the daisy chain, or aspirations-第53节

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〃Speak　truth；〃　said　Norman；　ready　to　shake　it　out　of　him；　〃is　this
for　Anderson　junior？〃

Under　those　eyes；　flashing　with　generous；　sorrowful　wrath；　he　dared
not　utter　another　falsehood；　but　Anderson's　threats　chained　him；　and
he　preferred　his　thraldom　to　throwing　himself　on　the　mercy　of　his
brother　who　loved　him。　　He　would　not　speak。

〃I　am　glad　it　is　not　for　yourself；〃　said　Norman；　〃but　do　you　remember
what　I　said；　in　case　I　found　you　there　again？〃

〃Oh！　don't；　don't！〃　cried　the　boy。　　〃I　would　never　have　gone　if　they
had　not　made　me。〃

〃Made　you？〃　said　Norman；　disdainfully；　〃how？〃

〃They　would　have　thrashed　methey　pinched　my　fingers　in　the　box
they　pulled　my　earsoh；　don't〃

〃Poor　little　fellow！〃　said　Norman；　〃but　it　is　your　own　fault。　　If　you
won't　keep　with　me；　or　Ernescliffe；　of　course　they　will　bully　you。
But　I　must　not　let　you　offI　must　keep　my　word！〃　　Tom　cried；　sobbed；
and　implored　in　vain。　　〃I　can't　help　it；〃　he　said；　〃and　now；　don't
howl！　　I　had　rather　no　one　knew　it。　　It　will　soon　be　over。　　I　never
thought　to　have　this　to　do　to　one　of　us。〃　　Tom　roared　and　struggled；
till；　releasing　him；　he　said；　〃There；　that　will　do。　　Stop　bellowing；
I　was　obliged；　and　I　can't　have　hurt　you　much；　have　I？〃　he　added　more
kindly；　while　Tom　went　on　crying；　and　turning　from　him。　　〃It　is
nothing　to　care　about；　I　am　sure；　look　up；〃　and　he　pulled　down　his
hands。　　〃Say　you　are　sorryspeak　the　truthkeep　with　me；　and　no　one
shall　hurt　you　again。〃

Very　different　this　from　Tom's　chosen　associates；　but　he　was　still
obdurate；　sullen；　and　angry；　and　would　not　speak；　nor　open　his　heart
to　those　kind　words。　　After　one　more；　〃I　could　not　help　it；　Tom；
you've　no　business　to　be　sulky；〃　Norman　took　up　the　bottle；　opened
it；　smelled；　and　tasted；　and　was　about　to　throw　it　into　the　river；
when　Tom　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　don't；　don't！　what　will　they　do　to　me？　give
it　to　me！〃

〃Did　they　give　you　the　money　to　pay　for　it？〃

〃Yes；　let　me　have　it。〃

〃How　much　was　it？〃

〃Fourpence。〃

〃I'll　settle　that；〃　and　the　bottle　splashed　in　the　river。　　〃Now　then；
Tom；　don't　brood　on　it　any　more。　　Here's　a　chance　for　you　of　getting
quit　of　their　errands。　　If　you　will　keep　in　my　sight。　　I'll　take　care
no　one　bullies　you；　and　you　may　still　leave　off　these　disgraceful
tricks；　and　do　well。〃

But　Tom's　evil　spirit　whispered　that　Norman　had　beaten　him；　that　he
should　never　have　any　diversion　again；　and　that　Anderson　would　punish
him；　and　there　was　a　sort　of　satisfaction　in　seeing　that　his　perverse
silence　really　distressed　his　brother。

〃If　you　will　go　on　in　this　way；　I　can't　help　it；　but　you'll　be　sorry
some　day；〃　said　Norman；　and　he　walked　thoughtfully　on；　looking　back
to　see　whether　Tom　was　following；　as　he　did　slowly；　meditating　on　the
way　how　he　should　avert　his　tyrant's　displeasure。

