the daisy chain, or aspirations-第149节

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〃Not　always；　but　I　do　not　go　to　large　parties　or　balls　this　year；〃
said　Meta；　glancing　at　her　deep　mourning；　〃I　am　very　glad　of　a　little
time　at　home。〃

〃So　you　don't　like　it。〃

〃Oh；　yes！　it　is　very　pleasant；〃　said　Meta。　　〃It　is　so　entertaining
when　we　talk　it　over　afterwards；　and　I　like　to　hear　how　Flora　is
admired；　and　called　the　beauty　of　the　season。　　I　tell　George；　and　we
do　so　gloat　over　it　together！　　There　was　an　old　French　marquis　the
other　night；　a　dear　old　man；　quite　of　the　ancien　regime；　who　said　she
was　exactly　like　the　portraits　of　Madame　de　Maintenon；　and　produced　a
beautiful　miniature　on　a　snuff…box；　positively　like　that　very　pretty
form　of　face　of　hers。　　The　old　man　even　declared　that　Mistress　Rivers
was　worthy　to　be　a　Frenchwoman。〃

〃I　should　like　to　kick　him！〃　amiably　responded　Harry。

〃I　hope　you　won't　to…morrow！　　But　don't　let　us　waste　our　time　over
this；　　I　want　so　much　to　hear　about　New　Zealand。〃

Meta　was　well　read　in　Australasian　literature；　and　drew　out　a　great
deal　more　information　from　Harry　than　Norman　had　yet　heard。　　She　made
him　talk　about　the　Maori　pah　near　his　uncle's　farm；　where　the　Sunday
services　were　conducted　by　an　old　gentleman　tattooed　elegantly　in　the
face；　but　dressed　like　an　English　clergyman；　and　tell　of　his　aunt's
troubles　about　the　younger　generation；　whom　their　elders；　though
Christians　themselves；　could　not　educate；　and　who　she　feared　would
relapse　into　heathenism；　for　want　of　instruction；　though　with
excellent　dispositions。

〃How　glad　you　must　be　that　you　are　likely　to　go！〃　exclaimed　Meta　to
Norman；　who　had　sat　silently　listening。

The　sound　of　the　door　bell　was　the　first　intimation　that　Harry's
histories　had　occupied　them　until　long　past　twelve　o'clock。

〃Now；　then！〃　cried　Meta；　springing　forward；　as　if　intending　to　meet
Flora　with　the　tidings；　but　checking　herself；　as　if　she　ought　not　to
be　the　first。　　There　was　a　pause。　　Flora　was　hearing　downstairs　that
Mr。　Norman　May　and　another　gentleman　had　arrived；　and；　while　vexed　at
her　own　omission；　and　annoyed　at　Norman's　bringing　friends　without
waiting　for　permission；　she　was　yet　prepared　to　be　courteous　and
amiable。　　She　entered　in　her　rich　black　watered　silk；　deeply　trimmed
with　lace；　and　with　silver　ornaments　in　her　dark　hair；　so　graceful
and　distinguished…looking；　that　Harry　stood　suspended；　hesitating；
for　an　instant；　whether　he　beheld　his　own　sister；　especially　as　she
made　a　dignified　inclination　towards　him；　offering　her　hand　to
Norman；　as　she　said；　〃Meta　has　told　you〃　But　there　she　broke　off；
exclaiming；　〃Ha！　is　it　possible！　　No；　surely　it　cannot　be〃

〃Miss　Walkinghame？〃　said　the　sailor；　who　had　felt　at　home　with　her　at
the　first　word；　and　she　flew　into　his　great　rough　arms。

〃Harry！　this　is　dear　Harry！　our　own　dear　sailor　come　back；〃　cried
she；　as　her　husband　stood　astonished；　and；　springing　towards　him；　she
put　Harry's　hand　into　his；　〃My　brother　Harry！　our　dear　lost　one。〃

