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！
night's rest in peace。
The children were kept in the drawing…room that morning； and there
were strange steps in the house； but only Richard and Mr。 Ernescliffe
knew the reason。 Happily there had been witnesses enough of the
overturn to spare any reference to Dr。 Maythe violent start of the
horses had been seen； and Adams and Mr。 Ernescliffe agreed； under
their breath； that the new black one was not fit to drive； while the
whole town was so used to Dr。 May's headlong driving； that every one
was recollecting their own predictions of accidents。 There needed
little to account for the disasterthe only wonder was that it had
not happened sooner。
〃I say；〃 announced Harry； soon after they were released again； 〃I've
been in to papa。 His door was open； and he heard me； and called me。
He says he should like any of us to come in and see him。 Hadn't you
better go； Norman？〃
Norman started up； and walked hastily out of the room； but his hand
shook so； that he could hardly open the door； and Ethel； seeing how
it was with him； followed him quickly； as he dashed； at full speed；
up the stairs。 At the top； however； he was forced to cling to the
rail； gasping for breath； while the moisture started on his forehead。
〃Dear Norman；〃 she said； 〃there's nothing to mind。 He looks just as
usual。 You would not know there was anything the matter。〃 But he
rested his head on his hand； and looked as if he could not stir。 〃I
see it won't do；〃 said Ethel〃don't tryyou will be better by…and…
by； and he has not asked for you in particular。〃
〃I won't be beat by such stuff；〃 said Norman； stepping hastily
forwards； and opening the door suddenly。 He got through the greeting
pretty well； there was no need for him to speak； he only gave his
hand and looked away； unable to bring himself to turn his eyes on his
father； and afraid of letting his own face be seen。 Almost at the
same moment； nurse came to say something about Margaret； and he
seized the opportunity of withdrawing his hand； and hurrying away； in
good time； for he was pale as death； and was obliged to sit down on
the head of the stairs； and lean his head against Etheldred。
〃What does make me so ridiculous？〃 he exclaimed faintly； but very
indignantly。
The first cure was the being forced to clear out of Mr。 Ward's way；
which he could not effect without being seen； and Ethel though she
knew that he would be annoyed； was not sorry to be obliged to remain；
and tell what was the matter with him。 〃Oh；〃 said Mr。 Ward； turning
and proceeding to the dining…room； 〃I'll set that to rights in a
minute； if you will ask for a tumbler of hot water Miss Ethel。
And armed with the cordial he had prepared； Ethel hunted up her
brother； and persuaded him； after scolding her a little； to swallow
it； and take a turn in the garden； after which he made a more
successful attempt at visiting his father。
There was another room whither both Norman and Etheldred wished to
go； though they dared not hint at their desire。 At last Richard came
to them； as they were wandering in the garden； and； with his usual
stillness of manner； shaded with additional seriousness； said； 〃Would
you like to come into the study？〃
Etheldred put one hand into his； Norman took the other； and soon they
stood in that calm presence。 Fair； cold； white； and intensely still…
…that face brought home to them the full certainty that the warm
brightening look would never beam on them； the soft blue eyes never
guide； check； and watch them； the smile never approve or welcome
them。 To see her unconscious of their presence was too strange and
sad； and all were silent； till； as they left the room； Ethel looked
out at Blanche and Aubrey in the garden。 〃They will never remember
her！ Oh！ why should it be？〃
Richard would fain have moralised and comforted； but she felt as if
she knew it all before； and heard with languid attention。 She had
rather read than talk； and he sat down to write letters。
There were no near relations to be sent for。 Dr。 May was an only
son； and his wife's sister； Mrs。 Arnott； was in New Zealand； her
brother had long been dead； and his widow； who lived in Edinburgh；
was scarcely known to the May family。 Of friends there were many；
fast bound by affection and gratitude； and notes； inquiries；
condolences； and offers of service came in thickly； and gave much
occupation to Flora； Richard； and Alan Ernescliffe； in turn。 No one
from without could do anything for themthey had all the help they
wanted in Miss Winter and in Alan； who was invaluable in sharing with
