the daisy chain, or aspirations-第167章
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sympathy beyond expression。
〃Dear； dear Dr。 May！〃 was her first exclamation。 〃Oh； how happy you
must all be！ And Margaret？〃 She looked up at Norman； and came
nearer。 〃Is not Mr。 Ernescliffe come？〃 she asked softly； and
trembling。
〃No；〃 was the low answer； which Harry could not bear to hear； and
therefore walked to the window。 〃No； Meta； but Margaret is much
comforted about him。 He died in great peacein his arms〃as he
signed towards his brother。 And as Harry continued to gaze out on
the stars of gas on the opposite side of the park； he was able to add
a few of the particulars。
Meta's eyes glistened with tears； as she said； 〃Perhaps it would have
been too perfect if he had come； but oh； Norman！ how good she is to
bear it so patiently！ And how gloriously he behaved！ How can we
make enough of him！ And Flora out！ how sorry she will be！〃
〃And she never opened Mary's letter；〃 said Harry； coming back to
them。
〃She little thought what it contained；〃 said Meta。 〃Mary's letters
are apt to bear keeping； you know； and she was so busy； that she laid
it aside for a treat after the day's work。 But there！ inhospitable
wretch that I am！ you have had no dinner！〃
A refection of tea and cold meat was preferred； and in her own pretty
manner Meta lavished her welcomes； trying to cover any pain given by
Flora's neglect。
〃What makes her so busy？〃 asked Harry； looking round on the
beautifully furnished apartment； which； to many eyes besides those
fresh from a Milanesian hut； might have seemed a paradise of
luxurious ease。
〃You don't know what an important lady you have for a sister；〃 said
Meta merrily。
〃But tell me； what can she have to do？ I thought you London ladies
had nothing to do； but to sit with your hands before you entertaining
company。〃
Meta laughed heartily。 〃Shall I begin at the beginning？ I'll
describe to…day then； and you must understand that this is what Tom
would call a mild specimenonly one evening engagement。 Though；
perhaps； I ought to start from last night at twelve o'clock； when she
was at the Austrian Ambassador's ball； and came home at two； but she
was up by eightshe always manages to get through her housekeeping
matters before breakfast。 At nine； breakfast； and babyby the bye；
you have never inquired for our niece。〃
〃I have not come to believe in her yet；〃 said Harry。
〃Seeing is believing；〃 said Meta； 〃but no； I won't take an unfair
advantage over her mamma； and she will be fast asleep； I never knew a
child sleep as she does。 So to go on with our day。 The papers come；
and Miss Leonora is given over to me； for you must know we are
wonderful politicians。 Flora studies all the debates till George
finds out what he has heard in the House； and baby and I profit。
Baby goes out walking； and the post comes。 Flora always goes to the
study with George； and writes； and does all sorts of things for him。
She is the most useful wife in the world。 At twelve； we had our
singing lesson〃
〃Singing lesson！〃 exclaimed Harry。
〃Yes； you know she has a pretty voice； and she is glad to cultivate
it。 It is very useful at parties； but it takes up a great deal of
time； and with all I can do to save her in note…writing； the morning
is gone directly。 After luncheon； she had to ride with George； and
came back in a hurry to make some canvassing calls about the orphan
asylum； and Miss Bracy's sister。 If we get her in at all； it will be
Flora's diplomacy。 And there was shopping to do； and when we came in
hoping for time for our letters； there were the Walkinghames； who
stayed a long time； so that Flora could only despatch the most
important notes； before George came in and wanted her。 She was
reading something for him all the time she was dressing； but； as I
say； this is quite a quiet day。〃
〃Stop！〃 cried Harry； with a gesture of oppression； 〃it sounds harder
than cleaning knives； like Aunt Flora！ And what is an unquiet day
like？〃
〃You will see； for we have a great evening party to…morrow。〃
〃Do you always stay at home？〃 asked Harry。
〃Not always； but I do not go to large parties or balls this year；〃
said Meta； glancing at her deep mourning； 〃I am very glad of a little
time at home。〃
〃So you don't like it。〃
〃Oh； yes！ it is very pleasant；〃 said Meta。 〃It is so entertaining
when we talk it over afterwards； and I like to hear how Flora is
admired； and called the beauty of the season。 I tell George； and we
do so gloat over it together！ There was an old French marquis the
other night； a dear old man； quite of the ancien regime； who said she
was exactly like the portraits of Madame de Maintenon； and produced a
beautiful miniature on a snuff…box； positively like that very pretty
form of face of hers。 The old man even declared that Mistress Rivers
was worthy to be a Frenchwoman。〃
〃I should like to kick him！〃 amiably responded Harry。
〃I hope you won't to…morrow！ But don't let us waste our time over
this； I want so much to hear about New Zealand。〃
Meta was well read in Australasian literature； and drew out a great
deal more information from Harry than Norman had yet heard。 She made
him talk about the Maori pah near his uncle's farm； where the Sunday
services were conducted by an old gentleman tattooed elegantly in the
face； but dressed like an English clergyman； and tell of his aunt's
troubles about the younger generation； whom their elders； though
Christians themselves； could not educate； and who she feared would
relapse into heathenism； for want of instruction； though with
excellent dispositions。
〃How glad you must be that you are likely to go！〃 exclaimed Meta to
Norman； who had sat silently listening。
The sound of the door bell was the first intimation that Harry's
histories had occupied them until long past twelve o'clock。
〃Now； then！〃 cried Meta； springing forward； as if intending to meet
Flora with the tidings； but checking herself； as if she ought not to
be the first。 There was a pause。 Flora was hearing downstairs that
Mr。 Norman May and another gentleman had arrived； and； while vexed at
her own omission； and annoyed at Norman's bringing friends without
waiting for permission； she was yet prepared to be courteous and
amiable。 She entered in her rich black watered silk； deeply trimmed
with lace； and with silver ornaments in her dark hair； so graceful
and distinguished…looking； that Harry stood suspended； hesitating；
for an instant； whether he beheld his own sister； especially as she
made a dignified inclination towards him； offering her hand to
Norman； as she said； 〃Meta has told you〃 But there she broke off；
exclaiming； 〃Ha！ is it possible！ No； surely it cannot be〃
〃Miss Walkinghame？〃 said the sailor； who had felt at home with her at
the first word； and she flew into his great rough arms。
〃Harry！ this is dear Harry！ our own dear sailor come back；〃 cried
she； as her husband stood astonished； and； springing towards him； she
put Harry's hand into his； 〃My brother Harry！ our dear lost one。〃
〃YourbrotherHarry；〃 slowly pronounced George； as he instinctively
gave the grasp of greeting〃your brother that was lost？ Upon my
word；〃 as the matter dawned fully on him； and he became eager； 〃I am
very glad to see you。 I never was more rejoiced in my life。〃
〃When did you come？ Have you been at home？〃 asked Flora。
〃I came home yesterdayMary wrote to tell you。〃
〃Poor dear old Mary！ There's a lesson against taking a letter on
trust。 I thought it would be all Cocksmoor； and would wait for a
quiet moment！ How good to come to me so soon； you dear old
shipwrecked mariner！〃
〃I was forced to come to report myself；〃 said Harry； 〃or I could not
have come away from my father so soon。〃
The usual questions and their sad answers ensued； and while Flora
talked to Harry； fondly holding his hand； Norman and Meta explained
the history to George； who no sooner comprehended it； that he opined
it must have been a horrid nuisance； and that Harry was a gallant
fellow； then striking him over the shoulder； welcomed him home with
all his kind heart； told him he was proud to receive him； and falling
into a state of rapturous hospitality； rang the bell； and wanted to
order a
