the daisy chain, or aspirations-第93章

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chatter；　only　not　quite　sure　whether　she　had　been　bride；　bride's…
maid；　or　bridegroom。

The　schoolroom　set；　with　Tom　and　Aubrey；　came　home　soon　after；　and
tongues　went　fast　with　stories　of　roast…beef；　plum…pudding；　and
blind…man's…buff。　　How　the　dear　Meta　had　sent　a　cart　to　Cocksmoor　to
bring　Cherry　herself；　and　how　many　slices　everybody　had　eaten；　and
how　the　bride's　health　had　been　drunk　by　the　children　in　real　wine；
and　how　they　had　all　played；　Norman　and　all；　and　how　Hector　had　made
Blanche　bold　enough　to　extract　a　raisin　from　the　flaming　snap…dragon。
It　was　not　half　told　when　Dr。　May　came　home；　and　Ethel　went　up　to
dress　for　her　dinner　at　Abbotstoke；　Mary　following　to　help　her　and
continue　her　narration；　which　bade　fair　to　entertain　Margaret　the
whole　evening。

Dr。　May；　Richard；　and　Ethel　had　a　comfortable　dark　drive　to　the
Grange；　and；　on　arriving；　found　Hector　deep　in　'Wild　Sports　of　the
West'；　while　Norman　and　Meta　were　sitting　over　the　fire　talking；　and
Mr。　Rivers　was　resting　in　his　library。

And　when　Ethel　and　Meta　spent　the　time　before　the　gentlemen　came　in
from　the　dining…room；　in　a　happy　tete…a…tete；　Ethel　learned　that　the
fire…light　dialogue　had　been　the　pleasantest　part　of　the　whole　day；
and　that　Meta　had　had　confided　to　her　the　existence　of　Decius　Musa
secret　which　Ethel　had　hitherto　considered　as　her　own　peculiar
property；　but　she　supposed　it　was　a　pledge　of　the　sisterhood；　which
Meta　professed　with　all　the　house　of　May。




CHAPTER　VIII。



The　rest　all　accepted　the　kind　invitation；
And　much　bustle　it　caused　in　the　plumed　creation；
Such　ruffling　of　feathers；　such　pruning　of　coats；
Such　chirping；　such　whistling；　such　clearing　of　throats；
Such　polishing　bills；　and　such　oiling　of　pinions；
Had　never　been　known　in　the　biped　dominions。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Peacock　at　Home。


Etheldred　was　thankful　for　that　confidence　to　Meta　Rivers；　for
without　it；　she　would　hardly　have　succeeded　in　spurring　Norman　up　to
give　the　finishing　touches　to　Decius；　and　to　send　him　in。　　If　she
talked　of　the　poem　as　the　devotion　of　Decius；　he　was　willing　enough；
and　worked　with　spirit；　for　he　liked　the　ideas；　and　enjoyed　the
expressing　them；　and　trying　to　bring　his　lines　to　his　notion　of
perfection；　but　if　she　called　it　the　〃Newdigate；〃　or　the　〃Prize
Poem；〃　and　declared　herself　sure　it　would　be　successful；　he　yawned；
slackened；　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　and　began　to　read　other　people's
poetry；　which　Ethel　was　disrespectful　enough　not　to　think　nearly　as
good　as　his　own。

It　was　completed　at　last；　and　Ethel　stitched　it　up　with　a　narrow　red
and　white　ribbonthe　Balliol　colours；　and　set　Meta　at　him　till　a
promise　was　extorted　that　he　would　send　it　in。
And；　in　due　time；　Ethel　received　the　following　note：


〃My　Dear　Ethel；

〃My　peacock　bubble　has　flown　over　the　house。　　Tell　them　all　about　it。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…Your　affectionate；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　N。　W。　M。〃


They　were　too　much　accustomed　to　Norman's　successes　to　be
extraordinarily　excited；　Ethel　would　have　been　much　mortified　if　the
prize　had　been　awarded　to　any　one　else；　but；　as　it　was；　it　came
rather　as　a　matter　of　course。　　The　doctor　was　greatly　pleased；　and
said　he　should　drive　round　by　Abbotstoke　to　tell　the　news　there；　and
then　laughed　beyond　measure　to　hear　that　Meta　had　been　in　the　plot；
saying　he　should　accuse　the　little　humming…bird　of　being　a　magpie；
stealing　secrets。

By　this　time　the　bride　and　bridegroom　were　writing　that　they　thought
of　soon　returning；　they　had　spent　the　early　spring　at　Paris；　had
wandered　about　in　the　south　of　France；　and　now　were　at　Paris　again。
Flora's　letters　were　long；　descriptive；　and　affectionate；　and　she　was
eager　to　be　kept　fully　informed　of　everything　at　home。　　As　soon　as
she　heard　of　Norman's　success；　she　wrote　a　whole　budget　of　letters；
declaring　that　she　and　George　would　hear　of　no　refusal；　they　were
going　to　spend　a　fortnight　at　Oxford　for　the　Commemoration；　and　must
have　Meta　and　Ethel　with　them　to　hear　Norman's　poem　in　the　theatre。

