the daisy chain, or aspirations-第126节

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Ethel　believed　that　he　accompanied　her　merely　because　his　gallantry
would　not　suffer　her　to　go　unescorted；　and　she　was　not　sorry；　for　it
was　too　long　a　walk　for　solitude　to　be　very　agreeable；　when　strange
wagoners　might　be　on　the　road；　though　she　had　never　let　them　be
〃lions　in　the　path。〃

The　walk　was　as　pleasant　as　a　scorching　sun　would　allow；　and　by　the
time　they　arrived　at　the　scattered　cottages；　Ethel　had　been　drawn
into　explaining　many　of　her　Cocksmoor　perplexities。

〃If　you　could　get　the　land　granted；　where　should　you　choose　to　have
it？〃　he　asked。　　〃You　know　it　will　not　do　to　go　and　say；　'Be　pleased
to　give　me　a　piece　of　land；'　without　specifying　what；　or　you　might
chance　to　have　one　at　the　Land's　End。〃

〃I　see；　that　was　one　of　the　blunders；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃But　I　had　often
thought　of　this　nice　little　square　place；　between　two　gardens；　and
sheltered　by　the　old　quarry。〃

〃Ha！　hardly　space　enough；　I　should　say；〃　replied　Dr。　Spencer；
stepping　it　out。　　〃No；　that　won't　do；　so　confined　by　the　quarry。　　Let
us　look　farther。〃

A　surmise　crossed　Ethel。　　Could　he　be　going　to　take　the　work　on
himself；　but　that　was　too　wild　a　suppositionshe　knew　he　had　nothing
of　his　own；　only　a　moderate　pension　from　the　East　India　Company。

〃What　do　you　think　of　this？〃　he　said；　coming　to　the　slope　of　a　knoll；
commanding　a　pretty　view　of　the　Abbotstoke　woods；　clear　from　houses；
and　yet　not　remote　from　the　hamlet。　　She　agreed　that　it　would　do
well；　and　he　kicked　up　a　bit　of　turf；　and　pryed　into　the　soil；
pronouncing　it　dry；　and　fit　for　a　good　foundation。　　Then　he　began　to
step　it　out；　making　a　circuit　that　amazed　her；　but　he　said；　　〃It　is
of　no　use　to　do　it　at　twice。　　Your　school　can　be　only　the　first　step
towards　a　church；　and　you　had　better　have　roomenough　at　once。　　It
will　serve　as　an　endowment　in　the　meantime。〃

He　would　not　let　her　remain　in　the　sun；　and　she　went　into　school。
She　found　him；　when　she　came　out；　sitting　in　the　arbour　smoking　a
cigar…rather　a　shock　to　her　feelings；　though　he　threw　it　away　the
instant　she　appeared；　and　she　excused　him　for　his　foreign　habits。

In　the　evening；　he　brought　down　a　traveller's　case　of　instruments；
and　proceeded　to　draw　a　beautiful　little　map　of　Cocksmoor；　where　it
seemed　that　he　had　taken　all　his　measurements；　whilst　she　was　in
school。　　He　ended　by　an　imaginary　plan　and　elevation　for　the　school；
with　a　pretty　oriel　window　and　bell…gable；　that　made　Ethel　sigh　with
delight　at　the　bare　idea。

Next　day；　he　vanished　after　dinner；　but　this　he　often　did；　he　used　to
say　he　must　go　and　have　a　holiday　of　smokinghe　could　not　bear　too
much　civilised　society。　　He　came　back　for　tea；　however；　and　had　not
sat　down　long　before　he　said；　〃Now；　I　know　all　about　it。　　I　shall
pack　up　my　goods；　and　be　off　for　Vienna　to…morrow。〃

〃To　Vienna！〃　was　the　general　and　dolorous　outcry；　and　Gertrude　laid
hold　of　him　and　said　he　should　not　go。

〃I　am　coming　back；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　will　have　me。　　The　college　holds
a　court　at　Fordholm　on　the　3rd；　and　on　the　last　of　this　month；　I　hope
to　return。〃

