the daisy chain, or aspirations-第2节

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〃Pax！　　Pax！〃　cried　Norman；　over　all；　with　the　voice　of　an　authority；
as　he　leaped　up　lightly　and　set　Tom　on　his　legs　again。　　〃Harry！　you
had　better　do　that　again；〃　he　added　warningly。　　〃Be　off；　out　of　this
window；　and　let　Ethel　and　me　read　in　peace。〃

〃Here's　the　place；〃　said　Ethel　〃Crispin；　Crispian's　day。　　How　I　do
like　Henry　V。〃

〃It　is　no　use　to　try　to　keep　those　boys　in　order！〃　sighed　Miss
Winter。

〃Saturnalia；　as　papa　calls　Saturday；〃　replied　Flora。

〃Is　not　your　eldest　brother　coming　home　to…day？〃　said　Miss　Winter　in
a　low　voice　to　Flora；　who　shook　her　head；　and　said　confidentially；
〃He　is　not　coming　till　he　has　passed　that　examination。　　He　thinks　it
better　not。〃

Here　entered；　with　a　baby　in　her　arms；　a　lady　with　a　beautiful
countenance　of　calm　sweetness；　looking　almost　too　young　to　be　the
mother　of　the　tall　Margaret；　who　followed　her。　　There　was　a　general
hush　as　she　greeted　Miss　Winter；　the　girls　crowding　round　to　look　at
their　little　sister；　not　quite　six　weeks　old。

〃Now；　Margaret；　will　you　take　her　up　to　the　nursery？〃　said　the
mother；　while　the　impatient　speech　was　repeated；　〃Mamma；　can　we　go　to
Cocksmoor？〃

〃You　don't　think　it　will　be　too　far　for　you？〃　said　the　mother　to　Miss
Winter　as　Margaret　departed。

〃Oh；　no；　not　at　all；　thank　you；　that　was　not　But　Margaret　has
explained。〃

〃Yes；　poor　Margaret；〃　said　Mrs。　May；　smiling。　　〃She　has　settled　it　by
choosing　to　stay　at　home　with　me。　　It　is　no　matter　for　the　others；
and　he　is　going　on　Monday；　so　that　it　will　not　happen　again。〃

〃Margaret　has　behaved　very　well；〃　said　Miss　Winter。

〃She　has　indeed；〃　said　her　mother；　smiling。　　〃Well；　Harry；　how　is　the
caterpillar？〃

〃They've　just　capsized　it；　mamma；〃　answered　Harry；　〃and　Mary　is
making　all　taut。〃

Mrs。　May　laughed；　and　proceeded　to　advise　Ethel　and　Norman　to　put
away　Henry　V。；　and　find　the　places　in　their　Bibles；　〃or　you　will　have
the　things　mixed　together　in　your　heads；〃　said　she。

In　the　meantime　Margaret；　with　the　little　babe；　to…morrow　to　be　her
godchild；　lying　gently　in　her　arms；　came　out　into　the　matted　hall；
and　began　to　mount　the　broad　shallow…stepped　staircase；　protected　by
low　stout　balusters；　with　a　very　thick；　flat；　and　solid　mahogany
hand…rail；　polished　by　the　boys'　constant　riding　up　and　down　upon　it。
She　was　only　on　the　first　step；　when　the　dining…room　door　opened；　and
there　came　out　a　young　man；　slight；　and　delicate…looking；　with　bright
blue　eyes；　and　thickly…curling　light　hair。　　〃Acting　nurse？〃　he　said；
smiling。　　〃What　an　odd　little　face　it　is！　　I　didn't　think　little
white　babies　were　so　pretty！　　Well；　I　shall　always　consider　myself　as
the　real　godfatherthe　other　is　all　a　sham。〃

〃I　think　so；〃　said　Margaret；　〃but　I　must　not　stand　with　her　in　a
draught；〃　and　on　she　went；　while　he　called　after　her。　　〃So　we　are　to
have　an　expedition　to…day。〃

