the daisy chain, or aspirations-第111章

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assured　that　it　was　anything　but　terrific；　he　gravely　declared　that
he　thought　Margaret　would　want　him；　but　he　could　not　cross　the　garden
without　Meta　to　protect　him。

She　would　not　allow　any　one　else　to　relieve　her　from　the　doughty
champion；　and　thereby　she　missed　the　spectacle。　　It　might　be　that　she
did　not　regret　it；　for　though　it　would　have　been　unkind　to　refuse　to
come　in　with　her　brother　and　sister；　her　wound　was　still　too　fresh
for　crowds；　turmoil；　and　noisy　rejoicing　to　be　congenial。　　She　did
not　withdraw　her　hand；　which　Aubrey　squeezed　harder　at　each
resounding　shout；　nor　object　to　his　conducting　her　to　see　his　museum
in　the　dark　corner　of　the　attics；　most　remote　from　the　tumult。

The　loss　was　not　great。　　The　others　could　hear　nothing　distinctly；
and　see　only　a　wilderness　of　heads；　but　the　triumph　was　complete。
Dr。　May　had　been　cheered　enough　to　satisfy　even　Hector；　George　Rivers
had　made　a　very　fair　speech；　and　hurrahs　had　covered　all
deficiencies；　Hector　had　shouted　till　he　was　as　hoarse　as　the
jackdaws；　the　opposite　candidate　had　never　come　forward　at　all；
Tomkins　was　hiding　his　diminished　head；　and　the　gentlemen　had　nothing
to　report　but　success；　and　were　in　the　highest　spirits。

By　and　by　Blanche　was　missing；　and　Ethel；　going　in　quest　of　her；
spied　a　hem　of　blue　merino　peeping　out　under　all　the　cloaks　in　the
hall　cupboard；　and　found　the　poor　little　girl　sobbing　in　such
distress；　that　it　was　long　before　any　explanation　could　be　extracted；
but　at　last　it　was　revealedwhen　the　door　had　been　shut；　and　they
stood　in　the　dark；　half　stifled　among　the　cloaks；　that　George's
spirits　had　taken　his　old　facetious　style　with　Blanche；　and　in　the
very　hearing　of　Hector！　　The　misery　of　such　jokes　to　a　sensitive
child；　conscious　of　not　comprehending　their　scope；　is　incalculable；
and　Blanche　having　been　a　baby…coquette；　was　the　more　susceptible。
She　hid　her　face　again　from　the　very　sound　of　her　own　confession；　and
resisted　Ethel's　attempts　to　draw　her　out　of　the　musty　cupboard；
declaring　that　she　could　never　see　either　of　them　again。　　Ethel；　in
vain；　assured　her　that　George　was　gone　to　the　dinner　at　the　Swan；
nothing　was　effectual　but　being　told　that　for　her　to　notice　what　had
passed　was　the　sure　way　to　call　Hector's　attention　thereto；　when　she
bridled；　emerged；　and　begged　to　know　whether　she　looked　as　if　she　had
been　crying。　　Poor　child；　she　could　never　again　be　unconscious；　but；
at　least；　she　was　rendered　peculiarly　afraid　of　a　style　of　notice；
that　might　otherwise　have　been　a　temptation。

Ethel　privately　begged　Flora　to　hint　to　George　to　alter　his　style　of
wit；　and　the　suggestion　was　received　better　than　the　blundering
manner　deserved；　Flora　was　too　exulting　to　take　offence；　and　her
patronage　of　all　the　world　was　as　full…blown　as　her　ladylike　nature
allowed。　　Ethel；　she　did　not　attempt　to　patronise；　but　she　promised
all　the　sights　in　London　to　the　children；　and　masters　to　Mary　and
Blanche；　and　she　perfectly　overwhelmed　Miss　Bracy　with　orphan　asylums
for　her　sisters。　　She　would　have　liked　nothing　better　than　dispersing
cards；　with　Mrs。　Rivers　prominent　among　the　recommenders　of　the　case。

〃A　fine　coming…out　for　you；　little　lady；〃　said　she　to　her　baby；　when
taking　leave　that　evening。　　〃If　it　was　good　luck　for　you　to　make　your
first　step　in　life　upwards；　what　is　this？〃

〃Excelsior？〃　said　Ethel；　and　Flora　smiled；　well　pleased；　but　she　had
not　caught　half　the　meaning。　　〃May　it　be　the　right　excelsior〃　added
Ethel；　in　a　low　voice　that　no　one　heard；　and　she　was　glad　they　did
not。　　They　were　all　triumphant；　and　she　could　not　tell　why　she　had　a
sense　of　sadness；　and　thought　of　Flora's　story　long　ago；　of　the　girl
who　ascended　Mont　Blanc；　and　for　what？

