the daisy chain, or aspirations-第42节

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gig。　　Why；　Wilmot；　your　brother　has　a　very　jewel　of　a　squire！　　How
did　you　fare？〃

〃Very　well　on　the　whole；〃　was　Mr。　Wllmot's　answer；　while　Ethel
scrambled　in；　and　tried　to　make　herself　small；　an　art　in　which　she
was　not　very　successful；　and　Norman　gave　an　exclamation　of　horrified
warning；　as　she　was　about　to　step　into　the　flower…basket；　then　she
nearly　tumbled　out　again　in　dismay；　and　was　relieved　to　find　herself
safely　wedged　in；　without　having　done　any　harm；　while　her　father
called　out　to　Mr。　Wilmot；　as　they　started；　〃I　say！　　You　are　coming
back　to　tea　with　us。〃

That　cheerful　tone；　and　the　kindness　to　herself；　were　a　refreshment
and　revival　to　Ethel；　who　was　still　sobered　and　shocked　by　her
yesterday's　adventure；　and　by　the　sense　of　her　father's　sorrowful
displeasure。　　Expecting　further　to　be　scolded　for　getting　in　so
awkwardly；　she　did　not　venture　to　volunteer　anything；　and　even　when
he　kindly　said；　〃I　hope　you　were　prosperous　in　your　expedition；〃　she
only　made　answer；　in　a　very　grave　voice；　〃Yes；　papa；　we　have　taken　a
very　nice　tidy　room。〃

〃What　do　you　pay　for　it？〃

〃Fourpence　for　each　time。〃

〃Well；　here's　for　you；〃　said　Dr。　May。　〃It　is　only　two　guineas　to…day；
that　banker　at　the　Grange　beguiled　us　of　our　time；　but　you　had　better
close　the　bargain　for　him；　Ethelhe　will　be　a　revenue　for　you；　for
this　winter　at　least。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　papa；〃　was　all　Ethel　could　say；　overpowered　by　his
kindness；　and　more　repressed　by　what　she　felt　so　unmerited；　than　she
would　have　been　by　coldness；　she　said　few　words；　and　preferred
listening　to　Norman；　who　began　to　describe　their　adventures　at　the
Grange。

All　her　eagerness　revived；　however；　as　she　sprang　out　of　the
carriage；　full　of　tidings　for　Margaret；　and　it　was　almost　a　race
between　her　and　Norman　to　get　upstairs；　and　unfold　their　separate
budgets。

Margaret's　lamp　had　just　been　lighted；　when　they　made　their　entrance；
Norman　holding　the　flowers　on　high。

〃Oh；　how　beautiful！　how　delicious！　　For　me？　Where　did　you　get　them？〃

〃From　Abbotstoke　Grange；　Miss　Rivers　sent　them　to　you。〃

〃How　very　kind！　　What　a　lovely　geranium；　and　oh；　that　fern！　　I　never
saw　anything　so　choice。　　How　came　she　to　think　of　me？〃

〃They　asked　me　in　because　it　rained；　and　she　was　making　the　prettiest
things；　leather　leaves　and　flowers　for　picture　frames。　　I　thought　it
was　work　that　would　just　suit　you；　and　learned　how　to　do　it。　　That
made　them　ask　about　you；　and　it　ended　by　her　sending　you　this
nosegay。〃

〃How　very　kind　everybody　is！　　Well；　Ethel；　are　you　come　home　too？〃

〃Papa　picked　me　up。　　Oh；　Margaret；　we　have　found　such　a　nice　room；　a
clean　sanded　kitchen〃

〃You　never　saw　such　a　conservatory〃

〃And　it　is　to　be　let　to　us　for　fourpence　a　time〃

〃The　house　is　full　of　beautiful　things；　pictures　and　statues。　　Only
think　of　a　real　Titian；　and　a　cast　of　the　Apollo！〃

