the daisy chain, or aspirations-第88章

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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。

〃Heaven　knows；　I　would　not　be　against　anything　for　your　happiness；　my
dear；〃　he　answered；　〃but　have　you　considered　what　it　would　be　to
spend　your　life　with　a　man　that　has　not　three　ideas！　not　a　resource
for　occupying　himselfa　regular　prey　to　ennuione　whom　you　could
never　respect！〃　　He　had　grown　more　and　more　vehement；　and　Flora　put
her　handkerchief　to　her　eyes；　for　tears　of　actual　disappointment　were
flowing。

〃Come；　come；〃　he　said；　touched；　but　turning　it　off　by　a　smile；　〃we
will　not　talk　of　it　any　more　to…night。　　It　is　your　first　offer；　and
you　are　flattered；　but　we　know

　　　　　　　　　　　　　'Colours　seen　by　candle…light；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Will　not　bear　the　light　of　day。'

There；　good…night；　Flora；　my　dearwe　will　have　a…tete…a…tete　in　the
study　before　breakfast；　when　you　have　had　time　to　look　into　your　own
mind。〃

He　kissed　her　affectionately；　and　went　upstairs　with　her；　stopping　at
her　door　to　give　her　another　embrace；　and　to　say　〃Bless　you；　my　dear
child；　and　help　you　to　come　to　a　right　decision〃

Flora　was　disappointed。　　She　had　been　too　highly　pleased　at　her
conquest　to　make　any　clear　estimation　of　the　prize；　individually
considered。　　Her　vanity　magnified　her　achievement；　and　she　had　come
home　in　a　flutter　of　pleasure；　at　having　had　such　a　position　in
society　offered　to　her；　and　expecting　that　her　whole　family　would
share　her　triumph。　　Gratified　by　George　Rivers's　admiration；　she
regarded　him　with　favour　and　complacency；　and　her　habit　of
considering　herself　as　the　most　sensible　person　in　her　sphere　made
her　so　regard　his　appreciation　of　her；　that　she　was　blinded　to　his
inferiority。　　It　must　be　allowed　that　he　was　less　dull　with　her　than
with　most　others。

And；　in　the　midst　of　her　glory；　when　she　expected　her　father　to　be
delighted　and　gratefulto　be　received　as　a　silly　girl；　ready　to
accept　any　proposal；　her　lover　spoken　of　with　scorn；　and　the
advantages　of　the　match　utterly　passed　over；　was　almost　beyond
endurance。　　A　physician；　with　eleven　children　dependent　on　his
practice；　to　despise　an　offer　from　the　heir　of　such　a　fortune！　　But
that　was　his　customary　romance！　　She　forgave　him；　when　it　occurred　to
her　that　she　was　too　important；　and　valuable；　to　be　easily　spared；
and　a　tenderness　thrilled　through　her；　as　she　looked　at　the　sleeping
Margaret's　pale　face；　and　thought　of　surrendering　her　and　little
Daisy　to　Ethel's　keeping。　　And　what　would　become　of　the　housekeeping？
She　decided；　however；　that　feelings　must　not　sway　herout　of　six
sisters　some　must　marry；　for　the　good　of　the　rest。　　Blanche　and　Daisy
should　come　and　stay　with　her；　to　be　formed　by　the　best　society；　and；
as　to　poor　dear　Ethel；　Mrs。　Rivers　would　rule　the　Ladies'　Committee
for　her　with　a　high　hand；　and；　perhaps；　provide　Cocksmoor　with　a
school　at　her　sole　expense。　　What　a　useful；　admirable　woman　she　would
be！　　The　doctor　would　be　the　person　to　come　to　his　senses　in　the
morning；　when　he　remembered　Abbotstoke；　Mr。　Rivers；　and　Meta。

So　Flora　met　her　father；　the　next　morning；　with　all　her　ordinary
composure；　in　which　he　could　not　rival　her；　after　his　sleepless；
anxious　night。　　His　looks　of　affectionate　solicitude　disconcerted
what　she　had　intended　to　say；　and　she　waited；　with　downcast　eyes；　for
him　to　begin。

〃Well；　Flora；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃have　you　thought？〃

〃Do　you　know　any　cause　against　it？〃　said　Flora；　still　looking　down。

〃I　know　almost　nothing　of　him。　　I　have　never　heard　anything　of　his
character　or　conduct。　　Those　would　be　a　subject　of　inquiry；　if　you
wish　to　carry　this　on〃

〃I　see　you　are　averse；〃　said　Flora。　　〃I　would　do　nothing　against　your
wishes〃

〃My　wishes　have　nothing　to　do　with　it；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃The　point　is…
…that　I　must　do　right；　as　far　as　I　can；　as　well　as　try　to　secure　your
happiness；　and　I　want　to　be　sure　that　you　know　what　you　are　about。〃

