the daisy chain, or aspirations-第98章

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incongruous　a　connection；　which　would　be　so　sure　to　displease　his
parents。　　It　was　more　absurd　than　ever　to　think　of　it。　　The　heir　of
Glenbracken；　and　a　country　physician's　daughter！

That　was　a　candid　heart　which　owned　that　its　own　repugnance　to　accept
this　disparity　as　an　objection；　was　an　additional　evidence　that　she
ought　to　flee　from　further　intercourse。　　She　believed　that　no　harm
was　done　yet；　she　was　sure　that　she　loved　her　father　better　than
anything　else　in　the　world；　and　whilst　she　did　so；　it　was　best　to
preserve　her　heart　for　him。　　Widowed　as　he　was；　she　knew　that　he
would　sorely　miss　her；　and　that　for　years　to　come；　she　should　be
necessary　at　home。　　She　had　better　come　away　while　it　would　cost　only
a　slight　pang；　for　that　it　was　pain　to　leave　Norman　Ogilvie；　was
symptom　enough　of　the　need　of　not　letting　her　own　silly　heart　go
further。　　However　it　might　be　with　him；　another　week　would　only　make
it　worse　with　her。

〃I　will　go　home　with　papa！〃　was　the　ultimatum　reached　by　each　chain
of　mental　reasonings；　and　borne　in　after　each　short　prayer　for
guidance；　as　Ethel　tossed　about　listening　to　the　perpetual　striking
of　all　the　Oxford　clocks；　until　daylight　had　begun　to　shine　in；　when
she　fell　asleep；　and　was　only　waked　by　Meta；　standing　over　her　with　a
sponge；　looking　very　mischievous；　as　she　reminded　her　of　their
appointment　with　Dr。　May；　to　go　to　the　early　service　in　New　College
Chapel。

The　world　looked　different　that　morning　with　Ethel；　but　the
determination　was　fixed；　and　the　service　strengthened　it。　　She　was　so
silent　during　the　walk；　that　her　companions　rallied　her；　and　they
both　supposed　she　was　anxious　about　Norman；　but　taking　her
opportunity；　when　Meta　was　gone　to　prepare　for　breakfast；　she　rushed；
in　her　usual　way；　into　the　subject。　　〃Papa！　if　you　please；　I　should
like　to　go　home　to…morrow　with　you。〃

〃Eh？〃　said　the　doctor；　amazed。　　〃How　is　this？　　I　told　you　that　Miss
Bracy　and　Mary　are　doing　famously。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　had　rather　go　back。〃

〃Indeed！〃　and　Dr。　May　looked　at　the　door；　and　spoke　low。　　〃They　make
you　welcome；　I　hope〃

〃Oh；　yes！　nothing　can　be　kinder。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it。　　This　Rivers　is　such　a　lout；　that　I　could　not
tell　how　it　might　be。　　I　did　not　look　to　see　you　turn　homesick　all　at
once。〃

Ethel　smiled。　〃Yes；　I　have　been　very　happy；　but　please；　papa；　ask　no
questionsonly　take　me　home。〃

〃Come！　it　is　all　a　homesick　fit；　Ethelnever　fear　the　ball。　　Think
of　the　concert。　　If　it　were　not　for　that　poor　baby　of　Mrs。　Larkins；　I
should　stay　myself　to　hear　Sonntag　again。　　You　won't　have　such
another　chance。〃

〃I　know；　but　I　think　I　ought　to　go〃

George　came　in；　and　they　could　say　no　more。　　Both　were　silent　on　the
subject　at　breakfast；　but　when　afterwards　Flora　seized　on　Ethel；　to
array　her　for　the　theatre；　she　was　able　to　say；　〃Flora；　please　don't
be　angry　with　meyou　have　been　very　kind　to　me；　but　I　mean　to　go
home　with　papa　to…morrow。〃

〃I　declare！〃　said　Flora　composedly；　〃you　are　as　bad　as　the　children
at　the　infant　school；　crying　to　go　home　the　instant　they　see　their
mothers！〃

〃No；　Flora；　but　I　must　go。　　Thank　you　for　all　this　pleasure；　but　I
shall　have　heard　Norman's　poem；　and　then　I　must　go。〃

Flora　turned　her　round；　looked　in　her　face　kindly；　kissed　her；　and
said；　〃My　dear；　never　mind；　it　will　all　come　right　againonly；　don't
run　away。〃

〃What　will　come　right？〃

〃Any　little　misunderstanding　with　Norman　Ogilvie。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；〃　said　Ethel；　becoming　scarlet。

〃My　dear；　you　need　not　try　to　hide　it。　　I　see　that　you　have　got　into
a　fright。　　You　have　made　a　discovery；　but　that　is　no　reason　for
running　away。〃

〃Yes　it　is！〃　said　Ethel　firmly；　not　denying　the　charge；　though
reddening　more　than　ever　at　finding　her　impression　confirmed。

