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！
giddy； and could not stay； and looked so horrid； we thought it was
all over with him； and he would not be able to go up at all。〃
〃And Cheviot thought you ought to send for papa！〃
〃Yes； I knew he would not be in； and so we left him lying down on the
bench in the cloister till dinner was over。〃
〃What a place for catching cold！〃 said Flora。
〃So Cheviot said； but I couldn't help it； and when we went to call
him afterwards； he was all right。 Wasn't it fun； when the names were
called over； and May senior at the head！ I don't think it will be
better when I am a post…captain myself！ But Margaret has not heard
half yet。〃
After telling it once in her room； once in the nursery； in whispers
like gusts of wind； and once in the pantry； Harry employed himself in
writing〃Norman is Dux！〃 in immense letters； on pieces of paper；
which he disposed all over the house； to meet the eyes of his father
and Richard on their return。
Ethel's joy was sadly damped by Norman's manner。 He hardly spoke
only just came in to wish Margaret good…night； and shrank from her
affectionate sayings； departing abruptly to his own room。
〃Poor fellow！ he is sadly overdone；〃 said she； as he went。
〃Oh！〃 sighed Ethel； nearly ready to cry； 〃'tis not like what I used
to fancy it would be when he came to the head of the school！〃
〃It will be different to…morrow；〃 said Margaret； trying to console
herself as well as Ethel。 〃Think how he has been on the strain this
whole day； and long before； doing so much more than older boys。 No
wonder he is tired and worn out。〃
Ethel did not understand what mental fatigue was； for her active；
vigorous spirit had never been tasked beyond its powers。
〃I hope he will be like himself to…morrow！〃 said she disconsolately。
〃I never saw him rough and hasty before。 It was even with you；
Margaret。〃
〃No； no； Ethel you aren't going to blame your own Norman for
unkindness on this of all days in the year。 You know how it was； you
love him better； just as I do； for not being able to bear to stay in
this room； where〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel； mournfully； 〃it was a great shame of me！ How
could I？ Dear Norman！ how he does grievewhat love his must have
been！ But yet； Margaret；〃 she said impatiently； and the hot tears
breaking out； 〃I cannotcannot bear it！ To have him not caring one
bit for all of us！ I want him to triumph！ I can't without him！〃
〃What； Ethel； you； who said you didn't care for mere distinction and
praise？ Don't you think dear mamma would say it was safer for him
not to be delighted and triumphant？〃
〃It is very tiresome；〃 said Ethel； nearly convinced； but in a
slightly petulant voice。
〃And does not one love those two dear boys to…night！〃 said Margaret。
〃Norman not able to rejoice in his victory without her； and Harry in
such an ecstacy with Norman's honours。 I don't think I ever was so
fond of my two brothers。〃
Ethel smiled； and drew up her head； and said no boys were like them
anywhere； and papa would be delighted； and so went to bed happier in
her exultation； and in hoping that the holidays would make Norman
himself again。
Nothing could be better news for Dr。 May； who had never lost a grain
of the ancient school…party…loyalty that is part of the nature of the
English gentleman。 He was a thorough Stoneborough boy； had followed
the politics of the Whichcote foundation year by year all his life；
and perhaps； in his heart； regarded no honour as more to be prized
than that of Dux and Randall scholar。 Harry was in his room the next
morning as soon as ever he was stirring； a welcome guestteased a
little at first； by his pretending to take it all as a sailor's prank
to hoax him and Richard； and then free to pour out to delighted ears
the whole history of the examination； and of every one's
congratulations。
Norman himself was asleep when Harry went to give this narration。 He
came down late； and his father rose to meet him as he entered。 〃My
boy；〃 he said； 〃I had not expected this of you。 Well done； Norman！〃
and the whole tone and gesture had a heartfelt approval and joy in
them； that Ethel knew her brother was deeply thrilled by； for his
colour deepened； and his lips quivered into something like a smile；
though he did not lift his eyes。
Then came Richard's warm greeting and congratulation； he； too；
showing himself as delighted as if the honours were his own； and then
Dr。 May again； in lively tones； like old times； laughing at Norman
for sleeping late； and still not looking well awake； asking him if he
was quite sure it was not all a dream。
〃Well；〃 said Norman； 〃I should think it was； if it were not that you
all believe it。〃
〃Harry had better go to sleep next；〃 said Dr。 May； 〃and see what
dreaming will make him。 If it makes Dux of Norman； who knows but it
may make Drakes of him？ Ha！ Ethel
〃Oh； give us for our Kings such Queens；
And for our Ducks such Drakes。〃
There had not been such a merry breakfast for months。 There was the
old confusion of voices； the boys； Richard； and the doctor had much
to talk over of the school doings of this week； and there was nearly
as much laughing as in days past。 Ethel wondered whether any one but
herself observed that the voice most seldom heard was Norman's。
The promised call was made by Dr。 Hoxton； and Mr。 Everard； an old
friend； and after their departure Dr。 May came to Margaret's room
with fresh accounts； corroborating what Harry had said of the clear
knowledge and brilliant talent that Norman had displayed； to a degree
that surprised his masters； almost as much as the examiners。 The
copy of verses Dr。 May brought with him； and construed them to
Margaret； commenting all the way on their ease； and the fullness of
thought； certainly remarkable in a boy of sixteen。
They were then resigned to Ethel's keeping； and she could not help
imparting her admiration to their author； with some apology for
vexing him again。
〃I don't want to be cross；〃 said Norman； whom these words roused to a
sense that he had been churlish last night； 〃but I cannot help it。 I
wish people would not make such a fuss about it。〃
〃I don't think you can be well； Norman。〃
〃Nonsense。 There's nothing the matter with me。〃
〃But I don't understand your not caring at all； and not being the
least pleased。〃
〃It only makes it worse；〃 said Norman； 〃I only feel as if I wanted to
be out of the way。 My only comfortable time yesterday was on that
bench in the cool quiet cloister。 I don't think I could have got
through without that； when they left me in peace； till Cheviot and
Harry came to rout me up； and I knew it was all coming。〃
〃Ah！ you have overworked yourself； but it was for something。 You
have given papa such pleasure and comfort； as you can't help being
glad of。 That is very different from us foolish young ones and our
trumpeting。〃
〃What comfort can it be？ I've not been the smallest use all this
time。 When he was ill； I left him to Ernescliffe； and lay on the
floor like an ass； and if he were to ask me to touch his arm； I
should be as bad again。 A fine thing for me to have talked all that
arrogant stuff about Richard！ I hate the thought of i