the daisy chain, or aspirations-第148节

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enough　for　the　returned　mariner；　put　the　two　brothers　into　the　coupe；
as　if　they　had　been　a　bridal　couple；　and　they　were　very　glad　of　the
privacy；　having；　as　yet；　hardly　spoken　to　each　other；　when　Harry's
attention　was　dispersed　among　so　many。

Norman　asked　many　questions　about　the　mission　work　in　the　southern
hemisphere；　and　ended　by　telling　his　brother　of　his　design；　which　met
with　Harry's　hearty　approbation。

〃That's　right；　old　June。　　There's　nothing　they　want　so　much；　as　such
as　you。　　How　glad　my　aunt　will　be！　　Perhaps　you　will　see　David！　　Oh；
if　you　were　to　go　out　to　the　Loyalty　group！〃

〃Very　possibly　I　might；〃　said　Norman。

〃Tell　them　you　are　my　brother；　and　how　they　will　receive　you！　　I　can
see　the　mop…heads　they　will　dress　in　honour　of　you；　and　what　a　feast
of　pork　and　yams　you　will　have　to　eat！　　But　there　is　plenty　of　work
among　the　Maoris　for　youthey　want　a　clergyman　terribly　at　the　next
village　to　my　uncle's　place。　　I　say；　Norman；　it　will　go　hard　if　I
don't　get　a　ship　bound　for　the　Pacific；　and　come　and　see　you。〃

〃I　shall　reckon　on　you。　　That　is；　if　I　have　not　to　stay　to　help　my
father。〃

〃To　be　sure；〃　exclaimed　Harry；　〃I　thought　you　would　have　stayed　at
home；　and　married　little　Miss　Rivers！〃

Thus　broadly　and　boyishly　did　he　plunge　into　that　most　tender
subject；　making　his　brother　start　and　wince；　as　if　he　had　touched　a
wound。

〃Nonsense！〃　he　cried；　almost　angrily。

〃Well！　you　used　to　seem　very　much　smitten；　but　so；　to　be　sure；　were
some　of　the　Alcestes　with　the　young　ladies　at　Valparaiso。　　How　we
used　to　roast　Owen　about　that　Spanish　Donna；　and　he　was　as　bad　at
Sydney　about　the　young　lady　whose　father；　we　told　him；　was　a　convict；
though　he　kept　such　a　swell　carriage。　　He　had　no　peace　about　his
father…in…law；　the　house…breaker！　　　Don't　I　remember　how　you　pinched
her　hand　the　night　you　were　righted！〃

〃You　know　nothing　about　it；〃　said　Norman　shortly。　　〃She　is　far　beyond
my　reach。〃

〃A　fine　lady？　　Ha！　　Well；　I　should　have　thought　you　as　good　as　Flora
any　day；〃　said　Harry　indignantly。

〃She　is　what　she　always　was；〃　said　Norman；　anxious　to　silence　him；
〃but　it　is　unreasonable　to　think　of　it。　　She　is　all　but　engaged　to
Sir　Henry　Walkinghame。〃

〃Walkinghame！〃　cried　the　volatile　sailor。　　〃I　have　half　a　mind　to
send　in　my　name　to　Flora　as　Miss　Walkinghame！〃　and　he　laughed
heartily　over　that　adventure；　ending；　however；　with　a　sigh；　as　he
said；　〃It　had　nearly　cost　me　a　great　deal！　　But　tell　me；　Norman；　how
has　that　Meta；　as　they　called　her；　turned　out？　　I　never　saw　anything
prettier　or　nicer　than　she　was　that　day　of　the　Roman　encampment；　and
I　should　be　sorry　if　that　fine　fashionable　aunt　of　hers；　had　made　her
stuck…up　and　disdainful。〃

〃No　such　thing；〃　said　Norman。

〃Ha！〃　said　Harry　to　himself；　〃I　see　how　it　is！　　She　has　gone　and　made
poor　old　June　unhappy；　with　her　scornful　airsa　little　impertinent
puss！I　wonder　Flora　does　not　teach　her　better　manners。〃

