the daisy chain, or aspirations-第87章

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year。　　Our　old　friend；　Decius　Mus。〃

〃Have　you　finished？〃

〃By　no　means；　but　it　brought　a　world　of　notions　into　my　head；　such　as
I　could　not　but　set　down。　　Now；　Ethel；　do　oblige　me；　do　write
another；　as　we　used　in　old　times。〃

〃I　had　better　not；〃　said　Ethel；　standing　thoughtful。　　〃If　I　throw
myself　into　it；　I　shall　hate　everything　else；　and　my　wits　will　be
woolgathering。　　I　have　neither　time　nor　poetry　enough。〃

〃You　used　to　write　English　verse。〃

〃I　was　cured　of　it。〃

〃How？〃

〃I　wanted　money　for　Cocksmoor；　and　after　persuading　papa；　I　got　leave
to　send　a　ballad　about　a　little　girl　and　a　white　rose　to　that　school
magazine。　　I　don't　think　papa　liked　it；　but　there　were　some　verses
that　touched　him；　and　one　had　seen　worse。　　It　was　actually　inserted；
and　I　was　in　high　feather；　till；　oh；　Norman！　imagine　Richard　getting
hold　of　this　unlucky　thing；　without　a　notion　where　it　came　from！
Margaret　put　it　before　him；　to　see　what　he　would　say　to　it。〃

〃I　am　afraid　it　was　not　like　a　young　lady's　anonymous　composition　in
a　story。〃

〃By　no　means。　　Imagine　Ritchie　picking　my　poor　metaphors　to　pieces；
and　weighing　every　sentimental　line！　　And　all　in　his　dear　old
simplicity；　because　he　wanted　to　understand　it；　seeing　that　Margaret
liked　it。　　He　had　not　the　least　intention　of　hurting　my　feelings；　but
never　was　I　so　annihilated！　　I　thought　he　was　doing　it　on　purpose；
till　I　saw　how　distressed　he　was　when　he　found　it　out；　and　worse　than
all　was；　his　saying　at　the　end　that　he　supposed　it　was　very　fine；　but
he　could　not　understand　it。〃

〃Let　me　see　it。〃

〃Some　time　or　other；　but　let　me　see　Decius。〃

〃Did　you　give　up　verses　because　Richard　could　not　understand　them？〃

〃No；　because　I　had　other　fish　to　fry。　　And　I　have　not　given　them　up
altogether。　　I　do　scrabble　down　things　that　tease　me　by　running　in　my
head；　when　I　want　to　clear　my　brains；　and　know　what　I　mean；　but　I
can't　do　it　without　sitting　up　at　night；　and　that　stupefies　me　before
breakfast。　　And　as　to　making　bubbles　of　them；　Ritchie　has　cured　me　of
that！〃

〃It　is　a　pity！　〃　said　Norman。

〃Nonsense；　let　me　see　Decius。　　I　know　he　is　splendid。〃

〃I　wish　you　would　have　tried；　for　all　my　best　ideas　are　stolen　from
you。〃

Ethel　prevailed　by　following　her　brother　to　his　room；　and　perching
herself　on　the　window…sill；　while　he　read　his　performance　from　many
slips　of　paper。　　The　visions　of　those　boyish　days　had　not　been
forgotten；　the　Vesuvius　scenery　was　much　as　Ethel　had　once　described
it；　but　with　far　more　force　and　beauty；　there　was　Decius's
impassioned　address　to　the　beauteous　land　he　was　about　to　leave；　and
the　remembrances　of　his　Roman　hearth；　his　farm；　his　children；　whom　he
quitted　for　the　pale　shadows　of　an　uncertain　Elysium。　　There　was　a
great　hiatus　in　the　middle；　and　Norman　had　many　more　authorities　to
consult；　but　the　summing…up　was　nearly　complete；　and　Ethel　thought
the　last　lines　grand；　as　they　spoke　of　the　noble　consul's　name　living
for　evermore；　added　to　the　examples　that　nerve　ardent　souls　to　devote
life；　and　all　that　is　precious；　to　the　call　of　duty。　　Fame　is　not
their　object。　　She　may　crown　their　pale　brows；　but　for　the　good　of
others；　not　their　own；　a　beacon　light　to　the　world。　　Self　is　no
object　of　theirs；　and　it　is　the　casting　self　behind　that　winsnot
always　the　visible　earthly　strife；　but　the　combat　between　good　and
evil。　　They　are　the　true　victors；　and；　whether　chronicled　or
forgotten；　true　glory　rests　on　their　heads；　the　sole　true　glory　that
man　can　attain；　namely；　the　reflected　beams　that　crown　them　as
shadowy　types　of　Him　whom　Decius　knew　notthe　Prince　who　gave
Himself　for　His　people；　and　thus　rendered　death；　for　Truth's　sake；
the　highest　boon　to　mortal　man。

