the daisy chain, or aspirations-第83章

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He　was　glad　of　that　smile；　and　proceeded。　　〃You　will　let　me　speak　to
you；　as　to　one　of　my　own　girls？　　To　them；　I　should　say；　use　the　only
true　cure。　　Don't　brood　over　vexations；　small　or　great；　but　think　of
them　as　trials　that；　borne　bravely；　become　blessings。〃

〃Oh！　but　Dr。　May！〃　she　exclaimed；　shocked；　〃nothing　in　your　house
could　call　for　such　feelings。〃

〃I　hope　we　are　not　very　savage；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃but；　indeed；　I
still　say　it　is　the　safest　rule。　　It　would　be　the　only　one　if　you
were　really　among　unkind　people；　and；　if　you　take　so　much　to　heart　an
unlucky　neglect　of　mine；　what　would　you　do　if　the　slight　were　a　true
one？〃

〃You　are　right；　but　my　feelings　were　always　over…sensitive；〃　and　this
she　said　with　a　sort　of　complacency。

〃Well；　we　must　try　to　brace　them；〃　said　Dr。　May；　much　as　if
prescribing　for　her。　　〃Will　not　you　believe　in　our　confidence　and
esteem；　and　harden　yourself　against　any　outward　unintentional　piece
of　incivility？〃

She　felt　as　if　she　could　at　that　moment。

〃Or　at　least；　try　to　forgive　and　forget　them。　　Talking　them　over　only
deepens　the　sense　of　them；　and　discussions　do　no　good　to　any　one。　　My
daughters　are　anxious　to　be　your　best　friends；　as　I　hope　you　know。〃

〃Oh！　they　are　most　kind〃

〃But；　you　see；　I　must　say　this；〃　added　Dr。　May；　somewhat　hesitating；
〃as　they　have　no　mother　toto　spare　all　this；〃　and　then；　growing
clearer；　he　proceeded；　〃I　must　beg　you　to　be　forbearing　with　them；
and　not　perplex　yourself　and　them　with　arguing　on　what　cannot　be
helped。　　They　have　not　the　experience　that　could　enable　them　to
finish　such　a　discussion　without　unkindness；　and　it　can　only　waste
the　spirits；　and　raise　fresh　subjects　of　regret。　　I　must　leave　youI
hear　myself　called。〃

Miss　Bracy　began　to　be　sensible　that　she　had　somewhat　abused　Ethel's
patience；　and　the　unfortunate　speech　about　the　source　of　her
sensitiveness　did　not　appear　to　her　so　direfully　cruel　as　at　first。
She　hoped　every　one　would　forget　all　about　it；　and　resolved　not　to
take　umbrage　so　easily　another　time；　or　else　be　silent　about　it；　but
she　was　not　a　person　of　much　resolution。

The　doctor　found　that　Meta　Rivers　and　her　brother　had　brought　Flora
home；　and　were　in　the　drawing…room；　where　Margaret　was　hearing
another　edition　of　the　history　of　the　fair；　and　a　by…play　was　going
on；　of　teasing　Blanche　about　the　chain。

George　Rivers　was　trying　to　persuade　her　to　make　one　for　him；　and　her
refusal　came　out　at　last；　in　an　almost　passionate　key；　in　the　midst
of　the　other　conversation　〃No！　I　say…no！〃

〃Another　no；　and　that　will　be　yes。〃

〃No！　I　won't！　　I　don't　like　you　well　enough！〃

Margaret　gravely　sent　Blanche　and　the　other　children　away　to　take
their　walk；　and　the　brother　and　sister　soon　after　took　leave；　when
Flora　called　Ethel　to　hasten　to　the　Ladies'　Committee；　that　they
might　arrange　the　disposal　of　the　one　hundred　and　fifty　pounds；　the
amount　of　their　gains。

〃To　see　the　fate　of　Cocksmoor；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Do　you　think　I　cannot　manage　the　Stoneborough　folk？〃　said　Flora；
looking　radiant　with　good　humour；　and　conscious　of　power。　　〃Poor
Ethel！　　I　am　doing　you　good　against　your　will！　　Never　mind；　here　is
wherewith　to　build　the　school；　and　the　management　will　be　too　happy
to　fall　into　our　hands。　　Do　you　think　every　one　is　as　ready　as　you
are；　to　walk　three　miles　and　back　continually？〃

There　was　sense　in　this；　there　always　was　sense　in　what　Flora　said；
but　it　jarred　on　Ethel；　and　it　seemed　almost　unsympathising　in　her　to
be　so　gay；　when　the　rest　were　wearied　or　perturbed。　　Ethel　would　have
been　very　glad　of　a　short　space　to　recollect　herself；　and　recover　her
good　temper；　but　it　was　late；　and　Flora　hurried　her　to　put　on　her
bonnet；　and　come　to　the　committee。　　〃I'll　take　care　of　your
interests；〃　she　said；　as　they　set　out。　　〃You　look　as　doleful　as　if
you　thought　you　should　be　robbed　of　Cocksmoor；　but　that　is　the　last
thing　that　will　happen；　you　will　see。〃