All　she　had　to　do　at　present　was　to　listen　to　Miss　Bracy；　who　was
sure　that　Mrs。　Rivers　thought　Mary　and　Blanche　were　not　improved；　and
was　afraid　she　was　ungrateful　for　all　the　intended　kindness　to　her
sister。

Ethel　had　more　sympathy　here；　for　she　had　thought　that　Flora　was
giving　herself　airs；　and　she　laughed　and　said　her　sister　was　pleased
to　be　in　a　position　to　help　her　friends；　and　tried　to　turn　it　off；
but　ended　by　stumbling　into　allowing　that　prosperity　was　apt　to　make
people　over…lavish　of　offers　of　kindness。

〃Dear　Miss　Ethel；　you　understand　so　perfectly。　　There　is　no　one　like
you！〃　cried　Miss　Bracy；　attempting　to　kiss　her　hand。

If　Ethel　had　not　spoken　rightly　of　her　sister；　she　was　sufficiently
punished。

What　she　did　was　to　burst　into　a　laugh；　and　exclaim；　〃Miss　Bracy！
Miss　Bracy！　　I　can't　have　you　sentimental。　　I　am　the　worst　person　in
the　world　for　it。〃

〃I　have　offended。　　You　cannot　feel　with　me！〃

〃Yes；　I　can；　when　it　is　sense；　but　please　don't　treat　me　like　a
heroine。　　I　am　sure　there　is　quite　enough　in　the　world　that　is
worrying；　without　picking　shades　of　manner　to　pieces。　　It　is　the　sure
way　to　make　an　old　crab　of　me；　and　so　I　am　going　off。　　Only；　one
parting　piece　of　advice；　Miss　Bracyread　'Frank　Fairlegh'；　and　put
everybody　out　of　your　head。〃

And；　thinking　she　had　been　savage　about　her　hand；　Ethel　turned　back；
and　kissed　the　little　governess's　forehead；　wished　her　goodnight；　and
ran　away。

She　had　learned　that；　to　be　rough　and　merry；　was　the　best　way　of
doing　Miss　Bracy　good　in　the　end；　and　so　she　often　gave　herself　the
present　pain　of　knowing　that　she　was　being　supposed　careless　and
hard…hearted；　but　the　violent　affection　for　her　proved　that　the
feeling　did　not　last。

Ethel　was　glad　to　sit　by　the　fire　at　bed…time；　and　think　over　the
day；　outwardly　so　gay；　inwardly　so　fretting　and　perplexing。

It　was　the　first　time　that　she　had　seen　much　of　her　little　niece。
She　was　no　great　baby…handler；　nor　had　she　any　of　the　phrases　adapted
to　the　infant　mind；　but　that　pretty　little　serene　blue…eyed　girl　had
been　her　chief　thought　all　day；　and　she　was　abashed　by　recollecting
how　little　she　had　dwelt　on　her　own　duties　as　her　sponsor；　in　the
agitations　excited　by　the　doubts　about　her　coadjutor。

She　took　out　her　Prayer…book；　and　read　the　Service　for　Baptism；
recollecting　the　thoughts　that　had　accompanied　her　youngest　sister's
orphaned　christening；　〃The　vain　pomp　and　glory　of　the　world；　and　all
covetous　desires　of　the　same。〃　　They　seemed　far　enough　off　then；　and
nowpoor　little　Leonora！

Ethel　knew　that　she　judged　her　sister　hardly；　yet　she　could　not　help
picturing　to　herself　the　futurea　young　lady；　trained　for
fashionable　life；　serious　teaching　not　omitted；　but　right　made　the
means　of　rising　in　the　world；　taught　to　strive　secretly；　but　not
openly；　for　admirationa　scheming　for　her　marriagea　career　like
Flora's　own。　　Ethel　could　scarcely　feel　that　it　would　not　be　a
mockery　to　declare；　on　her　behalf；　that　she　renounced　the　world。
But；　alas！　where　was　not　the　world？　　Ethel　blushed　at　having　censured
others；　when；　so　lately；　she　had　herself　been　oblivious　of　the　higher
duty。　　She　thought　of　the　prayer；　including　every　Christian　in　holy
and　loving　intercession〃I　pray　not　that　Thou　wouldest　take　them　out
of　the　world；　but　that　Thou　wouldest　keep　them　from　the　evil。〃

〃Keep　her　from　the　evilthat　shall　be　my　prayer　for　my　poor　little
Leonora。　　His　grace　can　save　her；　were　the　surrounding　evil　far　worse
than　ever　it　is　likely　to　be。　　The　intermixture　with　good　is　the
trial；　and　is　it　not　so　everywhereever　since　the　world　and　the
Church　have　seemed　fused　together？　　But　she　will　soon　be　the　child　of
a　Father　who　guards　His　own；　and；　at　least；　I　can　pray　for　her；　and
her　dear　mother。　　May　I　only　live　better；　that　so　I　may　pray　better；
and　act　better；　if　ever　I　should　have　to　act。〃

