the daisy chain, or aspirations-第104章

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head；　and　ran　about　no　longer　a　little　abject；　but　a　merry　lad。

Ethel　said　it　was　a　change　from　Horrid…locks　to　Harfagre；　Margaret
said　little；　but；　like　her　father；　she　blessed　Norman　in　her　heart
for　having　given　back　the　boy　to　his　father's　confidence；　and　saved
him　so　far　from　the　terrible　course　of　deceit　and　corruption。　　She
could　not　much　take　to　heart　the　mad　exploits　of　the　so…called　boys；
even　though　she　spent　three　hours　in　heart…beatings　on　Christmas　Eve；
when　Hector；　Mary；　Tom；　Blanche；　and　the　dog　Toby；　were　lost　the
whole　day。　　However；　they　did　come　back　at　six　o'clock；　having　been
deluded　by　an　old　myth　of　George　Larkins；　into　starting　for　a　common；
three　miles　beyond　Cocksmoor；　in　search　of　mistletoe；　with　scarlet
berries；　and　yellow　holly；　with　leaves　like　a　porcupine！　　Failing
these　wonders；　they　had　been　contenting　themselves　with　scarlet
holly；　in　the　Drydale　plantations；　when　a　rough　voice　exclaimed；　〃Who
gave　you　leave　to　take　that？〃　whereupon　Tom　had　plunged　into　a
thicket；　and　nearly　〃scratched　out　both　his　eyes〃；　but　Hector　boldly
standing　his　ground；　with　Blanche　in　his　hand；　the　woodman　discovered
that　here　was　the　Miss　Mary；　of　whom　his　little　girls　talked　so　much；
thereupon　cut　down　the　choicest　boughs；　and　promised　to　leave　a　full
supply　at　Dr。　May's。　　Margaret　could　have　been　angry　at　the　taking
the　young　ladies　on　so　mad　a　scheme；　but　then　Mary　was　so　happy；　and
as　to　Hector；　how　scold　him；　when　he　had　lifted　Blanche　over　every
ditch；　and　had　carried　her　home　one　mile　on　his　back；　and　another；
queen's…cushlon　fashion；　between　him　and　Mary？

Flora；　meanwhile；　went　her　own　way。　　The　desire　of　compensating　for
what　had　passed　with　Norman；　led　to　great　civilities　from　Dr。　and
Mrs。　Hoxton；　which　nobody　was　at　liberty　to　receive　except　Flora。
Pretty；　graceful；　and　pleasing；　she　was　a　valuable　companion　to　a
gentle　little；　inane　lady；　with　more　time　and　money　than　she　knew
what　to　do　with；　and　Mrs。　Hoxton；　who　was　of　a　superior　grade　to　the
Stoneborough　ladies　in　general；　was　such　a　chaperon　as　Flora　was　glad
to　secure。　　Dr。　May's　old　loyal　feelings　could　not　help　regarding　her
notice　of　his　daughter　as　a　favour　and　kindness；　and　Margaret　could
find　no　tangible　objections；　nor　any　precedent　from　her　mother's
conduct；　even　had　any　one　had　the　power　to　interfere　with　one　so
quiet；　reasonable；　and　determined　as　Flora。

So　the　intimacy　became　closer　and　closer；　and　as　the　winter　passed
on；　Flora　gradually　became　established　as　the　dear　friend　and
assistant；　without　whom　Mrs。　Hoxton　could　give　no　party。　　Further；
Flora　took　the　grand　step　of　setting　up　a　copper…plate　and　cards　of
〃Miss　Flora　May；〃　went　out　frequently　on　morning　calls　with　Mrs。
Hoxton　and　her　bay　horses；　and　when　Dr。　May　refused　his　share　of
invitations　to　dinner　with　the　neighbours　in　the　county；　Flora
generally　found　that　she　could　go　under　the　Hoxtons'　guardianship。





PART　II




CHAPTER　I。



Now　have　I　then　eke　this　condicion
That　above　all　the　flouris　in　the　mede；
Then　love　I　most　these　flouris　white　and　rede；
Soche　that　men　callin　daisies　in　our　town。
To　them　have　I　so　great　affection；
As　I　said　erst；　when　comin　is　the　Maie；
That　in　my　bed　there　dawith　me　no　daie
That　I　am　up　and　walking　in　the　mede；
To　see　this　floure　agenst　the　sunne　sprede。CHAUCER。


〃That　is　better！〃　said　Margaret；　contemplating　a　butterfly　of　the
penwiper　class；　whose　constitution　her　dexterous　needle　had　been
rendering　less　rickety　than　Blanche　had　left　it。

Margaret　still　lay　on　the　sofa；　and　her　complexion　had　assumed　the
dead　white　of　habitual　ill…health。　　There　was　more　languor　of　manner；
and　her　countenance；　when　at　rest；　and　not　under　the　eye　of　her
father；　had　a　sadness　of　expression；　as　if　any　hopes　that　she　might
once　have　entertained　were　fading　away。　　The　years　of　Alan
Ernescliffe's　absence　that　had　elasped　had　rather　taken　from　her
powers　than　added　to　them。　　Nevertheless；　the　habit　of　cheerfulness
and　sympathy　had　not　deserted　her；　and　it　was　with　a　somewhat　amused
glance　that　she　turned　towards　Ethel；　as　she　heard　her　answer　by　a
sigh。

