the daisy chain, or aspirations-第86部分

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being　drawn。　　Blanche　struck　up　a　great　friendship　for　her　at　once；
Mary；　always　docile；　ceased　to　be　piteous　at　her　lessons；　and　Ethel
moralised　on　the　satisfaction　of　having　sympathy　needed　instead　of
repelled；　and　did　her　utmost　to　make　Miss　Bracy　feel　at　homeand
like　a　friendin　her　new　position。

For　herself；　Ethel　had　drawn　up　a　beautiful　time…table；　with　all　her
pursuits　and　duties　most　carefully　balanced；　after　the　pattern　of
that　which　Margaret　Rivers　had　made　by　her　advice；　on　the　departure
of　Mrs。　Larpent；　who　had　been　called　away　by　the　ill…health　of　her
son。　　Meta　had　adhered　to　hers　in　an　exemplary　manner；　but　she　was
her　own　mistress　in　a　manner　that　could　hardly　be　the　lot　of　one　of　a
large　family。

Margaret　had　become　subject　to　languor　and　palpitations；　and　the　head
of　the　household　had　fallen　entirely　upon　Flora；　who；　on　the　other
hand；　was　a　person　of　multifarious　occupations；　and　always　had　a
great　number　of　letters　to　write；　or　songs　to　copy　and　practise；
which；　together　with　her　frequent　visits　to　Mrs。　Hoxton；　made　her
glad　to　devolve；　as　much　as　she　could；　upon　her　younger　sister；　and；
〃Oh；　Ethel；　you　will　not　mind　just　doing　this　for　me；〃　was　said　often
enough　to　be　a　tax　upon　her　time。

Moreover；　Ethel　perceived　that　Aubrey's　lessons　were　in　an
unsatisfactory　state。　　Margaret　could　not　always　attend　to　them；　and
suffered　from　them　when　she　did；　and　he　was　bandied　about　between　his
sisters　and　Miss　Bracy　in　a　manner　that　made　him　neither　attentive
nor　obedient。

On　her　own　principle；　that　to　embrace　a　task　heartily　renders　it　no
longer　irksome；　she　called　on　herself　to　sacrifice　her　studies　and
her　regularity；　as　far　as　was　needful；　to　make　her　available　for　home
requirements。　　She　made　herself　responsible　for　Aubrey；　and；　after　a
few　battles　with　his　desultory　habits；　made　him　a　very　promising
pupil；　inspiring　so　much　of　herself　into　him；　that　he　was；　if
anything；　overfull　of　her　classical　tastes。　　In　fact；　he　had　such　an
appetite　for　books；　and　dealt　so　much　in　precocious　wisdom；　that　his
father　was　heard　to　say；　〃Six　years　old！　　It　is　a　comfort　that　he
will　soon　forget　the　whole。〃

Gertrude　was　also　Ethel's　pupil；　but　learning　was　not　at　all　in　her
line；　and　the　sight　of　〃Cobwebs　to　catch　Flies；〃　or　of　the　venerated
〃Little　Charles；〃　were　the　most　serious　clouds；　that　made　the　Daisy
pucker　up　her　face；　and　infuse　a　whine　into　her　voice。

However；　to…day；　as　usual；　she　was　half　dragged；　half　coaxed；　through
her　day's　portion　of　the　discipline　of　life；　and　then　sent　up　for　her
sleep；　while　Aubrey's　two　hours　were　spent　in　more　agreeable　work；
such　as　Margaret　could　not　but　enjoy　hearingso　spirited　was　Ethel's
mode　of　teachingso　eager　was　her　scholar。

His　play　afterwards　consisted　in　fighting　o'er　again　the　siege　of
Troy　on　the　floor；　with　wooden　bricks；　shells；　and　the　survivors　of　a
Noah's　ark；　while　Ethel　read　to　Margaret　until　Gertrude's　descent
from　the　nursery；　when　the　only　means　of　preventing　a　dire　confusion
in　Aubrey's　camp　was　for　her　elder　sisters　to　become　her　playfellows；
and　so　spare　Aubrey's　temper。　　Ethel　good…humouredly　gave　her　own
time；　till　their　little　tyrant　trotted　out　to　make　Norman　carry　her
round　the　garden　on　his　back。

So　sped　the　morning　till　Flora　came　home；　full　of　the　intended
bazaar；　and　Ethel　would　fain　have　taken　refuge　in　puzzling　out　her
Spanish；　had　she　not　remembered　her　recent　promise　to　be　gracious。

