the daisy chain, or aspirations-第41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！


name　of　the　little　Italian；　and　was　told　it　was　Nipen；　because　it　had
once　stolen　a　cake；　much　like　the　wind…spirit　in　Feats　on　the　Fiord。
Its　beauty　and　tricks　were　duly　displayed；　and　a　most　beautiful
Australian　parrot　was　exhibited；　Mrs。　Larpent　taking　full　interest　in
the　talk；　in　so　lively　and　gentle　a　manner；　and　she　and　her　pretty
pupil　evidently　on　such　sister…like　terms；　that　Norman　could　hardly
believe　her　to　be　the　governess；　when　he　thought　of　Miss　Winter。

Miss　Rivers　took　up　some　brown　leaves　which　she　was　cutting　out　with
scissors；　and　shaping。　　〃Our　holiday　work；〃　said　Mrs。　Larpent；　in
answer　to　the　inquiring　look　of　Norman's　eyes。　　〃Meta　has　been　making
a　drawing　for　her　papa；　and　is　framing　it　in　leather…work。　　Have　you
ever　seen　any？〃

〃Never！〃　and　Norman　looked　eagerly；　asking　questions；　and　watching
while　Miss　Rivers　cut　out　her　ivy　leaf　and　marked　its　veins；　and
showed　how　she　copied　it　from　nature。　　He　thanked　her；　saying；　〃I
wanted　to　learn　all　about　it；　for　I　thought　it　would　be　such　nice
work　for　my　eldest　sister。〃

A　glance　of　earnest　interest　from　little　Meta's　bright　eyes　at　her
governess；　and　Mrs。　Larpent；　in　a　kind；　soft　tone　that　quite　gained
his　heart；　asked；　〃Is　she　the　invalid？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Norman。　　〃New　fancy　work　is　a　great　gain　to　her。〃

Mrs。　Larpent's　sympathetic　questions；　and　Meta's　softening　eyes；
gradually　drew　from　him　a　great　deal　about　Margaret's　helpless　state；
and　her　patience；　and　capabilities；　and　how　every　one　came　to　her
with　all　their　cares；　and　Norman；　as　he　spoke；　mentally　contrasted
the　life；　untouched　by　trouble　and　care；　led　by　the　fair　girl　before
him；　with　that　atmosphere　of　constant　petty　anxieties　round　her
namesake's　couch；　at　years　so　nearly　the　same。

〃How　very　good　she　must　be；〃　said　little　Meta；　quickly　and　softly；
and　a　tear　was　sparkling　on　her　eyelashes。

〃She　is　indeed；〃　said　Norman　earnestly。　　〃I　don't　know　what　papa
would　do　but　for　her。〃

Mrs。　Larpent　asked　kind　questions　whether　his　father's　arm　was　very
painful；　and　the　hopes　of　its　cure；　and　he　felt　as　if　she　was　a　great
friend　already。　　Thence　they　came　to　books。　　Norman　had　not　read　for
months　past；　but　it　happened　that　Meta　was　just　now　reading
Woodstock；　with　which　he　was　of　course　familiar；　and　both　grew　eager
in　discussing　that　and　several　others。　　Of　one；　Meta　spoke　in　such
terms　of　delight；　that　Norman　thought　it　had　been　very　stupid　of　him
to　let　it　lie　on　the　table　for　the　last　fortnight　without　looking
into　it。

He　was　almost　sorry　to　see　his　father　and　Mr。　Rivers　come　in；　and
hear　the　carriage　ordered；　but　they　were　not　off　yet；　though　the　rain
was　now　only　Scotch　mist。　　Mr。　Rivers　had　his　most　choice　little
pictures　still　to　display；　his　beautiful　early　Italian　masters；
finished　like　illuminations；　and　over　these　there　was　much　lingering
and　admiring。　　Meta　had　whispered　something　to　her　governess；　who
smiled；　and　advanced　to　Norman。　　〃Meta　wishes　to　know　if　your　sister
would　like　to　have　a　few　flowers？〃　said　she。

