The Daisy Chain, or Aspirations

k, any

s for y

est and fi

o the

's a

tter all me

er's

r, and we shall be rational agai

Mary and Blanche, who were frantic to have a share in the selling. Norman and the boys were to walk at t

of enjoying herself. In the brilliant sunshine, and between two such happy sisters, it would have been surly, indeed, not to enter into the spirit of the day; and

r side, while in the midst arose, gorgeous and delicious, a pyramid of flowers-contributions from all the hot-houses in the neighbourhood-to be sold for the benefit of the bazaar. Their f

ld hardly believe that yonder glowing Eastern pattern of scarlet, black, and blue, was, in fact, a judicious mosaic of penwipers that she remembered, as shreds be

ringing to meet them. "Good girls, to

," said Ethel. "How

re's my watch-guard?" a

She worked wonders all yesterday, and let the Miss Hoxtons think it was all the

ur stall?"

look by the side of hers. In fact, Bellairs and my aunt's maid did it ch

is he

d by-and-by. I hope it wil

t she was forced to express by the vague substantive, for h

eonora brought down all these smart concerns.

not half the grace and appropriate air that reigned where Flora had arranged, and where Margaret had

even more noticeable than the perfect taste of Flora's wares. If there had been nothing facetious, the

xious was she for Flora to tell

last. "George is fixing that

ed each sister amazed; while Mar

d she did, indeed, look strikingly elegant and well dressed. It occurred to Ethel, for the first time, that Flora was decidedly the reigning beauty of the bazaar-no one but Me

without a certain comeliness, tall and large, with ruddy complexion, deep lustreless black eyes, and a heavy

id Flora. "Somewhe

was in

o, however hurried, never failed in k

restless dismay, that caused Mr. Geo

fit of laughter, which disconcerted her, because she could not u

self out when he set her down, surveyed her crumpled muslin, and believed he took her for a little girl! She ought to have been flattered when the quest was successful, and he insisted on knowing which was the guard, and declared that he sh

trouble as she pleased. Lady Leonora and Miss Langdale came from the house, and, with the two ladies'-maids in the background,

ery one, with more attention to the quantity than the quality. Then came a revival of her anxieties for the guards, and while Mary was simply desirous of the fun of being a shopwoman, and was made happy by Meta Rivers as

ers had actually threatened to buy nothing but that one watch-chain, and Blanche's eye followed him everywhere with fear, lest he s

d this was not seldom, for there was an attraction in the pretty little eager girl, glowing and

, colouring and faltering, as

best?" said he, to

t instead?" exclaimed

ked the gentl

his," she

reason I must

the lady said kindly; a

rved!" the lady could not hel

see at a glance! It is a little drama. They are pretending to be strangers. He is turning over the goods with an air, she trying to look equally careless, but what a pretty carnation it is! Ha! ha! he has come to it-he has it! Now the acting is

had pronounced it nonsense; however, Hector declared that Flora was not his master, tapped at the sliding panel, and charmed Blanche by what she thought a most witty parody of his name as Achilles Lionsrock, Esquire. When the answer came from within, "Ship letter, sir, double postage," they thought

llings-or five-and-twenty, and who had got that one, which alone he wanted; till the poor child, after standing perplexed for some moments, looked up with spirit, and said, "You have no business to ask," and, running away, took refuge in the back of Mrs. Hoxton's marquee, where she found Ethel packing up for Miss Hoxton's purchasers, and confiding to her that Mr. George Rivers was a

thel doing?" a

," and Ethel's face was r

g will they last tied up?

othing in the fair, papa," a

ch Bellairs and her companion performed at the Langdale counter. Flora was too ready and dexterous to need any such aid, but the Misses Hoxton were glad to be spared the trouble; and Blanche, whose fi

e was much noisy laughter-many jocular cheats-tricks for gaining money, and refusals to give change; and it seemed to be very popular with the Stoneborough people, and to carry on a brisk trade. The only languor was in Lady Leonora's quart

ving him, she left her trade in charge of the delighted and important Mary

ch dazzled her imagination; but nothing would serve him but a sketch of an old cedar tree, with Stoneborough Minster in the distance, and the Welsh hills beyond, which Mary thought a remarkable piece of bad taste, since-could he not see all that any day of his life? and was it worth while to give fourteen shillings and sixpence for it? But he said it was all for the good of Cocksmoor, a

! What

ure of Stoneboro

that, my dear; it was one of your best," said

xtortionate price on it, thinking no one would give it,

d have it, though I tol

nd stood blushing, hesitating, and doubting whether he ought to rest

rejoiced that one should have it who can appreciate it. It was its falling into the hand

, when he was here last year. He taught her very well. Have you that oth

You told me no

t. But there are some very pr

de him to go indoors-this confusion of people is so bad for him, and I mus

hose copies are not worth seeing, but you know

leased to be setting Miss Rivers's mind at ease on her father's account. It was not till half-past four that Dr. May knocked at the door, and stood surprised at finding his son there. Mr. Rivers spoke warmly of the young Oxonian's kindness in leaving the fair for an old man, and praised Norman's taste in art. Norman rose to take leave, but still thought it incumbent on him to offer to give up the picture, if Mr. Rivers se

venture a shilling to please Blanche, who had spent all her own, obtained the two jars in potichomanie, and was regarding them with a face worth painting. Harvey Anderson had a doll, George Rivers a wooden monkey, that jumped over a stick; and, if Hector Ern

faded from the trodden grass, the crowds disappeared, and the vague compliment, "

ained. So Dr. May gathered his flock together, and packed them, boys and all, into the two conveyances, and Ethel bade Meta good-night, alm

hoed Mary, "and I took one

oor," added Meta, "but, if you want rea

rmented by Mr. George Rivers, to know what had become of the guard, t

f unmixed happiness to her, poor child, and Ethel doubted whether it had been so to any one, except, indeed, to Mary, whose desires never soared so high but t

gly-and there was such merriment at Ethel's two precious jars, that she could hardly wish they had not come to her. On one head they were all agreed, in dislike of George Rivers, whom Mary pronounced to be a detestable man, and, when gently called to order by Margaret, defended it, by saying that Miss Bracy said it was better to detest than to hate, while Bla

s hand on Ethel's arm, as she was wearily and pensively putt

a great deal of trouble taken in th

asure, in most cases, m

, if so, why cannot it

id Dr. May. "Come, I cannot ha

at jealousies, and competitions, and vanities, and disappointments it has produced-not even poor li

l than actors, Ethel. Others have

he real gladness of life is not in these great occasions of pleasure, but in the little side delights that com

t it is not youthful nor hopeful. It is not as your mother or I felt in our young days, when a treat was a treat to

gh speaking huskily. "You know I am your merry Et

to be cheerful, leaned against

eauty or a grace, and she is thoughtful and quiet, and so she moralises, instead of enjoying

to come. That Ladies' C

t, Ethel. Good-night,