the daisy chain, or aspirations-第110节

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constant　kindness；　and　evident　liking　for　Margaret；　stood　him　in　good
stead；　he　made　her　a　sort　of　confidante；　bestowing　on　her　his
immeasurable　appreciation　of　Flora's　perfections；　and　telling　her　how
well　he　was　getting　on　with　〃the　old　gentleman〃a　name　under　which
she　failed　to　recognise　her　father。

As　to　Tom；　he　wrote　his　congratulations　to　Ethel；　that　she　might　make
a　wedding　present　of　her　Etruscan　vases；　the　Cupids　on　which　must
have　been　put　there　by　anticipation。　　Richard　heard　none　of　the
doubts；　and　gave　kind；　warm　congratulations；　promising　to　return　home
for　the　wedding；　and　Mary　and　Blanche　no　sooner　heard　a　whisper　about
bride's…maids　than　all　their　opposition　faded　away；　in　a　manner　that
quite　scandalised　Ethel；　while　it　set　Margaret　on　reminiscences　of
her　having　been　a　six…year…old　bride's…maid　to　Flora's　godmother；
Mrs。　Arnott。

As　to　the　gossip　in　the　town；　Ethel　quite　dreaded　the　sight　of　every
one　without　Flora　to　protect　her；　and　certainly；　Flora's　unaffected；
quiet　manner　was　perfection；　and　kept　off　all　too　forward
congratulations；　while　it　gratified　those　whom　she　was　willing　to
encourage。

There　was　no　reason　for　waiting；　and　Mr。　Rivers　was　as　impatient　as
his　son；　so　an　understanding　arose　that　the　wedding；　should　take
place　near　the　end　of　the　Christmas　holidays。

Flora　showed　herself　sensible　and　considerate。　　Always　open…handed；
her　father　was　inclined　to　do　everything　liberally；　and　laid　no
restrictions　on　her　preparations；　but　she　had　too　much　discretion　to
be　profuse；　and　had　a　real　regard　for　the　welfare　of　the　rest。　　She
laughed　with　Ethel　at　the　anticipations　of　the　Stoneborough　ladies
that　she　must　be　going　to　London；　and；　at　the　requests；　as　a　great
favour；　that　they　might　be　allowed　the　sight　of　her　trousseau。　　Her
wedding…dress；　white　silk；　with　a　white　cashmere　mantle；　was；　indeed；
ordered　from　Meta's　London　dressmaker；　but；　for　the　rest；　she
contented　herself　with　an　expedition　to　Whitford；　accompanied　by　Miss
Bracy　and　her　two　enchanted　pupils；　and　there　laid　in　a　stock　of
purchases；　unpretending　and　in　good　taste；　aiming　only　at　what　could
be　well　done；　and　not　attempting　the　decorative　wardrobe　of　a　great
lady。　　Ethel　was　highly　amused　when　the　Misses　Anderson　came　for
their　inspection；　to　see　their　concealed　disappointment　at　finding　no
under　garments　trimmed　with　Brussels　lace；　nor　pocket…handkerchiefs
all　open…work；　except　a　centre　of　the　size　of　a　crown…piece；　and　the
only　thing　remarkable　was　Margaret's　beautiful　marking　in　embroidery。
There　was　some　compensation　in　the　costly　wedding　presentsFlora　had
reaped　a　whole　harvest　from　friends　of　her　own；　grateful　patients　of
her　father；　and　the　whole　Rivers　and　Langdale　connection；　but；　in
spite　of　the　brilliant　uselessness　of　most　of　these；　the　young　ladies
considered　themselves　ill…used；　thought　Dr。　May　never　would　have　been
shabby；　and　were　of　opinion　that　when　Miss　Ward　had　married　her
father's　surgical　pupil；　her　outfit　had　been　a　far　more　edifying
spectacle。