Dr。　May；　who　already　had　expressed　a　hankering　to　run　up　for　the　day
and　take　Ethel　with　him；　was　perfectly　delighted　at　the　proposal；　and
so　was　Mr。　Rivers；　but　the　young　ladies　made　many　demurs。　　Ethel
wanted　Mary　to　go　in　her　stead；　and　had　to　be　told　that　this　would
not　be　by　any　means　the　same　to　the　other　partiesshe　could　not　bear
to　leave　Margaret；　it　was　a　long　time　since　there　had　been　letters
from　the　Alcestis；　and　she　did　not　like　to　miss　being　at　home　when
they　should　come；　and　Meta；　on　her　side；　was　so　unwilling　to　leave
her　father　that；　at　last；　Dr。　May　scolded　them　both　for　a　pair　of
conceited；　self…important　damsels；　who　thought　nothing　could　go　on
without　them；　and　next；　compared　them　to　young　birds；　obliged　to　be
shoved　by　force　into　flying。

Meta　consented　first；　on　condition　that　Ethel　would；　and　Ethel　found
that　her　whole　house　would　be　greatly　disappointed　if　she　refused；　so
she　proceeded　to　be　grateful；　and　then　discovered　how　extremely
delightful　the　plan　was。　　Oxford；　of　which　she　had　heard　so　much；　and
which　she　had　always　wished　to　see！　　And　Norman's　gloryand　Meta's
companynay；　the　very　holiday；　and　going　from　home；　were　charms
enough　for　a　girl　of　eighteen；　who　had　never　been　beyond　Whitford　in
her　life。　　Besides；　to　crown　all；　papa　promised　that；　if　his　patients
would　behave　well；　and　not　want　him　too　much；　he　would　come　up　for
the　one　great　day。

Mr。　and　Mrs。　George　Rivers　came　to　Abbotstoke　to　collect　their　party。
They　arrived　by　a　railroad；　whose　station　was　nearer　to　Abbotstoke
than　to　Stoneborough；　therefore；　instead　of　their　visiting　the　High
Street　by　the　way；　Dr。　May；　with　Ethel　and　Mary；　were　invited　to　dine
at　the　Grange；　the　first　eveninga　proposal；　at　least；　as　new　and
exciting　to　Mary　as　was　the　journey　to　Oxford　to　her　sister。

The　two　girls　went　early；　as　the　travellers　had　intended　to　arrive
before　luncheon；　and；　though　Ethel　said　few　words；　but　let　Mary
rattle　on　with　a　stream　of　conjectures　and　questions；　her　heart　was
full　of　longings　for　her　sister；　as　well　as　of　strange　doubts　and
fears；　as　to　the　change　that　her　new　life　might　have　made　in　her。

〃There！　there！〃　cried　Mary。　　〃Yes！　it　is　Flora！　　Only　she　has　her
hair　done　in　a　funny　way！〃

Flora　and　Meta　were　both　standing　on　the　steps　before　the
conservatory；　and　Mary　made　but　one　bound　before　she　was　hugging
Flora。　　Ethel　kissed　her　without　so　much　violence；　and　then　saw　that
Flora　was　looking　very　well　and　bright；　more　decidedly　pretty　and
elegant　than　ever；　and　with　certainly　no　diminution　of　affection；　it
was　warmer；　though　rather　more　patronising。

〃How　natural　you　look！〃　was　her　first　exclamation；　as　she　held　Mary's
hand；　and　drew　Ethel's　arm　into　hers。　　〃And　how　is　Margaret？〃

〃Pretty　well…but　the　heat　makes　her　languid〃

〃Is　there　any　letter　yet？〃

〃No〃

〃I　do　not　see　any　cause　for　alarmletters　are　so　often　detained；
but；　of　course；　she　will　be　anxious。　　Has　she　had　pain　in　the　back
again？〃

〃Sometimes；　but　summer　always　does　her　good〃

〃I　shall　see　her　to…morrowand　the　Daisy。　　How　do　you　all　get　on？
Have　you　broken　down　yet；　Ethel？〃

〃Oh！　we　do　go　on；〃　said　Ethel；　smiling；　〃the　worst　thing　I　have　done
was　expecting　James　to　dress　the　salads　with　lamp…oil。〃

〃A　Greenland　salad！　　But　don't　talk　of　oilI　have　the　taste　still　in
my　mouth　after　the　Pyrennean　cookery！　　Oh！　Ethel；　you　would　have　been
wild　with　delight　in　those　places！〃

〃Snowy　mountains！　　Are　they　not　like　a　fairy…dream　to　you　now？　　You
must　have　felt　at　home；　as　a　Scotchwoman's　daughter。〃

