the daisy chain, or aspirations-第41章
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〃though； my poor child；〃 he said； 〃I feared the harm I had done you
was irremediable； but thanks〃 He turned away his face； and the
clasp of their hands spoke the rest。
Presently he told Margaret that she was no longer to be kept
prostrate； but she was to do exactly as was most comfortable to her；
avoiding nothing but fatigue。 She might be lifted to the sofa the
next day； and if that agreed with her； she might be carried
downstairs。
This； in itself； after she had been confined to her bed for three
months； was a release from captivity； and all the brothers and
sisters rejoiced as if she was actually on her feet again。 Richard
betook himself to constructing a reading…frame for the sofa； Harry
tormented Miss Winter by insisting on a holiday for the others； and
gained the day by an appeal to his father； then declared he should go
and tell Mr。 Wilmot the good news； and Norman； quite enlivened； took
up his hat； and said he would come too。
In all his joy； however； Dr。 May could not cease bewailing the
alteration in his old friend； and spent half the evening in telling
Margaret how different he had once been； in terms little less
measured than Ethel's： 〃I never saw such a change。 Mat Fleet was one
of the most warm； open…hearted fellows in the world； up to anything。
I can hardly believe he is the sameturned into a mere machine； with
a moving spring of self…interest！ I don't believe he cares a rush
for any living thing！ Except for your sake； Margaret； I wish I had
never seen him again； and only remembered him as he was at Edinburgh；
as I remembered dear old Spencer。 It is a grievous thing！ Ruined
entirely！ No doubt that London life must be tryingthe constant
change and bewilderment of patients preventing much individual care
and interest。 It must be very hardening。 No family ties either；
nothing to look to but pushing his way。 Yes！ there's great excuse
for poor Mat。 I never knew fully till now the blessing it was that
your dear mother was willing to take me so early； and that this place
was open to me with all its home connections and interests。 I am
glad I never had anything to do with London！〃
And when he was alone with Norman； he could not help saying； 〃Norman；
my boy； I'm more glad than ever you yielded to me about your Greek
these holidays； and for the reason you did。 Take care the love of
rising and pushing never gets hold of you； there's nothing that
faster changes a man from his better self。〃
Meanwhile； Sir Matthew Fleet had met another old college friend in
London； and was answering his inquiries for the Dick May of ancient
times。
〃Poor May！ I never saw a man so thrown away。 With his talent and
acuteness； he might be the most eminent man of his day； if he had
only known how to use them。 But he was always the same careless；
soft…hearted fellow； never knowing how to do himself any good； and he
is the same still； not a day older nor wiser。 It was a fatal thing
for him that there was that country practice ready for him to step
into； and even of that he does not make as good a thing as he might。
Of course； he married early； and there he is； left a widower with a
house full of childrenscreaming babies； and great tall sons growing
up； and he without a notion what he shall do with them； as heedless
as eversaving nothing； of course。 I always knew it was what he
would come to； if he would persist in burying himself in that
wretched little country town； but I hardly thought； after all he has
gone through； to find him such a mere boy still。 And yet he is one
of the cleverest men I ever metwith such talent； and such thorough
knowledge of his profession； that it does one good to hear him talk。
Poor May！ I am sorry for him； he might have been anything； but that
early marriage and country practice were the ruin of him。〃
CHAPTER XIV。
To thee； dear maid； each kindly wile
Was known； that elder sisters know；
To check the unseasonable smile；
With warning hand and serious brow。
From dream to dream with her to rove；
Like fairy nurse with hermit child；
Teach her to think； to pray； to love；
Make grief less bitter； joy less wild。
LINES ON A MONUMENT AT LICHFIELD。
Sir Matthew Fleet's visit seemed like a turning…point with the May
family； rousing and giving them revived hopes。 Norman began to shake
off his extreme languor and depression； the doctor was relieved from
much of the wearing suffering from his hurt； and his despondency as
to Margaret's ultimate recovery had been driven away。 The experiment
of taking her up succeeded so well； that on Sunday she was fully
attired； 〃fit to receive company。〃 As she lay on the sofa there
seemed an advance toward recovery。 Much sweet coquetry was expended
in trying to look her best for her father； and her best was very
well； for though the brilliant bloom of health was gone； her cheeks
had not lost their pretty rounded contour； and still had some
rosiness； while her large bright blue eyes smiled and sparkled。 A
screen shut out the rest of the room； making a sort of little parlour
round the fire； where sundry of the family were visiting her after
coming home from church in the afternoon。 Ethel was in a vehement
state of indignation at what had that day happened at school。 〃Did
you ever hear anything like it！ When the point was； to teach the
poor things to be Christians； to turn them back； because their hair
was not regulation length！〃
〃What's that！ Who did？〃 said Dr。 May； coming in from his own room；
where he had heard a few words。
〃Mrs。 Ledwich。 She sent back three of the Cocksmoor children this
morning。 It seems she warned them last Sunday without saying a word
to us。〃
〃Sent them back from church！〃 said the doctor。
〃Not exactly from church；〃 said Margaret。
〃It is the same in effect；〃 said Ethel； 〃to turn them from school；
for if they did try to go alone； the pew…openers would drive them
out。〃
〃It is a wretched state of things！〃 said Dr。 May； who never wanted
much provocation to begin storming about parish affairs。 〃When I am
churchwarden again； I'll see what can be done about the seats； but
it's no sort of use； while Ramsden goes on as he does。〃
〃Now my poor children are done for！〃 said Ethel。 〃They will never
come again。 And it's horrid； papa； there are lots of town children
who wear immense long plaits of hair； and Mrs。 Ledwich never
interferes with them。 It is entirely to drive the poor Cocksmoor
ones awayfor nothing else； and all out of Fanny Anderson's
chatter。〃
〃Ethel； my dear；〃 said Margaret pleadingly。
〃Didn't I tell you； Margaret； how； as soon as Flora knew what Mrs。
Ledwich was going to do； she went and told her this was the
children's only chance； and if we affronted them for a trifle； there
would be no hope of getting them back。 She said she was sorry； if we
were interested for them； but rules must not be broken； and when
Flora spoke of all who do wear long hair unmolested； she shuffled and
said； for the sake of the teachers； as well as the other children；
rags and dirt could not be allowed； and then she brought up the old
story of Miss Boulder's pencil； though she has found it again； and
ended by saying Fanny Anderson told her it was a serious annoyance to
the teachers； and she was sure we should agree with her； that
something was due to voluntary assistants and subscribers。〃
〃I am afraid there has been a regular set at them；〃 said Margaret；
〃and perhaps they are troublesome； poor things。〃
〃As if school…keeping were for luxury！〃 said Dr。 May。 〃It is the
worst thing I have heard of Mrs。 Ledwich yet！ One's blood boils to
think of those poor children being cast off because our fine young
ladies are too grand to teach them！ The clergyman leaving his work
to a set of conceited women； and they turning their backs on
ignorance； when it comes to their door！ Voluntary subscribers；
indeed！ I've a great mind I'll be one no longer。〃
〃Oh； papa； that would not be fair〃began Ethel； but Margaret knew he
would not act on this； squeezed her hand； and silenced her。
〃One thing I've said； and I'll hold to it；〃 continued Dr。 May； 〃if
they outvote Wilmot again in your Ladies' C
