the daisy chain, or aspirations-第19节

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〃Oh；　nothing；　only　Miss　Winter　is　so　tiresome。〃

〃What　was　it？〃

〃Everything；　it　was　all　horrid。　　I　was　cross；　I　know；　but　she　and　M。
Ballompre　made　me　so；〃　and　Ethel　was　in　the　midst　of　the　narration　of
her　grievances；　when　Norman　came　in。　　The　school　was　half　a　mile　off；
but　he　had　not　once　failed　to　come　home；　in　the　interval　allowed　for
play　after　dinner；　to　inquire　for　his　sister。

〃Well；　Norman；　you　are　out　of　breath；　sit　down　and　rest。　　What　is
doing　at　school；　are　you　dux　of　your　class？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　boy　wearily。

〃What　mark　for　the　verses？〃　said　Ethel。

〃Quam　bene。〃

〃Not　optime？〃

〃No；　they　were　tame；〃　Dr。　Hoxton　said。

〃What　is　Harry　doing？〃　said　Margaret。

〃He　is　fourth　in　his　form。　　I　left　him　at　football。〃

〃Dinner！〃　said　Flora　at　the　door。　　〃What　will　you　have；　Margaret？〃

〃I'll　fetch　it；〃　said　Norman；　who　considered　it　his　privilege　to　wait
on　Margaret　at　dinner。　　When　he　had　brought　the　tray；　he　stood
leaning　against　the　bed…post；　musing。　　Suddenly；　there　was　a
considerable　clatter　of　fire…irons；　and　his　violent　start　surprised
Margaret。

〃Ethel　has　been　poking　the　fire；〃　she　said；　as　if　no　more　was　needed
to　account　for　their　insecurity。　　Norman　put　them　up　again；　but　a
ringing　sound　betrayed　that　it　was　not　with　a　firm　touch；　and　when；　a
minute　after；　he　came　to　take　her　plate；　she　saw　that　he　was　trying
with　effort　to　steady　his　hand。

〃Norman；　dear；　are　you　sure　you　are　well？〃

〃Yes；　very　well；〃　said　he；　as　if　vexed　that　she　had　taken　any　notice。

〃You　had　better　not　come　racing　home。　　I'm　not　worth　inquiries　now；　I
am　so　much　better；〃　said　she；　smiling。

He　made　no　reply；　but　this　was　not　consenting　silence。

〃I　don't　like　you　to　lose　your　football；〃　she　proceeded。

〃I　could　not〃　and　he　stopped　short。

〃It　would　be　much　better　for　you；〃　said　she；　looking　up　in　his　face
with　anxious　affectionate　eyes；　but　he　shunned　her　glance　and　walked
away　with　her　plate。

Flora　had　been　in　such　close　attendance　upon　Margaret；　that　she
needed　some　cheerful　walks；　and　though　she　had　some　doubts　how
affairs　at　home　would　go　on　without　her；　she　was　overruled；　and　sent
on　a　long　expedition　with　Miss　Winter　and　Mary；　while　Ethel　remained
with　Margaret。

The　only　delay　before　setting　out；　was　that　nurse　came　in；　saying；
〃If　you　please；　Miss　Margaret；　there　is　a　girl　come　to　see　about　the
place。〃

The　sisters　looked　at　each　other　and　smiled；　while　Margaret　asked
whence　she　came；　and　who　she　was。

〃Her　name　is　Taylor；　and　she　comes　from　Cocksmoor；　but　she　is　a　nice；
tidy；　strong…looking　girl；　and　she　says　she　has　been　used　to
children。〃

Nurse　had　fallen　into　the　trap　most　comfortably；　and　seemed　bent　upon
taking　this　girl　as　a　choice　of　her　own。　　She　wished　to　know　if　Miss
Margaret　would　like　to　see　her。

〃If　you　please；　nurse；　but　if　you　think　she　will　do；　that　is　enough。〃

〃Yes；　Miss；　but　you　should　look　to　them　things　yourself。　　If　you
please；　I'll　bring　her　up。〃　　So　nurse　departed。

