the daisy chain, or aspirations-第85章

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pardon　the　liberty；　etc。〃

Etheldred　finished　the　letter　through　blinding　tears；　while　rising
sobs　almost　choked　her。　　She　ran　away　to　her　own　room；　bolted　the
door；　and　threw　herself　on　her　knees；　beside　her　bednow　confusedly
giving　thanks　for　such　resultsnow　weeping　bitterly　over　her　own
unworthiness。　　Oh！　what　was　she　in　the　sight　of　Heaven；　compared　with
what　this　poor　girl　had　deemed　herwith　what　this　clergyman　thought
her？　　She；　the　teacher；　taught；　trained；　and　guarded；　from　her
infancy；　by　her　wise　mother；　and　by　such　a　father！　　She；　to　have
given　way　all　day　to　pride；　jealousy；　anger；　selfish　love　of　her　own
will；　when　this　poor　girl　had　embraced；　and　held　fast；　the　blessed
hope；　from　the　very　crumbs　they　had　brought　her！　　Nothing　could　have
so　humbled　the　distrustful　spirit　that　had　been　working　in　Ethel；
which　had　been　scotched　into　silencenot　killedwhen　she　endured
the　bazaar；　and　now　had　been　indemnifying　itself　by　repining　at　every
stumbling…block。　　Her　own　scholar's　blessing　was　the　rebuke　that　went
most　home　to　her　heart；　for　having　doubted　whether　good　could　be
worked　in　any　way；　save　her　own。

She　was　interrupted　by　Mary　trying　to　open　the　door；　and；　admitting
her；　heard　her　wonder　at　the　traces　of　her　tears；　and　ask　what　there
was　about　Una。　　Ethel　gave　her　the　letter；　and　Mary's　tears　showered
very　fastthey　always　came　readily。　　〃Oh；　Ethel；　how　glad　Richard
will　be！〃

〃Yes；　it　is　all　Richard's　doing。　　So　much　more　good；　and　wise；　and
humble；　as　he　is。　　No　wonder　his　teaching〃　and　Ethel　sat　down　and
cried　again。

Mary　pondered。　〃　It　makes　me　very　glad；〃　she　said；　〃and　yet　I　don't
know　why　one　cries。　　Ethel；　do　you　think〃she　came　near；　and
whispered〃that　Una　has　met　dear　mamma　there？〃

Ethel　kissed　her。　　It　was　almost　the　first　time　Mary　had　spoken　of
her　mother；　and　she　answered；　〃Dear　Mary；　we　cannot　tellwe　may
think。　　It　is　all　one　communion；　you　know。〃

Mary　was　silent；　and；　next　time　she　spoke；　it　was　to　hope　that　Ethel
would　tell　the　Cocksmoor　children　about　Una。

Ethel　was　obliged　to　dress；　and　go　downstairs　to　tea。　　Her　father
seemed　to　have　been　watching　for　her；　with　his　study　door　open；　for
he　came　to　meet　her；　took　her　hand；　and　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃My
dear　child；　I　wish　you　joy。　　This　will　be　a　pleasant　message；　to　bid
poor　Ritchie　good　speed　for　his　ordination；　will　it　not？〃

〃That　it　will；　papa〃

〃Why；　Ethel；　have　you　been　crying　over　it　all　this　time？〃　said　he；
struck　by　the　sadness　of　her　voice。

〃Many　other　things；　papa。　　I　am　so　unworthybut　it　was　not　our
doingbut　the　grace〃

〃No；　but　thankful　you　may　be；　to　have　been　the　means　of　awakening　the
grace！〃

Ethel's　lips　trembled。　　〃And　oh；　papa！　coming　to…day；　when　I　have
been　behaving　so　ill　to　you；　and　Miss　Bracy；　and　Flora；　and　all。

〃Have　you？　　I　did　not　know　you　had　behaved　ill　to　me。〃

〃About　Miss　BracyI　thought　wrong　things；　if　I　did　not　say　them。　　To
her；　I　believe；　I　said　what　was　true；　though　it　was　harsh　of　me　to
say　it；　and〃

〃What？　about　pride　and　temper？　　It　was　true；　and　I　hope　it　will　do
her　good。　　Cure　a　piping　turkey　with　a　peppercorn　sometimes。　　I　have
spoken　to　her；　and　told　her　to　pluck　up　a　little　spirit；　not　fancy
affronts；　and　not　to　pester　you　with　them。　　Poor　child！　you　have　been
sadly　victimised　to…day　and　yesterday。　　No　wonder　you　were　bored　past
patience；　with　that　absurd　rabble　of　women！〃

〃It　was　all　my　own　selfish；　distrustful　temper；　wanting　to　have
Cocksmoor　taken　care　of　in　my　own　way；　and　angry　at　being　interfered
with。　　I　see　it　nowand　here　this　poor　girl；　that　I　thought　thrown
away〃

