the daisy chain, or aspirations-第169节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Normanshe　will　be　watching　for　you　and　news　of　Margaret。　　Give　her
all　sorts　of　love　from　me。〃

Norman　fared　better　with　the　uncle　than　he　had　expected。　　Lord
Cosham；　as　a　philanthropist；　could　not；　with　any　consistency；　set　his
face　against　missions；　even　when　the　cost　came　so　near　home；　and　he
knew　that　opposition　made　the　like　intentions　assume　a　heroic　aspect
that　maintained　them　in　greater　force。　　He　therefore　went　over　the
subject　in　a　calm　dispassionate　manner；　which　exacted　full　and
grateful　consideration　from　the　young　man。

The　final　compromise　was；　that　nothing　should　be　settled　for　a　year；
during　which　Norman　would　complete　his　course　of　study；　and　the
matter　might　be　more　fully　weighed。　　Mrs。　Arnott　would　probably
return；　and　bring　experience　and　judgment；　which　would；　or　ought　to；
decide　the　questionthough　Meta　had　a　secret　fear　that　it　might
render　it　more　complicated　than　ever。　　However；　the　engagement　and
the　mission　views　had　both　been　treated　so　much　more　favourably　than
could　have　been　hoped；　that　they　felt　themselves　bound　to　be　patient
and　forbearing。　　As　Meta　said；　〃If　they　showed　themselves　wilful
children；　they　certainly　did　not　deserve　to　be　trusted　anywhere。〃

Lord　Cosham　made　his　niece　listen　to　a　kind　exhortation　not　to　press
her　influence　towards　a　decision　that　might　be　repented；　when　too
late　to　be　repaired；　without　a　degrading　sense　of　failureputting
her　in　mind　of　the　privations　that　would　lose　romance　by　their
pettiness；　and　which　money　could　not　remedy；　and　very　sensibly
representing　that　the　effect　of　these　on　temper　and　health　was　to　be
duly　considered　as　a　serious　impediment　to　usefulness。

〃It　would　be　worse　for　him　alone；〃　said　Meta。

〃That　is　not　certain；〃　said　her　uncle。　　〃A　broken…down　wife　is　a
terrible　drag。〃

〃I　know　it　is　so；〃　said　Meta　firmly；　〃but　risks　must　be　run；　and　he
is　willing　to　take　the　chance。　　I　do　not　think　it　can　be　presumption；
for；　you　know；　I　am　strong；　and　Dr。　May　would　say　if　he　could　not
warrant　me。　　I　fancy　household　work　would　be　more　satisfactory　and
less　tiring　than　doing　a　season　thoroughly；　and　I　mean　to　go　through
a　course　of　Finchley　manuals　in　preparation。〃

〃I　hope　you　know　what　you　are　doing；〃　sighed　her　uncle。　　〃You　see　it
all　couleur　de　rose。〃

〃I　think　not。　　It　is　because　it　is　not　couleur　de　rose　that　I　am　so
much　bent　upon　it。　　I　have　had　plenty　of　that　all　my　life。　　I　expect
much　that　will　be　very　disagreeable　and　not　at　all　heroic；　but　if　I
can　only　make　Norman　think　it　fun；　that　will　be　one　purpose　answered。
I　do　believe　he　will　do　his　work　better　for　having　me；　and；　at　least；
I　shall　pay　his　passage。〃

Her　uncle　shook　his　head；　but　did　not　try　to　say　any　more。　　George
had　begun　by　loud　exclamations　against　the　project；　in　which　he　was
vehemently　abetted　by　Tom；　who　primed　him　with　all　sorts　of
outrageous　abuse　of　the　niggers　and　cannibals；　who　would　make
Norman's　coats　out　of　all　shape；　and　devour　little　Meta　at　a
mouthfulpredictions　which　Meta　accepted　most　merrily；　talking　of
herself　so　resignedly；　as　bound　upon　a　spit；　and　calling　out　to　be
roasted　slower　and　faster；　that　she　safely　conducted　off　their
opposition　by　way　of　a　standing　joke。　　As　to　Norman's　coats；　she
threatened　to　make　them　herself；　and　silenced　Tom　for　ever　by
supposing；　in　malicious　simplicity；　that　he　must　be　able　to　teach　her
the　most　unexceptional　cut。