〃Charming！〃　cried　Ethel；　〃that's　your　capital　management；　Flora；
nurse　thinks　she　has　done　it　all　herself。〃

〃She　is　your　charge　though；〃　said　Flora；　〃coming　from　your　own
beloved　Cocksmoor。〃

Lucy　Taylor　came　in；　looking　very　nice；　and　very　shy；　curtseying　low；
in　extreme　awe　of　the　pale　lady　in　bed。　　Margaret　was　much　pleased
with　her；　and　there　was　no　more　to　be　done　but　to　settle　that　she
should　come　on　Saturday；　and　to　let　nurse　take　her　into　the　town　to
invest　her　with　the　universal　blackness　of　the　household；　where　the
two　Margarets　were　the　only　white　things。

This　arranged；　and　the　walking　party　set　forth；　Ethel　sat　down　by　her
sister's　bed；　and　began　to　assist　in　unpicking　the　merino；　telling
Margaret　how　much　obliged　she　was　to　her　for　thinking　of　it；　and　how
grieved　at　having　been　so　ungrateful　in　the　morning。　　She　was　very
happy　over　her　contrivances；　cutting　out　under　her　sister's
superintendence。　　She　had　forgotten　the　morning's　annoyance；　till
Margaret　said；　〃I　have　been　thinking　of　what　you　said　about　Miss
Winter；　and　really　I　don't　know　what　is　to　be　done。〃

〃Oh；　Margaret；　I　did　not　mean　to　worry　you；〃　said　Ethel；　sorry　to　see
her　look　uneasy。

〃I　like　you　to　te11　me　everything；　dear　Ethel；　but　I　don't　see
clearly　the　best　course。　　We　must　go　on　with　Miss　Winter。〃

〃Of　course；〃　said　Ethe1；　shocked　at　her　murmurs　having　even　suggested
the　possibility　of　a　change；　and　having；　as　well　as　all　the　others；　a
great　respect　and　affection　for　her　governess。

〃We　could　not　get　on　without　her　even　if　I　were　well；〃　continued
Margaret；　and　dear　mamma　had　such　perfect　trust　in　her；　and　we　all
know　and　love　her　so　wellit　would　make　us　put　up　with　a　great
deal。〃

〃It　is　all　my　own　fault；〃　said　Ethel；　only　anxious　to　make　amends　to
Miss　Winter。　　〃I　wish　you　would　not　say　anything　about　it。〃

〃Yes；　it　does　seem　wrong　even　to　think　of　it；〃　said　Margaret；　〃when
she　has　been　so　very　kind。　　It　is　a　blessing　to　have　any　one　to　whom
Mary　and　Blanche　may　so　entirely　be　trusted。　　But　for　you〃

〃It　is　my　own　fault；〃　repeated　Ethel。

〃I　don't　think　it　is　quite　all　your　own　fault；〃　said　Margaret；　〃and
that　is　the　difficulty。　　I　know　dear　mamma　thought　Miss　Winter　an
excellent　governess　for　the　little　ones；　but　hardly　up　to　you；　and
she　saw　that　you　worried　and　fidgeted　each　other；　so；　you　know；　she
used　to　keep　the　teaching　of　you　a　good　deal　in　her　own　hands。〃

〃I　did　not　know　that　was　the　reason；〃　said　Ethel；　overpowered　by　the
recollection　of　the　happy　morning's　work　she　had　often　done　in　that
very　room；　when　her　mother　had　not　been　equal　to　the　bustle　of　the
whole　school…room。　　That　watchful；　protecting；　guarding；　mother's
love；　a　shadow　of　Providence；　had　been　round　them　so　constantly　on
every　side；　that　they　had　been　hardly　conscious　of　it　till　it　was
lost　to　them。

〃Was　it　not　like　her？〃　said　Margaret；　〃but　now；　my　poor　Ethel；　I
don't　think　it　would　be　right　by　you　or　by　Miss　Winter；　to　take　you
out　of　the　school…room。　　I　think　it　would　grieve　her。〃

