the daisy chain, or aspirations-第70节

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were　but　a　boy　to　flog　that　Edward！〃

〃Hush；　Ethel；　remember　what　we　resolved。〃

They　were　entering　their　own　garden；　where；　beneath　the　shade　of　the
tulip…tree；　Margaret　lay　on　her　couch。　　Her　arms　were　held　out；　and
Harry　threw　himself　upon　her；　but　when　he　rose　from　her　caress；
Norman　and　Tom　were　gone。

〃What　is　this？〃　he　now　first　ventured　to　ask。

〃Come　with　me；〃　said　Dr。　May；　leading　the　way　to　his　study；　where　he
related　the　whole　history　of　the　suspicion　that　Norman　had　incurred。
He　was　glad　that　he　had　done　so　in　private；　for　Harry's　indignation
and　grief　went　beyond　his　expectations；　and　when　at　last　it　appeared
that　Harvey　Anderson　was　actually　Randall…scholar；　after　opening　his
eyes　with　the　utmost　incredulity；　and　causing　it　to　be　a　second　time
repeated；　he　gave　a　gulp　or　two；　turned　very　red；　and　ended　by　laying
his　head　on　the　table；　and　fairly　sobbing　and　crying　aloud；　in　spite
of　dirk；　uniform；　and　manhood。

〃Harry！　why；　Harry；　my　boy！　　We　should　have　prepared　you　for　this；〃
said　the　doctor　affectionately。　　〃We　have　left　off　breaking　our
hearts　about　it。　　I　don't　want　any　comfort　now　for　having　gold
instead　of　glitter；　though　at　first　I　was　as　bad　as　you。〃

〃Oh；　if　I　had　but　been　there！〃　said　Harry；　combating　unsuccessfully
with　his　tears。

〃Ah！　so　we　all　said；　Norman　and　all。　　Your　word　would　have　cleared
himthat　is；　if　you　had　not　been　in　the　thick　of　the　mischief。　　Ha！
July；　should　not　you　have　been　on　the　top　of　the　wall？〃

〃I　would　have　stood　by　him；　at　least。　　Would　not　I　have　given
Axworthy　and　Anderson　two　such　black　eyes　as　they　could　not　have
shown　in　school　for　a　week？　　They　had　better　look　out！〃　cried　Harry
savagely。

〃What！　　An　officer　in　her　Majesty's　service！　　Eh；　Mr。　May？〃

〃Don't；　papa；　don't。　　Oh！　　I　thought　it　would　have　been　so　happy；
when　I　came　home；　to　see　Norman　Randall…scholar。　　Oh！　now　I　don't
care　for　the　ship；　nor　anything。〃　　Again　Harry's　face　went　down　on
the　table。

〃Come；　come；　Harry；〃　said　Dr。　May；　pulling　off　the　spectacles　that
had　become　very　dewy；　〃don't　let　us　make　fools　of　ourselves；　or　they
will　think　we　are　dying　for　the　scholarship。〃

〃I　don't　care　for　the　scholarship；　but　to　have　June　turned　downand
disgrace〃

〃What　I　care　for；　Harry；　is　having　June　what　he　is；　and　that　I　know
better　now。〃

〃He　is！　he　ishe　is　June　himself；　and　no　mistake！〃　cried　Harry；　with
vehemence。

〃The　prime　of　the　year；　is　not　it？〃　said　the　doctor；　smiling；　as　he
stroked　down　the　blue　sleeve；　as　if　he　thought　that　generous　July　did
not　fall　far　short　of　it。

〃That　he　is！〃　exclaimed　Harry。　　〃I　have　never　met　one　fellow　like
him。〃

〃It　will　be　a　chance　if　you　ever　do；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃That　is　better
than　scholarships！〃

