the daisy chain, or aspirations-第86章

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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〃

〃Hurrah　for　Blanche！　　Well　done；　white　Mayflower；　there！〃　said　the
doctor；　〃that　is　what　I　meant。　　See　the　applause　gained　by　a　proud
bubble　that　flies！　　Don't　we　all　bow　down　to　it；　and　waft　it　up　with
the　whole　force　of　our　lungs；　air　as　it　is；　and　when　it　fairly　goes
out　of　sight；　is　there　any　exhilaration　or　applause　that　surpasses
ours？〃

〃The　whole　world　being　bent　on　making　painted　bubbles　fly　over　the
house；〃　said　Norman；　far　more　thoughtfully　than　his　father。　　〃It　is　a
fair　pattern　of　life　and　fame。〃

〃I　was　thinking；〃　continued　Dr。　May；　〃what　was　the　most　unalloyed
exultation　I　remember。〃

〃Harry's；　when　you　were　made　dux；〃　whispered　Ethel　to　her　brother。

〃Not　mine；〃　said　Norman　briefly。

〃I　believe；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃I　never　knew　such　glorification　as　when
Aubrey　Spencer　climbed　the　poor　old　market…cross。　　We　all　felt
ourselves　made　illustrious　for　ever　in　his　person。〃

〃Nay；　papa；　when　you　got　that　gold　medal　must　have　been　the　grandest
time？〃　said　Blanche；　who　had　been　listening。

Dr。　May　laughed；　and　patted　her。　〃I；　Blanche？　　Why；　I　was
excessively　amazed；　that　is　all；　not　in　Norman's　way；　but　I　had　been
doing　next　to　nothing　to　the　very　last；　then　fell　into　an　agony；　and
worked　like　a　horse；　thinking　myself　sure　of　failure；　and　that　my
mother　and　my　uncle　would　break　their　hearts。〃

〃But　when　you　heard　that　you　had　it？〃　persisted　Blanche。

〃Why；　then　I　found　I　must　be　a　much　cleverer　fellow　than　I　thought
for！〃　said　he；　laughing；　〃but　I　was　ashamed　of　myself；　and　of　the
authorities；　for　choosing　such　an　idle　dog；　and　vexed　that　other
plodding　lads　missed　it；　who　deserved　it　more　than　I。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Norman；　in　a　low　voice；　〃that　is　what　one　always
feels。　　I　had　rather　blow　soap…bubbles！〃

〃Where　was　Dr。　Spencer？〃　asked　Ethel。

〃Not　competing。　　He　had　been　ready　a　year　before；　and　had　gained　it；
or　I　should　have　had　no　chance。　　Poor　Spencer！　what　would　I　not　give
to　see　him；　or　hear　of　him？〃

〃The　last　washow　long　ago？〃　said　Ethel。

〃Six　years；　when　he　was　setting　off；　to　return　from　Poonshedagore；〃
said　Dr。　May；　sighing。　　〃I　gave　him　up；　his　health　was　broken；　and
there　was　no　one　to　look　after　him。　　He　was　the　sort　of　man　to　have　a
nameless　grave；　and　a　name　too　blessed　for　fame。〃

Ethel　would　have　asked　further　of　her　father's　dear　old　friend；　but
there　were　sounds；　denoting　an　arrival；　and　Margaret　beckoned　to　them
as　Miss　Rivers　and　her　brother　were　ushered　into　the　drawing…room；
and　Blanche　instantly　fled　away；　with　her　basin；　to　hide　herself　in
the　schoolroom。

Meta　skipped　out；　and　soon　was　established　on　the　grass；　an
attraction　to　all　the　live　creatures；　as　it　seemed；　for　the　kitten
came；　and　was　caressed　till　her　own　graceful　Nipen　was　ready　to　fight
with　the　uncouth　Toby　for　the　possession　of　a　resting…place　on　the
skirt　of　her　habit；　while　Daisy　nestled　up　to　her；　as　claiming　a
privilege；　and　Aubrey　kept　guard　over　the　dogs。

Meta　inquired　after　a　huge　dollDr。　Hoxton's　gift　to　Daisy；　at　the
bazaar。

〃She　is　in　Margaret's　wardrobe；〃　was　the　answer；　〃because　Aubrey　tied
her　hands　behind　her；　and　was　going　to　offer　her　up　on　the　nursery
grate。〃

〃Oh；　Aubrey；　that　was　too　cruel！〃

〃No；〃　returned　Aubrey；　〃she　was　Iphigenia；　going　to　be　sacrificed。〃

〃Mary　unconsciously　acted　Diana；〃　said　Ethel；　〃and　bore　the　victim
away。〃

〃Pray；　was　Daisy　a　willing　Clytemnestra？〃　asked　Meta。

〃Oh；　yes；　she　liked　it；〃　said　Aubrey；　while　Meta　looked　discomfited。

〃I　never　could　get　proper　respect　paid　to　dolls；〃　said　Margaret；　〃we
deal　too　much　in　their　natural　enemies。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　〃my　only　doll　was　like　a　heraldic　lion；　couped　in
all　her　parts。〃

