the daisy chain, or aspirations-第120章

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The　delirium　went　off；　he　could　talk　quite　clearly　and　comfortably；
and　he　used　to　lie　listening；　when　David　and　I　had　our　odd　sort　of
talks。　　I　believe；　if　you　had　been　there；　or　we　could　have
strenthened　him　any　way；　he　might　have　got　over　it；　but　he　never
thought　he　should；　and　he　used　to　talk　to　me　about　all　of　you；　and
said　Stoneborough　had　been　the　most　blessed　spot　in　his　life；　he　had
never　had　so　much　of　a　home；　and　that　sharing　our　grief；　and　knowing
you；　had　done　him　great　good；　just　when　he　might　have　been　getting
elated。　　I　cannot　recollect　it　all；　though　I　tried　hard；　for
Margaret's　sake；　but　he　said　Hector　would　have　a　great　deal　of
temptation；　and　he　hoped　you　would　be　a　father　to　him；　and　Norman　an
elder　brother。　　You　would　not　think　how　much　he　talked　of　Cocksmoor；
about　a　church　being　built　there；　as　Ethel　wished；　and　little　Daisy
laying　the　first　stone。　　I　remember　one　night；　I　don't　know　whether
he　was　quite　himself；　for　he　looked　full　at　me　with　his　eyes；　that
had　grown　so　large；　till　I　did　not　know　what　was　coming；　and　he　said；
'I　have　seen　a　ship　built　by　a　sailor's　vow；　the　roof　was　like　the
timbers　of　a　shipthat　was　right。　　Mind；　it　is　so。　　That　is　the　ship
that　bears　through　the　waves；　there　is　the　anchor　that　enters　within
the　veil。'　　I　believe　that　was　what　he　said。　　I　could　not　forget
thathe　looked　at　me　so；　but　much　more　he　said；　that　I　dimly
remember；　and　chiefly　about　poor　dear　Margaret。　　He　bade　me　tell　her…
…his　own　precious　pearl；　as　he　used　to　call　herthat　he　was　quite
content；　and　believed　it　was　best　for　her　and　him　both；　that　all
should　be　thus　settled；　for　they　did　not　part　for　ever；　and　he
trusted　But　I　can't　write　all　that。〃　　（There　was　a　great　tear…blot
just　here）。　　〃It　is　too　good　to　recollect　anywhere　but　at　church。　　I
have　been　there　to…day；　with　my　uncle　and　aunt；　and　I　thought　I　could
have　told　it　when　I　came　home；　but　I　was　too　tired　to　write　then；　and
now　I　don't　seem　as　if　it　could　be　written　anyhow。　　When　I　come　home；
I　will　try　to　tell　Margaret。　　The　most　part　was　about　her；　only　what
was　better　seemed　to　swallow　that　up。〃

The　narrative　broke　off　here；　but　had　been　subsequently　resumed。

〃For　all　Mr。　Ernescliffe　talked　as　I　told　you；　he　was　so　quiet　and
happy；　that　I　made　sure　he　was　getting　well；　but　Jennings　did　not；
and　there　came　an　old　heathen　native　once　to　see　us；　who　asked　why　we
did　not　bury　him　alive；　because　he　got　no　better；　and　gave　trouble。
At　last；　one　nightit　was　the　third　of　Augusthe　was　very　restless；
and　could　not　breathe；　nor　lie　easily；　I　lifted　him　up　in　my　arms；
for　he　was　very　light　and　thin；　and　tried　to　make　him　more
comfortable。　　But　presently　he　said；　'Is　it　you；　Harry？　　God　bless
you；'　and；　in　a　minute；　I　knew　he　was　dead。　　You　will　tell　Margaret
all　about　it。　　I　don't　think　she　can　love　him　more　than　I　did；　and
she　did　not　half　know　him；　for　she　never　saw　him　on　board；　nor　in　all
that　dreadful　time；　nor　in　his　illness。　　She　will　never　know　what　she
has　lost。〃

There　was　another　break　here；　and　the　story　was　continued。

〃We　buried　him　the　next　day；　where　one　could　see　the　sea；　close　under
the　great　palm；　where　David　hopes　to　have　a　church　one　of　these　days。
David　helped　us；　and　said　the　Lord's　Prayer　and　the　Glory　with　us
there。　　I　little　thought；　when　I　used　to　grumble　at　my　two　verses　of
the　psalms　every　day；　when　I　should　want　the　ninetieth；　or　how　glad　I
should　be　to　know　so　many　by　heart；　for　they　were　such　a　comfort　to
Mr。　Ernescliffe。

