the daisy chain, or aspirations-第31节

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〃What　do　you　mean？　　Speak；　Ethel。〃

〃He　has　gone　past　itthe　place；〃　whispered　she。

The　doctor　made　a　sound　of　sorrowful　assent；　as　if　much　struck；　then
said；　〃you　don't　mean　he　has　never　been　there　since？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　〃he　has　always　gone　round　Randall's　alley　or　the
garden；　he　has　said　nothing；　but　has　contrived　to　avoid　it。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Dr。　May；　after　a　pause；　〃I　hoped　none　of　us　knew　the
exact　spot。〃

〃We　don't；　he　never　told　us；　but　he　was　there。〃

〃Was　he？〃　exclaimed　her　father；　〃I　had　no　notion　of　that。　　How　came
he　there？〃

〃He　went　on　with　Mr。　Ernescliffe；　and　saw　it　all；〃　said　Ethel；　as　her
father　drew　out　her　words；　apparently　with　his　eye；　〃and　then　came　up
to　my　room　so　faint　that　he　was　obliged　to　lie　on　the　floor　ever　so
long。〃

〃Fainthow　long　did　it　last？〃　said　her　father；　examining　her　without
apparent　emotion；　as　if　it　had　been　an　indifferent　patient。

〃I　don't　know；　things　seemed　so　long　that　evening。　　Till　after　dark
at　least；　and　it　came　on　in　the　morningno；　the　Monday。　　I　believe
it　was　your　armfor　talking　of　going　to　see　you　always　brought　it
on；　till　Mr。　Ward　gave　him　a　dose　of　brandy…and…water；　and　that
stopped　it。〃

〃I　wish　I　had　known　this　before。　　Derangement　of　the　nervous　system；
no　doubta　susceptible　boy　like　thatI　wonder　what　sort　of　nights
he　has　been　having。〃

〃Terrible　ones；〃　said　Ethel；　〃I　don't　think　he　ever　sleeps　quietly
till　morning；　he　has　dreams；　and　he　groans　and　talks　in　his　sleep；
Harry　can　tell　you　all　that。〃

〃Bless　me！〃　cried　Dr。　May；　in　some　anger；　〃what　have　you　all　been
thinking　about　to　keep　this　to　yourselves　all　this　time？〃

〃He　could　not　bear　to　have　it　mentioned；〃　said　Ethel　timidly；　〃and　I
didn't　know　that　it　signified　so　much；　does　it？〃

〃It　signifies　so　much；　that　I　had　rather　have　given　a　thousand　pounds
than　have　let　him　go　on　all　this　time；　to　be　overworked　at　school；
and　wound　up　to　that　examination！〃

〃Oh；　dear！　I　am　sorry！〃　said　Ethel；　in　great　dismay。　　〃If　you　had　but
been　at　home　when　Cheviot　wanted　Harry　to　have　sent　for　youbecause
he　did　not　think　him　fit　for　it！〃　　And　Ethel　was　much　relieved　by
pouring　out　all　she　knew；　though　her　alarm　was　by　no　means　lessened
by　the　effect　it　produced　on　her　father；　especially　when　he　heard　of
the　〃funny　state。〃

〃A　fine　state　of　things；〃　he　said；　〃I　wonder　it　has　not　brought　on　a
tremendous　illness　by　this　time。　　A　boy　of　that　sensitive　temperament
meeting　with　such　a　shocknever　looked　afterthe　quietest　and　most
knocked　down　of　all；　and　therefore　the　most　neglectedhis　whole
system　disorderedand　then　driven　to　school　to　be　harassed　and
overworked；　if　we　had　wanted　to　occasion　brain　fever　we　could　not
have　gone　a　better　way　to　set　about　it。　　I　should　not　wonder　if
health　and　nerves　were　damaged　for　life！〃

〃Oh！　papa；　papa！〃　cried　Ethel；　in　extreme　distress；　〃what　shall　I　do！
I　wish　I　had　told　you；　but〃

〃I'm　not　blaming　you；　Ethel；　you　knew　no　better；　but　it　has　been
grievous　neglect。　　It　is　plain　enough　there　is　no　one　to　see　after
you；〃　said　the　doctor；　with　a　low　groan。

