the daisy chain, or aspirations-第18章

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hire　Joliffe's　spring…cart；　and　we　might　have　Mrs。　Taylor　and　the
twins　brought　to　church　in　it。　　Should　you　like　to　walk　to　Cocksmoor
and　settle　it？〃

〃Oh　yes；　very　much　indeed。　　What　a　capital　thought。　　Margaret　said
you　would　know　how　to　manage。〃

〃Then　we　will　go　the　first　fine　day　papa　does　not　want　me。〃

〃I　wonder　if　I　could　finish　my　purple　frocks。　　But　here's　the　tea。
Now；　Richard；　don't　tell　me　to　make　it。　　I　should　do　something　wrong；
and　Flora　will　never　forgive　you。〃

Richard　would　not　let　her　off。　　He　stood　over　her；　counted　her
shovelfuls　of　tea；　and　watched　the　water　into　the　teapothe
superintended　her　warming　the　cups；　and　putting　a　drop　into　each
saucer。　　〃Ah！〃　said　Ethel；　with　a　concluding　sigh；　〃it　makes　one
hotter　than　double　equations！〃

It　was　all　right；　as　Flora　allowed　with　a　slightly　superior　smile。
She　thought　Richard　would　never　succeed　in　making　a　notable　or
elegant　woman　of　Ethel；　and　it　was　best　that　the　two　sisters　should
take　different　lines。　　Flora　knew　that；　though　clever　and　with　more
accomplishments；　she　could　not　surpass　Ethel　in　intellectual
attainments；　but　she　was　certainly　far　more　valuable　in　the　house；
and　had　been　proved　to　have　just　the　qualities　in　which　her　sister
was　most　deficient。　　She　did　not　relish　hearing　that　Ethel　wanted
nothing　but　attention　to　be　more　than　her　equal；　and　she　thought
Richard　mistaken。　　Flora's　remembrance　of　their　time　of　distress　was
less　unmixedly　wretched　than　it　was　with　the　others；　for　she　knew　she
had　done　wonders。

The　next　day　Norman　told　Ethel　that　he　had　got　on　very　well　with　the
verses；　and　finished　them　off　late　at　night。　　He　showed　them　to　her
before　taking　them　to　school　on　Monday　morning；　and　Ethel　thought
they　were　the　best　he　had　ever　written。　　There　was　too　much　spirit
and　poetical　beauty　for　a　mere　schoolboy　task；　and　she　begged　for　the
foul　copy　to　show　it　to　her　father。　　〃I　have　not　got　it；〃　said
Norman。　　〃The　foul　copy　was　not　like　these；　but　when　I　was　writing
them　out　quite　late；　it　was　all　I　don't　know　how。　　Flora's　music　was
in　my　ears；　and　the　room　seemed　to　get　larger；　and　like　an　ocean
cave；　and　when　the　candle　flickered；　'twas　like　the　green　glowing
light　of　the　sun　through　the　waves。〃

〃As　it　says　here；〃　said　Ethel。

〃And　the　words　all　came　to　me　of　themselves　in　beautiful　flowing
Latin；　just　right；　as　if　it　was　anybody　but　myself　doing　it；　and　they
ran　off　my　pen　in　red　and　blue　and　gold；　and　all　sorts　of　colours；
and　fine　branching　zig…zagging　stars；　like　what　the　book　described；
only　stranger；　came　dancing　and　radiating　round　my　pen　and　the
candle。　　I　could　hardly　believe　the　verses　would　scan　by　daylight；
but　I　can't　find　a　mistake。　　Do　you　try　them　again。〃

Ethel　scanned。　〃I　see　nothing　wrong；〃　she　said；　〃but　it　seems　a　shame
to　begin　scanning　Undine's　verses；　they　are　too　pretty。　　I　wish　I
could　copy　them。　　It　must　have　been　half　a　dream。〃

〃I　believe　it　was；　they　don't　seem　like　my　own。〃

〃Did　you　dream　afterwards？〃

He　shivered。　　〃They　had　got　into　my　head　too　much；　my　ears　sang　like
the　roaring　of　the　sea；　and　I　thought　my　feet　were　frozen　on　to　an
iceberg：　then　came　darkness；　and　sea　monsters；　and　drowningit　was
too　horrid！〃　and　his　face　expressed　all；　and　more　than　all；　he　said。
〃But　'tis　a　quarter　to　sevenwe　must　go；〃　said　he；　with　a　long　yawn；
and　rubbing　his　eyes。　　〃You　are　sure　they　are　right；　Ethel？　　Harry；
come　along。〃

Ethel　thought　those　verses　ought　to　make　a　sensation；　but　all　that
came　of　them　was　a　Quam　optime；　and　when　she　asked　Norman　if　no
special　notice　had　been　taken　of　them；　he　said；　in　his　languid　way；
〃No；　only　Dr。　Hoxton　said　they　were　better　than　usual。〃

