donal grant-第70章

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pieces　of　silver　him　whom　the　sepulchre　cannot　hold！　Well　for　those
in　the　world　of　revelation；　who　give　their　sins　no　quarter　in　this！

Forgue　had　been　in　Edinburgh　a　part　of　the　time；　in　England　another
part。　He　had　many　things　to　tell　of　the　people　he　had　seen；　and　the
sports　he　had　shared　in。　He　had　developed　and　enlarged　a　vein　of
gentlemanly　satire；　which　he　kept　supplied　by　the　observation　and
analysis　of　the　peculiarities；　generally　weaknesses；　of　others。
These；　as　a　matter　of　course；　he　judged　merely　by　the　poor　standard
of　society：　questioned　concerning　any　upon　the　larger　human　scale；
he　could　give　no　account　of　them。　To　Donal's　eyes；　the　man　was　a
shallow　pool　whose　surface　brightness　concealed　the　muddy　bottom。




CHAPTER　LXVII。

THE　BREAKFAST…ROOM。

Two　years　before；　lady　Arctura　had　been　in　the　habit　of　riding　a
good　deal；　but　after　an　accident　to　a　favourite　horse　for　which　she
blamed　herself；　she　had　scarcely　ridden　at　all。　It　was　quite　as
much；　however；　from　the　influence　of　Miss　Carmichael　upon　her
spirits；　that　she　had　forsaken　the　exercise。　Partly　because　her
uncle　was　neither　much　respected　nor　much　liked；　she　had　visited
very　little；　and　after　mental　trouble　assailed　her；　growing　under
the　false　prescriptions　of　the　soul…doctor　she　had　called　in；　she
withdrew　more　and　more；　avoiding　even　company　she　would　have
enjoyed；　and　which　would　before　now　have　led　her　to　resume　it。

For　a　time　she　persisted　in　refusing　to　ride　with　Forgue。　In　vain　he
offered　his　horse；　assuring　her　that　Davie's　pony　was　quite　able　to
carry　him；　she　had　no　inclination　to　ride；　she　said。　But　at　last　one
day；　lest　she　should　be　guilty　of　unkindness；　she　consented；　and　so
enjoyed　the　ridefelt；　indeed；　so　much　the　better　for　it；　that　she
did　not　thereafter　so　positively　as　before　decline　to　allow　her
cousin　to　look　out　for　a　horse　fit　to　carry　her；　and　Forgue；　taking
her　consent　for　granted；　succeeded；　with　the　help　of　the　factor；　in
finding　for　her　a　beautiful　creature；　just　of　the　sort　to　please
her。　Almost　at　sight　of　him　she　agreed　to　his　purchase。

This　put　Forgue　in　great　spirits；　and　much　contentment　with　himself。
He　did　not　doubt　that；　gaining　thus　opportunity　so　excellent；　he
would　quickly　succeed　in　withdrawing　her　from　the　absurd　influence
which；　to　his　dismay；　he　discovered　his　enemy　had　in　his　absence
gained　over　her。　He　ought　not　to　have　been　such　a　fool；　he　said　to
himself；　as　to　leave　the　poor　child　to　the　temptations　naturally
arising　in　such　a　dreary　solitude！　He　noted　with　satisfaction；
however；　that　the　parson's　daughter　seemed　to　have　forsaken　the
house。　And　now　at　last；　having　got　rid　of　the　folly　that　a　while
possessed　him；　he　was　prepared　to　do　his　duty　by　the　family；　and；　to
that　end；　would　make　unfaltering　use　of　the　fascinations　experience
had　taught　him　he　was；　in　a　most　exceptional　degree；　gifted　with！　He
would　at　once　take　Arctura's　education　in　his　own　hands；　and　give
his　full　energy　to　it！　She　should　speedily　learn　the　difference
between　the　assistance　of　a　gentleman　and　that　of　a　clotpoll！

He　had　in　England　improved　in　his　riding　as　well　as　his　manners；　and
knew　at　least　how　a　gentleman；　if　not　how　a　man；　ought　to　behave　to
the　beast　that　carried　him。　Also；　having　ridden　a　good　deal　with
ladies；　he　was　now　able　to　give　Arctura　not　a　few　hints　to　the
improvement　of　her　seat；　her　hand；　her　courage；　nor　was　there　any
nearer　road；　he　judged　from　what　he　knew　of　his　cousin；　to　her
confidence　and　gratitude；　than　showing　her　a　better　way　in　a　thing。

But　thinking　that　in　teaching　her　to　ride　he　could　make　her　forget
the　man　who　had　been　teaching　her　to　live；　he　was　not　a　little
mistaken　in　the　woman　he　desired　to　captivate。

