the daisy chain, or aspirations-第114节

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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　a　young　lady；　whose　brother　has　got　the　Newdigate　prize；　and　who
is　going　to　Oxford。〃

〃Me！　　Those！　　But　I　have　not　got　four　backs；〃　as　Ethel　saw　Meta　in
fits　of　laughing；　and　Flora　making　affirmative　signs。　　Mary　gave　a
ponderous　spring　of　ecstasy。

〃Come！〃　said　Flora；　〃you　may　as　well　be　quiet。　　Whatever　you　may
like；　I　am　not　going　to　have　the　Newdigate　prizeman　shown　as　brother
to　a　scarecrow。　　I　knew　what　you　would　come　to；　without　me　to　take
care　of　you。　　Look　at　yourself　in　the　glass。〃

〃I'm　sure　I　see　no　harm　in　myself；〃　said　Ethel；　turning　towards　the
pier…glass；　and　surveying　herselfin　a　white　muslin；　made　high；　a
black　silk　mantle；　and　a　brown　hat。　　She　had　felt　very　respectable
when　she　set　out；　but　she　could　not　avoid　a　lurking　conviction　that；
beside　Flora　and　Meta；　it　had　a　scanty；　schoolgirl　effect。　　〃And；〃
she　continued　quaintly；　〃besides；　I　have　really　got　a　new　gown　on
purposea　good　useful　silk；　that　papa　chose　at　Whitfordjust　the
colour　of　a　copper　tea…kettle；　where　it　turns　purple。〃

〃Ethel！　you　will　kill　me！〃　said　Meta；　sinking　back　on　the　sofa。

〃And　I　suppose；〃　continued　Flora；　〃that　you　have　sent　it　to　Miss
Broad's；　without　any　directions；　and　she　will　trim　it　with　flame…
coloured　gimp；　and　glass　buttons；　and；　unless　Margaret　catches　you；
you　will　find　yourself　ready　to　set　the　Thames　on　fire。　　No；　my　dear
tea…kettle；　I　take　you　to　Oxford　on　my　own　terms；　and　you　had　better
submit；　without　a　fuss；　and　be　thankful　it　is　no　worse。　　George
wanted　me　to　buy　you　a　white　brocade；　with　a　perfect　flower…garden　on
it；　that　you　could　have　examined　with　a　microscope。　　I　was　obliged　to
let　him　buy　that　lace　mantle；　to　make　up　to　him。　　Now　then；　Meta；　the
scene　opens；　and　discovers〃

Meta　opened　the　folding…doors　into　Flora's　bedroom；　and　thence　came
forward　Bellairs　and　a　little　brisk　Frenchwoman；　whom　Flora　had
acquired　at　Paris。　　The　former；　who　was　quite　used　to　adorning　Miss
Ethel　against　her　will；　looked　as　amused　as　her　mistresses；　and；
before　Ethel　knew　what　was　going　on；　her　muslin　was　stripped　off　her
back；　and　that　instrument　of　torture；　a　half　made　body；　was　being
tried　upon　her。　　She　made　one　of　her　most　wonderful　grimaces　of
despair；　and　stood　still。　　The　dresses　were　not　so　bad　after　all；
they　were　more　tasteful　than　costly；　and　neither　in　material　nor
ornament　were　otherwise　than　suitable　to　the　occasion　and　the　wearer。
It　was　very　kind　and　thoughtful　of　Florathat　she　could　not　but
feelnothing　had　been　forgotten；　but　when　Ethel　saw　the　mantles；　the
ribbons；　the　collars；　the　bonnet；　all　glistening　with　the　French　air
of　freshness　and　grace；　she　began　to　feel　doubts　and　hesitations；
whether　she　ought　to　let　her　sister　go　to　such　an　expense　on　her
account；　and　privately　resolved　that　the　accepting　thanks　should　not
be　spoken　till　she　should　have　consulted　her　father。

In　the　meantime；　she　could　only　endure；　be　laughed　at　by　her　elders；
and　entertained　by　Mary's　extreme　pleasure　in　her　array。　　Good　Mary
it　was　more　than　any　comedy