the daisy chain, or aspirations-第110章
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almost converted into a bower； bounding it on either side； while in
the midst arose； gorgeous and delicious； a pyramid of flowers
contributions from all the hot…houses in the neighbourhoodto be
sold for the benefit of the bazaar。 Their freshness and fragrance
gave a brightness to the whole scene； while shrinking from such
light； as only the beauteous works of nature could bear； was the
array accomplished by female fingers。
Under the wreathed canopies were the stalls； piled up with bright
colours； most artistically arranged。 Ethel； with her over…minute
knowledge of every article； could hardly believe that yonder glowing
Eastern pattern of scarlet； black； and blue； was； in fact； a
judicious mosaic of penwipers that she remembered； as shreds begged
from the tailor； that the delicate lace…work consisted of Miss
Bracy's perpetual antimacassars； and that the potichomanie could look
so dignified and Etruscan。
〃Here you are！〃 cried Meta Rivers； springing to meet them。 〃Good
girls； to come early。 Where's my little Daisy？〃
〃Coming in good time；〃 said Ethel。 〃How pretty it all looks！〃
〃But where's Flora？where's my watch…guard？〃 anxiously asked
Blanche。
〃She was here just now；〃 said Meta； looking round。 〃What a genius
she is； Ethel！ She worked wonders all yesterday； and let the Miss
Hoxtons think it was all their own doing； and she was out before six
this morning； putting finishing touches。〃
〃Is this your stall？〃 said Ethel。
〃Yes； but it will not bear a comparison with hers。 It has a lady's…
maid look by the side of hers。 In fact； Bellairs and my aunt's maid
did it chiefly； for papa was rather ailing yesterday； and I could not
be out much。〃
〃How is he now？〃
〃Better； he will walk round by…and…by。 I hope it will not be too
much for him。〃
〃Oh； what beautiful things！〃 cried Mary； in ecstasy； at what she was
forced to express by the vague substantive； for her imagination had
never stretched to the marvels she beheld。
〃Ay； we have been lazy； you see； and so Aunt Leonora brought down all
these smart concerns。 It is rather like Howell and James's； isn't
it？〃
In fact； Lady Leonora's marquee was filled with costly knick…knacks；
which； as Meta justly said； had not half the grace and appropriate
air that reigned where Flora had arranged； and where Margaret had
worked； with the peculiar freshness and finish that distinguished
everything to which she set her hand。
Miss Cleveland's counter was not ill set…out； but it wanted the air
of ease and simplicity； which was even more noticeable than the
perfect taste of Flora's wares。 If there had been nothing facetious；
the effect would have been better； but there was nothing to regret；
and the whole was very bright and gay。
Blanche could hardly look； so anxious was she for Flora to tell her
the locality of her treasure。
〃There she is；〃 said Meta at last。 〃George is fixing that branch of
evergreen for her。〃
〃Flora！ I did not know her；〃 cried each sister amazed； while Mary
added； 〃Oh； how nice she looks！〃
It was the first time of seeing her in the white muslin； and broad
chip hatwhich all the younger saleswomen of the bazaar had agreed
to wear。 It was a most becoming dress； and she did； indeed； look
strikingly elegant and well dressed。 It occurred to Ethel； for the
first time； that Flora was decidedly the reigning beauty of the
bazaarno one but Meta Rivers could be compared to her； and that
little lady was on so small a scale of perfect finish； that she
seemed fit to act the fairy； where Flora was the enchanted princess。
Flora greeted her sisters eagerly； while Meta introduced her brother…
…a great contrast to herself； though not without a certain
comeliness； tall and large； with ruddy complexion； deep lustreless
black eyes； and a heavy straight bush of black moustache； veiling
rather thick lips。 Blanche reiterated inquiries for her watch…guard。
〃I don't know；〃said Flora。 〃Somewhere among the rest。〃
Blanche was in despair。
〃You may look for it；〃 said Flora； who； however hurried； never failed
in kindness； 〃if you will touch nothing。〃
So Blanche ran from place to place in restless dismay； that caused
Mr。 George Rivers to ask what was the matter。
〃The guards！ the guards！〃 cried Blanche； whereupon he fell into a fit
of laughter； which disconcerted her； because she could not understand
him； and made Ethel take an aversion to him on the spot。
However； he was very good…natured； he took Blanche's reluctant hand；
and conducted her all along the stall； even proceeding to lift her up
where she could not command a view of the whole； thus exciting her
extreme indignation。 She shook herself out when he set her down；
surveyed her crumpled muslin； and believed he took her for a little
girl！ She ought to have been flattered when the quest was
successful； and he insisted on knowing which was the guard； and
declared that he should buy it。 She begged him to do no such thing；
and he desired to know whyinsisting that he would give five
shillingsfifteentwenty…five for that one！ till she did not know
whether he was in earnest； and she doing an injury to the bazaar。
Meantime； the hour had struck； and Flora had placed Mrs。 Hoxton in a
sheltered spot； where she could take as much or as little trouble as
she pleased。 Lady Leonora and Miss Langdale came from the house；
and； with the two ladies'…maids in the background； took up their
station with Miss Rivers。 Miss Cleveland called her party to order；
and sounds of carriages were heard approaching。
Mary and Blanche disbursed the first money spent in the 〃fancy fair；〃
Mary； on a blotting…book for Harry； to be placed among the presents；
to which she added on every birthday； while Blanche bought a sixpenny
gift for every one； with more attention to the quantity than the
quality。 Then came a revival of her anxieties for the guards； and
while Mary was simply desirous of the fun of being a shopwoman； and
was made happy by Meta Rivers asking her help； Blanche was in
despair； till she had sidled up to their neighbourhood； and her
piteous looks had caused good…natured Mrs。 Hoxton to invite her to
assist； when she placed herself close to the precious object。
A great fluttering of heart went to that manoeuvre； but still
felicity could not be complete。 That great troublesome Mr。 George
Rivers had actually threatened to buy nothing but that one watch…
chain； and Blanche's eye followed him everywhere with fear； lest he
should come that way。 And there were many other gentlemenwhat
could they want but watch…guards； and of themwhatsave this
paragon？
Poor Blanche； what did she not undergo whenever any one cast his eye
over her range of goods？ and this was not seldom； for there was an
attraction in the pretty little eager girl； glowing and smiling。 One
old gentleman actually stopped； handled the guards themselves； and
asked their price。
〃Eighteen…pence；〃 said Blanche； colouring and faltering； as she held
up one in preference。
〃Eh！ is not this the best？〃 said he； to the lady on his arm。
〃Oh！ please； take that instead？〃 exclaimed Blanche； in extremity。
〃And why？〃 asked the gentleman； amused。
〃I made this；〃 she answered。
〃Is that the reason I must not have it？〃
〃No； don't tease her；〃 the lady said kindly； and the other was
taken。
〃I wonder for what it is reserved！〃 the lady could not help saying；
as she walked away。
〃Let us watch her for a minute or two。 What an embellishment
children are！ Ha！ don't you seethe little maid is fluttering and
reddeningnow！ How pretty she looks！ Ah！ I see！ here's the
favoured！ Don't you see that fine bronzed ladEtonone can see at
a glance！ It is a little drama。 They are pretending to be
strangers。 He is turning over the goods with an air； she trying to
look equally careless； but what a pretty carnation it is！ Ha！ ha！ he
has come to ithe has it！ Now the acting is over； and they are
having their laugh out！ How joyously！ What next！ Oh！ she begs off
from keeping shopshe darts out to him； goes off in his handI
declare that is the prettiest sight in the whole fair！ I wonder who
the little demoiselle can be？〃
The great event of the day was over now
