The Daisy Chain

crimson-tip

t me in an

crush amang

lende

ee now is p

bonni

RN

imed Mr. Ernescliffe, as Miss Winter,

red Flora; "and Mary and he are inseparable, so they

r other

out with mamma," said Norman; "as to Etheld

her door. "Oh! Norman,

! You're keeping e

ll me the past participle of '

latu

's right. I had such a line in my head, I was forced t

scribbled in pencil, with Latin verses. "Oh, you have taken up quite a diffe

didn't spout till it

! However, it was an uncanny place, fit for hobgoblins, and shades, and funny customers, which will do as well for my purpo

English. Some

is equal t

ing self i

not rig

bout?" cried Flora. "Do you me

ent activity; "only I've lost my blue-edg

re is your

inished a frock all but two stitches. Where is

breath of

elf in a gl

better,

erchief round Ethel's throat, and pulling out the fingers of h

" said Ethel, seizing a needle, and sewing vehemently at a little pink f

it is the only way to

the best, Ethel; I only went on a little about Mount Vesuvius and the landscape, as Alan described it the other day, and Decius taking a last look, knowing he was to die. I made him beg his horse's pardon, a

her work into a bundle, and snatching up her gloves; then, as they r

h some frightful false quantity, that you would get an imposition for, if you were a boy. I wish

the fame he was to get-it is too like the stuff every one talks in stupid books. I want

of it, as he did? Fame and glory-they are th

sonified newspaper, trumpeting out all that is extraordinary, without minding whether it is good or bad. She misse

er. It is the hope and the thought of fame, that has made men great, from first to last. It is in

reward at once. I had rather people forgot themselves. Do you think Arno

it," sai

e, not to please himself. Fame does those t

orman slackened his pace, and driving his stick vehemently against a stone, exclaimed, "It is no use talking, Ethel, it is all a fight and a race. One is a

t is not there the difference, that here all may win-not only one? One may do one's

one has earned for oneself, but getting into other people

. I say, Norman, didn't

one's life is for. No, no, I'll never be beat, Ethel-I never have been beat by any one, except

Nor

ave senses. I would not be li

no, poor

ish I was more like him-but how he can be so amazingly slow, I can't imagine. Tha

"but so did he, you know, and we can't tell

st I go to Oxford, if I don't wish to be known a

y for the Randall scholarship next year, but he

th him, and I don't think he can like it, poor fellow, and it isn't his fault. I had rather stay another ye

s had in the meantime halted at the top of the hill, and were looking back at the town-the great old Minster, raising its twin towers and long roof, close to the river, where rich green meadows spread over the vall

d them it was of no use to wait when yo

o you think is the best, the name of it, or the thing?" Her eloquence a

is this: Ethel wants people to do great deeds, and be utterly carele

ink, as far as I understand the ques

he cause first of all," said Norman, "but le

their minds to do without

s nothing of it

great shame,

or distinction? It is a great thing to earn it, but

over-elated or over-depressed by success or failure in the e

a temptation?

dedly

e or get on withou

both Miss Winter and the donkey, until by persuasive eloquence and great gallantry, Mr. Ernescliffe performed the wonderful feat of getting t

nd walked on along a very rough and dirty road, the ground growing more decidedly into hills and valleys as they advanced, till they found themselves before a small, but very steep hillock, one side of which was cut away into a slate quarry. Round this stood a colony of roughly-buil

hed looking, and apparently so smoky that Mr. Ernescliffe and Norman wer

ntents. The poor woman was sitting by the fire with one twin on her lap, and the other on a chair by her side, and a larger child was in the corner by the fire, looking heavy and ill, while others of different ages lounged about listlessly. She was not unti

n the babes wou

tell, Miss-'ti

n't know their faces there," said Flora, looking at a

ys was used to it where we lived before, and my oldest girl she

w what to do without

ace for a girl to grow up. It is not like what I was used to, ma'am; I was always