〃College！　　Court！　　What　are　you　going　to　do　at　Vienna？　　Where　have
you　left　your　senses？〃　asked　Dr。　May。

〃I　find　Sir　Henry　Walkinghame　is　there。　　I　have　been　on　an　exploring
expedition　to　Drydale；　found　out　his　man　of　business；　and　where　he　is
to　be　written　to。　　The　college　holds　a　court　at　Fordholm；　and　I　hope
to　have　our　business　settled。〃

Ethel　was　too　much　confounded　to　speak。　　Her　father　was　exclaiming　on
the　shortness　of　the　time。

〃Plenty　of　time；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　demonstrating　that　he　should　be
able　to　travel　comfortably；　and　have　four　days　to　spare　at　Viennaa
journey　which　he　seemed　to　think　less　of；　than　did　Dr。　May　of　going
to　London。

As　to　checking　him；　of　that　there　was　no　possibility；　nor；　indeed；
notion；　though　Ethel　did　not　quite　know　how　to　believe　in　it；　nor
that　the　plan　could　come　to　good。　　Ethel　was　much　better　by　this
time：　by　her　vigorous　efforts；　she　had　recovered　her　tone　of　mind　and
interest　in　what　was　passing；　and　though　now　and　then　Norman's
letters；　carrying　sentences　of　remembrance；　made　her　glow　a　little；
she　was　so　steady　to　her　resolution　that　she　averted　all　traffic　in
messages　through　her　brother's　correspondence；　and；　in　that　fear；
allowed　it　to　lapse　into　Margaret's　hands　more　than　she　had　ever
done。　　Indeed；　no　one　greatly　liked　writing　from　home；　it　was
heartless　work　to　say　always；　〃No　news　from　the　Alcestis　and　yet　they
all　declared　they　were　not　anxious。

Hector　Ernescliffe　knelt　a　great　while　beside　Margaret's　sofa；　on　the
first　evening　of　his　holidays；　and　there　was　a　long　low…voiced　talk
between　them。　　Ethel　wished　that　she　had　warned　him　off；　for　Margaret
looked　much　more　harassed　and　anxious；　after　having　heard　the
outpouring　of　all　that　was　on　his　mind。

Dr。　Spencer　thought　her　looking　worse；　when　he　came；　as　come　he　did；
on　the　appointed　day。　　He　had　brought　Sir　Henry　Walkinghame's　full
consent　to　the　surrender　of　the　land；　drawn　up　in　such　form　as　could
be　acted　upon；　and　a　letter　to　his　man　of　business。　　But　Nicolson！
He　was　a　worse　dragon　nearer　home；　hating　all　schools；　especially
hating　Dr。　May。

However；　said　Dr。　Spencer；　in　eastern　form；　〃Have　I　encountered
Rajahs；　and　smoked　pipes　with　three…tailed　Pachas；　that　I　should
dread　the　face　of　the　father　of　quarrymen。〃

What　he　did　with　the　father　of　quarrymen　was　not　known；　whether　he
talked　him　over；　or　bought　him　offMargaret　hoped　the　former；　Dr。
May　feared　the　latter；　the　results　were　certain；　Mr。　Nicolson　had
agreed　that　the　land　should　be　given
up。

The　triumphant　Dr。　Spencer　sat　down　to　write　a　statement　to　be　shown
to　the　college　authorities；　when　they　should　come　to　hold　their
court。

〃The　land　must　be　put　into　the　hands　of　trustees；〃　he　said。　　〃The
incumbent　of　course？〃

〃Then　yourself；　and　we　must　have　another。　　Your　son…in…law？〃

〃You；　I　should　think；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃I！　　Why；　I　am　going。〃

〃Going；　but　not　gone；〃　said　his　friend。

〃I　must　go！　　I　tell　you；　Dick；　I　must　have　a　place　of　my　own　to　smoke
my　pipe　in。〃

〃Is　that　all？〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃I　think　you　might　be　accommodated
here；　unless　you　wished　to　be　near　your　sister。〃

