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the daisy chain, or aspirations-第70章

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were but a boy to flog that Edward!〃

〃Hush; Ethel; remember what we resolved。〃

They were entering their own garden; where; beneath the shade of the
tulip…tree; Margaret lay on her couch。  Her arms were held out; and
Harry threw himself upon her; but when he rose from her caress;
Norman and Tom were gone。

〃What is this?〃 he now first ventured to ask。

〃Come with me;〃 said Dr。 May; leading the way to his study; where he
related the whole history of the suspicion that Norman had incurred。
He was glad that he had done so in private; for Harry's indignation
and grief went beyond his expectations; and when at last it appeared
that Harvey Anderson was actually Randall…scholar; after opening his
eyes with the utmost incredulity; and causing it to be a second time
repeated; he gave a gulp or two; turned very red; and ended by laying
his head on the table; and fairly sobbing and crying aloud; in spite
of dirk; uniform; and manhood。

〃Harry! why; Harry; my boy!  We should have prepared you for this;〃
said the doctor affectionately。  〃We have left off breaking our
hearts about it。  I don't want any comfort now for having gold
instead of glitter; though at first I was as bad as you。〃

〃Oh; if I had but been there!〃 said Harry; combating unsuccessfully
with his tears。

〃Ah! so we all said; Norman and all。  Your word would have cleared
himthat is; if you had not been in the thick of the mischief。  Ha!
July; should not you have been on the top of the wall?〃

〃I would have stood by him; at least。  Would not I have given
Axworthy and Anderson two such black eyes as they could not have
shown in school for a week?  They had better look out!〃 cried Harry
savagely。

〃What!  An officer in her Majesty's service!  Eh; Mr。 May?〃

〃Don't; papa; don't。  Oh!  I thought it would have been so happy;
when I came home; to see Norman Randall…scholar。  Oh! now I don't
care for the ship; nor anything。〃  Again Harry's face went down on
the table。

〃Come; come; Harry;〃 said Dr。 May; pulling off the spectacles that
had become very dewy; 〃don't let us make fools of ourselves; or they
will think we are dying for the scholarship。〃

〃I don't care for the scholarship; but to have June turned downand
disgrace〃

〃What I care for; Harry; is having June what he is; and that I know
better now。〃

〃He is! he ishe is June himself; and no mistake!〃 cried Harry; with
vehemence。

〃The prime of the year; is not it?〃 said the doctor; smiling; as he
stroked down the blue sleeve; as if he thought that generous July did
not fall far short of it。

〃That he is!〃 exclaimed Harry。  〃I have never met one fellow like
him。〃

〃It will be a chance if you ever do;〃 said Dr。 May。  〃That is better
than scholarships!〃

〃It should have been both;〃 said Harry。

〃Norman thinks the disappointment has been very good for him;〃 said
the doctor。

〃Perhaps it made him what he is now。  All success is no discipline;
you know。〃

Harry looked as if he did not know。

〃Perhaps you will understand better by…and…by; but this I can tell
you; Harry; that the patient bearing of his vexation has done more to
renew Norman's spirits than all his prosperity。  See if if has not。
I believe it is harder to every one of us; than to him。  To Ethel;
especially; it is a struggle to be in charity with the Andersons。〃

〃In charity!〃 repeated Harry。  〃Papa! you don't want us to like a
horrid; sneaking; mean…spirited pair like those; that have used
Norman in that shameful way?〃

〃No; certainly not; I only want you to feel no more personal anger
than if it had been Cheviot; or some indifferent person; that had
been injured。〃

〃I should have hated them all the same!〃 cried Harry。

〃If it is all the same; and it is the treachery you hate; I ask no
more;〃 said the doctor。

〃I can't help it; papa; I can't!  If I were to meet those fellows; do
you think I could shake hands with them?  If I did not lick Ned all
down Minster Street; he might think himself lucky。〃

〃Well; Harry; I won't argue any more。  I have no right to preach
forbearance。   Your brother's example is better worth than my
precept。  Shall we go back to Margaret; or have you anything to say
to me?〃

Harry made no positive answer; but pressed close to his father; who
put his arm round him; while the curly head was laid on his shoulder。
Presently he said; with a great sigh; 〃There's nothing like home。〃

〃Was that what you wanted to say?〃 asked Dr。 May; smiling; as he held
the boy more closely to him。

〃No; but it will be a long time before I come back。  They think we
shall have orders for the Pacific。〃

