the daisy chain, or aspirations-第16部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

did　not　like　me　to　use　them；〃　she　said；　in　a　low　voice。

Thus　they　talked　till　they　arrived　at　Cocksmoor；　where　poor　Mrs。
Taylor；　inspirited　by　better　reports　of　her　husband　and　the　hopes　for
her　daughter；　was　like　another　woman。　　Richard　was　very　careful　not
to　raise　false　expectations；　saying　it　all　depended　on　Miss　May　and
nurse；　and　what　they　thought　of　her　strength　and　steadiness；　but
these　cautions　did　not　seem　capable　of　damping　the　hopes　of　the
smooth…haired　Lucy；　who　stood　smiling　and　curtseying。　　The　twins　were
grown　and　improved；　and　Ethel　supposed　they　would　be　brought　to
church　on　the　next　christening　Sunday；　but　their　mother　looked
helpless　and　hopeless　about　getting　them　so　far；　and　how　was　she　to
get　gossips？　　Ethel　began　to　grow　very　indignant；　but　she　was　always
shy　of　finding　fault　with　poor　people　to　their　faces　when　she　would
not　have　done　so　to　persons　in　her　own　station；　and　so　she　was
silent；　while　Richard　hoped　they　would　be　able　to　manage；　and　said　it
would　be　better　not　to　wait　another　month　for　still　worse　weather　and
shorter　days。

As　they　were　coming　out　of　the　house；　a　big；　rough…looking；
uncivilised　boy　came　up　before　them；　and　called　out；　〃I　sayben't
you　the　young　doctor　up　at　Stoneborough？〃

〃I　am　Dr。　May's　son；〃　said　Richard；　while　Ethel；　startled；　clung　to
his　arm；　in　dread　of　some　rudeness。

Granny's　bad；〃　said　the　boy；　proceeding　without　further　explanation
to　lead　the　way　to　another　hovel；　though　Richard　tried　to　explain
that　the　knowledge　of　medicine　was　not　in　his　case　heredity。　　A　poor
old　woman　sat　groaning　over　the　fire；　and　two　children　crouched；
half…clothed；　on　the　bare　floor。

Richard's　gentle　voice　and　kind　manner　drew　forth　some　wonderful
descriptions〃her　head　was　all　of　a　goggle；　her　legs　all　of　a　fur；
she　felt　as　if　some　one　was　cutting　right　through　her。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Richard　kindly；　〃I　am　no　doctor　myself；　but　I'll　ask　my
father　about　you；　and　perhaps　he　can　give　you　an　order　for　the
hospital。〃

〃No；　no；　thank　ye；　sir；　I　can't　go　to　the　hospital；　I　can't　leave
these　poor　children；　they've　no　father　nor　mother；　sir；　and　no　one　to
do　for　them　but　me。〃

〃What　do　you　live　on；　then？〃　said　Richard；　looking　round　the　desolate
hut。

〃On　Sam's　wages；　sir；　that's　that　boy。　　He　is　a　good　boy　to　me；　sir；
and　his　little　sisters；　he　brings　it；　all　he　gets；　home　to　me；
rig'lar；　but　'tis　but　six　shillings　a　week；　and　they　makes　'em　take
half　of　it　out　in　goods　and　beer；　which　is　a　bad　thing　for　a　boy　like
him；　sir。〃

〃How　old　are　you；　Sam？〃

Sam　scratched　his　head；　and　answered　nothing。　　His　grandmother　knew
he　was　the　age　of　her　black　bonnet；　and　as　he　looked　about　fifteen；
Ethel　honoured　him　and　the　bonnet　accordingly；　while　Richard　said　he
must　be　very　glad　to　be　able　to　maintain　them　all；　at　his　age；　and；
promising　to　try　to　bring　his　father　that　way；　since　prescribing　at
second　hand　for　such　curious　symptoms　was　more　than　could　be
expected；　he　took　his　leave。

〃A　wretched　place；〃　said　Richard；　looking　round。　〃I　don't　know　what
help　there　is　for　the　people。　　There's　no　one　to　do　any　thing　for
them；　and　it　is　of　no　use　to　tell　them　to　come　to　church　when　it　it
so　far　off；　and　there　is　so　little　room　for　them。〃

〃It　is　miserable；〃　said　Ethel；　and　all　her　thoughts　during　her　last
walk　thither　began　to　rush　over　her　again；　not　effaced；　but　rather
burned　in；　by　all　that　had　subsequently　happened。　　She　had　said　it
should　be　her　aim　and　effort　to　make　Cocksmoor　a　Christian　place。
Such　a　resolve　must　not　pass　away　lightly；　she　knew　it　must　be　acted
on；　but　how？　　What　would　her　present　meansone　sovereigneffect？
Her　fancies；　rich　and　rare；　had　nearly　been　forgotten　of　late；　but
she　might　make　them　of　use　in　timein　time；　and　here　were　hives　of
children　growing　up　in　heathenism。　　Suddenly　an　idea　struck　her
Richard；　when　at　home；　was　a　very　diligent　teacher　in　the　Sunday…
school　at　Stoneborough；　though　it　was　a　thankless　task；　and　he　was
the　only　gentleman　so　engaged；　except　the　two　clergymenthe　other
male　teachers　being　a　formal；　grave；　little　baker；　and　one　or　two
monitors。

〃Richard；〃　said　Ethel；　〃I'll　tell　you　what。　　Suppose　we　were　to　get
up　a　Sunday…school　at　Cocksmoor。　　We　could　get　a　room；　and　walk　there
every　Sunday　afternoon；　and　go　to　church　in　the　evening　instead。〃

He　was　so　confounded　by　the　suddenness　of　the　project；　that　he　did
not　answer；　till　she　had　time　for　several　exclamations　and　〃Well；
Richard？〃

〃I　cannot　tell；〃　he　said。　　〃Going　to　church　in　the　evening　would
interfere　with　tea…timeput　out　all　the　housemake　the　evening
uncomfortable。〃

〃The　evenings　are　horrid　now；　especially　Sundays；〃　said　Ethel。

〃But　missing　two　more　would　make　them　worse　for　the　others。〃

〃Papa　is　always　with　Margaret；〃　said　Ethel。　　〃We　are　of　no　use　to
him。　　Besides　these　poor　childrenare　not　they　of　more　importance？〃

〃And；　then；　what　is　to　become　of　Stoneborough　school？　〃

〃I　hate　it；〃　exclaimed　Ethel；　then　seeing　Richard　shocked；　and
finding　she　had　spoken　more　vehemently　than　she　intended〃It　is　not
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　pettic