These　years　had　dealt　more　kindly　with　Etheldred's　outward
appearance。　　They　had　rounded　her　angles；　softened　her　features；　and
tinged　her　cheeks　with　a　touch　of　red；　that　took　off　from　the
surrounding　sallowness。　　She　held　herself　better；　had　learned　to　keep
her　hair　in　order；　and　the　more　womanly　dress；　plain　though　it　was；
improved　her　figure　more　than　could　have　been　hoped　in　the　days　of
her　lank；　gawky　girlhood。　　No　one　could　call　her　pretty；　but　her
countenance　had　something　more　than　ever　pleasing　in　the　animated　and
thoughtful　expression　on　those　marked　features。　　She　was　sitting　near
the　window；　with　a　book；　a　dictionary；　and　pencil；　as　she　replied　to
Margaret；　with　the　sigh　that　made　her　sister　smile。

〃Poor　Ethel！　I　condole　with　you。〃

〃And　I　wonder　at　you！〃　said　Ethel；　〃especially　as　Flora　and　Mrs。
Hoxton　say　it　is　all　for　your　sake；〃　then；　nettled　by　Margaret's
laugh；　〃Such　a　nice　occupation　for　her；　poor　thing；　as　if　you　were
Mrs。　Hoxton；　and　had　no　resource　but　fancy…work。〃

〃You　know　I　am　base　enough　to　be　so　amused；〃　said　Margaret；　〃but；
seriously；　Ethel　dear；　I　cannot　bear　to　see　you　so　much　hurt　by　it。
I　did　not　know　you　were　really　grieved。〃

〃Grieved！　　I　am　ashamedsickened！〃　cried　Ethel　vehemently。　　〃Poor
Cocksmoor！　　As　soon　as　anything　is　done　there；　Flora　must　needs　go
about　implying　that　we　have　set　some　grand　work　in　hand；　and　want
only　means〃

〃Stop；　Ethel；　Flora　does　not　boast。〃

〃No；　she　does　not　boast。　　I　wish　she　did！　　That　would　be
straightforward　and　simple；　but　she　has　too　good　taste　for　thatso
she　does　worseshe　tells　a　little；　and　makes　that　go　a　long　way；　as
if　she　were　keeping　back　a　great　deal！　　You　don't　know　how　furious　it
makes　me！〃

〃Ethel！〃

〃So；〃　said　Ethel；　disregarding；　〃she　stirs　up　all　Stoneborough　to
hear　what　the　Miss　Mays　are　doing　at　Cocksmoor。　　So　the　Ladies'
Committee　must　needs　have　their　finger　in！　　Much　they　cared　for　the
place　when　it　was　wild　and　neglected！　　But　they　go　to　inspect　Cherry
and　her　schoolMrs。　Ledwich　and　alland；　back　they　come；　shocked
no　system；　no　order；　the　mistress　untrained；　the　school　too　small；
with　no　apparatus！　　They　all　run　about　in　despair；　as　if　we　had　ever
asked　them　to　help　us。　　And　so　Mrs。　Hoxton；　who　cares　for　poor
children　no　more　than　for　puppy…dogs；　but　who　can't　live　without
useless　work；　and　has　filled　her　house　as　full　of　it　as　it　can　hold；
devises　a　bazaara　field　for　her　trumpery；　and　a　show…off　for　all
the　young　ladies；　and　Flora　treats　it　like　an　inspiration！　　Off　they
trot；　to　the　old　Assembly　Rooms。　　I　trusted　that　the　smallness　of
them　would　have　knocked　it　on　the　head；　but；　still　worse；　Flora's
talking　of　it　makes　Mr。　Rivers　think　it　our　pet　scheme；　so；　what　does
he　do　but　offer　his　park；　and　so　we　are　to　have　a　regular　fancy　fair；
and　Cocksmoor　School　will　be　founded　in　vanity　and　frivolity！　　But　I
believe　you　like　it！〃

〃I　am　not　sure　of　my　own　feeling；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃It　has　been
settled　without　our　interposition；　and　I　have　never　been　able　to　talk
it　over　calmly　with　you。　　Papa　does　not　seem　to　disapprove。〃

〃No；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃He　will　only　laugh；　and　say　it　will　spare　him　a
great　many　of　Mrs。　Hoxton's　nervous　attacks。　　He　thinks　of　it　nearly
as　I　do；　at　the　bottom；　but　I　cannot　get　him　to　stop　it；　nor　even　to
say　he　does　not　wish　Flora　to　sell。〃

〃I　did　not　understand　that　you　really　had　such　strong　objections；〃
said　Margaret。　　〃I　thought　it　was　only　as　a　piece　of　folly；　and〃

〃And　interference　with　my　Cocksmoor？〃　said　Ethel。　　I　had　better　own
to　what　may　be　wrong　personal　feeling　at　first。〃

〃I　can　hardly　call　it　wrong；〃　said　Margaret　tenderly；　〃considering
what　Cocksmoor　is　to　you；　and　what　the　Ladies'　Committee　is。〃

〃Oh；　Margaret；　if　the　lawful　authorityif　a　good　clergyman　would
only　come；　how　willingly　would　I　work　under　him！　　But　Mrs。　Ledwich
andit　is　like　having　all　the　Spaniards　and　savages　spoiling
Robinson　Crusoe's　desert　island！〃

〃It　is　not　come　to　that　yet；〃　said　Margaret；　〃but　about　the　fancy
fair。　　We　all　know　that　the　school　is　ver