the daisy chain, or aspirations-第8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！


〃Nonothey　can't！〃　　He　was　prevented　from　saying　more；　by
chattering　teeth　and　deadly　faintness。　　She　tried　to　support　him；　but
could　only　guide　him　as　he　sank；　till　he　lay　at　full　length　on　the
floor；　where　she　put　a　pillow　under　his　head；　and　gave　him　some
water。　　〃Is　itoh；　tell　me！　　Are　they　much　hurt？　　Oh；　try　to　say！〃

〃They　say　Margaret　is　alive；〃　said　Norman；　in　gasps；　〃butAnd
papahe　stood　upsatwalkedwas　better…〃

〃Is　he　hurtmuch　hurt？〃

〃His　arm〃　and　the　tremor　and　fainting　stopped　him　again。

〃Mamma？〃　whispered　Ethel；　but　Norman　only　pressed　his　face　into　the
pillow。

She　was　so　bewildered　as　to　be　more　alive　to　the　present　distress　of
his　condition　than　to　the　vague　horrors　downstairs。　　Some　minutes
passed　in　silence；　Norman　lying　still；　excepting　a　nervous　trembling
that　agitated　his　whole　frame。　　Again　was　heard　the　strange　tread；
doors　opening　and　shutting；　and　suppressed　voices；　and　he　turned　his
face　upwards；　and　listened　with　his　hand　pressed　to　his　forehead；　as
if　to　keep　himself　still　enough　to　listen。

〃Oh！　what　is　the　matter？　　What　is　it？〃　cried　Ethel；　startled　and
recalled　to　the　sense　of　what　was　passing。

〃Oh；　Norman！〃　　Then　springing　up；　with　a　sudden　thought；　〃Mr。　Ward！
Oh！　is　he　there？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Norman；　in　a　low　hopeless　tone；　〃he　was　at　the　place。
He　said　it〃

〃What？〃

Again　Norman's　face　was　out　of　sight。

〃Mamma？〃　　Ethel's　understanding　perceived；　but　her　mind　refused　to
grasp　the　extent　of　the　calamity。　　There　was　no　answer；　save　a
convulsive　squeezing　of　her　hand。

Fresh　sounds　below　recalled　her　to　speech　and　action。

〃Where　is　she？　　What　are　they　doing　for　her？　　What〃

〃There's　nothing　to　be　done。　　Shewhen　they　lifted　her　up；　she
was〃

〃Dead？〃

〃Dead。〃

The　boy　lay　with　his　face　hidden；　the　girl　sat　by　him　on　the　floor；
too　much　crushed　for　even　the　sensations　belonging　to　grief；　neither
moving　nor　looking。　　After　an　interval　Norman　spoke　again；　〃The
carriage　turned　right　overher　head　struck　on　the　kerb　stone〃

〃Did　you　see？〃　said　Ethel　presently。

〃I　saw　them　lift　her　up。〃　　He　spoke　at　intervals；　as　he　could　get
breath　and　bear　to　utter　the　words。　　〃And　papahe　was　stunnedbut
soon　he　sat　up；　said　he　would　go　to　herhe　looked　at　herfelt　her
pulse；　and　thensank　down　over　her！〃

〃And　did　you　sayI　can't　rememberwas　he　hurt？〃

The　shuddering　came　again；　〃His　armall　twistedbroken；〃　and　his
voice　sank　into　a　faint　whisper；　Ethel　was　obliged　to　sprinkle　him
again　with　water。　　〃But　he　won't　die？〃　said　she；　in　a　tone　calm　from
its　bewilderment。

〃Oh！　no；　no；　no〃

〃And　Margaret？〃

〃They　were　bringing　her　home。　　I'll　go　and　see。　　Oh！　what's　the
meaning　of　this？〃　exclaimed　he；　scolding　himself；　as；　sitting　up；　he
was　forced　to　rest　his　head　on　his　shaking　hand。

〃You　are　still　faint；　dear　Norman；　you　had　better　lie　still；　and　I'll
go　and　see。〃

〃Faintstuffhow　horridly　stupid！〃　but　he　was　obliged　to　lay　his
head　down　again；　and　Ethel；　scarcely　less　trembling；　crept　carefully
towards　the　stairs；　but　a　dread　of　what　she　might　meet　came　over　her；
and　she　turned　towards　the　nursery。