〃David　got　us　a　nice　bit　of　wood；　and　Jennings　carved　the　cross；　and
his　name；　and　all　about　him。　　I　should　have　liked　to　have　done　it；
but　I　knocked　up　after　that。　　Jennings　thinks　I　had　a　sun…stroke。　　I
don't　know；　but　my　head　was　so　bad；　whenever　I　moved；　that　I　thought
only　Jennings　would　ever　have　come　to　tell　you　about　it。　　Jennings
looked　after　me　as　if　I　had　been　his　own　son；　and　there　was　David
too；　as　kind　as　if　he　had　been　Richard　himselfalways　sitting　by；　to
bathe　my　forehead；　or；　when　I　was　a　little　better；　to　talk　to　me；　and
ask　me　questions　about　his　Christian　teaching。　　You　must　not　think　of
him　like　a　savage；　for　he　is　my　friend；　and　a　far　more　perfect
gentleman　than　I　ever　saw　any　one；　but　you；　papa；　holding　the　command
over　his　people　so　easily　and　courteously；　and　then　coming　to　me　with
little　easy　first　questions　about　the　Belief；　and　such　things；　like
what　we　used　to　ask　mamma。　　He　liked　nothing　so　well　as　for　me　to
tell　him　about　King　David；　and　we　had　learned　a　good　deal　of　each
other's　languages　by　that　time。　　The　notion　of　his　heartlike
Cocksmoor　to　Ethelis　to　get　a　real　English　mission；　and　have　all
his　people　Christians。　　Ethel　talked　of　good　kings　being　Davids　to
their　line；　I　think　that　is　what　he　will　be；　if　he　lives；　but　those
islanders　have　been　dying　off　since　Europeans　came　among　them。〃

But　Harry's　letter　could　not　tell　what　he　confessed；　one　night；　to
his　father；　the　next　time　he　was　out　with　him　by　starlight；　how
desolate　he　had　been；　and　how　he　had　yearned　after　his　home；　and；　one
evening；　he　had　been　utterly　overcome　by　illness　and　loneliness；　and
had　cried　most　bitterly　and　uncontrollably；　and；　though　Jennings
thought　it　was　for　his　friend's　death；　it　really　was　homesickness；
and　the　thought　of　his　father　and　Mary。　　Jennings　had　helped　him　out
to　the　entrance　of　the　hut；　that　the　cool　night　air　might　refresh　his
burning　brow。　　Orion　shone　clear　and　bright；　and　brought　back　the
night　when　they　had　chosen　the　starry　hunter　as　his　friend。　　〃It
seemed；〃　he　said；　〃as　if　you　all　were　looking　at　me；　and　smiling　to
me　in　the　stars。　　And　there　was　the　Southern　Cross　upright；　which　was
like　the　minster　to　me；　and　I　recollected　it　was　Sunday　morning　at
home；　and　knew　you　would　be　thinking　about　me。　　I　was　so　glad　you　had
let　me　be　confirmed；　and　be　with　you　that　last　Sunday；　papa；　for　it
seemed　to　join　me　on　so　much　the　more；　and　when　I　thought　of　the
words　in　church；　they　seemed；　somehow；　to　float　on　me　so　much　more
than　ever　before；　and　it　was　like　the　minster；　and　your　voice。　　I
should　not　have　minded　dying　so　much　after　that。〃

At　last；　Harry's　Black　Prince　had　hurried　into　the　hut　with　the
tidings　that　his　English　father's　ship　was　in　the　bay；　and　soon
English　voices　again　sounded　in　his　ears；　bringing　the　forlorn　boy
such　warmth　of　kindness　that　he　could　hardly　believe　himself　a　mere
stranger。　　If　Alan　could　but　have　shared　the　joy　with　him！

He　was　carried　down　to　the　boat　in　the　cool　of　the　evening；　and
paused　on　the　way；　for　a　last　farewell　to　the　lonely　grave　under　the
palm　tree…one　of　the　many　sailors'　graves　scattered　from　the　tropics
to　the　poles；　and　which　might　be　the　first　seed　in　a　〃God's　acre〃　to
that　island；　becoming　what　the　graves　of　holy　men　of　old　are　to　us。

A　short　space　more　of　kind　care　from　his　new　friends　and　his
Christian　chief；　and　Harry　awoke　from　a　feverish　doze　at　sounds　that
seemed　so　like　a　dream　of　home；　that　he　was　unwilling　to　break　them
by　rousing　himself；　but　they　approved　themselves　as　real；　and　he
found　himself　in　the　embrace　of　his　mother's　sister。

And　here　Mrs。　Arnott's　story　began；　of　the　note　that　reached　her　in
the　early　morning　with　tidings　that　her　nephew　had　been　picked　up　by
the　mission…ship；　and　how　she　and　her　husband　had　hastened　at　once　on
board。

〃They　sent　me　below　to　see　a　hero；〃　she　wrote。　　〃What　I　saw　was　a
scarecrow　sort　of　likeness　of　you；　dear　Richard；　but；　when　he　opened
his　eyes；　there　was　our　Maggie　smiling　at　me。　　I　suppose　he　would　not
forgive　me　for　telling　how　he　sobbed　and　cried；　when　he　had　his　arms
round　my　neck；　and　his　poor　aching　head　on　my　shoulder。　　Poor　fellow；
he　was　very　weak；　and　I　believe　he　felt；　for　the　moment；　as　if　he　had
found　his　mother。

