the daisy chain, or aspirations-第15部分

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as　bad　for　you　among　the　boys；　but；　while　that　committee　goes　on　it
is　not　the　least　use　to　try　to　teach　the　girls　right。　　Oh！　the　fusses
about　the　books；　and　one's　way　of　teaching！　　And　fancy　how　Mrs
Ledwich　used　us。　　You　know　I　went　again　last　Sunday；　for　the　first
time；　and　there　I　found　that　class　of　Margaret's；　that　she　had　just
managed　to　get　into　some　degree　of　nice　order；　taken　so　much　pains
with；　taught　so　well。　　She　had　been　telling　me　what　to　hear　them
there　it　is　given　away　to　Fanny　Anderson；　who　is　no　more　fit　to　teach
than　that　stick；　and　all　Margaret's　work　will　be　undone。　　No　notice
to　usnot　even　the　civility　to　wait　and　see　when　she　gets　better。〃

〃If　we　left　them　now　for　Cocksmoor；　would　it　not　look　as　it　we　were
affronted？〃

Ethel　was　slightly　taken　aback；　but　only　said；　〃Papa　would　be　very
angry　if　he　knew　it。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　did　not　tell　him；〃　said　Richard。

〃I　thought　it　would　only　tease　him；〃　said　Ethel；　〃and　that　he　might
call　it　a　petty　female　squabble；　and　when　Margaret　is　well；　it　will
come　right；　if　Fanny　Anderson　has　not　spoiled　the　girls　in　the
meantime。　　It　is　all　Mrs。　Ledwich's　doing。　　How　I　did　hate　it　when
every　one　came　up　and　shook　hands　with　me；　and　asked　after　Margaret
and　papa；　only　just　out　of　curiosity！〃

〃Hush；　hush；　Ethel；　what's　the　use　of　thinking　such　things？〃

A　silence；then　she　exclaimed；　〃But；　indeed；　Richard；　you　don't
fancy　that　I　want　to　teach　at　Cocksmoor；　because　it　is　disagreeable
at　Stoneborough？〃

〃No；　indeed。〃

The　rendering　of　full　justice　conveyed　in　his　tone　so　opened　Ethel's
heart　that　she　went　on　eagerly：〃The　history　of　it　is　this。　　Last
time　we　walked　here；　that　day；　I　said；　and　I　meant　it；　that　I　would
never　put　it　out　of　my　head；　I　would　go　on　doing　and　striving；　and
trying；　till　this　place　was　properly　cared　for；　and　has　a　church　and
a　clergyman。　　I　believe　it　was　a　vow；　Richard；　I　do　believe　it　was；
and　if　one　makes　one；　one　must　keep　it。　　There　it　is。　　So；　I　can't
give　money；　I　have　but　one　pound　in　the　world；　but　I　have　time；　and　I
would　make　that　useful；　if　you　would　help　me。〃

〃I　don't　see　how；〃　was　the　answer；　and　there　was　a　fragment　of　a
smile　on　Richard's　face；　as　if　it　struck　him　as　a　wild　scheme；　that
Ethel　should　undertake；　single　handed；　to　evangelise　Cocksmoor。

It　was　such　a　damper　as　to　be　most　mortifying　to　an　enthusiastic
girl；　and　she　drew　into　herself　in　a　moment。

They　walked　home　in　silence；　and　when　Richard　warned　her　that　she　was
not　keeping　her　dress　out　of　the　dirt；　it　sounded　like　a　sarcasm　on
her　projects；　and；　with　a　slightly　pettish　manner；　she　raised　the
unfortunate　skirt；　its　crape　trimmings　greatly　bespattered　with　ruddy
mud。　　Then　recollecting　how　mamma　would　have　shaken　her　head　at　that
very　thing；　she　regretted　the　temper　she　had　betrayed；　and　in　a
larmoyante　voice；　sighed；　〃I　wish　I　could　pick　my　way　better。　　Some
people　have　the　gift；　you　have　hardly　a　splash；　and　I'm　up　to　the
ankles　in　mud。〃

〃It　is　only　taking　care；〃　said　Richard；　〃besides　your　frock　is　so
long；　and　full。　　Can't　you　tuck　it　up　and　pin　it？〃

〃My　pins　always　come　out；〃　said　Ethel；　disconsolately；　crumpling　the
black　folds　into　one　hand；　while　she　hunted　for　a　pin　with　the　other。

〃No　wonder；　if　you　stick　them　in　that　way；〃　said　Richard。　　〃Oh！
you'll　tear　that　crape。　　Here；　let　me　help　you。　　Don't　you　see；　make
it　go　in　and　out；　that　way；　give　it　something　to　pull　against。〃

