the daisy chain, or aspirations-第81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！


Tom　and　Mary　joined　in　chorus。

〃What　is　all　this？〃　exclaimed　Flora；　opening　the　dooris　every　one
gone　mad？〃

Many　were　the　voices　that　answered。

〃Well；　I　am　glad；　and　I　hope　the　Andersons　will　make　an　apology。　　But
where　is　poor　Meta？　　Quite　forgotten？〃

〃Meta　would　not　wonder　if　she　knew　all；〃　said　the　doctor；　turning；
with　a　sweet　smile　that　had　in　it　something；　nevertheless；　of
apology。

〃Oh；　I　am　so　gladso　glad！〃　said　Meta；　her　eyes　full　of　tears；　as
she　came　forward。

And　there　was　no　helping　it；　the　first　kiss　between　Margaret　May　and
Margaret　Rivers　was　given　in　that　overflowing　sympathy　of
congratulation。

The　doctor　gave　her　his　arm　to　take　her　to　the　carriage；　and；　on　the
way；　his　quick　warm　words　filled　up　the　sketch　of　Norman's　behaviour；
Meta's　eyes　responded　better　than　her　tongue；　but；　to　her　good…bye；
she　could　not　help　adding；　〃Now　I　have　seen　true　glory。〃

His　answer　was　much　such　a　grip　as　her　poor　little　fingers　had
already　received；　but　though　they　felt　hot　and　crushed　all　the　way
home；　the　sensation　seemed　to　cause　such　throbs　of　joy；　that　she
would　not　have　been　without　it。




CHAPTER　XXVII。



And　full　of　hope；　day　followed　day；
While　that　stout　ship　at　anchor　lay
　　　Beside　the　shores　of　Wight。
The　May　had　then　made　all　things　green；
And　floating　there；　in　pomp　serene；
That　ship　was　goodly　to　be　seen；
　　　His　pride　and　his　delight。

Yet　then　when　called　ashore；　he　sought
The　tender　peace　of　rural　thought；
　　　In　more　than　happy　mood。
To　your　abodes；　bright　daisy　flowers；
He　then　would　steal　at　leisure　hours；
And　loved　you；　glittering　in　your　bowers；
　　　A　starry　multitude。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WORDSWORTH。


Harry's　last　home　morning　was　brightened　by　going　to　the　school　to
see　full　justice　done　to　Norman；　and　enjoying　the　scene　for　him。　　It
was　indeed　a　painful　ordeal　to　Norman　himself；　who　could；　at　the
moment；　scarcely　feel　pleasure　in　his　restoration；　excepting　for　the
sake　of　his　father；　Harry；　and　his　sisters。　　To　find　the　head…master
making　apologies　to　him　was　positively　painful　and　embarrassing；　and
his　countenance　would　have　been　fitter　for　a　culprit　receiving　a
lecture。　　It　was　pleasanter　when　the　two　other　masters　shook　hands
with　him；　Mr。　Harrison　with　a　free　confession　that　he　had　done　him
injustice；　and　Mr。　Wilmot　with　a　glad　look　of　congratulation；　that
convinced　Harry　he　had　never　believed　Norman　to　blame。

Harry　himself　was　somewhat　of　a　hero；　the　masters　all　spoke　to　him；
bade　him　good　speed；　and　wished　him　a　happy　voyage；　and　all　the　boys
were　eager　to　admire　his　uniform；　and　wish　themselves　already　men　and
officers　like　Mr。　May。　　He　had　his　long…desired　three　cheers　for　〃May
senior！〃　shouted　with　a　thorough　goodwill　by　the　united　lungs　of　the
Whichcote　foundation；　and　a　supplementary　cheer　arose　for　the　good
ship　Alcestis；　while　hands　were　held　out　on　every　side；　and　the　boy
arrived　at　such　a　pitch　of　benevolence　and　good　humour；　as　actually
to　volunteer　a　friendly　shake　of　the　hand　to　Edward　Anderson；　whom　he
encountered　skulking　apart。