〃It　would　not　be　acting　fairly　to　let　them　build　for　us；　and　then　for
us　to　put　them　out　of　the　management；〃　said　Ethel。

〃My　dear；　they　want　importance；　not　action。　　They　will　leave　the　real
power　to　us　of　themselves。〃

〃You　like　to　build　Cocksmoor　with　such　instruments；〃　said　Ethel；
whose　ruffled　condition　made　her　forget　her　resolution　not　to　argue
with　Flora。

〃Bricks　are　made　of　clay！〃　said　Flora。　　〃There；　that　was　said　like
Norman　himself！　　On　your　plan；　we　might　have　gone　on　for　forty　years；
saving　seven　shillings　a　year；　and　spending　six；　whenever　there　was
an　illness　in　the　place。〃

〃You；　who　used　to　dislike　these　people　more　than　even　I　did！〃　said
Ethel。

〃That　was　when　I　was　an　infant；　my　dear；　and　did　not　know　how　to　deal
with　them。　　I　will　take　careI　will　even　save　Cherry　Elwood　for　you；
if　I　can。　　Alan　Ernescliffe's　ten　pounds　is　a　noble　weapon。〃

〃You　always　mean　to　manage　everything；　and　then　you　have　no　time！〃
said　Ethel；　sensible　all　the　time　of　her　own　ill…humour；　and　of　her
sister's　patience　and　amiability；　yet　propelled　to　speak　the
unpleasant　truths　that　in　her　better　moods　were　held　back。

Still　Flora　was　good…tempered；　though　Ethel　would　almost　have
preferred　her　being　provoked；　〃I　know；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　been　using
you　ill；　and　leaving　the　world　on　your　shoulders；　but　it　was　all　in
your　service　and　Cocksmoor's；　and　now　we　shall　begin　to　be　reasonable
and　useful　again。〃

〃I　hope　so；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Really；　Ethel；　to　comfort　you；　I　think　I　shall　send　you　with　Norman
to　dine　at　Abbotstoke　Grange　on　Wednesday。　　Mr。　Rivers　begged　us　to
come；　he　is　so　anxious　to　make　it　lively　for　his　son。〃

〃Thank　you；　I　do　not　think　Mr。　George　Rivers　and　I　should　be　likely
to　get　on　together。　　What　a　bad　style　of　wit！　　You　heard　what　Mary
said　about　him？　and　Ethel　repeated　the　doubt　between　hating　and
detesting。

〃Young　men　never　know　how　to　talk　to　little　girls；〃　was　Flora's
reply。

At　this　moment　they　came　up　with　one　of　the　Miss　Andersons；　and　Flora
began　to　exchange　civilities；　and　talk　over　yesterday's　events　with
great　animation。　　Her　notice　always　gave　pleasure；　brightened　as　it
was　by　the　peculiarly　engaging　address　which　she　had　inherited　from
her　father；　and　which；　therefore；　was　perfectly　easy　and　natural。
Fanny　Anderson　was　flattered　and　gratified；　rather　by　the　manner　than
the　words；　and；　on　excellent　terms；　they　entered　the　committee…room；
namely；　the　schoolmistress's　parlour。

There　were　nine　ladies　on　the　committeenine　muses；　as　the　doctor
called　them；　because　they　produced　anything　but　harmony。　　Mrs。
Ledwich　was　in　the　chair；　Miss　Rich　was　secretary；　and　had　her　pen
and　ink；　and　account…book　ready。　　Flora　came　in；　smiling　and
greeting；　Ethel；　grave；　earnest；　and　annoyed；　behind　her；　trying　to
be　perfectly　civil；　but　not　at　all　enjoying　the　congratulations　on
the　successful　bazaar。　　The　ladies　all　talked　and　discussed　their
yesterday's　adventures；　gathering　in　little　knots；　as　they　traced　the
fate　of　favourite　achievements　of　their　skill；　while　Ethel；
lugubrious　and　impatient；　beside　Flora；　the　only　one　not　engaged；
and；　therefore；　conscious　of　the　hubbub　of　clacking　tongues。

At　last　Mrs。　Ledwich　glanced　at　the　mistress's　watch；　in　its
pasteboard　tower；　in　Gothic　architecture；　and　insisted　on　proceeding
to　business。　　So　they　all　sat　down　round　a　circular　table；　with　a
very　fine　red；　blue；　and　black　oilcloth；　whose　pattern　was
inseparably　connected；　in　Ethel's　mind；　with　absurdity；　tedium；　and
annoyance。