〃Poor　child！　she　is　afraid！〃　said　Flora　tenderly；　〃but　I　will　take
care　of　you；　Ethel。　　It　is　everything　delightful。　　You　are　the　very
girl　for　such　a　heros　de　Roman；　and　it　has　embellished　you　more　than
all　my　Paris　fineries。〃

〃Hush；　Flora！　　We　ought　not　to　talk　in　this　way；　as　if〃

〃As　if　he　had　done　more　than　walk　with；　and　talk　with；　nobody　else！
How　he　did　hate　papa　last　night。　　I　had　a　great　mind　to　call　papa
off；　in　pity　to　him。〃

〃Don't；　Flora。　　If　there　were　anything　in　it；　it　would　not　be　proper
to　think　of　it；　so　I　am　going　home　to　prevent　it。〃　　The　words　were
spoken　with　averted　face　and　heaving　breath。

〃Proper？〃　said　Flora。　〃The　Mays　are　a　good　old　family；　and　our　own
grandmother　was　an　honourable　Ogilvie　herself。　　A　Scottish　baron；
very　poor　too；　has　no　right　to　look　down〃

〃They　shall　not　look　down。　　Flora；　it　is　of　no　use　to　talk。　　I　cannot
be　spared　from　home；　and　I　will　not　put　myself　in　the　way　of　being
tempted　to　forsake　them　all。〃

〃Tempted！〃　said　Flora；　laughing。　　〃Is　it　such　a　wicked　thing？〃

〃Not　in　others；　but　it　would　be　wrong　in　me；　with　such　a　state　of
things　as　there　is　at　home。〃

〃I　do　not　suppose　he　would　want　you　for　some　years　to　come。　　He　is
only　two…and…twenty。　　Mary　will　grow　older。〃

〃Margaret　will　either　be　married；　or　want　constant　care。　　Flora；　I
will　not　let　myself　be　drawn　from　them。〃

〃You　may　think　so　now；　but　it　would　be　for　their　real　good　to　relieve
papa　of　any　of　us。　　If　we　were　all　to　think　as　you　do；　how　should　we
live？　　I　don't　knowfor　papa　told　me　there　will　be　barely　ten
thousand　pounds；　besides　the　houses；　and　what　will　that　be　among　ten？
I　am　not　talking　of　yourself；　but　think　of　the　others！〃

〃I　know　papa　will　not　be　happy　without　me；　and　I　will　not　leave　him；〃
repeated　Ethel；　not　answering　the　argument。

Flora　changed　her　ground；　and　laughed。　　〃We　are　getting　into　the
heroics；〃　she　said；　〃when　it　would　be　very　foolish　to　break　up　our
plans；　only　because　we　have　found　a　pleasant　cousin。　　There　is
nothing　serious　in　it；　I　dare　say。　　How　silly　of　us　to　argue　on　such
an　idea！〃

Meta　came　in　before　Flora　could　say　more；　but　Ethel；　with　burning
cheeks；　repeated；　〃It　will　be　safer！〃

Ethel　had；　meantime；　been　dressed　by　her　sister；　and；　as　Bellairs
came　to　adorn　Meta；　and　she　could　have　no　solitude；　she　went
downstairs；　thinking　she　heard　Norman's　step；　and　hoping　to　judge　of
his　mood。

She　entered　the　room　with　an　exclamation；　〃Oh；　Norman！〃

〃At　your　service！〃　said　the　wrong　Norman；　looking　merrily　up　from
behind　a　newspaper。

〃Oh；　I　beg　your　pardon；　I　thought〃

〃Your　thoughts　were　quite　right；〃　he　said；　smiling。　〃Your　brother
desires　me　to　present　his　respects　to　his　honoured　family；　and　to
inform　them　that　his　stock　of　assurance　is　likely　to　be　diminished　by
the　pleasure　of　their　company　this　morning。〃

〃How　is　he？〃　asked　Ethel　anxiously。

〃Pretty　fair。　　He　has　blue　saucers　round　his　eyes；　as　he　had　before
he　went　up　for　his　little　go。〃

〃Oh；　I　know　them；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Very　odd；〃　continued　her　cousin；　〃when　the　end　always　is；　that　he
says　he　has　the　luck　of　being　set　on　in　the　very　place　he　knows　best。
But　I　think　it　has　expended　itself　in　a　sleepless　night；　and　I　have
no　fears；　when　he　comes　to　the　point。〃

〃What　is　he　doing？〃

〃Writing　to　his　brother　Harry。　　He　said　it　was　the　day　for　the
Pacific　mail；　and　that　Harry's　pleasure　would　be　the　best　of　it。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Ethel；　glancing　towards　the　paper；　〃is　there　any　naval
intelligence？〃

He　looked；　and　while　she　was　thinking　whether　she　ought　not　to
depart；　he　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　that　startled　her；　〃Ha！　　No。　　Is　your
brother's　ship　the　Alcestis？〃