〃We　brought　him　home　with　us；　but　when　the　next　mail　went；　the　fever
was　still　so　high；　that　I　thought　it　would　be　only　alarm　to　you　to
write；　and　I　had　not　half　a　story　either；　though　you　may　guess　how
proud　I　was　of　my　nephew。〃

Harry's　troubles　were　all　over　from　that　time。　　He　had　thenceforth　to
recover　under　his　aunt's　motherly　care；　while　talking　endlessly　over
the　home　that　she　loved　almost　as　well　as　he　did。　　He　was　well　more
quickly　than　she　had　ventured　to　hope；　and　nothing　could　check　his
impatience　to　reach　his　home；　not　even　the　hopes　of　having　his　aunt
for　a　companion。　　The　very　happiness　he　enjoyed　with　her　only　made
him　long　the　more　ardently　to　be　with　his　own　family；　and　he　had
taken　his　leave　of　her；　and　of　his　dear　David；　and　sailed　by　the
first　packet　leaving　Auckland。

〃I　never　knew　what　the　old　Great　Bear　was　to　me　till　I　saw　him
again！〃　said　Harry。

It　was　late　when　the　elders　had　finished　all　that　was　to　be　heard　at
present；　and　the　clock　reminded　them　that　they　must　part。

〃And　you　go　to…morrow？〃　sighed　Margaret。

〃I　must。　　Jennings　has　to　go　on　to　Portsmouth；　and　see　after　his
son。〃

〃Oh；　let　me　see　Jennings！〃　exclaimed　Margaret。　　〃May　I　not；　papa？〃

Richard；　who　had　been　making　friends　with　Jennings；　whenever　he　had
not　been　needed　by　his　sisters　that　afternoon；　went　to　fetch　him　from
the　kitchen；　where　all　the　servants；　and　all　their　particular
friends；　were　listening　to　the　yarn　that　made　them　hold　their　heads
higher；　as　belonging　to　Master　Harry。

Harry　stepped　forward；　met　Jennings；　and　said；　aside；　〃My　sister；
Jennings；　my　sister　that　you　have　heard　of。〃

Dr。　May　had　already　seen　the　sailor；　but　he　could　not　help　addressing
him　again。　　〃Come　in；　come　in；　and　see　my　boy　among　us　all。　　Without
you；　we　never　should　have　had　him。〃

〃Make　him　come　to　me；〃　said　Margaret　breathlessly；　as　the　embarrassed
sailor　stood；　sleeking　down　his　hair；　and；　when　he　had　advanced　to
her　couch；　she　looked　up　in　his　face；　and　put　her　hand　into　his　great
brown　one。

〃I　could　not　help　saying　thank　you；〃　she　said。

〃Mr。　May；　sir！〃　cried　Jennings；　almost　crying；　and　looking　round　for
Harry；　as　a　sort　of　protector〃tell　them；　sir；　please；　it　was　only
my　dutyI　could　not　do　no　less；　and　you　knows　it；　sir；〃　as　if　Harry
had　been　making　an　accusation　against　him。

〃We　know　you　could　not；〃　said　Margaret；　〃and　that　is　what　we　would
thank　you　for；　if　we　could。　　I　know　heMr。　Ernescliffemust　have
been　much　more　at　rest　for　leaving　my　brother　with　so　kind　a　friend；
and〃

〃Please；　miss；　don't　say　no　more　about　it。　　Mr。　Ernescliffe　was　as
fine　an　officer　as　ever　stepped　a　quarter…deck；　and　Mr。　May　here
won't　fall　short　of　him；　and　was　I　to　be　after　leaving　the　like　of
them　to　the　mercy　of　the　black　fellowsthat　was　not　so　bad　neither？
If　it　had　only　pleased　God　that　we　had　brought　them　both　back　to　you；
miss；　but；　you　see；　a　man　can't　be　everything　at　once；　and　Mr。
Ernescliffe　was　not　so　stout　as　his　heart。〃

〃You　did　everything；　we　know〃　began　Dr。　May。

〃'Twas　a　real　pleasure；〃　said　Jennings　hastily；　〃for　two　such　real
gentlemen　as　they　was。　　Mr。　May；　sir；　I　beg　your　pardon　if　I　say　it
to　your　face；　never　flinched；　nor　spoke　a　word　of　complaint；　through
it　all；　and；　as　to　the　other〃

〃Margaret　cannot　bear　this；〃　said　Richard；　coming　near。　　〃It　is　too
much。〃

The　sailor　shook　his　head；　and　was　retreating；　but　Margaret　signed
him　to　come　near　again；　and　grasped　his　hand。　　Harry　fo