the daisy chain, or aspirations-第167节

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dress；　and　you　must　be　a　good　child；　and　come　down　to　me。〃

The　playfulness　ill　suited　the　wan；　worn　face　that　seemed　to　have
caught　a　gray　tint　from　her　rich　poplin；　her　full　toilet　making　the
contrast　almost　more　painful；　and；　as　she　closed　the　door；　her
brother　could　only　exclaim；　〃Poor　Flora！〃

〃She　is　so　kind；〃　said　the　voice　of　the　white　figure　that　moved
towards　him。　　〃Oh；　if　we　could　comfort　her！〃

〃I　trust　to　her　own　kindness　working　comfort　to　her；　at　last；〃　said
Norman。　　〃But　is　she　often　thus？〃

〃Whenever　she　is　not　bearing　up　for　George's　sake；〃　said　Meta。　　〃She
never　says　anything　when　she　is　alone　with　me；　only　she　does　not
struggle　with　her　looks。〃

〃It　must　be　very　trying　for　you。〃

〃Nay；　I　feel　grateful　to　her　for　even　so　far　relaxing　the　restraint。
If　I　could　but　do　her　any　good。〃

〃You　cannot　help　doing　her　good；〃　said　Norman。

Meta　sighed；　and　shook　her　head　slightly；　as　she　said；　〃She　is　so
gentle　and　considerate。　　I　think　this　has　been　no　fresh　pain　to　her
to…day；　but　I　cannot　tell。　　The　whole　day　has　been　a　strange
intermixture。〃

〃The　two　strands　of　joy　and　grief　have　been　very　closely　twisted；〃
said　Norman。　　〃That　rose　is　shedding　its　fragrant　leaves　in　its
glory；　and　there　is　much　that　should　have　chastened　the　overflowing
gladness　of　to…day。〃

〃As　I　was　thinking；〃　whispered　Meta；　venturing　nearer　to　him；　and
looking　into　his　face　with　the　sweet　reliance　of　union　in　thought。
She　meant　him　to　proceed；　but　he　paused；　saying；　〃You　were　thinking…〃

〃I　had　rather　hear　it　from　you。〃

〃Was　it　not　that　we　were　taught　to…day　what　is　enduring；　and　gives
true　permanence　and　blessedness　to　suchto　what　there　was　between
Ernescliffe　and　Margaret？〃

Her　dewy　eyes；　and　face　of　deep　emotion；　owned　that　he　had
interpreted　her　thought。

〃Theirs　would；　indeed；　be　a　disheartening　example；〃　he　said；　〃if　it
did　not　show　the　strength　and　peace　that　distance；　sickness；　death；
cannot　destroy。〃

〃Yes。　　To　see　that　church　making　Margaret　happy　as　she　lies　smiling
on　her　couch；　is　a　lesson　of　lessons。〃

〃That　what　is　hallowed　must　be　blest；〃　said　Norman；　〃whatever　the
sundry　and　manifold　changes。〃

Each　was　far　too　humble　to　deny　aloud　any　inequality　with　the
goodness　of　Alan　and　Margaret；　knowing　that　it　would　be　at　once
disputed；　trusting　to　time　to　prevent　the　over…estimate；　and　each
believing　the　other　was　the　one　to　bring　the　blessing。

〃But；　Meta；〃　said　Norman；　〃have　you　heard　nothing　ofof　the　elders？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Meta；　smiling；　〃have　not　you？〃

〃I　have　seen　no　one。〃

〃I　have！〃　said　Meta　merrily。　　〃Uncle　Cosham　is　delighted。　　That
speech　of　yours　has　captivated　him。　　He　calls　me　a　wise　little　woman
to　have　found　out　your　first…rate　abilities。　　There's　for　you；　sir。〃

〃I　don't　understand　it！　　Surely　he　must　be　aware　of　my　intentions？〃

〃He　said　nothing　about　them；　but；　of　course；　Dr。　May　must　have
mentioned　them。〃

〃I　should　have　thought　so；　but　I　cannot　suppose〃

〃That　he　would　be　willing　to　let　me　go；〃　said　Meta。　　〃But　then　you
know　he　cannot　help　it；〃　added　she；　with　a　roguish　look；　at　finding
herself　making　one　of　her　saucy　independent　speeches。

