the daisy chain, or aspirations-第115节

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and　entertained　by　Mary's　extreme　pleasure　in　her　array。　　Good　Mary
it　was　more　than　any　comedy　to　her；　she　had　not　one　moment's　thought
of　herself；　till；　when　Flora　dived　into　her　box；　produced　a　pair　of
bracelets；　and　fastened　them　on　her　comfortable　plump　arms；　her　eyes
grew　wide　with　wonder；　and　she　felt；　at　least；　two　stages　nearer
womanhood。

Flora　had　omitted　no　one。　　There　was　a　Paris　present　for　every
servant　at　home；　and　a　needle…case　even　for　Cherry　Elwood；　for　which
Ethel　thanked　her　with　a　fervency　wanting　in　her　own　case。

She　accomplished　consulting　her　father　on　her　scruples；　and　he　set
her　mind　at　rest。　　He　knew　that　the　outlay　was　a　mere　trifle　to　the
Riverses；　and　was　greatly　pleased　and　touched　with　the　affection　that
Flora　showed；　so　he　only　smiled　at　Ethel's　doubts；　and　dwelt　with
heartfelt　delight　on　the　beautiful　print　that　she　had　brought　him；
from　Ary　Scheffer's　picture　of　the　Great　Consoler。

Flora　was　in　her　glory。　　To　be　able　to　bestow　benefits　on　those　whom
she　loved；　had　been　always　a　favourite　vision；　and　she　had　the　full
pleasure　of　feeling　how　much　enjoyment　she　was　causing。　　They　had　a
very　pleasant　evening；　she　gave　interesting　accounts　of　their　tour；
and　by　her　appeals　to　her　husband；　made　him　talk　also。　　He　was　much
more　animated　and　agreeable　than　Ethel　had　ever　seen　him；　and　was
actually　laughing；　and　making　Mary　laugh　heartily　with　his　histories
of　the　inns　in　the　Pyrennees。　　Old　Mr。　Rivers　looked　as　proud　and
happy　as　possible；　and　was　quite　young　and　gay；　having　evidently
forgotten　all　his　maladies；　in　paying　elaborate　attention　to　his
daughter…in…law。

Ethel　told　Margaret；　that　night；　that　she　was　quite　satisfied　about
Florashe　was　glad　to　own　that　she　had　done　her　injustice；　and　that
Norman　was　right　in　saying　there　was　more　in　George　Rivers　than　met
the　eye。

The　morning　spent　at　home　was　equally　charming。　　Flora　came　back；
with　love　strengthened　by　absence。　　She　was　devoted　to　Margaret
caressing　to　all；　she　sat　in　her　old　places；　she　fulfilled　her　former
offices；　she　gratified　Miss　Bracy　by　visiting　her　in　the　schoolroom；
and　talking　of　French　books；　and　won　golden　opinions；　by　taking
Gertrude　in　her　hand；　and　walking　to　Minster　Street　to　call　on　Mrs。
Hoxton；　as　in　old　times；　and　take　her　the　newest　foreign　device　of
working　to　kill　time。

So　a　few　days　passed　merrily　away；　and　the　great　journey　commenced。
Ethel　met　the　Abbotstoke　party　at　the　station；　and；　with　a　parting
injunction　to　her　father；　that　he　was　to　give　all　his　patients　a
sleeping　potion；　that　they　might　not　miss　him；　she　was　carried　away
from　Stoneborough。

Meta　was　in　her　gayest　mood；　Ethel　full　of　glee　and　wonder；　for　once
beyond　Whitford；　the　whole　world　was　new　to　her；　Flora　more　quiet；
but　greatly　enjoying　their　delight；　and　George　not　saying　much；　but
smiling　under　his　beard；　as　if　well　pleased　to　be　so　well　amused　with
so　little　trouble。

He　took　exceeding　care　of　them；　and　fed　them　with　everything　he　could
make　them　eat　at　the　Swindon　Station；　asking　for　impossible　things；
and　wishing　them　so　often　to　change　for　something　better；　that；　if
they　had　been　submissive；　they　would　have　had　no　luncheon　at　all；
and；　as　it　was；　Flora　was　obliged　to　whisk　into　the　carriage　with　her
last　sandwich　in　her　hand。

〃I　am　the　more　sorry；〃　said　he；　after　grumbling　at　the　allotted　ten
minutes；　〃as　we　shall　dine　so　late。　　You　desired　Norman　to　bring　any
friend　he　liked；　did　you　not；　Flora？〃

〃Yes；　and　he　spoke　of　bringing　our　old　friend；　Charles　Cheviot；　and
Mr。　Ogilvie；〃　said　Flora。

〃Mr。　Ogilvie！〃　said　Ethel；　〃the　Master　of　Glenbracken！　　Oh！　I　am　so
glad！　　I　have　wanted　so　much　to　see　him！〃

〃Ah！　he　is　a　great　hero　of　yours？〃　said　Flora。

〃Do　you　know　him？〃　said　Meta。

〃No；　but　he　is　a　great　friend　of　Norman's；　and　a　Scottish　cousin
Norman　Ogilvie。　　Norman　has　his　name　from　the　Ogilvies。〃

〃Our　grandmother；　Mrs。　Mackenzie；　was　a　daughter　of　Lord
Glenbracken；〃　said　Flora。