She　did　not　gainsay　it；　but　there　was　a　little　sigh　of　disappoint…
ment；　and　when　she　was　out　of　hearing；　she　whispered；　〃Oh！　lucky
baby；　to　have　so　many　years　to　come　before　you　are　plagued　with
troublesome　propriety！〃

Then　depositing　her　little　charge　with　the　nurse；　and　trying　to　cheer
up　a　solemn…looking　boy　of　three；　who　evidently　considered　his
deposition　from　babyhood　as　a　great　injury；　she　tripped　lightly　down
again；　to　take　part　in　the　Saturday's　reading　and　catechising。

It　was　pleasant　to　see　that　large　family　in　the　hush　and　reverence　of
such　teaching；　the　mother's　gentle　power　preventing　the　outbreaks　of
restlessness　to　which　even　at　such　times　the　wild　young　spirits　were
liable。　　Margaret　and　Miss　Winter　especially　rejoiced　in　it　on　this
occasion；　the　first　since　the　birth　of　the　baby；　that　she　had　been
able　to　preside。　　Under　her；　though　seemingly　without　her　taking　any
trouble；　there　was　none　of　the　smothered　laughing　at　the　little
mistakes；　the　fidgeting　of　the　boys；　or　Harry's　audacious
impertinence　to　Miss　Winter；　and　no　less　glad　was　Harry　to　have　his
mother　there；　and　be　guarded　from　himself。

The　Catechism　was　repeated；　and　a　comment　on　the　Sunday　Services　read
aloud。　　The　Gospel　was　that　on　the　taking　the　lowest　place；　and　when
they　had　finished；　Ethel　said；　〃I　like　the　verse　which　explains　that：


　　　　　　　〃They　who　now　sit　lowest　here；
　　　　　　　　When　their　Master　shall　appear；
　　　　　　　　He　shall　bid　them　higher　rise；
　　　　　　　　And　be　highest　in　the　skies。〃


〃I　did　not　think　of　that　being　the　meaning　of　'when　He　that　bade　thee
cometh；'〃　said　Norman　thoughtfully。

〃It　seemed　to　be　only　our　worldly　advantage　that　was　meant　before；〃
said　Ethel。

〃Well；　it　means　that　too；〃　said　Flora。

〃I　suppose　it　does；〃　said　Mrs。　May；　〃but　the　higher　sense　is　the　one
chiefly　to　be　dwelt　on。　　It　is　a　lesson　how　those　least　known　and
regarded　here；　and　humblest　in　their　own　eyes；　shall　be　the　highest
hereafter。〃

And　Margaret　looked　earnestly　at　her　mother；　but　did　not　speak。

〃May　we　go；　mamma？〃　said　Mary。

〃Yes；　you　threeall　of　you；　indeed；　unless　you　wish　to　say　any
more。〃

The　〃boys〃　availed　themselves　of　the　permission。　　Norman　tarried　to
put　his　books　into　a　neat　leather　case；　and　Ethel　stood　thinking。
〃It　means　altogetherit　is　a　lesson　against　ambition；〃　said　she。

〃True；〃　said　her　mother；　〃the　love　of　eminence　for　its　own　sake。〃

〃And　in　so　many　different　ways！〃　said　Margaret。

〃Ay；　worldly　greatness；　riches；　rank；　beauty；〃　said　Flora。

〃All　sorts　of　false　flash　and　nonsense；　and　liking　to　be　higher　than
one　ought　to　be；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I　am　sure　there　is　nothing　lower；　or
more　mean　and　shabby；　than　getting　places　and　praise　a　fellow　does
not　deserve。〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃　cried　Ethel；　〃but　no　one　fit　to　speak　to　would　do　that！〃

〃Plenty　of　people　do；　I　can　tell　you；〃　said　Norman。

〃Then　I　hope　I　shall　never　know　who　they　are！〃　exclaimed　Ethel。　　〃But
I'll　tell　you　what　I　was　thinking　of；　mamma。　　Caring　to　be　clever；
and　get　on；　only　for　the　sake　of　beating　people。〃

〃I　think　that　might　be　better　expressed。〃

〃I　know；〃　said　Ethel；　bending　her　brow；　with　the　fullness　of　her
thought〃I　mean　caring　to　do　a　thing　only　because　nobody　else　can　do
itwanting　to　be　first　more　than　wanting　to　do　one's　best。〃