〃Twenty　children　to　begin　with；　and　Richard　is　going　to　make　some
forms。〃

〃Mr。　Rivers　is　going　to　show　me　all　his　casts。〃

〃Oh；　is　he？　　But　only　think　how　lucky　we　were　to　find　such　a　nice
woman；　Mr。　Wilmot　was　so　pleased　with　her。〃

Norman　found　one　story　at　a　time　was　enough；　and　relinquished　the
field；　contenting　himself　with　silently　helping　Margaret　to　arrange
the　flowers；　holding　the　basket　for　her；　and　pleased　with　her
gestures　of　admiration。　　Ethel　went　on　with　her　history。　　〃The　first
place　we　thought　of　would　not　do　at　all；　the　woman　said　she　would　not
take　half…a…crown　a　week　to　have　a　lot　of　children　stabbling　about；
as　she　called　it；　so　we　went　to　another　house；　and　there　was　a　very
nice　woman　indeed；　Mrs。　Green；　with　one　little　boy；　whom　she　wanted
to　send　to　school；　only　it　is　too　far。　　She　says　she　always　goes　to
church　at　Fordholm　because　it　is　nearer；　and　she　is　quite　willing　to
let　us　have　the　room。　　So　we　settled　it；　and　next　Friday　we　are　to
begin。　　Papa　has　given　us　two　guineas；　and　that　will　pay　for；　let　me
see；　a　hundred　and　twenty…six　times；　and　Mr。　Wilmot　is　going　to　give
us　some　books；　and　Ritchie　will　print　some　alphabets。　　We　told　a
great　many　of　the；　people；　and　they　are　so　glad。　　Old　Granny　Hall
said；　'Well；　I　never！'　and　told　the　girls　they　must　be　as　good　as
gold　now　the　gentlefolks　was　coming　to　teach　them。　　Mr。　Wilmot　is
coming　with　us　every　Friday　as　long　as　the　holidays　last。〃

Ethel　departed　on　her　father's　coming　in　to　ask　Margaret　if　she　would
like　to　have　a　visit　from　Mr。　Wilmot。　　She　enjoyed　this　very　much；
and　he　sat　there　nearly　an　hour；　talking　of　many　matters；　especially
the　Cocksmoor　scheme；　on　which　she　was　glad　to　hear　his　opinion　at
first　hand。

〃I　am　very　glad　you　think　well　of　it；〃　she　said。　　〃It　is　most
desirable　that　something　should　be　done　for　those　poor　people；　and
Richard　would　never　act　rashly；　but　I　have　longed　for　advice　whether
it　was　right　to　promote　Ethel's　undertaking。　　I　suppose　Richard　told
you　how　bent　on　it　she　was；　long　before　papa　was　told　of　it。〃

〃He　said　it　was　her　great　wish；　and　had　been　so　for　a　long　time
past。〃

Margaret；　in　words　more　adequate　to　express　the　possession　the
project　had　gained　of　Ethel's　ardent　mind；　explained　the　whole
history　of　it。　　〃I　do　believe　she　looks　on　it　as　a　sort　of　call；〃
said　she；　〃and　I　have　felt　as　if　I　ought　not　to　hinder　her；　and　yet　I
did　not　know　whether　it　was　right；　at　her　age；　to　let　her　undertake
so　much。〃

〃I　understand；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　〃but；　from　what　I　have　seen　of
Ethel；　I　should　think　you　had　decided　rightly。　　There　seems　to　me　to
be　such　a　spirit　of　energy　in　her；　that　if　she　does　not　act；　she　will
either　speculate　and　theorise；　or　pine　and　prey　on　herself。　　I　do
believe　that　hard　homely　work；　such　as　this　school…keeping；　is　the
best　outlet　for　what　might　otherwise　run　to　extravagancemore
especially　as　you　say　the　hope　of　it　has　already　been　an　incentive　to
improvement　in　home　duties。〃

〃That　I　am　sure　it　has；〃　said　Margaret。

〃Moreover；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　〃I　think　you　were　quite　right　in
thinking　that　to　interfere　with　such　a　design　was　unsafe。　　I　do
believe　that　a　great　deal　of　harm　is　done　by　prudent　friends；　who
dread　to　let　young　people　do　anything　out　of　the　common　way；　and　so
force　their　aspirations　to　ferment　and　turn　sour；　for　want　of　being
put　to　use。〃