The　matter　had　been　much　as　she　had　described　it。　　Flora　had　a　way　of
hinting　at　anything　she　thought　creditable；　and　thus　the　Stoneborough
public　had　become　aware　of　the　exertions　of　the　May　family　on　behalf
of　Cocksmoor。

The　plan　of　a　fancy　fair　was　started。　　Mrs。　Hoxton　became　more
interested　than　was　her　wont；　and　Flora　was　enchanted　at　the　opening
it　gave　for　promoting　the　welfare　of　the　forlorn　district。　　She　held
a　position　which　made　her　hope　to　direct　the　whole。　　As　she　had　once
declared；　with　truth；　it　only　had　depended　on　themselves；　whether　she
and　her　sisters　should　sink　to　the　level　of　the　Andersons　and　their
set；　or　belong　to　the　county　society；　and　her　tact　had　resulted　in
her　being　decidedlyas　the　little　dressmaker's　apprentice　amused
Ethel　by　saying〃One　of　our　most　distinguished　patronesses〃a　name
that　had　stuck　by　her　ever　since。

Margaret　looked　on　passively；　inclined　to　admire　Flora　in　everything；
yet　now　and　then　puzzled；　and　her　father；　in　his　simple…hearted　way；
felt　only　gratitude　and　exultation　in　the　kindness　that　his　daughter
met　with。　　As　to　the　bazaar；　if　it　had　been　started　in　his　own
family；　he　might　have　weighed　the　objections；　but；　as　it　was　not　his
daughter's　own　concern；　he　did　not　trouble　himself　about　it；　only
regarding　it　as　one　of　the　many　vagaries　of　the　ladies　of
Stoneborough。

So　the　scheme　had　been　further　developed；　till　now　Flora　came　in　with
much　to　tell。　　The　number　of　stalls　had　been　finally　fixed。　　Mrs。
Hoxton　undertook　one；　with　Flora　as　an　aide…de…camp；　and　some　nieces
to　assist；　Lady　Leonora　was　to　chaperon　Miss　Rivers；　and　a　third；　to
Flora's　regret；　had　been　allotted　to　Miss　Cleveland；　a　good…natured；
merry；　elderly　heiress；　who　would；　Flora　feared；　bring　on　them　the
whole　〃Stoneborough　crew。〃　　And　then　she　began　to　reckon　up　the
present　resourcesdrawings；　bags；　and　pincushions。　　〃That　chip　hat
you　plaited　for　Daisy；　Margaret；　you　must　let　us　have　that。　　It　will
be　lovely；　trimmed　with　pink。〃

〃Do　you　wish　for　this？〃　said　Ethel；　heaving　up　a　mass　of　knitting。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Flora；　〃so　ornamental；　especially　the　original
performance　in　the　corner；　which　you　would　perpetrate；　in　spite　of　my
best　efforts。〃

〃I　shall　not　be　offended　if　you　despise　it。　　I　only　thought　you　might
have　no　more　scruple　in　robbing　Granny　Hall　than　in　robbing　Daisy。〃

〃Pray；　send　it。　　Papa　will　buy　it　as　your　unique　performance。〃

〃No；　you　shall　tell　me　what　I　am　to　do。〃

〃Does　she　mean　it？〃　said　Flora；　turning　to　Margaret。　　〃Have　you
converted　her？　　Well　done！　　Then；　Ethel；　we　will　get　some　pretty
batiste；　and　you　and　Mary　shall　make　some　of　those　nice　sun…bonnets；
which　you　really　do　to　perfection。〃

〃Thank　you。　　That　is　a　more　respectable　task　than　I　expected。　　People
may　have　something　worth　buying；〃　said　Ethel；　who；　like　all　the
world；　felt　the　influence　of　Flora's　tact。

〃I　mean　to　study　the　useful；〃　said　Flora。　　〃The　Cleveland　set　will　be
sure　to　deal　in　frippery；　and　I　have　been　looking　over　Mrs。　Hoxton's
stores；　where　I　see　quite　enough　for　mere　decoration。　　There　are　two
splendid　vases　in　potichomanie；　in　an　Etruscan　pattern；　which　are
coming　for　me　to　finish。〃

〃Mrs。　Taylor；　at　Cocksmoor；　could　do　that　for　you；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃Her
two　phials；　stuffed　with　chintz　patterns　and　flour；　are　quite　as
original　and　tasteful。〃

