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the daisy chain, or aspirations-第163章

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Aubrey; gaze with admiration at the rows of bonnets; and with awe at
the black coats on the platform; while the relations of the said
black coats suffer; like Ethel; from nervous dread of the public
speaking of their best friends。

Her expectations were realised by the archdeacon's speech; which went
round in a circle; as if he could not find his way out of it。  Lord
Cosham was fluent; but a great many words went to very small
substance; and no wonder; thought Ethel; when all they had to propose
and second was the obvious fact that missions were very good things。

Dr。 Hoxton pompously; Sir Henry Walkinghame creditably; assisted the
ladies and gentlemen to resolve that the S。 P。 G。 wanted help; Mr。
Lake made a stammering; and Mr。 Rivers; with his good…natured face;
hearty manner; and good voice; came in well after him with a
straightforward; speech; so brief; that Ethel gave Flora credit for
the best she had yet heard。

Mr。 Wilmot said something which the sharpest ears in the front row
might; perhaps; have heard; and which resulted in Dr。 Spencer
standing up。  Ethel hardly would have known who was speaking had her
eyes been shut。  His voice was so different; when raised and pitched;
so as to show its power and sweetness; the fine polish of his manner
was redoubled; and every sentence had the most graceful turn。  It was
like listening to a well…written book; so smooth and so fluent; and
yet so earnesthis pictures of Indian life so beautiful; and his
strong affection for the converts he described now and then making
his eyes fill; and his voice falter; as if losing the thread of his
studied compositiona true and dignified work of art; that made Dr。
May whisper to Flora; 〃You see what he can do。  They would have given
anything to have had him for a lecturer。〃

With half a sigh; Ethel saw Norman rise; and step forward。  He began;
with eyes fixed on the ground; and in a low modest tone; to speak of
the islands that Harry had visited; but gradually the poetic nature;
inherent in him; gained the mastery; and though his language was
strikingly simple; in contrast with Dr。 Spencer's ornate periods; and
free from all trace of 〃the lamp;〃 it rose in beauty and fervour at
every sentence。  The feelings that had decided his lot gave energy to
his discourse; and repressed as they had been by reserve and
diffidence; now flowed forth; and gave earnestness to natural gifts
of eloquence of the highest order。  After his quiet; unobtrusive
beginning; there was the more wonder to find how he seemed to raise
up the audience with him; in breathless attention; as to a strain of
sweet music; carrying them without thought of the scene; or of the
speaker; to the lovely isles; and the inhabitants of noble promise;
but withering for lack of knowledge; and finally closing his speech;
when they were wrought up to the highest pitch; by an appeal that
touched them all home; 〃for well did he know;〃 said he; 〃that the
universal brotherhood was drawn closest in circles nearer home; that
beneath the shadow of their own old minster; gladness and mourning
floated alike for all; and that all those who had shared in the
welcome to one; given back as it were from the grave; would own the
same debt of gratitude to the hospitable islanders。〃

He ceased。  His father wiped his spectacles; and almost audibly
murmured; 〃Bless him!〃  Ethel; who had sat like one enchanted;
forgetting who spoke; forgetting all save the islanders; half turned;
and met Richard's smiling eyes; and his whisper; 〃I told you so。〃

The impress of a man of true genius and power had been made
throughout the whole assembly; the archdeacon put Norman out of
countenance by the thanks of the meeting for his admirable speech;
and all the world; except the Oxford men; were in a state of as much
surprise as pleasure。

〃Splendid speaker; Norman May; if he would oftener put himself out;〃
Harvey Anderson commented。  〃Pity he has so many of the good doctor's
prejudices!〃

〃Well; to be sure!〃 quoth Mrs。 Ledwich。  〃I knew Mr。 Norman was very
clever; but I declare I never thought of such as this!  I will try my
poor utmost for those interesting natives。〃

〃That youth has first…rate talents;〃 said Lord Cosham。  〃Do you know
what he is designed for?  I should like to bring him forward。〃

〃Ah!〃 said Dr。 Hoxton。  〃The year I sent off May and Anderson was the
proudest year of my life!〃

〃Upon my word!〃 declared Mrs。 Elwood。  〃That Dr。 Spencer is as good
as a book; but Mr。 Norman I say; father; we will go without the new
clock; but we'll send somewhat to they men that built up the church;
and has no minister。〃

