the daisy chain, or aspirations- 第138部分

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Margaret；　as　Ethel　was　about　to　disclaim。　　〃It
was　Ethel's　steadiness　that　brought　it　before　Alan's　mind。　　If　she
had　yielded　when　we　almost　wished　it；　in　the　time　of　the　distress
about　Mrs。　Green；　I　do　believe　that　all　would　have　died　away！〃

〃I　didn't　keep　steadyI　was　only　crazy。　　You　and　Ritchie　and　Mr。
Wilmot〃　said　Ethel；　half　crying；　then；　as　if　unable　to　stay；　she
exclaimed　with　a　sort　of　petulance；　〃And　there's　Harry　playing　all
sorts　of　rigs　with　Aubrey！　　I　shan't　get　any　more　sense　out　of　him
to…day！〃

And　away　she　rushed　to　the　wayfaring　dust　of　her　life　of　labour；　to
find　Aubrey　and　Daisy　half…way　up　the　tulip　tree；　and　Harry
mischievously　unwilling　to　help　them　down　again；　assuring　her　that
such　news　deserved　a　holiday；　and　that　she　was　growing　a　worse　tartar
than　Miss　Winter。　　She　had　better　let　the　poor　children　alone；　put　on
her　bonnet；　and　come　with　him　to　tell　Mr。　Wilmot。

Whereat　Ethel　was　demurring；　when　Dr。　May　came　forth；　and　declared　he
should　take　her　himself。

Poor　Mr。　Wilmot　laboured　under　a　great　burden　of　gratitude；　which　no
one　would　receive　from　him。　　Dr。　May　and　Ethel　repudiated　thanks
almost　with　terror；　and；　when　he　tried　them　with　the　captain；　he
found　very　doubtful　approval　of　the　whole　measure；　so　that　Harry
alone　was　a　ready　acceptant　of　a　full　meed　of　acknowledgments　for　his
gallant　extraction　of　the　will。

No　one　was　more　obliged　to　him　than　Hector　Ernescliffe；　who　wrote　to
Margaret　that　it　would　be　very　jolly　to　come　home　again；　and　that　he
was　delighted　that　the　captain　could　not　hinder　either　that　or
Cocksmoor　Church。　　〃And　as　to　Maplewood；　I　shall　not　hate　it　so　much；
if　that　happens　which　I　hope　will　happen。〃　　Of　which　oracular
sentence；　Margaret　could　make　nothing。

The　house　of　May　felt　more　at　their　ease　when　the　uncongenial　captain
had　departed；　although　he　carried　off　Harry　with　him。　　There　was　the
better　opportunity　for　a　tea…drinking　consultation　with　Dr。　Spencer
and　Mr。　Wilmot；　when　Margaret　lay　on　her　sofa；　looking　better　than
for　months　past；　and　taking　the　keenest　interest　in　every
arrangement。

Dr。　Spencer；　whose　bright　eyes　glittered　at　every　mention　of　the
subject；　assumed　that　he　was　to　be　the　architect；　while　Dr。　May　was
assuring　him　that　it　was　a　maxim　that　no　one　unpaid　could　be　trusted；
and　when　he　talked　of　beautiful　German　churches　with　pierced　spires；
declared　that　the　building　must　not　make　too　large　a　hole　in　the
twenty　thousand；　at　the　expense　of　future　curates；　because　Richard
was　the　first。

〃I'll　be　prudent；　Dick；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer。　　〃Trust　me　not　to　rival
the　minster。〃

〃We　shall　find　work　next　for　you　there；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。

〃Ay；　we　shall　have　May　out　of　his　family　packing…box　before　many
years　are　over　his　head。〃

〃Don't　mention　it；〃　said　Dr。　May；　〃I　know　what　I　exposed　myself　to　in
bringing　Wilmot　here。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　〃we　shall　put　you　in　the　van　when　we　attack
the　Corporation　pen。〃

〃I　shall　hold　by　the　good　old　cause。　　As　if　the　galleries　had　not
been　there　before　you　were　born！〃

〃As　if　poor　people　had　a　right　to　sit　in　their　own　church！〃　said
Ethel。

〃Sit；　you　may　well　say；〃　said　Mr。　Wilmot。　　〃As　if　any　one　could　do
otherwise；　with　those　ingenious　traps　for　hindering　kneeling。〃