There　was　a　happy　family　gathering　on　the　New　Year's　Day；　and　Flora；
who　had　kindly　felt　her　way　with　Meta；　finding　her　not　yet　ready　to
enjoy　a　public　festivity　for　the　village；　added　a　supplement　to　the
Christmas　beef；　that　a　second　dinner　might　be　eaten　at　home；　in
honour　of　Miss　Leonora　Rivers。

Lady　Leonora　was　highly　satisfied　with　her　visit；　which　impressed　her
far　more　in　favour　of　the　Abbotstoke　neighbourhood　than　in　the　days
of　poor　old　Mr。　Rivers。　　Flora　knew　every　one；　and　gave　little　select
dinner…parties；　which；　by　her　good　management；　even　George；　at　the
bottom　of　the　table；　could　not　make　heavy。　　Dr。　Spencer　enjoyed　them
greatly；　and　was　an　unfailing　resource　for　conversation；　and　as　to
the　Hoxtons；　Flora　felt　herself　amply　repaying　the　kindness　she　had
received　in　her　young　lady　days；　when　she　walked　down　to　the　dining…
room　with　the　portly　headmaster；　or　saw　his　good　lady　sit　serenely
admiring　the　handsome　rooms。　　〃A　very　superior　person；　extremely
pleasing　and　agreeable；〃　was　the　universal　verdict　on　Mrs。　Rivers。
Lady　Leonora　struck　up　a　great　friendship　with　her；　and　was　delighted
that　she　meant　to　take　Meta　to　London。　　The　only　fault　that　could　be
found　with　her　was　that　she　had　so　many　brothers；　and　Flora；
recollecting　that　her　ladyship　mistrusted　those　brothers；　avoided
encouraging　their　presence　at　the　Grange；　and　took　every　precaution
against　any　opening　for　the　suspicion　that　she　threw　them　in　the　way
of　her　little　sister…in…law。

Nor　had　Flora　forgotten　the　Ladies'　Committee；　or　Cocksmoor。　　As　to
the　muses；　they　gave　no　trouble　at　all。　　Exemplary　civilities　about
the　chair　passed　between　the　Member's　lady　and　Mrs。　Ledwich；　ending
in　Flora's　insisting　that　priority　in　office　should　prevail；　feeling
that　she　could　well　afford　to　yield　the　post　of　honour；　since
anywhere　she　was　the　leader。　　She　did　not　know　how　much　more
conformable　the　ladies　had　been　ever　since　they　had　known　Dr。
Spencer's　opinion；　and　yet　he　only　believed　that　they　were　grateful
for　good　advice；　and　went　about　among　them；　easy；　good…natured；　and
utterly　unconscious　that　for　him　sparkled　Mrs。　Ledwich's　bugles；　and
for　him　waved　every　spinster's　ribbon；　from　Miss　Rich　down　to　Miss
Boulder。

The　point　carried　by　their　united　influence　was　Charity　Elwood's
being　sent　for　six　months'　finish　at　the　Diocesan　Training　School；
while　a　favourite　pupil…teacher　from　Abbotstoke　took　her　place　at
Cocksmoor。　　Dr。　Spencer　looked　at　the　Training　School；　and　talked
Mrs。　Ledwich　into　magnanimous　forgiveness　of　Mrs。　Elwood。　　Cherry
dreaded　the　ordeal；　but　she　was　willing　to　do　anything　that　was
thought　right；　and　likely　to　make　her　fitter　for　her　office。




CHAPTER　XIV。



'Twas　a　long　doubt；　we　never　heard
　　Exactly　how　the　ship　went　down。ARCHER　GURNEY。


The　tidings　came　at　last；　came　when　the　heart…sickness　of　hope
deferred　had　faded　into　the　worse　heart…sickness　of　fear　deferred；
and　when　spirits　had　been　fain　to　rebel；　and　declare　that　they　would
be　almost　glad　to　part　with　the　hope　that　but　kept　alive　despair。

The　Christmas　holidays　had　come　to　an　end；　and　the　home　party　were
again　alone；　when　early　in　the　forenoon；　there　was　a　tap　at　the
drawing…room　door；　and　Dr。　Spencer　called；　〃Ethel；　can　you　come　and
speak　to　me？〃

Margaret　started　as　if　those　gentle　tones　had　been　a　thunderclap。
〃Go！　go；　Ethel；〃　she　said；　〃don't　keep　me　waiting。〃

Dr。　Spencer　stood　in　the　hall　with　a　newspaper　in　his　hand。　　Ethel
said；　〃Is　it？〃　and　he　made　a　sorrowful　gesture。　　〃Both？〃　she　asked。

〃Both；〃　he　repeated。　　〃The　ship　burnedthe　boat　lost。〃

〃Ethel；　come！〃　hoarsely