The　younger　ones　sat　there　in　a　frightened　huddle。　　Mary　was　on　a　low
chair　by　the　infant's　cot；　Blanche　in　her　lap；　Tom　and　Harry　leaning
against　her；　and　Aubrey　almost　asleep。　　Mary　held　up　her　finger　as
Ethel　entered；　and　whispered；　〃Hush！　don't　wake　baby　for　anything！〃

The　first　true　pang　of　grief　shot　through　Ethel　like　a　dart；　stabbing
and　taking　away　her　breath；　　〃Where　are　they？〃　she　said；　〃how　is
papa？　who　is　with　him？〃

〃Mr。　Ward　and　Alan　Ernescliffe；〃　said　Harry。　　〃Nurse　came　up　just
now；　and　said　they　were　setting　his　arm。〃

〃Where　is　he？〃

〃On　the　bed　in　his　dressing…room；〃　said　Harry。

〃Has　he　come　to　himselfis　he　better？〃

They　did　not　seem　to　know；　and　Ethel　asked　where　to　find　Flora。
〃With　Margaret；〃　she　was　told；　and　she　was　thinking　whether　she　could
venture　to　seek　her；　when　she　herself　came　fast　up　the　stairs。　　Ethel
and　Harry　both　darted　out。　　〃Don't　stop　me；〃　said　Flora〃they　want
some　handkerchiefs。〃

〃What；　is　not　she　in　her　own　room？〃

〃No；〃　said　Harry；　〃in　mamma's；〃　and　then　his　face　quivered　all　over；
and　he　turned　away。　　Ethel　ran　after　her　sister；　and　pulling　out
drawers　without　knowing　what　she　sought；　begged　to　hear　how　papa　and
Margaret　were。

〃We　can't　judge　of　Margaretshe　has　moved；　and　made　a　little
moaningthere　are　no　limbs　broken；　but　we　are　afraid　for　her　head。
Oh！　if　papa　could　but〃

〃And　papa？〃

〃Mr。　Ward　is　with　him　nowhis　arm　is　terribly　hurt。〃

〃But　oh！　Floraone　momentis　he　sensible？〃

〃Hardly；　he　does　not　take　any　noticebut　don't　keep　me。〃

〃Can　I　do　anything？〃　following　her　to　the　head　of　the　stairs。

〃No；　I　don't　see　what　you　can　do。　　Miss　Winter　and　I　are　with
Margaret；　there's　nothing　to　do　for　her。〃

It　was　a　relief。　　Etheldred　shrank　from　what　she　might　have　to
behold；　and　Flora　hastened　down；　too　busy　and　too　useful　to　have　time
to　think。　　Harry　had　gone　back　to　his　refuge　in　the　nursery；　and
Ethel　returned　to　Norman。　　There　they　remained　for　a　long　time；　both
unwilling　to　speak　or　stir；　or　even　to　observe　to　each　other　on　the
noises　that　came　in　to　them；　as　their　door　was　left　ajar；　though　in
those　sounds　they　were　so　absorbed；　that　they　did　not　notice　the　cold
of　a　frosty　October　evening；　or　the　darkness　that　closed　in　on　them。

They　heard　the　poor　babe　crying；　one　of　the　children　going　down　to
call　nurse；　and　nurse　coming　up；　then　Harry；　at　the　door　of　the　room
where　the　boys　slept；　calling　Norman　in　a　low　voice。　　Norman；　now
nearly　recovered；　went　and　brought　him　into　his　sister's　room；　and
his　tidings　were；　that　their　father's　arm　had　been　broken　in　two
places；　and　the　elbow　frightfully　injured；　having　been　crushed　and
twisted　by　the　wheel。　　He　was　also　a　good　deal　bruised；　and　though
Mr。　Ward　trusted　there　was　no　positive　harm　to　the　head；　he　was　in　an
unconscious　state；　from　which　the　severe　pain　of　the　operation　had
only　roused　him；　so　far　as　to　evince　a　few　signs　of　suffering。
Margaret　was　still　insensible。

