the daisy chain, or aspirations-第92节

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Edward　Anderson　himself　fell　in　Norman's　way　in　the　street；　and　was
shrinking　aside；　when　a　word；　of　not　unfriendly　greeting；　caused　him
to　quicken　his　steps；　and　say；　hesitatingly；　〃I　say；　how　is　August？〃

〃Better；　thank　you；　he　will　be　all　right　in　a　day　or　two。〃

〃I　say；　we　would　not　have　bullied　him　so；　if　he　had　not　been　in　such
a　fright　at　nothing。〃

〃I　dare　say　not。〃

〃I　did　not　mean　it　all；　but　that　sort　of　thing　makes　a　fellow　go　on；〃
continued　Edward；　hanging　down　his　head；　very　sorrowful　and　downcast。

〃If　it　had　only　been　fair　bullying；　but　to　take　him　to　that　placeto
teach　him　falsehood〃said　Norman。

Edward's　eyes　were　full　of　tears；　he　almost　owned　the　whole。　　He　had
not　thought　of　such　things；　and　then　Axworthy　It　was　more　evident
from　manner　than　words　that　the　boy　did　repent　and　was　greatly
overcome；　both　by　his　own　disgrace　and　his　mother's　distress；　wishing
earnestly　to　redeem　his　character；　and　declaring；　from　the　bottom　of
his　heart；　that　he　would　avoid　his　former　offences。　　He　was
emboldened　at　last　to　say；　with　hesitation；　〃Could　not　you　speak　to
Dr。　Hoxton　for　me？〃

〃My　father　has　said　all　he　could　in　your　behalf。〃

Edward's　eye　glanced　towards　Norman　in　wonder；　as　he　recollected　that
the　Mays　must　know　that　a　word　from　him　would　have　saved　Norman　from
unjust　punishment　and　the　loss　of　the　scholarship；　and　he　said；
〃Good…night；〃　and　turned　aside　to　his　own　home；　with　a　heavy　sigh。

Norman　took　another　turn；　looked　up　at　the　sky；　twisted　his　hands
together　in　perplexity；　mumbled　something　about　hating　to　do　a　thing
when　it　was　all　for　no　use；　and　then　marched　off　towards　Minster
Street；　with　a　pace　like　his　father's　the　day　before。

When　he　came　forth　again　from　Dr。　Hoxton's　study；　he　did　not　believe
that　his　intercession　had　produced　the　least　effect；　and　there　was　a
sense　of　vexation　at　the　position　which　he　had　assumed。　　He　went
home；　and　said　nothing　on　the　subject；　but　when；　on　Monday；　the
school　was　assembled；　and　the　judgment　announced；　it　was　Axworthy
alone　whose　friends　had　been　advised　to　remove　him。

Anderson　received　a　severe　punishment；　as　did　all　those　who　had
shared　in　the　revel　at　the　Green　Man。　　Even　Tom；　and　another　little
boy；　who　had　been　likewise　drawn　in；　were　obliged　to　stay　within
narrow　bounds；　and　to　learn　heavy　impositions；　and　a　stern　reprimand
and　exhortation　were　given　to　the　school　collectively。　　Anderson；　who
had　seen　from　the　window　that　turn　towards　Minster　Street；　drew　his
own　conclusions；　and　was　not　insensible　to　the　generosity　that　had
surpassed　his　hopes；　though　to　his　faltering　attempt　at　thanks；
Norman　replied　that　he　did　not　believe　it　was　owing　to　him；　and　never
exposed　himself　to　Flora's　wonder　by　declaring　at　home　what　he　had
done。

So　the　last　weeks　of　the　half…year　passed　away　with　the　boys　in　a
subdued；　but　hopeful　manner；　and　the　reformation；　under　Norman's
auspices；　progressed　so　well；　that　Ashe　might　fairly　expect　to　reap
the　benefit　of　the　discipline；　established　at　so　much　cost。