Ethel　laughed。　　〃That's　the　third　thing　you　have　taught　meto　thread
a　needle；　tie　a　bow；　and　stick　in　a　pin！　　I　never　could　learn　those
things　of　any　one　else；　they　show；　but　don't　explain　the　theory。〃

They　met　Dr。　May　at　the　entrance　of　the　town；　very　tired；　and　saying
he　had　been　a　long　tramp；　all　over　the　place；　and　Mrs。　Hoxton　had
been　boring　him　with　her　fancies。　　As　he　took　Richard's　arm　he　gave
the　long　heavy　sigh　that　always　fell　so　painfully　on　Ethel's　ear。

〃Dear；　dear；　dear　papa！〃　thought　she；　〃my　work　must　also　be　to　do　all
I　can　to　comfort　him。〃

Her　reflections　were　broken　off。　　Dr。　May　exclaimed；　〃Ethel；　don't
make　such　a　figure　of　yourself。　　Those　muddy　ankles　and　petticoats
are　not　fit　to　be　seenthere；　now　you　are　sweeping　the　pavement。
Have　you　no　medium？　　One　would　think　you　had　never　worn　a　gown　in
your　life　before！〃

Poor　Ethel　stepped　on　before　with　mud…encrusted　heels；　and　her　father
speaking　sharply　in　the　weariness　and　soreness　of　his　heart；　her
draggle…tailed　petticoats　weighing　down　at　once　her　missionary
projects　at　Cocksmoor；　and　her　tender　visions　of　comforting　her
widowed　father；　her　heart　was　full　to　overflowing；　and　where　was　the
mother　to　hear　her　troubles？

She　opened　the　hall　door；　and　would　have　rushed　upstairs；　but　nurse
happened　to　be　crossing　the　hall。　　〃Miss　Ethel！　　Miss　Ethel；　you
aren't　going　up　with　them　boots　on！　　I　do　declare　you　are　just　like
one　of　the　boys。　　And　your　frock！〃

Ethel　sat　submissively　down　on　the　lowest　step；　and　pulled　off　her
boots。　　As　she　did　so；　her　father　and　brother　came　inthe　former
desiring　Richard　to　come　with　him　to　the　study；　and　write　a　note　for
him。　　She　hoped　that　thus　she　might　have　Margaret　to　herself；　and
hurried　into　her　room。　　Margaret　was　alone；　maids　and　children　at
tea；　and　Flora　dressing。　　The　room　was　in　twilight；　with　the　red
gleam　of　the　fire　playing　cheerfully　over　it。

〃Well；　Ethel；　have　you　had　a　pleasant　walk？〃

〃YesnoOh；　Margaret！〃　and　throwing　herself　across　the　bottom　of
the　bed；　she　burst　into　tears。

〃Ethel；　dear；　what　is　the　matter？　　Papa〃

〃Nonoonly　I　draggled　my　frock；　and　Richard　threw　cold　water。　　And
I　am　good　for　nothing！　　Oh！　if　mamma　was　but　here！〃

〃Darling　Ethel；　dear　Ethel；　I　wish　I　could　comfort　you。　　Come　a
little　nearer　to　me；　I　can't　reach　you！　　Dear　Ethel；　what　has　gone
wrong？〃

〃Everything；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃NoI'm　too　dirty　to　come　on　your　white
bed；　I　forgot；　you　won't　like　it；〃　added　she；　in　an　injured　tone。

〃You　are　wet；　you　are　cold；　you　are　tired；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃Stay
here　and　dress；　don't　go　up　in　the　cold。　　There；　sit　by　the　fire　pull
off　your　frock　and　stockings；　and　we　will　send　for　the　others。　　Let
me　see　you　look　comfortablethere。　　Now　tell　me　who　threw　cold
water。〃

〃It　was　figurative　cold　water；〃　said　Ethel；　smiling　for　a　moment。　　〃I
was　only　silly　enough　to　tell　Richard　my　plan；　and　it's　horrid　to
talk　to　a　person　who　only　thinks　one　high…flying　and　nonsensicaland
then　came　the　dirt。〃

〃But　what　was　the　scheme；　Ethel？〃

〃Cocksmoor；〃　said　Ethel；　proceeding　to　unfold　it。

〃I　wish　we　could；〃　said　Margaret。　　〃It　would　be　an　excellent　thing。
But　how　did　Richard　vex　you？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Ethel；　〃only　he　thought　it　would　not　do。
Perhaps　he　said　right；　but　it　was　coldly；　and　he　smiled。〃

