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！
〃I have it！〃 began Harry； as he came down to breakfast。 〃I don't
know how I came to forget it。 The will was to be sent home to Mr。
Mackintosh's English partner。 I'll go and overhaul him this very
morning。 They won't mind my coming by a later train； when there is
such a reason。〃
〃What is his name？ Where shall you find him？〃 asked Flora。
〃I can't be sure； but you've a navy list of that sort of cattle； have
not you； Flora？ I'll hunt him up。〃
Flora supposed he meant a directory； and all possible South American
merchants having been overlooked； and the Mackintoshes selected； he
next required a chart of London； and wanted to attempt self…
navigation； but was forced to accept of George's brougham and escort；
Flora would not trust him otherwise； and Norman was obliged to go to
Oxford at once； hurrying off to his train before breakfast was over。
Flora might have trusted Harry alone。 George contributed no more
than the dignity of his presence； and； indeed； would have resigned
the pursuit at the first blunder about the firm； and still more when
the right one had been found； but the partner proved crusty； and
would not believe that any such document was in his hands。 George
was consenting to let it rest till Mr。 Mackintosh could be written
to； but Harry； outrunning his management； and regardless of rebuffs；
fairly teased the old gentleman into a search； as the only means of
getting rid of the troublesome sailor。
In the midst of George's civil regrets at the fruitless trouble they
were causing； forth came a bundle of papers； and forth from the
bundle fell a packet； on which Harry pounced as he read； 〃Will of
Alan Halliday Ernescliffe； Esquire； of Maplewood； Yorkshire；
Lieutenant in H。 M。 S。 Alcestis；〃 and； in the corner； the executors'
names； Captain John Gordon； of H。 M。 S。 Alcestis； and Richard May；
Esquire； M。 D。； Market Stoneborough。
As if in revenge； the prudent merchant would not be induced to
entrust him with the document； saying he could not give it up till he
had heard from the executors； and had been certified of the death of
the testator。 He withstood both the angry gentlemen； who finally
departed in a state of great resentmentHarry declaring that the old
land…lubber would not believe that he was his own father's son； and
Mr。 Rivers； no less incensed； that the House of Commons had been
insulted in his person； because he did not carry all before him。
Flora laughed at their story； and told them that she suspected that
the old gentleman was in the right； and she laid plans for having
Harry to teach them yachting at Ryde； while Harry declared he would
have nothing to do with such trumpery。
Harry found his home in a sort of agony of expectation； for his non…
arrival at the time expected had made his first appearance seem like
an unsubstantial illusion； though Dr。 May； or Mary and Aubrey； had
been at the station at the coming in of each train。 Margaret had
recovered the effects of the first shock； and the welcome was far
more joyous than the first had been； with the mixed sensations that
were now composed； and showed little； outwardly； but gladness。
Dr。 May took Flora's view of the case； and declared that； if Harry
had brought home the will； he should not have opened it without his
co…executor。 So he wrote to the captain； while Harry made the most
of his time in learning his sisters over again。 He spent a short
time alone with Margaret every morning； patiently and gently allowing
himself to be recalled to the sad recollections that were all the
world to her。 He kept Ethel and Mary merry with his droll desultory
comments； he made Blanche keep up her dancing； and taught Gertrude to
be a thorough little romp。 As to Dr。 May； his patients never were so
well or so cheerful； till Dr。 Spencer and Ethel suspected that the
very sight of his looks brightened themhow could they help it？ Dr。
Spencer was as happy as a king in seeing his friend freed from the
heavy weight on his spirits； and； truly； it was goodly to watch his
perfect look of content； as he leaned on his lion…faced boy's arm；
and walked down to the minster； whither it seemed to have become
possible to go on most evenings。 Good Dr。 May was no musician； but
Mr。 Wilmot could not regret certain tones that now and then burst out
in the chanting； from the very bottom of a heart that assuredly sang
with the full melody of thankfulness； whatever the voice might do。
Captain Gordon not only wrote but came to Stoneborough； whence Harry
was to go with him to the court…martial at Portsmouth。
The girls wondered that； after writing with so much warmth and
affection； both of and to Harry； he met him without any demonstration
of feeling； and his short peremptory manner removed all surprise that
poor Hector had been so forlorn with him at Maplewood； and turned；
with all his heart； to Dr。 May。 They were especially impressed at
the immediate subsidence of all Harry's noise and nonsense； as if the
drawing…room had been the quarter…deck of the Alcestis。
〃And yet；〃 said Margaret； 〃Harry will not hear a single word in
dispraise of him。 I do believe he loves him with all his heart。〃
〃I think；〃 said Ethel； 〃that in a strong character； there is an
exulting fear in looking up to a superior； in whose justice there is
perfect reliance。 It is a germ of the higher feeling。〃
〃I believe you are right；〃 said Margaret； 〃but it is a serious thing
for a man to have so little sympathy with those below him。 You see
how Hector feels it； and I now understand how it told upon Alan； and
how papa's warmth was like a surprise to him。〃
〃Because Captain Gordon had to be a father to them； and that is more
than a captain。 I should not wonder if there were more similarity
and fellow…feeling between him and Harry than there could be with
either of them。 Harry； though he has all papa's tenderness； is of a
rougher sort that likes to feel itself mastered。 Poor Hector！ I
wonder if he is to be given back to us。〃
〃Do you knowwhenwhether they will find out this morning？〃 said
Margaret； catching her dress nervously； as she was moving away。
〃Yes； I believe so。 I was not to have told you； but〃
〃There is no reason that it should do me any harm；〃 said Margaret；
almost smiling； and looking as if she was putting a restraint on
something she wished to say。 〃Go down； dear EthelAubrey will be
waiting for you。〃
Ethel went down to the difficult task of hearing Aubrey's lessons；
while Harry was pretending to write to Mrs。 Arnott； but； in reality；
teaching Gertrude the parts of a ship； occasionally acting mast； for
her to climb。
By and by Dr。 May came in。 〃Margaret not downstairs yet？〃 he said。
〃She is dressed； but will not come down till the evening；〃 said
Ethel。
〃I'll go to her。 She will be pleased。 Come up presently； Ethel。
Or； where's Richard？〃
〃Gone out；〃 said Harry。 〃What； is it anything left to her？〃
〃The best； the best！〃 said Dr。 May。 〃Ethel； listentwenty thousand；
to build and endow a church for Cocksmoor！〃
No need to bid Ethel listen。 She gave a sort of leap in her chair；
then looked almost ready to faint。
〃My dear child；〃 said her father； 〃This is yo