Norman；　meanwhile；　as　the　train　sped　over　roofs；　and　among　chimneys；
was　reproaching　himself　for　running　into　the　fascination　of　her
presence；　and　then　recollecting　that　her　situation；　as　well　as　his
destiny；　both　guaranteed　that　they　could　meet　only　as　friendly
connections。

No　carriage　awaited　them　at　the　station；　which　surprised　Norman；　till
he　recollected　that　the　horses　had　probably　been　out　all　day；　and　it
was　eight　o'clock。　　Going　to　Park　Lane　in　a　cab；　the　brothers　were
further　surprised　to　find　themselves　evidently　not　expected。　　The
butler　came　to　speak　to　them；　saying　that　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Rivers　were
gone　out　to　dinner；　but　would　return；　probably；　at　about　eleven
o'clock。　　He　conducted　them　upstairs；　Harry　following　his　brother；　in
towering　vexation　and　disappointment；　trying　to　make　him　turn　to　hear
that　they　would　go　directlyhometo　Etonanywherewhy　would　he　go
in　at　all？

The　door　was　opened；　Mr。　May　was　announced；　and　they　were　in　a　silk…
lined　boudoir；　where　a　little　slender　figure　in　black　started　up；　and
came　forward　with　outstretched　hand。

〃Norman！〃　she　cried；　〃how　are　you？　　Are　you　come　on　your　way　to
Oxford？〃

〃Has　not　Flora　had　Mary's　letter？〃

〃Yes；　she　said　she　had　one。　　She　was　keeping　it　till　she　had　time　to
read　it。〃

As　she　spoke；　Meta　had　given　her　hand　to　Harry；　as　it　was　evidently
expected；　she　raised　her　eyes　to　his　face；　and　said；　smiling'　and
blushing；　〃I　am　sure　I　ought　to　know　you；　but　I　am　afraid　I　don't。〃

〃Look　again；〃　said　Norman。　　〃See　if　you　have　ever　seen　him　before。〃

Laughing；　glancing；　and　casting　down　her　eyes；　she　raised　them　with　a
sudden　start　of　joy；　but　colouring　more　deeply；　said；　〃Indeed；　I
cannot　remember。　　I　dare　say　I　ought。〃

〃I　think　you　see　a　likeness；〃　said　Norman。

〃Oh；　yes；　I　see；〃　she　answered；　faltering；　but　perceiving　how　bright
were　the　looks　of　both；　〃No？　　Impossible！　　Yes；　it　is！〃

〃Yes；　it　is；〃　said　both　brothers　with　one　voice。　　She　clasped　her
hands；　absolutely　bounded　with　transport；　then　grasped　both　Harry's
hands；　and　then　Norman's；　her　whole　countenance　radiant　with　joy　and
sympathy　beyond　expression。

〃Dear；　dear　Dr。　May！〃　was　her　first　exclamation。　　〃Oh；　how　happy　you
must　all　be！　　And　Margaret？〃　　　She　looked　up　at　Norman；　and　came
nearer。　　〃Is　not　Mr。　Ernescliffe　come？〃　she　asked　softly；　and
trembling。

〃No；〃　was　the　low　answer；　which　Harry　could　not　bear　to　hear；　and
therefore　walked　to　the　window。　　〃No；　Meta；　but　Margaret　is　much
comforted　about　him。　　He　died　in　great　peacein　his　arms〃as　he
signed　towards　his　brother。　　And　as　Harry　continued　to　gaze　out　on
the　stars　of　gas　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　park；　he　was　able　to　add
a　few　of　the　particulars。

Meta's　eyes　glistened　with　tears；　as　she　said；　〃Perhaps　it　would　have
been　too　perfect　if　he　had　come；　but　oh；　Norman！　how　good　she　is　to
bear　it　so　patiently！　　And　how　gloriously　he　behaved！　　How　can　we
make　enough　of　him！　　And　Flora　out！　how　sorry　she　will　be！〃

〃And　she　never　opened　Mary's　letter；〃　said　Harry；　coming　back　to
them。

〃She　little　thought　what　it　contained；〃　said　Meta。　　〃Mary's　letters
are　apt　to　bear　keeping；　you　know；　and　she　was　so　busy；　that　she　laid
it　aside　for　a　treat　after　the　day's　work。　　But　there！　inhospitable
wretch　that　I　am！　you　have　had　no　dinner！〃

