the daisy chain, or aspirations-第94章

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think　of　his　still　caring！　　But　there；　dear　Ethel；　I　am　not　going　to
cry；　do　call　papa；　or　he　will　think　me　foolish　again。　　I　want　him　to
be　quite　at　ease　about　me　before　he　comes。〃

〃Then　he　is　coming？〃

〃Yes；　at　tea…timeso　run；　dear　Ethel；　and　tell　Jane　to　get　his　room
ready。〃

The　message　quickened　Ethel；　and　after　giving　it；　and　reporting
consolingly　to　her　father；　she　went　up　to　Flora；　who　had　been　a
voluntary　prisoner　upstairs　all　this　time；　and　was　not　peculiarly
gratified　at　such　tidings　coming　only　through　the　medium　of　Ethel。
She　had　before　been　sensible　that；　superior　in　discretion　and
effectiveness　as　she　was　acknowledged　to　be；　she　did　not　share　so
much　of　the　confidence　and　sympathy　as　some　of　the　others；　and　she
felt　mortified　and　injured；　though　in　this　case　it　was　entirely　her
own　fault。　　The　sense　of　alienation　grew　upon　her。

She　dressed　quickly；　and　hurried　down；　that　she　might　see　Margaret
alone；　but　the　room　was　already　prepared　for　tea；　and　the　children
were　fast　assembling。　　Ethel　came　down　a　few　minutes　after；　and　found
Blanche　claiming　Alan　Ernescliffe　as　her　lawful　property；　dancing
round　him；　chattering；　and　looking　injured　if　he　addressed　a　word　to
any　one　else。

How　did　lovers　look？　was　a　speculation　which　had；　more　than　once；
occupied　Ethel；　and　when　she　had　satisfied　herself　that　her　father
was　at　ease；　she　began　to　study　it；　as　soon　as　a　shamefaced
consciousness　would　allow　her；　after　Alan's　warm　shake　of　the　hand。

Margaret　looked　much　as　usual；　only　with　more　glow　and　brightness
Mr。　Ernescliffe；　not　far　otherwise；　he　was　as　pale　and　slight　as　on
his　last　visit；　with　the　same　soft　blue　eyes；　capable；　however；　of　a
peculiar；　keen；　steady　glance　when　he　was　listening；　and　which　now
seemed　to　be　attending　to　Margaret's　every　word　or　look；　through　all
the　delighted　uproar　which　Aubrey；　Blanche；　and　Mary　kept　up　round
him；　or　while　taking　his　share　in　the　general　conversation；　telling
of　Harry's　popularity　and　good　conduct　on　board　the　Alcestis；　or
listening　to　the　history　of　Norman's　school　adventures；　which　he　had
heard；　in　part；　from　Harry；　and　how　young　Jennings　was　entered　in　the
flag…ship；　as　a　boy；　though　not　yet　to　sail　with　his　father。

After　the　storm　of　the　day　the　sky　seemed　quite　clear；　and　Ethel
could　not　see　that　being　lovers　made　much　difference；　to　be　sure　papa
displeased　Blanche；　by　calling　her　away　to　his　side；　when　she　would
squeeze　her　chair　in　between　Alan's　and　the　sofa；　and　Alan　took　all
the　waiting　on　Margaret　exclusively　to　himself。　　Otherwise；　there　was
nothing　remarkable；　and　he　was　very　much　the　same　Mr。　Ernescliffe
whom　they　had　received　a　year　ago。

In　truth；　the　next　ten　days　were　very　happy。　　The　future　was　left　to
rest；　and　Alan　spent　his　mornings　in　the　drawing…room　alone　with
Margaret；　and　looked　ever　more　brightly　placid；　while；　with　the　rest；
he　was　more　than　the　former　kind　playfellow；　for　he　now　took　his
place　as　the　affectionate　elder　brother；　entering　warmly　into　all
their　schemes　and　pleasures；　and　winning　for　himself　a　full　measure
of　affection　from　all；　even　his　little　god…daughter　began　to　know
him；　and　smile　at　his　presence。　　Margaret　and　Ethel　especially
delighted　in　the　look　of　enjoyment　with　which　their　father　sat　down
to　enter　on　the　evening's　conversation　after　the　day's　work；　and
Flora　was　well　pleased　that　Mrs。　Hoxton　should　find　Alan　in　the
drawing…room；　and　ask　afterwards　about　his　estate；　and　that　Meta
Rivers；　after　being　certified　that　this　was　their　Mr。　Ernescliffe；
pronounced　that　her　papa　thought　him　particularly　pleasing　and
gentlemanlike。　　There　was　something　dignified　in　having　a　sister　on
the　point　of　being　engaged。




CHAPTER　XXVIII。



Sail　forth　into　the　sea；　thou　ship；
　　Through　breeze　and　cloud；　right　onward　steer；
The　moistened　eye；　the　trembling　lip；
　　Are　not　the　signs　of　doubt　or　fear！LONGFELLOW。