〃Well；　well；　I　know　the　people　must　have　room；〃　said　Dr。　May；　cutting
short　several　further　attacks　which　he　saw　impending。

〃Yes；　you　would　like　to　build　another　blue　gallery；　blocking　up
another　window；　and　with　Richard　May　and　Christopher　Tomkins；
Churchwardens；　on　it；　in　orange…coloured　lettersthe　Rivers'
colours。　　No　disrespect　to　your　father；　Miss　May；　but；　as　a　general
observation；　it　is　a　property　of　Town　Councillors　to　be　conservative
only　where　they　ought　not。〃

〃I　brought　you　here　to　talk　of　building　a　church；　not　of　pulling　one
to　pieces。〃

Poor　Dr。　May；　he　knew　it　was　inevitable　and　quite　right；　but　his
affectionate　heart　and　spirit　of　perpetuity；　which　had　an　association
connected　with　every　marble　cloud；　green　baize　pew；　and　square…headed
panel；　anticipated　tortures　in　the　general　sweep；　for　which　his
ecclesiastical　taste　and　sense　of　propriety　would　not　soon
compensate。

Margaret　spared　his　feelings　by　bringing　the　Cocksmoor　subject　back
again；　Dr。　Spencer　seemed　to　comprehend　the　ardour　with　which　she
pressed　it　on；　as　if　it　were　very　near　her　heart　that　there　should　be
no　delay。　　He　said　he　could　almost　promise　her　that　the　first　stone
should　be　laid　before　the　end　of　the　summer；　and　she　thanked　him　in
her　own　warm　sweet　way；　hoping　that　it　would　be　while　Hector　and
Harry　were　at　home。

Harry　soon　returned；　having　gone　through　the　court…martial　with　the
utmost　credit；　been　patronised　by　Captain　Gordon　in　an　unheard…of
manner；　asked　to　dine　with　the　admiral；　and　promised　to　be　quickly
afloat　again。　　Ere　many　days　had　passed；　he　was　appointed　to　one　of
the　finest　vessels　in　the　fleet；　commanded　by　a　captain　to　whom
Captain　Gordon　had　introduced　him；　and　who　〃seemed　to　have　taken　a
fancy　to　him；〃　as　he　said。　　The　Bucephalus；　now　the　object　of　his
pride；　was　refitting；　and　his　sisters　hoped　to　see　a　good　deal　of　him
before　he　should　again　sail。　　Besides；　Flora　would　be　at　Ryde　before
the　end　of　July。

It　was　singular　that　Ethel's　vision　should　have　been　fulfilled
simultaneously　with　Flora's　having　obtained　a　position　so　far　beyond
what　could　have　been　anticipated。

She　was　evidently　extremely　happy　and　valuable；　much　admired　and
respected；　and　with　full　exercise　for　the　energy　and　cleverness；
which　were　never　more　gratified　than　by　finding　scope　for　action。
Her　husband　was　devotedly　attached　to　her；　and　was　entirely　managed
by　her；　and　though　her　good　judgment　kept　her　from　appearing　visibly
in　matters　not　pertaining　to　her　own　sphere；　she　as；　in　fact；　his
understanding。　　She　read；　listened；　and　thought　for　him；　imbued　him
with　her　own　views；　and　composed　his　letters　for　him；　ruling　his
affairs；　both　political　and　private；　and　undeniably　making　him　fill　a
position　which；　without　her；　he　would　have　left　vacant；　nor　was　there
any　doubt　that　he　was　far　happier　for　finding　himself　of　consequence；
and　being　no　longer　left　a　charge　upon　his　own　hands。　　He　seemed
fully　to　suffice　to　her　as　a　companion；　although　she　was　so　far
superior　in　power；　for　it　was；　perhaps；　her　nature　to　love　best　that
which　depended　upon　her；　and　gave　her　a　sense　of　exercising
protection；　as　she　had　always　loved　Margaret　better　than　Ethel。