〃We　may　be　taking　it　in　time；〃　said　Margaret's　soft　voice〃it　is
very　well　it　has　gone　on　no　longer。〃

〃Three　months　is　long　enough；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃I　suppose；〃　continued　Margaret；　〃it　will　be　better　not　to　let　dear
Norman　know　we　are　uneasy　about　him。〃

〃No；　no；　certainly　not。　　Don't　say　a　word　of　this　to　him。　　I　shall
find　Harry；　and　ask　about　these　disturbed　nights；　and　then　watch　him；
trusting　it　may　not　have　gone　too　far；　but　there　must　be　dreadful
excitability　of　brain！〃

He　went　away；　leaving　Margaret　to　comfort　Ethel　as　well　as　she　could；
by　showing　her　that　he　had　not　said　the　mischief　was　done；　putting
her　in　mind　that　he　was　wont　to　speak　strongly；　and　trying　to　make
her　thankful　that　her　brother　would　now　have　such　care　as　might　avert
all　evil　results。

〃But；　oh；〃　said　Ethel；　〃his　success　has　been　dearly　purchased！〃




CHAPTER　XII。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃It　hath　do　me　mochil　woe。〃
〃Yea　hath　it？　　Use；〃　quod　he；　〃this　medicine；
　Every　daie　this　Maie　or　that　thou　dine；
　Go　lokin　in　upon　the　freshe　daisie；
　And　though　thou　be　for　woe　in　poinct　to　die；
　That　shall　full　gretly　lessen　thee　of　thy　pine。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAUCER。


That　night　Norman　started　from；　what　was　not　so　much　sleep；　as　a
trance　of　oppression　and　suffering；　and　beheld　his　father's　face
watching　him　attentively。

〃Papa！　　What's　the　matter？〃　said　he；　starting　up。　　〃Is　any　one　ill？〃

〃No；　no　one；　lie　down　again；〃　said　Dr。　May；　possessing　himself　of　a
hand；　with　a　burning　spot　in　the　palm；　and　a　throbbing　pulse。

〃But　what　made　you　come　here？　　Have　I　disturbed　any　one？　　Have　I　been
talking？〃

〃Only　mumbling　a　little；　but　you　looked　very　uncomfortable。〃

〃But　I'm　not　illwhat　are　you　feeling　my　pulse　for？〃　said　Norman
uneasily。

〃To　see　whether　that　restless　sleep　has　quickened　it。〃

Norman　scarcely　let　his　father　count　for　a　moment；　before　he　asked；
〃What　o'clock　is　it？〃

〃A　little　after　twelve。〃

〃What　does　make　you　stay　up　so　late；　papa？〃

〃I　often　do　when　my　arm　seems　likely　to　keep　me　awake。　　Richard　has
done　all　I　want。〃

〃Pray　don't　stay　here　in　the　cold；〃　said　Norman；　with　feverish
impatience；　as　he　turned　upwards　the　cool　side　of　his　pillow。
〃Good…night！〃

〃No　hurry；〃　said　his　father；　still　watching　him。

〃There's　nothing　the　matter；〃　repeated　the　boy。

〃Do　you　often　have　such　unquiet　nights？〃

〃Oh；　it　does　not　signify。　　Good…night；〃　and　he　tried　to　look　settled
and　comfortable。

〃Norman；〃　said　his　father；　in　a　voice　betraying　much　grief；　〃it　will
not　do　to　go　on　in　this　way。　　If　your　mother　was　here；　you　would　not
close　yourself　against　her。〃

Norman　interrupted　him　in　a　voice　strangled　with　sobs：　〃It　is　no　good
saying　itI　thought　it　would　only　make　it　worse　for　you；　but　that's
it。　　I　cannot　bear　the　being　without　her。〃

Dr。　May　was　glad　to　see　that　a　gush　of　tears　followed　this
exclamation；　as　Norman　hid　his　face　under　the　coverings。

〃My　poor　boy；〃　said　he；　hardly　able　to　speak；　〃only　One　can　comfort
you　truly；　but　you　must　not　turn　from　me；　you　must　let　me　do　what　I
can　for　you；　though　it　is　not　the　same。〃

