The Daisy Chain, or Aspirations

hy dearest

y triumphs

m more than t

NYS

ege Chapels, Bodleian Library, Taylor Gallery, the Museum, all were thoroughly studied, and, if Flora had no

Stoneborough, she was afraid that the comparison would not soon be forgotten. Norman Ogilvie seemed to consider himself bound to their train as much as his namesake, or, as on the second morning, Norman reported his reasoning, it was that a man must wal

he grew

upon

mind to resist unsuitable customs. Ethel laughed in answer, and said she thought it would take a great deal more strength of mind to go about

h some of the Rationalistic ideas current in some quarters. He seldom met Norman May without forcing on him debates, which were subjects of great interest to the hearers, as the two young men were considered as the most distinguished representatives of their respective causes, among the

extremely surprised by hearing Flora declare her intention of still a

a! ask him

way with the simple

orough would be up in arms at any neglect from us to one of the Anderson

that a line ought to be drawn, and that we ought not to

I promise you that there shal

a walked out of the room, she went up to Norman,

ut, Norman, do not you think it is clearly w

rt, frightened

her with a sort of alarm. "If the secrets of men's

e made a gesture as if he would not hear, and,

around her, but her Scottish cousin took up every moment open to conversation. He was older than Norman, and had just taken his degree, and he talked with th

and tennis-player, one of the "eight" whose success in the boat races was one of Norman's prime int

rrily into the humour, or threw it over with keen wit that he kept constantly on the stretch. They were always discovering odd, unexpected bits of knowledge in each other, and a great deal

ll, he gathered a fern leaf, to show her the Glenbracken badge, and talked to her of his home, his mother, and his sister Marjorie, and the little church in the rocky glen. He gave the history of the stolen meetings of th

good friend to him, and that he admired her brother heartily, watching tenderly over his tendencies to make himself unhappy. He confided to her that, much as he rejoiced in the defeats of Anderson, he feared that the reading and

d know Marjorie. She could quite echo the wish, Edinburgh and Loch Katrine had been the visions of her life, and now that she had once taken the leap and left h

Stoneborough. He should have come long ago. He had been coming last winter, but the wedding had prevented hi

mbellished, that the irregularity only added to the expressiveness. There was no saying what Ethel would come to! She had

d-he came with half a dozen other gentlemen-Ethel made him a civil greeting, but her head was full of

tal connection for us all. Lady Glenbracken will not come too

and laughter were crowded into those ten days, and with much thought and feeling beside the

conversation that should rightly have belonged to George Rivers, kept up the ball with wit and drollery far beyond what he us

to be done, any tower to be mounted, or anything with the smallest spice of danger in it, Meta was charmed, and with her lightness and airiness of foot and figure, and perfectly feminine ways, showed a spirit of adventure that added

f she did not need him, to walk alone, grave and abstracted. There was a weight on his brow, when nothing was going on to drive it away, and whether it were nervousness as to the performance in st

ing whether Stoneborough Minster would ever be used as it might be, and whether, if so, they should be practically the better for it; and proceeding with metaphysics on her side, and satire on Norman Ogilvie's, to speculate whether that which is, is best,

living after poor old Mr. Ramsden, and walked, keep

tent and thanksgiving, though it was a wonderful treat to see and hear such as she had enjoyed to-day; and she thought it was a joy,

but responded by more of a si

od works, how the one leads to the other, and how praise with pure lips is,

appiness and all, are given to u

ite with hers, or rather in another part of the same sub

ly could-"

xclaimed Norman; "I know, at lea

more than any one

his secret of joy. To him, it is

en she spoke, she said, "I have always thought it must be such a happiness to h

ever becomes a professio

n becoming a d

s but an outer case, a shell of mere words, blown up for the occasion, strung together as mere langu

he school children for behav

id Norman. "To know oneself to be such a decept

, "but I am sure I don't understand it. One must know

ating silence, he added, "When the wanderer in the desert fears that the spring is but a mirage; or when a

ed; "but he may know it is a delusion, if he can

" eagerly said Norm

ardly knowing how she c

Meta, when a man has been drawn, in self-sufficient security, to look into a magic mirror, and cannot detach his eyes from the confused, mis

great guardian nurse of truth! I am sure she cannot deal in magic mirrors or

am in one,"

