the daisy chain, or aspirations-第166章
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much。〃
The sailor shook his head； and was retreating； but Margaret signed
him to come near again； and grasped his hand。 Harry followed him out
of the room； to arrange their journey； and presently returned。
〃He says he is glad he has seen Margaret； he says she is the right
sort of stuff for Mr。 Ernescliffe。〃
Harry had not intended Margaret to hear； but she caught the words；
smiled radiantly； and whispered； 〃I wish I may be！〃
CHAPTER XVIII。
Margaret had borne the meeting much too well for her own good； and a
wakeful night of palpitation was the consequence； but she would not
allow any one to take it to heart； and declared that she should be
ready to enjoy Harry by the time he should return； and meantime； she
should dwell on the delight of his meeting Flora。
No one had rested too soundly that night； and Dr。 May had not been
able to help looking in at his sleeping boy at five in the morning；
to certify himself that he had not only figured his present bliss to
himself； in his ten minutes' dream。 And looking in again at half…
past seven； he found Harry half dressed； with his arm round Mary；
laughing； almost sobbing； over the treasures in his cupboard； which
he had newly discovered in their fresh order。
Dr。 May looked like a new man that morning； with his brightened eye
and bearing； as if there were a well…spring of joy within him； ready
to brim over at once in tear and in smile； and finding an outlet in
the praise and thanksgiving that his spirit chanted； and his face
expressed； and in that sunny genial benevolence that must make all
share his joy。
He was going to run over half the townevery one would like to hear
it from him； Ethel and Mary must go to the restthe old women in the
almshouses； where lived an old cook who used to be fond of Harry
they should have a feast； all who were well enough in the hospital
should have a tea…drinking； Dr。 Hoxton had already granted a holiday
to the school； every boy with whom they had any connection should
come to dinner； and Edward Anderson should be asked to meet Harry on
his return； because； poor fellow； he was so improved。
Dr。 May was in such a transport of kind…hearted schemes； that he was
not easily made to hear that Harry had not a sixpence wherewith to
reach London。
Ethel； meanwhile； was standing beside her brother tendering to him
some gold； as his last quarter。
〃How did you get it； Ethel？ do you keep the purse？〃
〃No； but papa took Cocksmoor in your stead； when〃
〃Nonsense； Ethel；〃 said Harry； 〃I don't want it。 Have I not all my
pay and allowance for the whole time I was dead？ And as to robbing
Cocksmoor〃
〃Yes； keep it； Ethel；〃 said her father； 〃do you think I would take it
now； when if there were a thank…offering in the world。 And； by the
bye； your Cooksmoor children must have something to remember this
by〃
Every one could have envied Norman； for travelling to London with
Harry； but that he must proceed to Oxford in two days； when Harry
would return to them。 The station…master； thinking he could not do
enough for the returned mariner； put the two brothers into the coupe；
as if they had been a bridal couple； and they were very glad of the
privacy； having； as yet； hardly spoken to each other； when Harry's
attention was dispersed among so many。
Norman asked many questions about the mission work in the southern
hemisphere； and ended by telling his brother of his design； which met
with Harry's hearty approbation。
〃That's right； old June。 There's nothing they want so much； as such
as you。 How glad my aunt will be！ Perhaps you will see David！ Oh；
if you were to go out to the Loyalty group！〃
〃Very possibly I might；〃 said Norman。
〃Tell them you are my brother； and how they will receive you！ I can
see the mop…heads they will dress in honour of you； and what a feast
of pork and yams you will have to eat！ But there is plenty of work
among the Maoris for youthey want a clergyman terribly at the next
village to my uncle's place。 I say； Norman； it will go hard if I
don't get a ship bound for the Pacific； and come and see you。〃
〃I shall reckon on you。 That is； if I have not to stay to help my
father。〃
〃To be sure；〃 exclaimed Harry； 〃I thought you would have stayed at
home； and married little Miss Rivers！〃
Thus broadly and boyishly did he plunge into that most tender
subject； making his brother start and wince； as if he had touched a
wound。
〃Nonsense！〃 he cried； almost angrily。
〃Well！ you used to seem very much smitten； but so； to be sure； were
some of the Alcestes with the young ladies at Valparaiso。 How we
used to roast Owen about that Spanish Donna； and he was as bad at
Sydney about the young lady whose father； we told him； was a convict；
though he kept such a swell carriage。 He had no peace about his
father…in…law； the house…breaker！ Don't I remember how you pinched
her hand the night you were righted！〃
〃You know nothing about it；〃 said Norman shortly。 〃She is far beyond
my reach。〃
〃A fine lady？ Ha！ Well； I should have thought you as good as Flora
any day；〃 said Harry indignantly。
〃She is what she always was；〃 said Norman； anxious to silence him；
〃but it is unreasonable to think of it。 She is all but engaged to
Sir Henry Walkinghame。〃
〃Walkinghame！〃 cried the volatile sailor。 〃I have half a mind to
send in my name to Flora as Miss Walkinghame！〃 and he laughed
heartily over that adventure； ending； however； with a sigh； as he
said； 〃It had nearly cost me a great deal！ But tell me； Norman； how
has that Meta； as they called her； turned out？ I never saw anything
prettier or nicer than she was that day of the Roman encampment； and
I should be sorry if that fine fashionable aunt of hers； had made her
stuck…up and disdainful。〃
〃No such thing；〃 said Norman。
〃Ha！〃 said Harry to himself； 〃I see how it is！ She has gone and made
poor old June unhappy； with her scornful airsa little impertinent
puss！I wonder Flora does not teach her better manners。〃
Norman； meanwhile； as the train sped over roofs； and among chimneys；
was reproaching himself for running into the fascination of her
presence； and then recollecting that her situation； as well as his
destiny； both guaranteed that they could meet only as friendly
connections。
No carriage awaited them at the station； which surprised Norman； till
he recollected that the horses had probably been out all day； and it
was eight o'clock。 Going to Park Lane in a cab； the brothers were
further surprised to find themselves evidently not expected。 The
butler came to speak to them； saying that Mr。 and Mrs。 Rivers were
gone out to dinner； but would return； probably； at about eleven
o'clock。 He conducted them upstairs； Harry following his brother； in
towering vexation and disappointment； trying to make him turn to hear
that they would go directlyhometo Etonanywherewhy would he go
in at all？
The door was opened； Mr。 May was announced； and they were in a silk…
lined boudoir； where a little slender figure in black started up； and
came forward with outstretched hand。
〃Norman！〃 she cried； 〃how are you？ Are you come on your way to
Oxford？〃
〃Has not Flora had Mary's letter？〃
〃Yes； she said she had one。 She was keeping it till she had time to
read it。〃
As she spoke； Meta had given her hand to Harry； as it was evidently
expected； she raised her eyes to his face； and said； smiling' and
blushing； 〃I am sure I ought to know you； but I am afraid I don't。〃
〃Look again；〃 said Norman。 〃See if you have ever seen him before。〃
Laughing； glancing； and casting down her eyes； she raised them with a
sudden start of joy； but colouring more deeply； said； 〃Indeed； I
cannot remember。 I dare say I ought。〃
〃I think you see a likeness；〃 said Norman。
〃Oh； yes； I see；〃 she answered； faltering； but perceiving how bright
were the looks of both； 〃No？ Impossible！ Yes； it is！〃
〃Yes； it is；〃 said both brothers with one voice。 She clasped her
hands； absolutely bounded with transport； then grasped both Harry's
hands； and then Norman's； her whole countenance radiant with joy and
sympathy beyond expression。
〃Dear； dear Dr。 May！〃 was her first exclamation。 〃Oh； how
