the daisy chain, or aspirations-第67章
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enjoy it。〃
〃Yes； I should think he wouldI hope he will。 He must like you to
have such a friend as Miss Rivers。 How pretty she is！〃
〃Now； Ethel； it is high time to dress。 Pray make yourself look nice…
…don't twist up your hair in that any…how fashion。〃
Ethel sighed； then began talking fast about some hints on school…
keeping which she had picked up for Cocksmoor。
Flora's glossy braids were in full order； while Ethel was still
struggling to get her plait smooth； and was extremely beholden to her
sister for taking it into her own hands and doing the best with it
that its thinness and roughness permitted。 And then Flora pinched
and pulled and arranged Ethel's frock； in vain attempts to make it
sit like her ownthose sharp high bones resisted all attempts to
disguise them。 〃Never mind； Flora； it is quite tidy； I am sure；
theredo let me be in peace。 You are like old nurse。〃
〃So those are all the thanks I get？〃
〃Well； thank you very much； dear Flora。 You are a famous person。
How I wish Margaret could see that lovely mimosa！〃
〃And； Ethel； do take care。 Pray don't poke and spy when you come
into the room； and don't frown when you are trying to see。 I hope
you won't have anything to help at dinner。 Take care how you
manage。〃
〃I'll try；〃 said Ethel meekly； though a good deal tormented； as Flora
went on with half a dozen more injunctions； closed by Meta's coming
to fetch them。 Little Meta did not like to show them her own
bedroomshe pitied them so much when she thought of the contrast。
She would have liked to put Flora's arm through her's； but she
thought； it would look neglectful of Ethel； so she only showed the
way downstairs。 Ethel forgot all her sister's orders； for there
stood her father； and she looked most earnestly at his face。 It was
cheerful； and his voice sounded well pleased as he greeted Meta； then
resumed an animated talk with Mr。 Rivers。 Ethel drew as near him as
she could； she had a sense of protection； and could open to full
enjoyment when she saw him bright。 At the first pause in the
conversation； the gentlemen turned to the young ladies。 Mr。 Rivers
began talking to Flora； and Dr。 May； after a few pleasant words to
Meta； went back to Ethel。 He wanted her to see his favourite
pictureshe led her up to them； made her put on his spectacles to
see them better； and showed her their special merits。 Mr。 Rivers and
the others joined them； Ethel said little； except a remark or two in
answer to her papa； but she was very happyshe felt that he liked to
have her with him； and Meta； too； was struck by the soundness of her
few sayings； and the participation there seemed to be in all things
between the father and daughter。
At dinner Ethel went on pretty well。 She was next to her father； and
was very glad to find the dinner so grand； that no side…dish fell to
her lot to be carved。 There was a great deal of pleasant talk； such
as the girls could understand； though they did not join much in it；
except that now and then Dr。 May turned to Ethel as a reference for
names and dates。 To make up for silence at dinner； there was a most
confidential chatter in the drawing…room。 Flora and Meta on one
side； hand in hand； calling each other by their Christian names； Mrs。
Larpent and Ethel on the other。 Flora dreaded only that Ethel was
talking too much； and revealing too much in how different style they
lived。 Then came the gentlemen； Dr。 May begging Mr。 Rivers to show
Ethel one of his prints； when Ethel stooped more than ever； as if her
eyelashes were feelers； but she was in transports of delight； and her
embarrassment entirely at an end in her admiration； as she exclaimed
and discussed with her papa； and by her hearty appreciation made Mr。
Rivers for the time forget her plainness。 Music followed； Flora
played nicely； Meta like a well…taught girl； Ethel went on musing
over the engravings。 The carriage was announced； and so ended the
day in Norman's fairy…land。 Ethel went home； leaning hard against
her papa； talking to him of Raphael's Madonnas； and looking out at
the stars； and thinking how the heavenly beauty of those faces that；
in the prints she had been turning over； seemed to be connected with
the glories of the dark…blue sky and glowing stars。 〃As one star
differeth from another star in glory；〃 murmured she； 〃that was the
lesson to…day； papa；〃 and when she felt him press her hand； she knew
he was thinking of that last time she had heard the lesson； when he
had not been with her； and her thoughts went with his； though not
another word was spoken。
Flora hardly knew when they ceased to talk。 She had musings equally
engrossing of her own。 She saw she was likely to be very intimate
with Meta Rivers； and she was roaming away into schemes for not
letting the intercourse drop； and hopes of being admitted to many a
pleasure as yet little within her reachparties； balls； London；
itself； and； above all； the satisfaction of being admired。 The
certainty that Mr。 Rivers thought her pretty and agreeable had
gratified her all the evening； and if he； with his refined taste；
thought so； what would others think？ Her only fear was； that Ethel's
awkwardness might make an unfavourable impression； but； at least； she
said to herself； it was anything but vulgar awkwardness。
Their reflections were interrupted by the fly stopping。 It was at a
little shop in the outskirts of the town； and Dr。 May； explained that
he wanted to inquire for a patient。 He went in for a moment； then
came back to desire that they would go home； for he should be
detained some little time。 No one need sit up for himhe would let
himself in。
It seemed a comment on Ethel's thoughts； bringing them back to the
present hour。 That daily work of homely mercy； hoping for nothing
again； was surely the true way of doing service。
CHAPTER XXI。
WATCHMAN。 How； if he will not stand？
DOGBERRY。 Why； then； take no note of him； but let him go。
Much Ado about Nothing。
Dr。May promised Margaret that he would see whether the black…hole of
Cocksmoor was all that Norman depicted it； and； accordingly； he came
home that way on Tuesday evening the next week； much to the
astonishment of Richard； who was in the act of so mending the window
that it might let in air when open； and keep it out when shut；
neither of which purposes had it ever yet answered。
Dr。 May walked in； met his daughter's look of delight and surprise；
spoke cheerfully to Mrs。 Green； a hospital acquaintance of his； like
half the rest of the country； and made her smile and curtsey by
asking if she was not surprised at such doings in her house； then
looked at the children； and patted the head that looked most fit to
pat； inquired who was the best scholar； and offered a penny to
whoever could spell copper tea…kettle； which being done by three
merry mortals； and having made him extremely popular； he offered
Ethel a lift； and carried her off between him and Adams； on whom he
now depended for driving him； since Richard was going to Oxford at
once。
It was possible to spare him now。 Dr。 May's arm was as well as he
expected it ever would be； he had discarded the sling； and could use
his hand again； but the arm was still stiff and weakhe could not
stretch it out； nor use it for anything requiring strength； it soon
grew tired with writing； and his daughters feared that it ached more
than he chose to confess； when they saw it resting in the breast of
his waistcoat。 Driving he never would have attempted again； even if
he could； and he had quite given up carvinghe could better bear to
sit at the side than at the bottom of the dinner…table。
Means of carrying Margaret safely had been arranged by Richard； and
there was no necessity for longer delaying his going to Oxford； but
he was so unwillingly spared by all； as to put him quite into good
spirits。 Ethel was much concerned to lose him from Cocksmoor； and
dreaded hindrances to her going thither without his escort； but she
had much trust in having her father on her side； and meant to get
authority from him for the propriety of going alone with Mary。
She did not know how Norman had jeopard
