the daisy chain, or aspirations-第37节

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Teach　her　to　think；　to　pray；　to　love；
　　Make　grief　less　bitter；　joy　less　wild。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LINES　ON　A　MONUMENT　AT　LICHFIELD。


Sir　Matthew　Fleet's　visit　seemed　like　a　turning…point　with　the　May
family；　rousing　and　giving　them　revived　hopes。　　Norman　began　to　shake
off　his　extreme　languor　and　depression；　the　doctor　was　relieved　from
much　of　the　wearing　suffering　from　his　hurt；　and　his　despondency　as
to　Margaret's　ultimate　recovery　had　been　driven　away。　　The　experiment
of　taking　her　up　succeeded　so　well；　that　on　Sunday　she　was　fully
attired；　〃fit　to　receive　company。〃　　As　she　lay　on　the　sofa　there
seemed　an　advance　toward　recovery。　　Much　sweet　coquetry　was　expended
in　trying　to　look　her　best　for　her　father；　and　her　best　was　very
well；　for　though　the　brilliant　bloom　of　health　was　gone；　her　cheeks
had　not　lost　their　pretty　rounded　contour；　and　still　had　some
rosiness；　while　her　large　bright　blue　eyes　smiled　and　sparkled。　　A
screen　shut　out　the　rest　of　the　room；　making　a　sort　of　little　parlour
round　the　fire；　where　sundry　of　the　family　were　visiting　her　after
coming　home　from　church　in　the　afternoon。　　Ethel　was　in　a　vehement
state　of　indignation　at　what　had　that　day　happened　at　school。　　〃Did
you　ever　hear　anything　like　it！　　When　the　point　was；　to　teach　the
poor　things　to　be　Christians；　to　turn　them　back；　because　their　hair
was　not　regulation　length！〃

〃What's　that！　　Who　did？〃　said　Dr。　May；　coming　in　from　his　own　room；
where　he　had　heard　a　few　words。

〃Mrs。　Ledwich。　　She　sent　back　three　of　the　Cocksmoor　children　this
morning。　　It　seems　she　warned　them　last　Sunday　without　saying　a　word
to　us。〃

〃Sent　them　back　from　church！〃　said　the　doctor。

〃Not　exactly　from　church；〃　said　Margaret。

〃It　is　the　same　in　effect；〃　said　Ethel；　〃to　turn　them　from　school；
for　if　they　did　try　to　go　alone；　the　pew…openers　would　drive　them
out。〃

〃It　is　a　wretched　state　of　things！〃　said　Dr。　May；　who　never　wanted
much　provocation　to　begin　storming　about　parish　affairs。　　〃When　I　am
churchwarden　again；　I'll　see　what　can　be　done　about　the　seats；　but
it's　no　sort　of　use；　while　Ramsden　goes　on　as　he　does。〃

〃Now　my　poor　children　are　done　for！〃　said　Ethel。　〃They　will　never
come　again。　　And　it's　horrid；　papa；　there　are　lots　of　town　children
who　wear　immense　long　plaits　of　hair；　and　Mrs。　Ledwich　never
interferes　with　them。　　It　is　entirely　to　drive　the　poor　Cocksmoor
ones　awayfor　nothing　else；　and　all　out　of　Fanny　Anderson's
chatter。〃

〃Ethel；　my　dear；〃　said　Margaret　pleadingly。

〃Didn't　I　tell　you；　Margaret；　how；　as　soon　as　Flora　knew　what　Mrs。
Ledwich　was　going　to　do；　she　went　and　told　her　this　was　the
children's　only　chance；　and　if　we　affronted　them　for　a　trifle；　there
would　be　no　hope　of　getting　them　back。　　She　said　she　was　sorry；　if　we
were　interested　for　them；　but　rules　must　not　be　broken；　and　when
Flora　spoke　of　all　who　do　wear　long　hair　unmolested；　she　shuffled　and
said；　for　the　sake　of　the　teachers；　as　well　as　the　other　children；
rags　and　dirt　could　not　be　allowed；　and　then　she　brought　up　the　old
story　of　Miss　Boulder's　pencil；　though　she　has　found　it　again；　and
ended　by　saying　Fanny　Anderson　told　her　it　was　a　serious　annoyance　to
the　teachers；　and　she　was　sure　we　should　agree　with　her；　that
something　was　due　to　voluntary　assistants　and　subscribers。〃