〃I　know　he　is　not　clever；〃　said　Flora；　〃but　there　may　be　many　solid
qualities　without　talent。〃

〃I　am　the　last　person　to　deny　it；　but　where　are　these　solid
qualities？　　I　cannot　see　the　recommendation！〃

〃I　place　myself　in　your　hands；〃　said　Flora；　in　a　submissive　tone；
which　had　the　effect　of　making　him　lose　patience。

〃Flora；　Flora！　why　will　you　talk　as　if　I　were　sacrificing　you　to　some
dislike　or　prejudice　of　my　own！　　Don't　you　think　I　should　only
rejoice　to　have　such　a　prosperous　home　offered　to　you；　if　only　the
man　were　worthy？〃

〃If　you　do　not　think　him　so；　of　course　there　is　an　end　of　it；〃　said
Flora；　and　her　voice　showed　suppressed　emotion。

〃It　is　not　what　I　think；　in　the　absence　of　proof；　but　what　you　think；
Flora。　　What　I　want　you　to　do　is　thisto　consider　the　matter　fairly。
Compare　him　withI'll　not　say　with　Normanbut　with　Richard；　Alan；
Mr。　Wilmot。　　Do　you　think　you　could　rely　on　himcome　to　him　for
advice？〃　　（Flora　never　did　come　to　any　one　for　advice。）　　〃Above　all
do　you　think　him　likely　to　be　a　help；　or　a　hindrance；　in　doing
right？〃

〃I　think　you　underrate　him；〃　said　Flora　steadily；　〃but；　of　course；　if
you　dislike　itthough；　I　think；　you　would　change　your　mind　if　you
knew　him　better〃

〃Well；〃　he　said；　as　if　to　himself；　〃it　is　not　always　the　most
worthy；〃　then　continued；　〃I　have　no　dislike　to　him。　　Perhaps　I　may
find　that　you　are　right。　　Since　your　mind　is　made　up；　I　will　do　this：
first；　we　must　be　assured　of　his　father's　consent；　for　they　may　very
fairly　object；　since　what　I　can　give　you　is　a　mere　nothing　to　them。
Next；　I　shall　find　out　what　character　he　bears　in　his　regiment；　and
watch　him　well　myself；　and；　if　nothing　appear　seriously　amiss；　I　will
not　withhold　my　consent。　　But；　Flora；　you　should　still　consider
whether　he　shows　such　principle　and　right　feeling　as　you　can　trust
to。〃

〃Thank　you；　papa。　　I　know　you　will　do　all　that　is　kind。〃

〃Mind；　you　must　not　consider　it　an　engagement；　unless　all　be
satisfactory。〃

〃I　will　do　as　you　please。〃

Ethel　perceived　that　something　was　in　agitation；　but　the　fact　did　not
break　upon　her　till　she　came　to　Margaret；　after　the　schoolroom
reading；　and　heard　Dr。　May　declaiming　away　in　the　vehement　manner
that　always　relieved　him。

〃Such　a　cub！〃　　These　were　the　words　that　met　her　ear；　and　she　would
have　gone　away；　but　he　called　her。　　〃Come　in；　Ethel；　Margaret　says
you　guessed　at　this　affair！〃

〃At　what　affair！〃　exclaimed　Ethel。　　〃Oh；　it　is　about　Flora。　　Poor
man；　has　he　done　it？〃

〃Poor！　　He　is　not　the　one　to　be　pitied！〃　said　her　father。

〃You　don't　mean　that　she　likes　him？〃

〃She　does　though！　　A　fellow　with　no　more　brains　than　a　turnip
lantern！〃

〃She　does　not　mean　it？〃　said　Ethel。

〃Yes；　she　does！　　Very　submissive；　and　proper　spoken；　of　course；　but
bent　on　having　him；　so　there　is　nothing　left　for　me　but　to　consent
provided　Mr。　Rivers　does；　and　he　should　turn　out　not　to　have　done
anything　outrageous；　but　there's　no　hope　of　thathe　has　not　the
energy。　　What　can　possess　her？　　What　can　she　see　to　admire？〃

〃He　is　good…natured；〃　said　Margaret；　〃and　rather　good…looking〃

〃Flora　has　more　sense。　　What　on　earth　can　be　the　attraction？〃

〃I　am　afraid　it　is　partly　the　grandeur〃　said　Ethel。　　She　broke　off
short；　quite　dismayed　at　the　emotion　she　had　xcited。　　Dr。　May　stepped
towards　her；　almost　as　if　he　could　have　shaken　her。

〃Ethel；〃　he　cried；　〃I　won't　have　such　motives　ascribed　to　your
sister！〃

Ethel　tried　to　recollect　what　she　had　said　that　was　so　shocking；　for
the　idea　of　Flora's　worldly　motives　was　no　novelty　to　her。　　They　had
appeared　in　too　many　instances；　and；　though　frightened　at　his　anger；
she　stood　still；　without　unsaying　her　words。