Flora　kept　her　opinions　to　herself。　　Only　once；　when　urged　to
remonstrate；　she　said；　〃I　could　notI　would　not。〃

She　was　gently　and　touchingly　considerate　towards　the　lovers；
silently　but　unobtrusively　obviating　all　that　could　jar　on　their
feelings；　and　employing　her　exquisite　tact　in　the　kindest　manner。

She　released　Meta　from　the　expedition　to　Ryde；　silencing　scruples　on
the　one　hand；　by　a　suggestion　of　〃poor　Sir　Henry；〃　and；　on　the　other；
by　offering　to　exchange　her　for　Mary。　　The　first　proposal　made　Mary
take　such　a　spring　in　her　chair；　with　eyes　so　round；　and　cheeks　so
red；　and　such　a　shriek　about　Harry　and　the　Bucephalus；　that　no　one
could　have　borne　to　say　one　word　in　opposition；　even　if　it　had　not
been　the　opinion　of　the　Council　that　sea　air　would　best　repair　Mary's
strength。

Ethel　had　some　private　fears　of　a　scene；　since　it　was　one　of　Miss
Bracy's　idiosyncrasies　to　be　hurt　whenever　Mary　was　taken　out　of　her
hands；　and　she　went　to　announce　the　design；　in　dread　lest　this　shock
should　destroy　the　harmony　that　had　prevailed　for　many　months；　nay；
she　almost　believed；　since　the　loss　of　the　Alcestis　had　been　known。

She　was　agreeably　surprised。　　Miss　Bracy　thought　Mary　in　need　of　the
change；　and　discussed　both　her　and　Blanche　in　so　pleasant　and
sensible　a　manner；　that　Ethel　was　quite　relieved。　　She　partook　in
Mary's　anticipations　of　pleasure；　forwarded　her　preparations；　and　was
delighted　with　her　promise　of　letterspromises　that　Mary　bestowed　so
largely；　in　the　fullness　of　her　heart；　that　there　were　fears　lest　her
whole　time　should　be　spent　in　writing。

Her　soft　heart　indulged　in　a　shower　of　tears　when　she　wished　them　all
good…bye；　and　Ethel　and　Blanche　found　the　house　was　very　empty
without　her；　but　that　was　only　till　Meta　came　in　from　a　walk　with
Norman；　and；　under　the　plea　of　trying　to　supply　Mary's　place；　did　the
work　of　five　Maries；　and　a　great　deal　besides。

Nothing　could　be　happier　than　Meta's　visit；　brightening　the　house　so
that　the　Mays　thought　they　had　never　known　half　her　charms；　helping
whatever　was　going　on；　yet　ready　to　play　with　Daisy；　tell　stories　to
Aubrey；　hear　Tom's　confidences；　talk　to　Margaret；　read　with　Norman；
and　teach　Richard　singing　for　his　school　children。　　The　only　vexation
was；　that　every　one　could　not　always　engross　her　entirely；　and　Dr。
May　used　to　threaten　that　they　should　never　spare　her　to　that　long…
legged　fellow；　Norman。