〃Harry　and　Tom　once　made　a　general　execution；〃　said　Flora；　〃there　was
a　doll　hanging　to　every　balusterthe　number　made　up　with　rag。〃

George　Rivers　burst　out　laughinghis　first　sign　of　life；　and　Meta
looked　as　if　she　had　heard　of　so　many　murders。

〃I　can't　help　feeling　for　a　doll！〃　she　said。　　〃They　used　to　be　like
sisters　to　me。　　I　feel　as　if　they　were　wasted　on　children；　that　see
no　character　in　them；　and　only　call　them　Dolly。〃

〃I　agree　with　you；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃If　there　had　been　no　live　dolls；
Richard　and　I　should　have　reared　our　doll　family　as　judiciously　as
tenderly。　　There　are　treasures　of　carpentry　still　extant；　that　he
made　for　them。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　so　glad！〃　cried　Meta；　as　if　she　had　found　another　point　of
union。　　〃If　I　were　to　confessthere　is　a　dear　old　Rose　in　the　secret
recesses　of　my　wardrobe。　　I　could　as　soon　throw　away　my　sister〃

〃Ha！〃　cried　her　brother；　laying　hold　of　the　child；　〃here；　little
Daisy；　will　you　give　your　doll　to　Meta？〃

〃My　name　is　Gertrude　Margaret　May；〃　said　the　little　round　mouth。　　The
fat　arm　was　drawn　back；　with　all　a　baby's　dignity；　and　the　rosy　face
was　hidden　in　Dr。　May's　breast；　at　the　sound　of　George　Rivers's　broad
laugh　and　〃Well　done；　little　one！〃

Dr。　May　put　his　arm　round　her；　turned　aside　from　him；　and　began
talking　to　Meta　about　Mr。　Rivers。

Flora　and　Norman　made　conversation　for　the　brother；　and　he　presently
asked　Norman　to　go　out　shooting　with　him；　but　looked　so　amazed　on
hearing　that　Norman　was　no　sportsman　that　Flora　tried　to　save　the
family　credit　by　mentioning　Hector's　love　of　a　gun；　which　caused
their　guest　to　make　a　general　tender　of　sporting　privileges；
〃Though；〃　added　he；　with　a　drawl；　〃shooting　is　rather　a　nuisance；
especially　alone。〃

Meta　told　Ethel；　a　little　apart；　that　he　was　so　tired　of　going　out
alone；　that　he　had　brought　her　here；　in　search　of　a　companion。

〃He　comes　in　at　eleven　o'clock；　poor　fellow；　quite　tired　with
solitude；〃　said　she；　〃and　comes　to　me　to　be　entertained。〃

〃Indeed；〃　exclaimed　Ethel。　　〃What　can　you　do？〃

〃What　I　can；〃　said　Meta；　laughing。　　〃Whatever　is　not　'a　horrid
nuisance'　to　him。〃

〃It　would　be　a　horrid　nuisance　to　me；〃　said　Ethel　bluntly；　〃if　my
brothers　wanted　me　to　amuse　them　all　the　morning。〃

〃Your　brothers；　oh！〃　said　Meta；　as　if　that　were　very　different；
〃besides；　you　have　so　much　more　to　do。　　I　am　only　too　glad　and
grateful　when　George　will　come　to　me　at　all。　　You　see　I　have　always
been　too　young　to　be　his　companion；　or　find　out　what　suited　him；　and
now　he　is　so　very　kind　and　good…natured　to　me。〃

〃But　what　becomes　of　your　business？〃

〃I　get　time；　one　way　or　another。　　There　is　the　evening；　very　often；
when　I　have　sung　both　him　and　papa　to　sleep。　　I　had　two　hours；　all　to
myself；　yesterday　night；〃　said　Meta；　with　a　look　of　congratulation；
〃and　I　had　a　famous　reading　of　Thirlwall's　'Greece。'〃

〃I　should　think　that　such　evenings　were　as　bad　as　the　mornings。〃

〃Come〃；　Ethel；　don't　make　me　naughty。　　Large　families；　like　yours；
may　have　merry；　sociable　evenings；　but；　I　do　assure　you；　ours　are
very　pleasant。　　We　are　so　pleased　to　have　George　at　home；　and　we
really　hope　that　he　is　taking　a　fancy　to　the　dear　Grange。　　You　can't
think　how　delighted　papa　is　to　have　him　content　to　stay　quietly　with
us　so　long。　　I　must　call　him　to　go　back　now；　though；　or　papa　will　be
kept　waiting。〃

When　Ethel　had　watched　the　tall；　ponderous　brother　help　the　bright
fairy　sister　to　fly　airily　into　her　saddle；　and　her　sparkling　glance；
and　wave　of　the　hand；　as　she　cantered　off；　contrasting　with　his　slow
bend；　and　immobility　of　feature；　she　could　not　help　saying　that
Meta's　life　certainly　was　not　too　charming；　with　her　fanciful；
valetudinarian　father；　and　that　stupid；　idealess　brother。

