the daisy chain, or aspirations-第35节

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is　chiefly　for　want　of　exertion。　　I　should　like　to　rouse　him　if　papa
would　let　me；　I　know　I　could；　by　telling　him　how　these　Andersons　are
reckoning　on　his　getting　down。　　If　he　does；　I　shall　be　ready　to　run
away；　that　I　may　never　meet　any　one　here　again。〃

Ethel　was　very　unhappy　till　she　was　able　to　pour　all　this　trouble　out
to　Margaret；　and　worked　herself　almost　into　crying　about　Norman's
being　passed　by　〃that　Harvey；〃　and　his　sisters　exulting；　and　papa
being　vexed；　and　Norman　losing　time　and　not　caring。

〃There　you　are　wrong；〃　said　Margaret；　〃Norman　did　care　very　much；　and
it　was　not　till　he　had　seen　clearly　that　it　was　a　matter　of　duty　to
do　as　papa　thought　right；　and　not　agitate　his　mind　about　his　chances
of　keeping　up；　that　he　could　bear　to　give　up　his　work；〃　and　she　told
Ethel　a　little　of　what　had　passed。

Ethel　was　much　struck。　　〃But　oh；　Margaret；　it　is　very　hard；　just　to
have　him　put　up　for　the　sake　of　being　put　down；　and　pleasing　the
Andersons！〃

〃Dear　Ethel；　why　should　you　mind　so　much　about　the　Andersons？　　May
they　not　care　about　their　brother　as　we　do　for　ours？〃

〃Such　a　brother　to　care　about！〃　said　Ethel。

〃But　I　suppose　they　may　like　him　the　best；〃　said　Margaret；　smiling。

〃I　suppose　they　do；〃　said　Ethel　grudgingly；　〃but　still　I　cannot　bear
to　see　Norman　doing　nothing；　and　I　know　Harvey　Anderson　will　beat
him。〃

〃Surely　you　had　rather　he　did　nothing　than　made　himself　ill！〃

〃To　be　sure；　but　I　wish　it　wasn't　so。〃

〃Yes；　but；　Ethel；　whose　doing　is　his　getting　into　this　state？〃

Ethel　looked　grave。　　〃It　was　wrong　of　me；〃　said　she；　〃but　then　papa
is　not　sure　that　Greek　would　hurt　him。〃

〃Not　sure；　but　he　thinks　it　not　wise　to　run　the　risk。　　But；　Ethel；
dear；　why　are　you　so　bent　on　his　being　dux　at　all　costs？〃

〃It　would　be　horrid　if　he　was　not。〃

〃Don't　you　remember　you　used　to　say　that　outward　praise　or　honour　was
not　to　be　cared　for　as　long　as　one　did　one's　duty；　and　that　it　might
be　a　temptation？〃

〃Yes；　I　know　I　did；〃　said　Ethel；　faltering；　〃but　that　was　for
oneself。〃

〃It　is　harder；　I　think；　to　feel　so　about　those　we　care　for；〃　said
Margaret；　〃but　after　all；　this　is　just　what　will　show　whether　our
pride　in　Norman　is　the　right　true　loving　pride；　or　whether　it　is　only
the　family　vanity　of　triumphing　over　the　Andersons。〃

Ethel　hung　her　head。　〃There's　some　of　that；〃　she　said；　〃but　it　is　not
all。　　NoI　don't　want　to　triumph　over　them；　nobody　would　do　that。〃

〃Not　outwardly　perhaps；　but　in　their　hearts。〃

〃I　can't　tell；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　it　is　the　being　triumphed　over　that
I　cannot　bear。〃

〃Perhaps　this　is　all　a　lesson　in　humility　for　us；〃　said　Margaret　　〃It
is　teaching　us；　'Whosoever　exalteth　himself　shall　be　abased；　and　he
that　humbleth　himself　shall　be　exalted。'〃

Ethel　was　silent　for　some　little　space；　then　suddenly　exclaimed；　〃And
you　think　he　will　really　be　put　down？〃

