the daisy chain, or aspirations-第95章

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to　be　general。　　The　young　men　began　to　strike　out　sparks　of　wit
against　each　otherFlora　put　in　a　word　or　twoEthel　grew　so　much
interested　in　the　discussion；　that　her　face　lighted　up；　and　she
joined　in　it；　as　if　it　had　been　only　between　her　father　and　brother
keen；　clear；　and　droll。　　After　that；　she　had　her　full　share　in　the
conversation；　and　enjoyed　it　so　much　that；　when　she　left　the　dinner…
table；　she　fetched　her　writing…case　to　sketch　the　colloquy　for
Margaret　and　her　father。

Flora　exclaimed　at　her　for　never　allowing　any　one　to　think　of　rest。
Meta　said　she　should　like　to　do　the　same；　but　it　was　impossible　now；
she　did　not　know　how　she　should　ever　settle　down　to　write　a　letter。
Ethel　was　soon　interruptedthe　gentlemen　entered；　and　Mr。　Ogilvie
came　to　the　window；　where　she　was　sitting；　and　began　to　tell　her　how
much　obliged　to　her　he　and　his　college　were；　for　having　insisted　on
her　brother's　sending　in　his　poem。　　〃Thanks　are　due；　for　our　being
spared　an　infliction　next　week；〃　he　said。

〃Have　you　seen　it？〃　she　asked；　and　she　was　amused　by　the　quick
negative　movement　of　his　head。

〃I　read　my　friend's　poems？　　But　our　lungs　are　prepared！　　Will　you
give　me　my　cueit　is　of　no　use　to　ask　him　when　we　are　to　deafen　you。
One　generally　knows　the　crack　passagessomething　beginning　with　'Oh；
woman！'　but　it　is　well　to　be　in　readinessif　you　would　only　forewarn
me　of　the　telling　hits？〃

〃If　they　cannot　tell　themselves；〃　said　Ethel；　smiling；　〃I　don't　think
they　deserve　the　name。〃

〃Perhaps　you　think　what　does　tell　on　the　undergraduates；
collectively；　is　not　always　what　ought　to　tell　on　them。〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I　dare　say　the　same　would　not　be　a　favourite　with
them　and　with　me。〃

〃I　should　like　to　know　which　are　your　favourites。　　No　doubt　you　have
a　copy　heremade　by　yourself；〃　and　he　looked　towards　her　paper…case。

There　was　the　copy；　and　she　took　it　out；　peering　to　see　whether
Norman　were　looking。

〃Let　me　see；〃　he　said；　as　she　paused　to　open　the　MS。；　〃he　told
me　the　thoughts　were　more　yours　than　his　own。〃

〃Did　he？　　That　was　not　fair。　　One　thought　was　an　old　one；　long　ago
talked　over　between　us；　the　rest　is　all　his　own。〃

Here　Mr。　Ogilvie　took　the　paper；　and　Ethel　saw　his　countenance　show
evident　tokens　of　surprise　and　feeling。

〃Yes；〃　he　said　presently；　〃May　goes　deepdeeper　than　most　men
though　I　doubt　whether　they　will　applaud　this。〃

〃I　should　like　it　better　if　they　did　not；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃It　is　rather
to　be　felt　than　shouted　at。〃

〃And　I　don't　know　how　the　world　would　go　on　if　it　were　felt。　　Few　men
would　do　much　without　the　hope　of　fame；〃　said　Norman　Ogilvie。

〃Is　it　the　question　what　they　would　do？〃　said　Ethel。

〃So　you　call　fame　a　low　motive？　　I　see　where　your　brother's
philosophy　comes　from。〃

〃I　do　not　call　it　a　low　motive〃　Her　pause　was　expressive。

〃Nor　allow　that　the　Non　omnis　moriar　of　Horace　has　in　it　something
divine？〃

〃For　a　heathenyes。〃

〃And　pray；　what　would　you　have　the　moving　spring？〃

〃Duty。〃

〃Would　not　that　end　in　'Mine　be　a　cot；　beside　the　rill'？〃　said　he；
with　an　intonation　of　absurd　sentiment。

〃Well；　and　suppose　an　enemy　came；　would　duty　prompt　not　the　Hay　with
the　jokeor　Winkelried　on　the　spears？〃

〃Nay；　why　not'It　is　my　duty　to　take　care　of　Lucy。'〃

〃Then　Lucy　ought　to　be　broken　on　her　own　wheel。〃

〃Not　at　all！　　It　is　Lucy's　duty　to　keep　her　Colin　from　running　into
danger。〃

〃I　hope　there　are　not　many　Lucies　who　would　think　so。〃

〃I　agree　with　you。　　Most　would　rather　have　Colin　killed　than
disgraced。〃

〃To　be　sure！〃　then；　perceiving　a　knowing　twinkle；　as　if　he　thought
she　had　made　an　admission；　she　added；　〃but　what　is　disgrace？〃