〃Norman；　you　must　finish　it！　　When　will　it　be　given　in？〃

〃Next　spring；　if　at　all；　but　keep　the　secret；　Ethel。　　I　cannot　have
my　father's　hopes　raised。〃

〃I'll　tell　you　of　a　motto；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Do　you　remember　Mrs。
Hemans'　mention　of　a　saying　of　Sir　Walter　Scott　'Never　let　me　hear
that　brave　blood　has　been　shed　in　vain。　　It　sends　a　roaring　voice
down　through　all　time。'〃

〃If；〃　said　Norman；　rather　ashamed　of　the　enthusiasm　which；　almost
approaching　to　the　so…called　〃funny　state〃　of　his　younger　days；　had
trembled　in　his　voice；　and　kindled　his　eye〃if　you　won't　let　me　put
'nascitur　ridiculus　mus。'〃

〃Too　obvious；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Depend　upon　it；　every　undergraduate　has
thought　of　it　already。〃

Ethel　was　always　very　happy　over　Norman's　secrets；　and　went　about
smiling　over　Decius；　and　comparing　her　brother　with　such　a　one　as
poor　Meta　was　afflicted　with；　wasting　some　superfluous　pity　and
contempt　on　the　weary　weight　that　was　inflicted　on　the　Grange。

〃What　do　you　think　of　me？〃　said　Margaret；　one　afternoon。　　〃I　have　had
Mr。　George　Rivers　here　for　two　hours。〃

〃Alone！　what　could　bring　him　here？〃

〃I　told　him　that　every　one　was　out；　but　he　chose　to　sit　down；　and
seemed　to　be　waiting。〃

〃How　could　you　get　on？〃

〃Oh！　we　asked　a　few　questions；　and　brought　out　remarks；　with　great
difficulty；　at　long　intervals。　　He　asked　me　if　lying　here　was　not　a
great　nuisance；　and；　at　last；　he　grew　tired　of　twisting　his
moustache；　and　went　away。〃

〃I　trust　it　was　a　call　to　take　leave。〃

〃No；　he　thinks　he　shall　sell　out；　for　the　army　is　a　great　nuisance。〃

〃You　seem　to　have　got　into　his　confidence。〃

〃Yes；　he　said　he　wanted　to　settle　down；　but　living　with　one's　father
was　such　a　nuisance。〃

〃By　the　bye；〃　cried　Ethel；　laughing；　〃Margaret；　it　strikes　me　that
this　is　a　Dumbiedikes'　courtship！〃

〃Of　yourself？〃　said　Margaret　slyly。

〃No；　of　Flora。　　You　know；　she　has　often　met　him　at　the　Grange　and
other　places；　and　she　does　contrive　to　amuse　him；　and　make　him　almost
animated。　　I　should　not　think　he　found　her　a　great　nuisance。〃

〃Poor　man！　　I　am　sorry　for　him！〃　said　Margaret。

〃Oh！　rejection　will　be　very　good　for　him；　and　give　him
something　to　think　of。〃

〃Flora　will　never　let　it　come　to　that；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃But　not　one
word　about　it；　Ethel！〃

Margaret　and　Etheldred　kept　their　eyes　open；　and　sometimes　imagined；
sometimes　laughed　at　themselves　for　their　speculations；　and　so
October　began；　and　Ethel　laughed；　as　she　questioned　whether　the
Grange　would　feel　the　Hussar's　return　to　his　quarters；　as　much　as
home　would　the　departure　of　their　scholar　for　Balliol。




CHAPTER　VI。



So；　Lady　Flora；　take　my　lay；
　　And　if　you　find　a　meaning　there；
Oh！　whisper　to　your　glass；　and　say；
　　What　wonder；　if　he　thinks　me　fair。Tennyson。