Margaret　seemed　to　have　been　talking　with　little　effect；　but　she　kept
her　patience；　and　answered；　〃I　cannot　guess；　Ethel；　but　I'll　tell　you
one　thing…桰　think　there's　much　more　chance　if　he　comes　to　his　work
fresh　and　vigorous　after　a　rest；　than　if　he　went　on　dulling　himself
with　it　all　this　time。〃

With　which　Ethel　was　so　far　appeased　that　she　promised　to　think　as
little　as　she　could　of　the　Andersons；　and　a　walk　with　Richard　to
Cocksmoor　turned　the　current　of　her　thoughts。　　They　had　caught　some
more　Sunday…school　children　by　the　help　of　Margaret's　broth；　but　it
was　uphill　work；　the　servants　did　not　like　such　guests　in　the
kitchen；　and　they　were　still　less　welcome　at　school。

〃What　do　you　think　I　heard；　Ethel？〃　said　Flora；　the　next　Sunday；　as
they　joined　each　other　in　the　walk　from　school　to　church；　〃I　heard
Miss　Graves　say　to　Miss　Boulder；　'I　declare　I　must　remonstrate。　　I
undertook　to　instruct　a　national；　not　a　ragged　school；'　and　then　Miss
Boulder　shook　out　her　fine　watered　silk　and　said；　〃It　positively　is
improper　to　place　ladies　in　contact　with　such　squalid　objects。'〃

〃Ladies！〃　cried　Ethel。　　〃A　stationer's　daughter　and　a　banker's
clerk's！　　Why　do　they　come　to　teach　at　school　at　all？〃

〃Because　our　example　makes　it　genteel；〃　said　Flora。

〃I　hope　you　did　something　more　in　hopes　of　making　it　genteel。〃

〃I　caught　one　of　your　ragged　regiment　with　her　frock　gaping　behind；
and　pinned　it　up。　　Such　rags　as　there　were　under　it！　　Oh；　Ethel！〃

〃Which　was　it？〃

〃That　merry　Irish…looking　child。　　I　don't　know　her　name。〃

〃Oh！　it　is　a　real　charming　Irish　name；　Una　M'Carthy。　　I　am　so　glad
you　did　it；　Flora。　　I　hope　they　were　ashamed。〃

〃I　doubt　whether　it　will　do　good。　　We　are　sure　of　our　station　and　can
do　anything？they　are　struggling　to　be　ladies。〃

〃But　we　ought　not　to　talk　of　them　any　more；　Flora；　here　we　are　almost
at　the　churchyard。〃

The　Tuesday　of　this　week　was　appointed　for　the　visit　of　the　London
surgeon；　Sir　Matthew　Fleet；　and　the　expectation　caused　Dr。　May　to
talk　much　to　Margaret　of　old　times；　and　the　days　of　is　courtship；
when　it　had　been　his　favourite　project　that　his　friend　and　fellow…
student　should　marry　Flora　Mackenzie；　and　there　had　been　a　promising
degree　of　liking；　but　〃Mat〃　had　been　obliged　to　be　prudent；　and　had
ended　by　never　marrying　at　all。　　This　the　doctor；　as　well　as　his
daughters；　believed　was　for　the　sake　of　Aunt　Flora；　and　thus　the
girls　were　a　good　deal　excited　about　his　coming；　almost　as　much　on
his　own　account；　as　because　they　considered　him　as　the　arbiter　of
Margaret's　fate。　　He　only　came　in　time　for　a　seven　o'clock　dinner；
and　Margaret　did　not　see　him　that　night；　but　heard　enough　from　her
sisters；　when　they　came　up　to　tell　the　history　of　their　guest；　and　of
the　first　set　dinner　when　Flora　had　acted　as　lady　of　the　house。　　The
dinner　it　appeared　had　gone　off　very　well。　　Flora　had　managed
admirably；　and　the　only　mishap　was　some　awkward　carving　of　Ethel's
which　had　caused　the　dish　to　be　changed　with　Norman。　　As　to　the
guest；　Flora　said　he　was　very　good…looking　and　agreeable。　　Ethel
abruptly　pronounced；　〃I　am　very　glad　Aunt　Flora　married　Uncle　Arnott
instead。〃