〃It　should　have　been　both；〃　said　Harry。

〃Norman　thinks　the　disappointment　has　been　very　good　for　him；〃　said
the　doctor。

〃Perhaps　it　made　him　what　he　is　now。　　All　success　is　no　discipline；
you　know。〃

Harry　looked　as　if　he　did　not　know。

〃Perhaps　you　will　understand　better　by…and…by；　but　this　I　can　tell
you；　Harry；　that　the　patient　bearing　of　his　vexation　has　done　more　to
renew　Norman's　spirits　than　all　his　prosperity。　　See　if　if　has　not。
I　believe　it　is　harder　to　every　one　of　us；　than　to　him。　　To　Ethel；
especially；　it　is　a　struggle　to　be　in　charity　with　the　Andersons。〃

〃In　charity！〃　repeated　Harry。　　〃Papa！　you　don't　want　us　to　like　a
horrid；　sneaking；　mean…spirited　pair　like　those；　that　have　used
Norman　in　that　shameful　way？〃

〃No；　certainly　not；　I　only　want　you　to　feel　no　more　personal　anger
than　if　it　had　been　Cheviot；　or　some　indifferent　person；　that　had
been　injured。〃

〃I　should　have　hated　them　all　the　same！〃　cried　Harry。

〃If　it　is　all　the　same；　and　it　is　the　treachery　you　hate；　I　ask　no
more；〃　said　the　doctor。

〃I　can't　help　it；　papa；　I　can't！　　If　I　were　to　meet　those　fellows；　do
you　think　I　could　shake　hands　with　them？　　If　I　did　not　lick　Ned　all
down　Minster　Street；　he　might　think　himself　lucky。〃

〃Well；　Harry；　I　won't　argue　any　more。　　I　have　no　right　to　preach
forbearance。　　　Your　brother's　example　is　better　worth　than　my
precept。　　Shall　we　go　back　to　Margaret；　or　have　you　anything　to　say
to　me？〃

Harry　made　no　positive　answer；　but　pressed　close　to　his　father；　who
put　his　arm　round　him；　while　the　curly　head　was　laid　on　his　shoulder。
Presently　he　said；　with　a　great　sigh；　〃There's　nothing　like　home。〃

〃Was　that　what　you　wanted　to　say？〃　asked　Dr。　May；　smiling；　as　he　held
the　boy　more　closely　to　him。

〃No；　but　it　will　be　a　long　time　before　I　come　back。　　They　think　we
shall　have　orders　for　the　Pacific。〃

〃You　will　come　home　our　real　lion；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃How　much　you
will　have　to　tell！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　oh！　it　is　very　different　from　coming　home
every　night；　not　having　any　one　to　tell　a　thing　to。〃

〃Do　you　want　to　say　anything　now？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　I　told　you　in　my　letter　about　the　half…sovereign。〃

〃Ay；　never　mind　that。〃

〃And　there　was　one　night；　I　am　afraid；　I　did　not　stand　by　a　little
fellow　that　they　bullied　about　his　prayers。　　Perhaps　he　would　have
gone　on；　if　I　had　helped　him！〃

〃Does　he　sail　with　you？〃

〃No；　he　was　at　school。　　If　I　had　told　him　that　he　and　I　would　stand
by　each　otherbut　he　looked　so　foolish；　and　began　to　cry！　　I　am
sorry　now。〃

〃Weak　spirits　have　much　to　bear；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃and　you　stronger
ones；　who　don't　mind　being　bullied；　are　meant；　I　suppose；　to　help
them；　as　Norman　has　been　doing　by　poor　little　Tommy。〃

〃It　was　thinking　of　Normanthat　made　me　sorry。　　I　knew　there　was
something　else；　but　you　see　I　forget　when　I　don't　see　you　and
Margaret　every　day。〃

〃You　have　One　always　near；　my　boy。〃

〃I　know；　but　I　cannot　always　recollect。　　And　there　is　such　a　row　at
night　on　board；　I　cannot　think　or　attend　as　I　ought；〃　murmured　Harry。

〃Yes；　your　life；　sleeping　at　home　in　quiet；　has　not　prepared　you　for
that　trial；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃But　others　have　kept　upright　habits
under　the　same；　you　knowand　God　helps　those　who　are　doing　their
best。〃

Harry　sighed。

〃I　mean　to　do　my　best；〃　he　added；　〃and　if　it　was　not　for　feeling　bad；
I　should　like　it。　　I　do　like　it〃and　his　eye　sparkled；　and　his　smile
beamed；　though　the　tear　was　undried。