〃Ay；　Ethel；　you　will　often　see　the　like。　　The　main　object　may　fail　or
fall　short；　but　the　earnest　painstaking　will　always　be　blessed　some
way　or　other；　and　where　we　thought　it　most　wasted；　some　fresh　green
shoot　will　spring　up；　to　show　it　is　not　we　that　give　the　increase。　　I
suppose　you　will　write　to　Richard　with　this？〃

〃That　I　shall。〃

〃Then　you　may　send　this　with　it。　　Tell　him　my　arm　is　tired　and　stiff
to…day；　or　I　would　have　said　more。　　He　must　answer　the　clergyman's
letter。〃

Dr。　May　gave　Ethel　his　sheet　not　folded。　　His　written　words　were　now
so　few　as　to　be　cherished　amongst　his　children。


〃Dear　Richard；

〃May　all　your　ministerial　works　be　as　blessed　as　this；　your　first
labour　of　love。　　I　give　you　hearty　joy　of　this　strengthening
blessing。　　Mine　goes　with　it'Only　be　strong　and　of　a　good　courage！'

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Your　affectionate　father；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　R。　May。

〃PS。Margaret　does　not　gain　ground　this　summer；　you　must　soon
come　home　and　cheer　her。〃




CHAPTER　V。



As　late；　engaged　by　fancy's　dream；
I　lay　beside　a　rapid　stream；
I　saw　my　first　come　gliding　by；
Its　airy　form　soon　caught　my　eye；
Its　texture　frail；　and　colour　various；
Like　human　hopes；　and　life　precarious。
Sudden；　my　second　caught　my　ear；
And　filled　my　soul　with　constant　fear；
I　quickly　rose；　and　home　I　ran；
My　whole　was　hissing　in　the　pan。Riddle。


Flora　revised　the　letter　to　the　principal；　and　the　Ladies'　Committee
approved；　after　having　proposed　seven　amendments；　all　of　which　Flora
caused　to　topple　over　by　their　own　weakness。

After　interval　sufficient　to　render　the　nine　ladies　very　anxious；　the
principal　wrote　from　Scotland；　where　he　was　spending　the　Long
Vacation；　and　informed　them　that　their　request　should　he　laid　before
the　next　college　meeting。

After　the　committee　had　sat　upon　this　letter；　the　two　sisters　walked
home　in　much　greater　harmony　than　after　the　former　meeting。
Etheldred　had　recovered　her　candour；　and　was　willing　to　own　that　it
was　not　art；　but　good　sense；　that　gave　her　sister　so　much　ascendancy。
She　began　to　be　hopeful；　and　to　declare　that　Flora　might　yet　do
something　even　with　the　ladies。　　Flora　was　gratified　by　the　approval
that　no　one　in　the　house　could　help　valuing；　〃Positively；〃　said
Flora；　〃I　believe　I　may　in　time。　　You　see　there　are　different　ways　of
acting；　as　an　authority；　or　as　an　equal。〃

〃The　authority　can　move　from　without；　the　equal　must　from　within；〃
said　Ethel。

〃Just　so。　　We　must　circumvent　their　prejudices；　instead　of　trying　to
beat　them　down。〃

〃If　you　only　could　have　the　proper　catechising　restored！〃

〃Wait；　you　will　see。　　Let　me　feel　my　ground。〃

〃Or　if　we　could　only　abdicate　into　the　hands　of　the　rightful　power！〃

〃The　rightful　power　would　not　be　much　obliged　to　you。〃

〃That　is　the　worst　of　it；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃It　is　sad　to　hear　the　sick
people　say　that　Dr。　May　is　more　to　them　than　any　parson；　it　shows
that　they　have　so　entirely　lost　the　notion　of　what　their　clergyman
should　be。〃

〃Dr。　May　is　the　man　most　looked　up　to　in　this　town；〃　said　Flora；　〃and
that　gives　weight　to　us　in　the　committee；　but　it　is　all　in　the
using。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel　hesitatingly。

〃You　see；　we　have　the　prestige　of　better　birth；　and　better　education；
as　well　as　of　having　the　chief　property　in　the　town；　and　of　being　the
largest　subscribers；　added　to　his　personal　character；〃　said　Flora；
〃so　that　everything　conspires　to　render　us　leaders；　and　our　age　alone
prevented　us　from　assuming　our　post　sooner。〃

They　were　at　home　by　this　time；　and　entering　the　hall；　perceived　that
the　whole　party　were　in　the　lawn。　　The　consolation　of　the　children
for　the　departure　of　Hector　and　Tom；　was　a　bowl　of　soap…suds　and　some
tobacco　pipes；　and　they　had　collected　the　house　to　admire　and　assist；
even　Margaret's　couch　being　drawn　close　to　the　window。

