The Daisy Chain, or Aspirations

dred points of

DSW

om her life was to be devoted! She looked at his profile, defined against the window, and did not repent. In a sort of impulse to do something for him, she took his hat from h

nt sprang to his feet, ex

al amazement and joy, holding out his hand, which was grasped and

words were spoken in a matter-of-fact way, as Dr. May replaced his hand in his

d air of deferential politeness with which it was received, like a fav

do you think?" sa

erday! I thought his voice had a trick of yours-but

deprecatingly; "the boy would go

mistake about it! but I scarcely thou

ly Orders-one of his sisters is m

! I thought mys

ur?" said Dr. May, looking at

done for. But you! you-the boy of the whole lot! You think me very disrespectfu

d Ethel, with

d Dr. May; "but there is no seeing any one in su

I fell in with Rudden, the man I was with in New Guinea. He was g

nd for?" as the train

up Mat. Fleet, and hear of

e expec

me. I am a reg

on his arm. "I cannot part with you so soon. Come,

inconvenient?" said he, loo

!" said Ethel eagerly.

nks, and soon was with them

t but watch those two old friends. She knew enough of the traveller to enter

s had since lain far apart, and they had not seen each other since, twenty-six years ago, they had parted in London-the one to settle at his native town, while the other accepted a situation as travelling physician. On his return, he had almost sacrificed his life, by self-devoted attendance on a fever-stricken emigrant-ship. He ha

g to Calcutta, he had fallen in with a party about to explore the Asiatic islands and he had accompanied them, as well as going on an expedition into the interior of Australia. He had been employed in various sanitary arrangements

d polished, indeed, his courtesy to Ethel, whenever there was a change of carriage, was so exemplary, that she understood it as the effect on a chivalrous mind, of living where a lady was a rare and precious article. It frightened Ethel a little at first, but, before the end of the journey, she had already begun to feel toward

ic changes, and on old friends; but, after thos

the old familiar station, Dr. May had scarcely put hi

ell at

s Margaret sen

' child is worse. Ethel, take care of him, and introd

her his arm, and was silent, but presently said, in a low, anxious voice, "My

traight before her. "It was when papa's ar

ted Dr Spenc

eaking shortly, and abruptly. If she was to

He did not speak, and Ethel, as if a relief from the silence must be made, said what was not

as in a dream, where Ethel guided him,

nd, calling, "Miss Ethel! Miss Ethel!" and Edward Anderson, now articl

essly, "I beg your pardon, bu

"Have they had t

mother wanted to send it, but I would n

hat was very

thel, do you th

e saw a Captain at Oxford who thoug

he deserved the pains that Norman had taken to spare and befriend him. She spoke to her companion

almost overpowered; "Good Heavens!

ot sorry that they had arrived at

e, standing still, as soon as t

. I assure you, his spiri

g!" he sighed, then recollecting himsel

"or rather, I

collecting himself, seemed resolutely to turn away from the su

in remonstrance among the laurels-"But you know,

laurels, where Aubrey lay on the ground, feigning sleep, but keeping a watchful eye over Blanche, who was dropping something into the

wo girls stood in shyness at her companion, Aubrey had made a dart at h

do, old man-let go! Speak

emurely, and ask

he has been to Mrs.

"And I have finished 'Vipera et lima', Ethe

er?" said Dr. Spencer, layi

cer May," wa

exclaimed Dr. Spencer, while Aubrey stoo

thel, and whispering, "is it really t

e," said Ethel, smiling, as

d Aubrey indignantly, look

id Ethel to

keep you. You would wish to prepare your sister for a stranger, an

ertrude; and Ethel hastened towards the house, glad

evil tidings had come to her eldest sister, so joyous was her exclamation of wonder and rebuke to he

ved never to set her guessing again, and hurried to explain; and having heard that all was well, and taken her housekeeping mea

e you heard

ou?" sa

pa would come home, and he told me. He said I had b

! That is very go

ay a whole week! But, Ethel, does papa believe it?" Poor Mary's full lip swelled

sual broad beamy look, like a benignant rising sun on the sign of an inn, as Ethel prais

e forty thieves, alternating, as required, between the robber-ca

ion with Margaret. He certainly made them so, but Ethel, remembering what a blow her disclosures had been,

have been a comfort to be able to sit down to understand herself, and recall her confused thoughts. But solitary reflection was a thing only to be hoped for in that

hel no credit for the sacrifice, naturally supposing that she could not enjoy herself away from home. Ethel did not know whether to be glad or not; she was relieved, but it was flat. As to No

heard her father come home, among the children's loud welcomes, and go

does not kn

very good;" and she

ell her so. She is a good

Or will it hurt Margaret more t

een great harm done in that way. Mention it,

you,

em of less importance. I t

e could not trust himself to b

the Larki

hat have you don

m. The children were eating h

as a happy consequence of

ightful per

boy-all my life, I may say. Ethel," he added suddenly: "we must do our best to make him happy h

