the daisy chain, or aspirations-第85节

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had　brought　to　her。

Ethel　used　to　watch　them；　and　think　how　beautiful　their　countenances
were；　and　talk　them　over　with　her　father；　who　was　quite　happy　about
them　now。　　She　gave　assistance；　which　Alan　never　once　called　unhandy；
to　all　his　contrivances；　and　often　floundered　in　upon　his　conferences
with　Margaret；　in　a　way　that　would　have　been　very　provoking；　if　she
had　not　always　blushed　and　looked　so　excessively　discomfited；　and
they　had　only　to　laugh　and　reassure　her。

Alan　was　struck　by　finding　that　the　casual　words　spoken　on　the　way
from　Cocksmoor　had　been　so　strenuously　acted　on；　and　he　brought　on
himself　a　whole　torrent　of　Ethel's　confused　narratives；　which　Richard
and　Flora　would　fain　have　checked；　but　Margaret　let　them　continue；　as
she　saw　him　a　willing　listener；　and　was　grateful　to　him　for
comprehending　the　ardent　girl。

He　declared　himself　to　have　a　share　in　the　matter；　reminding　Ethel　of
her　appeal　to　him　to　bind　himself　to　the　service　of　Cocksmoor。　　He
sent　a　sovereign　at　once；　to　aid　in　a　case　of　the　sudden　death　of　a
pig；　and　when　securely　established　in　his　brotherly　right；　he　begged
Ethel　to　let　him　know　what　would　help　her　most。　　She　stood　colouring；
twisting　her　hands；　and　wondering　what　to　say；　whereupon　he　relieved
her　by　a　proposal　to　leave　an　order　for　ten　pounds；　to　be　yearly　paid
into　her　hands；　as　a　fixed　income　for　her　school。

A　thousand　a　year　could　hardly　have　been　so　much　to　Ethel。　　〃Thank
you！　　Oh；　this　is　charming！　　We　could　set　up　a　regular　school！
Cherry　Elwood　is　the　very　woman！　　Alan；　you　have　made　our　fortune！
Oh；　Margaret；　Margaret！　　I　must　go　and　tell　Ritchie　and　Mary！　　This
is　the　first　real　step　to　our　church　and　all！〃

〃May　I　do　it？〃　said　Alan；　turning　to　Margaret；　as　Ethel　frantically
burst　out　of　the　room；　〃perhaps　I　should　have　asked　leave？〃

〃I　was　going　to　thank　you；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃It　is　the　very　kindest
thing　you　could　have　done　by　dear　Ethel！　the　greatest　comfort　to　us。
She　will　be　at　peace　now；　when　anything　hinders　her　from　going　to
Cocksmoor。〃

〃I　wonder；〃　said　Alan；　musing；　〃whether　we　shall　ever　be　able　to　help
her　more　substantially。　　I　cannot　do　anything　hastily；　for　you　know
Maplewood　is　still　in　the　hands　of　the　executors；　and　I　cannot　tell
what　claims　there　may　be　upon　me；　but　by…and…by；　when　I　return；　if　I
find　no　other　pressing　duty；　might　not　a　church　at　Cocksmoor　be　a
thankoffering　for　all　I　have　found　here？〃

〃Oh；　Alan；　what　joy　it　would　be！〃

〃It　is　a　long　way　off；〃　he　said　sadly；　〃and　perhaps　her　force　of
perseverance　will　have　prevailed　alone。〃

〃I　suppose　I　must　not　tell　her；　even　as　a　vision。〃

〃It　is　too　uncertain；　I　do　not　know　the　wants　of　the　Maplewood
people；　and　I　must　provide　for　Hector。　　I　would　not　let　these　vague
dreams　interfere　with　her　resolute　work；　but；　Margaret；　what　a　vision
it　is！　　I　can　see　you　laying　the　first　stone　on　that　fine　heathy
brow。〃