〃I　thought　it　would　grieve　you　more；〃　said　Norman；　turning　his　face
towards　him　again。

〃What；　to　find　my　children；　feeling　with　me；　and　knowing　what　they
have　lost？　　Surely　not；　Norman。〃

〃And　it　is　of　no　use；〃　added　Norman；　hiding　his　face　again；　〃no　one
can　comfort〃

〃There　you　are　wrong；〃　said　Dr。　May；　with　deep　feeling；　〃there　is
much　comfort　in　everything；　in　everybody；　in　kindness；　in　all　around；
if　one　can　only　open　one's　mind　to　it。　　But　I　did　not　come　to　keep
you　awake　with　such　talk：　I　saw　you　were　not　quite　well；　so　I　came　up
to　see　about　you；　and　now；　Norman；　you　will　not　refuse　to　own　that
something　is　the　matter。〃

〃I　did　not　know　it；〃　said　Norman；　〃I　really　believe　I　am　well；　if　I
could　get　rid　of　these　horrible　nights。　　I　either　lie　awake；　tumbling
and　tossing；　or　I　get　all　sorts　of　unbearable　dreams。〃

〃Ay；　when　I　asked　master　Harry　about　you；　all　the　answer　I　could　get
was；　that　he　was　quite　used　to　it；　and　did　not　mind　it　at　all。　　As　if
I　asked　for　his　sake！　　How　fast　that　boy　sleepshe　is　fit　for　a
midshipman's　berth！〃

〃But　do　you　think　there　is　anything　amiss　with　me？〃

〃I　shall　know　more　about　that　to…morrow　morning。　　Come　to　my　room　as
soon　as　you　are　up；　unless　I　come　to　you。　　Now；　I　have　something　to
read　before　I　go　to　bed；　and　I　may　as　well　try　if　it　will　put　you　to
sleep。〃

Norman's　last　sight　that　night　was　of　the　outline　of　his　father's
profile；　and　he　was　scarcely　awake　the　next　morning　before　Dr。　May
was　there　again。

Unwilling　as　he　had　been　to　give　way；　it　was　a　relief　to　relinquish
the　struggle　to　think　himself　well；　and　to　venture　to　lounge　and
dawdle；　rest　his　heavy　head；　and　stretch　his　inert　limbs　without　fear
of　remark。　　His　father　found　him　after　breakfast　lying　on　the　sofa　in
the　drawing…room　with　a　Greek　play　by　his　side；　telling　Ethel　what
words　to　look　out。

〃At　it　again！〃　exclaimed　Dr。　May。　　〃Carry　it　away；　Ethel。　　I　will
have　no　Latin　or　Greek　touched　these　holidays。〃

〃You　know；〃　said　Norman；　〃if　I　don't　sap；　I　shall　have　no　chance　of
keeping　up。〃

〃You'll　keep　nowhere　if　you　don't　rest。〃

〃It　is　only　Euripides；　and　I　can't　do　anything　else；〃　said　Norman
languidly。

〃Very　likely；　I　don't　care。　　You　have　to　get　well　first　of　all；　and
the　Greek　will　take　care　of　itself。　　Go　up　to　Margaret。　　I　put　you　in
her　keeping；　while　I　am　gone　to　Whitford。　　After　that；　I　dare　say
Richard　will　be　very　glad　to　have　a　holiday；　and　let　you　drive　me　to
Abbotstoke。〃

Norman　rose；　and　wearily　walked　upstairs；　while　his　sister　lingered
to　excuse　herself。　　〃Papa；　I　did　not　think　Euripides　would　hurt　him
he　knows　it　all　so　well；　and　he　said　he　could　not　read　anything
else。〃

〃Just　so；　Ethel。　　Poor　fellow；　he　has　not　spirits　or　energy　for
anything：　his　mind　was　forced　into　those　classicalities　when　it
wanted　rest；　and　now　it　has　not　spring　enough　to　turn　back　again。〃

〃Do　you　think　him　so　very　ill？〃

〃Not　exactly；　but　there's　low　fever　hanging　about　him；　and　we　must
look　after　him　w