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！
compassionate； when he heard of the doubts that had assailed poor
Norman。 〃Foolish boy； what business had he to meddle with those
accursed books； when he knew what they were made ofit was tasting
poison； it was running into temptation！ He had no right to expect to
come out safe〃 and then he grasped tightly hold of Ethel's hands；
and； as if the terror had suddenly flashed on him； asked her； with
dilated eye and trembling voice； whether she were sure that he was
safe； and held the faith。
Ethel repeated his asseveration； and her father covered his face with
his hands in thanksgiving。
After this； he seemed somewhat inclined to hold poor Oxford in
horror； only； as he observed； it would be going out of the frying…pan
into the fire； to take refuge at Parisa recurrence to the notion of
Norman's medical studies； that showed him rather enticed by the
proposal。
He sent Ethel to bed； saying he should talk to Norman and find out
what was the meaning of it； and she walked upstairs； much ashamed of
having so ill served her brother； as almost to have made him
ridiculous。
Dr May and Norman never failed to come to an understanding； and after
they had had a long drive into the country together； Dr May told
Ethel that he was afraid； of what he ought not to be afraid of； that
she was right； that the lad was very much in earnest now at any rate；
and if he should continue in the same mind； he hoped he should not be
so weak as to hold him from a blessed work。
From Norman； Ethel heard the warmest gratitude for his father's
kindness。 Nothing could be done yet； he must wait patiently for the
present； but he was to write to his uncle； Mr。 Arnott； in New
Zealand； and； without pledging himself； to make inquiries as to the
mission； and in the meantime； return to Oxford； where； to his other
studies； he was to add a course of medical lectures； which； as Dr。
May said； would do him no harm； would occupy his mind； and might turn
to use wherever he
was。
Ethel was surprised to find that Norman wrote to Flora an expression
of his resolution； that； if he found he could be spared from
assisting his father as a physician； he would give himself up to the
mission in New Zealand。 Why should he tell any one so unsympathetic
as Flora； who would think him wasted in either case？
CHAPTER XVII。
Do not fear： Heaven is as near；
By water； as by land。LONGFELLOW。
The fifth of May was poor Harry's eighteenth birthday； and； as usual；
was a holiday。 Etheldred privately thought his memory more likely to
be respected； if Blanche and Aubrey were employed； than if they were
left in idleness； but Mary would have been wretched had the
celebration been omitted； and a leisure day was never unwelcome。
Dr。 Spencer carried off Blanche and Aubrey for a walk； and Ethel
found Mary at her great resortHarry's cupboarddusting and
arranging his books； and the array of birthday gifts； to which； even
to…day； she had not failed to add the marker that had been in hand at
Christmas。 Ethel entreated her to come down； and Mary promised； and
presently appeared； looking so melancholy； that； as a sedative； Ethel
set her down to the basket of scraps to find materials for a tippet
for some one at Cocksmoor； intending； as soon as Margaret should be
dressed； to resign her morning to the others； invite Miss Bracy to
the drawing…room； and read aloud。
Gertrude was waiting for her walk； till nurse should have dressed
Margaret； and was frisking about the lawn； sometimes looking in at
the drawing…room window at her sisters； sometimes chattering to Adams
at his work； or laughing to herself and the flowers； in that overflow
of mirth； that seemed always bubbling up within her。
She was standing in rapt contemplation of a pear…tree in full
blossom； her hands tightly clasped behind the back； for greater
safety from the temptation； when； hearing the shrubbery gate open；
she turned； expecting to see her papa； but was frightened at the
sight of two strangers； and began to run off at full speed。
〃Stop！ Blanche！ Blanche； don't you know me？〃 The voice was that
tone of her brother's； and she stood and looked； but it came from a
tall； ruddy youth； in a shabby rough blue coat； followed by a
grizzled old seaman。 She was too much terrified and perplexed even
to run。
〃What's the matter！ Blanche； it is I！ Why； don't you know me
Harry？〃
〃Poor brother Harry is drowned；〃 she answered； and； with one bound；
he was beside her； and； snatching her up； devoured her with kisses。
〃Put me downput me down； please；〃 was all she could say。
