按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The Daisy Chain； or Aspirations
by Charlotte Yonge
PREFACE
No one can be more sensible than is the Author that the present is an
overgrown book of a nondescript class； neither the 〃tale〃 for the
young； nor the novel for their elders； but a mixture of both。
Begun as a series of conversational sketches； the story outran both
the original intention and the limits of the periodical in which it
was commenced； and； such as it has become； it is here presented to
those who have already made acquaintance with the May family； and may
be willing to see more of them。 It would beg to be considered merely
as what it calls itself； a Family Chroniclea domestic record of
home events； large and small； during those years of early life when
the character is chiefly formed； and as an endeavour to trace the
effects of those aspirations which are a part of every youthful
nature。 That the young should take one hint； to think whether their
hopes and upward…breathings are truly upwards； and founded in
lowliness； may be called the moral of the tale。
For those who may deem the story too long； and the characters too
numerous； the Author can only beg their pardon for any tedium that
they may have undergone before giving it up。 Feb。 22nd； 1856。
PART 1。
THE DAISY CHAIN
CHAPTER I。
Si douce est la Marguerite。CHAUCER。
〃Miss Winter； are you busy？ Do you want this afternoon？ Can you
take a good long walk？〃
〃Ethel； my dear； how often have I told you of your impetuosityyou
have forgotten。〃
〃Very well〃with an impatient twist〃I beg your pardon。 Good…
morning； Miss Winter；〃 said a thin； lank； angular； sallow girl； just
fifteen； trembling from head to foot with restrained eagerness； as
she tried to curb her tone into the requisite civility。
〃Good…morning； Ethel； good…morning； Flora；〃 said the prim； middle…
aged daily governess； taking off her bonnet； and arranging the stiff
little rolls of curl at the long； narrow looking…glass； the border of
which distorted the countenance。
〃Good…morning；〃 properly responded Flora； a pretty； fair girl； nearly
two years older than her sister。
〃Will you〃 began to burst from Etheldred's lips again； but was
stifled by Miss Winter's inquiry； 〃Is your mamma pretty well to…day？〃
〃Oh！ very well；〃 said both at once； 〃she is coming to the reading。〃
And Flora added； 〃Papa is going to drive her out to…day。〃
〃I am very glad。 And the baby？〃
〃I do believe she does it on purpose！〃 whispered Ethel to herself；
wriggling fearfully on the wide window…seat on which she had
precipitated herself； and kicking at the bar of the table； by which
manifestation she of course succeeded in deferring her hopes； by a
reproof which caused her to draw herself into a rigid； melancholy
attitude； a sort of penance of decorum； but a rapid motion of the
eyelids； a tendency to crack the joints of the fingers； and an
unquietness at the ends of her shoes； betraying the restlessness of
the digits therein contained。
It was such a room as is often to be found in old country town
houses； the two large windows looking out on a broad old…fashioned
street； through heavy framework； and panes of glass scratched with
various names and initials。 The walls were painted blue； the
skirting almost a third of the height； and so wide at the top as to
form a narrow shelf。 The fireplace； constructed in the days when
fires were made to give as little heat as possible； was ornamented
with blue and white Dutch tiles bearing marvellous representations of
Scripture history； and was protected by a very tall green guard； the
chairs were much of the same date； solid and heavy； the seats in
faded carpet…work； but there was a sprinkling of lesser ones and of
stools； a piano； a globe； a large table in the middle of the room；
with three desks on it； a small one； and a light cane chair by each
window； and loaded book…cases。 Flora began； 〃If you don't want this
afternoon to yourself〃
Ethel was on her feet； and open…mouthed。 〃Oh； Miss Winter； if you
would be so kind as to walk to Cocksmoor with us！〃
〃To Cocksmoor； my dear！〃 exclaimed the governess in dismay。
〃Yes； yes； but hear；〃 cried Ethel。 〃It is not for nothing。
Yesterday〃
〃No； the day before；〃 interposed Flora。
〃There was a poor man brought into the hospital。 He had been
terribly hurt in the quarry； and papa says he'll die。 He was in
great distress； for his wife has just got twins； and there were lots
of children before。 They want everythingfood and clothesand we
want to walk and take it。〃
