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the daisy chain, or aspirations-第45部分

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in her character。  Nor had she yet detected her own satisfaction in
being the first with every one in the family。

Ethel was put out; as Flora had discovered; and when she was
downstairs she found it out; and accused herself of having been cross
to Margaret; and unkind to Tomof wishing to be a tell…tale。  But
still; though displeased with herself; she was dissatisfied with
Margaret; it might be right; but it did not agree with her notions。
She wanted to see every one uncompromising; as girls of fifteen
generally do; she had an intense disgust and loathing of underhand
ways; could not bear to think of Tom's carrying them on; and going to
a place of temptation with them uncorrected; and she looked up to her
father with the reverence and enthusiasm of one like minded。

She was vexed on another score。  Norman came home from Abbotstoke
Grange without having seen Miss Rivers; but with a fresh basket of
choice flowers; rapturous descriptions of Mr。 Rivers's prints; and a
present of an engraving; in shading; such as to give the effect of a
cast; of a very fine head of Alexander。  Nothing was to be thought of
but a frame for thisolive; bay; laurel; everything appropriate to
the conqueror。  Margaret and Norman were engrossed in the subject;
and; to Ethel; who had no toleration for fancy work; who expected
everything to be either useful and intellectual; this seemed very
frivolous。  She heard her father say how glad he was to see Norman
interested and occupied; and certainly; though it was only in leather
leaves; it was better than drooping and attending to nothing。  She
knew; too; that Margaret did it for his sake; but; said Ethel to
herself; 〃It was very odd that people should find amusement in such
things。  Margaret always had a turn for them; but it was very strange
in Norman。〃

Then came the pang of finding out that this was aggravated by the
neglect of herself; she called it all selfishness; and felt that she
had had an uncomfortable; unsatisfactory day; with everything going
wrong。




CHAPTER XVII。



Gently supported by the ready aid
  Of loving hands; whose little work of toil
Her grateful prodigality repaid
  With all the benediction of her smile;
    She turned her failing feet
    To the softly cushioned seat;
  Dispensing kindly greetings all the time。
                                        R。 M。 MILNES。


Three great events signalised the month of January。  The first was;
the opening of the school at Cocksmoor; whither a cart transported
half a dozen forms; various books; and three dozen plum…buns;
Margaret's contribution; in order that the school might begin with
eclat。  There walked Mr。 Wilmot; Richard; and Flora; with Mary; in a
jumping; capering state of delight; and Ethel; not knowing whether
she rejoiced。  She kept apart from the rest; and hardly spoke; for
this long probation had impressed her with a sense of responsibility;
and she knew that it was a great work to which she had set her hand
a work in which she must persevere; and in which she could not
succeed in her own strength。

She took hold of Flora's hand; and squeezed it hard; in a fit of
shyness; when they came upon the hamlet; and saw the children
watching for them; and when they reached the house; she would fain
have shrank into nothing; there was a swelling of heart that seemed
to overwhelm and stifle her; and the effect of which was to keep her
standing unhelpful; when the others were busy bringing in the benches
and settling the room。

It was a tidy room; but it seemed very small when they ranged the
benches; and opened the door to the seven…and…twenty children; and
the four or five women who stood waiting。  Ethel felt some dismay
when they all came pushing in; without order or civility; and would
have been utterly at a loss what to do with her scholars now she had
got them; if Richard and Flora had not marshalled them to the
benches。

Rough heads; torn garments; staring vacant eyes; and mouths gaping in
shy rudenessit was a sight to disenchant her of visions of pleasure
in the work she had set herself。  It was well that she had not to
take the initiative。

Mr。 Wilmot said a few simple words to the mothers about the wish to
teach their children what was right; and to do the best at present
practicable; and then told the children that he hoped they would take
pains to be good; and mind what they were taught。  Then he desired
all to kneel down; he said the Collect; 〃Prevent us; 0 Lord; in all
our doings;〃 and then the Lord's Prayer。

