the daisy chain, or aspirations-第140章

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kind　and　courteous　as　Dr。　Spencer　was　to　all；　she　seemed　to　have　a
double　charm　for　him。　　It　was　as　if　he　found　united　in　her　the　quaint
brusquerie；　that　he　had　loved　in　her　father；　with　somewhat　of　her
mother；　for　though　Ethel　had　less　personal　resemblance　to　Mrs。　May
than　any　other　of　the　family；　Dr。　Spencer　transferred　to　her　much　of
the　chivalrous　distant　devotion；　with　which　he　had　regarded　her
mother。　　Ethel　was　very　little　conscious　of　it；　but　he　was　certainly
her　sworn　knight；　and　there　was　an　eagerness　in　his　manner　of
performing　every　little　service　for　her；　a　deference　in　his　way　of
listening　to　her；　over　and　above　his　ordinary　polish　of　manner。

Ethel　lighted　up；　and　enjoyed　herself　when　talking　was　going　onher
periods　of　ennui　were　when　she　had　to　set　about　any　home　employment
when　Aubrey's　lessons　did　not　go　wellwhen　she　wanted　to　speak　to
her　father；　and　could　not　catch　him；　and　even　when　she　had　to　go　to
Cocksmoor。

She　did　not　seem　to　make　any　progress　therethe　room　was　very　full；
and　very　close；　the　children　were　dull；　and　she　began　to　believe　she
was　doing　no　goodit　was　all　a　weariness。　　But　she　was　so　heartily
ashamed　of　her　feelings；　that　she　worked　the　more　vehemently　for
them；　and　the　utmost　show　that　they　outwardly　made　was；　that　Margaret
thought　her　less　vivacious　than　her　wont；　and　she　was　a　little　too
peremptory　at　times　with　Mary　and　Blanche。　　She　had　so　much　disliked
the　display　that　Flora　had　made　about　Cocksmoor；　that　she　had　imposed
total　silence　on　it　upon　her　younger　sisters；　and　Dr。　Spencer　had
spent　a　fortnight　at　Stoneborough　without　being　aware　of　their
occupation；　when　there　occurred　such　an　extremely　sultry　day；　that
Margaret　remonstrated　with　Ethel　on　her　intention　of　broiling　herself
and　Mary　by　walking　to　Cocksmoor；　when　the　quicksilver　stood　at　80？
in　the　shade。

Ethel　was　much　inclined　to　stay　at　home；　but　she　did　not　know　whether
this　was　from　heat　or　from　idleness；　and　her　fretted　spirits　took　the
turn　of　determinationso　she　posted　off　at　a　galloping　pace；　that
her　brothers　called　her　〃Cocksmoor　speed；〃　and　Mary　panted　by　her
side；　humbly　petitioning　for　the　plantation　path；　when　she　answered
〃that　it　was　as　well　to　be　hot　in　the　sun　as　in　the　shade。〃

The　school…room　was　unusually　full；　all　the　haymaking　mothers　made　it
serve　as　an　infant　school；　and　though　as　much　window　was　opened　as
there　could　be；　the　effect　was　not　coolness。　　Nevertheless；　Ethel　sat
down　and　gathered　her　class　round　her；　and　she　had　just　heard　the
chapter　once　read；　when　there　was　a　little　confusion；　a　frightened
cry　of　〃Ethel！〃　and　before　she　could　rise　to　her　feeta　flump　upon
the　floorpoor　Mary　had　absolutely　fainted　dead　away。

Ethel　was　much　terrified；　and　very　angry　with　herself；　Mary　was　no
light　weight；　but　Mrs。　Elwood　coming　at　their　cry；　helped　Ethel　to
drag　her　into　the　outer　room；　where　she　soon　began　to　recover；　and　to
be　excessively　puzzled　as　to　what　had　happened　to　her。　　She　said　the
sea　was　roaring；　and　where　was　Harry？　and　then　she　looked　much
surprised　to　find　herself　lying　on　Mrs。　Elwood's　damp　flagsa
circumstance　extremely　distressing　to　Mrs。　Elwood；　who　wanted　to
carry　her　upstairs　into　Cherry's　room；　very　clean　and　very　white；　but
with　such　a　sun　shining　full　into　it！

Ethel　lavished　all　care；　and　reproached　herself　greatly；　though　to　be
sure　nothing　had　ever　been　supposed　capable　of　hurting　Mary；　and　Mary
herself　protested　that　nothing　at　all　had　ailed　her　till　the
children's　voices　began　to　sound　funny；　and　turned　into　the　waves　of
the　sea；　and　therewith　poor　Mary　burst　into　a　great　flood　of　tears；
and　asked　whether　Harry　would　ever　come　back。　　The　tears　did　her　a
great　deal　of　good；　though　not　so　much　as　the　being　petted　by　Ethel；
and　she　soon　declared　herself　perfectly　well；　but　Ethel　could　not
think　of　letting　her　walk　home；　and　sent　off　a　boywho　she　trusted
would　not　faintwith　a　note　to　Margaret；　desiring　her　to　send　the
gig；　which　fortunately　was　at　home　to…day。

Mary　had　partaken　of　some　of　Mrs。　Elwood's　tea；　which；　though
extremely　bitter；　seemed　a　great　cordial；　and　was　sitting；　quite
revived；　in　the　arbour　at　the　door；　when　the　gig　stopped；　and　Dr。
Spencer　walked　in。

