the daisy chain, or aspirations-第31章

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chance　of　happiness　as　other　professions；　and　the　discipline　and
regularity　had　been　very　good　for　himself；　as　well　as　for　many　others
he　had　known。　　He　said；　when　a　man　is　willing　to　go　wrong　there　is
much　to　help　him；　but　when　he　is　resolved　on　doing　right；　he　need　not
be　prevented。〃

〃That　is　what　you　may　say　of　anything；〃　said　Norman。

〃Just　so；　and　it　answered　papa's　question；　whether　it　was　exposing
Harry　to　more　temptation　than　he　must　meet　with　anywhere。　　That　was
the　reason　it　was　such　a　comfort　to　have　anyone　to　write　to；　who
understands　it　so　well。〃

〃Yes；　and　knows　Harry's　nature。〃

〃He　said　he　had　been　fortunate　in　his　captains；　and　had　led；　on　the
whole；　a　happy　life　at　sea；　and　he　thought　if　it　was　so　with　him；
Harry　was　likely　to　enjoy　it　more；　being　of　a　hardy　adventurous
nature；　and　a　sailor　from　choice；　not　from　circumstances。〃

〃Then　he　advised　for　it？　　I　did　not　think　he　would；　you　know　he　will
not　let　Hector　be　a　sailor。〃

〃He　told　me　he　thought　only　a　strong　natural　bent　that　way　made　it
desirable；　and　that　he　believed　Hector　only　wished　it　from　imitation
of　him。　　He　said　too；　long　ago；　that　he　thought　Harry　cut　out　for　a
sailor。

〃A　spirited　fellow！〃　said　Norman；　with　a　look　of　saddened　pride　and
approval；　not　at　all　like　one　so　near　the　same　age。　　〃He　is　up　to
anything；　afraid　of　nothing；　he　can　lick　any　boy　in　the　school
already。　　It　will　be　worse　than　ever　without　him！〃

〃Yes；　you　will　miss　your　constant　follower。　　He　has　been　your　shadow
ever　since　he　could　walk。　　But　there's　the　clock；　I　must　not　keep　you
any　longer；　good…bye；　Norman。〃

Harry　gave　his　brother　the　letter　as　soon　as　they　were　outside　the
house；　and；　while　he　read　it；　took　his　arm　and　guided　him。　　〃Well；〃
said　Norman　as　he　finished。

〃It　is　all　right；〃　said　Harry；　and　the　two　brothers　said　no　more；
there　was　something　rising　up　in　their　throats　at　the　thought　that
they　had　very　few　more　walks　to　take　together　to　Bishop　Whichcote's
school；　Norman's　heart　was　very　full　at　the　prospect　of　another
vacancy　in　his　home；　and　Harry's　was　swelling　between　the　ardour　of
enterprise　and　the　thought　of　bidding　good…bye　to　each　familiar
object；　and；　above　all；　to　the　brother　who　had　been　his　model　and
admiration　from　babyhood。

〃June！〃　at　length　he　broke　out；　〃I　wish　you　were　going　too。　　I　should
not　mind　it　half　so　much　if　you　were。〃

〃Nonsense；　Harry！　you　want　to　be　July　after　June　all　your　life；　do
you？　　You'll　be　much　more　of　a　man　without　me。〃

That　evening　Dr。　May　called　Harry　into　his　study　to　ask　him　if　his
mind　was　made　up；　he　put　the　subject　fairly　before　him；　and　told　him
not　to　be　deterred　from　choosing　what　he　thought　would　be　for　the
best　by　any　scruples　about　changing　his　mind。　　〃We　shall　not　think　a
bit　the　worse　of　you；　better　now；　than　too　late。〃

There　was　that　in　his　face　and　tone　that　caused　Harry　to　say；　in　a
stifled　voice；　〃I　did　not　think　you　would　care　so　much；　papa；　I　won't
go；　if　you　do。〃

Dr。　May　put　his　hand　on　his　shoulder；　and　was　silent。　　Harry　felt　a
strange　mixture　of　hope　and　fear；　joy　and　grief；　disappointment　and
relief。　　〃You　must　not　give　it　up　on　that　account；　my　dear；〃　he　said
at　length；　〃I　should　not　let　you　see　this；　if　it　did　not　happen　at　a
time　when　I　can't　command　myself　as　I　ought。　　If　you　were　an　only
son；　it　might　be　your　duty　to　stay；　being　one　of　many；　'tis　nonsense
to　make　a　rout　about　parting　with　you。　　If　it　is　better　for　you；　it
is　better　for　all　of　us；　and　we　shall　do　very　well　when　you　are　once
fairly　gone。　　Don't　let　that　influence　you　for　a　moment。〃

Harry　paused；　not　that　he　doubted；　but　he　was　collecting　his
energies〃Then；　papa；　I　choose　the　navy。〃

〃Then　it　is　done；　Harry。　　You　have　chosen　in　a　dutiful；　unselfish
spirit；　and　I　trust　it　will　prosper　with　you；　for　I　am　sure　your
father's　blessingaye；　and　your　mother's　too；　go　with　you！　　Now
then；〃　after　a　pause；　〃go　and　call　Richard。　I　want　him　to　write　to
Ernescliffe　about　that　naval　school。　　You　must　take　your　leave　of　the
Whichcote　foundation　on　Friday。　　I　shall　go　and　give　Dr。　Hoxton
notice　tomorrow；　and　get　Tom's　name　down　instead。〃

