the daisy chain, or aspirations-第186章

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〃Eh？　　Good　men　don't　like　heiresseshere's　a　man　who　likes　an
heiresstherefore　here's　a　man　that　is　not　good？　　Ah；　ha！　Meta；　you
can　see　that　is　false　logic；　though　I've　forgotten　mine。　　And　pray；
miss；　what　are　we　to　say　to　your　uncle？〃

〃He　cannot　help　it；〃　said　Meta　quickly。

〃Ha！〃　said　the　doctor；　laughing；　〃we　remember　our　twenty…one　years；
do　we？〃

〃I　did　not　meanI　hope　I　said　nothing　wrong；〃　said　Meta；　in　blushing
distress。　　〃Only　after　what　you　said；　I　can　care　for　nothing　else。〃

〃If　I　could　only　thank　him；〃　said　Norman　fervently。

〃I　believe　you　know　how　to　do　that；　my　boy；〃　said　Dr。　May；　looking
tenderly　at　the　fairy　figure　between　them；　and　ending　with　a　sigh；
remembering；　perhaps；　the　sense　of　protection　with　which　he　had　felt
another　Margaret　lean　on　his　arm。

The　clatter　of　horses'　hoofs　caused　Meta　to　withdraw　her　hand；　and
Norman　to　retreat　to　his　own　side　of　the　lane；　as　Sir　Henry
Walkinghame　and　his　servant　overtook　them。

〃We　will　be　in　good　time　for　the　proceedings；〃　called　out　the　doctor。
〃Tell　them　we　are　coming。〃

〃I　did　not　know　you　were　walking；〃　said　Sir　Henry　to　Meta。

〃It　is　pleasant　in　the　plantations；〃　Dr。　May　answered　for　her；　〃but　I
am　afraid　we　are　late；　and　our　punctual　friends　will　be　in　despair。
Will　you　kindly　say　we　are　at　hand？〃

Sir　Henry　rode　on；　finding　that　he　was　not　to　be　allowed　to　walk　his
horse　with　them；　and　that　Miss　Rivers　had　never　looked　up。

〃Poor　Sir　Henry！〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃He　has　no　right　to　be　surprised；〃　said　Meta；　very　low。

〃And　so　you　were　marching　right　upon　Drydale！〃　continued　Dr。　May；　not
able　to　help　laughing。　　〃It　was　a　happy　dispensation　that　I　met　you。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　so　glad　of　it！〃　said　Meta。

〃Though　to　be　sure　you　were　disarming　suspicion　by　so　cautiously
keeping　the　road　between　you。　　I　should　never　have　guessed　what　you
had　been　at。〃

There　was　a　little　pause；　then　Meta　said；　rather　tremulously；
〃PleaseI　think　it　should　be　known　at　once。〃

〃Our　idle　deeds　confessed　without　loss　of　time；　miss？〃

Norman　came　across　the　path；　saying；　〃Meta　is　rightit　should　be
known。〃

〃I　don't　think　Uncle　Cosham　would　object；　especially　hearing　it　while
he　is　here；〃　said　Meta　〃and　if　he　knew　what　you　told　us。〃

〃He　goes　to…morrow；　does　he　not？〃　said　Dr。　May。

A　silence　of　perplexity　ensued。　　Meta；　brave　as　she　was；　hardly　knew
her　uncle　enough　to　volunteer；　and　Norman　was　privately　devising　a
beginning　by　the　way　of　George；　when　Dr。　May　said；　〃Well；　since　it　is
not　a　case　for　putting　Ethel　in　the　forefront；　I　must　e'en　get　it
over　for　you；　I　suppose。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　they　cried　both　at　once；　feeling　that　he　was　the
proper　person　in　every　way；　and　Norman　added；　〃The　sooner　the　better；
if　Meta〃

〃Oh；　yes；　yes；　the　sooner　the　better；〃　exclaimed　Meta。　　〃And　let　me
tell　Florapoor　dear　Florashe　is　always　so　kind。〃

A　testimony　that　was　welcome　to　Dr。　May；　who　had　once；　at　least；　been
under　the　impression　that　Flora　courted　Sir　Henry's　attentions　to　her
sister…in…law。

Further　consultation　was　hindered　by　Tom　and　Blanche　bursting　upon
them　from　the　common；　both　echoing　Norman's　former　reproach　of　〃A
pretty　guide！〃　and　while　Blanche　explained　the　sufferings　of　all　the
assembly　at　their　tardiness；　Tom；　without　knowing　it；　elucidated　what
had　been　a　mystery　to　the　doctor；　namely；　how　they　ever　met；　by　his
indignation　at　Norman's　having　assumed　the　guidance　for　which　he　was
so　unfit。

〃A　shocking　leader；　Meta　will　never　trust　him　again；〃　said　Dr。　May。

Still　Blanche　thought　them　not　nearly　sufficiently　sensible　of　their
enormities；　and　preached　eagerly　about　their　danger　of　losing
standing…room；　when　they　emerged　on　the　moor；　and　beheld　a　crowd；
above　whose　heads　rose　the　apex　of　a　triangle；　formed　by　three　poles；
sustaining　a　rope　and　huge　stone。

〃Here　comes　Dr。　Spencer；〃　she　said。　　〃I　hope　he　will　scold　you。〃

Whatever　Dr。　Spencer　might　have　suffered；　he　was　far　too　polite　to
scold；　and　a　glance　between　the　two　physicians　ended　in　a　merry
twinkle　of　his　bright　eyes。