〃Oh；　your　godchild　should　lay　the　first　stone！〃

〃She　shall；　and　you　shall　lead　her。　　And　there　shall　be　Ethel's　sharp
face　full　of　indescribable　things　as　she　marshals　her　children；　and
Richard　shall　be　curate；　and　read　in　his　steady　soft　tone；　and　your
father　shall　look　sunny　with　his　boys　around　him；　and　you〃

〃Oh；　Alan；〃　said　Margaret；　who　had　been　listening　with　a　smile；　〃it
is；　indeed；　a　long　way　off！〃

〃I　shall　look　to　it　as　the　haven　where　I　would　be；〃　said　the　sailor。

They　often　spoke　together　of　this　scheme；　ever　decking　it　in　brighter
colours。　　The　topic　seemed　to　suit　them　better　than　their　own　future；
for　there　was　no　dwelling　on　that　without　an　occasional　misgiving；
and　the　more　glad　the　anticipation；　the　deeper　the　sigh　that　followed
on　Margaret's　part；　till　Mr。　Ernescliffe　followed　her　lead；　and　they
seldom　spoke　of　these　uncertainties；　but　outwardly　smiled　over　the
present；　inwardly　dwelt　on　the　truly　certain　hopes。　　There　were
readings　shared　together；　made　more　precious　than　all；　by　the
conversations　that　ensued。

The　hour　for　parting　came　at　last。　　Ethel　never　knew　what　passed　in
the　drawing…room；　whence　every　one　was　carefully　excluded。　　Dr。　May
wandered　about；　keeping　guard　over　the　door；　and　watching　the　clock；
till；　at　the　last　moment；　he　knocked；　and　called　in　a　trembling
voice；　〃Ernescliffe！　　Alan！　it　is　past　the　quarter！　　You　must　not
stay！〃

The　other　farewells　were　hurried；　Alan　seemed　voiceless；　only　nodding
in　reply　to　Mary's　vociferous　messages　to　Harry；　and　huskily
whispering　to　Ethel；　〃Good　luck　to　Cocksmoor！〃

The　next　moment　the　door　had　shut　on　him；　and　Dr。　May　and　Flora　had
gone　to　her　sister；　whom　she　found　not　tearful；　but　begging　to　be
left　alone。

When　they　saw　her　again；　she　was　cheerful；　she　kept　up　her　composure
and　animation　without　flagging；　nor　did　she　discontinue　her　new
exertions；　but　seemed　decidedly　the　happier　for　all　that　had　passed。

Letters　came　every　day　for　her；　and　presents　to　every　one。　　Ethel　had
a　gold　chain　and　eyeglass；　which；　it　was　hoped；　might　cure　her　of
frowning　and　stooping；　though　her　various　ways　of　dangling　her　new
possession　caused　her　to　be　so　much　teased　by　Flora　and　Norman；　that；
but　for　regard　to　Margaret's　feelings；　she　would　not　have　worn　it　for
three　days。

To　Mary　was　sent　a　daguerreotype　of　Harry；　her　glory　and　delight。
Say；　who　would；　that　it　had　pig's　eyes；　a　savage　frown；　a　pudding
chin；　there　were　his　own　tight　rings　of　hair；　his　gold…banded　cap；
his　bright　buttons；　how　could　she　prize　it　enough？　　She　exhibited　it
to　the　little　ones　ten　times　a　day；　she　kissed　it　night　and　morning；
and　registered　her　vow　always　to　sleep　with　it　under　her　〃pilow；〃　in
a　letter　of　thanks；　which　Margaret　defended　and　despatched；　in　spite
of　Miss　Winter's　horrors　at　its　disregard　of　orthography。

It　was　nearly　the　last　letter　before　the　Alcestis　was　heard　of　at
Spithead。　　Then　she　sailed；　she　sent　in　her　letters　to　Plymouth；　and
her　final　greetings　by　a　Falmouth　cutterpoor　Harry's　wild　scrawl　in
pencil　looking　very　sea…sick。


〃Dear　papa　and　all；　good…bye。　　We　are　out　of　sight　of　land。　　Three
years；　and　keep　up　a　good　heart。　　I　shall　soon　be　all　right。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　H。　MAY。〃