t's all-what Mary calls, muzzling your head; you don't really think all this, and when you get into the country,

in this manner," said Norm

nse, and meant to be forgotten," said Meta, l

e a de

from books, books, books-I should like to drive it off with a good fres

er brightness to enliven him, and, in their subsequent tete-a-tetes, she avoided all that could lead to a renewal of this conversation. Ethel would not have rested till it had been fought out. Meta thought it so imaginary, that it had better die for

s Bracy as good as possible. He talked as if they had all nourished the better for Ethel's absence, but he had evidently missed her greatly, as he showed, without knowing it, by his instant eagerness to have her to himself. Even Norman, prizem

ld give their father the best idea of the tout ensemble of Oxford, and were not without hopes of beating him by his own confession, in that standing fight between him

very glad to give her father the keeping of them. Dr. May held out his arm to Ethel-Norman secured his peculiar property. Et

lvie were accompanying them. They entered the meadows-Norman turned round, with a laugh, to defy the doctor to talk of the Cam, on the banks of the Isis. The party stood still-the other two

gilvie came to Ethel's other side, and began to point out all the various notabilities. Ethel was happy again

county neighbour, and Ethel had another pleasant aside, until her father claime

r nook off from the rest of the world, and made her the exclusive possession of the occupant. There was a most interesting history for her to hear, of

self missing the thread of his discourse, in trying to hear wha

he evening, and Meta, who was near him, respected his mood. When he said good-night, he drew Ethel outsi

l, half smiling; "Rich

all break down if he looks at m

nk y

the sitting-room at the mom

comport himself as if you were all at Nova Zembla. A pretty fello

sighing. "It will be over to-morr

to be blindfolded. Meta wondered that Ethel should have mentioned the request so p

d missed for seven nights. It was very homelike, and it brought a sudden flash of thought a

two girls, and those chiefly on the morrow's dress. Meta had some fixed ideas-she should wear pink. Norman had said he liked her pink bonnet, and

er hope that Norman would go through it well. If he wou

s always wears off when it comes to the

of all the eyes

s. No, Meta, you must not encourage him in it. Papa says, if he did not think it half mor

hing to be said of Norman!" said Meta,

is the fault he most beats down. There was a time, before

tues!" said Meta. "How very good he is, Ethel; one sees it more when

not therefore wrong," said Ethel, w

better for keeping out

ot call them s

too good

and subdued his spirits, so that he has little pleasure in those things. And he always meant to be a clergyman, which acted as a

day talk, "but still, he would not be

it is a good thing; dear mamma thought his talents would have been a greater temptation than they seem to be

tion, sympathy, and the exultation for him, which he would not feel for himself, drew little Meta entirely out of herself-a self that never held her much. She was proud of the slender thread of connect

ul, undutiful towards her father. What had a fit of vanity brought her to? that she should have been teased by what would naturally have been her greatest

an Ogilvie had certainly sought her out. He had looked disappointed this evening-there was no doubt that he was attracted by her-by her, plain, awkward Ethel! Such a perception assuredly never gave so much pleasure to a beaut

her father oppressed and lonely, Margaret ill and pining, Mary, neither companion nor authority, the children running wild; and she, who had mentally vowed never to forsake her father, far away, enjoying

sire to hear the concert, to go to the breakfast at -- College, to return round by Warwick Castle, and Kenilworth, as designed. Should she lose all this for a mere flattering fancy? She, who had laughed at Miss Boulder, for imagining every one who spoke to her was smitten. What reason could she assi

father better than anything else in the world, and whilst she did so, it was best to preserve her heart for him. Widowed as he was, she knew that he would sorely miss her, and that for years to come, she should be necessary at home. She had better

bout listening to the perpetual striking of all the Oxford clocks, until daylight had begun to shine in; when she fell asleep, and was only waked by Meta, sta

the walk, that her companions rallied her, and they both supposed she was anxious about Norman; but taking her opportunity, when Meta was gon

ow is this? I told you that Miss

I had rath

at the door, and spoke low. "

othing can

ut, that I could not tell how it might be. I di

very happy; but please, papa, as

e concert. If it were not for that poor baby of Mrs. Larkins, I should

I think I o

afterwards Flora seized on Ethel, to array her for the theatre, she was able to say, "Flora, plea

bad as the children at the infant school, crying

r all this pleasure, but I shall have h

y, kissed her, and said, "My dear, never mind, i

ill com

nderstanding wit

you mean," said Eth

t you have got into a fright. You have made a di

ng the charge, though reddening more than

you, Ethel. It is everything delightful. You are the very girl for such a h

ught not to talk i

th, nobody else! How he did hate papa last night. I

e proper to think of it, so I am going home to prevent it."