〃We had a collection of clothes ready； luckily；〃 said Flora； 〃and we
have a blanket； and some tea and some arrowroot； and a bit of bacon；
and mamma says she does not think it too far for us to walk； if you
will be so kind as to go with us。〃
Miss Winter looked perplexed。 〃How could you carry the blanket； my
dear？〃
〃Oh； we have settled that；〃 said Ethel； 〃we mean to make the donkey a
sumpter…mule； so； if you are tired； you may ride home on her。〃
〃But； my dear； has your mamma considered？ They are such a set of
wild people at Cocksmoor； I don't think we could walk there alone。〃
〃It is Saturday；〃 said Ethel； 〃we can get the boys。〃
〃If you would reflect a little！ They would be no protection。 Harry
would be getting into scrapes； and you and Mary running wild。〃
〃I wish Richard was at home！ 〃 said Flora。
〃I know！〃 cried Ethel。 〃Mr。 Ernescliffe will come。 I am sure he can
walk so far now。 I'll ask him。〃
Ethel had clapped after her the heavy door with its shining brass
lock； before Miss Winter well knew what she was about； and the
governess seemed annoyed。 〃Ethel does not consider；〃 said she。
〃I don't think your mamma will be pleased。〃
〃Why not？〃 said Flora。
〃My deara gentleman walking with you； especially if Margaret is
going！〃
〃I don't think he is strong enough；〃 said Flora； 〃but I can't think
why there should be any harm。 Papa took us all out walking with him
yesterdaylittle Aubrey and all； and Mr。 Ernescliffe went。〃
〃But； my dear〃
She was interrupted by the entrance of a fine tall blooming girl of
eighteen； holding in her hand a pretty little maid of five。 〃Good…
morning。 Miss Winter。 I suppose Flora has told you the request we
have to make to you？〃
〃Yes； my dear Margaret； but did your mamma consider what a lawless
place Cocksmoor is？〃
〃That was the doubt；〃 said Margaret； 〃but papa said he would answer
for it nothing would happen to us； and mamma said if you would be so
kind。〃
〃It is unlucky；〃 began the governess； but stopped at the incursion of
some new…comers； nearly tumbling over each other； Ethel at the head
of them。 〃Oh； Harry！〃 as the gathers of her frock gave way in the
rude grasp of a twelve…year…old boy。 〃Miss Winter； 'tis all right
Mr。 Ernescliffe says he is quite up to the walk； and will like it
very much； and he will undertake to defend you from the quarrymen。〃
〃Is Miss Winter afraid of the quarrymen？〃 hallooed Harry。 〃Shall I
take a club？〃
〃I'll take my gun and shoot them；〃 valiantly exclaimed Tom； and while
threats were passing among the boys； Margaret asked； in a low voice；
〃Did you ask him to come with us？〃
〃Yes； he said he should like it of all things。 Papa was there； and
said it was not too far for himbesides； there's the donkey。 Papa
says it； so we must go； Miss Winter。〃
Miss Winter glanced unutterable things at Margaret； and Ethel began
to perceive she had done something wrong。 Flora was going to speak；
when Margaret； trying to appear unconscious of a certain deepening
colour in her own cheeks； pressed a hand on her shoulder； and
whispering； 〃I'll see about it。 Don't say any more； please；〃 glided
out of the room。
〃What's in the wind？〃 said Harry。 〃Are many of your reefs out there；
Ethel？〃
〃Harry can talk nothing but sailors' language；〃 said Flora； 〃and I am
sure he did not learn that of Mr。 Ernescliffe。 You never hear slang
from him。〃
〃But aren't we going to Cocksmoor？〃 asked Mary； a blunt downright
girl of ten。
〃We shall know soon；〃 said Ethel。 〃I suppose I had better wait till
after the reading to mend that horrid frock？〃
〃I think so； since we are so nearly collected；〃 said Miss Winter； and
Ethel； seating herself on the corner of the window…seat； with one leg
doubled under her； took up a Shakespeare； holding it close to her
eyes； and her brother Norman； who； in age； came between her and
Flora； kneeling on one knee on the window…seat； and supporting
himself with one arm against the shutter； leaned over her； reading it
too； disregarding a tumultuous skirmish going on in that division of
the family collectively termed 〃the boys；〃 namely； Harry； Mary； and
Tom； until Tom was suddenly pushed down； and tumbled over into
Ethel's lap； thereby upsetting her and Norman together； and there was
a general downfall； and a loud scream； 〃The sphynx！〃
〃You've crushed it；〃 cried Harry； dealing out thumps
indiscriminately。
〃No； here 'tis；〃 said Mary； rushing among them； and bringing out a
green sphynx caterpillar on her finger〃'tis not hurt。〃
〃Pax！ Pax！〃 cried Norman； over all； with the voice of an authority；
as he leaped up lightly and se