the daisy chain, or aspirations-第161章
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of his resolution； that； if he found he could be spared from
assisting his father as a physician； he would give himself up to the
mission in New Zealand。 Why should he tell any one so unsympathetic
as Flora； who would think him wasted in either case？
CHAPTER XVII。
Do not fear： Heaven is as near；
By water； as by land。LONGFELLOW。
The fifth of May was poor Harry's eighteenth birthday； and； as usual；
was a holiday。 Etheldred privately thought his memory more likely to
be respected； if Blanche and Aubrey were employed； than if they were
left in idleness； but Mary would have been wretched had the
celebration been omitted； and a leisure day was never unwelcome。
Dr。 Spencer carried off Blanche and Aubrey for a walk； and Ethel
found Mary at her great resortHarry's cupboarddusting and
arranging his books； and the array of birthday gifts； to which； even
to…day； she had not failed to add the marker that had been in hand at
Christmas。 Ethel entreated her to come down； and Mary promised； and
presently appeared； looking so melancholy； that； as a sedative； Ethel
set her down to the basket of scraps to find materials for a tippet
for some one at Cocksmoor； intending； as soon as Margaret should be
dressed； to resign her morning to the others； invite Miss Bracy to
the drawing…room； and read aloud。
Gertrude was waiting for her walk； till nurse should have dressed
Margaret； and was frisking about the lawn； sometimes looking in at
the drawing…room window at her sisters； sometimes chattering to Adams
at his work； or laughing to herself and the flowers； in that overflow
of mirth； that seemed always bubbling up within her。
She was standing in rapt contemplation of a pear…tree in full
blossom； her hands tightly clasped behind the back； for greater
safety from the temptation； when； hearing the shrubbery gate open；
she turned； expecting to see her papa； but was frightened at the
sight of two strangers； and began to run off at full speed。
〃Stop！ Blanche！ Blanche； don't you know me？〃 The voice was that
tone of her brother's； and she stood and looked； but it came from a
tall； ruddy youth； in a shabby rough blue coat； followed by a
grizzled old seaman。 She was too much terrified and perplexed even
to run。
〃What's the matter！ Blanche； it is I！ Why； don't you know me
Harry？〃
〃Poor brother Harry is drowned；〃 she answered； and； with one bound；
he was beside her； and； snatching her up； devoured her with kisses。
〃Put me downput me down； please；〃 was all she could say。
〃It is not Blanche！ What？ the little Daisy； I do believe！〃
〃Yes； I am Gertrude； but please let me go；〃 and； at the same time；
Adams hurried up； as if he thought her being kidnapped； but his
aspect changed at the glad cry； 〃Ha！ Adams' how are you？ Are they
all well？〃
〃'Tisn't never Master Harry！ Bless me！〃 as Harry's hand gave him
sensible proof； 〃when we had given you up for lost！〃
〃My father well？〃 Harry asked； hurrying the words one over the other。
〃Quite well； sir； but he never held up his head since he heard it；
and poor Miss Mary has so moped about。 If ever I thought to see the
like〃
〃So they did not get my letter； but I can't stop。 Jennings will tell
you。 Take care of him。 Come； Daisy〃 for he had kept her unwilling
hand all the time。 〃But what's that for？〃 pointing to the black
ribbons； and； stopping short； startled。
〃Because of poor Harry；〃 said the bewildered child。
〃Oh； that's right！〃 cried he； striding on； and dragging her in a
breathless run； as he threw open the well…known doors； and； she
escaping from him； hid her face in Mary's lap； screaming； 〃He says he
is Harry！ he says he is not drowned！〃
At the same moment Ethel was in his arms； and his voice was sobbing；
〃Ethel！ Mary！ home！ Where's papa？〃 One moment's almost agonising
joy in the certainty of his identity！ but ere she could look or
think； he was crying； 〃Mary！ oh； Ethel； see〃
Mary had not moved； but sat as if turned to stone； with breath
suspended； wide…stretched eyes； and death…like cheeksEthel sprang