Mr。　Wilmot　had　looked　on；　and　given　his　help；　but　he　was　preparing　to
leave　Stoneborough；　and　there　was　great　concern　at　the　parting　with
such　a　friend。　　Ethel；　especially；　mourned　the　loss　to　Cocksmoor；
and；　for　though　hers　had　been　the　executive　part；　his　had　been　the
head；　and　he　was　almost　equally　grieved　to　go　from　the　newly…begun
work。

Margaret　lamented　the　loss　of　her　kind　counsellor；　and　the　ready
hearer　of　her　anxieties　for　the　children。　　Writing　could　ill　supply
the　place　of　their　conversations；　and　she　feared　likewise　that　her
father　would　feel　the　want　of　his　companionship。　　The　promise　of
visits；　and　the　intercourse　kept　up　by　Tom's　passing　to　and　fro；　was
the　best　consolation。

Poor　Margaret　had　begun　to　flag；　both　in　strength　and　spirits；　as
winter　approached；　but　there　came　a　revival　in　the　shape　of　〃Ship
Letters！〃　　Alan　wrote　cheerfully　and　graphically；　with　excellent
accounts　of　Harry；　who；　on　his　side；　sent　very　joyous　and
characteristic　despatches；　only　wishing　that　he　could　present　Mary
with　all　the　monkeys　and　parrots　he　had　seen　at　Rio；　as　well　as　the
little　ruby…crested　humming…birds；　that　always　reminded　him　of　Miss
Rivers。

With　the　Christmas　holidays；　Hector　Ernescliffe　came　from　Eton；　as　to
a　home；　and　was　received　by　Margaret　as　a　sort　of　especial　charge。
It　was　pretty　to　see　how　he　turned　to　her　as　something　peculiarly　his
own；　and　would　sit　on　a　footstool　by　her；　letting　himself　be　drawn
into　confidence；　and　dwelling　on　his　brother's　past　doings；　and　on
future　schemes　for　Maplewood。　　For　the　rest；　he　restored　to　the　house
the　atmosphere　of　boy；　which　had　somewhat　departed　with　Harry。　　Mary；
who　had　begun　to　be　tamed　down；　ran　more　wild　than　ever；　to　the　utter
despair　of　Miss　Winter；　and　Tom；　now　that　his　connection　with　the
Whichcote　foundation　was　over；　and　he　was　no　more　cowed　by　the　sight
of　his　tyrants；　came　out　in　a　new　light。　　He　put　on　his　boy…nature；
rioted　like　the　rest；　acquired　colour　in　his　cheeks；　divested　his
jacket　of　perpetual　dust；　had　his　hair　cut；　brushed　up　a　crest　on　his
head；　and　ran　about　no　longer　a　little　abject；　but　a　merry　lad。

Ethel　said　it　was　a　change　from　Horrid…locks　to　Harfagre；　Margaret
said　little；　but；　like　her　father；　she　blessed　Norman　in　her　heart
for　having　given　back　the　boy　to　his　father's　confidence；　and　saved
him　so　far　from　the　terrible　course　of　deceit　and　corruption。　　She
could　not　much　take　to　heart　the　mad　exploits　of　the　so…called　boys；
even　though　she　spent　three　hours　in　heart…beatings　on　Christmas　Eve；
when　Hector；　Mary；　Tom；　Blanche；　and　the　dog　Toby；　were　lost　the
whole　day。　　However；　they　did　come　back　at　six　o'clock；　having　been
deluded　by　an　old　myth　of　George　Larkins；　into　starting　for　a　common；
three　miles　beyond　Cocksmoor；　in　search　of　mistletoe；　with　scarlet
berries；　and　yellow　holly；　with　leaves　like　a　porcupine！　　Failing
these　wonders；　they　had　been　contenting　themselves　with　scarlet
holly；　in　the　Drydale　plantations；　when　a　rough　voice　exclaimed；　〃Who
gave　you　leave　to　take　that？〃　whereupon　Tom　had　plunged　into　a
thicket；　and　nearly　〃scratched　out　both　his　eyes〃；　but　Hector　boldly
standing　his　ground；　with　Blanche　in　his　hand；　the　woodman　discovered
that　here　was　the　Miss　Mary；　of　whom　his　little　girls　talked　so　much；
thereupon　cut　down　the　choicest　boughs；　and　promised　to　leave　a　full
supply　at　Dr。　May's。　　Margaret　could　have　been　angry　at　the　taking
the　young　ladies　on　so　mad　a　scheme；　but　then　Mary　was　so　happy；　and
as　to　Hector；　how　scold　him；　when　he　had　lifted　Blanche　over　every
ditch；　and　had　carried　her　home　one　mile　on　his　back；　and　another；
queen's…cushlon　fashion；　between　him　and　Mary？

