the daisy chain, or aspirations-第48章
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half attend to any。 Lately； I have been giving up almost everything
to keep this room quiet for Norman in the morning； because he was so
much harassed and hurt by bustle and confusion； and I found to…day
that things have gone wrong in consequence。〃
〃You must do the best you can； and try to trust that while you work
in the right spirit； your failures will be compensated；〃 said Mr。
Wilmot。 〃It is a hard trial。〃
〃I like your understanding it；〃 said Margaret； smiling sadly。 〃I
don't know whether it is silly； but I don't like to be pitied for the
wrong thing。 My being so helpless is what every one laments over；
but； after all； that is made up to me by the petting and kindness I
get from all of them； but it is the being mistress of the house； and
having to settle for every one； without knowing whether I do right or
wrong； that is my trouble。〃
〃I am not sure； however； that it is right to call it a trouble；
though it is a trial。〃
〃I see what you mean；〃 said Margaret。 〃I ought to be thankful。 I
know it is an honour； and I am quite sure I should be grieved if they
did not all come to me and consult me as they do。 I had better not
have complained； and yet I am glad I did； for I like you to
understand my difficulties。〃
〃And； indeed； I wish to enter into them； and do or say anything in my
power to help you。 But I don't know anything that can be of so much
comfort as the knowledge that He who laid the burden on you； will
help you to bear it。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Margaret； pausing； and then； with a sweet look； though a
heavy sigh； she said； 〃It is very odd how things turn out！ I always
had a childish fancy that I would be useful and important； but I
little thought how it would be！ However； as long as Richard is in
the house； I always feel secure about the others； and I shall soon be
downstairs myself。 Don't you think dear papa in better spirits？〃
〃I thought so to…day；〃and here the doctor returned； talking of
Abbotstoke Grange； where he had certainly been much pleased。 〃It was
a lucky chance；〃 he said； 〃that they brought Norman in。 It was
exactly what I wanted to rouse and interest him； and he took it all
in so well； that I am sure they were pleased with him。 I thought he
looked a very lanky specimen of too much leg and arm when I called
him in； but he has such good manners； and is so ready and
understanding； that they could not help liking him。 It was fortunate
I had him instead of RichardRitchie is a very good fellow；
certainly； but he had rather look at a steam…engine； any day； than at
Raphael himself。〃
Norman had his turn by…and…by。 He came up after tea； reporting that
papa was fast asleep in his chair； and the others would go on about
Cocksmoor till midnight； if they were let alone； and made up for his
previous yielding to Ethel； by giving； with much animation； and some
excitement； a glowing description of the Grange； so graphic； that
Margaret said she could almost fancy she had been there。
〃Oh； Margaret； I wonder if you ever will！ I would give something for
you to see the beautiful conservatory。 It is a real bower for a
maiden of romance； with its rich green fragrance in the midst of
winter。 It is like a picture in a dream。 One could imagine it a
fairy land； where no care； or grief； or weariness could come； all
choice beauty and sweetness waiting on the creature within。 I can
hardly believe that it is a real place； and that I have seen it。〃
〃Though you have brought these pretty tokens that your fairy is as
good as she is fair！〃 said Margaret； smiling。
CHAPTER XVI。
EVANS。 Peace your tattlings。 What is fair； William？
WILLIAM。 PULCHER。
QUICKLY。 Poulcats！ there are fairer things than poulcats sure！
EVANS。 I pray you have your remembrance； child； accusative
HING HANG HOG。
QUICKLY。 HANG HOG is Latin for bacon； I warrant you。
SHAKESPEARE。
In a large family it must often happen； that since every member of it
cannot ride the same hobby； nor at the same time； their several
steeds must sometimes run counter to each other； and so Ethel found
it； one morning when Miss Winter； having a bad cold； had given her an
unwonted holiday。
Mr。 Wilmot had sent a large parcel of books for her to choose from
for Cocksmoor； but this she could not well do without consultation。
The multitude bewildered her； she was afraid of taking too many or
too few； and the being brought to these practical details made her
sensible that though her schemes were very grand and full for future
doings； they passed very lightly over the intermediate ground。 The
Paulo post fulurum was a period much more developed in her
imagination than the future； that the present was flowing into。
Where was her coadjutor； Richard？ Writing notes for papa； and not to
be disturbed。 She had better have waited tranquilly； but this would
not suit her impatience； and she ran up to Margaret's room。 There
she found a great display of ivy leaves； which Norman； who had been
turning half the shops in the town upside down in search of
materials； was instructing her to imitate in leather…worka regular
mania with him； and apparently the same with Margaret。
In came Ethel。 〃Oh； Margaret； will you look at these 'First Truths？'
Do you think they would be easy enough？ Shall I take some of the
Parables and Miracles at once； or content myself with the book about
'Jane Sparks？'〃
〃There's some very easy reading in 'Jane Sparks'； isn't there？ I
would not make the little books from the New Testament too common。〃
〃Take care； that leaf has five points；〃 said Norman。
〃Shall I bring you up 'Jane Sparks' to see？ Because then you can
judge；〃 said Ethel。
〃There； Norman； is that right？what a beauty！ I should like to look
over them by…and…by； dear Ethel； very much。〃
Ethel gazed and went away； more put out than was usual with her。
〃When Margaret has a new kind of fancy work；〃 she thought； 〃she cares
for nothing else！ as if my poor children did not signify more than
trumpery leather leaves！〃 She next met Flora。
〃Oh； Flora； see here； what a famous parcel of books Mr。 Wilmot has
sent us to choose from。〃
〃All those！〃 said Flora； turning them over as they lay heaped on the
drawing…room sofa； 〃what a confusion！〃
〃See； such a parcel of reading books。 I want to know what you think
of setting them up with 'Jane Sparks'； as it is week…day teaching。〃
〃You will be very tired of hearing those spelled over for ever； they
have some nicer books at the national school。〃
〃What is the name of them？ Do you see any of them here？〃
〃No； I don't think I do； but I can't wait to look now。 I must write
some letters。 You had better put them together a little。 If you
were to sort them； you would know what is there。 Now； what a mess
they are in。〃
Ethel could not deny it； and began to deal them out in piles； looking
somewhat more fitting； but still felt neglected and aggrieved； at no
one being at leisure but Harry； who was not likely to be of any use
to her。
Presently she heard the study door open； and hoped； but though it was
Richard who entered the room； he was followed by Tom； and each held
various books that boded little good to her。 Miss Winter had； much
to her own satisfaction； been relieved from the charge of Tom； whose
lessons Richard had taken upon himself； and thus Ethel had heard so
little about them for a long time past； that even in her vexation and
desire to have them over； she listened with interest； desirous to
judge what sort of place Tom might be likely to take in school。
She did not perceive that this made Richard nervous and uneasy。 He
had a great dislike to spectators of Latin lessons； he never had
forgotten an unlucky occasion； some years back； when his father was
examining him in the Georgics； and he； dull by nature； and duller by
confusion and timidity； had gone on rendering word for wordenim
for； seges a crop； lini of mud； urit burns； campum the field； avenae
a crop of pipe； urit burns it； when Norman and Ethel had first warned
him of the beauty of his translation by an explosion of laughing；
when his father had shut the book with a bounce； shaken his head in