The　business　was　opened　by　the　announcement　of　what　they　all　knew
before；　that　the　proceeds　of　the　fancy　fair　amounted　to　one　hundred
and　forty…nine　pounds　fifteen　shillings　and　tenpence。

Then　came　a　pause；　and　Mrs。　Ledwich　said　that　next　they　had　to
consider　what　was　the　best　means　of　disposing　of　the　sum　gained　in
this　most　gratifying　manner。　　Every　one　except　Flora；　Ethel；　and
quiet　Mrs。　Ward；　began　to　talk　at　once。　　There　was　a　great　deal　about
Elizabethan　architecture；　crossed　by　much　more；　in　which　normal；
industrial；　and　common　things；　most　often　met　Ethel's　ear；　with　some
stories；　second…hand；　from　Harvey　Anderson；　of　marvellous　mistakes；
and；　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　table；　there　was　Mrs。　Ledwich；
impressively　saying　something　to　the　silent　Mrs。　Ward；　marking　her
periods　with　emphatic　beats　with　her　pencil；　and　each　seemed　to　close
with　〃Mrs。　Perkinson's　niece；〃　whom　Ethel　knew　to　be　Cherry's
intended　supplanter。　　She　looked　piteously　at　Flora；　who　only　smiled
and　made　a　sign　with　her　hand　to　her　to　be　patient。　　Ethel　fretted
inwardly　at　that　serene　sense　of　power；　but　she　could　not　but　admire
how　well　Flora　knew　how　to　bide　her　time；　when；　having　waited　till
Mrs。　Ledwich　had　nearly　wound　up　her　discourse　on　Mrs。　Elwood's
impudence；　and　Mrs。　Perkinson's　niece；　she　leaned　towards　Miss
Boulder；　who　sat　between；　and　whispered　to　her；　〃Ask　Mrs。　Ledwich　if
we　should　not　begin　with　some　steps　for　getting　the　land。〃

Miss　Boulder；　having　acted　as　conductor；　the　president　exclaimed；
〃Just　so；　the　land　is　the　first　consideration。　　We　must　at　once　take
steps　for　obtaining　it。〃　　Thereupon　Mrs。　Ledwich；　who　〃always　did
things　methodically；〃　moved；　and　Miss　Anderson　seconded；　that　the
land　requisite　for　the　school　must　be　obtained；　and　the　nine　ladies
held　up　their　hands；　and　resolved　it。

Miss　Rich　duly　recorded　the　great　resolution；　and　Miss　Boulder
suggested　that；　perhaps；　they　might　write　to　the　National　Society；　or
Government；　or　something；　whereat　Miss　Rich　began　to　flourish　one　of
the　very　long　goose　quills　which　stood　in　the　inkstand　before　her；
chiefly　as　insignia　of　office；　for　she　always　wrote　with　a　small；
stiff　metal　pen。

Flora　here　threw　in　a　query；　whether　the　National　Society；　or
Government；　or　something；　would　give　them　a　grant；　unless　they　had
the　land　to　build　upon？

The　ladies　all　started　off　hereupon；　and　all　sorts　of　instances　of
hardness　of　heart　were　mentioned；　the　most　relevant　of　which　was；
that　the　Church　Building　Society　would　not　give　a　grant　to　Mr。
Holloway's　proprietary　chapel　at　Whitford；　when　Mrs。　Ledwich　was
suddenly　struck　with　the　notion　that　dear　Mr。　Holloway　might　be
prevailed　on　to　come　to　Stoneborough　to　preach　a　sermon　in　the
Minster；　for　the　benefit　of　Cocksmoor；　when　they　would　all　hold
plates　at　the　door。　　Flora　gave　Ethel　a　tranquillising　pat；　and；　as
Mrs。　Ledwich　turned　to　her；　asking　whether　she　thought　Dr。　May；　or
Dr。　Hoxton；　would　prevail　on　him　to　come；　she　said；　with　her　winning
look；　〃I　think　that　consideration　had　better　wait　till　we　have　some
more　definite　view。　　Had　we　not　better　turn　to　this　land　question？〃

〃Quite　true！〃　they　all　agreed；　but　to　whom　did　the　land　belong？and
what　a　chorus　arose！　　Miss　Anderson　thought　it　belonged　to　Mr。
Nicolson；　because　the　wagons　of　slate　had　James　Nicolson　on　them；
and；　if　so；　they　had　no　chance；　for　he　was　an　old　miserand　six
stories　illustrative　thereof　ensued。　　Miss　Rich　was　quite　sure　some
Body　held　it；　and　Bodies　were　slow　of　movement。　　Mrs。　Ledwich
remembered　some　question　of　enclosing；　and　thought　all　waste　lands
were　under　the　Crown；　she　knew　that　the　Stoneborough　people　once　had
a　right　to　pasture　their　cattle；　because　Mr。　Southron's　cow　had
tumbled　down　a　loam…pit　when　her　mother