you mea

g life-advantages thrown aside. He! the most worthy. Things I little heede

ed Ethel b

what fell from him unconsciously, for not a word would he

?" said Ethel, beginnin

r! You will think this another romanti

I," sai

red after we parted that

d me," s

did he

he tears filled h

it to you. I always forget other people's feelings. Poor Spencer! And now, E

eed

ities in my way; while Aubrey Spencer, with every recommendation that man could have, was set aside, and exiled himself, leaving the station, and all he might so easily have gained. Ah, Ethel, Sir Matthew Fleet never came near him in abil

rief, but she said that she thought Dr. Spencer was very much

dren," said Dr. May, with h

erwhelmed with his young admirers-for Aubrey and Gertrude were one on each knee, and Blanche

duced you, I see

s. I find a young lady putting the world to death, after the fashion of Hamlet-and, looking about to find what I have lost, I find this urch

oy, will you ma

"He is not without dread of the threat being fulfilled, and himse

this were possible; and she had to reassure hi

as saying, with a smile, between gratification and sadness, "I

little further a-field," said Dr. May. "If I had only known where you were, I would have asked yo

ured! I ought to have written; but, you see,

fter the school, and to exclaim at his friend for having deserted it in the person of Tom. Dr. May looked convicted, but said it was all Norman's fault; and Dr. Spencer, shaking his head at Blanche, opined that the young

s Alley," said Dr. May; "but as to the Market C

Town Council

ry stultifications

aid Dr. May. "I am a To

hoed by all the young ones, who were especially tickled by hearing, from another, the abbreviat

my place? Dost thou not suspect my years? One that

mselves to the College stories, of which the quo

h ado to keep out of scrapes, was a householder, a man of weight and influence; a light which would at first strike him as most ludicrous, and then mirth would end in a sigh, for there was yet another aspect! After having thought of him so long as the happy husband of Margaret Mackenzie, he found her place vacant, and the trace of deep grief apparent on the countenance, once so gay-the oppression of anxiety m

ends, unbroken till Dr. May rose and proposed going upstairs. When he gave his hand to wish good

aid his host, "but I never reco

lt on your

Yes, think of her always in undimmed brightness-always smiling as you remember her. She was happy. She is," he concluded. H

. May's first answer. "And

ing in Dr. May's saying, "What

atter. Her father owned that he had thought so from the first, and had wondered at Sir Matthew Fleet's opinion.

ied," he said, when they

nswered Dr. May. "Goodnight! I am gla

ike that girl is to y

as I never wa

it to heart as much as she had feared, nor did she appear to dwell on it afterwards. The truth was perhaps that Dr. Spencer's visit was to every one more of an excitement an

oyance. The children were inclined to be riotous with their new friend, who made much of them continually, and especially patronised Aubrey; Mary was proud of showing how much she had learned to do for Margaret in her sister's absen

the zest of the whole, and Mr. Ogilvie had been very disconsolate. Margaret had not been prepared to hear that Mr. Ogilvie had been so constant a companion, and was struck by finding that Ethel had passed over one who had evidently been so great an ingredient in the delights of the expedition. Meta had, however observed nothing-she was a gr

Margaret, with his explanations of them-she even tried to sit up to copy them, and he began to teach Blanche to draw. The evenings, when there was certain to be some entertaining talk going on between the two doctors, were very charming, and Margaret seemed quite revived by seeing her father so happy with his friend. Ethel knew she ought to be happy also, and if attention could make her so, she had it, for kind and courteous as Dr. Spencer was to all, she seemed to have a double charm for him. It was as if he found united in her t

n she had to set about any home employment-when Aubrey's lessons did not go well-when she wan

at they outwardly made was, that Margaret thought her less vivacious than her wont, and she was a little too peremptory at times with Mary and Blanche. She had so much disliked the display that Flora had made about Cocksmoor, that she had imposed total silence on it upon her younger sisters, and

ok the turn of determination-so she posted off at a galloping pace, that her brothers called her "Cocksmoor speed," and Mary panted b

the effect was not coolness. Nevertheless, Ethel sat down and gathered her class round her, and she had just heard the chapter once read, when there was

ecover, and to be excessively puzzled as to what had happened to her. She said the sea was roaring, and where was Harry? and then she looked much surprised to find herself lying on Mrs. Elw

y, and turned into the waves of the sea, and therewith poor Mary burst into a great flood of tears, and asked whether Harry would ever come back. The tears did her a great deal of good, though not so much as the being petted by Ethel, and

y bitter, seemed a great cordial, and was sitting, quite revived, in t

nd how a

you. Was Margaret frigh

Here, let me feel your pulse. Do you think no one is a doctor but your

Dr. Spencer looked in, as Ethel came out, a

r!" was a

said fainting was the most natural and justifiable measure, under the

to-day," said

als! I think I have known it hotter at

I should have thought of poor Mary, in t

," said Mary, "

t of the wretched beings you are leaving shut up

" said Mary. "We ca

herself for her want of consideration towards one so good and patient as Mary, who proved to have been suffering far more on Harry's account than they had guessed, and who was so simple and thorough-going in doing he

hat night, after they were in bed

spoiled me," said Ethel, resolut

Margaret, "if only you are sure yo

hamed of her fancy to breathe one word about it, an

moor!" she sighed, presently, "with that

be nothing practicable, present or future. The ground could not be had-the pig would not get over the stile-the old w

be selfish. One great resolution that has been cos