〃Never　mind；　Ned；　we　have　often　licked　each　other　before　now；　and
don't　let　us　bear　a　grudge　now　I　am　going　away。　　We　are　Stoneborough
fellows　both；　you　know；　after　all。〃

Edward　did　not　refuse　the　offered　grasp；　and　though　his　words　were
only；　　〃Good…bye；　I　hope　you　will　have　plenty　of　fun！〃　　Harry　went
away　with　a　lighter　heart。

The　rest　of　the　day　Harry　adhered　closely　to　his　father；　though
chiefly　in　silence；　Dr。　May　had　intended　much　advice　and　exhortation
for　his　warm…hearted；　wild…spirited　son；　but　words　would　not　come；
not　even　when　in　the　still　evening　twilight　they　walked　down　alone
together　to　the　cloister；　and　stood　over　the　little　stone　marked
M。　M。　　After　standing　there　for　some　minutes；　Harry　knelt　to　collect
some　of　the　daisies　in　the　grass。

〃Are　those　to　take　with　you？〃

〃Margaret　is　going　to　make　a　cross　of　them　for　my　Prayerbook。〃

〃Ay；　they　will　keep　it　in　your　mindsay　it　all　to　you；　Harry。　　She
may　be　nearer　to　you　everywhere；　though　you　are　far　from　us。　　Don't
put　yourself　from　her。〃

That　was　all　Dr。　May　contrived　to　say　to　his　son；　nor　could　Margaret
do　much　more　than　kiss　him；　while　tears　flowed　one　by　one　over　her
cheeks；　as　she　tried　to　whisper　that　he　must　remember　and　guard
himself；　and　that　he　was　sure　of　being　thought　of；　at　least；　in　every
prayer；　and　then　she　fastened　into　his　book　the　cross；　formed　of
flattened　daisies；　gummed　upon　a　framework　of　paper。　　He　begged　her
to　place　it　at　the　Baptismal　Service；　for　he　said；　〃I　like　that　about
fightingand　I　always　did　like　the　church　being　like　a　shipdon't
you？　　I　only　found　that　prayer　out　the　day　poor　little　Daisy　was
christened。〃

Margaret　had　indeed　a　thrill　of　melancholy　pleasure　in　this　task；
when　she　saw　how　it　was　regarded。　　Oh；　that　her　boy　might　not　lose
these　impressions　amid　the　stormy　waves　he　was　about　to　encounter！

That　last　evening　of　home　good…nights　cost　Harry　many　a　choking　sob
ere　he　could　fall　asleep；　but　the　morning　of　departure　had　more
cheerfulness；　the　pleasure　of　patronising　Jem　Jennings　was　as
consoling　to　his　spirits；　as　was　to　Mary　the　necessity　of　comforting
Toby。

Toby's　tastes　were　in　some　respects　vulgar；　as　he　preferred　the
stable；　and　Will　Adams；　to　all　Mary's　attentions；　but　he　attached
himself　vehemently　to　Dr。　May；　followed　him　everywhere；　and　went　into
raptures　at　the　slightest　notice　from　him。　　The　doctor　said　it　was
all　homage　to　the　master　of　the　house。　　Margaret　held　that　the　dog
was　a　physiognomist。

The　world　was　somewhat　flat　after　the　loss　of　Harrythat　element　of
riot　and　fun；　Aubrey　was　always　playing　at　〃poor　Harry　sailing　away；〃
Mary　looked　staid　and　sober；　and　Norman　was　still　graver；　and　more
devoted　to　books；　while　Ethel　gave　herself　up　more　completely　to　the
thickening　troubles　of　Cocksmoor。

Jealousies　had　arisen　there；　and　these；　with　some　rebukes　for
failures　in　sending　children　to　be　taught；　had　led　to　imputations　on
the　character　of　Mrs。　Green；　in　whose　house　the　school　was　kept。
Ethel　was　at　first　vehement　in　her　defence；　then　when　stronger
evidence　was　adduced　of　the　woman's　dishonesty；　she　was　dreadfully
shocked；　and　wanted　to　give　up　all　connection　with　her；　and　in　both
moods　was　equally　displeased　with　Richard　for　pausing；　and　not　going
all　lengths　with　her。