Ethel　did　not　even　have　the　satisfaction　of　hearing　that　Mr。　Wilmot；
happening　to　meet　Dr。　May；　said　to　him；　〃Your　boy　has　more　of　a　poet
in　him　than　any　that　has　come　in　my　way。　　He　really　sometimes　makes
very　striking　verses。〃

Richard　watched　for　an　opportunity　of　speaking　to　Harry；　which　did
not　at　once　occur；　as　the　boy　spent　very　little　of　his　time　at　home；
and；　as　if　by　tacit　consent；　he　and　Norman　came　in　later　every
evening。　　At　last；　on　Thursday；　in　the　additional　two　hours'　leisure
allowed　to　the　boys；　when　the　studious　prepared　their　tasks；　and　the
idle　had　some　special　diversion；　Richard　encountered　him　running　up
to　his　own　room　to　fetch　a　newly…invented　instrument　for　projecting
stones。

〃I'll　walk　back　to　school　with　you；〃　said　Richard。
〃I　mean　to　run；〃　returned　Harry。

〃Is　there　so　much　hurry？〃　said　Richard。　　〃I　am　sorry　for　it；　for　I
wanted　to　speak　to　you；　Harry；　I　have　something　to　show　you。〃

His　manner　conveyed　that　it　related　to　their　mother；　and　the　sobering
effect　was　instantaneous。　　〃Very　well；〃　said　he；　forgetting　his
haste。　　〃I'll　come　into　your　room。〃

The　awe…struck；　shy；　yet　sorrowful　look　on　his　rosy　face　showed
preparation　enough；　and　Richard's　only　preface　was　to　say；　〃It　is　a
bit　of　a　letter　that　she　was　in　course　of　writing　to　Aunt　Flora；　a
description　of　us　all。　　The　letter　itself　is　gone；　but　here　is　a　copy
of　it。　　I　thought　you　would　like　to　read　what　relates　to　yourself。〃

Richard　laid　before　him　the　sheet　of　notepaper　on　which　this　portion
of　the　letter　was　written；　and　left　him　alone　with　it；　while　he　set
out　on　the　promised　walk　with　Ethel。

They　found　the　old　woman；　Granny　Hall；　looking　like　another　creature；
smoke…dried　and　withered　indeed；　but　all　briskness　and　animation。

〃Well！　be　it　you；　sir；　and　the　young　lady？〃

〃Yes；　here　we　are　come　to　see　you　again；〃　said　Richard。　　〃I　hope　you
are　not　disappointed　that　I've　brought　my　sister　this　time　instead　of
the　doctor。〃

〃No；　no；　sir；　I've　done　with　the　doctor　for　this　while；〃　said　the　old
woman；　to　Ethel's　great　amusement。　　〃He　have　done　me　a　power　of　good；
and　thank　him　for　it　heartily；　but　the　young　lady　is　right　welcome
herebut　'tis　a　dirty　walk　for　her。〃

〃Never　mind　that；〃　said　Ethel；　a　little　shyly；　〃I　camewhere　are
your　grandchildren？〃

〃Oh；　somewhere　out　among　the　blocks。　　They　gets　out　with　the　other
children；　I　can't　be　always　after　them。〃

〃I　wanted　to　know　if　these　would　fit　them；〃　said　Ethel；　beginning　to
undo　her　basket。

〃Well；　'pon　my　word！　　If　ever　I　see！　　Here！〃　stepping　out　to　the
door；　〃PollyJenny！　come　in；　I　say；　this　moment！　　Come　in；　ye　bad
girls；　or　I'll　give　you　the　stick；　I'll　break　every　bone　of　you；　that
I　will！〃　all　which　threats　were　bawled　out　in　such　a　good…natured；
triumphant　voice；　and　with　such　a　delighted　air；　that　Richard　and
Ethel　could　not　help　laughing。

After　a　few　moments；　Polly　and　Jenny　made　their　appearance；　extremely
rough　and　ragged；　but　compelled　by　their　grandmother　to　duck　down；　by
way　of　courtesies；　and；　with　finger　in　mouth；　they　stood；　too　shy　to
show　their　delight；　as　the　garments　were　unfolded；　Granny　talking　so
fast　that　Ethel　would　never　have　brought　in　the　stipulation；　that　the
frocks　should　be　worn　to　school　and　church；　if　Richard；　in　his　mild；
but　steady　way；　had　not　brought　the　old　woman　to　listen　to　it。　　She
was　full　of　asseverations　that　they　should　go；　she　took　them　to
church　sometimes　herself；　when　it　was　fine　weather　and　they　had
clothes；　and　they　could　say　their　catechiz　as　well　as　anybody
already；　yes；　they　should　come；　that　they　should；　and　next　Sunday。
Ethel　promised　to　be　there　to　introduce　them　to　the　chief　lady；　the
president　of　the　Committee；　Mrs。　Ledwich；　and；　with　a　profusion　of
thanks；　they　took　leave。