〃He　is　very　amiable　and　good…natured；〃　interposed　Norman。

〃Ha！　Norman；　you　are　quite　won　by　his　invitation　to　shoot！　　How　he
despised　you　for　refusingas　much　as　you　despised
him。〃

〃Speak　for　yourself；〃　said　Norman。　　〃You　fancy　no　sensible　man　likes
shooting；　but　you　are　all　wrong。　　Some　of　our　best　men　are　capital
sportsmen。　　Why；　there　is　Ogilvieyou　know　what　he　is。　　When　I　bring
him　down　here；　you　will　see　that　there　is　no　sort　of　sport　that　he　is
not　keen　after。〃

〃This　poor　fellow　will　never　be　keen　after　anything；〃　said　Dr。　May。
〃I　pity　him！　　Existence　seems　hard　work　to　him！〃

〃We　shall　have　baby　calling　him　'the　detestable'　next；〃　said　Ethel。
〃What　a　famous　set　down　she　gave　him。〃

〃She　is　a　thorough　lady；　and　allows　no　liberties；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃Ah！〃　said　Margaret；　〃it　is　a　proof　of　what　I　want　to　impression　you。
We　really　must　leave　off　calling　her　Daisy　when　strangers　are　there。〃

〃It　is　so　much　nicer；〃　pleaded　Mary。

〃The　very　reason；〃　said　Margaret；　〃fondling　names　should　be　kept　for
our　innermost　selves；　not　spread　abroad；　and　made　common。　　I　remember
when　I　used　to　be　called　Peg…topand　Flora；　Flossywe　were　never
allowed　to　use　the　names　when　any　visitor　was　near；　and　we　were　asked
if　we　could　not　be　as　fond　of　each　other　by　our　proper　names。　　I
think　it　was　felt　that　there　was　a　want　of　reserve　in　publishing　our
pet　words　to　other　people。〃

〃Quite　true；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃baby…names　never　ought　to　go　beyond
home。　　It　is　the　fashion　to　use　them　now；　and；　besides　the　folly；　it
seems；　to　me；　an　absolute　injury　to　a　girl；　to　let　her　grow　up；　with
a　nickname　attached　to　her。〃

〃Ay！〃　chimed　in　Norman；　〃I　hear　men　talking　of　Henny；　and　Loo；　and
the　like；　and　you　can't　think　how　glad　I　have　been　that　my　sisters
could　not　be　known　by　any　absurd　word！〃

〃It　is　a　case　where　self…respect　would　make　others　behave　properly；〃
said　Flora。

〃True；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃but　if　girls　won't　keep　up　their　own　dignity；
their　friends'　duty　is　to　do　it　for　them。　　The　mischief　is　in　the
intimate　friends；　who　blazon　the　words　to　every　one。〃

〃And　then　they　call　one　formal；　for　trying　to　protect　the　right
name；〃　said　Flora。　　〃It　is；　one…half　of　it；　silliness；　and；　the
other；　affectation　of　intimacy。〃

〃Now；　I　know；〃　said　Mary；　〃why　you　are　so　careful　to　call　Meta　Miss
Rivers；　to　all　the　people　here。〃

〃I　should　hope　so！〃　cried　Norman　indignantly。

〃Why；　yes；　Mary；〃　said　Margaret；　〃I　should　hope　lady…like　feelings
would　prevent　you　from　calling　her　Meta　before〃

〃The　Andersons！〃　cried　Ethel；　laughing。　　〃Margaret　was　just　going　to
say　it。　　We　only　want　Harry；　to　exact　the　forfeit！　　Poor　dear　little
humming…bird！　　It　gives　one　an　oppression　on　the　chest；　to　think　of
her　having　that　great　do…nothing　brother　on　her　hands　all　day。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Norman；　〃I　shall　know　where　I　am　not　to　look　when　I
want　a　sister。〃

〃Ay；〃　said　Ethel；　〃when　you　come　yawning　to　me　to　find　amusement　for
you；　you　will　see　what　I　shall　do！〃

〃Stand　over　me　with　a　stick　while　I　print　A　B　C　for　Cocksmoor；　I
suppose；〃　said　Norman。

〃Well！　why　not？　　People　are　much　better　doing　something　than
nothing。〃

〃What；　you　won't　even　let　me　blow　bubbles！〃　said　Norman。

〃That　is　too　intellectual；　as　papa　makes　it；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃By　the
bye；　Norman；〃　she　added；　as　she　had　now　walked　with　him　a　little
apart；　〃it　always　was　a　bubble　of　mine　that　you　should　try　for　the
Newdigate　prize。　　Ha！〃　as　the　colour　rushed　into　his　cheeks；　〃you
really　have　begun！〃

〃I　could　not　help　it；　when　I　heard　the　subject　given　out　for　next
year。　　Our　old　friend；　Decius　Mus。〃

〃Have　you　finished？〃

〃By　no　means；　but