〃I　can't　think　why；〃　said　Flora。　〃I　never　saw　a　person　of　pleasanter
manners。〃

〃Did　they　talk　of　old　times？〃　said　Margaret。

〃No；〃　said　Ethel；　〃that　was　the　thing。〃

〃You　would　not　have　them　talk　of　those　matters　in　the　middle　of
dinner；〃　said　Flora。

〃No；〃　again　said　Ethel；　〃but　papa　has　a　waydon't　you　know；
Margaret；　how　one　can　tell　in　a　moment　if　it　is　company　talk。〃

〃What　was　the　conversation　about？〃　said　Margaret。

〃They　talked　over　some　of　their　fellow…students；〃　said　Flora。

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　〃and　then　when　papa　told　him　that　beautiful
history　of　Dr。　Spencer　going　to　take　care　of　those　poor　emigrants　in
the　fever；　what　do　you　think　he　said？　　'Yes；　Spencer　was　always　doing
extravagant　things。'　　Fancy　that　to　papa；　who　can　hardly　speak　of　it
without　having　to　wipe　his　spectacles；　and　who　so　longs　to　hear　of
Dr。　Spencer。〃

〃And　what　did　he　say？〃

〃Nothing；　so　Flora　and　Sir　Matthew　got　to　pictures　and　all　that　sort
of　thing；　and　it　was　all　company　talk　after　that。〃

〃Most　entertaining　in　its　kind；〃　said　Flora：　〃butoh；　Norman！〃　as　he
entered〃why；　they　are　not　out　of　the　dining…room　yet！〃

〃No；　they　are　talking　of　some　new　invention；　and　most　likely　will　not
come　for　an　hour。〃

〃Are　you　going　to　bed？〃

〃Papa　followed　me　out　of　the　dining…room　to　tell　me　to　do　so　after
tea。〃

〃Then　sit　down　there；　and　I'll　go　and　make　some；　and　let　it　come　up
with　Margaret's。　　Come；　Ethel。　　Good…night；　Norman。　　Is　your　head
aching　to…night？〃

〃Not　much；　now　I　have　got　out　of　the　dining…room。〃

〃It　would　have　been　wiser　not　to　have　gone　in；〃　said　Flora；　leaving
the　room。

〃It　was　not　the　dinner；　but　the　man；〃　said　Norman。　　〃It　is
incomprehensible　to　me　how　my　father　could　take　to　him。　　I'd　as　soon
have　Harvey　Anderson　for　a　friend！〃

〃You　are　like　me；〃　said　Ethel；　〃in　being　glad　he　is　not　our
uncle。〃

〃He　presume　to　think　of　falling　in　love　with　Aunt　Flora！〃　cried
Norman　indignantly。

〃Why；　what　is　the　matter　with　him？〃　asked　Margaret。　　〃I　can't　find
much　ground　for　Ethel's　dislike；　and　Flora　is　pleased。〃

〃She　did　not　hear　the　worst；　nor　you　either；　Ethel；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I
could　not　stand　the　cold　hard　way　he　spoke　of　hospital　patients。　　I
am　sure　he　thinks　poor　people　nothing　but　a　study；　and　rich　ones
nothing　but　a　profit。　　And　his　half　sneers！　　But　what　I　hated　most
was　his　way　of　avoiding　discussions。　　When　he　saw　he　had　said　what
would　not　go　down　with　papa；　he　did　not　honestly　stand　up　to　the
point；　and　argue　it　out；　but　seemed　to　have　no　mind　of　his　own；　and
to　be　only　talking　to　please　papabut　not　knowing　how　to　do　it。
He　understand　my　father　indeed！〃

Norman's　indignation　had　quite　revived　him；　and　Margaret　was　much
entertained　with　the　conflicting　opinions。　　The　next　was　Richard's；
when　he　came　in　late　to　wish　her　good…night；　after　he　had　been
attending　on　Sir　Matthew's　examination　of　his　father's　arm。　　He　did
nothing　but　admire　the　surgeon's　delicacy　of　touch　and　understanding
of　the　case；　his　view　agreeing　much　better　with　Dr。　May's　own　than
that　with　Mr。　Ward's。　　Dr。　May　had　never　been　entirely　satisfied　with
the　present　mode　of　treatment；　and　Richard　was　much　struck　by