No　sooner　said　than　done；　the　door　into　the　conservatory　was　opened；
and　Meta；　cutting　sprays　of　beautiful　geranium；　delicious　heliotrope；
fragrant　calycanthus；　deep　blue　tree　violet；　and　exquisite　hothouse
ferns；　perfect　wonders　to　Norman；　who；　at　each　addition　to　the
bouquet；　exclaimed　by　turns；　〃Oh；　thank　you！〃　and；　〃How　she　will　like
it！〃

Her　father　reached　a　magnolia　blossom　from　on　high；　and　the　quick
warm　grateful　emotion　trembled　in　Dr。　May's　features　and　voice；　as　he
said；　〃It　is　very　kind　in　you；　you　have　given　my　poor　girl　a　great
treat。　　Thank　you　with　all　my　heart。〃

Margaret　Rivers　cast　down　her　eyes；　half　smiled；　and　shrank　back；
thinking　she　had　never　felt　anything　like　the　left…handed　grasp；　so
full　of　warmth　and　thankfulness。　　It　gave　her　confidence　to　venture
on　the　one　question　on　which　she　was　bent。　　Her　father　was　in　the
hall；　showing　Norman　his　Greek　nymph；　and　lifting　her　eyes　to　Dr。
May's　face；　then　casting　them　down；　she　coloured　deeper　than　ever；　as
she　said；　in　a　stammering　whisper；　〃Oh；　pleaseif　you　would　tell　me…
…do　you　thinkis　papa　very　ill？〃

Dr。　May　answered　in　his　softest；　most　reassuring　tones：　〃You　need　not
be　alarmed　about　him；　I　assure　you。　　You　must　keep　him　from　too　much
business；〃　he　added；　smiling；　〃make　him　ride　with　you；　and　not　let
him　tire　himself；　and　I　am　sure　you　can　be　his　best　doctor。〃

〃But　do　you　think；〃　said　Meta；　earnestly　looking　up〃do　you　think　he
will　be　quite　well　again？〃

〃You　must　not　expect　doctors　to　be　absolute　oracles；〃　said　he。　〃I
will　tell　you　what　I　told　himI　hardly　think　his　will　ever　be　sound
health　again；　but　I　see　no　reason　why　he　should　not　have　many　years
of　comfort；　and　there　is　no　cause　for　you　to　disquiet　yourself　on　his
accountyou　have　only　to　be　careful　of　him。〃

Meta　tried　to　say　〃thank　you；〃　but　not　succeeding；　looked　imploringly
at　her　governess；　who　spoke　for　her。　　〃Thank　you；　it　is　a　great
relief　to　have　an　opinion；　for　we　were　not　at　all　satisfied　about　Mr。
Rivers。〃

A　few　words　more；　and　Meta　was　skipping　about　like　a　sprite　finding　a
basket　for　the　flowersshe　had　another　shake　of　the　hand；　another
grateful　smile；　and　〃thank　you；〃　from　the　doctor；　and　then；　as　the
carriage　disappeared；　Mrs。　Larpent　exclaimed；　〃What　a　very　nice
intelligent　boy　that　was。〃

〃Particularly　gentlemanlike；〃　said　Mr。　Rivers。　〃Very　cleverthe　head
of　the　school；　as　his　father　tells　meand　so　modest　and　unassuming
though　I　see　his　father　is　very　proud　of　him。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　sure　they　are　so　fond　of　each　other；〃　said　Meta：　〃didn't
you　see　his　attentive　ways　to　his　father　at　luncheon！　　And；　papa；　I
am　sure　you　must　like　Dr。　May；　Mr。　Wilmot's　doctor；　as　much　as　I　said
you　would。〃

〃He　is　the　most　superior　man　I　have　met　with　for　a　long　time；〃　said
Mr。　Rivers。　　〃It　is　a　great　acquisition　to　find　a　man　of　such　taste
and　acquirements　in　this　country　neighbourhood；　when　there　is　not
another　who　can　tell　a　Claude　from　a　Poussin。　　I　declare；　when　once
we　began　talking；　there　was　no　leaving　offI　have　not　met　a　person
of　so　much　conversation　since　I　left　town。　　I　thought　you　would　like
to　see　him；　Meta。〃