〃Yes！　　Oh；　what？〃

〃Nothing　then；　I　assure　you。　　See；　it　is　merely　thisshe　has　not
come　into　Sydney　so　soon　as　expected；　which　you　knew　before。　　That　is
all。〃

〃Let　me　see；〃　said　the　trembling　Ethel。

It　was　no　more　than　an　echo　of　their　unconfessed　apprehensions；　yet
it　seemed　to　give　them　a　body；　and　Ethel's　thoughts　flew　to　Margaret。
Her　going　home　would　be　absolutely　necessary　now。　　Mr。　Ogilvie　kindly
began　to　talk　away　her　alarm；　saying　that　there　was　still　no　reason
for　dread；　mentioning　the　many　causes　that　might　have　delayed　the
ship；　and　reassuring　her　greatly。

〃But　Norman！〃　she　said。

〃Ah！　true。　　Poor　May！　　He　will　break　down　to　a　certainty　if　he　hears
it。　　I　will　go　at　once；　and　keep　guard　over　him；　lest　he　should　meet
with　this　paper。　　But　pray；　don't　be　alarmed。　　I　assure　you　there　is
no　cause。　　You　will　have　letters　to…morrow。〃

Ethel　would　fain　have　thrown　off　her　finery　and　hurried　home　at　once；
but　no　one　regarded　the　matter　as　she　did。　　Dr。　May　agreed　with　Flora
that　it　was　no　worse　than　before；　and　though　they　now　thought　Ethel's
return　desirable；　on　Margaret's　account；　it　would　be　better　not　to
add　to　the　shock　by　a　sudden　arrival；　especially　as　they　took　in　no
daily　paper　at　home。　　So　the　theatre　was　not　to　be　given　up；　nor　any
of　the　subsequent　plans；　except　so　far　as　regarded　Ethel；　and；　this
agreed；　they　started　for　the　scene　of　action。

They　were　hardly　in　the　street　before　they　met　the　ubiquitous　Mr。
Ogilvie；　saying　that　Cheviot；　Norman's　prompter；　was　aware　of　the
report；　and　was　guarding　him；　while　he　came　to　escort　the　ladies；
through　what　he　expressively　called　〃the　bear　fight。〃　　Ethel
resolutely　adhered　to　her　father；　and　her　cousin　took　care　of　Meta；
who　had　been　clinging　in　a　tiptoe　manner　to　the　point　of　her
brother's　high　elbow；　looking　as　if　the　crowd　might　easily　brush　off
such　a　little　fly；　without　his　missing　her。

Inch　by　inch；　a　step　at　a　time；　the　ladies　were　landed　in　a　crowd　of
their　own　sex；　where　Flora　bravely　pioneered；　they　emerged　on　their
benches；　shook　themselves　out；　and　seated　themselves。　　There　was　the
swarm　of　gay　ladies　around　them；　and　beneath　the　area；　fast　being
paved　with　heads；　black；　brown；　gray；　and　bald；　a　surging　living　sea；
where　Meta　soon　pointed　out　Dr。　May　and　George；　the　mere　sight　of
such　masses　of　people　was　curious　and　interesting；　reminding　Ethel　of
Cherry　Elwood　having　once　shocked　her　by　saying　the　Whit…Monday　club
was　the　most　beautiful　sight　in　the　whole　year。　　And　above！　that
gallery　of　trampling　undergraduates；　and　more　than　trampling！　　Ethel
and　Meta　could；　at　first；　have　found　it　in　their　hearts　to　be
frightened　at　those　thundering　shouts；　but　the　young　ladies　were
usually　of　opinions　so　similar；　that　the　louder　grew　the　cheers；　the
more　they　laughed　and　exulted；　so　carried　along　that　no　cares　could
be　remembered。

Making　a　way　through　the　thronged　area；　behold　the　procession　of
scarlet　doctors；　advancing　through　the　midst；　till　the　red　and　black
vice…chancellor　sat　enthroned　in　the　centre；　and　the　scarlet　line
became　a　semicircle；　dividing　the　flower…garden　of　ladies　from　the
black　mass　below。

Then　came　the　introduction　of　the　honorary　doctors；　one　by　one；　with
the　Latin　speech；　which　Ethel's　companions　unreasonably　required　her
to　translate　to　them；　while　she　was　using　all　her　ears　to　catch　a
word　or　two；　and　her　eyes　to　glimpse　at　the　features　of　men　of　note。

By…and…by　a　youth　made　his　appearance　in　the　rostrum；　and　a　good　deal
of　Latin　ensued；　of　which　Flora　hoped　Ethel　was　less　tired　than　she
was。　　In　time；　however；　Meta　saw　the　spectacles　removed；　and　George
looking　straight　up；　and　she　drew　down　her　veil；　and　took　hold　of
Flora's　hand；　and　Ethel　flushed　like　a　hot　coal。　　Nevertheless；　all
contri