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the daisy chain, or aspirations-第43部分
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a lucky chance;〃 he said; 〃that they brought Norman in。 It was
exactly what I wanted to rouse and interest him; and he took it all
in so well; that I am sure they were pleased with him。 I thought he
looked a very lanky specimen of too much leg and arm when I called
him in; but he has such good manners; and is so ready and
understanding; that they could not help liking him。 It was fortunate
I had him instead of RichardRitchie is a very good fellow;
certainly; but he had rather look at a steam…engine; any day; than at
Raphael himself。〃
Norman had his turn by…and…by。 He came up after tea; reporting that
papa was fast asleep in his chair; and the others would go on about
Cocksmoor till midnight; if they were let alone; and made up for his
previous yielding to Ethel; by giving; with much animation; and some
excitement; a glowing description of the Grange; so graphic; that
Margaret said she could almost fancy she had been there。
〃Oh; Margaret; I wonder if you ever will! I would give something for
you to see the beautiful conservatory。 It is a real bower for a
maiden of romance; with its rich green fragrance in the midst of
winter。 It is like a picture in a dream。 One could imagine it a
fairy land; where no care; or grief; or weariness could come; all
choice beauty and sweetness waiting on the creature within。 I can
hardly believe that it is a real place; and that I have seen it。〃
〃Though you have brought these pretty tokens that your fairy is as
good as she is fair!〃 said Margaret; smiling。
CHAPTER XVI。
EVANS。 Peace your tattlings。 What is fair; William?
WILLIAM。 PULCHER。
QUICKLY。 Poulcats! there are fairer things than poulcats sure!
EVANS。 I pray you have your remembrance; child; accusative
HING HANG HOG。
QUICKLY。 HANG HOG is Latin for bacon; I warrant you。
SHAKESPEARE。
In a large family it must often happen; that since every member of it
cannot ride the same hobby; nor at the same time; their several
steeds must sometimes run counter to each other; and so Ethel found
it; one morning when Miss Winter; having a bad cold; had given her an
unwonted holiday。
Mr。 Wilmot had sent a large parcel of books for her to choose from
for Cocksmoor; but this she could not well do without consultation。
The multitude bewildered her; she was afraid of taking too many or
too few; and the being brought to these practical details made her
sensible that though her schemes were very grand and full for future
doings; they passed very lightly over the intermediate ground。 The
Paulo post fulurum was a period much more developed in her
imagination than the future; that the present was flowing into。
Where was her coadjutor; Richard? Writing notes for papa; and not to
be disturbed。 She had better have waited tranquilly; but this would
not suit her impatience; and she ran up to Margaret's room。 There
she found a great display of ivy leaves; which Norman; who had been
turning half the shops in the town upside down in search of
materials; was instructing her to imitate in leather…worka regular
mania with him; and apparently the same with Margaret。
In came Ethel。 〃Oh; Margaret; will you look at these 'First Truths?'
Do you think they would be easy enough? Shall I take some of the
Parables and Miracles at once; or content myself with the book about
'Jane Sparks?'〃
〃There's some very easy reading in 'Jane Sparks'; isn't there? I
would not make the little books from the New Testament too common。〃
〃Take care; that leaf has five points;〃 said Norman。
〃Shall I bring you up 'Jane Sparks' to see? Because then you can
judge;〃 said Ethel。
〃There; Norman; is that right?what a beauty! I should like to look
over them by…and…by; dear Ethel; very much。〃
Ethel gazed and went away; more put out than was usual with her。
〃When Margaret has a new kind of fancy work;〃 she thought; 〃she cares
for nothing else! as if my poor children did not signify more than
trumpery leather leaves!〃 She next met Flora。
〃Oh; Flora; see here; what a famous parcel of books Mr。 Wilmot has
sent us to choose from。〃
〃All those!〃 said Flora; turning them over as they lay heaped on the
drawing…room sofa; 〃what a confusion!〃
〃See; such a parcel of reading books。 I want to know what you think
of setting them up with 'Jane Sparks'; as it is week…day teaching。〃
〃You will be very tired of hearing those spelled over for ever; they
have some nicer books at the national school。〃
〃What is the name of them? Do you see any of them here?〃