〃This　man　might　be　called　the　Master　of　Glenbracken　at　home；〃　said
Ethel。　　〃It　is　such　a　pretty　title；　and　there　is　a　beautiful　history
belonging　to　them。　　There　was　a　Master　of　Glenbracken　who　carried
James　IV。's　standard　at　Flodden；　and　would　not　yield；　and　was　killed
with　it　wrapped　round　his　body；　and　the　Lion　was　dyed　with　his　blood。
Mamma　knew　some　scraps　of　a　ballad　about　him。　　Then　they　were　out
with　Montrose；　and　had　their　castle　burned　by　the　Covenanters；　and
since　that　they　have　been　Jacobites；　and　one　barely　escaped　being
beheaded　at　Carlisle！　　I　want　to　hear　the　rights　of　it。　　Norman　is　to
go；　some　time　or　other；　to　stay　at　Glenbracken。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Flora；　〃coming　down　to　times　present；　this　young　heir
seems　worthy　of　his　race。　　They　are　pattern　peoplehave　built　a
church；　and　have　all　their　tenantry　in　excellent　order。　　This　is　the
only　son；　and　very　good　and　cleverhe　preferred　going　to　Balliol；
that　he　might　work；　but　he　is　a　great　sportsman；　George；〃　added　she；
〃you　will　get　on　with　him　very　well；　about　fishing；　and　grouse
shooting；　I　dare　say。〃

Norman　met　them　at　the　station；　and　there　was　great　excitement　at
seeing　his　long　nose　under　his　college　cap。　　He　looked　rather　thin
and　worn；　but　brightened　at　the　sight　of　the　party。　　After　the
questionwhether　there　had　been　any　letters　from　Harry？　he　asked
whether　his　father　were　coming？and　Ethel　thought　he　seemed　nervous
at　the　idea　of　this　addition　to　his　audience。　　He　saw　them　to　their
hotel；　and；　promising　them　his　two　guests；　departed。

Ethel　watched　collegiate　figures　passing　in　the　street；　and
recollected　the　gray　buildings；　just　glimpsed　at　in　her　driveit　was
dreamy　and　confused；　and　she　stood　musing；　not　discovering　that　it
was　time　to　dress；　till　Flora　and　her　Frenchwoman　came　in；　and　laid
violent　hands　on　her。

The　effect　of　their　manipulations　was　very　successful。　　Ethel　was
made　to　look　well…dressed；　and；　still　more；　distinguished。　　Her
height　told　well；　when　her　lankiness　was　overcome；　and　her　hair　was
disposed　so　as　to　set　off　her　features　to　advantage。　　The　glow　of
amusement　and　pleasure　did　still　more　for　her；　and　Norman；　who　was　in
the　parlour　when　the　sisters　appeared；　quite　started　with　surprise
and　satisfaction　at　her　aspect。

〃Well　done。　Flora！〃　he　said。　　〃Why！　I　have　been　telling　Ogilvie　that
one　of　my　sisters　was　very　plain！〃

〃Then；　I　hope　we　have　been　preparing　an　agreeable　surprise　for　him；〃
said　Flora。　　〃Ethel　is　very　much　obliged　to　you。　　By　the　bye；〃　she
said；　in　her　universal　amity；　〃I　must　ask　Harvey　Anderson　to　dinner
one　of　these　days？〃　　Norman　started；　and　his　face　said　〃Don't。〃

〃Oh；　very　well；　it　is　as　you　please。　　I　thought　it　would　please
Stoneborough；　and　that　Edward　was　a　protege　of　yours。　　What　has　he
been　doing？　　Did　we　not　hear　he　had　been　distinguishing　himself？　　Dr。
Hoxton　was　boasting　of　his　two　scholars。〃

〃Ask　him；〃　said　Norman　hurriedly。　〃At　least；〃　said　he；　〃do　not　let
anything　from　me　prevent　you。〃

〃Has　he　been　doing　anything　wrong？〃　reiterated　Flora。

〃Not　that　I　know　of；〃　was　the　blunt　answer；　and；　at　the　same　instant；
Mr。　Ogilvie　arrived。　　He　was　a　pleasant；　high…bred　looking　gentleman；
brown…complexioned；　and　dark…eyed；　with　a　brisk　and　resolute　cast　of
countenance；　that；　Ethel　thought；　might　have　suited　the　Norman　of
Glenbracken；　who　died　on　the　ruddy　Lion　of　Scotland；　and　speaking
with　the　very　same　slight　degree　of　Scottish　intonation　as　she
remembered　in　her　mother；　making　a　most　home…like　sound　in　her　ears。

Presently；　the　rest　of　their　own　party　came　down；　and；　soon　after；
Charles　Cheviot　appeared；　looking　as　quiet　and　tame；　as　he　used　to　be
in　the　schoolboy　days；　when　Norman　would　bring　him　home；　and　he　used
to　be　too　shy　to　speak　a　word。

However；　he　had　learned　the　use　of　his　tongue　by　this　time；　though　it
was　a　very　soft　one；　and　he　stood　by　Ethel；　asking　many　questions
about　Stoneborough；　while　something；　apparently　very　spirited　and
amusing；　was　going　on　between　the　others。

The　dinner　went　off　wellthere　were　few　enough　for　the　conversation
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　pr