the daisy chain, or aspirations-第109章

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Whilst　you　stand　up　in　the　diet；
　　And　have　not　a　word　to　say？Old　Danish　Ballad。


〃Oh；　Norman；　are　you　come　already？〃　exclaimed　Margaret；　as　her
brother　opened　the　door；　bringing　in　with　him　the　crisp　breath　of
December。

〃Yes；　I　came　away　directly　after　collections。　　How　are　you；
Margaret？〃

〃Pretty　brave；　thank　you；〃　but　the　brother　and　sister　both　read　on
each　other's　features　that　the　additional　three　months　of　suspense
had　told。　　There　were　traces　of　toil　and　study　on　Norman's　brow；　the
sunken　look　about　his　eyes；　and　the　dejected　outline　of　his　cheek；
Margaret　knew　betokened　discouragement；　and　though　her　mild　serenity
was　not　changed；　she　was　almost　transparently　thin　and　pale。　　They
had　long　ago　left　off　asking　whether　there　were　tidings；　and　seldom
was　the　subject　adverted　to；　though　the　whole　family　seemed　to　be
living　beneath　a　dark　shadow。

〃How　is　Flora？〃　he　next　asked。

〃Going　on　beautifully；　except　that　papa　thinks　she　does　too　much　in
every　way。　　She　declares　that　she　shall　bring　the　baby　to　show　me　in
another　week；　but　I　don't　think　it　will　be　allowed。〃

〃And　the　little　lady　prospers？〃

〃Capitally；　though　I　get　rather　contradictory　reports　of　her。　　First；
papa　declared　her　something　surpassingexactly　like　Flora；　and　so　I
suppose　she　is；　but　Ethel　and　Meta　will　say　nothing　for　her　beauty；
and　Blanche　calls　her　a　fright。　　But　papa　is　her　devoted　admirerhe
does　so　enjoy　having　a　sort　of　property　again　in　a　baby！〃

〃And　George　Rivers？〃　said　Norman；　smiling。

〃Poor　George！　he　is　very　proud　of　her　in　his　own　way。　　He　has　just
been　here　with　a　note　from　Flora；　and　actually　talked！　　Between　her
and　the　election；　he　is　wonderfully　brilliant。〃

〃The　election？　　Has　Mr。　Esdaile　resigned？〃

〃Have　you　not　heard？　　He　intends　it；　and　George　himself　is　going　to
stand。　　The　only　danger　is　that　Sir　Henry　Walkinghame　should　think　of
it。〃

〃Rivers　in　Parliament！　　Well；　sound　men　are　wanted。〃

〃Fancy　Flora；　our　member's　wife。　　How　well　she　will　become　her
position。〃

〃How　soon　is　it　likely　to　be？〃

〃Quickly；　I　fancy。　　Dr。　Spencer；　who　knows　all　kinds　of　news　（papa
says　he　makes　a　scientific　study　of　gossip；　as　a　new　branch　of
comparative　anatomy）；　found　out　from　the　Clevelands　that　Mr。　Esdaile
meant　to　retire；　and　happened　to　mention　it　the　last　time　that　Flora
came　to　see　me。　　It　was　like　firing　a　train。　　You　would　have　wondered
to　see　how　it　excited　her；　who　usually　shows　her　feelings　so　little。
She　has　been　so　much　occupied　with　it；　and　so　anxious　that　George
should　be　ready　to　take　the　field　at　once；　that　papa　was　afraid　of
its　hurting　her；　and　Ethel　comes　home　declaring　that　the　election　is
more　to　her　than　her　baby。〃

〃Ethel　is　apt　to　be　a　little　hard　on　Flora。　　They　are　too　unlike　to
understand　each　other。〃

〃Ethel　is　to　be　godmother　though；　and　Flora　means　to　ask　Mr。　Ogilvie
to　come　and　stand。〃

〃I　think　he　will　be　gone　abroad；　or　I　should　have　asked　him　to　fulfil
his　old　promise　of　coming　to　us。〃

〃I　believe　he　must　be　lodged　here；　if　he　should　come。　　Flora　will
have　her　house　full；　for　Lady　Leonora　is　coming。　　The　baby　is　to　be
called　after　her。〃

〃Indeed！〃　exclaimed　Norman。

〃Yes；　I　thought　it　unnecessary；　as　she　is　not　George's　aunt；　but
Flora　is　grateful　to　her　for　much　kindness；　and　she　is　coming　to　see
Meta。　　I　am　afraid　papa　is　a　little　hurt；　that　any　name　but　one
should　have　been　chosen。〃

〃Has　Meta　been　comfortable？〃

〃Dear　little　thing！　　Every　one　says　how　beautifully　she　has　behaved。
She　brought　all　her　housekeeping　books　to　Flora　at　once；　and　only
begged　to　be　made　helpful　in　whatever　way　might　be　most　convenient。
She　explained；　what　we　never　knew　before；　how　she　had　the　young　maids
in　to　read　with　her；　and　asked　leave　to　go　on。　　Very　few　could　have
been　set　aside　so　simply　and　sweetly　in　their　own　house。〃

