爱爱小说网 > 其他电子书 > the daisy chain, or aspirations >

第83章

the daisy chain, or aspirations-第83章

小说: the daisy chain, or aspirations 字数: 每页3500字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




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 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的