第 105 节
作者:这就是结局      更新:2022-08-21 16:40      字数:9321
  ourselves made illustrious for ever in his person。〃
  〃Nay; papa; when you got that gold medal must have been the grandest
  time?〃 said Blanche; who had been listening。
  Dr。 May laughed; and patted her。 〃I; Blanche?  Why; I was
  excessively amazed; that is all; not in Norman's way; but I had been
  doing next to nothing to the very last; then fell into an agony; and
  worked like a horse; thinking myself sure of failure; and that my
  mother and my uncle would break their hearts。〃
  〃But when you heard that you had it?〃 persisted Blanche。
  〃Why; then I found I must be a much cleverer fellow than I thought
  for!〃 said he; laughing; 〃but I was ashamed of myself; and of the
  authorities; for choosing such an idle dog; and vexed that other
  plodding lads missed it; who deserved it more than I。〃
  〃Of course;〃 said Norman; in a low voice; 〃that is what one always
  feels。  I had rather blow soap…bubbles!〃
  〃Where was Dr。 Spencer?〃 asked Ethel。
  〃Not competing。  He had been ready a year before; and had gained it;
  or I should have had no chance。  Poor Spencer! what would I not give
  to see him; or hear of him?〃
  〃The last washow long ago?〃 said Ethel。
  〃Six years; when he was setting off; to return from Poonshedagore;〃
  said Dr。 May; sighing。  〃I gave him up; his health was broken; and
  there was no one to look after him。  He was the sort of man to have a
  nameless grave; and a name too blessed for fame。〃
  Ethel would have asked further of her father's dear old friend; but
  there were sounds; denoting an arrival; and Margaret beckoned to them
  as Miss Rivers and her brother were ushered into the drawing…room;
  and Blanche instantly fled away; with her basin; to hide herself in
  the schoolroom。
  Meta skipped out; and soon was established on the grass; an
  attraction to all the live creatures; as it seemed; for the kitten
  came; and was caressed till her own graceful Nipen was ready to fight
  with the uncouth Toby for the possession of a resting…place on the
  skirt of her habit; while Daisy nestled up to her; as claiming a
  privilege; and Aubrey kept guard over the dogs。
  Meta inquired after a huge dollDr。 Hoxton's gift to Daisy; at the
  bazaar。
  〃She is in Margaret's wardrobe;〃 was the answer; 〃because Aubrey tied
  her hands behind her; and was going to offer her up on the nursery
  grate。〃
  〃Oh; Aubrey; that was too cruel!〃
  〃No;〃 returned Aubrey; 〃she was Iphigenia; going to be sacrificed。〃
  〃Mary unconsciously acted Diana;〃 said Ethel; 〃and bore the victim
  away。〃
  〃Pray; was Daisy a willing Clytemnestra?〃 asked Meta。
  〃Oh; yes; she liked it;〃 said Aubrey; while Meta looked discomfited。
  〃I never could get proper respect paid to dolls;〃 said Margaret; 〃we
  deal too much in their natural enemies。〃
  〃Yes;〃 said Ethel; 〃my only doll was like a heraldic lion; couped in
  all her parts。〃
  〃Harry and Tom once made a general execution;〃 said Flora; 〃there was
  a doll hanging to every balusterthe number made up with rag。〃
  George Rivers burst out laughinghis first sign of life; and Meta
  looked as if she had heard of so many murders。
  〃I can't help feeling for a doll!〃 she said。  〃They used to be like
  sisters to me。  I feel as if they were wasted on children; that see
  no character in them; and only call them Dolly。〃
  〃I agree with you;〃 said Margaret。  〃If there had been no live dolls;
  Richard and I should have reared our doll family as judiciously as
  tenderly。  There are treasures of carpentry still extant; that he
  made for them。〃
  〃Oh; I am so glad!〃 cried Meta; as if she had found another point of
  union。  〃If I were to confessthere is a dear old Rose in the secret
  recesses of my wardrobe。  I could as soon throw away my sister〃
  〃Ha!〃 cried her brother; laying hold of the child; 〃here; little
  Daisy; will you give your doll to Meta?〃
  〃My name is Gertrude Margaret May;〃 said the little round mouth。  The
  fat arm was drawn back; with all a baby's dignity; and the rosy face
  was hidden in Dr。 May's breast; at the sound of George Rivers's broad
  laugh and 〃Well done; little one!〃
  Dr。 May put his arm round her; turned aside from him; and began
  talking to Meta about Mr。 Rivers。
  Flora and Norman made conversation for the brother; and he presently
  asked Norman to go out shooting with him; but looked so amazed on
  hearing that Norman was no sportsman that Flora tried to save the
  family credit by mentioning Hector's love of a gun; which caused
  their guest to make a general tender of sporting privileges;
  〃Though;〃 added he; with a drawl; 〃shooting is rather a nuisance;
  especially alone。〃