〃You will come home our real lion;〃 said the doctor。  〃How much you
will have to tell!〃

〃Yes;〃 said Harry; 〃but oh! it is very different from coming home
every night; not having any one to tell a thing to。〃

〃Do you want to say anything now?〃

〃I don't know。  I told you in my letter about the half…sovereign。〃

〃Ay; never mind that。〃

〃And there was one night; I am afraid; I did not stand by a little
fellow that they bullied about his prayers。  Perhaps he would have
gone on; if I had helped him!〃

〃Does he sail with you?〃

〃No; he was at school。  If I had told him that he and I would stand
by each otherbut he looked so foolish; and began to cry!  I am
sorry now。〃

〃Weak spirits have much to bear;〃 said the doctor; 〃and you stronger
ones; who don't mind being bullied; are meant; I suppose; to help
them; as Norman has been doing by poor little Tommy。〃

〃It was thinking of Normanthat made me sorry。  I knew there was
something else; but you see I forget when I don't see you and
Margaret every day。〃

〃You have One always near; my boy。〃

〃I know; but I cannot always recollect。  And there is such a row at
night on board; I cannot think or attend as I ought;〃 murmured Harry。

〃Yes; your life; sleeping at home in quiet; has not prepared you for
that trial;〃 said the doctor。  〃But others have kept upright habits
under the same; you knowand God helps those who are doing their
best。〃

Harry sighed。

〃I mean to do my best;〃 he added; 〃and if it was not for feeling bad;
I should like it。  I do like it〃and his eye sparkled; and his smile
beamed; though the tear was undried。

〃I know you do!〃 said Dr。 May; smiling; 〃and for feeling bad; my
Harry; I fear you must do that by sea; or land; as long as you are in
this world。  God be thanked that you grieve over the feeling。  But He
is ready to aid; and knows the trial; and you will be brought nearer
to Him before you leave us。〃

〃Margaret wrote about the Confirmation。  Am I old enough?〃

〃If you wish it; Harry; under these circumstances。〃

〃I suppose I do;〃 said Harry; uneasily twirling a button。

〃But then; if I've got to forgive the Andersons〃

〃We won't talk any more of that;〃 said the doctor; 〃here is poor
Mary; reconnoitring; to know why I am keeping you from her。〃

Then began the scampering up and down the house; round and round the
garden; visiting every pet or haunt or contrivance; Mary and Harry at
the head; Blanche and Tom in full career after them; and Aubrey
stumping and scrambling at his utmost speed; far behind。

Not a word passed between Norman and Harry on the school
misadventure; but; after the outbreak of the latter; he treated it as
a thing forgotten; and brought all his high spirits to enliven the
family party。  Richard; too; returned later on the same day; and
though not received with the same uproarious joy as Harry; the elder
section of the family were as happy in their way as what Blanche
called the middle…aged。  The Daisy was brought down; and the eleven
were again all in the same room; though there were suppressed sighs
from some; who reflected how long it might be before they could again
assemble。

Tea went off happily in the garden; with much laughing and talking。
〃Pity to leave such good company!〃 said the doctor; unwillingly
rising at last〃but I must go to the UnionI promised Ward to meet
him there。〃

〃Oh; let me walk with you!〃 cried Harry。

〃And me!〃 cried other voices; and the doctor proposed that they
should wait for him in the meads; and extend the walk after the
visit。  Richard and Ethel both expressing their intention of adhering
to Margaretthe latter observing how nice it would be to get rid of
everybody; and have a talk。

〃What have we been doing all this time?〃 said Dr。 May; laughing。

〃Chattering; not conversing;〃 said Ethel saucily。

〃Ay! the Cocksmoor board is going to sit;〃 said Dr。 May。

〃What is a board?〃 inquired Blanche; who had just come down prepared
for her walk。

〃Richard; Margaret; and Ethel; when they sit upon Cocksmoor;〃 said
Dr。 May。

〃But Margaret never does sit on Cocksmoor; papa。〃

〃Only allegorically; Blanche;〃 said Norman。

〃But I don't understand what is a board?〃 pursued Blanche。

〃Mr。 May in his ship;〃 was Norman's suggestion。

Poor Blanche stood in perplexity。  〃What is it really?〃

〃Something wooden headed;〃 continued the provoking papa。

〃A board is all wooden; not only its head;〃 said Blanche。

〃Exactly so; especially at Stoneborough!〃 said the doctor。

〃It is what papa is when he comes out of the council…room;〃 added
Ethel。

〃Or what every one is while the
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