our own grandmother was an honourable Ogilvie herself. A

alk. I cannot be spared from home, and I will not put

a, laughing. "Is it

wrong in me, with such a state

for some years to come. He is only t

r want constant care. Flora, I will

hink as you do, how should we live? I don't know-for papa told me there will be barely ten thousand pounds,

t me, and I will not leave him," repe

it would be very foolish to break up our plans, only because we have found a pleasant cous

y more, but Ethel, with burning ch

me to adorn Meta, and she could have no solitude, she went downstair

om with an exclama

wrong Norman, looking merril

your pardon

esent his respects to his honoured family, and to inform them that his stock of as

" asked Eth

s round his eyes, as he had befo

w them," s

e luck of being set on in the very place he knows best. But I think it has expend

is he

was the day for the Pacific mail, and that

towards the paper, "is th

ht not to depart, he exclaimed, in a tone that startl

Oh,

this-she has not come into Sydney so soon as

said the tre

to Margaret. Her going home would be absolutely necessary now. Mr. Ogilvie kindly began to talk away her alarm, saying that

rman!"

at once, and keep guard over him, lest he should meet with this paper. But pray,

d though they now thought Ethel's return desirable, on Margaret's account, it would be better not to add to the shock by a sudden arrival, especially as they took in no daily

e he came to escort the ladies, through what he expressively called "the bear fight." Ethel resolutely adhered to her father, and her cousin took care of Meta, who ha

a surging living sea, where Meta soon pointed out Dr. May and George; the mere sight of such masses of people was curious and interesting, reminding Ethel of Cherry Elwood having once shocked her by saying the Whit-Monday club was the most beautiful sight in the whole year. And above! that gallery of trampling under

rough the midst, till the red and black vice-chancellor sat enthroned in the centre, and the s

ch Ethel's companions unreasonably required her to translate to them, while she was using

own her veil, and took hold of Flora's hand, and Ethel flushed like a hot coal. Nevertheless, all contrived to see a tall figure, with face much flushed, and hands moving nervously. The world was tired, and people were departing, so that th

ince Ethel had seen the poem, saying how self-sacrifice sent forth the sailor-boy from home,

silence at the close, but suddenly the acclamations rose with deafening loud

shower falling, and an umbrella held over her by Mr. Ogilvie, who was asking her if it was no

ignitaries, but she had a sense of depression, and did not wish to enter into the usual strain of banter. He dropped his lively tone, and drew her out about Harry, till she was telling eagerly of her dear sai

on the eve of departure, but she kept her resolution against it-she thought it would have been an unwarrantable experiment. When they returned to their inn they found Norman looking fagged, but r

t about the Alcestis in the newspaper that may make Margaret u

d up crying,

d as a death warrant; the colour ebbed from his lips and cheeks; he trembled so that he was obliged to sit down, and, without spea

I have, you would not take this so much to heart," said Dr. M

, and given all manner of reassuring suppositions as to her detention, adding besides, that no one believed the Australian paper whence the report was taken. He had seen the Alcestis, knew Captain Gordon, and spoke of him

t off?" was No

d Ethel. "You

lone, but I shall not take you ti

him, and Dr. May was afraid of the effect of anxiety on nerves and spirits so sensitive. While this

must not be left alon

r. May and Ethel. Norman May had a bad headache, which he was allowed to have justly earned; Dr. May was very happy reviving all his Scottish recollections, and talking t

ke home with him, and thence to see the Highlands, so as to divert his anxiety for Harry, as well as to call him off from the studies with which he had this term overworked himself even more th

asleep. The ball had not, it seemed, been as charming to her as most ev

ges to her father, and wished she might go with them. George and Flora were not visible, and Dr. M

he believed that she heard something of never forgetting-happiest week-but in the civilities which the other occupant of the carriage was offering fo