〃I　am　afraid　there　has　been　a　regular　set　at　them；〃　said　Margaret；
〃and　perhaps　they　are　troublesome；　poor　things。〃

〃As　if　school…keeping　were　for　luxury！〃　said　Dr。　May。　　〃It　is　the
worst　thing　I　have　heard　of　Mrs。　Ledwich　yet！　　One's　blood　boils　to
think　of　those　poor　children　being　cast　off　because　our　fine　young
ladies　are　too　grand　to　teach　them！　　The　clergyman　leaving　his　work
to　a　set　of　conceited　women；　and　they　turning　their　backs　on
ignorance；　when　it　comes　to　their　door！　　Voluntary　subscribers；
indeed！　　I've　a　great　mind　I'll　be　one　no　longer。〃

〃Oh；　papa；　that　would　not　be　fair〃began　Ethel；　but　Margaret　knew　he
would　not　act　on　this；　squeezed　her　hand；　and　silenced　her。

〃One　thing　I've　said；　and　I'll　hold　to　it；〃　continued　Dr。　May；　〃if
they　outvote　Wilmot　again　in　your　Ladies'　Committee；　I'll　have　no
more　to　do　with　them；　as　sure　as　my　name's　Dick　May。　　It　is　a　scandal
the　way　things　are　done　here！〃

〃Papa；〃　said　Richard；　who　had　all　the　time　been　standing　silent；
〃Ethel　and　I　have　been　thinking；　if　you　approved；　whether　we　could
not　do　something　towards　teaching　the　Cocksmoor　children；　and
breaking　them　in　for　the　Sunday…school。〃

What　a　bound　Ethel's　heart　gave；　and　how　full　of　congratulation　and
sympathy　was　the　pressure　of　Margaret's　hand！

〃What　did　you　think　of　doing？〃　said　the　doctor。　　Ethel　burned　to
reply；　but　her　sister's　hand　admonished　her　to　remember　her　compact。
Richard　answered；　〃We　thought　of　trying　to　get　a　room；　and　going
perhaps　once　or　twice　a　week　to　give　them　a　little　teaching。　　It
would　be　little　enough；　but　it　might　do　something　towards　civilising
them；　and　making　them　wish　for　more。〃

〃How　do　you　propose　to　get　a　room？〃

〃I　have　reconnoitred；　and　I　think　I　know　a　cottage　with　a　tolerable
kitchen；　which　I　dare　say　we　might　hire　for　an　afternoon　for
sixpence。〃

Ethel；　unable　to　bear　it　any　longer；　threw　herself　forward；　and
sitting　on　the　ground　at　her　father's　feet；　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　papa！
papa！　do　say　we　may！〃

〃What's　all　this　about？〃　said　the　doctor；　surprised。

〃Oh！　you　don't　know　how　I　have　thought　of　it　day　and　night　these　two
months！〃

〃What！　　Ethel；　have　a　fancy　for　two　whole　months；　and　the　whole　house
not　hear　of　it！〃　said　her　father；　with　a　rather　provoking　look　of
incredulity。

〃Richard　was　afraid　of　bothering　you；　and　wouldn't　let　me。　　But　do
speak；　papa。　　May　we？〃

〃I　don't　see　any　objection。〃

She　clasped　her　hands　in　ecstasy。　　〃Thank　you！　thank　you；　papa！　　Oh；
Ritchie！　　Oh；　Margaret！〃　cried　she；　in　a　breathless　voice　of
transport。

〃You　have　worked　yourself　up　to　a　fine　pass；〃　said　the　doctor；
patting　the　agitated　girl　fondly　as　she　leaned　against　his　knee。
〃Remember；　slow　and　steady。〃

〃I've　got　Richard　to　help　me；〃　said　Ethel。

〃Sufficient　guarantee；〃　said　her　father；　smiling　archly　as　he　looked
up　to　his　son；　whose　fair　face　had　coloured　deep　red。　　〃You　will　keep
the　Unready　in　order；　Ritchie。〃