〃A good move that;〃 said Dr。 Spencer。  〃Worth at least twenty pounds。
That boy has the temperament of an orator; if the morbid were but a
grain less。〃

〃Oh; Margaret;〃 exclaimed Blanche。  〃Dr。 Spencer made the finest
speech you ever heard; only it was rather tiresome; and Norman made
everybody cryand Mary worse than all!〃

〃There is no speaking of it。  One should live such things; not talk
over them;〃 said Meta Rivers。

Margaret received the reports of the select few; who visited her
upstairs; where she was kept quiet; and only heard the hum of the
swarm; whom Dr。 May; in vehement hospitality; had brought home to
luncheon; to Ethel's great dread; lest there should not be enough for
them to eat。

Margaret pitied her sisters; but heard that all was going well; that
Flora was taking care of the elders; and Harry and Mary were making
the younger fry very merry at the table on the lawn。  Dr。 May had to
start early to see a sick gardener at Drydale before coming on to
Cocksmoor; and came up to give his daughter a few minutes。

〃We get on famously;〃 he said。  〃Ethel does well when she is in for
it; like Norman。  I had no notion what was in the lad。  They are
perfectly amazed with his speech。  It seems hard to give such as he
is up to those outlandish places; but there; his speech should have
taught me betterone's bestand; now and then; he seems my best。〃

〃One comfort is;〃 said Margaret; smiling; you would miss Ethel more。〃

〃Gallant old King!  I am glad she has had her wish。  Good…bye; my
Margaret; we will think of you。  I wish〃

〃I am very happy;〃 was Margaret's gentle reassurance。  〃The dear
little Daisy looks just as her godfather imagined her;〃 and happy was
her face when her father quitted her。

Margaret's next visitor was Meta; who came to reclaim her bonnet;
and; with a merry smile; to leave word that she was walking on to
Cocksmoor。  Margaret remonstrated on the heat。

〃Let me alone;〃 said she; making her pretty wilful gesture。  〃Ethel
and Mary ought to have a lift; and I have had no walking to…day。〃

〃My dear; you don't know how far it is。  You can't go alone。〃

〃I am lying in wait for Miss Bracy; or something innocent;〃 said
Meta。  〃In good timehere comes Tom。〃

Tom entered; declaring that he had come to escape from the clack
downstairs。

〃I'll promise not to clack if you will be so kind as to take care of
me to Cocksmoor;〃 said Meta。

〃Do you intend to walk?〃

〃If you will let me be your companion。〃

〃I shall be most happy;〃 said Tom; colouring with gratification; such
as he might not have felt; had he known that he was chosen for his
innocence。

He took a passing glimpse at his neck…tie; screwed up the nap of his
glossy hat to the perfection of its central point; armed himself with
a knowing little stick; and hurried his fair companion out by the
back door; as much afraid of losing the glory of being her sole
protector as she was of falling in with an escort of as much
consequence; in other eyes; as was Mr。 Thomas in his own。

She knew him less than any of the rest; and her first amusement was
keeping silence to punish him for complaining of clack; but he
explained that he did not mean quiet; sensible conversationhe only
referred to those foolish women's raptures over the gabble they had
been hearing at the Town Hall。

She exclaimed; whereupon he began to criticise the speakers with a
good deal of acuteness; exposing the weak points; but magnanimously
owning that it was tolerable for the style of thing; and might go
down at Stoneborough。

〃I wonder you did not stay away as Harry did。〃

〃I thought it would be marked;〃 observed the thread…paper Tom; as if
he had been at least county member。

〃You did quite right;〃 said Meta; really thinking so。

〃I wished to hear Dr。 Spencer; too;〃 said Tom。  〃There is a man who
does know how to speak!  He has seen something of the world; and
knows what he is talking of。〃

〃But he did not come near Norman。〃

〃I hated listening to Norman;〃 said Tom。  〃Why should he go and set
his heart on those black savages?〃

〃They are not savages in New Zealand。〃

〃They are all niggers together;〃 said Tom vehemently。  〃I cannot
think why Norman should care for them more than for his own brothers
and sisters。  All I know is; that if I were my father; I would never
give my consent。〃

〃It is lucky you are not;〃 said Meta; smiling defiance; though a tear
shone in her eye。  〃Dr。 May makes the sacrifice with a free heart and
willing mind。〃

〃Everybody goes and sacrifices somebody else;〃 grumbled Tom。

〃Who are the victi
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