david elginbrod-第27章

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about　nothing　followed；　and　Euphra　rose　the　second　time；　and
returned　to　the　drawing…room。　　She　found　it　unoccupied。　　She　sat
down　to　the　piano；　and　sang　song　after　songScotch；　Italian；　and
Bohemian。　　But　Hugh　did　not　make　his　appearance。　　The　fact　was；　he
was　busy　writing　to　his　mother；　whom　he　had　rather　neglected　since
he　came。　　Writing　to　her　made　him　think　of　David；　and　he　began　a
letter　to　him　too；　but　it　was　never　finished；　and　never　sent。　　He
did　not　return　to　the　drawing…room　that　evening。　　Indeed；　except　for
a　short　time；　while　Mr。　Arnold　was　drinking　his　claret；　he　seldom
showed　himself　there。　　Had　Euphra　repelled　him　too　muchhurt　him？
She　would　make　up　for　it　to…morrow。

Breakfast　was　scarcely　over；　when　the　chestnut　and　the　pony　passed
the　window；　accompanied　by　a　lovely　little　Arab　mare；　broad…chested
and　light…limbed；　with　a　wonderfully　small　head。　　She　was　white　as
snow；　with　keen；　dark　eyes。　　Her　curb…rein　was　red　instead　of　white。
Hearing　their　approach；　and　begging　her　uncle　to　excuse　her；　Euphra
rose　from　the　table；　and　left　the　room；　but　re…appeared　in　a
wonderfully　little　while；　in　a　well…fitted　riding…habit　of　black
velvet；　with　a　belt　of　dark　red　leather　clasping　a　waist　of　the
roundest　and　smallest。　　Her　little　hat；　likewise　black；　had　a　single
long；　white　feather；　laid　horizontally　within　the　upturned　brim；　and
drooping　over　it　at　the　back。　　Her　white　mare　would　be　just　the
right　pedestal　for　the　dusky　figureblack　eyes；　tawny　skin；　and
all。　　As　she　stood　ready　to　mount；　and　Hugh　was　approaching　to　put
her　up；　she　called　the　groom；　seemed　just　to　touch　his　hand；　and　was
in　the　saddle　in　a　moment；　foot　in　stirrup；　and　skirt　falling　over
it。　　Hugh　thought　she　was　carrying　out　the　behaviour　of　yesterday；
and　was　determined　to　ask　her　what　it　meant。　　The　little　Arab　began
to　rear　and　plunge　with　pride；　as　soon　as　she　felt　her　mistress　on
her　back；　but　she　seemed　as　much　at　home　as　if　she　had　been　on　the
music…stool；　and　patted　her　arching　neck；　talking　to　her　in　the　same
tone　almost　in　which　she　had　addressed　the　flowers。

〃Be　quiet；　Fatty　dear；　you're　frightening　Mr。　Sutherland。〃

But　Hugh；　seeing　the　next　moment　that　she　was　in　no　danger；　sprang
into　his　saddle。　　Away　they　went；　Fatima　infusing　life　and　frolic
into　the　equine　as　Euphra　into　the　human　portion　of　the　cavalcade。
Having　reached　the　common；　out　of　sight　of　the　house；　Miss　Cameron；
instead　of　looking　after　Harry；　lest　he　should　have　too　much
exercise；　scampered　about　like　a　wild　girl；　jumping　everything　that
came　in　her　way；　and　so　exciting　Harry's　pony；　that　it　was　almost
more　than　he　could　do　to　manage　it；　till　at　last　Hugh　had　to　beg　her
to　go　more　quietly；　for　Harry's　sake。　　She　drew　up　alongside　of　them
at　once；　and　made　her　mare　stand　as　still　as　she　could；　while　Harry
made　his　first　essay　upon　a　little　ditch。　　After　crossing　it　two　or
three　times；　he　gathered　courage；　and　setting　his　pony　at　a　larger
one　beyond；　bounded　across　it　beautifully。

〃Bravo！　　Harry！〃　cried　both　Euphra　and　Hugh。　Harry　galloped　back；
and　over　it　again；　then　came　up　to　them　with　a　glow　of　proud
confidence　on　his　pale　face。

〃You'll　be　a　horseman　yet；　Harry；〃　said　Hugh。

〃I　hope　so；〃　said　Harry；　in　an　aspiring　tone；　which　greatly
satisfied　his　tutor。　　The　boy's　spirit　was　evidently　reviving。
Euphra　must　have　managed　him　ill。　　Yet　she　was　not　in　the　least
effeminate　herself。　　It　puzzled　Hugh　a　good　deal。　　But　he　did　not
think　about　it　long；　for　Harry　cantering　away　in　front；　he　had　an
opportunity　of　saying　to　Euphra：