Flora　and　Norman　were　dining　with　one　of　their　county　acquaintance；
and　Dr。　May　had　undertaken　to　admit　them　on　their　return。　　The　fire
shone　red　and　bright；　as　it　sank　calmly　away；　and　the　timepiece　and
clock　on　the　stairs　had　begun　their　nightly　duet　of　ticking；　the
crickets　chirped　in　the　kitchen；　and　the　doctor　sat　alone。　　His　book
lay　with　unturned　pages；　as　he　sat　musing；　with　eyes　fixed　on　the
fire；　living　over　again　his　own　life；　the　easy　bright　days　of　his
youth；　when；　without　much　pains　on　his　own　part；　the　tendencies　of
his　generous　affectionate　disposition；　and　the　influences　of　a　warm
friendship；　and　an　early　attachment；　had　guarded　him　from　evilthen
the　period　when　he　had　been　perfectly　happy；　and　the　sobering　power
of　his　position　had　been　gradually　working　on　him；　but　though　always
religious　and　highly　principled；　the　very　goodness　of　his　natural
character　preventing　him　from　perceiving　the　need　of　self…control；
until　the　shock　that　changed　the　whole　tenor　of　his　life；　and　left
him；　for　the　first　time；　sensible　of　his　own　responsibility；　but　with
inveterate　habits　of　heedlessness　and　hastiness　that　love　alone　gave
him　force　to　combat。　　He　was　now　a　far　gentler　man。　　His　younger
children　had　never　seen；　his　elder　had　long　since　forgotten；　his
occasional　bursts　of　temper；　but　he　suffered　keenly　from　their
effects；　especially　as　regarded　some　of　his　children。　　Though
Richard's　timidity　had　been　overcome；　and　Tom's　more　serious　failures
had　been　remedied；　he　was　not　without　anxiety；　and　had　a　strange
unsatisfactory　feeling　as　regarded　Flora。　　He　could　not　feel　that　he
fathomed　her！　　She　reminded　him　of　his　old　Scottish　father…in…law；
Professor　Mackenzie；　whom　he　had　never　understood；　nor；　if　the　truth
were　known；　liked。　　Her　dealings　with　the　Ladies'　Committee　were　so
like　her　grandfather's　canny　ways　in　a　public　meeting；　that　he
laughed　over　thembut　they　were　not　congenial　to　him。　　Flora　was　a
most　valuable　person；　all　that　she　undertook　prospered；　and　he
depended　entirely　on　her　for　household　affairs；　and　for　the　care　of
Margaret；　but；　highly　as　he　esteemed　her；　he　was　a　little　afraid　of
her　cool　prudence；　she　never　seemed　to　be　in　any　need　of　him；　nor　to
place　any　confidence　in　him；　and　seemed　altogether　so　much　older　and
wiser　than　he　could　feel　himselfpretty　girl　as　she　wasand　very
pretty　were　her　fine　blue　eyes　and　clear　skin；　set　off　by　her　dark
brown　hair。　　There　arose　the　vision　of　eyes　as　blue；　skin　as　clear；
but　of　light　blonde　locks；　and　shorter；　rounder；　more　dove…like　form；
open；　simple；　loving　face；　and　serene　expression；　that　had　gone
straight　to　his　heart；　when　he　first　saw　Maggie　Mackenzie　making　tea。

He　heard　the　wheels；　and　went　out　to　unbolt　the　door。　　Those　were　a
pair　for　a　father　to　be　proud　ofNorman；　of　fine　stature　and　noble
looks；　with　his　high　brow；　clear　thoughtful　eye；　and　grave
intellectual　eagle　face；　lighting　into　animation　with　his　rare；　sweet
smile；　and　Flora；　so　tall　and　graceful；　and　in　her　white　dress；
picturesquely　half　concealed　by　her　mantle；　with　flowers　in　her　hair；
and　a　deepened　colour　in　her　cheek；　was　a　fair　vision；　as　she　came　in
from　the　darkness。

〃Well！　was　it　a　pleasant　party？〃

Norman　related　the　circumstances；　while　his　sister　remained　silently
leaning　against　the　mantel…piece；　looking　into　the　fire；　until　he
took　up　his　candle；　and　bade　them　good…night。　　Dr。　May　was　about　to
do　the　same；　when　she　held　out　her　hand。　　〃One　moment；　if　you　please；
dear　papa；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　you　ought　to　know　it。〃　〃

What；　my　dear？〃

〃Mr。　George　Rivers；　papa〃

〃Ha！〃　said　Dr。　May；　beginning　to　smile。　　〃So　that　is　what　he　is　at；
is　it？　　But　what　an　opportunity　to　take。〃

〃It　was　in　the　conservatory；〃　said　Flora；　a　little　hurt；　as　her
father　discovered　by　her　tone。　　〃The　music　was　going　on；　and　I　don't
know　that　there　could　have　been〃

〃A　better　opportunity；　eh？〃　said　Dr。　May；　laughing；　〃well；　I　should
have　thought　it　awkward；　was　he　very　much　discomposed？〃

〃I　thought；〃　said　Flora；　looking　down　and　hesitating；　〃that　he　had
better　come　to　you。〃

〃Indeed！　so　you　shifted　the　ungracious　office　to　me。　　I　am　very　glad
to　spare　you；　my　dear；　but　it　was　hard　on　him　to　raise　his　hopes。〃

〃I　thought；〃　faltered　Flora；　〃that　you　could　not　disapprove〃

〃Flora〃　and　he　paused；　completely　confounded；　while　his　daughter
was　no　less　surprised　at　the　manner　in　which　her　news　was　received。
Each　waited　for　the　other　to　speak；　and　Flora　turned　away；　resting
her　head　against　the　mantel…piece。

〃Surely；〃　said　he；　laying　his　hand　on　her　shoulder；　〃you　do　not　mean
that　you　like　this　man？〃

〃I　did　not　think　that　you　would　be　against　it；〃　said　Flora；　in　a
choked　voice；　her　face　still　averted