〃Some　say　it　is　misfortune；〃　said　Mr。　Ogilvie。

〃Is　it　not　failure　in　duty？　〃　said　Ethel。

〃Well！〃

〃Colin's　first　duty　is　to　his　king　and　country。　　If　he　fail　in　that；
he　is　disgraced；　in　his　own　eyes；　before　Heaven　and　men。　　If　he　does
it；　there　is　a　reward；　which　seems　to　me　a　better；　more　powerful
motive　for　Lucy　to　set　before　him　than　'My　dear；　I　hope　you　will
distinguish　yourself；'　when　the　fact　is；


　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'England　has　forty　thousand　men；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　We　trust；　as　good　as　he。'


〃'Victory　or　Westminster　Abbey！'　is　a　tolerable　war…cry；〃　said　Mr。
Ogilvie。

〃Not　so　good　as　'England　expects　every　man　to　do　his　duty。'　　That
serves　for　those　who　cannot　look　to　Westminster　Abbey。〃

〃Ah！　you　are　an　English　woman！〃

〃Only　by　halves。　　I　had　rather　have　been　the　Master　of　Glenbracken　at
Flodden　than　King　James；　or〃for　she　grew　rather　ashamed　of　having
been　impelled　to　utter　the　personal　allusion〃better　to　have　been
the　Swinton　or　the　Gordon　at　Homildon　than　all　the　rest　put
together。〃

〃I　always　thought　Swinton　a　pig…headed　old　fellow；　and　I　have　little
doubt　that　my　ancestor　was　a　young　ruffian；〃　coolly　answered　the
Master　of　Glenbracken。

〃Why？〃　was　all　that　Ethel　could　say　in　her　indignation。

〃It　was　the　normal　state　of　Scottish　gentlemen；〃　he　answered。

〃If　I　thought　you　were　in　earnest；　I　should　say　you　did　not　deserve
to　be　a　Scot。〃

〃And　so　you　wish　to　make　me　out　a　fause　Scot！〃

〃Ogilvie！〃　called　Norman；　〃are　you　fighting　Scottish　and　English
battles　with　Ethel　there？　　We　want　you　to　tell　us　which　will　be　the
best　day　for　going　to　Blenheim。〃

The　rest　of　the　evening　was　spent　in　arranging　the　programme　of　their
lionising；　in　which　it　appeared　that　the　Scottish　cousin　intended　to
take　his　full　share。　　Ethel　was　not　sorry；　for　he　interested　her
much；　while　provoking　her。　　She　was　obliged　to　put　out　her　full
strength　in　answering　him；　and　felt；　at　the　same　time；　that　he　was
not　making　any　effort　in　using　the　arguments　that　puzzled　hershe
was　in　earnest；　while　he　was　at　play；　and；　though　there　was　something
teasing　in　this；　and　she　knew　it　partook　of　what　her　brothers　called
chaffing；　it　gave　her　that　sense　of　power　on　his　side；　which　is
always　attractive　to　women。　　With　the　knowledge　that；　through　Norman；
she　had　of　his　real　character；　she　understood　that　half；　at　least；　of
what　he　said　was　jest；　and　the　other　half　was　enough　in　earnest　to
make　it　exciting　to　argue　with　him。




CHAPTER　IX。



While　I；　thy　dearest；　sat　apart；
And　felt　thy　triumphs　were　as　mine；
And　lov'd　them　more　than　they　were　thine。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　TENNYSON。


That　was　a　week　of　weeks；　the　most　memorable　week　in　Ethel's　life；
spent　in　indefatigable　sight…seeing。　　College　Chapels；　Bodleian
Library；　Taylor　Gallery；　the　Museum；　all　were　thoroughly　studied；
and；　if　Flora　had　not　dragged　the　party　on；　in　mercy　to　poor　George's
patience；　Ethel　would　never　have　got　through　a　day's　work。

Indeed；　Mr。　Ogilvie；　when　annoyed　at　being　hurried　in　going　over
Merton　Chapel　with　her；　was　heard　to　whisper　that　he　acted　the　part
of　policeman；　by　a　perpetual　〃move　on〃；　and　as　Ethel　recollected　the
portly　form　and　wooden　face　of　the　superintendent　at　Stoneborough；
she　was　afraid　that　the　comparison　would　not　soon　be　forgotten。
Norman　Ogilvie　seemed　to　consider　himself　bound　to　their　train　as
much　as　his　namesake；　or；　as　on　the　second　morning；　Norman　reported
his　reasoning；　it　was　that　a　man　must　walk　about　with　somebody　on
Commemoration　week；　and　that　it　was　a　comfort　to　do　so　with　ladies
who　wore　their　bonnets　upon　their　heads；　instead　of；　like　most　of
those　he　met；　remind　him　of　what　Cock　Robin　said　to　Jenny　Wren　in
that　matrimonial　quarrel；　when