The　piteous　sound　of　the　baby's　wailing　almost　broke　their　hearts。
Norman　walked　about　the　room　in　the　dark；　and　said　he　should　go　down；
he　could　not　bear　it；　but　he　could　not　make　up　his　mind　to　go；　and
after　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　to　their　great　relief；　it　ceased。

Next　Mary　opened　the　door；　saying；　〃Norman；　here's　Mr。　Wilmot　come　to
ask　if　he　can　do　anythingMiss　Winter　sent　word　that　you　had　better
go　to　him。〃

〃How　is　baby？〃　asked　Harry。

〃Nurse　has　fed　her；　and　is　putting　her　to　bed；　she　is　quiet　now；〃
said　Mary；　〃will　you　go　down；　Norman？〃

〃Where　is　he？〃

〃In　the　drawing…room。〃

Norman　paused　to　ask　what　he　was　to　say。

〃Nothing；〃　said　Mary；　〃nobody　can　do　anything。　　Make　haste。　　Don't
you　want　a　candle？〃

〃No；　thank　you；　I　had　rather　be　in　the　dark。　　Come　up　as　soon　as　you
have　seen　him；〃　said　Etheldred。

Norman　went　slowly　down；　with　failing　knees；　hardly　able　to　conquer
the　shudder　that　came　over　him；　as　he　passed　those　rooms。　　There　were
voices　in　the　drawing…room；　and　he　found　a　sort　of　council　there；
Alan　Ernescliffe；　the　surgeon；　and　Mr。　Wilmot。　　They　turned　as　he
came　in；　and　Mr。　Wilmot　held　out　his　hand　with　a　look　of　affection
and　kindness　that　went　to　his　heart；　making　room　for　him　on　the　sofa；
while　going　on　with　what　he　was　saying。　　〃Then　you　think　it　would　be
better　for　me　not　to　sit　up　with　him。〃

〃I　should　decidedly　say　so；〃　replied　Mr。　Ward。　〃He　has　recognised　Mr。
Ernescliffe；　and　any　change　might　excite　him；　and　lead　him　to　ask
questions。　　The　moment　of　his　full　consciousness　is　especially　to　be
dreaded。〃

〃But　you　do　not　call　him　insensible？〃

〃No；　but　he　seems　stunnedstupified　by　the　shock；　and　by　pain。　　He
spoke　to　Miss　Flora　when　she　brought　him　some　tea。〃

〃And　admirably　she　managed；〃　said　Alan　Ernescliffe。　　〃I　was　much
afraid　of　some　answer　that　would　rouse　him；　but　she　kept　her　self…
possession　beautifully；　and　seemed　to　compose　him　in　a　moment。〃

〃She　is　valuable　indeedso　much　judgment　and　activity；〃　said　Mr。
Ward。　　〃I　don't　know　what　we　should　have　done　without　her。　　But　we
ought　to　have　Mr。　Richardhas　no　one　sent　to　him？〃

Alan　Ernescliffe　and　Norman　looked　at　each　other。

〃Is　he　at　Oxford；　or　at　his　tutor's？〃　asked　Mr。　Wilmot。

〃At　Oxford；　he　was　to　be　there　to…day；　was　he　not；　Norman？〃

〃What　o'clock　is　it？　　Is　the　post　gonesevenno；　it　is　all　safe；〃
said　Mr。　Ward。

Poor　Norman！　he　knew　he　was　the　one　who　ought　to　write；　but　his　icy
trembling　hand　seemed　to　shake　more　helplessly　than　ever；　and　a
piteous　glance　fell　upon　Mr。　Wilmot。

〃The　best　plan　would　be；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　〃for　me　to　go　to　him　at
once　and　bring　him　home。　　If　I　go　by　the　mail…train；　I　shall　get　to
him　sooner　than　a　letter　could。〃

〃And　it　will　be　better　for　him；〃　said　Mr。　Ward。　　〃He　will　feel　it
dreadfully；　poor　boy。　　But　we　shall　all　do　better　when　we　have　him。
You　can　get　back　to…morrow　evening。〃

〃Sunday；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot；　〃I　believe　there　is　a　train　at　four。〃

〃Oh！　thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Norman。

〃Since　that　is　settled；　perhaps　I　had　better　go　up　to　the　doctor；〃
said　Alan；　〃I　don't　like　leaving　Flora　alone　with　him；〃　and　he　was
gone。