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the daisy chain, or aspirations-第19章

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〃Oh; nothing; only Miss Winter is so tiresome。〃

〃What was it?〃

〃Everything; it was all horrid。  I was cross; I know; but she and M。
Ballompre made me so;〃 and Ethel was in the midst of the narration of
her grievances; when Norman came in。  The school was half a mile off;
but he had not once failed to come home; in the interval allowed for
play after dinner; to inquire for his sister。

〃Well; Norman; you are out of breath; sit down and rest。  What is
doing at school; are you dux of your class?〃

〃Yes;〃 said the boy wearily。

〃What mark for the verses?〃 said Ethel。

〃Quam bene。〃

〃Not optime?〃

〃No; they were tame;〃 Dr。 Hoxton said。

〃What is Harry doing?〃 said Margaret。

〃He is fourth in his form。  I left him at football。〃

〃Dinner!〃 said Flora at the door。  〃What will you have; Margaret?〃

〃I'll fetch it;〃 said Norman; who considered it his privilege to wait
on Margaret at dinner。  When he had brought the tray; he stood
leaning against the bed…post; musing。  Suddenly; there was a
considerable clatter of fire…irons; and his violent start surprised
Margaret。

〃Ethel has been poking the fire;〃 she said; as if no more was needed
to account for their insecurity。  Norman put them up again; but a
ringing sound betrayed that it was not with a firm touch; and when; a
minute after; he came to take her plate; she saw that he was trying
with effort to steady his hand。

〃Norman; dear; are you sure you are well?〃

〃Yes; very well;〃 said he; as if vexed that she had taken any notice。

〃You had better not come racing home。  I'm not worth inquiries now; I
am so much better;〃 said she; smiling。

He made no reply; but this was not consenting silence。

〃I don't like you to lose your football;〃 she proceeded。

〃I could not〃 and he stopped short。

〃It would be much better for you;〃 said she; looking up in his face
with anxious affectionate eyes; but he shunned her glance and walked
away with her plate。

Flora had been in such close attendance upon Margaret; that she
needed some cheerful walks; and though she had some doubts how
affairs at home would go on without her; she was overruled; and sent
on a long expedition with Miss Winter and Mary; while Ethel remained
with Margaret。

The only delay before setting out; was that nurse came in; saying;
〃If you please; Miss Margaret; there is a girl come to see about the
place。〃

The sisters looked at each other and smiled; while Margaret asked
whence she came; and who she was。

〃Her name is Taylor; and she comes from Cocksmoor; but she is a nice;
tidy; strong…looking girl; and she says she has been used to
children。〃

Nurse had fallen into the trap most comfortably; and seemed bent upon
taking this girl as a choice of her own。  She wished to know if Miss
Margaret would like to see her。

〃If you please; nurse; but if you think she will do; that is enough。〃

〃Yes; Miss; but you should look to them things yourself。  If you
please; I'll bring her up。〃  So nurse departed。

〃Charming!〃 cried Ethel; 〃that's your capital management; Flora;
nurse thinks she has done it all herself。〃

〃She is your charge though;〃 said Flora; 〃coming from your own
beloved Cocksmoor。〃

Lucy Taylor came in; looking very nice; and very shy; curtseying low;
in extreme awe of the pale lady in bed。  Margaret was much pleased
with her; and there was no more to be done but to settle that she
should come on Saturday; and to let nurse take her into the town to
invest her with the universal blackness of the household; where the
two Margarets were the only white things。

This arranged; and the walking party set forth; Ethel sat down by her
sister's bed; and began to assist in unpicking the merino; telling
Margaret how much obliged she was to her for thinking of it; and how
grieved at having been so ungrateful in the morning。  She was very
happy over her contrivances; cutting out under her sister's
superintendence。  She had forgotten the morning's annoyance; till
Margaret said; 〃I have been thinking of what you said about Miss
Winter; and really I don't know what is to be done。〃

〃Oh; Margaret; I did not mean to worry you;〃 said Ethel; sorry to see
her look uneasy。

〃I like you to te11 me everything; dear Ethel; but I don't see
clearly the best course。  We must go on with Miss Winter。〃

〃Of course;〃 said Ethe1; shocked at her murmurs having even suggested
the possibility of a change; and having; as well as all the others; a
great respect and affection for her governess。