〃YourbrotherHarry；〃　slowly　pronounced　George；　as　he　instinctively
gave　the　grasp　of　greeting〃your　brother　that　was　lost？　　Upon　my
word；〃　as　the　matter　dawned　fully　on　him；　and　he　became　eager；　〃I　am
very　glad　to　see　you。　　I　never　was　more　rejoiced　in　my　life。〃

〃When　did　you　come？　　Have　you　been　at　home？〃　asked　Flora。

〃I　came　home　yesterdayMary　wrote　to　tell　you。〃

〃Poor　dear　old　Mary！　　There's　a　lesson　against　taking　a　letter　on
trust。　　I　thought　it　would　be　all　Cocksmoor；　and　would　wait　for　a
quiet　moment！　　How　good　to　come　to　me　so　soon；　you　dear　old
shipwrecked　mariner！〃

〃I　was　forced　to　come　to　report　myself；〃　said　Harry；　〃or　I　could　not
have　come　away　from　my　father　so　soon。〃

The　usual　questions　and　their　sad　answers　ensued；　and　while　Flora
talked　to　Harry；　fondly　holding　his　hand；　Norman　and　Meta　explained
the　history　to　George；　who　no　sooner　comprehended　it；　that　he　opined
it　must　have　been　a　horrid　nuisance；　and　that　Harry　was　a　gallant
fellow；　then　striking　him　over　the　shoulder；　welcomed　him　home　with
all　his　kind　heart；　told　him　he　was　proud　to　receive　him；　and　falling
into　a　state　of　rapturous　hospitality；　rang　the　bell；　and　wanted　to
order　all　sorts　of　eatables　and　drinkables；　but　was　sadly　baffled　to
find　him　already　satisfied。

There　was　more　open　joy　than　even　at　home；　and　Flora　was　supremely
happy　as　she　sat　between　her　brothers；　listening　and　inquiring　till
far　past　one　o'clock；　when　she　perceived　poor　George　dozing　off；
awakened　every　now　and　then　by　a　great　nod；　and　casting　a　wishful
glance　of　resigned　remonstrance；　as　if　to　appeal　against　sitting　up
all　night。

The　meeting　at　breakfast　was　a　renewal　of　pleasure。　　Flora　was　proud
and　happy　in　showing　off　her　little　girl；　a　model　baby；　as　she　called
her；　a　perfect　doll　for　quietness；　so　that　she　could　be　brought　in　at
family　prayers；　〃and；〃　said　Flora；　〃I　am　the　more　glad　that　she　keeps
no　one　away；　because　we　can　only　have　evening　prayers　on　Sunday。　　It
is　a　serious　thing　to　arrange　for　such　a　household。〃

〃She　is　equal　to　anything；〃　said　George。

The　long　file　of　servants　marched　in；　George　read　sonorously；　and
Flora　rose　from　her　knees；　highly　satisfied　at　the　impression
produced　upon　her　brothers。

〃I　like　to　have　the　baby　with　us　at　breakfast；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　the
only　time　of　day　when　we　can　be　sure　of　seeing　anything　of　her；　and　I
like　her　nurse　to　have　some　respite。　　Do　you　think　her　grown；
Norman？〃

〃Not　very　much；〃　said　Norman；　who　thought　her　more　inanimate　and　like
a　pretty　little　waxen　toy；　than　when　he　had　last　seen　her。　　〃Is　she
not　rather　pale？〃

〃London　makes　children　pale。　　I　shall　soon　take　her　home　to　acquire　a
little　colour。　　You　must　know　Sir　Henry　has　bitten　us　with　his
yachting　tastes；　and　as　soon　as　we　can　leave　London；　we　are　going　to
spend　six　weeks　with　the　Walkinghames　at　Ryde；　and　rival　you；　Harry。
I　think　Miss　Leonora　will　be　better　at　home；　so　we　must　leave　her
there。　　Lodgings　and　irregularities　don't　suit　people　of　her　age。〃

