The Daisy Chain

ss camp, throu

eye pursue

fully her p

erchant, loss a

INNOC

ttention to Mr. Ward's recommendations that his sons and daughters were in cont

ard and Flora, one or other of whom were always watching him, could hardly tell whether to ascribe them to the oppression of sorrow or of suffering. Their great fear was of his insisting on seeing his wife's face, and it was a great relief that he never alluded to her

g at the thought of what there might be to go through. They tried to let him hear nothing about it, but he seemed to know every

may I not stay wit

s. I will take care of her. I s

must be entrusted to old nurse. Richard told Flora, who looked very pale,

y of them recording former generations of Mays, to whom their descent from the headmaster had given a right of burial there. Dr. Hoxton, Mr. Wilmot, and the surgeon, were the only friends whom Richard had

he shoulders of the former shook as he stood, bowing down his head, but the others were still and quiet, in part from awe and bewilderment, but partly, too, from a sense that it was against her whole nature that there should be clamorous mourning for her. The calm still day seemed to tell them the same, th

eldred stood a moment or two with Norman, Ethel said in a tone of r

t responsibility. I do trust we

tting better, she will

her," and Flor

d Ethel; but I mean to try, and if I can bu

all one does, in trying

id Norman, listless

e is now-I am sure he cares for us enough

be so happy!

nswered, "I don't think it can be right t

o," said Norman, in t

ore can I. I can't think of her liking for papa and baby and all of us to be left to ourselves. But that's not right of me, and of course it

orman. "There's no pleasure i

ng glad, Norman?" As Norman could not just

next minute. "I do believe it is having nothing to do. Y

s worst

t be done some time or other. Or shall I get Richard to

be foolish. It

ut I think you will

ed, though she could not help it, to look forward to the daily studies where she might lose her sad thoughts and be as if everything were as usual. But suppose she should be to blame, where would now be the gentle discipline? Po

solicitude at the sight of her father's bandaged, helpless arm, but he soon soothed this away. He was more than ever watchful over her, and could scarcely be persuaded to leave h

on this evening, that he expected the inquiry to come every moment, and

looked up in his face, an

ved the truth, and he knelt by her side kissing he

"I hope I shall soon be bette

," he murmured, all he cou

is she

en, she has not

don't stay, dear, dear papa, it is late, and I am sure

ut, my dear. I am much better tha

me take care of you now. Do pray go to bed at once, and get u

t might be looked on as the restoration of his daughter; the worst was over, and the next day he was able to think of other things, had more attention to spare for

occupied with her father. She made Richard explain to her the injury he had suffered, and begged to know whether his constant attendance on her could do him harm. She was much rejoiced when her brother assured her that nothing could be better for him, and she began to say, with a smile, that very likely her being hurt had been fortunate. She asked who had

hole flock, except the two Margarets. He looked very wan and shattered, but they clustered gladly round him, when he once more stood among

afternoon Ethel began to understand his motive. The High Street led past the spot where the accident had taken place, though neither she nor any of the others knew exactly where it wa

ittle ones more like a sister than a brother. Ethel was ashamed of herself when she saw him taking thought for them, tying Blanche's bo

was very glorious as she led him down to drink tea, and, before going up again, he had a conver

nd I shall hear of you often; Hector will le

ave a line. I should guess y

to hear of me to write much, but the pleasure o

ng southwards, here are your old quarters. We cannot lose sight of you anyway, especially"

k I had been of the smallest use," said Alan

is a changed place, and you must come and see your god-daughter-poor child-may she only be brough

ould fain have been a smile, "The world has run so light and easy with me hitherto, that you see I don't know how to bear with trouble. All thinking and managing fell to my Maggie's share, and I ha

affection-daughters," and broke down, but

en every one of them. There's much to be thankful

d that Marga-that Mis

ower over the limbs, is more than the mere shock and debility, as it seems to me, though Ward thinks otherwise, and I trust he is right, but I cannot tell yet as to the spi

ely shocked. "But you will let me know

struggling in vain to restrain his emotion, "you shall hear. I'll write myself as soon

Feeling as I must-" then interrupting himself. "I beg your

own! Maggie looked doubtful-as much as she ever did when my mind was set on a thing, when I spoke of bringing him here. But after all, she liked him as much as the rest of us did-she could not wish it otherwise-he is one of a

on to? I'm all astray for

in the hall there was a call, "Mr Ernthcliffe," and over the balusters peeped a little rough curly head, a face glowing with carnation deepened by sleep, and a round, plump,

y borne off summarily to the nursery, while Ethel gave way to a paroxysm of suppressed laughter, joined in, more or less, by all the rest,

it was no wonder since Blanche's elder sister had been setting her the example of forwardness in coming down in this way after Mr. Ernescliffe. Ethel was very angry, and was only pr

eedless, because her mind was preoccupied. She hated herself, and suffered more from sorrow than even at the first moment, for now she felt what it was to have no one to

the school-room, for the whole house was on her hands, besides the charge of Margaret, while Dr. May went to the hospital, and to sundry patients,

r play, mamma smiling over her work-basket, the sisters full of chatter, the brothers full of fun, all the tidings of the day discussed, and nothing unwelcome but bedtime. How different now! The doctor was with Margaret, and though Richard tried to say something cheerful as his brothers entered, there was no response,

aid, "Here is dear mamma's unfinished letter to Aunt Flora. Papa says we elder ones are to read it. It

t on a low cushion, they read their mother's last letter by the fire-light, with indescribable feelings, as they went through the subjects that had late

utary. Flora soon left off thinking about her beauty, and the fit of vanity does less harm at five than fifteen. My poor Tom has not such a happy life as Blanche, he is often in trouble at lessons, and bullied by Harry at play, in spite of his champion, Mary; and yet I cannot interfere, for it is good for him to have all this preparatory teasing before he goes into school. He has good abilities, but not much perseverance or energy, and I must take the teaching of him into my own hands till his school-days begin, in hopes of instilling them. The girlishness and timidity will be knocked out of him by the boys, I suppose; Harry is too kind and generous to do more than tease him moderately, and Norman will see that it does not go too far. It is a common saying that Tom and Mary made a mistake, that he is the girl, and she the boy, for she is a rough, merry creature, the noisiest in the house, always skirmishing with Harry in defence of Tom, and yet devoted to him, and wanting to do everything he does. Those two, Harry and Mary, are exactly alike, except

rman and Ethel do indeed take after their papa, more than any of the others, and are much alike. There is the same brilliant cleverness, the same strong feeling, not easy of demonstration, though impetuous in action; but poor Ethel's old foibles, her harum-scarum nature, quick temper, uncouth manners, and heedlessness of all but one absorbing obje

d Ethel; but her broth

e faults. It is this independence of praise that I want to see in her brother and sister. They justly earn it, and are rightly pleased with it; but I cannot feel sure whether they do not depend on it too much. Norman lives, like all school-boys, a life of emulation, and has never met with any

I see what it is worth. I'd give all the quam optimes I

if you we

'm not like her. But are we

s a word. There can't be a

not being spared to them this time, it was happiness indeed to think of her at their head, fit to be his companion, with so much of his own talent as to be more up to conversation with him, than he could ever have found his stupid old Maggie. It was rather a trial of her discretion to have Mr. Ernescliffe here while I was upstairs, and very well she seems to have come out of it. Poor Richard's last disappointment is still our chief trouble. He has been working hard with a tutor all through the vacation, and has not even come home to see his new sister, on his way to Oxford. He had made a resolution that he would not come to us till he had passed, and his father thought it best that it should b

the last words making it almost more painful to thi