Stoneborough, and there the living was very poor, the tithes having been appropriated to the old Monastery, and since its dissolution having fallen into possession of a Body that never did anything for the town. The incumbent, Mr. Ramsden, had small means, and was not

s they turned their steps homeward. "Let us propose t

you give us to do i

I'll never leave off thinkin

aid Flora, "if one could

said Norman. "I'd rath

said Ethel; "do yo

ndreds. Could not some of the myriads of fancies floating in her mind thus be made available? She would compose, publish, earn money-some day call papa, show him her hoard, beg him to take it, and, never owning whence it came, raise the buildin

them. Norman and Mr. Ernescliffe went forward to discover the cause, and spok

id hastily-"you had better go dow

d sign of it, she walked home. They were in the garden-all was apparently as usual, but no one was in sight. Ethel had been first, but she held back, and let Miss Winter go forwar

pened? Not Mrs. May-"

of them. The carriag

a! papa! Oh, tell

thel flew up to her. "

ssionately kissing Ethel. Harry and Mary wer

ed by Adams, the stableman. "They are go

escape, she fled upstairs into her room, and,

et coming up to her. Norman dashed into the room, and threw h

have gone, but he held her. "No-no-they can't!" He was prevented from saying more, by chattering teeth and deadly faintness. She tried to support him, but could only guide hi

Norman, in gasps; "but-And papa-h

hurt-mu

tremor and fainting

but Norman only pressed

ce, Norman lying still, excepting a nervous trembling that agitated his whole frame. Again was heard the strange tread, doors opening and shutting, a

?" cried Ethel, startled and recall

up, with a sudden thought,

ow hopeless tone, "he was

ha

's face was

d refused to grasp the extent of the calamity. There

w recalled her to

hat are they doi

done. She-when they l

ea

ea

r even the sensations belonging to grief, neither moving nor looking. After an interval

?" said Ethe

ear to utter the words. "And papa-he was stunned-but soon he sat up, said he

y-I can't remem

ank into a faint whisper; Ethel was obliged to sprinkle him again with w

no, n

Marga

he meaning of this?" exclaimed he, scolding himself, as, si

Norman; you had better lie

n; and Ethel, scarcely less trembling, crept carefully towards the stairs, but

cot, Blanche in her lap, Tom and Harry leaning against her, and Aubrey almost asleep. Mar

a dart, stabbing and taking away her breath, "Where

id Harry. "Nurse came up just now,

re i

his dressing-ro

to himself-

nd she was thinking whether she could venture to seek her, when she herself came fast up the sta

ot she in h

he turned away. Ethel ran after her sister, and pulling out drawers wit

e a little moaning-there are no limbs broken, but

d p

him now-his arm

-one moment-is

ot take any notice

following her to th

Miss Winter and I are with Margare

the nursery, and Ethel returned to Norman. There they remained for a long time, both unwilling to speak or stir, or even to observe to each other on the noises that came in to the

ght him into his sister's room, and his tidings were, that their father's arm had been broken in two places, and the elbow frightfully injured, having been crushed and twisted by the wheel. He was also a good deal bruised, and thoug

room in the dark, and said he should go down, he could not bear it; but he could not make

s Mr. Wilmot come to ask if he can do anything-Mi

aby?" ask

her to bed; she is quiet now," sa

re i

drawin

to ask what

y can do anything. Make hast

n the dark. Come up as soon as yo

e found a sort of council there, Alan Ernescliffe, the surgeon, and Mr. Wilmot. They turned as he came in, and Mr. Wilmot held out his hand with a look of affection and k

rnescliffe, and any change might excite him, and lead him to ask questi

not call him

the shock, and by pain. He spoke to Mis

afraid of some answer that would rouse him, but she kept her sel

Mr. Ward. "I don't know what we should have done without he

and Norman look

or at his tutor's?

to be there to-day,

e post gone-seven-no; it i

but his icy trembling hand seemed to shake more helpless

o to him at once and bring him home. If I go by the mai

feel it dreadfully, poor boy. But we shall all do bette

lmot, "I believe ther

you, sir,"

o up to the doctor," said Alan; "I don't like

here," said Mr. Wilmot-"he seems t

ard. "He has been invaluable with hi

tell poor Richard?

that his faculties being so far confused is the best thing, perhaps, that could be. Mr. Ernescliffe manages him very well-used to illness on that African coast,

ng of any consequence. Mr. Wilmot and Norman were left together. Norman put his hands over his face and groan

d, my dear boy," said he affectionately, as he presse

ent up again, and, lingering on the landing-place, was met by Mr. Ward, who told him to his relief-fo

s, where Flora was doing so much, and to leave their father to be watched by a stranger. If he had been wanted, Norman m

them all come into the nursery, where Mary was already, and, fondling them, one by one, as they passively obeyed her, she set them down on their little old stools round the fire, took away the high fender, and gave them each a cup of tea. Harry and Mary ate enough to satisf

r prayers had brought the tears; while Ethel lay so wide awake that it was of no use to wait for her, and then she went to the boys, tucked them each in, as when they were little ch

ret's room, too us

hat dreadf