He　did　not　yet　love　her　even　in　the　way　he　called　loving；　else　he
might　have　been　less　confident；　but　he　found　her　very　pleasing。
Invigorated　by　the　bright　frosty　air；　the　life　of　the　animal　under
her；　and　the　exultation　of　rapid　motion；　she　seemed　better　in
health；　more　merry　and　full　of　life；　than　he　had　ever　seen　her：　he
put　all　down　to　his　success　with　her。　He　was　incapable　of　suspecting
how　little　of　it　was　owing　to　him；　incapable　of　believing　how　much
to　the　fact　that　she　now　turned　to　the　father　of　spirits　without
fear；　almost　without　doubt；　thought　of　him　as　the　root　of　every
delight　of　the　worldat　the　heart　of　the　horse　she　rode；　in　the
wind　that　blew　joy　into　hers　as　she　swept　through　its　yielding
bosom；　knew　him　as　altogether　loving　and　true；　the　father　of　Jesus
Christ；　as　like　him　as　like　could　be　likemore　like　him　than　any
one　else　in　the　universe　could　be　like　anotherlike　him　as　only
eternal　son　can　be　like　eternal　father。

It　was　no　wonder　that　with　such　a　well　of　living　water　in　her　heart
she　should　be　gladmerry　even；　and　ready　for　anything　her　horse
could　do！　Flying　across　a　field　in　the　very　wildness　of　pleasure；
her　hair　streaming　behind　her；　and　her　pale　face　glowing；　she　would
now　and　then　take　a　jump　Forgue　declared　he　could　not　face　in　cold
blood：　he　did　not　know　how　far　from　cold　her　blood　was！　He　began　to
wonder　he　had　been　such　a　fool　as　neglect　her　forwell；　never
mind！and　to　feel　something　that　was　like　love；　and　was　indeed
admiration。　But　for　the　searing　brand　of　his　past；　he　might　have
loved　her　trulyas　a　man　may；　without　being　the　most　exalted　of
mortals；　for　in　love　we　are　beyond　our　ordinary　selves；　the　deep
thing　in　us　peers　up　into　the　human　air；　and　is　of　Godtherefore
cannot　live　long　in　the　mephitic　air　of　a　selfish　and　low　nature；
but　sinks　again　out　of　sight。

He　was　not　at　his　ease　with　Arctura；　he　was　afraid　of　her。　When　a
man　is　conscious　of　wrong；　knows　in　his　history　what　would　draw　a
hideous　smudge　over　the　portrait　he　would　present　to　the　eyes　of　her
he　would　please；　he　may　well　be　afraid　of　her。　He　makes　liberal
allowance　for　himself；　but　is　not　sure　she　will！　And　before　Forgue
lay　a　social　gulf　which　he　could　pass　only　on　the　narrow　plank　of
her　favour！　The　more　he　was　with　her；　the　more　he　admired　her；　the
more　he　desired　to　marry　her；　the　more　satisfied　he　grew　with　his
own　improvement；　the　more　determined　he　became　that　for　no　poor；
unjust　scruples　would　he　forgo　his　happiness。　There　was　but　one
trifle　to　be　kept　from　the　world；　it　might　know　everything　else
about　him！　and　once　in　possession　of　the　property；　who　would　dispute
the　title？　Then　again　he　was　not　certain　that　his　father　had　not
merely　invented　a　threat！　Surely　if　the　fact　were　such；　he　would；
even　in　rage　diabolic；　have　kept　it　to　himself！

Impetuous；　and　accustomed　to　what　he　counted　success；　he　soon　began
to　make　plainer　advance　toward　the　end　on　which　his　self…love　and
cupidity　at　least　were　set。　But；　knowing　in　a　vague　manner　how　he
had　carried　himself　before　he　went；　Arctura；　uninfluenced　by　the
ways　of　the　world；　her　judgment　unwarped；　her　perception　undimmed；
her　instincts　nice；　her　personal　delicacy　exacting；　had　never
imagined　he　could　approach　her　on　any　ground　but　that　of　cousinship
and　a　childhood　of　shared　sports。　She　had　seen　that　Donal　was　far
from　pleased　with　him；　and　believed　Forgue　knew　that　she　knew　he　had
been　behaving　badly。　Her　behaviour　to　him　was　indeed　largely　based
on　the　fact　that　he　was　in　disgrace：　she　was　sorry　for　him。

By　and　by；　however；　she　perceived　that　she　had　been　allowing　too
much　freedom　where　she　was　not　prepared　to　allow　more；　and　so　one
day　declined　to　go　with　him。　They　had　not　had　a　ride　for　a
fortnight；　the　weather　having　been　unfavourable；　and　now　when　a
morning　broke　into　the　season　like　a　smile　from　an　estranged　friend；
she　would　not　go！　He　was　annoyedthen　alarmed；　fearing　adverse
influence。　They　were　alone　in　the　breakfast…room。

