david elginbrod-第26章

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hearing　the　really　delightful　way　in　which　she　sang。　　Certainly　she
could　not　have　sung　so；　perhaps　not　even　have　talked　so；　except　she
had　been　capable　of　more；　but　to　be　capable　of　more；　and　to　be　able
for　more；　are　two　very　distinct　conditions。

Many　walks　followed　this；　extending　themselves　farther　and　farther
from　home；　as　Harry's　strength　gradually　improved。　　It　was　quite
remarkable　how　his　interest　in　everything　external　increased；　in
exact　proportion　as　he　learned　to　see　into　the　inside　or　life　of　it。
With　most　children；　the　interest　in　the　external　comes　first；　and
with　many　ceases　there。　　But　it　is　in　reality　only　a　shallower　form
of　the　deeper　sympathy；　and　in　those　cases　where　it　does　lead　to　a
desire　after　the　hidden　nature　of　things；　it　is　perhaps　the　better
beginning　of　the　two。　　In　such　exceptional　cases　as　Harry's；　it　is
of　unspeakable　importance　that　both　the　difference　and　the　identity
should　be　recognized；　and　in　doing　so；　Hugh　became　to　Harry　his　big
brother　indeed；　for　he　led　him　where　he　could　not　go　alone。

As　often　as　Mr。　Arnold　was　from　home；　which　happened　not
unfrequently；　Miss　Cameron　accompanied　them　in　their　rambles。　　She
gave　as　her　reason　for　doing　so　only　on　such　occasions；　that　she
never　liked　to　be　out　of　the　way　when　her　uncle　might　want　her。
Traces　of　an　inclination　to　quarrel　with　Hugh；　or　even　to　stand
upon　her　dignity；　had　all　but　vanished；　and　as　her　vivacity　never
failed　her；　as　her　intellect　was　always　active；　and　as　by　the
exercise　of　her　will　she　could　enter　sympathetically；　or　appear　to
enter；　into　everything；　her　presence　was　not　in　the　least　a
restraint　upon　them。

On　one　occasion；　when　Harry　had　actually　run　a　little　way　after　a
butterfly；　Hugh　said　to　her：

〃What　did　you　mean；　Miss　Cameron；　by　saying　you　were　only　a　poor
relation？　　You　are　certainly　mistress　of　the　house。〃

〃On　sufferance；　yes。　　But　I　am　only　a　poor　relation。　　I　have　no
fortune　of　my　own。〃

〃But　Mr。　Arnold　does　not　treat　you　as　such。〃

〃Oh！　no。　　He　likes　me。　　He　is　very　kind　to　me。He　gave　me　this　ring
on　my　last　birthday。　　Is　it　not　a　beauty？〃

She　pulled　off　her　glove　and　showed　a　very　fine　diamond　on　a　finger
worthy　of　the　ornament。

〃It　is　more　like　a　gentleman's；　is　it　not？〃　she　added；　drawing　it
off。　〃Let　me　see　how　it　would　look　on　your　hand。〃

She　gave　the　ring　to　Hugh；　who；　laughing；　got　it　with　some
difficulty　just　over　the　first　joint　of　his　little　finger；　and　held
it　up　for　Euphra　to　see。

〃Ah！　　I　see　I　cannot　ask　you　to　wear　it　for　me；〃　said　she。　〃I　don't
like　it　myself。　　I　am　afraid；　however；〃　she　added；　with　an　arch
look；　〃my　uncle　would　not　like　it　eitheron　your　finger。　　Put　it　on
mine　again。〃

Holding　her　hand　towards　Hugh；　she　continued：

〃It　must　not　be　promoted　just　yet。　　Besides；　I　see　you　have　a　still
better　one　of　your　own。〃

As　Hugh　did　according　to　her　request；　the　words　sprang　to　his　lips；
〃There　are　other　ways　of　wearing　a　ring　than　on　the　finger。〃　　But
they　did　not　cross　the　threshold　of　speech。　　Was　it　the　repression
of　them　that　caused　that　strange　flutter　and　slight　pain　at　the
heart；　which　he　could　not　quite　understand？




CHAPTER　VI。

FATIMA。

Those　lips　that　Love's　own　hand　did　make
Breathed　forth　the　sound　that　said；　〃I　hate；〃
To　me　that　languished　for　her　sake：
But　when　she　saw　my　woeful　state；
Straight　in　her　heart　did　mercy　come；
Chiding　that　tongue　that；　ever　sweet；
Was　used　in　giving　gentle　doom；
And　taught　it　thus　anew　to　greet：
〃I　hate〃　she　altered　with　an　end；
That　followed　it　as　gentle　day
Doth　follow　night；　who；　like　a　fiend；
》From　heaven　to　hell　is　flown　away。
〃I　hate〃　from　hate　away　she　threw；
And　saved　my　life；　saying〃Not　you。〃

