the daisy chain, or aspirations-第107节

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fathomed　her！　　She　reminded　him　of　his　old　Scottish　father…in…law；
Professor　Mackenzie；　whom　he　had　never　understood；　nor；　if　the　truth
were　known；　liked。　　Her　dealings　with　the　Ladies'　Committee　were　so
like　her　grandfather's　canny　ways　in　a　public　meeting；　that　he
laughed　over　thembut　they　were　not　congenial　to　him。　　Flora　was　a
most　valuable　person；　all　that　she　undertook　prospered；　and　he
depended　entirely　on　her　for　household　affairs；　and　for　the　care　of
Margaret；　but；　highly　as　he　esteemed　her；　he　was　a　little　afraid　of
her　cool　prudence；　she　never　seemed　to　be　in　any　need　of　him；　nor　to
place　any　confidence　in　him；　and　seemed　altogether　so　much　older　and
wiser　than　he　could　feel　himselfpretty　girl　as　she　wasand　very
pretty　were　her　fine　blue　eyes　and　clear　skin；　set　off　by　her　dark
brown　hair。　　There　arose　the　vision　of　eyes　as　blue；　skin　as　clear；
but　of　light　blonde　locks；　and　shorter；　rounder；　more　dove…like　form；
open；　simple；　loving　face；　and　serene　expression；　that　had　gone
straight　to　his　heart；　when　he　first　saw　Maggie　Mackenzie　making　tea。

He　heard　the　wheels；　and　went　out　to　unbolt　the　door。　　Those　were　a
pair　for　a　father　to　be　proud　ofNorman；　of　fine　stature　and　noble
looks；　with　his　high　brow；　clear　thoughtful　eye；　and　grave
intellectual　eagle　face；　lighting　into　animation　with　his　rare；　sweet
smile；　and　Flora；　so　tall　and　graceful；　and　in　her　white　dress；
picturesquely　half　concealed　by　her　mantle；　with　flowers　in　her　hair；
and　a　deepened　colour　in　her　cheek；　was　a　fair　vision；　as　she　came　in
from　the　darkness。

〃Well！　was　it　a　pleasant　party？〃

Norman　related　the　circumstances；　while　his　sister　remained　silently
leaning　against　the　mantel…piece；　looking　into　the　fire；　until　he
took　up　his　candle；　and　bade　them　good…night。　　Dr。　May　was　about　to
do　the　same；　when　she　held　out　her　hand。　　〃One　moment；　if　you　please；
dear　papa；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　you　ought　to　know　it。〃　〃

What；　my　dear？〃

〃Mr。　George　Rivers；　papa〃

〃Ha！〃　said　Dr。　May；　beginning　to　smile。　　〃So　that　is　what　he　is　at；
is　it？　　But　what　an　opportunity　to　take。〃

〃It　was　in　the　conservatory；〃　said　Flora；　a　little　hurt；　as　her
father　discovered　by　her　tone。　　〃The　music　was　going　on；　and　I　don't
know　that　there　could　have　been〃

〃A　better　opportunity；　eh？〃　said　Dr。　May；　laughing；　〃well；　I　should
have　thought　it　awkward；　was　he　very　much　discomposed？〃

〃I　thought；〃　said　Flora；　looking　down　and　hesitating；　〃that　he　had
better　come　to　you。〃

〃Indeed！　so　you　shifted　the　ungracious　office　to　me。　　I　am　very　glad
to　spare　you；　my　dear；　but　it　was　hard　on　him　to　raise　his　hopes。〃

〃I　thought；〃　faltered　Flora；　〃that　you　could　not　disapprove〃

〃Flora〃　and　he　paused；　completely　confounded；　while　his　daughter
was　no　less　surprised　at　the　manner　in　which　her　news　was　received。
Each　waited　for　the　other　to　speak；　and　Flora　turned　away；　resting
her　head　against　the　mantel…piece。

〃Surely；〃　said　he；　laying　his　hand　on　her　shoulder；　〃you　do　not　mean
that　you　like　this　man？〃