Norman　stood　for　a　moment　at　the　door；　surveying　the　court；　then
walked　up　to　a　party　of　boys；　and　laid　his　hand　on　the　shoulder　of
one；　holding　a　silver　fourpence　to　him。　〃Anderson　Junior；〃　said　he；
〃there's　your　money。　　I　am　not　going　to　let　Stoneborough　School　be
turned　into　a　gin　palace。　　I　give　you　notice；　it　is　not　to　be。　　Now
you　are　not　to　bully　May　junior　for　telling　me。　　He　did　not；　I　found
him　out。〃

Leaving　Anderson　to　himself　he　looked　for　Tom；　but　not　seeing　him；　he
entered　the　cloister；　for　it　was　the　hour　when　he　was　used　to　read
there；　but　he　could　not　fix　his　mind。　　He　went　to　the　bench　where　he
had　lain　on　the　examination　day；　and　kneeling　on　it；　looked　out　on
the　green　grass　where　the　graves　were。　　〃Mother！　mother！〃　he
murmured；　〃have　I　been　harsh　to　your　poor　little　tender　sickly　boy？
I　couldn't　help　it。　　Oh！　if　you　were　but　here！　　We　are　all　going
wrong！　　What　shall　I　do？　　How　should　Tom　be　kept　from　this　evil？it
is　ruining　him！　mean；　false；　cowardly；　sullenall　that　is　worstand
your　sonoh！　mother！　and　all　I　do　only　makes　him　shrink　more　from
me。　　It　will　break　my　father's　heart；　and　you　will　not　be　there　to
comfort　him。〃

Norman　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；　and　a　fit　of　bitter　grief
came　over　him。　　But　his　sorrow　was　now　not　what　it　had　been　before
his　father's　resignation　had　tempered　it；　and　soon　it　turned　to
prayer；　resolution；　and　hope。

He　would　try　again　to　reason　quietly　with　him；　when　the　alarm　of
detection　and　irritation　should　have　gone　off；　and　he　sought　for　the
occasion；　but；　alas！　Tom　had　learned　to　look　on　all　reproof　as
〃rowing；〃　and　considered　it　as　an　additional　injury　from　a　brother；
who；　according　to　the　Anderson　view；　should　have　connived　at　his
offences；　and　turned　a　deafened　ear　and　dogged　countenance　to　all　he
said。　　The　foolish　boy　sought　after　the　Andersons　still　more；　and
Norman　became　more　dispirited　about　him；　greatly　missing　Harry；　that
constant　companion　and　follower；　who　would　have　shared　his
perplexities；　and　removed　half　of　them；　in　his　own　part　of　the
school；　by　the　influence　of　his　high；　courageous；　and　truthful
spirit。

In　the　meantime　Richard　was　studying　hard　at　home；　with　greater
hopefulness　and　vigour　than　he　had　ever　thrown　into　his　work　before。
〃Suppose；〃　Ethel　had　once　said　to　him；　〃that　when　you　are　a
clergyman；　you　could　be　Curate　of　Cocksmoor；　when　there　is　a　church
there。〃

〃When？〃　said　Richard；　smiling　at　the　presumption　of　the　scheme；　and
yet　it　formed　itself　into　a　sort　of　definite　hope。　　Perhaps　they
might　persuade　Mr。　Ramsden　to　take　him　as　a　curate　with　a　view　to
Cocksmoor；　and　this　prospect；　vague　as　it　was；　gave　an　object　and
hope　to　his　studies。　　Every　one　thought　the　delay　of　his　examination
favourable　to　him；　and　he　now　read　with　a　determination　to　succeed。
Dr。　May　had　offered　to　let　him　read　with　Mr。　Harrison　but　Richard
thought　he　was　getting　on　pretty　well；　with　the　help　Norman　gave　him；
for　it　appeared　that　ever　since　Norman's　return　from　London；；　he　had
been　assisting　Richard；　who　was　not　above　being　taught　by　a　younger
brother；　while；　on　the　other　hand；　Norman；　much　struck　by　his
humility；　would　not　for　the　world　have　published　that　he　was　fit　to
act　as　his　elder's　tutor。

One　evening；　when　the　two　boys　came　in　from　school；　Tom　gave　a　great
start；　and；　pulling　Mary　by　the　sleeve；　whispered；　〃How　came　that
book　here？〃