The　same　moderation　influenced　Flora's　other　arrangements。　　Dr。　May
was　resigned　to　whatever　might　be　thought　most　proper；　stipulating
only　that　he　should　not　have　to　make　a　speech；　but　Flora　felt　that；
in　their　house；　a　grand　breakfast　would　be　an　unsuccessful　and
melancholy　affair。　　If　the　bride　had　been　any　one　else；　she　could
have　enjoyed　making　all　go　off　well；　but；　under　present
circumstances；　it　would　be　great　pain　to　her　father　and　Margaret；　a
misery　to　Ethel；　and　something　she　dared　not　think　of　to　the　guests。
She　had　no　difficulty　in　having　it　dispensed　with。　　George　was　glad
to　avoid　〃a　great　nuisance。〃　　Mr。　Rivers　feared　the　fatigue；　and；
with　his　daughter；　admired　Flora　for　her　amiability；　and；　as　to　the
home　party；　no　words　could　express　their　gratitude　to　her　for　letting
them　off。　　Mary　and　Blanche　did；　indeed；　look　rather　blank；　but
Blanche　was　consoled；　by　settling　with　Hector　the　splendours　in　store
for　Alan　and　Margaret；　and　Mary　cared　the　less；　as　there　would　be　no
Harry　to　enjoy　the　fun。

The　bride…maiden's　glory　was　theirs　by　right；　though　Ethel　was　an
unsatisfactory　chief　for　such　as　desired　splendour。　　She　protested
against　anything　incongruous　with　January；　or　that　could　not　be
useful　afterwards；　and　Meta　took　her　part；　laughing　at　the　cruel
stroke　they　were　preparing　for　Bellairs。　　Ethel　begged　for　dark　silks
and　straw　bonnets；　and　Flora　said　that　she　had　expected　to　hear　of
brown　stuff　and　gray　duffle；　but　owned　that　they　had　better　omit　the
ordinary　muslin　garb　in　the　heart　of　winter。　　The　baby　bride's…maid
was；　at　last；　the　chief　consideration。　　Margaret　suggested　how　pretty
she　and　Blanche　would　look　in　sky…blue　merino；　trimmed　with　swan's…
down。　　Meta　was　charmed　with　the　idea；　and　though　Ethel　stuck　out　her
shoulder…blades　and　poked　out　her　head；　and　said　she　should　look　like
the　ugly　duckling；　she　was　clamorously　reminded　that　the　ugly
duckling　ended　by　being　a　swan；　and　promised　that　she　should　be
allowed　a　bonnet　of　a　reasonable　size；　trimmed　with　white；　for　Mr。
Rivers's　good　taste　could　endure；　as　little　as　Dr。　May's　sense　of
propriety；　the　sight　of　a　daughter　without　shade　to　her　face；　Ethel；
finally；　gave　in；　on　being　put　in　mind　that　her　papa　had　a　penchant
for　swan's…down；　and　on　Margaret's　promising　to　wear　a　dress　of　the
same　as　theirs。

Ethel　was　pleased　and　satisfied　by　Flora's　dislike　of　parade；　and
attention　to　the　feelings　of　all。　　Passing　over　the　one　great　fact；
the　two　sisters　were　more　of　one　mind　than　usual；　probably　because
all　latent　jealousy　of　Ethel　had　ceased　in　Flora's　mind。　　Hitherto；
she　had　preferred　the　being　the　only　practically　useful　person　in　the
family；　and　had　encouraged　the　idea　of　Ethel's　gaucherie　but　now　she
desired　to　render　her　sister　able　to　take　her　place；　and　did　all　in
her　power　to　put　her　in　good　heart。