〃No; I don't think I do; but I can't wait to look now。 I must write
some letters。 You had better put them together a little。 If you
were to sort them; you would know what is there。 Now; what a mess
they are in。〃
Ethel could not deny it; and began to deal them out in piles; looking
somewhat more fitting; but still felt neglected and aggrieved; at no
one being at leisure but Harry; who was not likely to be of any use
to her。
Presently she heard the study door open; and hoped; but though it was
Richard who entered the room; he was followed by Tom; and each held
various books that boded little good to her。 Miss Winter had; much
to her own satisfaction; been relieved from the charge of Tom; whose
lessons Richard had taken upon himself; and thus Ethel had heard so
little about them for a long time past; that even in her vexation and
desire to have them over; she listened with interest; desirous to
judge what sort of place Tom might be likely to take in school。
She did not perceive that this made Richard nervous and uneasy。 He
had a great dislike to spectators of Latin lessons; he never had
forgotten an unlucky occasion; some years back; when his father was
examining him in the Georgics; and he; dull by nature; and duller by
confusion and timidity; had gone on rendering word for wordenim
for; seges a crop; lini of mud; urit burns; campum the field; avenae
a crop of pipe; urit burns it; when Norman and Ethel had first warned
him of the beauty of his translation by an explosion of laughing;
when his father had shut the book with a bounce; shaken his head in
utter despair; and told him to give up all thoughts of doing
anythingand when Margaret had cried with vexation。 Since that
time; he had never been happy when any one was in earshot of a
lesson; but to…day he had no escapeHarry lay on the rug reading;
and Ethel sat forlorn over her books on the sofa。 Tom; however; was
bright enough; declined his Greek nouns irreproachably; and construed
his Latin so well; that Ethel could not help putting in a word or two
of commendation; and auguring the third form。 〃Do let him off the
parsing; Ritchie;〃 said she coaxingly〃he has said it so well; and I
want you so much。〃
〃I am afraid I must not;〃 said Richard; who; to her surprise; did not
look pleased or satisfied with the prosperous translation; 〃but come;
Tom; you shan't have many words; if you really know them。〃
Tom twisted and looked rather cross; but when asked to parse the word
viribus; answered readily and correctly。
〃Very well; only two moreaffuit?〃
〃Third person singular; praeter perfect tense of the verb affo;
affis; affui; affere; gabbled off Tom with such confidence; that
though Ethel gave an indignant jump; Richard was almost startled into
letting it pass; and disbelieving himself。 He remonstrated in a
somewhat hesitating voice。 〃Did you find that in the dictionary?〃
said he; 〃I thought affui came from adsum。〃
〃Oh; to be sure; stupid fool of a word; so it does!〃 said Tom
hastily。 〃I had forgotadsum; ades; affui; adesse。〃
Richard said no more; but proposed the word oppositus。
〃Adjective。〃
Ethel was surprised; for she remembered that it was; in this passage;
part of a passive verb; which Tom had construed correctly; 〃it was
objected;〃 and she had thought this very creditable to him; whereas
he now evidently took it for opposite; however; on Richard's reading
the line; he corrected himself and called it a participle; but did
not commit himself further; till asked for its derivation。
〃From oppositor。〃
〃Hallo!〃 cried Harry; who hitherto had been abstracted in his book;
but now turned; raised himself on his elbow; and; at the blunder;
shook his thick yellow locks; and showed his teeth like a young lion。
〃No; now; Tom; pay attention;〃 said Richard resignedly。 〃If you
found out its meaning; you must have seen its derivation。〃
〃Oppositus;〃 said Tom; twisting his fingers; and gazing first at
Ethel; then at Harry; in hopes of being prompted; then at the ceiling
and floor; the while he drawled out the word with a whine; 〃why;
oppositus from op…posor。〃
〃A poser! ain't it?〃 said Harry。
〃Don't; Harry; you distract him;〃 said Richard。 〃Come; Tom; say at
once whether you know it or notit is of no use to invent。〃
〃From op…〃 and a mumble。
〃What? I don't hearop〃
Tom again looked for help to Harry; who made a mischievous movement
of his lips; as if prompting; and; deceived by it; he said boldly;
〃From op…possum。〃
〃That's right! let us hear him decline it!〃 cried Harry; in an
ecstasy。 〃Oppossum; opottis; opposse; or oh…pottery!〃
〃Harry;〃 sai
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