〃It　is　Mr。　Harrison's。〃

〃Yes；　I　know；　but　how　came　it　here？〃

〃Richard　borrowed　it　to　look　out　something；　and　Ethel　brought　it
down。〃

A　little　reassured；　Tom　took　up　an　exciting　story…book；　and　ensconced
himself　by　the　fire；　but　his　agonies　were　great　during　the　ensuing
conversation。

〃Norman；〃　Ethel　was　exclaiming　in　delight；　〃do　you　know　this　book？〃

〃Smith？　　Yes；　it　is　in　the　school　library。〃

〃There's　everything　in　it　that　one　wants；　I　do　believe。　　Here　is　such
an　account　of　ancient　galleysI　never　knew　how　they　managed　their
banks　of　rowers　beforeoh！　and　the　Greek　houseslook　at　the
pictures　too。〃

〃Some　of　them　are　the　same　as　Mr。　Rivers's　gems；〃　said　Norman；
standing　behind　her；　and　turning　the　leaves；　in　search　of　a
favourite。

〃Oh！　what　did　I　see？　is　that　ink？〃　said　Flora；　from　the　opposite　side
of　the　table。

〃Yes；　didn't　you　hear？〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Mr。　Harrison　told　Ritchie　when
he　borrowed　it；　that　unluckily　one　day　this　spring　he　left　it　in
school；　and　some　of　the　boys　must　have　upset　an　inkstand　over　it；
but；　though　he　asked　them　all　round；　each　denied　it。　　How　I　should
hate　for　such　things　to　happen！　and　it　was　a　prize…book　too。〃

While　Ethel　spoke　she　opened　the　marked　page；　to　show　the　extent　of
the　calamity；　and　as　she　did　so　Mary　exclaimed；　〃Dear　me！　how　funny！
why；　how　did　Harry's　blotting…paper　get　in　there？〃

Tom　shrank　into　nothing；　set　his　teeth；　and　pinched　his　fingers；
ready　to　wish　they　were　on　Mary's　throat；　more　especially　as　the
words　made　some　sensation。　　Richard　and　Margaret　exchanged　looks；　and
their　father；　who　had　been　reading；　sharply　raised　his　eyes　and　said；
〃Harry's　blotting…paper！　　How　do　you　know　that；　Mary？〃

〃It　is　Harry's；〃　said　she；　all　unconscious；　〃because　of　that　anchor
up　in　one　corner；　and　the　Union　Jack　in　the　other。　　Don't　you　see；
Ethel？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　〃nobody　drew　that　but　Harry。〃

〃Ay；　and　there　are　his　buttons；〃　said　Mary；　much　amused　and　delighted
with　these　relics　of　her　beloved　Harry。　　〃Don't　you　remember　one　day
last　holidays；　papa　desired　Harry　to　write　and　ask　Mr。　Ernescliffe
what　clothes　he　ought　to　have　for　the　naval　school；　and　all　the　time
he　was　writing　the　letter；　he　was　drawing　sailors'　buttons　on　his
blotting…paper。　　I　wonder　how　ever　it　got　into　Mr。　Harrison's　book！〃

Poor　Mary's　honest　wits　did　not　jump　to　a　conclusion　quite　so　fast　as
other　people's；　and　she　little　knew　what　she　was　doing　when；　as　a
great　discovery；　she　exclaimed；　〃I　know！　　Harry　gave　his　paper…case
to　Tom。　　That's　the　way　it　got　to　school！〃

〃Tom！〃　exclaimed　his　father；　suddenly　and　angrily；　〃where　are　you
going？〃

〃To　bed；〃　muttered　the　miserable　Tom；　twisting　his　hands。　　A　dead
silence　of　consternation　fell　on　all　the　room。　　Mary　gazed　from　one
to　the　other；　mystified　at　the　effect　of　her　words；　frightened　at　her
father's　loud　voice；　and　at　Tom's　trembling　confusion。　　The　stillness
lasted　for　some　moments；　and　was　first　broken　by　Flora；　as　if　she　had
caught　at　a　probability。