Richard the care of the doctor； as well as in giving him the benefit
of his few additional years' experience； and relieving him of some of
his tasks。 He was indeed like one of themselves； and a most valuable
help and comforter。 Mr。 Wilmot gave them all the time he could； and
on this day saw the doctor； who seemed to find some solace in his
visit； though saying very little。
On this day the baby was to be baptized。 The usual Stoneborough
fashion was to collect all the christenings for the month into one
Sunday； except those for such persons as thought themselves too
refined to see their children christened before the congregation； and
who preferred an empty church and a week…day。 The little one had
waited till she was nearly six weeks old for 〃a Christening Sunday；〃
and since that had been missed； she could not be kept unbaptized for
another month； so； late in the day； she was carried to church。
Richard had extremely gratified old nurse； by asking her to represent
poor Margaret； Mrs。 Hoxton stood for the other godmother； and Alan
Ernescliffe was desired to consider himself absolutely her sponsor；
not merely a proxy。 The younger children alone were to go with them：
it was too far off； and the way lay too much through the town for it
to be thought proper for the others to go。 Ethel wished it very
much； and thought it nonsense to care whether people looked at her；
and in spite of Miss Winter's seeming shocked at her proposing it；
had a great mind to persist。 She would even have appealed to her
papa； if Flora had not stopped her； exclaiming； 〃Really； Ethel； I
think there never was a person so entirely without consideration as
you are。〃
Much abashed； Ethel humbly promised that if she might go into papa's
room； she would not say one word about the christening； unless he
should begin； and； to her great satisfaction； he presently asked her
to read the service to him。 Flora came to the doorway of Margaret's
room； and listened； when she had finished； all were silent。
〃How shall we； how can we virtuously bring up our motherless little
sister？〃 was the thought with each of the girls。 The answers were；
in one mind； 〃I trust we shall do well by her； dear little thing。 I
see； on an emergency； that I know how to act。 I never thought I was
capable of being of so much use； thanks to dear； dear mamma's
training。 I shall manage； I am sure； and so they will all depend on
me； and look up to me。 How nice it was to hear dear papa say what he
did about the comfort of my being able to look after Margaret。〃
In the other； 〃Poor darling； it is saddest of all for her； because
she knows nothing； and will never remember her mamma！ But if
Margaret is but better； she will take care of her； and oh how we
ought to tryand I； such a naughty wild thingif I should hurt the
dear little ones by carelessness； or by my bad example！ Oh！ what
shall I do； for want of some one to keep me in order？ If I should
vex papa by any of my wrong ways！〃
They heard the return of the others； and the sisters both sprang up；
〃May we bring her to you？〃 said Flora。
〃Yes； do； my dears。〃
The sisters all came down together with the little one； and Flora put
her down within the arm her father stretched out for her。 He gazed
into the baby face； which； in its expressionless placidity； almost
recalled her mother's tranquil sweetness。
〃Gertrude Margaret；〃 said Flora； and with a look that had more of
tenderness than grief； he murmured； 〃My Daisy blossom； my little
Maggie。〃
〃Might we？〃 said Ethel； when Flora took her again； 〃might we take her
to her godmother to see if she would notice her？〃
He looked as if he wished it； but said； 〃No； I think not； better not
rouse her；〃 and sighed heavily； then； as they stood round his bed；
unwilling to go； he added； 〃Girls； we must learn carefulness and
thoughtfulness。 We have no one to take thought for us now。〃
Flora pressed the babe in her arms； Ethel's two reluctant tears stood
on her cheeks； Mary exclaimed； 〃I'll try not to be naughty；〃 and
Blanche climbed up to kiss him； saying； 〃I will be always good papa。〃
〃Daisypapa's Daisyyour vows are made；〃 whispered Ethel； gaining
sole possession of the babe for a minute。 〃You have promised to be
good and holy。 We have the keeping of you； mamma's precious flower；
her pearl of truth！ Oh； may God guard you to be an unstained jewel；
till you come back to her againand a blooming flower； till you are
gathered into the wreath that never fadesmy own sweet poor little
motherless Daisy！〃
CHAPTER V。
Through lawless camp； through ocean wild；
Her prophet eye pursues her child；
Scans