The Daisy Chain, or Aspirations

shions, crowd

chip of pu

nd, as her f

e still wa

wear the gr

rned sim

nshaw's 'Par

o more than in an old donkey-as Dr. May declared, in his concluding paroxysm of despair, on finding that, though there was little to reconcile him to the engagement, there was no reasonable ground for thwarting his d

d would not make him any presents; certainly not watch-chains! Miss Bracy, rather alarmed, lectured them just enough to make them worse; and Margaret, overhearing Blanche instruct

ike Harry!" exclaim

d Blanche. "And I won't call him Geor

m what such little girls

sound of a carriage, and of the door

sure, as, a little timidly, she kissed Margaret; while Ethel, in a confused way, received Mr. River

ared the awkwardness that ensued. Ethel was almost vexed with herself, as ungrateful, when she saw Mr. Rivers so mildly kind, and so delighted, w

een; the little dark-eyed fairy, all radiant with joy, clinging to the slender waist of Flora, whose quiet grace and maidenly dignity were never more conspicuous than as, with a soft red

about it to Mr. Rivers. People of ready sympathy, such as Dr. May and Margaret, have a great deal of difficulty with their sincerity spared them, by being carried along with the feelings of others. Ethel could not feel the sam

f my own!" she cried. "May I

ience of the connection, and she let Meta

nted to talk to you. You don't think

t to show it,

know my grandfather made his own fortune, and you would think some of our relations very queer. My Aunt Dorothy once told me all about it-papa was made to marry the partner's daughter, and I fancy she could not have been much of a lady. I don't think he could have been very happy with her, but she soon d

Ethel said, rather rep

how trying it must be to see such a little chit as me made so much of-almost thrusting him aside. But you cannot think what a warm-hearted good fellow he is-he has never been otherwise than so very kind to me, and he was so very fond of his old aunt. Hitherto, he has had such disadvantages, and no real, sensible woman has taken him in hand;

id Ethel. "It is much more sat

l Flora not exactly matched-but tell him, Ethel, for if he once is sorry for poor George, he will like him. And it will re

ow Norman thinks very highly of your brother, a

, at least, better than ever. There was a comical scene between her and the doctor, trying to define wh

ecessity, not a choice; for it was quite true that there was no harm in him, and a great deal of good nature. His constant kindness, and evident liking for Margaret, stood him in good stead; he made her a sor

rd none of the doubts, and gave kind, warm congratulations, promising to return home for the wedding; and Mary and Blanche no sooner heard a whisper about bride's-maids than all their

protect her, and certainly, Flora's unaffected, quiet manner was perfection, and kept off

tient as his son, so an understanding arose that the weddin

dressmaker; but, for the rest, she contented herself with an expedition to Whitford, accompanied by Miss Bracy and her two enchanted pupils, and there laid in a stock of purchases, unpretending and in good taste, aiming only at what could be well done, and not attempting the decorative wardrobe of a great lady. Ethel was highly amused when the Misses Anderson came for their inspection, to see their concealed disappointment at finding no under garments trimmed with Brussels lace, nor pocket-handkerchiefs all open-work, except a centre of the size of a crown-pi

yed making all go off well, but, under present circumstances, it would be great pain to her father and Margaret, a misery to Ethel, and something she dared not think of to the guests. She had no difficulty in having it dispensed with. George was glad to avoid "a great nuisance." Mr. Rivers feared the fatigue, and, with his daughter, admi

owned that they had better omit the ordinary muslin garb in the heart of winter. The baby bride's-maid was, at last, the chief consideration. Margaret suggested how pretty she and Blanche would look in sky-blue merino, trimmed with swan's-down. Meta was charmed with the idea, and though Ethel stuck out her shoulder-blades and poked out her head, and said she should look like the ugly duckling, she was clamorously reminded th

d than usual, probably because all latent jealousy of Ethel had ceased in Flora's mind. Hitherto, she had preferred the being the only practically useful person in the f

ed to resume the office, Flora would not hear of Ethel's consenting. If it were her proper business, Ethel supposed she could do it, but another hour of her leisure was gone, and what would become of them all, with her, a proverb for heedlessness, and ignorance of ordinary details. She did not know that these were more proverbial

elf much less unhandy than before, was, to succeed to the abode, in her room-Blanche being promoted from the nur

of the college. It was a civil letter, but declined taking any steps in the matter without more certai

ke the school while there was neither room nor lodging. So Miss Rich recorded the correspondence, and the vote of censure, by which

, and will talk to him. We shall yet astonish the muses. If we can get the lan

rget th

hould then have it in our own hands. Besides, you know, I don't mean to give up. I shall write a polite note to

ith the external authori

, Mrs. Ledwich will be the more amenable. Whenever I want to be particularly impressive, I shall bring in that

ghing. "But I had rather they

ra. "Perhaps you wil

ried Ethel

hould do something for Stoneborough; and, in a position of influence, I hope to be

ked earnestly for them, and that her situation would be turned to their profit; but there was something for w

ries were poured upon him; and what comparing of notes about his present school-children! He could not enter into the refinements of her dread of the Ladies' Committee, and thought she might be thankful if the school were built by any proper means; for, if Cherry Elwood were retained, and the ladies prevented from doing harm, he did not understand why Eth

ould do no otherwise than assist in the service. Richard coloured, and said that he had brought no sermon; and he was, in fact, deprived of much of his sister's company, for composition wa

be displeased, though she looked reproof at Blanche's breathless whisper, "Oh, he looks so nice!" Those white folds did truly suit well with the meek, serious

