按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
committee…room at the Swan； talking； writing； or consulting；
concocting squibs； and perpetrating bons mots； that were the delight
of friends and the confusion of foes。 Flora was delighted； George
adored him； Meta's eyes danced whenever he came near； Dr。 Spencer
admired him； and Dr。 Hoxton prophesied great things of him； but Ethel
did not feel as if he were the veritable Norman； and had an undefined
sensation of discomfort； when she heard his brilliant repartees； and
the laughter with which he accompanied them； so unlike his natural
rare and noiseless laugh。 She knew it was false excitement； to drive
away the suspense that none dared to avow； but which did not press on
them the less heavily for being endured in silence。 Indeed； Dr。 May
could not help now and then giving way to outbursts of despondency；
of which his friend； Dr。 Spencer； who made it his special charge to
try to lighten his troubles； was usually the kind recipient。
And though the bustle of the election was incongruous； and seemed to
make the leaden weight the more heavy； there was a compensation in
the tone of feeling that it elicited； which gave real and heartfelt
pleasure。
Dr。 May had undergone numerous fluctuations of popularity。 He had
always been the same man； excellent in intention； though hasty in
action； and heeding neither praise nor censure； and while the main
tenor of his course never varied； making many deviations by flying to
the reverse of the wrong； most immediately before him； still his
personal character gained esteem every year； and though sometimes his
merits； and sometimes his failings； gave violent umbrage； he had
steadily risen in the estimation of his fellow…townsmen； as much as
his own inconsistencies and theirs would allow； and every now and
then was the favourite with all； save with the few who abused him for
tyranny； because he prevented them from tyrannising。
He was just now on the top of the wave； and his son…in…law had
nothing to do but to float in on the tide of his favour。 The
opposite faction attempted a contest； but only rendered the triumph
more complete； and gave the gentlemen the pleasure of canvassing； and
hearing； times without number； that the constituents only wished the
candidate were Dr。 May himself。 His sons and daughters were full of
exultationDr。 Spencer； much struck； rallied 〃Dick〃 on his
influenceand Dr。 May； the drops of warm emotion trembling on his
eyelashes； smiled； and bade his friend see him making a church…rate。
The addresses and letters that came from the Grange were so
admirable； that Dr。 May often embraced Norman's steady opinion that
George was a very wise man。 If Norman was unconscious how much he
contributed to these compositions； he knew far less how much was
Flora's。 In his ardour； he crammed them both； and conducted George
when Flora could not be at his side。 George himself was a personable
man； wrote a good bold hand； would do as he was desired； and was not
easily put out of countenance； he seldom committed himself by
talking； and when a speech was required； was brief； and to the
purpose。 He made a very good figure； and in the glory of victory；
Ethel herself began to grow proud of him； and the children's great
object in life was to make the jackdaws cry； 〃Rivers for ever！〃
Flora had always declared that she would be at Stoneborough for the
nomination。 No one believed her； until three days before； she
presented herself and her daughter before the astonished Margaret；
who was too much delighted to be able to scold。 She had come away on
her own responsibility； and was full of triumph。 To come home in
this manner； after having read 〃Rivers for ever！〃 on all the dead
walls； might be called that for which she had lived。 She made no
stayshe had only come to show her child； and establish a precedent
for driving out； and Margaret had begun to believe the apparition a
dream； when the others came in； some from Cocksmoor； others from the
committee…room at the Swan。
〃So she brought the baby；〃 exclaimed Ethel。 〃I should have thought
she would not have taken her out before her christening。〃
〃Ethel；〃 said Dr。 Spencer； 〃permit me to make a suggestion。 When
relations live in the same neighbourhood； there is no phrase to be
more avoided than 'I should have thought'〃
The nomination…day brought Flora； Meta； baby and all to be very
quiet； as was said； but how could that be？ when every boy in the
house was frantic； and the men scarcely less so。 Aubrey and
Gertrude； and the two jackdaws； each had a huge blue and orange
rosette； and the two former went about roaring 〃Rivers for ever！〃
without the least consideration for the baby； who would have been
decked in the same manner； if Ethel would have heard of it without
indignation； at her wearing any colour before her christening white；
as to Jack and Jill； though they could say their lesson； they were
too much distressed by their ornaments to do ought but lurk in
corners； and strive to peck them off。
Flora comported herself in her usual quiet way； and tried to talk of
other things； though a carnation spot in each cheek showed her
anxiety and excitement。 She went with her sisters to look out from
Dr。 Spencer's windows towards the Town Hall。 Her husband gave her
his arm as they went down the garden； and Ethel saw her talking
earnestly to him； and pressing his arm with her other hand to enforce
her words； but if she did tutor him； it was hardly visible； and he
was very glad of whatever counsel she gave。
She spoke not a word after the ladies were left with Aubrey； who was
in despair at not being allowed to follow Hector and Tom； but was
left； as his prematurely classical mind expressed it； like the
Gaulish women with the impedimenta in the marsheswhereas Tom had
added insult to injury； by a farewell to 〃Jack among the maidens。〃
Meta tried to console him； by persuading him that he was their
protector； and he began to think there was need of a guard； when a
mighty cheer caused him to take refuge behind Ethel。 Even when
assured that it was anything but terrific； he gravely declared that
he thought Margaret would want him； but he could not cross the garden
without Meta to protect him。
She would not allow any one else to relieve her from the doughty
champion； and thereby she missed the spectacle。 It might be that she
did not regret it； for though it would have been unkind to refuse to
come in with her brother and sister； her wound was still too fresh
for crowds； turmoil； and noisy rejoicing to be congenial。 She did
not withdraw her hand； which Aubrey squeezed harder at each
resounding shout； nor object to his conducting her to see his museum
in the dark corner of the attics； most remote from the tumult。
The loss was not great。 The others could hear nothing distinctly；
and see only a wilderness of heads； but the triumph was complete。
Dr。 May had been cheered enough to satisfy even Hector； George Rivers
had made a very fair speech； and hurrahs had covered all
deficiencies； Hector had shouted till he was as hoarse as the
jackdaws； the opposite candidate had never come forward at all；
Tomkins was hiding his diminished head； and the gentle