to her； 〃Mary； Mary dear； it is Harry！ It is himself！ Don't you
see？ Speak to her； Harry。〃
He seemed almost afraid to do so； but； recovering himself； exclaimed；
〃Mary； dear old Polly； here I am！ Oh； won't you speak to me？〃 he
added piteously； as he threw his arm round her and kissed her；
startled at the cold touch of her cheek。
The spell seemed broken； and； with a wild hoarse shriek that rang
through the house； she struggled to regain her breath； but it would
only come in painful； audible catches； as she held Harry's hand
convulsively。
〃What have I done？〃 he exclaimed； in distress。
〃What's this！ Who is this frightening my dear？〃 was old nurse's
exclamation； as she and James came at the outcry。
〃Oh； nurse； what have I done to her？〃 repeated Harry。
〃It is joyit is sudden joy！〃 said Ethel。 〃See； she is better
now〃
〃Master Harry！ Well； I never！〃 and James； 〃with one wring of the
hand； retreated； while old nurse was nearly hugged to death；
declaring all the time that he didn't ought to have come in such a
way； terrifying every one out of their senses！ and as for poor Miss
May
〃Where is she？ 〃 cried Harry； starting at the sight of the vacant
sofa。
〃Only upstairs；〃 said Ethel； 〃but where's Alan？ Is not he come？〃
〃Oh； Ethel； don't you know？〃 His face told but too plainly。
〃Nurse！ nurse； how shall we tell her？〃 said Ethel。
〃Poor dear！〃 exclaimed nurse； sounding her tongue on the roof of her
mouth。 〃She'll never abear it without her papa。 Wait for him； I
should say。 But bless me； Miss Mary； to see you go on like that；
when Master Harry is come back such a bonny
man！〃
〃I'm better now；〃 said Mary； with an effort。 〃Oh； Harry！ speak to me
again。〃
〃But Margaret！〃 said Ethel； while the brother was holding Mary in his
embrace； and she lay tremulous with the new ecstasy upon his breast
〃but Margaret。 Nurse； you must go up； or she will suspect。 I'll
come when I can； speak quietly。 Oh！ poor Margaret！ If Richard would
but come in！〃
Ethel walked up and down the room； divided between a tumult of joy；
grief； dread； and perplexity。 At that moment a little voice said at
the door； 〃Please； Margaret wants Harry to come up directly。〃
They looked one upon another in consternation。 They had never thought
of the child； who； of course； had flown up at once with the tidings。
〃Go up； Miss Ethel；〃 said nurse。
〃Oh！ nurse； I can't be the first。 Come； Harry； come。〃
Hand…in…hand； they silently ascended the stairs； and Ethel pushed
open the door。 Margaret was on her couch； her whole form and face in
one throb of expectation。
She looked into Harry's facethe eagerness flitted like sunshine on
the hillside； before a cloud； and； without a word； she held out her
arms。
He threw himself on his knees； and her fingers were clasped among his
thick curls； while his frame heaved with suppressed sobs； 〃Oh； if he
could only have come back to you。〃
〃Thank God；〃 she said； then slightly pushing him back； she lay
holding his hand in one of hers； and resting the other on his
shoulder； and gazing in silence into his face。 Each was stillshe
was gathering strengthhe dreaded word or look。
〃Tell me how and where；〃 she said at last。
〃It was in the Loyalty Isles； it was feverthe exertions for us。
His head was lying here；〃 and he pointed to his own breast。 〃He sent
his love to youhe bade me tell you there would be meeting by and
by； in the haven where he would be。 I laid his head in the grave
under the great palmI said some of the prayersthere are
Christians round it。〃
He said this in short disconnected phrases； often pausing to gather
voice； but forced to resume； by her inquiring looks and pressure of
his hand。
She asked no more。 〃Kiss me；〃 she said； and when he had done so；
〃Thank you； go down； please； all of you。 You have brought great
relief。 Thank you。 But I can't talk yet。 You shall tell me the
rest by and by。〃
She sent them all away； even Ethel； who would have lingered。
〃Go to him； dearest。 Let me be alone。 Don't be uneasy。 This is
peacebut go。〃
Ethel found Mary and Harry interlaced into one moving figure
