the daisy chain, or aspirations-第2章
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after the reading to mend that horrid frock？〃
〃I think so； since we are so nearly collected；〃 said Miss Winter； and
Ethel； seating herself on the corner of the window…seat； with one leg
doubled under her； took up a Shakespeare； holding it close to her
eyes； and her brother Norman； who； in age； came between her and
Flora； kneeling on one knee on the window…seat； and supporting
himself with one arm against the shutter； leaned over her； reading it
too； disregarding a tumultuous skirmish going on in that division of
the family collectively termed 〃the boys；〃 namely； Harry； Mary； and
Tom； until Tom was suddenly pushed down； and tumbled over into
Ethel's lap； thereby upsetting her and Norman together； and there was
a general downfall； and a loud scream； 〃The sphynx！〃
〃You've crushed it；〃 cried Harry； dealing out thumps
indiscriminately。
〃No； here 'tis；〃 said Mary； rushing among them； and bringing out a
green sphynx caterpillar on her finger〃'tis not hurt。〃
〃Pax！ Pax！〃 cried Norman； over all； with the voice of an authority；
as he leaped up lightly and set Tom on his legs again。 〃Harry！ you
had better do that again；〃 he added warningly。 〃Be off； out of this
window； and let Ethel and me read in peace。〃
〃Here's the place；〃 said Ethel 〃Crispin； Crispian's day。 How I do
like Henry V。〃
〃It is no use to try to keep those boys in order！〃 sighed Miss
Winter。
〃Saturnalia； as papa calls Saturday；〃 replied Flora。
〃Is not your eldest brother coming home to…day？〃 said Miss Winter in
a low voice to Flora； who shook her head； and said confidentially；
〃He is not coming till he has passed that examination。 He thinks it
better not。〃
Here entered； with a baby in her arms； a lady with a beautiful
countenance of calm sweetness； looking almost too young to be the
mother of the tall Margaret； who followed her。 There was a general
hush as she greeted Miss Winter； the girls crowding round to look at
their little sister； not quite six weeks old。
〃Now； Margaret； will you take her up to the nursery？〃 said the
mother； while the impatient speech was repeated； 〃Mamma； can we go to
Cocksmoor？〃
〃You don't think it will be too far for you？〃 said the mother to Miss
Winter as Margaret departed。
〃Oh； no； not at all； thank you； that was not But Margaret has
explained。〃
〃Yes； poor Margaret；〃 said Mrs。 May； smiling。 〃She has settled it by
choosing to stay at home with me。 It is no matter for the others；
and he is going on Monday； so that it will not happen again。〃
〃Margaret has behaved very well；〃 said Miss Winter。
〃She has indeed；〃 said her mother； smiling。 〃Well； Harry； how is the
caterpillar？〃
〃They've just capsized it； mamma；〃 answered Harry； 〃and Mary is
making all taut。〃
Mrs。 May laughed； and proceeded to advise Ethel and Norman to put
away Henry V。； and find the places in their Bibles； 〃or you will have
the things mixed together in your heads；〃 said she。
In the meantime Margaret； with the little babe； to…morrow to be her
godchild； lying gently in her arms； came out into the matted hall；
and began to mount the broad shallow…stepped staircase； protected by
low stout balusters； with a very thick； flat； and solid mahogany
hand…rail； polished by the boys' constant riding up and down upon it。
She was only on the first step； when the dining…room door opened； and
there came out a young man； slight； and delicate…looking； with bright
blue eyes； and thickly…curling light hair。 〃Acting nurse？〃 he said；
smiling。 〃What an odd little face it is！ I didn't think little
white babies were so pretty！ Well； I shall always consider myself as
the real godfatherthe other is all a sham。〃
〃I think so；〃 said Margaret； 〃but I must not stand with her in a
draught；〃 and on she went； while he called after her。 〃So we are to
have an expedition to…day。〃
She did not gainsay it； but there was a little sigh of disappoint…
ment； and when she was out of hearing； she whispered； 〃Oh！ lucky
baby； to have so many years to come before you are plagued with
troublesome propriety！〃