on made his brother and sister ashamed of their fears. It was an exposition of the Gospel for the day, practical and earnest, going deep, and rising high, with a clearness and soberness, yet with a beauty an

out it, and declared that, if Richard preached every

chie," he said, "you have made quite a sensation-every one shaking me by the han

people went home, thinking of themselves rather than of the sermon. This put an end to the subject; b

suitable pensiveness, and affection for all that she was leaving. The only one in the family to whom she talked much was Norman, who continued to see many perfections in George, and contrived, by the force of his belief, to impress the same on the others, and to make them thi

ssions. None transpired, except something about good nature, but it was shrewdly believed that Richard and George, being much alike in shy

the Thursday morning, and then the children were up early, refreshing the Christmas hollies, and working up

hel went to the bedroom, shortly after, she found that she had fairly broken down, and was kneeling beside Margaret's sofa, resting h

argaret was much distressed and alarmed; but the worst had passed before Ethel came up, a

ppier, we trust, deares

I done? It is

en cheerfulness, while reversing the usual order of things, and dressing her bride's-maids, who would never have turned out fit to be seen, but for the exertions of herself, Margaret, and Miss Bracy. Ethel's long Scotch bones and Mary's round, dumpy shapelessness were, in their different ways, equally hard to overcome; and the one was swelled o

hem, and whisper her pretty caressing words to each. There was

into her place by Norman, trusting that Meta would not let her do wrong, and relieved that just in front

mosphere of the church, brought back to her thoughts a very different time, and one of those strange echoings

ered something about his having been so nervous. However, there he was, looking exceedingly red, and very sheepis

nearest, and looked happy and important, with Flora's glove. Gertrude held Mary's hand, and gazed straight up into the fretted roof, as if that were to her the c

itten for the last time, and found her hand so trembling, that she said, half smiling, that she could not write. Mary w

d not know my h

ouch and look. The thought of his past joy-the sad fading of hope for Margaret-the fear and doubt for their present bride-above all, the

em, looking very pretty, in her soft blue dress, which especially became her fair complexion and light brown hair. Ethel did not quite like the pink colour on her cheeks, and feared that she ha

nel. Flora was gone to change her dress, not giving way, but nervous and hurried, as she reiterated parting directions about household comforts to Ethel, who stood by the toilette-table,

lora gave herself up to it as if she would never bear to leave it. Did a flash come over her then, what the father was, whom she had held cheaply? what was the worth of that for which sh

d viands. Flora could taste nothing, but she contrived to smile and say it was too early. She was in haste to have it over now, and, as soon as George had finished, she rose up, still composed and resolved, the last kisses were given-Gertrude was lifted up to her, after she was in the carriage for the very last, when George proposed to run away with her also

was at once going to take her friends, than the round rosy face drew out of its melancholy puckers into smiles, as Mary began to tell the delight caused by the invitations which she had conveyed. That was to be a feast indeed-all th

of Miss Bracy, the boys were to follow. She had hoped for

ven schoolchildren will not

to be quiet till the evening, if you w

you," said Meta, "I who hav

s the beginning to me of a new life, and

nt you. Poor Margaret-has

ave her to a quiet afternoon with Richard. It will

y off the children, and

cking and change might distress Margaret's eyes for order; then feeling at once desolate and intrusive, she sat down in Flora's fireside chair, opened her desk, and took out her last time-table. She looked at it for some minutes, laid it aside, and rising, knelt down. Again seating herself, she resumed her paper, took a blank one, ruled it, and wrote her rules for each hour of each day in the week. That first hour after breakfast, when hitherto she had been free, was one sacrifice; it must go now, to ordering dinner, seeing after stores, watching over the children's clothes, and the other nondescripts, which, happily for her, Flora had already reduced to method. The other loss was the spare time between the walk and tea; she must

a standard-not a

consulted.-Mays-

of

everything-omit

rry when it dep

hen it depen

going to pac

e was fairly fagged, mind and body, she threw herself back in the armchair, took up a railway novel that Hector had

etter, striven to prepare Mr. Ernescliffe for the disappointment, and each that she received in return was so sanguine and affectionate, that the very fondness was as much grief as joy. She could not believe that he took in the true st

ard-"why should you

be deceived, and should feed on false

; "but I think he must pretty well know the trut

r for him to settle his mi

e would no

me? I do think that this is a little restlessness. The truth has not been kept from him, and I do not see that

save him the pang,

should conceal the fact, but you have no right to give him up befor

ht not to break it of

ainly

red-unless it should

ought to look to by a

w s

" he said, "without anxiety for the rest. How do we-

" said Margaret, sadly smiling

t think you will ever get we

made up once for all, and r

that we should be unc

e most trying,"

and he paus

excited and elated I can get about a little bit of dress out of the common way for myself or others," said she, smiling; "and then all the external show and

ld be a t

agement, and influence-you would not guess what dreams I used to waste on them, and now h

say so," said

ne thing more hard to bear than that-don't suppose there was a moment's neglect or disregard; but when first I understood that

ed that you had the notio

ief; but it is not in the nature of things that Ethel should not be more his comfort an

re had once been a jealous pang of mortification, it had b

and sister, who might have had some jealousy of the superiority of their juniors,

and now from her own most dear brother! So they sat till darkness closed in, when Ethel came down, bringing Gertrude a

many slices everybody had eaten, and how the bride's health had been drunk by the children in real wine, and how they had all played, Norman and all, and how Hector had made Blanche bold enough to extract a raisin from the flam

arriving, found Hector deep in 'Wild Sports of the West', while Norman and Met

dialogue had been the pleasantest part of the whole day, and that Meta had had confided to her the existence of Decius Mus-a secret which Ethel had