Ethel felt as if she could bear it better; and was more up to the
work after this。  Next; the children were desired to stand round the
room; and Mr。 Wilmot tried who could say the Catechismthe two
biggest; a boy and a girl; had not an idea of it; and the boy looked
foolish; and grinned at being asked what was his name。  One child was
tolerably perfect; and about half a dozen had some dim notions。
Three were entirely ignorant of the Lord's Prayer; and many of the
others did not by any means pronounce the words of it。  Jane and
Fanny Taylor; Rebekah Watts; and Mrs。 Green's little boy; were the
only ones who; by their own account; used morning and evening
prayers; though; on further examination; it appeared that Polly and
Jenny Hall; and some others; were accustomed to repeat the old rhyme
about 〃 Matthew; Mark; Luke; and John;〃 and Una M'Carthy and her
little brother Fergus said something that nobody could make out; but
which Mr。 Wilmot thought had once been an 〃Ave Maria。〃

Some few of the children could read; and several more knew their
letters。  The least ignorant were selected to form a first class; and
Mr。 Wilmot promised a Prayer…book to the first who should be able to
repeat the Catechism without a mistake; and a Bible to the first who
could read a chapter in it。

Then followed a setting of tasks; varying from a verse of a Psalm; or
the first answer in the Catechism; down to the distinction between A;
B; and C; all to be ready by next Tuesday; when; weather permitting;
a second lesson was to be given。  Afterwards; a piece of advice of
Margaret's was followed; and Flora read aloud to the assembly the
story of 〃Margaret Fletcher。〃  To some this seemed to give great
satisfaction; especially to Una; but Ethel was surprised to see that
many; and those not only little ones; talked and yawned。  They had no
power of attention even to a story; and the stillness was irksome to
such wild colts。  It was plain that it was time to leave off; and
there was no capacity there which did not find the conclusion
agreeable; when the basket was opened; and Ethel and Mary distributed
the buns; with instructions to say; 〃thank you。〃

The next Tuesday; some of the lessons were learned; Una's perfectly;
the big ignorant boy came no more; and some of the children had
learned to behave better; while others behaved worse; Ethel began to
know what she was about; Richard's gentleness was eminently
successful with the little girls; impressing good manners on them in
a marvellous way; and Mary's importance and happiness with alphabet
scholars; some bigger than herself; were edifying。  Cocksmoor was
fairly launched。

The next memorable day was that of Margaret's being first carried
downstairs。  She had been willing to put it off as long as she could;
dreading to witness the change below…stairs; and feeling; too; that
in entering on the family room; without power of leaving it; she was
losing all quiet and solitude; as well as giving up that monopoly of
her father in his evenings; which had been her great privilege。

However; she tried to talk herself into liking it; and was rewarded
by the happy commotion it caused; though Dr。 May was in a state of
excitement and nervousness at the prospect of seeing her on the
stairs; and his attempts to conceal it only made it worse; till
Margaret knew she should be nervous herself; and wished him out of
sight and out of the house till it was over; for without him she had
full confidence in the coolness and steadiness of Richard; and by him
it was safely and quietly accomplished。  She was landed on the sofa;
Richard and Flora settling her; and the others crowding round and
exclaiming; while the newness of the scene and the change gave her a
sense of confusion; and she shut her eyes to recover her thoughts;
but opened them the next instant at her father's exclamation that she
was overcome; smiled to reassure him; and declared herself not tired;
and to be very glad to be among them again。  But the bustle was
oppressive; and her cheerful manner was an effort; she longed to see
them all gone; and Flora found it out; sent the children for their
walk; and carried off Ethel and the brothers。

Dr。 May was called out of the room at the same time; and she was left
alone。  She gazed round her; at the room where; four months before;
she had seen her mother with the babe in her arms; the children
clustered round her; her father exulting in his hen…and…chicken
daisies; herself full of bright undefined hope; radiant with health
and activity; and her one trouble such that she now knew the force of
her mother's words; that it only proved her happiness。  It was not
till that mome
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