Then depositing her little charge with the nurse； and trying to cheer
up a solemn…looking boy of three； who evidently considered his
deposition from babyhood as a great injury； she tripped lightly down
again； to take part in the Saturday's reading and catechising。
It was pleasant to see that large family in the hush and reverence of
such teaching； the mother's gentle power preventing the outbreaks of
restlessness to which even at such times the wild young spirits were
liable。 Margaret and Miss Winter especially rejoiced in it on this
occasion； the first since the birth of the baby； that she had been
able to preside。 Under her； though seemingly without her taking any
trouble； there was none of the smothered laughing at the little
mistakes； the fidgeting of the boys； or Harry's audacious
impertinence to Miss Winter； and no less glad was Harry to have his
mother there； and be guarded from himself。
The Catechism was repeated； and a comment on the Sunday Services read
aloud。 The Gospel was that on the taking the lowest place； and when
they had finished； Ethel said； 〃I like the verse which explains that：
〃They who now sit lowest here；
When their Master shall appear；
He shall bid them higher rise；
And be highest in the skies。〃
〃I did not think of that being the meaning of 'when He that bade thee
cometh；'〃 said Norman thoughtfully。
〃It seemed to be only our worldly advantage that was meant before；〃
said Ethel。
〃Well； it means that too；〃 said Flora。
〃I suppose it does；〃 said Mrs。 May； 〃but the higher sense is the one
chiefly to be dwelt on。 It is a lesson how those least known and
regarded here； and humblest in their own eyes； shall be the highest
hereafter。〃
And Margaret looked earnestly at her mother； but did not speak。
〃May we go； mamma？〃 said Mary。
〃Yes； you threeall of you； indeed； unless you wish to say any
more。〃
The 〃boys〃 availed themselves of the permission。 Norman tarried to
put his books into a neat leather case； and Ethel stood thinking。
〃It means altogetherit is a lesson against ambition；〃 said she。
〃True；〃 said her mother； 〃the love of eminence for its own sake。〃
〃And in so many different ways！〃 said Margaret。
〃Ay； worldly greatness； riches； rank； beauty；〃 said Flora。
〃All sorts of false flash and nonsense； and liking to be higher than
one ought to be；〃 said Norman。 〃I am sure there is nothing lower； or
more mean and shabby； than getting places and praise a fellow does
not deserve。〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 cried Ethel； 〃but no one fit to speak to would do that！〃
〃Plenty of people do； I can tell you；〃 said Norman。
〃Then I hope I shall never know who they are！〃 exclaimed Ethel。 〃But
I'll tell you what I was thinking of； mamma。 Caring to be clever；
and get on； only for the sake of beating people。〃
〃I think that might be better expressed。〃
〃I know；〃 said Ethel； bending her brow； with the fullness of her
thought〃I mean caring to do a thing only because nobody else can do
itwanting to be first more than wanting to do one's best。〃
〃You are quite right； my dear Ethel；〃 said her mother； 〃and I am glad
you have found in the Gospel a practical lesson； that should be
useful to you both。 I had rather you did so than that you read it in
Greek； though that is very nice too；〃 she added； smiling； as she put
her hand on a little Greek Testament； in which Ethel had been reading
it； within her English Bible。 〃Now； go and mend that deplorable
frock； and if you don't dream over it； you won't waste too much of
your holiday。〃
〃I'll get it done in no time！〃 cried Ethel； rushing headlong
upstairs； twice tripping in it before she reached the attic； where
she slept； as well as Flora and Marya large room in the roof； the
windows gay with bird…cages and flowers； a canary singing loud enough
to deafen any one but girls to whom headaches were unknown； plenty of
books and treasures； and a very fine view； from the dormer window； of
the town sloping downwards； and the river winding away； with some
heathy hills in the distance。 Poking and peering about with her
short…sighted eyes； Ethel lighted on a work…