It　was　enclosed　in　Mr。　Ernescliffe's　envelope；　and　with　it　came
tidings　that　Harry's　brave　spirit　was　not　failing；　even　under
untoward　circumstances；　but　he　had　struggled　on　deck；　and　tried　to
write；　when　all　his　contemporaries　had　given　in；　in　fact；　he　was　a
fine　fellowevery　one　liked　him；　and　Captain　Gordon；　though　chary　of
commendation；　had　held　him　up　to　the　other　youngsters　as　an　example
of　knowing　what　a　sailor　was　meant　to　be　like。

Margaret　smiled；　and　cried　over　the　news　when　she　imparted　itbut
all　serenelyand　though　she　was　glad　to　be　alone；　and　wrote　journals
for　Alan；　when　she　could　not　send　letters；　she　exerted　herself　to　be
the　same　sister　as　usual　to　the　rest　of　the　household；　and　not　to
give　way　to　her　wandering　musings。

From　one　subject　her　attention　never　strayed。　　Ethel　had　never　found
any　lack　of　sympathy　in　her　for　her　Cocksmoor　pursuits；　but　the
change　now　showed　that；　where　once　Margaret　had　been　interested
merely　as　a　kind　sister；　she　now　had　a　personal　concern；　and　she
threw　herself　into　all　that　related　to　it　as　her　own　chief　interest
and　pursuitbecoming　the　foremost　in　devising　plans；　and　arranging
the　best　means　of　using　Mr。　Ernescliffe's　benefaction。

The　Elwood　family　had　grown　in　the　good　opinion　of　the　Mays。　　Charity
had　hobbled　to　church；　leaning　on　her　father's　arm；　and　being　invited
to　dinner　in　the　kitchen；　the　acquaintance　had　been　improved；　and
nurse　herself　had　pronounced　her　such　a　tidy；　good　sort　of　body；　that
it　was　a　pity　she　had　met　with　such　a　misfortune。　　If　Miss　Ethel
brought　in　nothing　but　the　like　of　her；　they　should　be　welcome；　poor
thing；　how　tired　she　was！

Nurse's　opinions　were　apt　to　be　sagacious；　especially　when　in　the
face　of　her　prejudices；　and　this　gave　Margaret　confidence。　　Cherry
proved　to　have　been　carefully　taught　by　a　good　clergyman　and　his
wife；　and　to　be　of　very　different　stamp　from　the　persons　to　whom　the
girls　were　accustomed。　　They　were　charmed　with　her；　and　eagerly
offered　to　supply　her　with　booksrespecting　her　the　more　when　they
found　that　Mr。　Hazlewood　had　already　lent　her　their　chief　favourites。
Other　and　greater　needs　they　had　no　power　to　fill　up。

〃It　is　so　lone　without　the　church　bells；　you　see；　miss；〃　said　Mrs。
Elwood。　　〃Our　tower　had　a　real　fine　peal；　and　my　man　was　one　of　the
ringers。　　I　seems　quite　lost　without　them；　and　there　was　Cherry；　went
a'most　every　day　with　the　children。〃

〃Every　day！〃　cried　Mary；　looking　at　her　with　respect。

〃It　was　so　near；〃　said　Cherry；　〃I　could　get　there　easy；　and　I　got
used　to　it　when　I　was　at　school。〃

〃Did　it　not　take　up　a　great　deal　of　time？〃　said　Ethel。

〃Why；　you　see；　ma'am；　it　came　morning　and　night；　out　of　working
times；　and　I　can't　be　stirring　much。〃

〃Then　you　miss　it　sadly？〃　said　Ethel。

〃Yes；　ma'am；　it　made　the　day　go　on　well　like；　and　settled　a　body's
mind；　when　I　fretted　for　what　could　not　be　helped。　　But　I　try　not　to
fret　after　it　now；　and　Mr。　Hazlewood　said；　if　I　did　my　best　wherever
I　was；　the　Lord　would　still　join　our　prayers　togeth