〃I　believe　you　are　taking　a　would…be　missionary　instead　of　Norman
May！〃　he　answered；　with　a　sort　of　teasing　sweetness。

〃All　would…be　missionaries　did　not　make　dear　papa　so　fond　of　them；〃
said　Meta；　very　low；　〃and　you　would　not　be　Norman　May　without　such
purposes。〃

〃The　purpose　was　not　inspired　at　first　by　the　highest　motive；〃　said
Norman；　〃but　it　brought　me　peace；　and；　after　the　kind　of　dedication
that　I　inwardly　made　of　myself　in　my　time　of　trouble；　it　would　take
some　weighty　reason；　amounting　to　a　clear　duty；　or　physical
impossibility；　to　make　me　think　I　ought　to　turn　back。　　I　believe〃
the　tears　rose　to　his　eyes；　and　he　brought　out　the　words　with
difficulty〃that；　if　this　greatest　of　all　joys　were　likely　to　hinder
me　from　my　calling；　I　ought　to　seek　strength　to　regard　it　as　a
temptation；　and　to　forgo　it。〃

〃You　ought；　if　it　were　so；〃　said　Meta；　nevertheless　holding　him
tighter。　　〃I　could　not　bear　to　keep　back　a　soldier。　　If　this　were
last　year；　and　I　had　any　tie　or　duty　here；　it　would　be　very　hard。
But　no　one　needs　me；　and　if　the　health　I　have　always　had　be　continued
to　me；　I　don't　think　I　shall　be　much　in　the　way。　　There；〃drawing
back　a　little；　and　trying　to　laugh　off　her　feeling〃only　tell　me　at
once　if　you　think　me　still　too　much　of　a　fine　lady。〃

〃Iyoua　fine　lady！　　Did　anything　ever　give　you　the　impression　that
I　did？〃

〃I　shall　not　get　poor　Harry　into　a　scrape；　shall　I？　　He　told　me　that
you　said　so；　last　spring；　and　I　feared　you　judged　me　too　truly。〃

After　a　few　exclamations　of　utter　surprise；　it　flashed　on　Norman。　　〃I
know；　I　knowHarry　interpreted　my　words　in　his　own　blunt　fashion！〃

〃Then　you　did　say　something　like　it？〃

〃No；　butbut　In　short；　Meta；　these　sailors'　imaginations　go　to
great　lengths。　Harry　had　guessed　more　than　I　knew　myself；　before　he
had　sailed；　and　taxed　me　with　it。　　It　was　a　subject　I　could　not　bear
then；　and　I　answered　that　you　were　too　far　beyond　my　hopes。〃

〃Six　years　ago！〃　said　Meta　slowly；　blushing　deeper　and　deeper。　　〃Some
eyes　saw　it　all　that　time；　and　youand；〃　she　added；　laughing；　though
rather　tearfully；　〃I　should　never　have　known　it；　if　Tom　had　not　taken
me　through　the　plantations！〃

〃Not　if　I　had　not　discovered　that　your　preferences　did　not　lie〃

〃Among　boudoirs　and　balls？〃　said　Meta。　　〃Harry　was　right。　　You
thought　me　a　fine　lady　after　all。〃

The　gay　taunt　was　cut　short　by　a　tap　at　the　door；　and　Flora　looked
in。

〃Dr。　Spencer　has　brought　your　things；　Norman。　　I　am　sorry　to　disturb
youbut　come　down；　MetaI　ran　away　very　uncivilly　to　fetch　you。　　I
hope　it　is　not　too　cruel；〃　as　she　drew　Meta's　arm　into　her　own；　and
added；　〃I　have　not　been　able　speak　to　George。〃

Meta　suspected　that；　in　the　wish　to　spare　her；　Flora　had　abstained
from　seeking　him。