〃You　are　quite　right；　my　dear　Ethel；〃　said　her　mother；　〃and　I　am　glad
you　have　found　in　the　Gospel　a　practical　lesson；　that　should　be
useful　to　you　both。　　I　had　rather　you　did　so　than　that　you　read　it　in
Greek；　though　that　is　very　nice　too；〃　she　added；　smiling；　as　she　put
her　hand　on　a　little　Greek　Testament；　in　which　Ethel　had　been　reading
it；　within　her　English　Bible。　　〃Now；　go　and　mend　that　deplorable
frock；　and　if　you　don't　dream　over　it；　you　won't　waste　too　much　of
your　holiday。〃

〃I'll　get　it　done　in　no　time！〃　cried　Ethel；　rushing　headlong
upstairs；　twice　tripping　in　it　before　she　reached　the　attic；　where
she　slept；　as　well　as　Flora　and　Marya　large　room　in　the　roof；　the
windows　gay　with　bird…cages　and　flowers；　a　canary　singing　loud　enough
to　deafen　any　one　but　girls　to　whom　headaches　were　unknown；　plenty　of
books　and　treasures；　and　a　very　fine　view；　from　the　dormer　window；　of
the　town　sloping　downwards；　and　the　river　winding　away；　with　some
heathy　hills　in　the　distance。　　Poking　and　peering　about　with　her
short…sighted　eyes；　Ethel　lighted　on　a　work…basket　in　rare　disorder；
pulled　off　her　frock；　threw　on　a　shawl；　and　sat　down　cross…legged　on
her　bed；　stitching　vigorously；　while　meantime　she　spouted　with　great
emphasis　an　ode　of　Horace；　which　Norman　having　learned　by　heart；　she
had　followed　his　example；　it　being　her　great　desire　to　be　even　with
him　in　all　his　studies；　and　though　eleven　months　younger；　she　had
never　yet　fallen　behind　him。　　On　Saturday；　he　showed　her　what　were
his　tasks　for　the　week；　and　as　soon　as　her　rent　was　repaired；　she
swung　herself　downstairs　in　search　of　him　for　this　purpose。　　She
found　him　in　the　drawing…room；　a　pretty；　pleasant　roomits　only
fault　that　it　was　rather　too　low。　　It　had　windows　opening　down　to　the
lawn；　and　was　full　of　pretty　things；　works　and　knick…knacks。　　Ethel
found　the　state　of　affairs　unfavourable　to　her。　　Norman　was　intent　on
a　book　on　the　sofa；　and　at　the　table　sat　Mr。　Ernescliffe；　hard　at
work　with　calculations　and　mathematical　instruments。　　Ethel　would　not
for　the　world　that　any　one　should　guess　at　her　classical　studiesshe
scarcely　liked　to　believe　that　even　her　father　knew　of　them；　and　to
mention　them　before　Mr。　Ernescliffe　would　have　been　dreadful。　　So　she
only　shoved　Norman；　and　asked　him　to　come。

〃Presently；〃　he　said。

〃What　have　you　here？〃　said　she；　poking　her　head　into　the　book。　　〃Oh！
no　wonder　you　can't　leave　off。　　I've　been　wanting　you　to　read　it　all
the　week。〃

She　read　over　him　a　few　minutes；　then　recoiled：　〃I　forgot；　mamma　told
me　not　to　read　those　stories　in　the　morning。　　Only　five　minutes；
Norman。〃

〃Wait　a　bit；　I'll　come。〃

She　fidgeted；　till　Mr。　Ernescliffe　asked　Norman　if　there　was　a　table
of　logarithms　in　the　house。

〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　answered；　〃don't　you　know；　Norman？　　In　a　brown　book　on
the　upper　shelf　in　the　dining…room。　　Don't　you　remember　papa's
telling　us　the　meaning　of　them；　when　we　had　the　grand　book…dusting？〃

He　was　conscious　of　nothing　but　his　book；　however；　she　found　the
logarithms；　and　brought　them　to　Mr。　Ernesc