〃Mrs。　Rivers　was　an　admirable　woman。〃　　So　every　one　felt；　and　her
youthful　beauty　and　success　in　the　fashionable　world　made　her
qualities；　as　a　wife　and　mistress　of　a　household；　the　more
appreciated。　　She　never　set　aside　her　religious　habits　or　principles；
was　an　active　member　of　various　charitable　associations；　and　found
her　experience　of　the　Stoneborough　Ladies'　Committee　applicable　among
far　greater　names。　　Indeed；　Lady　Leonora　thought　dear　Flora　Rivers's
only　fault；　her　over…strictness；　which　encouraged　Meta　in　the　same；
but　there　were　points　that　Flora　could　not　have　yielded　on　any
account；　without　failing　in　her　own　eyes。

She　made　time　for　everything；　and　though；　between　business　and
fashion；　she　seemed　to　undertake　more　than　mortal　could　accomplish；
it　was　all　effected；　and　excellently。　　She　did；　indeed；　sigh　over　the
briefness　of　the　time　that　she　could　bestow　on　her　child　or　on　home
correspondence；　and　declared　that　she　should　rejoice　in　rest；　but；　at
the　same　time；　her　achievements　were　a　positive　pleasure　to　her。

Meta；　in　the　meantime；　had　been　living　passively　on　the　most
affectionate　terms　with　her　brother　and　sister；　and　though　often
secretly　yearning　after　the　dear　old　father；　whose　darling　she　had
been；　and　longing　for　power　of　usefulness；　she　took　it　on　trust　that
her　present　lot　had　been　ordered　for　her；　and　was　thankful；　like　the
bird　of　Dr。　May's　fable；　for　the　pleasures　in　her　pathculling　sweet
morals；　and　precious　thoughts　out　of　book；　painting　or　concert；
occasions　for　Christian　charities　in　each　courtesy　of　society；　and
opportunities　for　cheerful　self…denial　and　submission；　whenever　any
little　wish　was　thwarted。

So　Norman　said　she　had　turned　into　a　fine　lady！　　It　was　a　sudden　and
surprising　intimation；　and　made　a　change　in　the　usually　bright　and
calm　current　of　her　thoughts。　　She　was　not　aware　that　there　had　been
any　alteration　in　herself；　and　it　was　a　revelation　that　set　her　to
examine　where　she　had　changedpoor　little　thing！　　She　was　not　angry；
she　did　not　resent　the　charge；　she　took　it　for　granted　that；　coming
from　such　a　source；　it　must　be　true　and　reasonableand　what　did　it
mean？　　Did　they　think　her　too　gay；　or　neglectful　of　old　friends？
What　had　they　been　saying　to　Harry　about　her？

〃Ah！〃　thought　Meta；　〃I　understand　it。　　I　am　living　a　life　of　ease　and
uselessness；　and　with　his　higher　aims　and　nobler　purposes；　he　shrinks
from　the　frivolities　among　which　I　am　cast。　　I　saw　his　saddened
countenance　among　our　gaieties；　and　I　know　that　to　deep　minds　there
is　heaviness　in　the　midst　of　display。　　He　withdraws　from　the　follies
that　have　no　charms　for　him；　and　Iought　I　to　be　able　to　help　being
amused？　　I　don't　seek　these　things；　but；　perhaps；　I　ought　to　avoid
them　more　than　I　do。　　If　I　could　be　quite　clear　what　is　right；　I
should　not　care　what　effort　I　made。　　But　I　was　born　to　be　one　of
those　who　have　trial　of　riches；　and　such　blessed　tasks　are　not　my
portion。　　But　if　he　sees　the　vanities　creeping　into　my　heart；　I
should　be　grateful　for　that　warning。〃

So　meditated　Meta；　as　she　copied　one　of　her　own　drawings　of　the
Grange；　for　her　dear　old　governess；　Mrs。　Larpent；　while　each　line　and
tint　recalled　the　comments　of　her　fond　amateur　father；　and　the
scenery　carried　her　home；　in　spite　of　the　street　sounds；　and　the
scratching　of　Flora's　pen；　coursing　over　note…paper。　　Presently　Sir
Henry　Walkinghame　called；　bringing　a　beautiful　bouquet。

〃Delicious；〃　cried　Meta。　　〃See；　Flora；　it　is　in　good　time；　for　those
vases　were　sadly　shabby。〃

She　began　at　once　to　arrange　the　flowers；　a　task　that　seemed　what　she
was　born　for；　and　the　choice　roses　and　geraniums　acquired　fresh　grace
as　she　placed　them　in　the　slender　glasses　and　classic　vases