Flora；　meanwhile；　went　her　own　way。　　The　desire　of　compensating　for
what　had　passed　with　Norman；　led　to　great　civilities　from　Dr。　and
Mrs。　Hoxton；　which　nobody　was　at　liberty　to　receive　except　Flora。
Pretty；　graceful；　and　pleasing；　she　was　a　valuable　companion　to　a
gentle　little；　inane　lady；　with　more　time　and　money　than　she　knew
what　to　do　with；　and　Mrs。　Hoxton；　who　was　of　a　superior　grade　to　the
Stoneborough　ladies　in　general；　was　such　a　chaperon　as　Flora　was　glad
to　secure。　　Dr。　May's　old　loyal　feelings　could　not　help　regarding　her
notice　of　his　daughter　as　a　favour　and　kindness；　and　Margaret　could
find　no　tangible　objections；　nor　any　precedent　from　her　mother's
conduct；　even　had　any　one　had　the　power　to　interfere　with　one　so
quiet；　reasonable；　and　determined　as　Flora。

So　the　intimacy　became　closer　and　closer；　and　as　the　winter　passed
on；　Flora　gradually　became　established　as　the　dear　friend　and
assistant；　without　whom　Mrs。　Hoxton　could　give　no　party。　　Further；
Flora　took　the　grand　step　of　setting　up　a　copper…plate　and　cards　of
〃Miss　Flora　May；〃　went　out　frequently　on　morning　calls　with　Mrs。
Hoxton　and　her　bay　horses；　and　when　Dr。　May　refused　his　share　of
invitations　to　dinner　with　the　neighbours　in　the　county；　Flora
generally　found　that　she　could　go　under　the　Hoxtons'　guardianship。





PART　II




CHAPTER　I。



Now　have　I　then　eke　this　condicion
That　above　all　the　flouris　in　the　mede；
Then　love　I　most　these　flouris　white　and　rede；
Soche　that　men　callin　daisies　in　our　town。
To　them　have　I　so　great　affection；
As　I　said　erst；　when　comin　is　the　Maie；
That　in　my　bed　there　dawith　me　no　daie
That　I　am　up　and　walking　in　the　mede；
To　see　this　floure　agenst　the　sunne　sprede。CHAUCER。


〃That　is　better！〃　said　Margaret；　contemplating　a　butterfly　of　the
penwiper　class；　whose　constitution　her　dexterous　needle　had　been
rendering　less　rickety　than　Blanche　had　left　it。

Margaret　still　lay　on　the　sofa；　and　her　complexion　had　assumed　the
dead　white　of　habitual　ill…health。　　There　was　more　languor　of　manner；
and　her　countenance；　when　at　rest；　and　not　under　the　eye　of　her
father；　had　a　sadness　of　expression；　as　if　any　hopes　that　she　might
once　have　entertained　were　fading　away。　　The　years　of　Alan
Ernescliffe's　absence　that　had　elasped　had　rather　taken　from　her
powers　than　added　to　them。　　Nevertheless；　the　habit　of　cheerfulness
and　sympathy　had　not　deserted　her；　and　it　was　with　a　somewhat　amused
glance　that　she　turned　towards　Ethel；　as