〃He　is　too　sober…minded　for　our　flights；〃　said　Margaret。　　I　know　the
feeling　of　it；　Ethel　dear；　but　you　know　if　he　did　see　that　some　of
your　plans　might　not　answer；　it　is　no　reason　you　should　not　try　to　do
something　at　once。　　You　have　not　told　me　about　the　girl。〃

Ethel　proceeded　to　tell　the　history。　　〃There！〃　said　Margaret
cheerfully；　〃there　are　two　ways　of　helping　Cocksmoor　already。　　Could
you　not　make　some　clothes　for　the　two　grandchildren？　　I　could　help
you　a　little；　and　then；　if　they　were　well　clothed；　you　might　get　them
to　come　to　the　Sunday…school。　　And　as　to　the　twins；　I　wonder　what　the
hire　of　a　cart　would　be　to　bring　the　christening　party？　　It　is　just
what　Richard　could　manage。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ethel；　〃but　those　are　only　little　isolated　individual
things！　〃

〃But　one　must　make　a　beginning。〃

〃Then；　Margaret；　you　think　it　was　a　real　vow？　　You　don't　think　it
silly　of　me？〃　said　Ethel　wistfully。

〃Ethel；　dear；　I　don't　think　dear　mamma　would　say　we　ought　to　make
vows；　except　what　the　church　decrees　for　us。　　I　don't　think　she　would
like　the　notion　of　your　considering　yourself　pledged；　but　I　do　think；
that；　after　all　you　have　said　and　felt　about　Cocksmoor；　and　being　led
there　on　that　day；　it　does　seem　as　if　we　might　be　intended　to　make　it
our　especial　charge。〃

〃Oh；　Margaret；　I　am　glad　you　say　so。　　You　always　understand。〃

〃But　you　know　we　are　so　young；　that　now　we　have　not　her　to　judge　for
us；　we　must　only　do　little　things　that　we　are　quite　sure　of；　or　we
shall　get　wrong。〃

〃That's　not　the　way　great　things　were　done。〃

〃I　don't　know；　Ethel；　I　think　great　things　can't　be　good　unless　they
stand　on　a　sure　foundation　of　little　ones。〃

〃Well；　I　believe　Richard　was　right；　and　it　would　not　do　to　begin　on
Sunday；　but　he　was　so　tame；　and　then　my　frock；　and　the　horrid
deficiency　in　those　little　neatnesses。〃

〃Perhaps　that　is　good　for　you　in　one　way；　you　might　get　very　high…
flying　if　you　had　not　the　discipline　of　those　little　tiresome　things；
correcting　them　will　help　you；　and　keep　your　high　things　trom　being
all　romance。　　I　know　dear　mamma　used　to　say　so；　that　the　trying　to
conquer　them　was　a　help　to　you。　　Oh；　here's　Mary！　　Mary；　will　you　get
Ethel's　dressing　things？　　She　has　come　home　wet…footed　and　cold；　and
has　been　warming　herself　by　my　fire。〃

Mary　was　happy　to　help；　and　Ethel　was　dressed　and　cheered　by　the　time
Dr。　May　came　in；　for　a　hurried　visit　and　report　of　his　doings；　Flora
followed　on　her　way　from　her　room。　　Then　all　went　to　tea；　leaving
Margaret　to　have　a　visit　from　the　little　ones　under　charge　of　nurse。
Two　hours'　stay　with　her；　that　precious　time　when　she　knew　that　sad
as　the　talk　often　was；　it　was　truly　a　comfort　to　him。　　It　ended　when
ten　o'clock　struck；　and　he　went　downMargaret　hearing　the　bell；　the
sounds　of　the　assembling　servants；　the　shutting　of　the　door；　the
stillness　of　prayer…time；　the　opening　again；　the　feet　moving　off　in
different　directions；　then　brothers　and　sisters　coming　in　to　kiss　her
and　bid　her　good…night；　nurse　and　Flora　arranging　her　for　the　night；
Flora　coming　to　sleep　in　her　little　bed　in　the　corner　of　the　room；
and；　lastly；　her　father's　tender　good…night；　and　melancholy　look　at
her；　and　all　was　quiet；　except　the　low　voices　and　movements　as
Richard　attended　him　in　his　own　room。

Margaret　could　think：　〃Dear；　dear　Ethel；　how　noble　and　high　she　is！
But　I　am　afraid！　　It　is　what　people　call　a　difficult；　dangerous　age；
and　the　grander　she　is；　the　greater