And　when　the　name　of　Thomas　May　was　set　down；　Dr。　Hoxton　expressed
his　trust　that　it　would　pass　through　the　school　as　free　from　the
slightest　blemish　as　those　of　Richard；　Norman；　and　Harry　May。

Now　that　Harry's　destiny　was　fixed；　Ethel　began　to　think　of　Cocksmoor
again；　and　she　accomplished　another　walk　there　with　Richard；　Flora；
and　Mary；　to　question　Granny　Hall　about　the　children's　failure。

The　old　woman's　reply　was　a　tissue　of　contradictions：　the　girls　were
idle　hussies；　all　contrary：　they　plagued　the　very　life　out　of　her；
and　she　represented　herself　as　using　the　most　frightful　threats；　if
they　would　not　go　to　school。　　Breaking　every　bone　in　their　skin　was
the　least　injury　she　promised　them；　till　Mary；　beginning　to　think　her
a　cruel　old　woman；　took　hold　of　her　brother's　coat…tails　for
protection。

〃But　I　am　afraid；　Mrs。　Hall；〃　said　Richard；　in　that　tone　which　might
be　either　ironical　or　simple；　〃if　you　served　them　so；　they　would
never　be　able　to　get　to　school　at　all；　poor　things。〃

〃Bless　you；　sir；　d'ye　think　I'd　ever　lay　a　finger　near　them；　it's
only　the　way　one　must　talk　to　children；　you　see；〃　said　she；
patronising　his　inexperience。

〃Perhaps　they　have　found　that　out；〃　said　Richard。　　Granny　looked　much
entertained；　and　laughed　triumphantly　and　shrewdly；　〃ay；　ay；　that
they　have；　the　lassesthey　be　sharp　enough　for　anything；　that　they
be。　　Why；　when　I　tell　little　Jenny　that　there's　the　black　man　coming
after　her；　what　does　she　do　but　she　ups　and　says；　'Granny；　I　know
'tis　only　the　wind　in　the　chimney。'〃

〃Then　I　don't　think　it　seems　to　answer；〃　said　Richard。　　〃Just　suppose
you　were　to　try　for　once；　really　punishing　them　when　they　won't　obey
you；　perhaps　they　would　do　it　next　time。〃

〃Why；　sir；　you　see　I　don't　like　to　take　the　stick　to　them；　they've
got　no　mother；　you　see；　sir。〃

Mary　thought　her　a　kind　grandmother；　and　came　out　from　behind　her
brother。

〃I　think　it　would　be　kinder　to　do　it　for　once。　　What　do　you　think
they　will　do　as　they　grow　older；　if　you　don't　keep　them　in　order　when
they　are　little？〃

This　was　foresight　beyond　Granny　Hall；　who　began　to　expatiate　on　the
troubles　she　had　undergone　in　their　service；　and　the　excellence　of
Sam。　　There　was　certainly　a　charm　in　her　manners；　for　Ethel　forgot
her　charge　of　ingratitude；　the　other　sisters　were　perfectly　taken
with　her；　nor　could　they　any　of　them　help　giving　credence　to　her
asseverations　that　Jenny　and　Polly　should　come　to　school　next　Sunday。

They　soon　formed　another　acquaintance；　a　sharp…faced　woman　stood　in
their　path；　with　a　little　girl　in　her　hand；　and　arrested　them　with　a
low　curtsey；　and　not　a　very　pleasant　voice；　addressing　herself　to
Flora；　who　was　quite　as　tall　as　Richard；　and　appeared　the　person　of
most　consequence。

〃If　you　please；　miss；　I　wanted　to　speak　to　you。　I　have　got　a　little
girl　here；　and　I　want　to　send　her　to　school；　only　I　have　no　shoes　for
her。〃

〃Why；　surely；　if　she　can　run　about　here　on　the　heath；　she　can　go　to
school；〃　said　Flora。

〃Oh！　but　there　is　all　the　other　children　to　point　at　her。　　The　poor
thing　would　be　daunted；　you　see；　miss；　if　I　could　but　get　some　friend
to　give　her　a　pair　of　shoes；　I'd　send　her　in　a　minute。　　I　want　her　to
get　some　learning；　as　I　am　always　saying；　I'd　never　keep　her　away；　if
I　had　but　got　the　clothes　to　send　her　in。　　I　never　lets　her　be
running　on　the　common；　like　them　Halls；　as　it's　a　shame　to　see　them
in　nice　frocks；　as　Mrs。　Hall　got　by　going　hypercriting　about。〃

〃What　is　your　name？　〃　said　Richard；　cutting　her　short。

〃Watts；　if　you　please；　sir；　we　heard　there　was　good　work　up　here；
sir；　and　so　we　came；　but　I'd　never　have　set　foot　in　it　if　I　had　known
what　a　dark　heathenish　place　it　is；　with　never　a　Gospel　minister　to
come　near　it；〃　and　a　great　deal　more　to　the　same　purpose。

Mary　whispered　to　Flora　something　about　having　outgrown　her　boots；
but　Flora　silenced　her　by　a　squeeze　of　the　hand；　and　the　two　friends
of　Cocksmoor　felt　a　good　deal　puzzled。

At　last　Flora　said；　〃You　will　soon　get　her　clothed　if　she　comes
regularly