Mr。　Wilmot　was　appealed　to；　and　did　his　best　to　investigate；　but　the
only　result　was　to　discover　that　no　one　interrogated　had　any　notion
of　truth；　except　John　Taylor；　and　he　knew　nothing　of　the　matter。　　The
mass　of　falsehood；　spite；　violence；　and　dishonesty；　that　became
evident；　was　perfectly　appalling；　and　not　a　clue　was　to　be　found　to
the　truthscarcely　a　hope　that　minds　so　lost　to　honourable　feeling
were　open　to　receive　good　impressions。　　It　was　a　great　distress　to
Ethelit　haunted　her　night　and　dayshe　lay　awake　pondering　on　the
vain　hopes　for　her　poor　children；　and　slept　to　dream　of　the　angry
faces　and　rude　accusations。　　Margaret　grew　quite　anxious　about　her；
and　her　elders　were　seriously　considering　the　propriety　of　her
continuing　her　labours　at　Cocksmoor。

Mr。　Wilmot　would　not　be　at　Stoneborough　after　Christmas。　　His
father's　declining　health　made　him　be　required　at　home；　and　since
Richard　was　so　often　absent；　it　became　matter　of　doubt　whether　the
Misses　May　ought　to　be　allowed　to　persevere；　unassisted　by　older
heads；　in　such　a　locality。

This　doubt　put　Ethel　into　an　agony。　　Though　she　had　lately　been
declaring　that　it　made　her　very　unhappy　to　goshe　could　not　bear　the
sight　of　Mrs。　Green；　and　that　she　knew　all　her　efforts　were　vain
while　the　poor　children　had　such　homes；　she　now　only　implored　to　be
allowed　to　go　on；　she　said　that　the　badness　of　the　people　only　made
it　more　needful　to　do　their　utmost　for　them；　there　were　no　end　to　the
arguments　that　she　poured　forth　upon　her　ever　kind　listener；
Margaret。

〃Yes；　dear　Ethel；　yes；　but　pray　be　calm；　I　know　papa　and　Mr。　Wilmot
would　not　put　a　stop　to　it　if　they　could　possibly　help　it；　but　if　it
is　not　proper〃

〃Proper！　that　is　as　bad　as　Miss　Winter！〃

〃Ethel；　you　and　I　cannot　judge　of　these　thingsyou　must　leave　them
to　our　elders〃

〃And　men　always　are　so　fanciful　about　ladies〃

〃Indeed；　if　you　speak　in　that　way；　I　shall　think　it　is　really　hurting
you。〃

〃I　did　not　mean　it；　dear　Margaret；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　if　you　knew　what
I　feel　for　poor　Cocksmoor；　you　would　not　wonder　that　I　cannot　bear
it。〃

〃I　do　not　wonder；　dearest；　but　if　this　trial　is　sent　you；　perhaps　it
is　to　train　you　for　better　things。〃

〃Perhaps　it　is　for　my　fault；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Oh；　oh；　if　it　be　that　I
am　too　unworthy！　　And　it　is　the　only　hope；　no　one　will　do　anything　to
teach　these　poor　creatures　if　I　give　it　up。　　What　shall　I　do；
Margaret？〃

Margaret　drew　her　down　close　to　her；　and　whispered；　〃Trust　them
Ethel；　dear。　　The　decision　will　be　whatever　is　the　will　of　God。　　If
He　thinks　fit　to　give　you　the　work；　it　will　come；　if　not；　He　will
give　you　some　other；　and　provide　for　them。〃

〃If　I　have　been　too　neglectful　of　home；　too　vain　of　persevering　when
no　one　but　Richard　would！〃　sighed　Ethel。

〃I　cannot　see　that　you　have；　dearest；〃　said　M