〃I　would　not　do　that　for　the　world。〃

〃Especially　after　her　kind　nursing　of　me；　and　even；　with　more　reason；
it　would　not　be　becoming　in　us　to　make　changes。　　Besides；　King
Etheldred；〃　said　Margaret；　smiling；　〃we　all　know　you　are　a　little　bit
of　a　sloven；　and；　as　nurse　says；　some　one　must　be　always　after　you；
and　do　you　know？　even　if　I　were　well；　I　had　rather　it　was　Miss　Winter
than　me。〃

〃Oh；　no；　you　would　not　be　formal　and　preciseyou　would　not　make　me
cross。〃

〃Perhaps　you　might　make　me　so；〃　said　Margaret；　〃or　I　should　let　you
alone；　and　leave　you　a　slattern。　　We　should　both　hate　it　so！　　No；
don't　make　me　your　mistress；　Ethel　dearlet　me　be　your　sister　and
play…fellow　still；　as　well　as　I　can。〃

〃You　are；　you　are。　　I　don't　care　half　so　much　when　I　have　got　you。〃

〃And　will　you　try　to　bear　with　her；　and　remember　it　is　right　in　the
main；　though　it　is　troublesome？　〃

〃That　I　will。　　I　won't　plague　you　again。　　I　know　it　is　bad　for　you；
you　look　tired。〃

〃Pray　don't　leave　off　telling　me；〃　said　Margaret〃it　is　just　what　I
wish　on　my　own　account；　and　I　know　it　is　comfortable　to　have　a　good
grumble。〃

〃If　it　does　not　hurt　you；　but　I　am　sure　you　are　not　easy　noware
you？〃

〃Only　my　back；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃I　have　been　sitting　up　longer　than
usual；　and　it　is　tired。　　Will　you　call　nurse　to　lay　me　flat　again？

The　nursery　was　desertedall　were　out；　and　Ethel　came　back　in
trepidation　at　the　notion　of　having　to　do　it　herself；　though　she　knew
it　was　only　to　put　one　arm　to　support　her　sister；　while；　with　the
other；　she　removed　the　pillows；　but　Ethel　was　conscious　of　her　own
awkwardness　and　want　of　observation；　nor　had　Margaret　entire　trust　in
her。　　Still　she　was　too　much　fatigued　to　wait；　so　Ethel　was　obliged
to　do　her　best。　　She　was　careful　and　frightened；　and　therefore　slow
and　unsteady。　　She　trusted　that　all　was　right；　and　Margaret　tried　to
believe　so；　though　still　uneasy。

Ethel　began　to　read　to　her；　and　Dr。　May　came　home。　She　looked　up
smiling；　and　asked　where　he　had　been；　but　it　was　vain　to　try　to　keep
him　from　reading　her　face。　　He　saw　in　an　instant　that　something　was
amiss；　and　drew　from　her　a　confession　that　her　back　was　aching　a
little。　　He　knew　she　might　have　said　a　great　dealshe　was　not　in　a
comfortable　positionshe　must　be　moved。　　She　shook　her　headshe　had
rather　waitthere　was　a　dread　of　being　again　lifted　by　Ethel　that
she　could　not　entirely　hide。　　Ethel　was　distressed；　Dr。　May　was
angry；　and；　no　wonder；　when　he　saw　Margaret　suffer；　felt　his　own
inability　to　help；　missed　her　who　had　been　wont　to　take　all　care　from
his　hands；　and　was　vexed　to　see　a　tall　strong　girl　of　fifteen；　with
the　full　use　of　both　arms；　and　plenty　of　sense；　incapable　of　giving
any　assistance；　and　only　doing　harm　by　trying。

〃It　is　of　no　use；〃　said　he。　　〃Ethel　will　give　no　attention　to
anything　but　her　books！　　I've　a　great　mind　to　put　an　end　to　all　the
Latin　and　Greek！　　She　cares　for　nothing　else。〃

Ethel　could　little　brook　injustice；　and　much　as　she　was　grieving；　she
exclaimed；　〃Papa；　papa；　I　do　carenow　don't　I；　Margaret？　　I　did　my
best！〃

〃Don't　talk　nonsense。　　Your　best；　indeed！　　If　you　had　taken　the　most
moderate　care〃

〃I　believe