〃I　know　you　do！〃　said　Dr。　May；　smiling；　〃and　for　feeling　bad；　my
Harry；　I　fear　you　must　do　that　by　sea；　or　land；　as　long　as　you　are　in
this　world。　　God　be　thanked　that　you　grieve　over　the　feeling。　　But　He
is　ready　to　aid；　and　knows　the　trial；　and　you　will　be　brought　nearer
to　Him　before　you　leave　us。〃

〃Margaret　wrote　about　the　Confirmation。　　Am　I　old　enough？〃

〃If　you　wish　it；　Harry；　under　these　circumstances。〃

〃I　suppose　I　do；〃　said　Harry；　uneasily　twirling　a　button。

〃But　then；　if　I've　got　to　forgive　the　Andersons〃

〃We　won't　talk　any　more　of　that；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃here　is　poor
Mary；　reconnoitring；　to　know　why　I　am　keeping　you　from　her。〃

Then　began　the　scampering　up　and　down　the　house；　round　and　round　the
garden；　visiting　every　pet　or　haunt　or　contrivance；　Mary　and　Harry　at
the　head；　Blanche　and　Tom　in　full　career　after　them；　and　Aubrey
stumping　and　scrambling　at　his　utmost　speed；　far　behind。

Not　a　word　passed　between　Norman　and　Harry　on　the　school
misadventure；　but；　after　the　outbreak　of　the　latter；　he　treated　it　as
a　thing　forgotten；　and　brought　all　his　high　spirits　to　enliven　the
family　party。　　Richard；　too；　returned　later　on　the　same　day；　and
though　not　received　with　the　same　uproarious　joy　as　Harry；　the　elder
section　of　the　family　were　as　happy　in　their　way　as　what　Blanche
called　the　middle…aged。　　The　Daisy　was　brought　down；　and　the　eleven
were　again　all　in　the　same　room；　though　there　were　suppressed　sighs
from　some；　who　reflected　how　long　it　might　be　before　they　could　again
assemble。

Tea　went　off　happily　in　the　garden；　with　much　laughing　and　talking。
〃Pity　to　leave　such　good　company！〃　said　the　doctor；　unwillingly
rising　at　last〃but　I　must　go　to　the　UnionI　promised　Ward　to　meet
him　there。〃

〃Oh；　let　me　walk　with　you！〃　cried　Harry。

〃And　me！〃　cried　other　voices；　and　the　doctor　proposed　that　they
should　wait　for　him　in　the　meads；　and　extend　the　walk　after　the
visit。　　Richard　and　Ethel　both　expressing　their　intention　of　adhering
to　Margaretthe　latter　observing　how　nice　it　would　be　to　get　rid　of
everybody；　and　have　a　talk。

〃What　have　we　been　doing　all　this　time？〃　said　Dr。　May；　laughing。

〃Chattering；　not　conversing；〃　said　Ethel　saucily。

〃Ay！　the　Cocksmoor　board　is　going　to　sit；〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃What　is　a　board？〃　inquired　Blanche；　who　had　just　come　down　prepared
for　her　walk。

〃Richard；　Margaret；　and　Ethel；　when　they　sit　upon　Cocksmoor；〃　said
Dr。　May。

〃But　Margaret　never　does　sit　on　Cocksmoor；　papa。〃

〃Only　allegorically；　Blanche；〃　said　Norman。

〃But　I　don't　understand　what　is　a　board？〃　pursued　Blanche。

〃Mr。　May　in　his　ship；〃　was　Norman's　suggestion。

Poor　Blanche　stood　in　perplexity。　　〃What　is　it　really？〃

〃Something　wooden　headed；〃　continued　the　provoking　papa。

〃A　board　is　all　wooden；　not　only　its　head；〃　said　Blanche。

〃Exactly　so；　especially　at　Stoneborough！〃　said　the　doctor。

〃It　is　what　papa　is　when　he　comes　out　of　the　council…room；〃　added
Ethel。

〃Or　what　every　one　is　while　the