〃Think　of　the　peaks　in　the　sunrise！　　Oh！　I　wanted　you　in　the　pass　of
Roncevalles；　to　hear　the　echo　of　Roland's　horn。　　And　we　saw　the　cleft
made　by　Roland's　sword　in　the　rocks。〃

〃Oh！　how　delightfuland　Spain　too！〃

〃Ay；　the　Isle　of　Pheasants；　where　all　the　conferences　took　place。〃

〃Where　Louis　XIV。　met　his　bride；　and　Francois　I。　sealed　his　treason
with　his　empty　flourish〃

〃Well；　don't　let　us　fight　about　Francois　I。　now；　I　want　to　know　how
Tom　likes　Eton。〃

〃He　gets　on　famously。　　I　am　so　glad　he　is　in　the　same　house　with
Hector。〃

〃Mr。　Ramsdenhow　is　he？〃

〃No　better；　he　has　not　done　any　duty　for　weeks。　　Tomkins　and　his　set
want　to　sell　the　next　presentation；　but　papa　hopes　to　stave　that　off；
for　there　is　a　better　set　than　usual　in　the　Town　Council　this　year。〃

〃Cocksmoor？　　And　how　are　our　friends　the　muses？　　I　found　a　note　from
the　secretary　telling　me　that　I　am　elected　again。　　How　have　they
behaved？〃

〃Pretty　well；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Mrs。　Ledwich　has　been　away；　so　we　have
had　few　meetings；　and　have　been　pretty　quiet；　except　for　an　uproar
about　the　mistress　beating　that　Franklin's　girland　what　do　you
think　I　did；　Flora？　　I　made　bold　to　say　the　woman　should　show　her　to
papa；　to　see　if　she　had　done　her　any　harm；　and　he　found　that　it　was
all　a　fabrication　from　one　end　to　the　other。　　So　it　ended　in　the　poor
girl　being　expelled；　and　Mary　and　I　have　her　twice　a　week；　to　see　if
there　is　any　grace　in　her。〃

〃To　reward　her！〃　said　Flora。　　〃That　is　always　your　way〃

〃Why；　one　cannot　give　the　poor　thing　quite　up；〃　said　Ethel。

〃You　will　manage　the　ladies　at　last！〃　cried　Flora。

〃Not　while　Mrs。　Ledwich　is　there！〃

〃I'll　cope　with　her！　　But；　come；　I　want　you　in　my　room〃

〃May　not　I　come？〃　said　Meta。　　〃I　must　see　when〃

Flora　held　up　her　hand；　and；　while　signing　invitation；　gave　an　arch
look　to　Meta　to　be　silent。　　Ethel　here　bethought　herself　of　inquiring
after　Mr。　Rivers；　and　then　for　George。

Mr。　Rivers　was　pretty　wellGeorge；　quite　well；　and　somewhere　in　the
garden；　and　Meta　said　that　he　had　such　a　beard　that　they　would　hardly
know　him；　while　Flora　added　that　he　was　delighted　with　the　Oxford
scheme。　　Flora's　rooms　had　been；　already；　often　shown　to　her　sisters；
when　Mr。　Rivers　had　been　newly　furnishing　them；　with　every　luxury　and
ornament　that　taste　could　devise。　　Her　dressing…room；　with　the　large
bay　window；　commanding　a　beautiful　view　of　Stoneborough；　and　filled；
but　not　crowded；　with　every　sort　of　choice　article；　was　a　perfect
exhibition　to　eyes　unaccustomed　to　such　varieties。

Mary　could　have　been　still　amused　by　the　hour；　in　studying　the
devices　and　ornaments　on　the　shelves　and　chiffonieres；　and　Blanche
had　romanced　about　it　to　the　little　ones；　till　they　were　erecting　it
into　a　mythical　palace。

And　Flora；　in　her　simple；　well…chosen　dress；　looked；　and　moved；　as　if
she　had　been　born　and　bred　in　the　like。

There　were　signs　of　unpacking　about　the　room…Flora's　dressing…case　on
the　table；　and　some　dresses　lying　on　the　sofa　and　ottoman。

Mary　ran　up　to　them　eagerly；　and　exclaimed　at　the　beautiful　shot　blue
and　white　silk。

〃Paris　fashions？〃　said　Ethel　carelessly。

〃Yes；　but　I　don't　parade　my　own　dresses　here；〃　said　Flora。

〃Whose　are　they　then？　　Your　commissions；　Meta？〃

〃No！〃　and　Meta　laughed　heartily。

〃Your　French　maid's　then？〃　said　Ethel。　　I　dare　say　she　dresses　quite
as　well；　and　the　things　are　too　really　pretty　and　simple　for　an
English　maid's　taste。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　like　them；〃　said　Flora　maliciously。　　〃Now；　please　to
be　good。〃

〃Who　are　they　for　then？〃　said　Ethel；　beginning　to　be
frightened。

〃For