　day；　for
a　committee　to　be　held　over　the　gains；　which　were　not　yet　fully
ascertained。　　So　Dr。　May　gathered　his　flock　together；　and　packed
them；　boys　and　all；　into　the　two　conveyances；　and　Ethel　bade　Meta
good…night；　almost　wondering　to　hear　her　merry　voice　say；　〃It　has
been　a　delightful　day；　has　it　not？　　It　was　so　kind　of　your　brother　to
take　care　of　papa。〃

〃Oh；　it　was　delightful！〃　echoed　Mary；　〃and　I　took　one　pound　fifteen
and　sixpence！〃

〃I　hope　it　will　do　great　good　to　Cocksmoor；〃　added　Meta；　〃but；　if　you
want　real　help；　you　know；　you　must　come　to　us。〃

Ethel　smiled；　but　hurried　her　departure；　for　she　saw　Blanche　again
tormented　by　Mr。　George　Rivers；　to　know　what　had　become　of　the　guard；
telling　her　that；　if　she　would　not　say；　he　should　be　furiously
jealous。

Blanche　hid　her　face　on　Ethel's　arm；　when　they　were　in　the　carriage；
and　almost　cried　with　indignant　〃shamefastness。〃　　That　long…desired
day　had　not　been　one　of　unmixed　happiness　to　her；　poor　child；　and
Ethel　doubted　whether　it　had　been　so　to　any　one；　except；　indeed；　to
Mary；　whose　desires　never　soared　so　high　but　that　they　were　easily
fulfilled；　and　whose　placid　content　was　not　easily　wounded。　　All　she
was　wishing　now　was；　that　Harry　were　at　home　to　receive　his　paper…
case。

The　return　to　Margaret　was　real　pleasure。　　The　narration　of　all　that
had　passed　was　an　event　to　her。　　She　was　so　charmed　with　her
presents；　of　every　degree；　things；　unpleasant　at　the　time；　could；　by
drollery　in　the　relating；　be　made　mirthful　fun　ever　after；　Dr。　May
and　the　boys　were　so　comical　in　their　observationsMary's　wonder　and
simplicity　came　in　so　amazinglyand　there　was　such　merriment　at
Ethel's　two　precious　jars；　that　she　could　hardly　wish　they　had　not
come　to　her。　　On　one　head　they　were　all　agreed；　in　dislike　of　George
Rivers；　whom　Mary　pronounced　to　be　a　detestable　man；　and；　when　gently
called　to　order　by　Margaret；　defended　it；　by　saying　that　Miss　Bracy
said　it　was　better　to　detest　than　to　hate；　while　Blanche　coloured　up
to