SHAKSPERE。


Mr。　Arnold　was　busy　at　home　for　a　few　days　after　this；　and　Hugh　and
Harry　had　to　go　out　alone。　　One　day；　when　the　wind　was　rather　cold；
they　took　refuge　in　the　barn；　for　it　was　part　of　Hugh's　especial
care　that　Harry　should　be　rendered　hardy；　by　never　being　exposed　to
more　than　he　could　bear　without　a　sense　of　suffering。　　As　soon　as
the　boy　began　to　feel　fatigue；　or　cold；　or　any　other　discomfort；　his
tutor　took　measures　accordingly。

Harry　would　have　crept　into　the　straw…house；　but　Hugh　said；　pulling
a　book　out　of　his　pocket；

〃I　have　a　poem　here　for　you；　Harry。　　I　want　to　read　it　to　you　now；
and　we　can't　see　in　there。〃

They　threw　themselves　down　on　the　straw；　and　Hugh；　opening　a　volume
of　Robert　Browning's　Poems；　read　the　famous　ride　from　Ghent　to　Aix。
He　knew　the　poem　well；　and　read　it　well。　　Harry　was　in　raptures。

〃I　wish　I　could　read　that　as　you　do；〃　said　he。

〃Try；〃　said　Hugh。

Harry　tried　the　first　verse；　and　threw　the　book　down　in　disgust　with
himself。

〃Why　cannot　I　read　it？〃　said　he。

〃Because　you　can't　ride。〃

〃I　could　ride；　if　I　had　such　a　horse　as　that　to　ride　upon。〃

〃But　you　could　never　have　such　a　horse　as　that　except　you　could
ride；　and　ride　well；　first。　　After　that；　there　is　no　saying　but　you
might　get　one。　　You　might；　in　fact；　train　one　for　yourselftill
from　being　a　little　foal　it　became　your　own　wonderful　horse。〃

〃Oh！　that　would　be　delightful！　　Will　you　teach　me　horses　as　well；
Mr。　Sutherland？〃

〃Perhaps　I　will。〃

That　evening；　at　dinner；　Hugh　said　to　Mr。　Arnold：

〃Could　you　let　me　have　a　horse　to…morrow　morning；　Mr。　Arnold？〃

Mr。　Arnold　stared　a　little；　as　he　always　did　at　anything　new。　　But
Hugh　went　on：

〃Harry　and　I　want　to　have　a　ride　to…morrow；　and　I　expect　we　shall
like　it　so　much；　that　we　shall　want　to　ride　very　often。〃

〃Yes；　that　we　shall！〃　cried　Harry。

〃Could　not　Mr。　Sutherland　have　your　white　mare；　Euphra？〃　said　Mr。
Arnold；　reconciled　at　once　to　the　proposal。

〃I　would　rather　not；　if　you　don't　mind；　uncle。　　My　Fatty　is　not　used
to　such　a　burden　as　I　fear　Mr。　Sutherland　would　prove。　　She　drops　a
little　now；　on　the　hard　road。〃

The　fact　was；　Euphra　would　want　Fatima。

〃Well；　Harry；〃　said　Mr。　Arnold；　graciously　pleased　to　be　facetious；
〃don't　you　think　your　Welsh　dray…horse　could　carry　Mr。　Sutherland？〃

〃Ha！　ha！　ha！　　Papa；　do　you　know；　Mr。　Sutherland　set　him　up　on　his
hind　legs　yesterday；　and　made　him　walk　on　them　like　a　dancing…dog。
He　was　going　to　lift　him；　but　he　kicked　about　so　when　he　felt
himself　leaving　the　ground；　that　he　tumbled　Mr。　Sutherland　into　the
horse…trough。〃

Even　the　solemn　face　of　the　butler　relaxed　into　a　smile；　but　Mr。
Arnold's　clouded　instead。　　His　boy's　tutor　ought　to　be　a　gentleman。

〃Wasn't　it　fun；　Mr。　Sutherland？〃

〃It　was　to　you；　you　little　rogue！〃　said　Sutherland；　laughing。

〃And　how　you　did　run　home；　dripping　like　a　water…cart！and　all　the
dogs　after　you！〃

Mr。　Arnold's　monotonous　solemnity　soon　checked　Harry's　prattle。

〃I　will　see；　Mr。　Sutherland；　what　I　can　do　to　mount　you。〃

〃I　don't　care　what　it　is；〃　said　Hugh；　who　though　by　no　means　a
thorough　horseman；　had　been　from　boyhood　in　the　habit　of　mounting
everything　in　the　shape　of　a　horse　that　he　could　lay　hands　upon；
from　a　cart…horse　upwards　and　downwards。

〃There's　an　old　bay　that　would　carry　me　very　well。〃

〃That　is　my　own　horse；　Mr。　Sutherland。〃

This　stopped　the　conversation　in　that　direction。　　But　next　morning
after　breakfast；　an　excellent　chestnut　horse　was　waiting　at　the
door；　along　with　Harry's　new　pony。　　Mr。　Arnold　would　see　them　go
off。　　This　did　not　exactly　suit　Miss　Cameron；　but　if　she　frowned；　it
was　when　nobody　saw　her。　　Hugh　put　Harry　up　himself；　told　him　to
stick　fast　with　his　knees；　and　then　mounted　his　chestnut。　　As　they
trotted　slowly　down　the　avenue；　Euphrasia　heard　Mr。　Arnold　say　to
himself；　〃The　fellow　sits　well；　at　all　events。〃　　She　took　care　to
make　herself　agreeable　to　Hugh　by　reporting　this；　with　the　omission
of　the　initiatory　epithet；　however。

