the daisy chain, or aspirations-第174章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
about the house。 It was much prettier of you not to appropriate the
flowers； as any other damsel would have done。〃
〃Do you really and truly think〃 began Meta； but； from the colour of
her cheek and the timid resolution of her tone； Flora thought it
safest not to hear the interrogation； and answered； 〃I know what he
comes here forit is only as a refuge from his mother's friend； old
Lady Drummond； who would give the world to catch him for her
daughtersthat's all。 Put my nonsense out of your head； and be
yourself； my sweet one。〃
Flora had never gone so near an untruth； as when she led Meta to
believe this was the sole reason。 But； after all； what did Flora
herself know to the contrary？
Meta recovered her ease； and Flora marked； as weeks passed on； that
she grew more accustomed to Sir Henry's attentions。 A little while；
and she would find herself so far bound by the encouragement she had
given； that she could not reject him。
〃My dear；〃 said George； 〃when do you think of going down to take the
baby to the Grange？ She looks dull； I think。〃
〃Really； I think it is hardly worth while to go down en masse；〃 said
Flora。 〃These last debates may be important； and it is a bad time to
quit one's post。 Don't you think so？〃
〃As you pleasethe train is a great bore。〃
〃And we will send the baby down the last day before we go to Ryde；
with Preston and Butts to take care of her。 We can't spare him to
take them down； till we shut up the house。 It is so much easier for
us to go to Portsmouth from hence。〃
The lurking conviction was that one confidential talk with Ethel
would cause the humming…bird to break the toils that were being wound
invisibly round her。 Ethel and her father knew nothing of the world；
and were so unreasonable in their requirements！ Meta would consult
them all； and all her scruples would awaken； and perhaps Dr。 Spencer
might be interrogated on Sir Henry's life abroad； where Flora had a
suspicion that gossip had best not be raked up。
Not that she concealed anything positively known to her； or that she
was not acting just as she would have done by her own child。 She
found herself happily married to one whom home notions would have
rejected； and she believed Meta would be perfectly happy with a man
of decided talent； honour； and unstained character； even though he
should not come up to her father's or Ethel's standard。
If Meta were to marry as they would approve； she would have far to
seek among 〃desirable connections。〃 Meantime； was not Flora acting
with exemplary judgment and self…denial？
So she wrote that she could not come home； Margaret was much
disappointed； and so was Meta； who had looked to Ethel to unravel the
tangles of her life。
〃No； no； little miss；〃 said Flora to herself； 〃you don't talk to
Ethel till your fate is irrevocable。 Why； if I had listened to her；
I should be thankful to be singing at Mrs。 Hoxton's parties at this
minute！ and； as for herself； look at Norman Ogilvie！ No； no； after
six weeks' yachtingmoonlight； sea； and sympathyI defy her to rob
Sir Henry of his prize！ And； with Meta lady of Cocksmoor； even Ethel
herself must be charmed！〃
CHAPTER XX。
We barter life for pottage； sell true bliss
For wealth or power； for pleasure or renown；
Thus； Esau…like； our Father's blessing miss；
Then wash with fruitless tears our faded crown。
Christian Year。
〃Papa； here is a message from Flora for you；〃 said Margaret； holding
up a letter； 〃she wants to know whom to consult about the baby。〃
〃Ha！ what's the matter？〃
Margaret read〃Will you ask papa whom I had better call in to see
the baby。 There does not seem to be anything positively amiss； but I
am not happy about her。 There is a sleepiness about her which I do
not understand； and； when roused； she is fretful； and will not be
amused。 There is a look in her eyes which I do not like； and I
should wish to have some advice for her。 Lady Leonora recommends
Mr。； but I always distrust people who are very much the rage； and I
shall send for no one without papa's advice。〃
〃Let me see！〃 said Dr。 May； startled； and holding out his hand for
the letter。 〃A look about the eyes！ I shall go up and see her
myself。 Why has not she brought her home？〃
〃It would have been far better；〃 said Margaret。
〃Sleepy and dull！ She was as lively a child when they took her away
as I ever saw。 What！ is there no more about her？ The letter is
crammed with somebody's fetevote of want of confidencedebate last
night。 What is she about？ She fancies she knows everything； and；
the fact is； she knows no more about infantsI could see that； when
the poor little thing was a day old！〃
〃Do you think there is cause for fear？〃 said Margaret anxiously。
〃I can't tell。 With a first child； one can't guess what may be
mamma's fancy； or what may be serious。 But Flora is not too
fanciful； and I must see her for my own satisfaction。 Let some one
write； and say I will come up to…morrow by the twelve o'clock train
and mind she opens the letter。〃
Dr。 May kept his word； and the letter had evidently not been
neglected； for George was watching for him at the station； and
thanked him so eagerly for coming； that Dr。 May feared that he was
indeed needed； and inquired anxiously。
〃Flora is uneasy about hershe seems heavy； and cries when she is
disturbed；〃 replied George。 〃Flora has not left her to…day； and
hardly yesterday。〃
〃Have you had no advice for her？〃
〃Flora preferred waiting till you should come。〃
Dr。 May made an impatient movement； and thought the way long； till
they were set down in Park Lane。 Meta came to meet them on the
stairs； and said that the baby was just the same； and Flora was in
the nursery； and thither they hastily ascended。
〃Oh； papa！ I am so glad you are come！〃 said Flora； starting up from
her low seat； beside the cradle。
Dr。 May hardly paused to embrace his daughter； and she anxiously led
him to the cradle； and tried to read his expression； as his eyes fell
on the little face； somewhat puffed； but of a waxy whiteness； and the
breathing seeming to come from the lips。
〃How long has she been so？〃 he asked； in a rapid； professional
manner。
〃For about two or three hours。 She was very fretful before； but I
did not like to call in any one； as you were coming。 Is it from her
teeth？〃 said Flora； more and more alarmed by his manner。 〃Her
complexion is always like thatshe cannot bear to be disturbed；〃
added she； as the child feebly moaned； on Dr。 May beginning to take
her from her cradle； but； without attending to the objection； he
lifted her up； so that she lay as quietly as before； on his arm。
Flora had trusted that hope and confidence would come with him； but；
on the contrary； every lurking misgiving began to rush wildly over
her； as she watched his countenance； while he carried his little
granddaughter towards the light； studied her intently； raised her
drooping eyelids； and looked into her eyes； scarcely eliciting
another moan。 Flora dared not ask a question； but looked on with
eyes open； as it were； stiffened。
〃This is the effect of opium；〃 were Dr。 May's first words； breaking
on all with startling suddenness； but； before any one could speak； he
added； 〃We must try some stimulant directly；〃 then looking round the
room； 〃What have you nearest？〃
〃Godfrey's Cordial； sir；〃 quickly suggested the nurse。
〃Ayanything to save timeshe is sinking for want of the drug that
has〃 He broke off to apportion the dose； and to hold the child in a
position to administer itFlora tried to give itthe nurse tried
in vain。
〃Do not torment her further；〃 said the doctor； as Flora would have
renewed the trial〃it cannot be done。 What have you all been
doing？〃 cried he； as； looking up； his face changed from the tender
compassion with which he had been regarding his little patient； into
a look of strong indignation； and one of his sentences of hasty
condemnation broke from him； as it would not have done； had Flora
been less externally calm。 〃I tell you this child has been destroyed
with opium！〃
They all recoiled； the father turned fiercely round on the nurse；
with a violen