〃Why　will　you　not；　Arctura？〃　he　asked　reproachfully：　〃do　you　not
feel　well？〃

〃I　am　quite　well；〃　she　answered。

〃It　is　such　a　lovely　day！〃　he　pleaded。

〃I　am　not　in　the　mood。　There　are　other　things　in　the　world　besides
riding；　and　I　have　been　wasting　my　timeriding　too　much。　I　have
learnt　next　to　nothing　since　Larkie　came。〃

〃Oh；　bother！　what　have　you　to　do　with　learning！　Health　is　the　first
thing。〃

〃I　don't　think　soand　learning　is　good　for　the　health。　Besides；　I
would　not　be　a　mere　animal　for　perfect　health！〃

〃Let　me　help　you　then　with　your　studies。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　she　answered；　laughing　a　little；　〃but　I　have　a　good
master　already！　We；　that　is　Davie　and　I；　are　reading　Greek　and
mathematics　with　Mr。　Grant。〃

Forgue's　face　flushed。

〃I　ought　to　know　as　much　of　both　as　he　does！〃　he　said。

〃Ought　perhaps！　But　you　know　you　do　not。〃

〃I　know　enough　to　be　your　tutor。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　know　enough　not　to　be　your　pupil！〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃That　you　can't　teach。〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃

〃Because　you　do　not　love　either　Greek　or　mathematics；　and　no　one　who
does　not　love　can　teach。〃
〃That　is　nonsense！　If　I　don't　love　Greek　enough　to　teach　it；　I　love
you　enough　to　teach　you；〃　said　Forgue。

〃You　are　my　riding…master；〃　said　Arctura；　〃Mr。　Grant　is　my　master　in
Greek。〃

Forgue　strangled　an　imprecation　on　Mr。　Grant；　and　tried　to　laugh；
but　there　was　not　a　laugh　inside　him。

〃Then　you　won't　ride　to…day？〃　he　said。

〃I　think　not；〃　replied　Arctura。

She　ought　to　have　said　she　would　not。　It　is　a　pity　to　let　doubt
alight　on　decision。　Her　reply　re…opened　the　whole　question。

〃I　cannot　see　what　should　induce　you　to　allow　that　fellow　the　honour
of　reading　with　you！〃　said　Forgue。　〃He's　a　long…winded；　pedantic；
ill…bred　lout！〃

〃Mr。　Grant　is　my　friend！〃　said　Arctura；　and　raising　her　head　looked
him　in　the　eyes。

〃Take　my　word　for　it；　you　are　mistaken　in　him；〃　he　said。

〃I　neither　value　nor　ask　your　opinion　of　him；〃　returned　Arctura。　〃I
merely　acquaint　you　with　the　fact　that　he　is　my　friend。〃

〃Here's　the　devil　and　all　to　pay！〃　thought　Forgue。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said：　〃you　do　not　know　him　as　I　do！〃

〃Not？and　with　so　much　better　opportunity　of　judging！〃

〃He　has　never　played　the　dominie　with　you！〃　said　Forgue　foolishly。

〃Indeed　he　has！〃

〃He　has！　Confound　his　insolence！　How？〃

〃He　won't　let　me　study　as　I　want。How　has　he　interfered　with　you？〃

〃We　won't　quarrel　about　him；〃　rejoined　Forgue；　attempting　a　tone　of
gaiety；　but　instantly　growing　serious。　〃We　who　ought　to　be　so　much
to　each　other〃

Something　told　him　he　had　already　gone　too　far。

〃I　do　not　know　what　you　meanor　rather；　I　am　not　willing　to　think　I
know　what　you　mean；〃　said　Arctura。　〃After　what　took　place〃

In　her　turn　she　ceased：　he　had　said　nothing！

〃Jealous！〃　concluded　Forgue；　〃a　good　sign！〃

〃I　see　he　has　been　talking　against　me！〃　he　said。

〃If　you　mean　Mr。　Grant；　you　mistake。　He　never；　so　far　as　I　remember；
once　mentioned　you　to　me。〃

〃I　know　better！〃

〃You　are　rude。　He　never　spoke　of　it；　but　I　have　seen　enough　with　my
own　eyes〃

〃If　you　mean　that　silly　fancywhy；　Arctura！you　know　it　was　but　a
boyish　folly！〃

〃And　since　then　you　have　grown　a　man！How　many　months　has　it
taken？〃

〃I　assure　you；　on　the　word　of　a　gentleman；　there　is　nothing　in　it
now。　It　is　all　over；　and　I　am　heartily　ashamed　of　it。〃

A　pause　of　a　few　seconds　followed：　it　seemed　as　many　minutes；　and
unbearable。

〃You　will　come　out　with　me？〃　said　Forgue：　she　might　be　rele