〃Flora　was　sensible　of　it；　I　hope。〃

〃Oh；　yes。　　She　took　the　management　of　course；　but　Meta　is　charmed
with　her　having　the　girls　in　from　the　village；　in　turn；　to　help　in
the　scullery。　　They　have　begun　family　prayers　too；　and　George　makes
the　stablemen　go　to　churcha　matter　which　had　been　past　Meta；　as　you
may　guess；　though　she　had　been　a　wonderful　little　manager；　and　Flora
owned　herself　quite　astonished。〃

〃I　wonder　only　at　her　being　astonished。〃

〃Meta　owned　to　Ethel　that　what　had　been　worst　of　all　to　her　was　the
heart　sinking；　at　finding　herself　able　to　choose　her　occupations；
with　no　one　to　accommodate　them　to。　　But　she　would　not　give　wayshe
set　up　more　work　for　herself　at　the　school；　and　has　been　talking　of
giving　singing　lessons　at　Cocksmoor；　and　she　forced　herself　to　read；
though　it　was　an　effort。　　She　has　been　very　happy　lately　in　nursing
Flora。〃

〃Is　Ethel　there？〃

〃No；　she　is；　as　usual；　at　Cocksmoor。　　There　are　great　councils　about
sending　Cherry　to　be　trained　for　her　new　school。〃

〃Would　Flora　be　able　to　see　me；　if　I　were　to　ride　over　to　the
Grange？〃

〃You　may　try；　and；　if　papa　is　not　there；　I　dare　say　she　will。〃

〃At　least；　I　shall　see　Meta；　and　she　may　judge。　　I　want　to　see　Rivers
too；　so　I　will　ask　if　the　bay　is　to　be　had。　　Ah！　you　have　the　Claude；
I　see。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　too　large　for　this　room；　but　papa　put　it　here　that　I
might　enjoy　it；　and　it　is　almost　a　companion。　　The　sky　improves　so　in
the　sunset　light。〃

Norman　was　soon　at　Abbotstoke；　and；　as　he　drew　his　rein；　Meta's
bright　face　nodded　to　him　from　Flora's　sitting…room　window；　and；　as
he　passed　the　conservatory；　the　little　person　met　him；　with　a
summons；　at　once；　to　his　sister。

He　found　Flora　on　the　sofa；　with　a　table　beside　her；　covered　with
notes　and　papers。　　She　was　sitting　up　writing；　and；　though　somewhat
pale；　was　very　smiling　and　animated。

〃Norman；　how　kind　to　come　to　me　the　first　thing！〃

〃Margaret　encouraged　me　to　try　whether　you　would　be　visible。〃

〃They　want　to　make　a　regular　prisoner　of　me；〃　said　Flora；　laughing。
〃Papa　is　as　bad　as　the　old　nurse！　　But　he　has　not　been　here　to…day；
so　I　have　had　my　own　way。　　Did　you　meet　George？〃

〃No；　but　Margaret　said　he　had　been　with　her。〃

〃I　wish　he　would　come。　　We　expect　the　second　post　to　bring　the　news
that　Mr。　Esdaile　has　accepted　the　Chiltern　Hundreds。　　If　he　found　it
so；　he　meant　to　go　and　talk　to　Mr。　Bramshaw；　for；　though　he　is　so
dull；　we　must　make　him　agent。〃

〃Is　there　any　danger　of　opposition？〃

〃None　at　all；　if　we　are　soon　enough　in　the　field。　　Papa's　name　will
secure　us；　and　there　is　no　one　else　on　the　right　side　to　come
forward；　so　that　it　is　an　absolute　rescue　of　the　seat。〃

〃It　is　the　very　moment　when　men　of　principle　are　most　wanted；〃　said
Norman。　　〃The　questions　of　the　day　are　no　light　matters；　and　it　is　an
immense　point　to　save　Stoneborough　from　being　represented　by　one　of
the　Tomkins'　set。〃

〃Exactly　so；〃　said　Flora。　　〃I　should　feel　it　a　crime　to　say　one　word
to　deter　George；　at　a　time　when　every　effort　must　be　made　to　support
the　right　cause。　　One　must　make　sacrifices　when　the　highest　interests
are　at　stake。〃

Flora　seemed　to　thrive　upon　her　sacrificeshe　had　never　appeared
more　brilliant　and　joyous。　　Her　brother　saw；　in　her；　a　Roman　matron；
and　the　ambition　that　was　inherent　in　his　nature；　began　to　find
compensation　for　being　crushed；　as　far　as　regarded　himself；　by
soaring　for　another。　　He　eagerly　answered　that　he　fully　agreed　with
her；　and　that　she　would　never　repent　urging　her　husband　to　take　on
himself　the　duties　incumbent　on　all　who　had　the　power。