Tranquility　only　lasted　until　Mr。　Ernescliffe　found　it　necessary　to
understand　on　what　terms　he　was　to　stand。　　Every　one　was　tender　of
conscience；　anxious　to　do　right；　and　desirous　to　yield　to　the　opinion
that　nobody　could；　or　would　give。　　While　Alan　begged　for　a　positive
engagement；　Margaret　scrupled　to　exchange　promises　that　she　might
never　be　able　to　fulfil；　and　both　agreed　to　leave　all　to　her　father；
who；　in　every　way；　ought　to　have　the　best　ability　to　judge　whether
there　was　unreasonable　presumption　in　such　a　betrothal；　but　this　very
ability　only　served　to　perplex　the　poor　doctor　more　and　more。　　It　is
far　easier　for　a　man　to　decide　when　he　sees　only　one　bearing　of　a
case；　than　when；　like　Dr。　May；　he　not　only　sees　them；　but　is　rent　by
them　in　his　inmost　heart。　　Sympathising　in　turn　with　each　lover；
bitterly　accusing　his　own　carelessness　as　the　cause　of　all　their
troubles；　his　doubts　contending　with　his　hopes；　his　conviction
clashing　with　Sir　Matthew　Fleet's　opinion；　his　conscientious
sincerity　and　delicacy　conflicting　with　his　affection　and　eagerness；
he　was　perfectly　incapable　of　coming　to　a　decision；　and　suffered　so
cruelly；　that　Margaret　was　doubly　distressed　for　his　sake；　and　Alan
felt　himself　guilty　of　having　rendered　everybody　miserable。

Dr。　May　could　not　conceal　his　trouble；　and　rendered　Ethel　almost　as
unhappy　as　himself；　after　each　conversation　with　her；　though　her
hopes　usually　sprang　up　again；　and　she　had　a　happy　conviction　that
this　was　only　the　second　volume　of　the　novel。　　Flora　was　not　often
called　into　his　councils；　confidence　never　came　spontaneously　from
Dr。　May　to　her；　there　was　something　that　did　not　draw　it　forth
towards　her；　whether　it　resided　in　that　half…sarcastic　corner　of　her
steady　blue　eye；　or　in　the　grave　common…sense　of　her　gentle　voice。
Her　view　of　the　case　was　known　to　be　that　there　was　no　need　for　so
much　perplexitywhy　should　not　Alan　be　the　best　judge　of　his　own
happiness？　　If　Margaret　were　to　be　delicate　for　life；　it　would　be
better　to　have　such　a　home　to　look　to；　and　she　soothed　and　comforted
Margaret；　and　talked　in　a　strain　of　unmixed　hope　and　anticipation
that　often　drew　a　smile　from　her　sister；　though　she　feared　to　trust
to　it。

Flora's　tact　and　consideration　in　keeping　the　children　away　when　the
lovers　could　best　be　alone；　and　letting　them　in　when　the　discussion
was　becoming　useless　and　harassing；　her　cheerful　smiles；　her　evening
music　that　covered　all　sounds；　her　removal　of　all　extra　annoyances；
were　invaluable；　and　Margaret　appreciated　them；　as；　indeed；　Flora
took　care　that　she　should。

Margaret　begged　to　know　her　eldest　brother's　judgment；　but　had　great
difficulty　in　dragging　it　out。　　Diffidently　as　it　was　proposed；　it
was　clear　and　decided。　　He　thought　that　his　father　had　better　send
Sir　Matthew　Fleet　a　statement　of　Margaret's　present　condition；　and
abide　by　his　answer　as　to　whether　her　progress　warranted　the　hope　of
her　restoration。

Never　was　Richard　more　surprised　than　by　the　gratitude　with　which　his
suggestion　was　hailed；　simple　as　it　was；　so　that　it　seemed　obvious
that　others　should　have　already　thought　of　it。　　After　the　tossings　of
uncertainty；　it　was　a　positive　relief　to　refer　the　question　to　some
external　voice；　and　only　Ethel　and　Norman　expressed　strong　dislike　to
Sir　Matthew　becoming　the　arbiter　of　Margaret's　fate；　and　were
scarcely　pacified　by　Dr。　May's　assurance　that　he　had　not　revealed　the
occasion　of　his　inquiry。　　The　letter　was　sent；　and　repose　returned；
but　hearts　beat　high　on　the　morning　when　the　answer　was　expected。

Dr。　May　watched　the　moment　when　his　daughter　was　alone；　carried　the
letter　to　her；　and　kissing　her；　said；　with　an　oppressed　voice；　〃I
give　you　joy；　my　dear。〃

She　read　with　suspended　breath　and　palpitating　heart。　　Sir　Matthew
thought　her　improvement　sure；　though　slow；　and　had　barely　a　doubt
that；　in　a　year；　she　would　have　regained　her　full　strength　and
activity。

〃You　will　show　it　to　Alan；〃　said　Dr。　May；　as　Margaret　lifted　her　eyes
to　his　face　inquiringly。

〃Will　not　you？〃　she　said。

〃I　cannot；〃　he　answered。　　〃I　wish　I　was　more　helpful　to　you；　my
child；〃　he　added　wistfully；　〃but　you　will　rest　on　him；　and　be　happy
together　while　he　stays；　will　you　not？〃

〃Indeed　I　will；　dear　papa。〃

Mr。　Ernescliffe　was　w