〃Silly　work；〃　said　Flora；　〃but　it　makes　a　fair　show。〃

〃The　essence　of　Vanity　Fair；〃　said　Ethel。

〃It　won't　do　to　be　satirical　over　much；〃　said　Flora。　　〃You　won't　get
on　without　humouring　your　neighbours'　follies。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　get　on。〃

〃But　you　wantor；　at　least；　I　wantCocksmoor　to　get　on。〃

Ethel　saw　Margaret　looking　distressed；　and；　recalling　her　resolution
she　said；　〃Well；　Flora；　I　don't　mean　to　say　any　more　about　it。　　I　see
it　can't　be　helped；　and　you　all　think　you　intend　it　for　good；　so
there's　an　end　of　the　matter；　and　I'll　do　anything　for　you　in
reason。〃

〃Poor　old　King　Ethel！〃　said　Flora；　smiling　in　an　elder…sisterly
manner。　　〃You　will　see；　my　dear；　your　views　are　very　pretty；　but　very
impracticable；　and　it　is　a　work…a…day　world　after　alleven　papa
would　tell　you　so。　　When　Cocksmoor　school　is　built；　then　you　may
thank　me。　　I　do　not　look　for　it　before。〃




CHAPTER　II。



Knowledge　is　second；　not　the　first；
A　higher　Hand　must　make　her　mild；
If　all　be　not　in　vain；　and　guide
Her　footsteps；　moving　side　by　side；
With　wisdom；　like　the　younger　child；
For　she　is　earthly　of　the　mind；
But　knowledge　heavenly　of　the　soul。In　Memoriam。


Etheldred　had　not　answered　her　sister；　but　she　did　not　feel　at　all
secure　that　she　should　have　anything　to　be　thankful　for；　even　if　the
school　were　built。

The　invasion　of　Cocksmoor　was　not　only　interference　with　her　own
field　of　action；　but　it　was　dangerous　to　the　improvement　of　her
scholars。　　Since　the　departure　of　Mr。　Wilmot；　matters　at　Stoneborough
National　School　had　not　improved；　though　the　Misses　Anderson　talked　a
great　deal　about　progress；　science；　and　lectures。

The　Ladies'　Committee　were　constantly　at　war　with　the　mistresses；　and
that　one　was　a　veteran　who　endured　them；　or　whom　they　could　endure
beyond　her　first　half…year。　　No　mistress　had　stayed　a　year　within　the
memory　of　any　girl　now　at　school。　　Perpetual　change　prevented　any
real　education；　and；　as　each　lady　held　different　opinions　and
proscribed　all　books　not　agreeing　thereto；　everything　〃dogmatical〃
was　excluded；　and；　as　Ethel　said；　the　children　learned　nothing　but
facts　about　lions　and　steam…engines；　while　their　doctrine　varied　with
that　of　the　visitor　for　the　week。　　If　the　ten　generals　could　only
have　given　up　to　Miltiades；　but；　alas！　there　was　no　Miltiades。　　Mr。
Ramsden's　health　was　failing；　and　his　neglect　told　upon　the　parish　in
the　dreadful　evils　reigning　unchecked；　and　engulfing　many　a　child
whom　more　influential　teaching　might　have　saved。　　Mental　arithmetic；
and　the　rivers　of　Africa；　had　little　power　to　strengthen　the　soul
against　temptation。

The　scanty　attendance　at　the　National　School　attested　the
indifference　with　which　it　was　regarded；　and　the　borderers
voluntarily　patronised　Cherry　Elwood；　and　thus　had；　perhaps；　first
aroused　the　emulation　that　led　Mrs。　Ledwich　on　a　visit　of　inspection；
to　what　she　chose　to　consider　as　an　offshoot　of　the　National　School。

The　next　day　she　called　upon　the　Misses　May。　　It　was　well　that　Ethel
was　not　at　home。　　Margaret　received　the　lady's　horrors　at　the　sight
of　the　mere　crowded　cottage　kitchen；　the　stupid　untrained　mistress；
without　an　idea　of　method；　and　that　impertinent　woman；　her　mother！
Miss　Flora　and　Miss　Ethel　must　have　had　a　great　deal　to　undergo；　and
she　would　lose　no　time　in　convening　the　Ladies'　Committee；　and
appointing　a　successor　to　〃that　Elwood；〃　as　soon　as　a　fit