A　refection　of　tea　and　cold　meat　was　preferred；　and　in　her　own　pretty
manner　Meta　lavished　her　welcomes；　trying　to　cover　any　pain　given　by
Flora's　neglect。

〃What　makes　her　so　busy？〃　asked　Harry；　looking　round　on　the
beautifully　furnished　apartment；　which；　to　many　eyes　besides　those
fresh　from　a　Milanesian　hut；　might　have　seemed　a　paradise　of
luxurious　ease。

〃You　don't　know　what　an　important　lady　you　have　for　a　sister；〃　said
Meta　merrily。

〃But　tell　me；　what　can　she　have　to　do？　　I　thought　you　London　ladies
had　nothing　to　do；　but　to　sit　with　your　hands　before　you　entertaining
company。〃

Meta　laughed　heartily。　　〃Shall　I　begin　at　the　beginning？　　I'll
describe　to…day　then；　and　you　must　understand　that　this　is　what　Tom
would　call　a　mild　specimenonly　one　evening　engagement。　　Though；
perhaps；　I　ought　to　start　from　last　night　at　twelve　o'clock；　when　she
was　at　the　Austrian　Ambassador's　ball；　and　came　home　at　two；　but　she
was　up　by　eightshe　always　manages　to　get　through　her　housekeeping
matters　before　breakfast。　　At　nine；　breakfast；　and　babyby　the　bye；
you　have　never　inquired　for　our　niece。〃

〃I　have　not　come　to　believe　in　her　yet；〃　said　Harry。

〃Seeing　is　believing；〃　said　Meta；　〃but　no；　I　won't　take　an　unfair
advantage　over　her　mamma；　and　she　will　be　fast　asleep；　I　never　knew　a
child　sleep　as　she　does。　　So　to　go　on　with　our　day。　　The　papers　come；
and　Miss　Leonora　is　given　over　to　me；　for　you　must　know　we　are
wonderful　politicians。　　Flora　studies　all　the　debates　till　George
finds　out　what　he　has　heard　in　the　House；　and　baby　and　I　profit。
Baby　goes　out　walking；　and　the　post　comes。　　Flora　always　goes　to　the
study　with　George；　and　writes；　and　does　all　sorts　of　things　for　him。
She　is　the　most　useful　wife　in　the　world。　　At　twelve；　we　had　our
singing　lesson〃

〃Singing　lesson！〃　exclaimed　Harry。

〃Yes；　you　know　she　has　a　pretty　voice；　and　she　is　glad　to　cultivate
it。　　It　is　very　useful　at　parties；　but　it　takes　up　a　great　deal　of
time；　and　with　all　I　can　do　to　save　her　in　note…writing；　the　morning
is　gone　directly。　　After　luncheon；　she　had　to　ride　with　George；　and
came　back　in　a　hurry　to　make　some　canvassing　calls　about　the　orphan
asylum；　and　Miss　Bracy's　sister。　　If　we　get　her　in　at　all；　it　will　be
Flora's　diplomacy。　　And　there　was　shopping　to　do；　and　when　we　came　in
hoping　for　time　for　our　letters；　there　were　the　Walkinghames；　who
stayed　a　long　time；　so　that　Flora　could　only　despatch　the　most
important　notes；　before　George　came　in　and　wanted　her。　　She　was
reading　something　for　him　all　the　time　she　was　dressing；　but；　as　I
say；　this　is　quite　a　quiet　day。〃

〃Stop！〃　cried　Harry；　with　a　gesture　of　oppression；　〃it　sounds　harder
than　cleaning　knives；　like　Aunt　Flora！　　And　what　is　an　unquiet　day
like？〃

〃You　will　see；　for　we　have　a　great　evening　party　to…morrow。〃

〃Do　you　always　stay　at　home？〃　asked　Harry。

〃Not　always；　but　I　do　not　go　to　large　parties　or　balls　this　year；〃
said　Meta；　glancing　at　her　deep　mou