Highly　gratified；　she　asked　him　to　look　at　a　copy　of　George's
intended　address；　which　was　lying　on　the　table。　　He　approved　of　the
tenor；　but　saw　a　few　phrases　susceptible　of　a　better　point。　　〃Give
it；〃　she　said；　putting　a　pen　into　his　hand；　and　he　began　to　interline
and　erase　her　fair　manuscript；　talking　earnestly；　and　working　up
himself　and　the　address　at　the　same　time；　till　it　had　grown　into　a
composition　far　superior　to　the　merely　sensible　affair　it　had　been。
Eloquence　and　thought　were　now　in　the　language；　and　substanceand
Flora　was　delighted。

〃I　have　been　very　disrespectful　to　my　niece　all　this　time；〃　said
Norman；　descending　from　the　clouds　of　patriotism。

〃I　do　not　mean　to　inflict　her　mercilessly　on　her　relations；〃　said
Flora；　〃but　I　should　like　you　to　see　her。　　She　is　so　like　Blanche。〃

The　little　girl　was　brought　in；　and　Flora　made　a　very　pretty　young
mother；　as　she　held　her　in　her　arms；　with　so　much　graceful　pride。
Norman　was　perfectly　entrancedhe　had　never　seen　his　sister　so
charming　or　so　admirable；　between　her　delight　in　her　infant；　and　her
self…devotion　to　the　good　of　her　husband　and　her　countryacting　so
wisely；　and　speaking　so　considerately；　and　praising　her　dear　Meta
with　so　much　warmth。　　He　would　never　have　torn　himself　away；　had　not
the　nurse　hinted　that　Mrs。　Rivers　had　had　too　much　excitement　and
fatigue　already　to…day；　and；　besides；　he　suspected　that　he　might　find
Meta　in　the　drawing…room；　where　he　might　discuss　the　whole　with　her；
and　judge　for　himself　of　her　state　of　spirits。

Flora's　next　visitor　was　her　father；　who　came　as　the　twilight　was
enhancing　the　comfortable　red　brightness　of　the　fire。　　He　was　very
happy　in　these　visitsmother　and　child　had　both　prospered　so　well；
and　it　was　quite　a　treat　to　be　able　to　expend　his　tenderness　on
Flora。　　His　little　grandchild　seemed　to　renew　his　own　happy　days；　and
he　delighted　to　take　her　from　her　mother　and　fondle　her。　　No　sooner
was　the　baby　in　his　arms　than　Flora's　hands　were　busy　among　the
papers；　and　she　begged　him　to　ring　for　lights。

〃Not　yet；〃　he　said。　　〃Why　can't　you　sit　in　the　dark；　and　give
yourself　a　little　rest？〃

〃I　want　you　to　hear　George's　address。　　Norman　has　been　looking　at　it；
and　I　hope　you　will　not　think　it　too　strong；〃　and　she　turned；　so　that
the　light　might　fall　on　the　paper。

〃Let　me　see；〃　said　Dr。　May；　holding　out　his　hand　for　it。

〃This　is　a　rough　copy；　too　much　scratched　for　you　to　make　out。〃

She　read　it　accordingly；　and　her　father　admired　it　exceedingly
Norman's　touches；　above　all；　and　Flora's　reading　had　dovetailed　all
so　neatly　together　that　no　one　knew　where　the　joins　were。　　〃I　will
copy　it　fairly；〃　she　said；　〃if　you　will　show　it　to　Dr。　Spencer；　and
ask　whether　he　thinks　it　too　strong。　　Mr。　Dodsley　too；　he　would　be
more　gratified　if　he　saw　it　first；　in　private；　and　thought　himself
consulted。〃

Dr。　May　was　dismayed　at　seeing　her　take　up　her　pen；　make　a　desk　of
her　blotting…book；　and　begin　her　copy　by　firelight。

〃Flora；　my　dear；〃　he　said；　〃this　must　not　be。　　Have　I　not　told　you
that　you　must　be　content　to　rest？〃

〃I　did　not　get　up　till　ten　o'clock；　and　have　been　lying　here　ever
since。〃

〃But　what　has　this　head　of　yours　been　doing？　　Has　it　been　resting　for
ten　minutes　together？　　Now　I　know　what　I　am　saying；　FloraI　warn
you；　that　if　you　will　not　give　yourself　needful　quiet　now；　you　will
suffer　for　it　by　and　by。〃

Flora　smiled；　and　said；　〃I　thought　I　had　been　very　good。　　But；　what
is　to　be　done　when　one's　wits　will　work；　and　there　is　work　for　them
to　do？〃

〃Is　not　there　work　enough　for　them　here？〃　said　Dr。　May；　looking　at
the　babe。　　〃Your　mother　used　to　value　such　a　retirement　from　care。〃

Flora　was　silent　for　a　minute；　then　said；　〃Mr。　Esdaile　should　have
put　off　his　resignation　to　suit　me。　　It　is　an　unf