They　found　John　Taylor；　just　come　out　of　the　hospital；　looking　weak
and　ill；　as　he　smoked　his　pipe　over　the　fire；　his　wife　bustling　about
at　a　great　rate；　and　one　of　the　infants　crying。　　It　seemed　to　be　a
great　relief　that　they　were　not　come　to　complain　of　Lucy；　and　there
were　many　looks　of　surprise　on　hearing　what　their　business　really
was。　　Mrs。　Taylor　thanked　them；　and　appeared　not　to　know　whether　she
was　glad　or　sorry；　and　her　husband；　pipe　in　hand；　gazed　at　the　young
gentleman　as　if　he　did　not　comprehend　the　species；　since　he　could　not
be　old　enough　to　be　a　clergyman。

Richard　hoped　they　would　find　sponsors　by　that　time；　and　there　Mrs。
Taylor　gave　little　hope；　it　was　a　bad　lotthere　was　no　one　she　liked
to　ask　to　stand；　she　said；　in　a　dismal　voice；　but　there　her　husband
put　in；　〃I'll　find　some　one　if　that's　all；　my　missus　always　thinks
nobody　can't　do　nothing。〃

〃To　be　sure；〃　said　the　lamentable　Mrs。　Taylor；　〃all　the　elder　ones
was　took　to　church；　and　I'm　loath　the　little　ones　shouldn't；　but　you
see；　sir；　we　are　poor　people；　and　it's　a　long　way；　and　they　was　set
down　in　the　gentleman's　register　book。〃

〃But　you　know　that　is　not　the　same；　Mrs。　Taylor。　　Surely　Lucy　could
have　told　you　that；　when　she　went　to　school。〃

〃No；　sir；　'tis　not　the　sameI　knows　that；　but　this　is　a　bad　place　to
live　in〃

〃Always　the　old　song；　missus！〃　exclaimed　her　husband。　　〃Thank　you
kindly；　siryou　have　been　a　good　friend　to　us；　and　so　was　Dr。　May；
when　I　was　up　to　the　hospital；　through　the　thick　of　his　own　troubles。
I　believe　you　are　in　the　right　of　it；　sir；　and　thank　you。　　The
children　shall　be　ready；　and　little　Jack　too；　and　I'll　find　gossips；
and　let　'em　christened　on　Sunday。〃

〃I　believe　you　will　be　glad　of　it；〃　said　Richard；　and　he　went　on　to
speak　of　the　elder　children　coming　to　school　on　Sunday；　thus　causing
another　whining　from　the　wife　about　distance　and　bad　weather；　and　no
one　else　going　that　way。　　He　said　the　little　Halls　were　coming；　but
Mrs。　Taylor　begun　saying　she　disliked　their　company　for　the　children…
…granny　let　them　get　about　so　much；　and　they　said　bad　words。　　The
father　again　interfered。　　Perhaps　Mr。　Wilmot；　who　acted　as　chaplain
at　the　hospital；　had　been　talking　to　him；　for　he　declared　at　once
that　they　should　come；　and　Richard　suggested　that　he　might　see　them
home　when　he　came　from　church；　then；　turning　to　the　boy　and　girl；
told　them　they　would　meet　their　sister　Lucy；　and　asked　them　if　they
would　not　like　that。

On　the　whole；　the　beginning　was　not　inauspicious；　though　there　might
be　a　doubt　whether　old　Mrs。　Hall　would　keep　all　her　promises。　　Ethel
was　so　much　diverted　and　pleased　as　to　be　convinced　she　would；
Richard　was　a　little　doubtful　as　to　her　power　over　the　wild　girls。
There　could　not　be　any　doubt　that　John　Taylor　was　in　earnest；　and　had
been　worked　upon　just　at　the　right　moment；　but　there　was　danger　that
the　impression　would　not　last。　　〃And　his　wife　in　such　a　horrible
whining　dawdle！〃　said　Ethel〃there　will　be　no　good　to　be　done　if　it
depends　on　her。〃

Richard　made　no　answer；　and　Ethel　presently　felt　remorseful　for　her
harsh　speech　about　a　poor　ignorant　woman；　overwhelmed　with　poverty；
children；　and　weak　health。

〃I　have　been　thinking　a　great　deal　about　what　you　said　last　time　we
took　this　walk；〃　said　Richard；　after　a　considerable　interval。

〃Oh；　have　you！〃　cried　Ethel　eagerly；　and　the　black　peaty　pond　she　was
looking　at　seemed　to　sparkle　with　sunlight。

〃Do　you　really　mean　it？〃　said　Richard　deliberately。

〃Yes；　to　be　sure；〃　she　said；　with　some　indignation。

〃Because　I　think　I　see　a　way　to　make　a　beginning；　but　you　must　make
up　your　mind　to　a　great　deal　of　trouble；　and　dirty　walks；　and　you
must　really　learn　not　to　draggle　your　frock。〃

〃Well；　well；　but　tell　me。〃