〃Does　home　mean　Stoneborough？〃　asked　Norman。

〃No。　　Old　nurse　has　one　of　her　deadly　prejudices　against　Preston；　and
I　would　not　be　responsible　for　the　consequences　of　shutting　them　up
in　the　same　nursery。　　Margaret　would　be　distracted　between　them。　　No；
miss；　you　shall　make　her　a　visit　every　day；　and　be　fondled　by　your
grandpapa。〃

George　began　a　conversation　with　Harry　on　nautical　matters；　and
Norman　tried　to　discover　how　Meta　liked　the　yachting　project；　and
found　her　prepared　to　think　it　charming。　　Hopes　were　expressed　that
Harry　might　be　at　Portsmouth；　and　a　quantity　of　gay　scheming　ensued；
with　reiterations　of　the　name　of　Walkinghame；　while　Norman　had　a
sense　of　being　wrapped　in　some　gray　mist；　excluding　him　from
participation　in　their　enjoyments；　and　condemned　his　own　temper　as
frivolous　for　being　thus　excited　to　discontent。

Presently；　he　heard　George　insisting　that　he　and　Harry　should　return
in　time　for　the　evening　party；　and；　on　beginning　to　refuse；　was
amazed　to　find　Harry's　only　objection　was　on　the　score　of　lack　of
uniform。

〃I　don't　want　you　in　one；　sir；〃　said　Flora。

〃I　have　only　one　coat　in　the　world；　besides　this；〃　continued　Harry；
〃and　that　is　all　over　tar。〃

〃George　will　see　to　that；〃　said　Flora。　　〃Don't　you　think　you　would　be
welcome　in　matting；　with　an　orange　cowry　round　your　neck？〃

Norman；　however；　took　a　private　opportunity　of　asking　Harry　if　he　was
aware　of　what　he　was　undertaking；　and　what　kind　of　people　they　should
meet。

〃All　English　people　behave　much　the　same　in　a　room；〃　said　Harry；　as
if　all　society；　provided　it　was　not　cannibal；　were　alike　to　him。

〃I　should　have　thought　you　would　prefer　finding　out　Forder　in　his
chambers；　or　going　to　one　of　the　theatres。〃

〃As　you　please；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　Flora　seems　to　want　us；　and　I
should　rather　like　to　see　what　sort　of　company　she　keeps。〃

Since　Harry　was　impervious　to　shyness；　Norman　submitted；　and　George
took　them　to　a　wonder…worker　in　cloth；　who　undertook　that　full
equipments　should　await　the　young　gentleman。　　Harry　next　despatched
his　business　at　the　Admiralty；　and　was　made　very　happy　by　tidings　of
his　friend　Owen's　safe　arrival　in　America。

Thence　the　brothers　went　to　Eton；　where　home　letters　had　been　more
regarded；　and　Dr。　May　having　written　to　secure　a　holiday　for　the
objects　of　their　visit；　they　were　met　at　the　station　by　the　two　boys。
Hector's　red　face　and　prominent　light　eyebrows　were　instantly
recognised；　but；　as　to　Tom；　Harry　could　hardly　believe　that　the
little；　dusty；　round…backed　grub　be　had　left　had　been　transformed
into　the　well…made　gentlemanlike　lad　before　him；　peculiarly　trim　and
accurate　in　dress；　even　to　the　extent　of　as　much　foppery　as　Eton
taste　permitted。

Ten　minutes　had　not　passed　before　Tom；　taking　a　survey　of　the
newcomer；　began　to　exclaim　at　Norman；　for　letting　him　go　about　such　a
figure；　and；　before　they　knew　what　was　doing；　they　had　all　been
conducted　into　the　shop　of　the　〃only　living　man　who　knew　how　to　cut
hair。〃　　Laughing　and　good…natured；　Harry　believed　his　hair　was
〃rather　long；〃　allowed　himself　to　be　seated；　and　to　be　divested　of　a
huge　superfluous　mass　of　sun…dried　curls；　which　Tom；　particularly
resenting　that　〃rather　long；〃　kept　on　taking　up；　an