For　Etheldred　was　terrified　at　the　prospect　of　becoming　responsible
housekeeper。　　Margaret　could　only　serve　as　an　occasional　reference。
Her　morning　powers　became　too　uncertain　to　be　depended　on　for　any
regular；　necessary　duty；　and　it　would　have　oppressed　her　so　much　to
order　the　dinners；　which　she　never　saw；　that；　though　she　offered　to
resume　the　office；　Flora　would　not　hear　of　Ethel's　consenting。　　If　it
were　her　proper　business；　Ethel　supposed　she　could　do　it；　but　another
hour　of　her　leisure　was　gone；　and　what　would　become　of　them　all；　with
her；　a　proverb　for　heedlessness；　and　ignorance　of　ordinary　details。
She　did　not　know　that　these　were　more　proverbial　than　actual；　and；
having　a　bad　name；　she　believed　in　it　herself。　　However；　Flora　made
it　her　business　to　persuade　her　that　her　powers　were　as　good　for
household　matters；　as　for　books；　or　Cocksmoor；　instructed　her　in　her
own　methodical　plans；　and　made　her　keep　house　for　a　fortnight；　with
so　much　success　that　she　began　to　be　hopeful。

In　the　attendance　on　Margaret；　the　other　great　charge；　old　nurse　was
the　security；　and　Ethel；　who　had　felt　her　self　much　less　unhandy　than
before；　was；　to　succeed　to　the　abode；　in　her　roomBlanche　being
promoted　from　the　nursery　to　the　old　attic。　　〃And；〃　said　Flora
consolingly；　〃if　dear　Margaret　ever　should　be　ill；　you　may　reckon　on
me。〃

Miss　Flora　May　made　her　last　appearance　at　the　Ladies'　Committee　to
hear　the　reply　from　the　principal　of　the　college。　　It　was　a　civil
letter；　but　declined　taking　any　steps　in　the　matter　without　more
certain　intelligence　of　the　wishes　of　the　incumbent　of　the　parish　or
of　the　holders　of　the　land　in　question。

The　ladies　abused　all　collegesas　prejudiced　old　Bodies；　and　feared
that　it　would　be　impossible　to　ask　Mrs。　Perkinson's　niece　to　take　the
school　while　there　was　neither　room　nor　lodging。　　So　Miss　Rich
recorded　the　correspondence；　and　the　vote　of　censure；　by　which　it　was
to　be　hoped　the　Ladies'　Committee　of　Market　Stoneborough　inflicted　a
severe　blow　on　the　principal　and　fellows　of　M　College。

〃Never　mind；　Ethel；〃　said　Flora。　　〃I　shall　meet　Sir　Henry　Walkinghame
in　London；　and　will　talk　to　him。　　We　shall　yet　astonish　the　muses。
If　we　can　get　the　land　without　them；　we　shall　be　able　to　manage　it
our　own　way；　without　obligations。〃

〃You　forget　the　money！〃

〃We　will　keep　them　from　dissipating　itor　that　might　be　no　harm！　　A
hundred　pounds　will　be　easily　found；　and　we　should　then　have　it　in
our　own　hands。　　Besides；　you　know；　I　don't　mean　to　give　up。　　I　shall
write　a　polite　note　to　Mrs。　Ledwich；　begging　to　subscribe　on　my　own
account；　and　to　retain　my　seat！　and　you　will　see　what　we　shall　do。〃

〃You　mean　to　come　down　with　the　external　authority；〃　said　Ethel；
smiling。

〃True！　and　though　my　driving　in　with　a　pair　of　horses　may　make　little
difference　to　you；　Ethel；　depend　upon　it；　Mrs。　Ledwich　will　be　the
more　amenable。　　Whenever　I　want　to　be　particularly　impressive；　I
shall　bring　in　that　smelling…bottle；　with　the　diamond　stopper　that
won't　come　out；　and　you　will　find　that　carries　all　before　it。〃

〃A　talisman！〃　said　Ethel；　laughing。　　〃But　I　had　rather　they　yielded
to　a　sense　of　right！〃

〃So　had　I；〃　said　Flora。　　〃Perhaps　you　will　rule　them　that　way？〃

〃Not　I！〃　cried　Ethel；　terrified。

〃Then　you　must　come　to　me；　and　secondary　motives。　　Seri