〃My　sister　is　always　resorting　to　watering…places。　　My　nieces　do
nothing　but　play　on　the　piano。　　No；　I　shall　perhaps　go　off　to
America；　the　only　place　I　have　not　seen　yet；　and　I　more　than　half
engaged　to　go　and　help　at　Poonshedagore。〃

〃Better　order　your　coffin　then；〃　muttered　Dr。　May。

〃I　shall　try　lodgings　in　London；　near　the　old　hospital；　perhapsand
go　and　turn　over　the　British　Museum　library。〃

〃Look　you　here；　Spencer；　I　have　a　much　better　plan。　　Do　you　know　that
scrap　of　a　house　of　mine；　by　the　back　gate；　just　big　enough　for　you
and　your　pipe？　　Set　up　your　staff　there。　　Ethel　will　never　get　her
school　built　without　you。〃

〃Oh！　that　would　be　capital！〃　cried　Ethel。

〃It　would　be　the　best　speculation　for　me。　　You　would　pay　rent；　and
the　last　old　woman　never　did；〃　continued　Dr。　May。　　〃A　garden　the
length　of　this　one〃

〃But　I　sayI　want　to　be　near　the　British　Museum。〃

〃Take　a　season…ticket；　and　run　up　once　a　week。〃

〃I　shall　teach　your　boys　to　smoke！〃

〃I'll　see　to　that！〃

〃You　have　given　Cocksmoor　one　lift；〃　said　Ethel；　〃and　it　will　never
go　on　without　you。〃

〃It　is　such　a　nice　house！〃　added　the　children；　in　chorus；　〃it　would
be　such　fun　to　have　you　there。〃

〃Daisy　will　never　be　able　to　spare　her　other　doctor；〃　said　Margaret；
smiling。

〃Run　to　Mrs。　Adams；　Tom；　and　get　the　key；〃　said　Dr。　May。

There　was　a　putting　on　of　hats　and　bonnets；　and　the　whole　party
walked　down　the　garden　to　inspect　the　housea　matter　of　curiosity　to
somefor　it　was　where　the　old　lady　had　resided　on　whom　Harry　had
played　so　many　tricks；　and　the　subject　of　many　myths　hatched　between
him　and　George　Larkins。

It　was　an　odd；　little　narrow　slip　of　a　house；　four　stories；　of　two
rooms　all　the　way　up；　each　with　a　large　window；　with　a　marked　white
eyebrow。　　Dr。　May　eagerly　pointed　out　all　the　conveniences；　parlour；
museum；　smoking　den；　while　Dr。　Spencer　listened；　and　answered
doubtfully；　and　the　children's　clamorous　anxiety　seemed　to　render　him
the　more　silent。

Hector　Ernescliffe　discovered　a　jackdaw's　nest　in　the　chimney；
whereupon　the　whole　train　rushed　off　to　investigate；　leaving　the　two
doctors　and　Ethel　standing　together　in　the　empty　parlour；　Dr。　May
pressing；　Dr。　Spencer　raising　desultory　objections；　but　so　evidently
against　his　own　wishes；　that　Ethel　said；　〃Now；　indeed；　you　must　not
disappoint　us　all。〃

〃No；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃it　is　a　settled　thing。〃

〃No；　no；　thanks；　thanks　to　you　all；　but　it　cannot　be。　　Let　me　go；〃
and　he　spoke　with　emotion。　　〃You　are　very　kind；　but　it　is　not　to　be
thought　of。〃

〃Why　not？〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃Spencer；　stay　with　me；〃　and　he　spoke　with
a　pleading；　almost　dependent　air。　　〃Why　should　you　go？〃

〃It　is　of　no　use　to　talk　about　it。　　You　are　very　kind；　but　it　will
not　do　to　encumber　you　with　a　lone　man；　growing　old。〃

〃We　have　been　young　together；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃And　you　must　not　leave　papa；〃　added　Ethel。

〃No；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃Trouble　may　be　at　hand。　　Help　us　through　with
it。　　Remember；　these　children　have　no　uncles。〃

〃