〃We could not get on without her even if I were well;〃 continued
Margaret; and dear mamma had such perfect trust in her; and we all
know and love her so wellit would make us put up with a great
deal。〃

〃It is all my own fault;〃 said Ethel; only anxious to make amends to
Miss Winter。  〃I wish you would not say anything about it。〃

〃Yes; it does seem wrong even to think of it;〃 said Margaret; 〃when
she has been so very kind。  It is a blessing to have any one to whom
Mary and Blanche may so entirely be trusted。  But for you〃

〃It is my own fault;〃 repeated Ethel。

〃I don't think it is quite all your own fault;〃 said Margaret; 〃and
that is the difficulty。  I know dear mamma thought Miss Winter an
excellent governess for the little ones; but hardly up to you; and
she saw that you worried and fidgeted each other; so; you know; she
used to keep the teaching of you a good deal in her own hands。〃

〃I did not know that was the reason;〃 said Ethel; overpowered by the
recollection of the happy morning's work she had often done in that
very room; when her mother had not been equal to the bustle of the
whole school…room。  That watchful; protecting; guarding; mother's
love; a shadow of Providence; had been round them so constantly on
every side; that they had been hardly conscious of it till it was
lost to them。

〃Was it not like her?〃 said Margaret; 〃but now; my poor Ethel; I
don't think it would be right by you or by Miss Winter; to take you
out of the school…room。  I think it would grieve her。〃

〃I would not do that for the world。〃

〃Especially after her kind nursing of me; and even; with more reason;
it would not be becoming in us to make changes。  Besides; King
Etheldred;〃 said Margaret; smiling; 〃we all know you are a little bit
of a sloven; and; as nurse says; some one must be always after you;
and do you know? even if I were well; I had rather it was Miss Winter
than me。〃

〃Oh; no; you would not be formal and preciseyou would not make me
cross。〃

〃Perhaps you might make me so;〃 said Margaret; 〃or I should let you
alone; and leave you a slattern。  We should both hate it so!  No;
don't make me your mistress; Ethel dearlet me be your sister and
play…fellow still; as well as I can。〃

〃You are; you are。  I don't care half so much when I have got you。〃

〃And will you try to bear with her; and remember it is right in the
main; though it is troublesome? 〃

〃That I will。  I won't plague you again。  I know it is bad for you;
you look tired。〃

〃Pray don't leave off telling me;〃 said Margaret〃it is just what I
wish on my own account; and I know it is comfortable to have a good
grumble。〃

〃If it does not hurt you; but I am sure you are not easy noware
you?〃

〃Only my back;〃 said Margaret。  〃I have been sitting up longer than
usual; and it is tired。  Will you call nurse to lay me flat again?

The nursery was desertedall were out; and Ethel came back in
trepidation at the notion of having to do it herself; though she knew
it was only to put one arm to support her sister; while; with the
other; she removed the pillows; but Ethel was conscious of her own
awkwardness and want of observation; nor had Margaret entire trust in
her。  Still she was too much fatigued to wait; so Ethel was obliged
to do her best。  She was careful and frightened; and therefore slow
and unsteady。  She trusted that all was right; and Margaret tried to
believe so; though still uneasy。

Ethel began to read to her; and Dr。 May came home。 She looked up
smiling; and asked where he had been; but it was vain to try to keep
him from reading her face。  He saw in an instant that something was
amiss; and drew from her a confession that her back was aching a
little。  He knew she might have said a great dealshe was not in a
comfortable positionshe must be moved。  She shook her headshe had
rather waitthere was a dread of being again lifted by Ethel that
she could not entirely hide。  Ethel was distressed; Dr。 May was
angry; and; no wonder; when he saw Margaret suffer; felt his own
inability to help; missed her who had been wont to take all care from
his hands; and was vexed to see a tall strong girl of fifteen; with
the full use of both arms; and plenty of sense; incapable of giving
any assistance; and only doing harm by trying。

〃It is of no use;〃 said he。  〃Ethel will give no attention to
anything but her books!  I've a great mind to put an end to all the
Latin and Greek!  She cares for nothing else。〃

Ethel could little brook injustice; and much as she was grieving; she
exclaimed; 〃Papa; papa; I do carenow don't I; Margaret?  I did my
best!〃

〃Don't talk nonsense。  Your best; indeed!  If you had taken the most
moderate care〃

〃I believe
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