  Meta told Ethel; a little apart; that he was so tired of going out
  alone; that he had brought her here; in search of a companion。
  〃He comes in at eleven o'clock; poor fellow; quite tired with
  solitude;〃 said she; 〃and comes to me to be entertained。〃
  〃Indeed;〃 exclaimed Ethel。  〃What can you do?〃
  〃What I can;〃 said Meta; laughing。  〃Whatever is not 'a horrid
  nuisance' to him。〃
  〃It would be a horrid nuisance to me;〃 said Ethel bluntly; 〃if my
  brothers wanted me to amuse them all the morning。〃
  〃Your brothers; oh!〃 said Meta; as if that were very different;
  〃besides; you have so much more to do。  I am only too glad and
  grateful when George will come to me at all。  You see I have always
  been too young to be his companion; or find out what suited him; and
  now he is so very kind and good…natured to me。〃
  〃But what becomes of your business?〃
  〃I get time; one way or another。  There is the evening; very often;
  when I have sung both him and papa to sleep。  I had two hours; all to
  myself; yesterday night;〃 said Meta; with a look of congratulation;
  〃and I had a famous reading of Thirlwall's 'Greece。'〃
  〃I should think that such evenings were as bad as the mornings。〃
  〃Come〃; Ethel; don't make me naughty。  Large families; like yours;
  may have merry; sociable evenings; but; I do assure you; ours are
  very pleasant。  We are so pleased to have George at home; and we
  really hope that he is taking a fancy to the dear Grange。  You can't
  think how delighted papa is to have him content to stay quietly with
  us so long。  I must call him to go back now; though; or papa will be
  kept waiting。〃
  When Ethel had watched the tall; ponderous brother help the bright
  fairy sister to fly airily into her saddle; and her sparkling glance;
  and wave of the hand; as she cantered off; contrasting with his slow
  bend; and immobility of feature; she could not help saying that
  Meta's life certainly was not too charming; with her fanciful;
  valetudinarian father; and that stupid; idealess brother。
  〃He is very amiable and good…natured;〃 interposed Norman。
  〃Ha! Norman; you are quite won by his invitation to shoot!  How he
  despised you for refusingas much as you despised
  him。〃
  〃Speak for yourself;〃 said Norman。  〃You fancy no sensible man likes
  shooting; but you are all wrong。  Some of our best men are capital
  sportsmen。  Why; there is Ogilvieyou know what he is。  When I bring
  him down here; you will see that there is no sort of sport that he is
  not keen after。〃
  〃This poor fellow will never be keen after anything;〃 said Dr。 May。
  〃I pity him!  Existence seems hard work to him!〃
  〃We shall have baby calling him 'the detestable' next;〃 said Ethel。
  〃What a famous set down she gave him。〃
  〃She is a thorough lady; and allows no liberties;〃 said Dr。 May。
  〃Ah!〃 said Margaret; 〃it is a proof of what I want to impression you。
  We really must leave off calling her Daisy when strangers are there。〃
  〃It is so much nicer;〃 pleaded Mary。
  〃The very reason;〃 said Margaret; 〃fondling names should be kept for
  our innermost selves; not spread abroad; and made common。  I remember
  when I used to be called Peg…topand Flora; Flossywe were never
  allowed to use the names when any visitor was near; and we were asked
  if we could not be as fond of each other by our proper names。  I
  think it was felt that there was a want of reserve in publishing our
  pet words to other people。〃
  〃Quite true;〃 said Dr。 May; 〃baby…names never ought to go beyond
  home。  It is the fashion to use them now; and; besides the folly; it
  seems; to me; an absolute injury to a girl; to let her grow up; with
  a nickname attached to her。〃
  〃Ay!〃 chimed in Norman; 〃I hear men talking of Henny; and Loo; and
  the like; and you can't think how glad I have been that my sisters
  could not be known by any absurd word!〃
  〃It is a case where self…respect would make others behave properly;〃
  said Flora。
  〃True;〃 said Dr。 May; 〃but if girls won't keep up their own dignity;
  their friends' duty is to do it for them。  The mischief is in the
  intimate friends; who blazon the words to every one。〃
  〃And then they call one formal; for trying to protect the right
  name;〃 said Flora。  〃It is; one…half of it; silliness; and; the
  other; affectation of intimacy。〃
  〃Now; I know;〃 said Mary; 〃why you are so careful to call Meta Miss
  Rivers; to all the people here。〃
  〃I should hope so!〃 cried Norman indignantly。
  〃Why; yes; Mary;〃 said Margaret; 〃I should hope lady…like feelings
  would prevent you from calling her Meta before〃
  〃The Andersons!〃 cried Ethel; laughing。  〃Margaret was just going to
  say it。  We only want Harry; to exact the