the daisy chain, or aspirations-第74章
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brother。
Yours very truly；
R。 May。〃
A long answer came in return； disclaiming all doubt of Norman's
veracity； and explaining Dr。 Hoxton's grounds for having degraded
him。 There had been misconduct in the school； he said； for some time
past； and he did not consider that it was any very serious reproach；
to a boy of Norman's age； that he had not had weight enough to keep
up his authority； and had been carried away by the general feeling。
It had been necessary to make an example for the sake of principle；
and though very sorry it should have fallen on one of such high
promise and general good conduct； Dr。 Hoxton trusted that it would
not be any permanent injury to his prospects； as his talents had
raised him to his former position in the school so much earlier than
usual。
〃The fact was；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃that old Hoxton did it in a passion；
feeling he must punish somebody； and now； finding there's no uproar
about it； he begins to be sorry。 I won't answer this note。 I'll
stop after church to…morrow and shake hands； and that will show we
don't bear malice。〃
What Mr。 Wilmot might think was felt by all to affect them more
nearly。 Ethel wanted to hear that he declared his complete
conviction of Norman's innocence； and was disappointed to find that
he did not once allude to the subject。 She was only consoled by
Margaret's conjecture that； perhaps； he thought the headmaster had
been hasty； and could not venture to say sohe saw into people's
characters； and it was notorious that it was just what Dr。 Hoxton did
not。
Tom had spent the chief of that Saturday in reading a novel borrowed
from Axworthy； keeping out of sight of every one。 All Sunday he
avoided Norman more scrupulously than ever； and again on Monday。
That day was a severe trial to Norman； the taking the lower place；
and the sense that； excel as much as ever he might in his studies； it
would not avail to restore him to his former place； were more
unpleasant； when it came to the point； than he had expected。
He saw the cold manner； so different from the readiness with which
his tasks had always been met； certain as they were of being well
done； he found himself among the common herd whom he had passed so
triumphantly； and； for a little while； he had no heart to exert
himself。
This was conquered by the strong will and self…rebuke for having
merely craved for applause； but； in the play…ground； he found himself
still alone…the other boys who had been raised by his fall shrank
from intercourse with one whom they had injured by their silence； and
the Andersons； who were wont to say the Mays carried every tale home；
and who still almost expected interference from Dr。 May； hardly
believed their victory secure； and the younger one； at least； talked
spitefully； and triumphed in the result of May's meddling and
troublesome over strictness。 〃Such prigs always come to a downfall；〃
was the sentiment。
Norman found himself left out of everything； and stood dispirited and
weary on the bank of the river； wishing for Harry； wishing for
Cheviot； wishing that he had been able to make a friend who would
stand by him； thinking it could not be worse if he had let his father
reinstate himand a sensation of loneliness and injustice hung heavy
at his heart。
His first interruption was a merry voice。 〃I say； June； there's no
end of river cray…fish under that bank；〃 and Larkins's droll face was
looking up at him； from that favourite position； half stooping； his
hands on his knees； his expression of fun trying to conceal his real
anxiety and sympathy。
Norman turned and smiled； and looked for the cray…fish； and； at the
same time； became aware of Hector Ernescliffe； watching for an
opportunity to say； 〃I have a letter from Alan。〃 He knew they
wanted； as far as little boys ventured to seek after one so much
their elder； to show themselves his friends； and he was grateful； he
roused himself to hear about Alan's news； and found it was important…
…his great friend； Captain Gordon； had got a ship； and hoped to be
able to take him； and this might lead to Harry's going with him。
Then Norman applied himself to the capture of cray…fish； and Larkins
grew so full of fun and drollery； that the hours of recreation passed
off less gloomily than they had begun。
If only his own brother would have been his adherent！ But he saw
almost nothing of Tom。 Day after day he missed him； he was off
before him in going and returning from school； and when he caught a
sight of his face； it looked harassed； pale； and miserable； stealing
anxious glances after him； yet shrinking from his eye。 But； at the
same time； Norman did not see him mingling with his former friends；
and could not make out how he disposed of himself。 To be thus
continually shunned by his own brother； even when the general mass
were returning to ordinary terms； became so painful； that Norman was
always on the watch to seek for one more conversation with him。
He caught him at last in the evening； just as they were going home。
〃Tom； why are you running away？ Come with me；〃 said he
authoritatively； and Tom obeyed in trembling。
Norman led the way to the meads。 〃Tom；〃 said he； 〃do not let this go
on。 Why do you serve me in this way？ You surely need not turn
against me；〃 he said； with pleading melancholy in his voice。
It was not needed。 Tom had flung himself upon the grass； and was in
an agony of crying； even before he had finished the words。
〃Tom； Tom！ what is the matter？ Have they been bullying you again？
Look up； and tell mewhat is it？ You know I can stand by you still；
if you'll only let me；〃 and Norman sat by him on the grass； and
raised his face by a sort of force； but the kind words only brought
more piteous sobs。 It was a long time before they diminished enough
to let him utter a word； but Norman went on patiently consoling and
inquiring； sure； at least； that here had broken down the sullenness
that had always repelled him。
At last came the words； 〃Oh！ I cannot bear it。 It is all my doing！〃
〃Whathowyou don't mean this happening to me？ It is not your
doing； Augustwhat fancy is this？〃
〃Oh； yes； it is；〃 said Tom； his voice cut short by gasps； the remains
of the sobs。 〃They would not hear me！ I tried to tell them how you
told them not； and sent them home。 I tried to tell about
Ballhatchetbutbut they wouldn'tthey said if it had been Harry；
they would have attendedbut they would not believe me。 Oh！ if
Harry was but here！〃
〃I wish he was；〃 said Norman； from the bottom of his heart； 〃but you
see； Tom； if this sets you on always telling truth； I shan't think
any great harm done。〃
A fresh burst； 〃Oh； they are all so glad！ They say such things！ And
the Mays were never in disgrace before。 Oh； Norman； Norman！〃
〃Never mind about that〃began Norman。
〃But you would mind；〃 broke in the boy passionately； 〃if you knew
what Anderson junior and Axworthy say！ They say it serves you right；
and they were going to send me to old Ballhatchet's to get some of
his stuff to drink confusion to the mouth of June； and all
pragmatical meddlers； and when I said I could not go； they vowed if I
did not； I should eat the corks for them！ And Anderson junior called
me names； and licked me。 Look there。〃 He showed a dark blue…and…red
stripe raised on the palm of his hand。 〃I could not write well for
it these three days； and Hawes gave me double copies！〃
〃The cowardly fellows！〃 exclaimed Norman indignantly。 〃But
you did not go？〃
〃No； Anderson senior stopped them。 He said he would not have the
Ballhatchet business begin again。〃
〃That is one comfort；〃 said Norman。 〃I see he does not dare not to
keep order。 But if you'll only stay with me； August； I'll take care
they don't hurt you。〃
〃Oh； June！ June！〃 and he threw himself across his kind brother。 〃I
am so very sorry！ Oh！ to see you put downand hear them！ And you
to lose the scholarship！ Oh； dear！ oh； dear！ and be in disgrace with
them all！〃
〃But； Tom； do cheer up。 It is nothing to be in such distress at。
Papa knows all about it； and while he does； I don't care half so
much。〃
〃Oh； I w
