The Daisy Chain

gh that Greek

, his freakish

astimes he re

each him safe

pleasures gen

s, and control th

ngainly hands and heedless eyes that Nature had given her. Nor did the following day, Saturday, do much for her comfort, by giving her the company of her brothers. That it was Norman's sixteenth birthday seemed only to make it worse. Their father had apparently forgotten it, and Norman stopped Blanche when sh

you ever have not managed so as to m

nd there's nothing to d

ora does her music," said Ethel; "I shall come

, but she found him with his head sunk on his open book, fast asleep. At

rother stretched and pinched himself. "You'll jump out

y one to be waked up with

"and not be waking me up with tumbling about, and ha

y, just now, you said he

othing about i

hool, and were a junior, you would get a proper

good licking for not holding your tongue," sai

o tea. He was thought to be desirous of avoiding the family dinners that used to be so deligh

" said Mary, as she loo

w," sa

? Do t

morning, and there they settled it. The Andersons, and Axworthy,

uld they?" said Mary. "P

told me not to tell. Indeed, Anderson would have b

would not

nderson, though he is so much younger; a

t I wish he would not go

you don

tor Ernescliffe?

or Scot, and his brother didn't allow him tin enough to buy powder and shot. If Harry would h

the wood-house. Mary ran upstairs to beg to be excused the formal walk, and, luckily for her, Miss Winter was in Margaret's room. Margaret asked if it was very wet and dirty, and hearing "not very," gave gracious permission, and off went Mary and Blanche to construct some curious specimens of pottery, under the superintendence of Hector and Tom. There was a certain ditch where ye

that it would be one of her difficulties to know how to follow out her mother's

ordered out by Miss Winter, because she had spent all yesterday indoors. Miss Winter was going to stay with Margaret, and Ethel and Flora

and, at the sight of the amusement Margaret derived from the placing the beauteous little Pezizas in a saucer of damp green moss, so as to hide the brown sticks on which they grew, Ethel took shame to herself for want of perception of little attentions. When she told Norman so, he answered, "There'

try-you'll only make it worse. It wil

d not be so unha

said Norman, but he

help you? Will you construe it with

man, running his fingers through his hair till it stood on end. "'Tis such a

sand things, only I must not tell you

" said Norm

terly? I am sure you might get some ideas there.

do; tha

their flower-like feelers and branching fabrics. It would once have delighted him, but his first comment was, "Nasty little brutes!" However, the next minute he thanked her, took the book, and said he could

o be cheerful; but his assent was depressing, and she be

l where Harry was gone. He was not yet returned, though his father and Richard were come in, and the sisters w

the first in the drawing

old mamma direct

ghed Ethel; "things n

aughty Harry was about climbing the wall, an

d the first day of la

I don't think

ought to know everything, especially now. I never could bear the way the Mackenzies used

-tales because we told our own dear mamma everything. But it is not like that now-I neither li

it was a secret," said Ethel; "I wish Harry wou

xpect?" said Ri

and Ethel, after an interval, ex

rd; "I saw him running up t

to hear it? I don't know what's to be don

ith those boys continually," said Ethel-"

w, at any rate. He is very tired and sad this evening! and his arm is painful ag

were there, Ritchie; I never should have th

hel!" said Fl

you learn?" said

d Ethel, in a

d, if you tried, you would know those things much b

leverness," said Flora. "Recollect

id Ethel, "for you can do things ni

on't think you can help those things!" said Flora. "Your short s

. Don't you remember the beautiful perspective drawing she made of this room for me to take to Oxford? That was very difficult, and wanted a great deal of nea

when I only see I have said so

" said Flora; "if the tea comes while

airs of me,

. "Have you forgotten h

I hop

o make tea; and, by-the-bye, Ethel, w

e first of December is Monday-y

Joliffe's spring-cart, and we might have Mrs. Taylor and the twins brou

a capital thought. Margaret sa

e first fine day pa

the tea. Now, Richard, don't tell me to make it. I shou

the water into the teapot-he superintended her warming the cups, and putting a drop into each

