The Daisy Chain

aisy changed

right-eyed bea

DSW

able," said Ethel, coming into the room where Margaret lay on

nce of Richard's? It quite gives me

d Ethel; "I heard him carpentering at six o'clock

dmire her night-

ering closer. "Oh, I see-so she has a fine

t in all these little white puffs, and I hope you

ses you for the

orrid old lady in some book, who had a paralytic stroke, and the first thing she did that

, "and it had its effect. He told me I looke

e the looking-glass and

fit to be seen if one is ill? It is no use to depress one's fri

hel; "but the white puffiness-

rgaret. "But, Ethel, do you think there

too! Don't think I'm tiresome. If they were an amusement to you, I

ing look nice. And, Ethel," she added, drawing her down close over her, "I did not

a, "and he quite agrees to it. Indeed it is impossible that Anne should a

bring Aubrey into the school-room. It only makes Mary

has no one in view, and only protests agains

on't you think we could make her take

me Anne came, dear mamma thought there was danger of a girl's having too many acquaintances, esp

r-" said Ethel,

said bot

t girl whose father was in the h

very nice girl; I wonder whet

t. "Fourteen, and tall.

re nurse was prejudiced by hearing of her Cocksmoor extraction. At that moment Richard knocked at the door, and entered with Tom, hel

on, and gratitude; "it was the very thing w

recognise i

no one used. And you have put legs to it-how

writing; here's a corner for your ink to sta

sed to be so stiff. There-give me my work-basket, p

said Flora; "you look as if yo

he was settling herself to lie in b

't see why she should not be as comfor

er be ill, Ethel," said Flora.

o be grateful when s

"this is hospital-meeting day, so

ur service; do

Richard and Ethel should w

ublimities, but he had a great deal of admiration for one who partook so much of his father's nature; and Ethel had a due respect for her eldest brother, gratitude and strong affection for many kindnesses, a rev

t desultory talk, very sociable and interesting, that is apt to prevail between two people, who would never have chosen each other for companions, if they were not of the same

Now and then he goes on just like himself, and then at

sad, and long, and deep! They seem to have whole vo

t as much altered as they

eeling it more. He can't leave off his old

eat comfort to hi

't think either of them is ever so happy as in the even

nge the subject, but Ethel returned to it, so far as to beg to know how th

ichard. "Indeed, he said the other day, he though

was sitting on his knee and fidgeting, he shrank whenever he even came

tender, and sometimes g

es, that there never used to be, and when it deepen

ee things in people's faces, when you

thel. "One sees more with one's mind tha

see the truth?" s

ess common than the ordi

isfied, but not sure enough that he e

her laugh by being so inapposite to her own reflections: but the laugh ended in a

se cautions did not seem capable of damping the hopes of the smooth-haired Lucy, who stood smiling and curtseying. The twins were grown and improved, and Ethel supposed they would be brought to church on the next christening Sunday, but their mother looked helpless and hopeless about getting them so far, and how was she to get gossips?

ing, uncivilised boy came up before them, and called ou

; while Ethel, startled, clung to

l, though Richard tried to explain that the knowledge of medicine was not in his case hereditary. A

ul descriptions-"her head was all of a goggle, her legs all of

self, but I'll ask my father about you, and per

I can't leave these poor children; they've no father

en?" said Richard, looki

e brings it, all he gets, home to me, rig'lar, but 'tis but six shillings a week, and they ma

d are y

noured him and the bonnet accordingly, while Richard said he must be very glad to be able to maintain them all, at his age, and, promising to t

or the people. There's no one to do any thing for them, and it is of no use to tell

pass away lightly; she knew it must be acted on, but how? What would her present means-one sovereign-effect? Her fancies, rich and rare, had nearly been forgotten of late, but she might make them of use in time-in time, and here were hives of children growing up in heathenism. Suddenly an

up a Sunday-school at Cocksmoor. We could get a room, and walk ther

roject, that he did not answer, till she had ti

he evening would interfere with tea-time-put ou

rrid now, especially

e would make them wo

"We are of no use to him. Besides these po

s to become of Sto

s about the books, and one's way of teaching! And fancy how Mrs Ledwich used us. You know I went again last Sunday, for the first time, and there I found that class of Margaret's, that she had just managed to get into some degree of nice order, taken so much pains w

ocksmoor, would it not loo

k, but only said, "Papa would

did not tell hi

ell, it will come right, if Fanny Anderson has not spoiled the girls in the meantime. It is all Mrs. Ledwich's doing. How I

what's the use of th

ard, you don't fancy that I want to teach at Cock

ind

would never put it out of my head; I would go on doing and striving, and trying, till this place was properly cared for, and has a church and a clergyman. I believe it was a vow, Richard, I do b

smile on Richard's face, as if it struck him as a wild scheme, th

ortifying to an enthusiastic girl, a

ner, she raised the unfortunate skirt, its crape trimmings greatly bespattered with ruddy mud. Then recollecting how mamma would have shaken her head at that very thing, she regretted

; "besides your frock is so long, and

olately, crumpling the black folds into one ha

ou'll tear that crape. Here, let me help you. Don't you see, mak

d a needle, tie a bow, and stick in a pin! I never could learn tho

ramp, all over the place, and Mrs. Hoxton had been boring him with her fancies. As he too

ht she, "my work must also be

elf. Those muddy ankles and petticoats are not fit to be seen-there, now you are sweeping the

his heart; her draggle-tailed petticoats weighing down at once her missionary projects at Cocksmoor, and her tender vi

to be crossing the hall. "Miss Ethel! Miss Ethel, you aren't going up with th

d to come with him to the study, and write a note for him. She hoped that thus she might have Margaret to herself, and hurried into her room. Marg

have you had a

wing herself across the bottom

what is the

chard threw cold water. And I am good f

mfort you. Come a little nearer to me, I can'

to come on your white bed; I forgot, you w

up in the cold. There, sit by the fire pull off your frock and stockings, and we will send

nly silly enough to tell Richard my plan, and it's horrid to talk to a per

as the sche

d Ethel, proceed

. "It would be an excellent thin

ought it would not do. Perhaps he said

el dear; but you know if he did see that some of your plans might not answer, it is no

ome clothes for the two grandchildren? I could help you a little, and then, if they were well clothed, you might get them to come to the Sunda

those are only little is

ust make a

a real vow? You don't think it s

nk she would like the notion of your considering yourself pledged; but I do think, that, after all you have said and felt

glad you say so. You

her to judge for us, we must only do little things

e way great th

hings can't be good unless they stand

to begin on Sunday, but he was so tame; and then my froc

them will help you, and keep your high things from being all romance. I know dear mamma used to say so; that the trying to conquer them was a help

new that sad as the talk often was, it was truly a comfort to him. It ended when ten o'clock struck, and he went down-Margaret hearing the bell, the sounds of the assembling servants, the shutting of the door, the stillness of prayer-time, the opening again, the feet moving off in different directions, then brothers and sister

ce like mine, or grow out into eccentricities and unfemininesses, what a grievous pity it would be! And I, so little older, so much less clever, with just sympathy enough not to be a wise restraint-I am the person who has the responsibility, and oh, what sh

ent in all things, and evermore