〃Well；　and　how　are　you？〃

〃Quite　well　now；　thank　you。　　Was　Margaret　frightened？　　Why　did　you
come？〃

〃I　thought　it　would　make　her　happier；　as　your　father　was　not　at　home。
Here；　let　me　feel　your　pulse。　　Do　you　think　no　one　is　a　doctor　but
your　papa？　　There's　not　much　the　matter　with　you；　however。　　Where　is
Ethel？〃

〃In　the　school；〃　and　Mary　opened　the　door。　　Dr。　Spencer　looked　in；　as
Ethel　came　out；　and　his　face　put　her　in　mind　of　Norman's　look。

〃No　wonder！〃　was　all　he　said。

Ethel　was　soon　satisfied　that　he　did　not　think　Mary　ill。　　In　fact；　he
said　fainting　was　the　most　natural　and　justifiable　measure；　under　the
circumstances。　　〃How　many　human　creatures　do　you　keep　there？〃　he
asked。

〃Forty…seven　to…day；〃　said　Mary　proudly。

〃I　shall　indict　you　for　cruelty　to　animals！　　I　think　I　have　known　it
hotter　at　Poonshedagore；　but　there　we　had　punkahs！〃

〃It　was　very　wrong　of　me；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃I　should　have　thought　of
poor　Mary；　in　that　sunny　walk；　but　Mary　never　complains。〃

〃Oh；　never　mind；〃　said　Mary；　〃it　did　not　hurt。〃

〃I'm　not　thinking　of　Mary；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　〃but　of　the　wretched
beings　you　are　leaving　shut　up　there。　　I　wonder　what　the　mercury
would　be　there。〃

〃We　cannot　help　it；〃　said　Mary。　　〃We　cannot　get　the　ground。〃

And　Mary；　having　been　voted　into　the　seat　of　honour　and　comfort　by
his　side　in　the　carriage；　told　her　version　of　Cocksmoor　and　the
Committee；　while　Ethel　sat　up　in　the　little　narrow　seat　behind；
severely　reproaching　herself　for　her　want　of　consideration　towards
one　so　good　and　patient　as　Mary；　who　proved　to　have　been　suffering
far　more　on　Harry's　account　than　they　had　guessed；　and　who　was　so
simple　and　thorough…going　in　doing　her　duty。　　This　was　not　being　a
good　elder　sister；　and；　when　they　came　home；　she　confessed　it；　and
showed　so　much　remorse　that　poor　Mary　was　quite　shocked；　and　cried　so
bitterly　that　it　was　necessary　to　quit　the　subject。

〃Ethel；　dearest；〃　said　Margaret　that　night；　after　they　were　in　bed；
〃is　there　anything　the　matter？〃

〃No；　nothing；　but　that　Oxford　has　spoiled　me；〃　said　Ethel；
resolutely。　　〃I　am　very　cross　and　selfish！〃

〃It　will　be　better　by…and…by；〃　said　Margaret；　〃if　only　you　are　sure
you　have　nothing　to　make　you　unhappy。〃

〃Nothing；〃　said　Ethel。　　She　was　becoming　too　much　ashamed　of　her
fancy　to　breathe　one　word　about　it；　and　she　had　spoken　the　truth。
Pleasure　had　spoiled　her。

〃If　only　we　could　do　something　for　Cocksmoor！〃　she　sighed；　presently；
〃with　that　one　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　lying　idle。〃

Margaret　was　very　glad　that　her　thoughts　were　taking　this　channel；
but　it　was　not　a　promising　one；　for　there　seemed　to　be　nothing
practicable；　present　or　future。　　The　ground　could　not　be　hadthe　pig
would　not　get　over　the　stilethe　old　woman　could　not　get　home　to…
night。　　Cocksmoor　must　put　up　with　its　present　school；　and　Mary　must
not　be　walked　to　death。

Or；　as　Ethel　drew　her　own　moral；　sacrifice　must　not　be　selfish。　　One
great　resolution　that　has　been　costly；　must　not　blunt　us　in　the　daily
details　of　life。




CHAPTER　XI。



If　to　do　were　as　easy　as　to　know　what　were　good　to　do；　Chapels　had
been　Churches；　and　poor　men's　cottages；　princes'　palaces。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MERCHANT　OF　VENICE。


〃Dick；〃　said　Dr。　Spencer；　as　the　friends　sat　together　in　the　evening；
after　Mary's　swoon；　〃you　seem　to　have　found　an　expedient　for　making
havoc　among　your　daughters。〃

〃It　does　not　hurt　them；〃　said　Dr。　May　carelessly。

〃Pretty　well；　after　the　specimen　of　to…day。〃

〃That　was　chance。〃

〃If　you　like　it；　I　have　no　more　to　say；　but　I　should　like　to　make　you
sit　for　two　hours　in　such　a　temperature。　　If　they　were　mine〃

〃Very　fine　talking；　but　I　would　not　take　the　responsibility　of
hindering　the　only　pains　that　have　ever　been　taken　with　that　unlucky
place。　　You　don't　know　that　girl　Ethel。　　She　began　at　fifteen；
entirely　of　her　own　accord；　and　has　never　faltered。　　If　any　of　the
children　there　are　saved　f