er and with more accomplishments, she could not surpass Ethel in intellectual attainments, but she was certainly far more valuable in the house, and had been proved to have just the qualities in which her sister was most deficient. She did not reli

written. There was too much spirit and poetical beauty for a mere schoolboy task, and she begged for the foul copy to show it to her father. "I have not got it," said Norman. "The foul copy was not like these; but when I was writing

s here," s

in red and blue and gold, and all sorts of colours; and fine branching zig-zagging stars, like what the book described, only stranger, came dancing an

a shame to begin scanning Undine's verses, they are too pret

s; they don't se

dream aft

erg: then came darkness, and sea monsters, and drowning-it was too horrid!" and his face expressed all, and more than all, he said. "But 't

a Quam optime, and when she asked Norman if no special notice had been taken of them

ing to meet Dr. May, said to him, "Your boy has more of a poet in him than

sent, he and Norman came in later every evening. At last, on Thursday, in the additional two hours' leisure allowed to the boys, when the studious prepared the

ith you," said Richard. "I

am sorry for it, for I wanted to speak to

d the sobering effect was instantaneous. "Very well," s

was to say, "It is a bit of a letter that she was in course of writing to Aunt Flora, a description of us all.

his portion of the letter was written, and left him alone

g like another creature, smoke-dried and with

ou, sir, and t

hard. "I hope you are not disappointed that I've b

Ethel's great amusement. "He have done me a power of good, and thank him for it

l, a little shyly, "I came-w

. They gets out with the other chil

ould fit them," said Ethel,

ye bad girls, or I'll give you the stick; I'll break every bone of you, that I will!" all which threats were bawled out

never have brought in the stipulation, that the frocks should be worn to school and church, if Richard, in his mild, but steady way, had not brought the old woman to listen to it. She was full of asseverations that they should go; she took them to church sometimes herself, when it was fine weather a

med to be a great relief that they were not come to complain of Lucy, and there were many looks of surprise on hearing what their business really was. Mrs. Taylor thanked them, and appeared no

a bad lot-there was no one she liked to ask to stand, she said, in a dismal voice; but there her h

urch, and I'm loath the little ones shouldn't; but you see, sir, we are poor peop

rs. Taylor. Surely Lucy could have to

e-I knows that; but this i

Dr. May, when I was up to the hospital, through the thick of his own troubles. I believe you are in the right of it, sir,

ls were coming, but Mrs. Taylor begun saying she disliked their company for the children-granny let them get about so much, and they said bad words. The father again interfered. Perhaps Mr. Wilmot, who acted as chaplain at the hospital, had been talking

nced she would; Richard was a little doubtful as to her power over the wild girls. There could not be any doubt that John Taylor was in earnest, and had been worked upon just at the ri

seful for her harsh speech about a poor ignorant woman

at you said last time we took this walk," s

and the black peaty pond she was look

an it?" said Rich

" she said, with

ust make up your mind to a great deal of trouble, and dirty

ell; but

can go back to Oxford after Christmas. It is n

I heard him tell Mr. Wilmot the othe

lour and smiling glow of pleasure on her brother's face, such as s

er able to use his arm, and I don't see any chance of that just yet. Then if I stay

to Cocksmoor, and set up

u fancy," said Richard; "the children will be very wild an

Mrs. Ledwich over me. It is just right-I shan't mind anyt

, if I can get through at Oxford-I don't think it can

en never objec

ff. You know we cannot begin without that

an be no dou

't you go and tell it all out at once to him.

ion that this is right. I

away it will fall on you and Flora. Well, then, it ought to be considered whether you are old enough and steady enou

insay these scruples, otherwise than by declaring t

ider all this," said Richard, "and

owfully; "but you don

Ethel. All I want is to find

d and gave

ve nothing to do with it except on condition y

, if I may tal

urse. We could not settle

Ethel. "Oh, I am so glad," and she ju

learn to keep your f

, if you'll help