Margaret　began　to　explain　away。　〃Ethel　did　not　mean；　dear　papa〃

〃No；〃　said　Dr。　May；　his　passionate　manner　giving　way　to　dejection。
〃The　truth　is；　that　I　have　made　home　so　dreary；　that　my　girls　are
ready　to　take　the　first　means　of　escaping。〃

Poor　Margaret's　tears　sprang　forth；　and；　looking　up　imploringly；　she
exclaimed；　〃Oh；　papa；　papa！　it　was　no　want　of　happiness！　　I　could　not
help　it。　　You　know　he　had　come　before〃

Any　reproach　to　her　had　been　entirely　remote　from　his　thoughts；　and
he　was　at　once　on　his　knee　beside　her；　soothing　and　caressing；
begging　her　pardon；　and　recalling　whatever　she　could　thus　have
interpreted。　　Meanwhile；　Ethel　stood　unnoticed　and　silent；　making　no
outward　protestation；　but　with　lips　compressed；　as　in　her　heart　of
hearts　she　passed　the　resolutionthat　her　father　should　never　feel
this　pain　on　her　account。　　Leave　him　who　might；　she　would　never
forsake　him；　nothing　but　the　will　of　Heaven　should　part　them。　　It
might　be　hasty　and　venturesome。　　She　knew　not　what　it　might　cost　her；
but；　where　Ethel　had　treasured　her　resolve　to　work　for　Cocksmoor；
there　she　also　laid　up　her　secret　vowthat　no　earthly　object　should
be　placed　between　her　and　her　father。

The　ebullition　of　feeling　seemed　to　have　restored　Dr。　May's　calmness；
and　he　rose；　saying；　〃I　must　go　to　my　work；　the　man　is　coming　here
this　afternoon。〃

〃Where　shall　you　see　him？〃　Margaret　asked。

〃In　my　study；　I　suppose。　　I　fear　there　is　no　chance　of　Flora's
changing　her　mind　first。　　Or　do　you　think　one　of　you　could　talk　to
her；　and　get　her　fairly　to　contemplate　the　real　bearings　of　the
matter？〃　　And；　with　these　words；　he　left　the　room。

Margaret　and　Ethel　glanced　at　each　other；　and　both　felt　the
impenetrability　of　Flora's　nature；　so　smooth；　that　all　thrusts　glided
off。

〃It　will　be　of　no　use；〃　said　Ethel；　〃and；　what　is　more；　she　will　not
have　it　done。〃

〃Pray　try；　a　few　of　your　forcible　words　would　set　it　in　a　new　light。〃

〃Why！　　Do　you　think　she　will　attend　to　me；　when　she　has　not　chosen　to
heed　papa？〃　said　Ethel；　with　an　emphasis　of　incredulity。　　〃No；
whatever　Flora　does；　is　done　deliberately；　and　unalterably。〃

〃Still；　I　don't　know　whether　it　is　not　our　duty；〃　said　Margaret。

〃More　yours　than　mine；〃　said　Ethel。

Margaret　flushed　up。　　〃Oh；　no；　I　cannot！〃　she　said；　always　timid；　and
slightly　defective　in　moral　courage。　　She　looked　so　nervous　and
shaken　by　the　bare　idea　of　a　remonstrance　with　Flora；　that　Ethel
could　not　press　her；　and；　though　convinced　that　her　representation
would　be　useless；　she　owned　that　her　conscience　would　rest　better
after　she　had　spoken。　　〃But　there　is　Flora；　walking　in　the　garden
with　Norman；〃　she　said。　　〃No　doubt　he　is　doing　it。〃

So　Ethel　let　it　rest；　and　attended　to　the　children's　lessons；　during
which　Flora　came　into　the　drawing…room；　and　practised　her　music；　as
if　nothing　had　happened。

Before　the　morning　was　over；　Ethel　contrived　to　visit　Norman　in　the
dining…room；　where　he　was　wont　to　study；　and　asked　him　whether　he　had
made　any　impression　on　Flora。

〃What　impression　do　you　mean？〃

〃Why；　about　this　concern；〃　said　Ethel；　〃this　terrible　man；　that　makes
papa　so　unhappy。〃

〃Papa　unhappy！　　Why；　what　does　he　know　against　him？　　I　thought　the
Riverses　were　his　peculiar　pets。〃

〃The　Riverses！　　As　if；　because　one　liked　the　sparkling　stream；　one
must　like　a　muddy　ditch。〃

〃What　harm　do　you　know　of　him？〃　said　Norman；　with　much　surprise　and
anxiety；　as　if　he　feared　that　he　had　been　doing　wrong；　in　ignorance。

〃Harm！　　Is　he　not　a　regular　oaf？〃

〃My　dear　Ethel；　if　you　wait　to　marry　till　you　fin