the daisy chain, or aspirations-第40章
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〃I can't think why；〃 said Flora。 〃I never saw a person of pleasanter
manners。〃
〃Did they talk of old times？〃 said Margaret。
〃No；〃 said Ethel； 〃that was the thing。〃
〃You would not have them talk of those matters in the middle of
dinner；〃 said Flora。
〃No；〃 again said Ethel； 〃but papa has a waydon't you know；
Margaret； how one can tell in a moment if it is company talk。〃
〃What was the conversation about？〃 said Margaret。
〃They talked over some of their fellow…students；〃 said Flora。
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel； 〃and then when papa told him that beautiful
history of Dr。 Spencer going to take care of those poor emigrants in
the fever； what do you think he said？ 'Yes； Spencer was always doing
extravagant things。' Fancy that to papa； who can hardly speak of it
without having to wipe his spectacles； and who so longs to hear of
Dr。 Spencer。〃
〃And what did he say？〃
〃Nothing； so Flora and Sir Matthew got to pictures and all that sort
of thing； and it was all company talk after that。〃
〃Most entertaining in its kind；〃 said Flora： 〃butoh； Norman！〃 as he
entered〃why； they are not out of the dining…room yet！〃
〃No； they are talking of some new invention； and most likely will not
come for an hour。〃
〃Are you going to bed？〃
〃Papa followed me out of the dining…room to tell me to do so after
tea。〃
〃Then sit down there； and I'll go and make some； and let it come up
with Margaret's。 Come； Ethel。 Good…night； Norman。 Is your head
aching to…night？〃
〃Not much； now I have got out of the dining…room。〃
〃It would have been wiser not to have gone in；〃 said Flora； leaving
the room。
〃It was not the dinner； but the man；〃 said Norman。 〃It is
incomprehensible to me how my father could take to him。 I'd as soon
have Harvey Anderson for a friend！〃
〃You are like me；〃 said Ethel； 〃in being glad he is not our
uncle。〃
〃He presume to think of falling in love with Aunt Flora！〃 cried
Norman indignantly。
〃Why； what is the matter with him？〃 asked Margaret。 〃I can't find
much ground for Ethel's dislike； and Flora is pleased。〃
〃She did not hear the worst； nor you either； Ethel；〃 said Norman。 〃I
could not stand the cold hard way he spoke of hospital patients。 I
am sure he thinks poor people nothing but a study； and rich ones
nothing but a profit。 And his half sneers！ But what I hated most
was his way of avoiding discussions。 When he saw he had said what
would not go down with papa； he did not honestly stand up to the
point； and argue it out； but seemed to have no mind of his own； and
to be only talking to please papabut not knowing how to do it。
He understand my father indeed！〃
Norman's indignation had quite revived him； and Margaret was much
entertained with the conflicting opinions。 The next was Richard's；
when he came in late to wish her good…night； after he had been
attending on Sir Matthew's examination of his father's arm。 He did
nothing but admire the surgeon's delicacy of touch and understanding
of the case； his view agreeing much better with Dr。 May's own than
that with Mr。 Ward's。 Dr。 May had never been entirely satisfied with
the present mode of treatment； and Richard was much struck by hearing
him say； in answer to Sir Matthew； that he knew his recovery might
have been more speedy and less painful if he had been able to attend
to it at first； or to afford time for being longer laid up。 A change
of treatment was now to be made； likely soon to relieve the pain； to
be less tedious and troublesome； and to bring about a complete cure
in three or four months at latest。 In hearing such tidings； there
could be little thought of the person who brought them； and Margaret
did not； till the last moment； learn that Richard thought Sir Matthew
very clever and sensible； and certain to understand her case。 Her
last visitor was her father： 〃Asleep； Margaret？ I thought I had
better go to Norman first in case he should be awake。〃
〃Was he？〃
〃Yes； but his pulse is better to…night。 He was lying awake to hear
what Fleet thought of me。 I suppose Richard told you？〃
〃Yes； dear papa； what a comfort it is！〃
〃Those fellows in London do keep up to the mark！ But I would not be
there for something。 I never saw a man so altered。 However； if he
can only do for you as wellbut it is of no use talking about it。
I may trust you to keep yourself calm； my dear？〃
〃I am tryingindeed I am； dear papa。 If you could help being
anxious for methough I know it is worse for you； for I only have to
lie still； and you have to settle for me。 But I have been thinking
how well off I am； able to enjoy so much； and be employed all day
long。 It is nothing to compare with that poor girl you told me of；
and you need not be unhappy for me。 I have some verses to say over
to myself to…night：
0 Lord my God； do Thou Thy holy will；
I will lie still；
I will not stir； lest I forsake Thine arm
And break the charm
That lulls me； clinging to my Father's breast
In perfect rest。
Is not that comfortable？〃
〃My childmy dear childI will say no more； lest I should break
your sweet peace with my impatience。 I will strive for the same
temper； my Margaret。 Bless you； dearest； good…night。〃
After a night spent in waking intervals of such thoughts； Margaret
found the ordinary morning； and the talk she could not escape；
somewhat oppressive。 Her brothers and sisters disturbed her by their
open expressions of hope and anxiety； she dreaded to have the balance
of tranquillity overset； and then blamed herself for selfishness in
not being as ready to attend to them as usual。 Ethel and Norman came
up after breakfast； their aversion by no means decreased by further
acquaintance。 Ethel was highly indignant at the tone in which he had
exclaimed； 〃What； May； have you one as young as this？〃 on discovering
the existence of the baby； and when Norman observed that was not so
atrocious either； she proceeded； 〃You did not hear the contemptuous；
compassionate tone when he asked papa what he meant to do with all
these boys。〃
〃I'm glad he has not to settle；〃 said Norman。
〃Papa said Harry was to be a sailor； and he said it was a good way to
save expenses of educationa good thing。〃
〃No doubt；〃 said Norman； 〃he thinks papa only wants to get rid of us；
or if not； that it is an amiable weakness。〃
〃But I can't see anything so shocking in this；〃 said Margaret。
〃It is not the words；〃 said Norman； 〃the look and tone convey it； but
there are different opinions。 Flora is quite smitten with him； he
talks so politely to her。〃
〃And Blanche！〃 said Ethel。 〃The little affected pussy…cat made a set
at him； bridled and talked in her mincing voice； with all her airs；
and made him take a great deal of notice of her。〃
Nurse here came to prepare for the surgeon's visit。
It was over； and Margaret awaited the judgment。 Sir Matthew had
spoken hopefully to her； but she feared to fasten hopes on what might
have no meaning； and could rely on nothing； till she had seen her
father； who never kept back his genuine pinion； and would least of
all from her。 She found her spirits too much agitated to talk to her
sisters； and quietly begged them to let her be quite alone till the
consultation was over； and she lay trying to prepare herself to
submit thankfully； whether she might be bidden to resign herself to
helplessness； or to let her mind open once more to visions of joyous
usefulness。 Every step she hoped would prove to be her father's
approach； and the longest hour of her life was that before he entered
her room。 His face said that the tidings were good； and yet she
could not ask。
〃Well； Margaret； I am glad we had him down。 He thinks you may get
about again； though it may be a long time first。〃
〃Does he？oh； papa！〃 and the colour spread over her face； as she
squeezed his hand very fast。
〃He has known the use of the limbs return almost suddenly after even
a year or two；〃 and Dr。 May gave her the grounds of the opinion； and
an account of other like cases； which he said had convinced him；
〃though； my poor child；〃 he said； 〃I feared the harm I had done you
was irremediable； but thanks〃 He