〃It is not Blanche！ What？ the little Daisy； I do believe！〃
〃Yes； I am Gertrude； but please let me go；〃 and； at the same time；
Adams hurried up； as if he thought her being kidnapped； but his
aspect changed at the glad cry； 〃Ha！ Adams' how are you？ Are they
all well？〃
〃'Tisn't never Master Harry！ Bless me！〃 as Harry's hand gave him
sensible proof； 〃when we had given you up for lost！〃
〃My father well？〃 Harry asked； hurrying the words one over the other。
〃Quite well； sir； but he never held up his head since he heard it；
and poor Miss Mary has so moped about。 If ever I thought to see the
like〃
〃So they did not get my letter； but I can't stop。 Jennings will tell
you。 Take care of him。 Come； Daisy〃 for he had kept her unwilling
hand all the time。 〃But what's that for？〃 pointing to the black
ribbons； and； stopping short； startled。
〃Because of poor Harry；〃 said the bewildered child。
〃Oh； that's right！〃 cried he； striding on； and dragging her in a
breathless run； as he threw open the well…known doors； and； she
escaping from him； hid her face in Mary's lap； screaming； 〃He says he
is Harry！ he says he is not drowned！〃
At the same moment Ethel was in his arms； and his voice was sobbing；
〃Ethel！ Mary！ home！ Where's papa？〃 One moment's almost agonising
joy in the certainty of his identity！ but ere she could look or
think； he was crying； 〃Mary！ oh； Ethel； see〃
Mary had not moved； but sat as if turned to stone； with breath
suspended； wide…stretched eyes； and death…like cheeksEthel sprang
to her； 〃Mary； Mary dear； it is Harry！ It is himself！ Don't you
see？ Speak to her； Harry。〃
He seemed almost afraid to do so； but； recovering himself； exclaimed；
〃Mary； dear old Polly； here I am！ Oh； won't you speak to me？〃 he
added piteously； as he threw his arm round her and kissed her；
startled at the cold touch of her cheek。
The spell seemed broken； and； with a wild hoarse shriek that rang
through the house； she struggled to regain her breath； but it would
only come in painful； audible catches； as she held Harry's hand
convulsively。
〃What have I done？〃 he exclaimed； in distress。
〃What's this！ Who is this frightening my dear？〃 was old nurse's
exclamation； as she and James came at the outcry。
〃Oh； nurse； what have I done to her？〃 repeated Harry。
〃It is joyit is sudden joy！〃 said Ethel。 〃See； she is better
now〃
〃Master Harry！ Well； I never！〃 and James； 〃with one wring of the
hand； retreated； while old nurse was nearly hugged to death；
declaring all the time that he didn't ought to have come in such a
way； terrifying every one out of their senses！ and as for poor Miss
May
〃Where is she？ 〃 cried Harry； starting at the sight of the vacant
sofa。
〃Only upstairs；〃 said Ethel； 〃but where's Alan？ Is not he come？〃
〃Oh； Ethel； don't you know？〃 His face told but too plainly。
〃Nurse！ nurse； how shall we tell her？〃 said Ethel。
〃Poor dear！〃 exclaimed nurse； sounding her tongue on the roof of her
mouth。 〃She'll never abear it without her papa。 Wait for him； I
should say。 But bless me； Miss Mary； to see you go on like that；
when Master Harry is come back such a bonny
man！〃
〃I'm better now；〃 said Mary； with an effort。 〃Oh； Harry！ speak to me
again。〃
〃But Margaret！〃 said Ethel； while the brother was holding Mary in his
embrace； and she lay tremulous with the new ecstasy upon his breast
〃but Margaret。 Nurse； you must go up； or she will suspect。 I'll
come when I can； speak quietly。 Oh！ poor Margaret！ If Richard would
but come in！〃
Ethel walked up and down the room； divided between a tumult of joy；
grief； dread； and perplexity。 At that moment a little voice said at
the door； 〃Please； Margaret wants Harry to come up directly。〃
They looked one upon another in consternation。 They had never thought
of the child； who； of course； had flown up at once with the tidings。
〃Go up； Miss Ethel；〃 said nurse。
〃Oh！ nurse； I can't be the first。 Come； Harry； come。〃
Hand…in…hand； they silently ascended the stairs； and Ethel pushed
open the door。 Margaret was on her couch； her whole form and face in
one throb of expectation。
She looked into Harry's facethe eagerness flitted like sunshine on
the hillside； before a cloud； and； without a word； she held out her
arms。
He threw himself on his knees； and her fingers were clasped among his
thick curls； while his frame heaved with suppressed sobs； 〃Oh； if he
could only have come back to you。〃
〃Thank God；〃 she said； then slightly pushing him back； she lay
holding his hand in one of hers； and resting the other on his
shoulder； and gazing in silence into his face。