The　evening　went　off　like　any　other　eveningpeople　ate　and　talked；
thought　Mrs。　Rivers　looking　very　ill；　and　Miss　Rivers　very　pretty
Flora　forced　herself　into　being　very　friendly　to　Sir　Henry；
commiserating　the　disappointment　to　which　she　had　led　him；　and　she
hoped　that　he　suspected　the　state　of　affairs；　though　Tom；　no　longer
supplanted　by　his　elder　brother；　pursued　Meta　into　the　sheltered
nook；　where　Flora　had　favoured　her　seclusion；　to　apologise　for　having
left　her　to　the　guidance　of　poor　Norman；　whose　head　was　with　the
blackamoors。　　It　was　all　Harry's　fault。

〃Nonsense；　Tom；〃　said　Harry；　〃don't　you　think　Norman　is　better
company　than　you　any　day？〃

〃Then　why　did　you　not　walk　him　off　instead　of　me？〃　said　Tom；　turning
round　sharply。

〃Out　of　consideration　for　Meta。　　She　will　tell　you　that　she　was　very
much　obliged　to　me〃

Harry　checked　himself；　for　Meta　was　colouring　so　painfully　that　his
own　sunburned　face　caught　the　glow。　　He　pushed　Tom's　slight　figure
aside　with　a　commanding　move　of　his　broad　hand；　and　said；　〃I　beg　your
pardon；　upon　my　word；　though　I　don't　know　what　for。〃

〃Nor　I；〃　said　Meta；　rallying　herself；　and　smiling。　　〃You　have　no
pardon　to　beg。　　You　will　know　it　all　to…morrow。〃

〃Then　I　know　it　now；〃　said　Harry；　sheltering　his　face　by　leaning　over
the　back　of　a　chair；　and　taming　the　hearty　gaiety　of　his　voice。
〃Well　done；　Meta；　there's　nothing　like　old　June　in　all　the　world！
You　may　take　my　word　for　it；　and　I　knew　you　would　have　the　sense　to
find　it　out。〃

They　were　well　out　of　sight；　and　Meta　only　answered　by　a　good　tight
squeeze　of　his　kind　hand　between　both　her　own。　　Tom；　suddenly
recovering　from　his　displeasure　at　being　thrust　aside；　whisked　round；
dropped　on　a　footstool　before　Meta；　locked　up　in　her　face；　and　said；
〃Hallo！〃　in　such　utter　amazement　that　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to
laugh　more　uncontrollably　than　was　convenient。　　〃Come　along；　Tom；〃
said　Harry；　pulling　him　up　by　force；　〃she　does　not　want　any　of　your
nonsense。　　We　will　not　plague　her　now。〃

〃Thank　you；　Harry；〃　said　Meta。　　〃I　cannot　talk　rationally　just　yet。
Don't　think　me　unkind；　Tom。〃

Tom　sat　in　a　sort　of　trance　all　the　rest　of　the　evening。

Lord　Cosham　talked　to　Norman；　who　felt　as　if　he　were　being　patronised
on　false　pretences；　drew　into　his　shell；　and　displayed　none　of　his
〃first…rate　abilities。〃

Dr。　Spencer　discussed　his　architecture　with　the　archdeacon；　but　his
black　eyes　roamed　heedfully　after　the　young　gentleman　and　lady；　in
the　opposite　corners　of　the　room；　and；　as　he　drove　home　afterwards
with　the　youths；　he　hummed　scraps　of　Scottish　songs；　and　indulged　in
silent　smiles。

Those　at　home　had　been　far　more　demonstrative。　　Dr。　May　had　arrived；
declaring　himself　the　proudest　doctor　in　her　Majesty's　dominions；　and
Ethel　needed　nothing　but　his　face　to　explain　why；　and　tell　her　that
dear　old　June's　troubles　were　over；　and　their　pretty　little　Meta　was
their　owna　joy　little　looked　for　to　attend　their　foundation…stone。

The　dreaded　conference　with　Lord　Cosham　had　proved　highly　gratifying。
There　might　be　something　in　the　fact　that　he　could　not　help　it；　which
assisted　in　his　ready　acquiescence；　but　he　was　also　a　sensible　right…
minded　man；　who　thought　that　the　largeness　of　Meta's　fortune　was　no
reason　that　it　should　be　d