　　　　　　　　　　　　　Robin；　he　grew　angry；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Hopped　upon　a　twig


Flora　was　extremely　delighted；　and；　in　matronly　fashion；　told　her
sister　that　people　were　always　respected　and　admired　who　had　the
strength　of　mind　to　resist　unsuitable　customs。　　Ethel　laughed　in
answer；　and　said　she　thought　it　would　take　a　great　deal　more　strength
of　mind　to　go　about　with　her　whole　visage　exposed　to　the　universal
gaze；　and；　woman…like；　they　had　a　thorough　gossip　over　the　evils　of
the　〃backsliding〃　head…gear。

Norman　had　retreated　from　it　into　the　window；　when　Flora　returned　to
the　charge　about　Harvey　Anderson。　　She　had　been　questioning　their　old
friend　Mr。　Everard；　and　had　learned　from　him　that　the　cause　of　the
hesitation　with　which　his　name　had　been　received　was　that　he　had
become　imbued　with　some　of　the　Rationalistic　ideas　current　in　some
quarters。　　He　seldom　met　Norman　May　without　forcing　on　him　debates；
which　were　subjects　of　great　interest　to　the　hearers；　as　the　two
young　men　were　considered　as　the　most　distinguished　representatives
of　their　respective　causes；　among　their　own　immediate　contemporaries。
Norman's　powers　of　argument；　his　eloquence；　readiness；　and　clearness；
were　thought　to　rank　very　high；　and；　in　the　opinion　of　Mr。　Everard；
had　been　of　great　effect　in　preventing　other　youths　from　being
carried　away　by　the　specious　brilliancy　of　his　rival。

Ethel　valued　this　testimony　far　above　the　Newdigate　prize；　and　she
was　extremely　surprised　by　hearing　Flora　declare　her　intention　of
still　asking　Mr。　Anderson　to　dinner；　only　consulting　her　brother　as
to　the　day。

〃Why；　Flora！　ask　him！　　Norman〃

Norman　had　turned　away　with　the　simple　answer；　〃any　day。〃

〃Norman　is　wiser　than　you　are；　Ethel；〃　said　Flora。　　〃He　knows　that
Stoneborough　would　be　up　in　arms　at　any　neglect　from　us　to　one　of　the
Andersons；　and；　considering　the　rivalship；　it　is　the　more　graceful；
and　becoming。〃

〃I　do　not　think　it　right；〃　said　Ethel　stoutly；　〃I　believe　that　a　line
ought　to　be　drawn；　and　that　we　ought　not　to　associate　with　people　who
openly　tamper　with　their　faith。〃

〃Never　fear；〃　smiled　Flora；　〃I　promise　you　that　there　shall　be　no
debates　at　my　table。〃

Ethel　felt　the　force　of　the　pronoun；　and；　as　Flora　walked　out　of　the
room；　she　went　up　to　Norman；　who　had　been　resting　his　brow　against
the　window。

〃It　is　vain　to　argue　with　her；〃　she　said；　〃but；　Norman；　do　not　you
think　it　is　clearly　wrong　to　seek　after　men　who　desert　and　deny〃

She　stopped　short；　frightened　at　his　pale　look。

He　spoke　in　a　low　clear　tone　that　seemed　to　thrill　her　with　a　sort　of
alarm。　　〃If　the　secrets　of　men's　hearts　were　probed；　who　could　cast
the　first　stone？〃

〃I　don't　want　to　cast　stones；〃　she　began；　but　he　made　a　gesture　as　if
he　would　not　hear；　and；　at　the　same　moment；　Mr。　Ogilvie　entered　the
room。

Had　Ethel　been　at　home；　she　would　have　pondered　much　over　her
brother's　meaninghere　she　had　no　leisure。　　Not　only　was　she　fully
occupied　with　the　new　scenes　around　her；　but　her　Scottish　cousin　took
up　every　moment　open　to　conversation。　　He　was　older　than　Norman；　and
had　just　taken　his　degree；　and　he　talked　with　that　superior　aplomb；
which　a　few　years　bestow　at　their　time　of　life；　without　conceit；　but
more　hopeful　and　ambitious；　and　with　higher　spirits　than　his　cousin。

Though　industrious　and　distinguished；　he　had　not　avoided　society　or
amusement；　was　a　great　cricketer　and　tennis…player；　one　of　the
〃eight〃　whose　success　in　the　boat　races　was　one　of　Norman's　prime
interests；　and　he　told　stories　of　frolics　that　reminded　Ethel　of　her
father's　old　Cambridge　adventures。

He　was　a　new　variety　in　her　eyes；　and　entertained　her　greatly。　　Where
the　bounds　of　banter　ended；　was　not　easy　to　define；　but　whenever　he
tried　a　little　mystification；　she　either　entered　merrily　into　the
humour；