Bubbles　is　one　of　the　most　fascinating　of　sports。　　There　is　the　soft
foamy　mass；　like　driven　snow；　or　like　whipped　cream。　　Blanche　bends
down　to　blow　〃a　honeycomb；〃　holding　the　bowl　of　the　pipe　in　the
water；　at　her　gurgling　blasts　there　slowly　heaves　upwards　the　pile　of
larger；　clearer　bubbles；　each　reflecting　the　whole　scene；　and
sparkling　with　rainbow　tints；　until　Aubrey　ruthlessly　dashes　all　into
fragments　with　his　hand；　and　Mary　pronounces　it　stiff　enough；　and
presents　a　pipe　to　little　Daisy；　who；　drawing　the　liquid　into　her
mouth；　throws　it　away　with　a　grimace；　and　declares　that　she　does　not
like　bubbles！　　But　Aubrey　stands　with　swelled　cheeks；　gravely　puffing
at　the　sealing…waxed　extremity。　　Out　pours　a　confused　assemblage　of
froth；　but　the　glassy　globe　slowly　expands　the　little　branching
veins；　flowing　down　on　either　side；　bearing　an　enlarging　miniature　of
the　sky；　the　clouds；　the　tulip…tree。　　Aubrey　pauses　to　exclaim！　but
where　is　it？　　Try　again！　　A　proud　bubble；　as　Mary　calls　it；　a
peacock；　in　blended　pink　and　green；　is　this　transparent　sphere；
reflecting　and　embellishing　house；　wall；　and　shrubs！　　It　is　too
beautiful！　　It　is　gone！　　Mary　undertakes　to　give　a　lesson；　and　blows
deliberately　without　the　slightest　result。　　Again！　　She　waves　her
disengaged　hand　in　silent　exultation　as　the　airy　balls　detach
themselves；　and　float　off　on　the　summer　breeze；　with　a　tardy；
graceful；　uncertain　motion。　　Daisy　rushes　after　them；　catches　at
them；　and　looks　at　her　empty　fingers　with　a　puzzled　〃All　gone！〃　as
plainly　expressed　by　Toby；　who　snaps　at　them；　and　shakes　his　head
with　offended　dignity　at　the　shock　of　his　meeting　teeth；　while　the
kitten　frisks　after　them；　striking　at　them　with　her　paw；　amazed　at
meeting　vacancy。

Even　the　grave　Norman　is　drawn　in。　　He　agrees　with　Mary　that　bubbles
used　to　fly　over　the　wall；　and　that　one　once　went　into　Mrs。
Richardson's　garret　window；　when　her　housemaid　tried　to　catch　it　with
a　pair　of　tongs；　and　then　ran　downstairs　screaming　that　there　was　a
ghost　in　her　room；　but　that　was　in　Harry's　time；　the　heroic　age　of
the　May　nursery。

He　accepts　a　pipe；　and　his　greater　height　raises　it　into　a　favourable
current　of　airthe　glistening　balloon　sails　off。　　It　flies；　it
soars；　no；　it　is　coming　down！　　The　children　shout　at　it；　as　if　to
drive　it　up；　but　it　wilfully　descendsthey　rush　beneath；　they　try　to
waft　it　on　high　with　their　breaththere　is　a　collision　between　Mary
and　BlancheAubrey　perceives　a　taste　of　soapy　waterthe　bubble　is
no　moreit　is　vanished　in　his　open　mouth！

Papa　himself　has　taken　a　pipe；　and　the　little　ones　are　mounted　on
chairs；　to　be　on　a　level　with　their　tall　elders。　　A　painted　globe　is
swimming　along；　hesitating　at　first；　but　the　dancing　motion　is
tending　upwards；　the　rainbow　tints　glisten　in　the　sunlightall　rush
to　assist　it；　if　breath　of　the　lips　can　uphold　it；　it　should　rise；
indeed！　　Up！　above　the　wall！　over　Mrs。　Richardson's　elm；　over　the
topmost　branchhurrah！　out　of　sight！　　Margaret　adds　her　voice　to　the
acclamations。　　Beat　that　if　you　can；　Mary！　　That　doubtful　wind　keeps
yours　suspended　in　a　graceful　minuet；　its　pace　is　acceleratedbut
earthwards！　it　has　committed　self…destruction　by　running　foul　of　a
rose…bush。　　A　general　blank！

〃You　here；　Ethel？〃　said　Norman；　as　the　elders　laughed　at　each　other's
baffled　faces。

〃I　am　more　surprised　to　find　you　here；〃　she　answered。

〃Excitement！〃　said　Norman；　smiling；　〃one　cause　is　as　good　as　another
for　it。〃

〃Very　pretty　sport；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃You　should　write　a　poem　on　it；
Norman。〃

〃It　is　an　exhausted　subject；〃　said　Norman；　〃bubble　and　trouble　are
too　obvious　a　rhyme。〃

〃Ha！　there　it　goes！　　It　will　be　over　the　house！　　That's　right！〃
Every　one　joined　in　the　outcry。

〃Whose　is　it？〃

〃Blanche's〃