Harry　returned　from　his　ride　rather　tired；　but　in　high　spirits。

〃Oh；　Euphra！〃　he　cried；　〃Mr。　Sutherland　is　such　a　rider！　　He　jumps
hedges　and　ditches　and　everything。　　And　he　has　promised　to　teach　me
and　my　pony　to　jump　too。　　And　if　I　am　not　too　tired；　we　are　to　begin
to…morrow；　out　on　the　common。　　Oh！　jolly！〃

The　little　fellow's　heart　was　full　of　the　sense　of　growing　life　and
strength；　and　Hugh　was　delighted　with　his　own　success。　　He　caught
sight　of　a　serpentine　motion　in　Euphra's　eyebrows；　as　she　bent　her
face　again　over　the　work　from　which　she　had　lifted　it　on　their
entrance。　　He　addressed　her。

〃You　will　be　glad　to　hear　that　Harry　has　ridden　like　a　man。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；　Harry。〃

Why　did　she　reply　to　the　subject　of　the　remark；　and　not　to　the
speaker？　　Hugh　perplexed　himself　in　vain　to　answer　this　question；
but　a　very　small　amount　of　experience　would　have　made　him　able　to
understand　at　once　as　much　of　her　behaviour　as　was　genuine。　　At
luncheon　she　spoke　only　in　reply；　and　then　so　briefly；　as　not　to
afford　the　smallest　peg　on　which　to　hang　a　response。

〃What　can　be　the　matter？〃　thought　Hugh。　〃What　a　peculiar　creature
she　is！　　But　after　what　has　passed　between　us；　I　can't　stand　this。〃

When　dinner　was　over　that　evening；　she　rose　as　usual　and　left　the
room；　followed　by　Hugh　and　Harry；　but　as　soon　as　they　were　in　the
drawing…room；　she　left　it；　and；　returning　to　the　dining…room；
resumed　her　seat　at　the　table。

〃Take　a　glass　of　claret；　Euphra；　dear？〃　said　Mr。　Arnold。

〃I　will；　if　you　please；　uncle。　　I　should　like　it。　　I　have　seldom　a
minute　with　you　alone　now。〃

Evidently　flattered；　Mr。　Arnold　poured　out　a　glass　of　claret；　rose
and　carried　it　to　his　niece　himself；　and　then　took　a　chair　beside
her。

〃Thank　you；　dear　uncle；〃　she　said；　with　one　of　her　bewitching
flashes　of　smile。

〃Harry　has　been　getting　on　bravely　with　his　riding；　has　he　not？〃　she
continued。

〃So　it　would　appear。〃

Harry　had　been　full　of　the　story　of　the　day　at　the　dinner…table；
where　he　still　continued　to　present　himself；　for　his　father　would
not　be　satisfied　without　hint。　　It　was　certainly　good　moral　training
for　the　boy；　to　sit　there　almost　without　eating；　and　none　the　worse
that　he　found　it　rather　hard　sometimes。　　He　talked　much　more　freely
now；　and　asked　the　servants　for　anything　he　wanted　without　referring
to　Euphra。　　Now　and　then　he　would　glance　at　her；　as　if　afraid　of
offending　her；　but　the　cords　which　bound　him　to　her　were　evidently
relaxing；　and　she　saw　it　plainly　enough；　though　she　made　no
reference　to　the　unpleasing　fact。

〃I　am　only　a　little　fearful；　uncle；　lest　Mr。　Sutherland　should　urge
the　boy　to　do　more　than　his　strength　will　admit　of。　　He　is
exceedingly　kind　to　him；　but　he　has　evidently　never　known　what
weakness　is　himself。〃

〃True；　there　is　danger　of　that。　　But　you　see　he　has　taken　him　so
entirely　into　his　own　hands。　　I　don't　seem　to　be　allowed　a　word　in
the　matter　of　his　education　any　more。〃　　Mr。　Arnold　spoke　with　the
peevishness　of　weak　importance。　〃I　wish　you　would　take　care　that　he
does　not　carry　things　too　far；　Euphra。〃

This　was　just　what　Euphra　wanted。

〃I　think；　if　you　do　not　disapprove；　uncle；　I　will　have　Fatima
saddled　to…morrow　morning；　and　go　with　them　myself。〃

〃Thank　you；　my　love；　I　shall　be　much　obliged　to　you。〃　　The　glass　of
claret　was　soon　finished　after　this。　　A　little　more　conversation
about　nothing　followed；　and　Euphra　rose　the　second　time；　and
returned　to　the　drawing…room。　　She　found