〃I　did　not　think　that　you　would　be　against　it；〃　said　Flora；　in　a
choked　voice；　her　face　still　averted。

〃Heaven　knows；　I　would　not　be　against　anything　for　your　happiness；　my
dear；〃　he　answered；　〃but　have　you　considered　what　it　would　be　to
spend　your　life　with　a　man　that　has　not　three　ideas！　not　a　resource
for　occupying　himselfa　regular　prey　to　ennuione　whom　you　could
never　respect！〃　　He　had　grown　more　and　more　vehement；　and　Flora　put
her　handkerchief　to　her　eyes；　for　tears　of　actual　disappointment　were
flowing。

〃Come；　come；〃　he　said；　touched；　but　turning　it　off　by　a　smile；　〃we
will　not　talk　of　it　any　more　to…night。　　It　is　your　first　offer；　and
you　are　flattered；　but　we　know

　　　　　　　　　　　　　'Colours　seen　by　candle…light；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Will　not　bear　the　light　of　day。'

There；　good…night；　Flora；　my　dearwe　will　have　a…tete…a…tete　in　the
study　before　breakfast；　when　you　have　had　time　to　look　into　your　own
mind。〃

He　kissed　her　affectionately；　and　went　upstairs　with　her；　stopping　at
her　door　to　give　her　another　embrace；　and　to　say　〃Bless　you；　my　dear
child；　and　help　you　to　come　to　a　right　decision〃

Flora　was　disappointed。　　She　had　been　too　highly　pleased　at　her
conquest　to　make　any　clear　estimation　of　the　prize；　individually
considered。　　Her　vanity　magnified　her　achievement；　and　she　had　come
home　in　a　flutter　of　pleasure；　at　having　had　such　a　position　in
society　offered　to　her；　and　expecting　that　her　whole　family　would
share　her　triumph。　　Gratified　by　George　Rivers's　admiration；　she
regarded　him　with　favour　and　complacency；　and　her　habit　of
considering　herself　as　the　most　sensible　person　in　her　sphere　made
her　so　regard　his　appreciation　of　her；　that　she　was　blinded　to　his
inferiority。　　It　must　be　allowed　that　he　was　less　dull　with　her　than
with　most　others。

And；　in　the　midst　of　her　glory；　when　she　expected　her　father　to　be
delighted　and　gratefulto　be　received　as　a　silly　girl；　ready　to
accept　any　proposal；　her　lover　spoken　of　with　scorn；　and　the
advantages　of　the　match　utterly　passed　over；　was　almost　beyond
endurance。　　A　physician；　with　eleven　children　dependent　on　his
practice；　to　despise　an　offer　from　the　heir　of　such　a　fortune！　　But
that　was　his　customary　romance！　　She　forgave　him；　when　it　occurred　to
her　that　she　was　too　important；　and　valuable；　to　be　easily　spared；
and　a　tenderness　thrilled　through　her；　as　she　looked　at　the　sleeping
Margaret's　pale　face；　and　thought　of　surrendering　her　and　little
Daisy　to　Ethel's　keeping。　　And　what　would　become　of　the　housekeeping？
She　decided；　however；　that　feelings　must　not　sway　herout　of　six
sisters　some　must　marry；　for　the　good　of　the　rest。　　Blanche　and　Daisy
should　come　and　stay　with　her；　to　be　formed　by　the　best　society；　and；
as　to　poor　dear　Ethel；　Mrs。　Rivers　would　rule　the　Ladies'　Committee
for　her　with　a　high　hand；　and；　perhaps；　provide　Cocksmoor　with　a
school　at　her　sole　expense。　　What　a　useful；　admirable　woman　she　would
be！　　The　doctor　would　be　the　person　to　come　to　his　senses　in　the
morning；　when　he　remembered　Abbotstoke；　Mr。　Rivers；　and　Meta。