〃He　does；〃　said　Margaret；　〃he　has　taken　her　education　into　his　hands；
and　I　really　believe　he　has　taught　her　to　hold　up　her　frock　and　stick
in　pins。〃

〃And　to　know　her　right　hand　from　her　left；　eh；　Ethel？　　Well；　you
deserve　some　credit；　then。　　Suppose　we　ask　Mr。　Wilmot　to　tea；　and
talk　it　over。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　papa！　　When　shall　it　be？　　To…morrow？〃

〃Yes；　if　you　like。　　I　have　to　go　to　the　town…council　meeting；　and　am
not　going　into　the　country；　so　I　shall　be　in　early。〃

〃Thank　you。　　Oh；　how　very　nice！〃

〃And　what　about　cost？　　Do　you　expect　to　rob　me？〃

〃If　you　would　help　us；〃　said　Ethel；　with　an　odd　shy　manner；　〃we　meant
to　make　what　we　have　go　as　far　as　may　be；　but　mine　is　only　fifteen
and　sixpence。〃

〃Well；　you　must　make　interest　with　Margaret　for　the　turn…out　of　my
pocket　to…morrow。〃

〃Thank　you；　we　are　very　much　obliged；〃　said　the　brother　and　sister
earnestly；　〃that　is　more　than　we　expected。〃

〃Ha！　don't　thank　too　soon。　　Suppose　to…morrow　should　be　a　blank　day！〃

〃Oh；　it　won't！〃　said　Ethel。　　〃I　shall　tell　Norman　to　make　you　go　to
paying　people。〃

〃There's　avarice！〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃But　look　you　here；　Ethel；　if
you'll　take　my　advice；　you'll　make　your　bargain　for　Tuesday。　　I　have
a　note　appointing　me　to　call　at　Abbotstoke　Grange　on　Mr。　Rivers；　at
twelve　o'clock；　on　Tuesday。　　What　do　you　think　of　that；　Ethel？　　An
old　banker；　rich　enough　for　his　daughter　to　curl　her　hair　in　bank…
notes。　　If　I　were　you；　I'd　make　a　bargain　for　him。〃

〃If　he　had　nothing　the　matter　with　him；　and　I　only　got　one　guinea　out
of　him！〃

〃Prudence！　Well；　it　may　be　wiser。〃

Ethel　ran　up　to　her　room；　hardly　able　to　believe　that　the　mighty
proposal　was　made；　and　it　had　been　so　readily　granted；　that　it　seemed
as　if　Richard's　caution　had　been　vain　in　making　such　a　delay；　that
even　Margaret　had　begun　to　fear　that　the　street　of　by…and…by　was
leading　to　the　house　of　never。　　Now；　however；　it　was　plain　that　he
had　been　wise。　　Opportunity　was　everything；　at　another　moment；　their
father　might　have　been　harassed　and　oppressed；　and　unable　to　give　his
mind　to　concerns；　which　now　he　could　think　of　with　interest；　and
Richard　could　not　have　caught　a　more　favourable　conjuncture。

Ethel　was　in　a　wild　state　of　felicity　all　that　evening　and　the　next
day；　very　unlike　her　brother；　who；　dismayed　at　the　open　step　he　had
taken；　shrank　into　himself；　and　in　his　shyness　dreaded　the　discussion
in　the　evening；　and　would　almost　have　been　relieved；　if　Mr。　Wilmot
had　been　unable　to　accept　the　invitation。　　So　quiet　and　grave　was　he；
that　Ethel　could　not　get　him　to　talk　over　the　matter　at　all　with　her；
and　she　was　obliged　to　bestow　all　her　transports　and　grand　projects
on　Flora　or　Margaret；　when　she　could　gain　their　ears；　besides　conning
them　over　to　herself；　as　an　accompaniment　to　her　lessons；　by　which
means　she　tried　Miss　Winter's　patience　almost　beyond　measure。　　But
she　cared　notshe　saw　a　gathering　school　and　rising　church；　which
e