the daisy chain, or aspirations-第96章
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the drawing…room； whence every one was carefully excluded。 Dr。 May
wandered about； keeping guard over the door； and watching the clock；
till； at the last moment； he knocked； and called in a trembling
voice； 〃Ernescliffe！ Alan！ it is past the quarter！ You must not
stay！〃
The other farewells were hurried； Alan seemed voiceless； only nodding
in reply to Mary's vociferous messages to Harry； and huskily
whispering to Ethel； 〃Good luck to Cocksmoor！〃
The next moment the door had shut on him； and Dr。 May and Flora had
gone to her sister； whom she found not tearful； but begging to be
left alone。
When they saw her again； she was cheerful； she kept up her composure
and animation without flagging； nor did she discontinue her new
exertions； but seemed decidedly the happier for all that had passed。
Letters came every day for her； and presents to every one。 Ethel had
a gold chain and eyeglass； which； it was hoped； might cure her of
frowning and stooping； though her various ways of dangling her new
possession caused her to be so much teased by Flora and Norman； that；
but for regard to Margaret's feelings； she would not have worn it for
three days。
To Mary was sent a daguerreotype of Harry； her glory and delight。
Say； who would； that it had pig's eyes； a savage frown； a pudding
chin； there were his own tight rings of hair； his gold…banded cap；
his bright buttons； how could she prize it enough？ She exhibited it
to the little ones ten times a day； she kissed it night and morning；
and registered her vow always to sleep with it under her 〃pilow；〃 in
a letter of thanks； which Margaret defended and despatched； in spite
of Miss Winter's horrors at its disregard of orthography。
It was nearly the last letter before the Alcestis was heard of at
Spithead。 Then she sailed； she sent in her letters to Plymouth； and
her final greetings by a Falmouth cutterpoor Harry's wild scrawl in
pencil looking very sea…sick。
〃Dear papa and all； good…bye。 We are out of sight of land。 Three
years； and keep up a good heart。 I shall soon be all right。
〃Your H。 MAY。〃
It was enclosed in Mr。 Ernescliffe's envelope； and with it came
tidings that Harry's brave spirit was not failing； even under
untoward circumstances； but he had struggled on deck； and tried to
write； when all his contemporaries had given in； in fact； he was a
fine fellowevery one liked him； and Captain Gordon； though chary of
commendation； had held him up to the other youngsters as an example
of knowing what a sailor was meant to be like。
Margaret smiled； and cried over the news when she imparted itbut
all serenelyand though she was glad to be alone； and wrote journals
for Alan； when she could not send letters； she exerted herself to be
the same sister as usual to the rest of the household； and not to
give way to her wandering musings。
From one subject her attention never strayed。 Ethel had never found
any lack of sympathy in her for her Cocksmoor pursuits； but the
change now showed that； where once Margaret had been interested
merely as a kind sister； she now had a personal concern； and she
threw herself into all that related to it as her own chief interest
and pursuitbecoming the foremost in devising plans； and arranging
the best means of using Mr。 Ernescliffe's benefaction。
The Elwood family had grown in the good opinion of the Mays。 Charity
had hobbled to church； leaning on her father's arm； and being invited
to dinner in the kitchen； the acquaintance had been improved； and
nurse herself had pronounced her such a tidy； good sort of body； that
it was a pity she had met with such a misfortune。 If Miss Ethel
brought in nothing but the like of her； they should be welcome； poor
thing； how tired she was！
Nurse's opinions were apt to be sagacious； especially when in the
face of her prejudices； and this gave Margaret confidence。 Cherry
proved to have been carefully taught by a good clergyman and his
wife； and to be of very different stamp from the persons to whom the
girls were accustomed。 They were charmed with her； and eagerly
offered to supply her with booksrespecting her the more when they
found that Mr。 Hazlewood had already lent her their chief favourites。
Other and greater needs they had no power to fill up。
〃It is so lone without the church bells； you see； miss；〃 said Mrs。
Elwood。 〃Our tower had a real fine peal； and my man was one of the
ringers。 I seems quite lost without them； and there was Cherry； went
a'most every day with the children。〃
〃Every day！〃 cried Mary； looking at her with respect。
〃It was so near；〃 said Cherry； 〃I could get there easy； and I got
used to it when I was at school。〃
〃Did it not take up a great deal of time？〃 said Ethel。
〃Why； you see； ma'am； it came morning and night； out of working
times； and I can't be stirring much。〃
〃Then you miss it sadly？〃 said Ethel。
〃Yes； ma'am； it made the day go on well like； and settled a body's
mind； when I fretted for what could not be helped。 But I try not to
fret after it now； and Mr。 Hazlewood said； if I did my best wherever
I was； the Lord would still join our prayers together。〃
Mr。 Hazlewood was recollected by Mr。 Wilmot as an old college friend；
and a correspondence with him fully confirmed the favourable estimate
of the Elwoods； and was decisive in determining that the day…school；
with Alan's ten pounds as salary； and a penny a week from each child；
should be offered to Cherry。
Mr。 Hazlewood answered for her sound excellence； and aptitude for
managing little children； though he did not promise genius； such as
should fulfil the requirements of modern days。 With these Cocksmoor
could dispense at present； Cherry was humbly gratified； and her
parents delighted with the honour and profit； there was a kitchen
which afforded great facilities； and Richard and his carpenter
managed the fitting to admiration； Margaret devised all manner of
useful arrangements； settled matters with great earnestness； saw
Cherry frequently； discussed plans； and learned the history and
character of each child； as thoroughly as Ethel herself。 Mr。 Ramsden
himself came to the opening of the school； and said so much of the
obligations of Cocksmoor to the young ladies； that Ethel would not
have known which way to look； if Flora had not kindly borne the brunt
of his compliments。
Every one was pleased； except Mrs。 Green； who took upon herself to
set about various malicious reports of Cherry Elwood； but nobody
cared for them； except Mrs。 Elwood； who flew into such passions； that
Ethel was quite disappointed in her； though not in Cherry； who meekly
tried to silence her mother； begged the young ladies not to be vexed；
and showed a quiet dignity that soon made the shafts of slander fall
inoffensively。
All went well； there was a school instead of a hubbub； clean faces
instead of dirty； shining hair instead of wild elf…locks； orderly
children instead of little savages。 The order and obedience that
Ethel could not gain in six months； seemed impressed in six days by
Cherry； the neat work made her popular with the mothers； her firm
gentleness won the hearts of the children； and the kitchen was filled
not only with boys and girls from the quarry； but with some little
ones from outlying cottages of Fordholm and Abbotstoke； and there was
even a smart little farmer； who had been unbearable at home。
Margaret's unsuccessful bath…chair was lent to Cherry； and in it her
scholars drew her to Stoneborough every Sunday； and slowly began to
redeem their character with the ladies； who began to lose the habit
of shrinking out of their waythe Stoneborough children did so
instead； and Flora and Ethel were always bringing home stories of
injustice to their scholars； fancied or real； and of triumphs in
their having excelled any national school girl。 The most stupid
children at Cocksmoor always seemed to them wise in comparison with
the Stoneborough girls； and the Sunday…school might have become to
Ethel a school of rivalry； if Richard had not opened her eyes by a
quiet observation； that the town girls seemed to fare as ill with
her； as the Cocksmoor girls did with the town la