She　had　persuaded　Bellairs　to　go　and　take　care　of　Flora　and　Mary；
instead　of　the　French　maida　plan　which　greatly　satisfied　Margaret；
who　had　never　liked　the　looks　of　Coralie；　and　which　Meta　held　to　be　a
grand　emancipation。　　She　persuaded　old　nurse　to　teach　her　to　be
useful；　and　Margaret　used　to　declare　that　she　witnessed　scenes　as
good　as　a　play　in　her　room；　where　the　little　dexterous　scholar；
apparently　in　jest；　but　really　in　sober；　earnest；　wiled　instruction
from　the　old　woman；　and　made　her　experiments；　between　smiles　and
blushes；　and　merrily　glorying　in　results　that　promised　that　she　would
be　a　notable　housewife。　　Whether　it　were　novelty　or　not；　she
certainly　had　an　aptitude　and　delight　in　domestic　details；　such　as
Ethel　never　could　attain；　and；　as　Dr。　May　said；　the　one　performed　by
a　little　finger　what　the　other　laboured　at　with　a　great　mind。

In　the　schoolroom；　Meta　was　as　highly　appreciated。　　She　found　an　hour
for　helping　Blanche　in　her　music；　and　for　giving；　what　was　still　more
useful；　an　interest　and　spirit　to　studies；　where；　it　must　be　owned；
poor　good　Mary　had　been　a　dead　weight。　　She　enlivened　Miss　Bracy　so
much；　and　so　often　contrived　a　walk　or　a　talk　with　her；　that　the
saucy　Blanche　told　Hector　that　she　thought　Ethel　would　be　quite
second…fiddle　with　Miss　Bracy。

No　such　thing。　　Miss　Bracy's　great　delight　was　in　having　a　listener
for　her　enthusiasm　about　Miss　Ethel。　　She　had　been　lately　having　a
correspondence　with　a　former　school…fellow；　who　was　governess　in　a
family　less　considerate　than　the　Mays；　and　who　poured　out；　in　her
letters；　feelings　much　like　those　with　which　Miss　Bracy　had　begun。

Nothing　could　be　more　salutary　than　to　find　herself　repeating　all
Ethel's　pieces　of　advice；　and；　one　day；　when　her　friend　had　been　more
distressed　than　usual；　she　called　Ethel　herself；　to　consult　on　her
answer；　owning　how　much　she　was　reminded　of　herself。

〃Indeed；〃　she　added；　〃I　am　afraid　it　would　only　tease　you　to　hear　how
much　I　am　indebted　to　your　decision　and　kindness〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Ethel；　laughing　her　awkward　laugh。　　〃You　have　often　had
to　forget　my　savage　ways。〃

〃Pray　don't　say　that〃

〃I　think；〃　said　Ethel；　breaking　in；　〃the　philosophy　is　this：　I
believe　that　it　is　a　trying　life。　　I　know　teaching　takes　a　great　deal
out　of　one；　and　loneliness　may　cause　tendencies　to　dwell　on　fancied
slights　in　trifles；　that　might　otherwise　be　hurried　over。　　But　I
think　the　thing　is；　to　pass　them　over；　and　make　a　conscience　of
turning　one's　mind　to　something　fresh〃

〃As　you　made　me　do；　when　you　brought　me　amusing　books；　and　taught　me
botany〃

〃And；　still　more；　when　you　took　to　working　for　the　infant　school。
Yes；　I　think　the　way　to　be　happy　and　useful　is　to　get　up　many
interests；　so　as　to　be　fresh　and　vigorous；　and　think　not　at　all　of
personalities。　　There's　a　truism！〃

〃Very　true；　though；〃　said　Miss　Bracy。　〃Indeed；　all　your　kindness　and
consideration　would　never　have　done　me　half　the　good　they　have；　dear
Miss　Ethel；　if　you　had　not　taught　me　that　referring　all　to　one's　own
feelings　and　self　is　the　way　to　be　unhappy。〃

〃Just　so；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃It　is　the　surest　way　for　any　one　to　be
miserable。〃

〃If　I　could　only　persuade　poor　dear　Ellen　to　think　that　even　if　a
slight　were　real；　it　ought　to　be　borne　forgivingly；　and　not　brooded
over。　　Ah！　you　are　laughing；　perhaps　you　have　said　the　same　about
me。〃

〃You　would　forg