〃This　way；〃　he　said；　〃we　are　all　ready。〃

〃But　where's　my　little　Daisy？〃　said　Dr。　May。

〃You'll　see　her　in　a　minute。　　She　is　as　good　as　gold。〃

He　drew　them　on　up　the　bankpeople　making　way　for　themtill　he　had
stationed　them　among　the　others　of　their　own　party；　beside　the　deep
trench　that　traced　the　foundation；　around　a　space　that　seemed　far　too
small。

Nearly　at　the　same　moment　began　the　soft　clear　sound　of　chanting
wafted　upon　the　wind；　then　dying　awaycarried　off　by　some　eddying
breeze；　then　clear；　and　coming　nearer　and　nearer。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　I　will　not　suffer　mine　eyes　to　sleep；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Nor　mine　eye…lids　to　slumber：
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Neither　the　temples　of　my　head　to　take　any　rest；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Until　I　find　out　a　place　for　the　temple　of　the　Lord：
　　　　　　　　　　　　　An　habitation　for　the　mighty　God　of　Jacob。


Few；　who　knew　the　history　of　Cocksmoor；　could　help　glancing　towards
the　slight　girl；　who　stood；　with　bent　head；　her　hand　clasped　over
little　Aubrey's；　while；　all　that　was　not　prayer　and　thanksgiving　in
her　mind；　was　applying　the　words　to　him；　whose　head　rested　in　the
Pacific　isle；　while；　in　the　place　which　he　had　chosen；　was　laid　the
foundation　of　the　temple　that　he　had　given　unto　the　Lord。

There　came　forth　the　procession：　the　minster　choristers；　Dr。　Spencer
as　architect；　and；　in　her　white　dress；　little　Gertrude；　led　between
Harry　and　Hector；　Margaret's　special　choice　for　the　occasion；　and
followed　by　the　Stoneborough　clergy。


　　　　　　　　　　　　　Let　thy　priests　be　clothed　with　righteousness。


It　came　in　well　with　the　gentle；　meek；　steadfast　face　of　the　young
curate　of　Cocksmoor；　as　he　moved　on　in　his　white　robe；　and　the
sunlight　shone　upon　his　fair　hair；　and　calm　brow；　thankful　for　the
past；　and　hoping；　more　than　fearing；　for　the　future。

The　prayers　were　said；　and　there　was　a　pause；　while　Dr。　Spencer　and
the　foreman　advanced　to　the　machine　and　adjusted　it。　　The　two　youths
then　led　forward　the　little　girl；　her　innocent　face　and　large　blue
eyes　wearing　a　look　of　childish　obedient　solemnity；　only　half
understanding　what　she　did；　yet　knowing　it　was　something　great。

It　was　very　pretty　to　see　her　in　the　midst　of　the　little　gathering
round　the　foundation；　the　sturdy　workman　smiling　over　his　hod　of
mortar；　Dr。　Spencer's　silver　locks　touching　her　flaxen　curls　as　he
held　the　shining　trowel　to　her；　and　Harry's　bright　head　and　hardy
face；　as　he　knelt　on　one　knee　to　guide　the　little　soft　hand；　while
Hector　stood　by；　still　and　upright；　his　eyes　fixed　far　away；　as　if
his　thoughts　were　roaming　to　the　real　founder。

The　Victoria　coins　were　placedGertrude　scooped　up　the　mass　of
mortar；　and　spread　it　about　with　increasing　satisfaction；　as　it　went
so　smoothly　and　easily；　prolonging　the　operation；　till　Harry　drew　her
back；　while；　slowly　down　creaked　the　ponderous　corner…stone　into　the
bed　that　she　had　prepared　for　it；　and；　with　a　good　will；　she　gave
three　taps　on　it　with　her　trowel。

Harry　had　taken　her　hand；　when；　at　the　sight　of　Dr。　May；　she　broke
from　him；　and；　as　if　taking　sudden　fright　at　her　own　unwonted　part；
ran；　at　full　speed；　straight　up　to　her　father；　and　clung　to　him；
hiding　her　face　as　he　raised　her　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her。

Meanwhile　the　strain　arose：


　　　　　　　　　　　　　Thou　heavenly；　new　Jerusalem；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　Vision　of　peace；　in　Prophet's　dream；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　With　living　stones；　built　up　on　high；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　rising　to　the　starry　sky


The　blessing　of　peace　seemed　to　linger　softly　and　gently　in　the
fragrant　summer　breeze；　and　there　was　a　pause　ere　the　sounds　of
voices　awoke　again。

〃Etheldred〃　Mr。　Wilmot　stood　beside　her；　ere　going　to　unrobe　in　the
school　〃Etheldred；　you　must　once　let　me　say；　God　bless　you　for
this。〃

As　she　knelt　beside　her　sister's　sofa；　on　her　return　home；　Margaret
pressed　something　into　her　hand。　　〃If　you　please；　dearest；　give　this
to　Dr。　Spencer；　and　ask　him　to　let　it　be　set　round　the　stem　of　the
chalice；〃　she　whispered。

Ethel　recognised　Alan　Ernescliffe's　pearl　hoop；　the　betrothal　ring；
and　looked　at　her　sister　without　a　word。

〃I　wish　it；〃　said　Margaret　gently。　　〃I　shall　like　best　to　know　it
there。〃

So　M