〃I　hope　I　shall　know　the　Miss　Mays　some　time　or　other。〃

〃That　is　the　prettiest　little　fairy　I　ever　did　see！〃　was　Dr。　May's
remark；　as　Norman　drove　from　the　door。

〃How　good…natured　they　are！〃　said　Norman；　〃I　just　said　something
about　Margaret；　and　she　gave　me　all　these　flowers。　　How　Margaret　will
be　delighted！　　I　wish　the　girls　could　see　it　all！〃

〃So　you　got　on　well　with　the　ladies；　did　you？〃

〃They　were　very　kind　to　me。　　It　was　very　pleasant！〃　said　Norman；　with
a　tone　of　enjoyment　that　did　his　father's　heart　good。

〃I　was　glad　you　should　come　in。　　Such　a　curiosity　shop　is　a　sight；
and　those　pictures　were　some　of　them　well　worth　seeing。　　That　was　a
splendid　Titian。〃

〃That　cast　of　the　Pallas　of　the　Parthenonhow　beautiful　it　wasI
knew　it　from　the　picture　in　Smith's　dictionary。　　Mr。　Rivers　said　he
would　show　me　all　his　antiques　if　you　would　bring　me　again。〃

〃I　saw　he　liked　your　interest　in　them。　　He　is　a　good；　kind…hearted
dilettante　sort　of　old　man；　he　has　got　all　the　talk　of　the　literary；
cultivated　society　in　London；　and　must　find　it　dullish　work　here。〃

〃You　liked　him；　didn't　you？〃

〃He　is　very　pleasant；　I　found　he　knew　my　old　friend；　Benson；　whom　I
had　not　seen　since　we　were　at　Cambridge　together；　and　we　got　on　that
and　other　matters；　London　people　have　an　art　of　conversation　not
learned　here；　and　I　don't　know　how　the　time　slipped　away；　but　you
must　have　been　tolerably　tired　of　waiting。〃

〃Not　to　signify；〃　said　Norman。　　〃I　only　began　to　think　he　must　be
very　ill；　I　hope　there　is　not　much　the　matter　with　him。〃

〃I　can't　say。　　I　am　afraid　there　is　organic　disease；　but　I　think　it
may　be　kept　quiet　a　good　while　yet；　and　he　may　have　a　pleasant　life
for　some　time　to　come；　arranging　his　prints；　and　petting　his　pretty
daughter。　　He　has　plenty　to　fall　back　upon。〃

〃Do　you　go　there　again？〃

〃Yes；　next　week。　　I　am　glad　of　it。　　I　shall　like　to　have　another　look
at　that　little　Madonna　of　hisit　is　the　sort　of　picture　that　does
one　good　to　carry　away　in　one's　eye。　　Whay！　　Stop。　　There's　an　old
woman　in　here。　　It　is　too　late　for　Fordholm；　but　these　cases　won't
wait。〃

He　went　into　the　cottage；　and　soon　returned；　saying；　〃Fine　new
blankets；　and　a　great　kettle　of　soup；　and　such　praises　of　the　ladies
at　the　Grange！〃　　And；　at　the　next　house；　it　was　the　same　story。
〃Well；　'tis　no　mockery　now　to　tell　the　poor　creatures　they　want
nourishing　food。　　Slices　of　meat　and　bottles　of　port　wine　rain　down
on　Abbotstoke。〃

A　far　more　talkative　journey　than　usual　ensued；　the　discussion　of　the
paintings　and　antiques　was　almost　equally　delightful　to　the　father
and　son；　and　lasted　till；　about　a　mile　from　Stoneborough；　they
descried　three　figures　in　the　twilight。

〃Ha！　　How　are　you；　Wilmot？　　So　you　braved　the　rain；　Ethel。　　Jump　in；〃
called　the　doctor；　as　Norman　drew　up。

〃I　shall　crowd　youI　shall　hurt　your　arm；　papa；　thank　you。〃

〃No；　you　won'tjump　inthere's　room　for　three　thread…papers　in　one
gig。　　Why；　Wilmot；　your　brother　has　a　very　jewel　of　a　squire！　　How
did　you　fare？〃

〃Very　well