〃Still　girls　are　told　they　ought　to　wait　patiently；　and　not　to　be
eager　for　self…imposed　duties。〃

〃I　am　not　saying　that　it　is　not　the　appointed　discipline　for　the
girls　themselves；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。　　〃If　they　would　submit；　and　do
their　best；　it　would　doubtless　prove　the　most　beneficial　thing　for
them；　but　it　is　a　trial　in　which　they　often　fail；　and　I　had　rather
not　be　in　the　place　of　such　friends。〃

〃It　is　a　great　puzzle！〃　said　Margaret；　sighing。

〃Ah！　　I　dare　say　you　are　often　perplexed；〃　said　her　friend　kindly。

〃Indeed　I　am。　　There　are　so　many　little　details　that　I　cannot　be
always　teasing　papa　with；　and　yet　which　I　do　believe　form　the
character　more　than　the　great　events；　and　I　never　know　whether　I　act
for　the　best。　　And　there　are　so　many　of　us；　so　many　duties；　I　cannot
half　attend　to　any。　　Lately；　I　have　been　giving　up　almost　everything
to　keep　this　room　quiet　for　Norman　in　the　morning；　because　he　was　so
much　harassed　and　hurt　by　bustle　and　confusion；　and　I　found　to…day
that　things　have　gone　wrong　in　consequence。〃

〃You　must　do　the　best　you　can；　and　try　to　trust　that　while　you　work
in　the　right　spirit；　your　failures　will　be　compensated；〃　said　Mr。
Wilmot。　　〃It　is　a　hard　trial。〃

〃I　like　your　understanding　it；〃　said　Margaret；　smiling　sadly。　　〃I
don't　know　whether　it　is　silly；　but　I　don't　like　to　be　pitied　for　the
wrong　thing。　　My　being　so　helpless　is　what　every　one　laments　over；
but；　after　all；　that　is　made　up　to　me　by　the　petting　and　kindness　I
get　from　all　of　them；　but　it　is　the　being　mistress　of　the　house；　and
having　to　settle　for　every　one；　without　knowing　whether　I　do　right　or
wrong；　that　is　my　trouble。〃

〃I　am　not　sure；　however；　that　it　is　right　to　call　it　a　trouble；
though　it　is　a　trial。〃

〃I　see　what　you　mean；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃I　ought　to　be　thankful。　　I
know　it　is　an　honour；　and　I　am　quite　sure　I　should　be　grieved　if　they
did　not　all　come　to　me　and　consult　me　as　they　do。　　I　had　better　not
have　complained；　and　yet　I　am　glad　I　did；　for　I　like　you　to
understand　my　difficulties。〃

〃And；　indeed；　I　wish　to　enter　into　them；　and　do　or　say　anything　in　my
power　to　help　you。　　But　I　don't　know　anything　that　can　be　of　so　much
comfort　as　the　knowledge　that　He　who　laid　the　burden　on　you；　will
help　you　to　bear　it。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Margaret；　pausing；　and　then；　with　a　sweet　look；　though　a
heavy　sigh；　she　said；　〃It　is　very　odd　how　things　turn　out！　　I　always
had　a　childish　fancy　that　I　would　be　useful　and　important；　but　I
little　thought　how　it　would　be！　　However；　as　long　as　Richard　is　in
the　house；　I　always　feel　secure　about　the　others；　and　I　shall　soon　be
downstairs　myself。　　Don't　you　think　dear　papa　in　better　spirits？〃

〃I　thought　so　to…day；〃and　here　the　doctor　returned；　talking　of
Abbotstoke　Grange；　where　he　had　certainly　been　much　pleased。　　〃It　was
a　lucky　chance；〃　he　said；　〃that　they　brought　Norman　in。　　It　was
exactly　what　I　wanted　to　rouse　and　interest　him；　and　he　took　it　all
in　so　well；　that　I