So　Flora　met　her　father；　the　next　morning；　with　all　her　ordinary
composure；　in　which　he　could　not　rival　her；　after　his　sleepless；
anxious　night。　　His　looks　of　affectionate　solicitude　disconcerted
what　she　had　intended　to　say；　and　she　waited；　with　downcast　eyes；　for
him　to　begin。

〃Well；　Flora；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃have　you　thought？〃

〃Do　you　know　any　cause　against　it？〃　said　Flora；　still　looking　down。

〃I　know　almost　nothing　of　him。　　I　have　never　heard　anything　of　his
character　or　conduct。　　Those　would　be　a　subject　of　inquiry；　if　you
wish　to　carry　this　on〃

〃I　see　you　are　averse；〃　said　Flora。　　〃I　would　do　nothing　against　your
wishes〃

〃My　wishes　have　nothing　to　do　with　it；〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃The　point　is…
…that　I　must　do　right；　as　far　as　I　can；　as　well　as　try　to　secure　your
happiness；　and　I　want　to　be　sure　that　you　know　what　you　are　about。〃

〃I　know　he　is　not　clever；〃　said　Flora；　〃but　there　may　be　many　solid
qualities　without　talent。〃

〃I　am　the　last　person　to　deny　it；　but　where　are　these　solid
qualities？　　I　cannot　see　the　recommendation！〃

〃I　place　myself　in　your　hands；〃　said　Flora；　in　a　submissive　tone；
which　had　the　effect　of　making　him　lose　patience。

〃Flora；　Flora！　why　will　you　talk　as　if　I　were　sacrificing　you　to　some
dislike　or　prejudice　of　my　own！　　Don't　you　think　I　should　only
rejoice　to　have　such　a　prosperous　home　offered　to　you；　if　only　the
man　were　worthy？〃

〃If　you　do　not　think　him　so；　of　course　there　is　an　end　of　it；〃　said
Flora；　and　her　voice　showed　suppressed　emotion。

〃It　is　not　what　I　think；　in　the　absence　of　proof；　but　what　you　think；
Flora。　　What　I　want　you　to　do　is　thisto　consider　the　matter　fairly。
Compare　him　withI'll　not　say　with　Normanbut　with　Richard；　Alan；
Mr。　Wilmot。　　Do　you　think　you　could　rely　on　himcome　to　him　for
advice？〃　　（Flora　never　did　come　to　any　one　for　advice。）　　〃Above　all
do　you　think　him　likely　to　be　a　help；　or　a　hindrance；　in　doing
right？〃

〃I　think　you　underrate　him；〃　said　Flora　steadily；　〃but；　of　course；　if
you　dislike　itthough；　I　think；　you　would　change　your　mind　if　you
knew　him　better〃

〃Well；〃　he　said；　as　if　to　himself；　〃it　is　not　always　the　most
worthy；〃　then　continued；　〃I　have　no　dislike　to　him。　　Perhaps　I　may
find　that　you　are　right。　　Since　your　mind　is　made　up；　I　will　do　this：
first；　we　must　be　assured　of　his　father's　consent；　for　they　may　very
fairly　object；　since　what　I　can　give　you　is　a　mere　nothing　to　them。
Next；　I　shall　find　out　what　character　he　bears　in　his　regiment；　and
watch　him　well　myself；　and；　if　nothing　appear　seriously　amiss；　I　will
not　withhold　my　consent。　　But；　Flora；　you　should　still　consider
whether　he　shows　such　principle　and　right　feeling　as　you　can　trust
to。〃

〃Thank　you；　papa。　　I　know　you　will　do　all　that　is　kind。〃

〃Mind；　you　must　not　consider　it　an　engagement；　unless　all　be
satisfactory。〃

〃I　will　do　as　you　please。〃

Ethel　perceived　that　something　was　in　agitation；　but　the　fact　did　not
break　upon　her　till　she　came　to　Margaret；　after　the　schoolroom
reading；　and　heard　Dr。　May　declaiming　away　in　the　vehement　manner
that　always　relieved　him。

〃Such　a　cub！〃　　These　wer