〃Are　you　offended　with　me；　Miss　Cameron？〃

〃Offended　with　you！　　What　do　you　mean？　　A　girl　like　me　offended　with
a　man　like　you？〃

She　looked　two　and　twenty　as　she　spoke；　but　even　at　that　she　was
older　than　Hugh。　He；　however；　certainly　looked　considerably　older
than　he　really　was。

〃What　makes　you　think　so？〃　she　added；　turning　her　face　towards　him。

〃You　would　not　speak　to　me　when　we　came　home　yesterday。〃

〃Not　speak　to　you？I　had　a　little　headacheand　perhaps　I　was　a
little　sullen；　from　having　been　in　such　bad　company　all　the
morning。〃

〃What　company　had　you？〃　asked　Hugh；　gazing　at　her　in　some　surprise。

〃My　own；〃　answered　she；　with　a　lovely　laugh；　thrown　full　in　his
face。　　Then　after　a　pause：　〃Let　me　advise　you；　if　you　want　to　live
in　peace；　not　to　embark　on　that　ocean　of　discovery。〃

〃What　ocean？　what　discovery？〃　asked　Hugh；　bewildered；　and　still
gazing。

〃The　troubled　ocean　of　ladies'　looks；〃　she　replied。　〃You　will　never
be　able　to　live　in　the　same　house　with　one　of　our　kind；　if　it　be
necessary　to　your　peace　to　find　out　what　every　expression　that
puzzles　you　may　mean。〃

〃I　did　not　intend　to　be　inquisitiveit　really　troubled　me。〃

〃There　it　is。　　You　must　never　mind　us。　　We　show　so　much　sooner　than
menbut；　take　warning；　there　is　no　making　out　what　it　is　we　do
show。　　Your　faces　are　legible；　ours　are　so　scratched　and　interlined；
that　you　had　best　give　up　at　once　the　idea　of　deciphering　them。〃

Hugh　could　not　help　looking　once　more　at　the　smooth；　simple；　na飗e
countenance　shining　upon　him。

〃There　you　are　at　it　again；〃　she　said；　blushing　a　little；　and
turning　her　head　away。　〃Well；　to　comfort　you；　I　will　confess　I　was
rather　cross　yesterdaybecausebecause　you　seemed　to　have　been
quite　happy　with　only　one　of　your　pupils。〃

As　she　spoke　the　words；　she　gave　Fatima　the　rein；　and　bounded　off；
overtaking　Harry's　pony　in　a　moment。　　Nor　did　she　leave　her　cousin
during　all　the　rest　of　their　ride。

Most　women　in　whom　the　soul　has　anything　like　a　chance　of　reaching
the　windows；　are　more　or　less　beautiful　in　their　best　moments。
Euphra's　best　was　when　she　was　trying　to　fascinate。　　Then　she
wasfascinating。　　During　the　first　morning　that　Hugh　spent　at
Arnstead；　she　had　probably　been　making　up　her　mind　whether；　between
her　and　Hugh；　it　was　to　be　war　to　the　knife；　or　fascination。　　The
latter　had　carried　the　day；　and　was　now　carrying　him。　　But　had　she
calculated　that　fascination　may　re…act　as　well？

Hugh's　heart　bounded；　like　her　Arab　steed；　as　she　uttered　the　words
last　recorded。　　He　gave　his　chestnut　the　rein　in　his　turn；　to
overtake　her；　but　Fatima's　canter　quickened　into　a　gallop；　and；
inspirited　by　her　companionship；　and　the　fact　that　their　heads　were
turned　stablewards；　Harry's　pony；　one　of　the　quickest　of　its　race；
laid　itself　to　the　ground；　and　kept　up；　taking　three　strides　for
Fatty's　two；　so　that　Hugh　never　got　within　three　lengths　of　them
till　they　drew　rein　at　the　hall…door；　where　the　grooms　were　waiting
them。　　Euphra　was　off　her　mare　in　a　moment；　and　had　almost　reached
her　own　room　before　Hugh　and　Harry　had　crossed　the　hall。　　She　came
down　to　luncheon　in　a　white　muslin　dress；　with　the　smallest　possible
red　spot　in　it；　and；　taking　her　place　at　the　table；　seemed　to　Hugh
to　have　put　off　not　only　her　riding　habit；　but　the　self　that　was　in
it　as　well；　for　she　chatted　away　in　the　most　unconcerned　and　easy
manner　possible；　as　if　she　had　not　been　out　of　her　room　all　the
morning。　　She　had　ridden　so　hard；　that　she　had　left　her　last　speech
in　the　middle　of　the　common；　and　its　mood　with　it；　and　there　seemed
now　no　likelihood　of　either　finding　its　way　home。




CHAPTER　VII。

THE　PICTURE　GALLERY。

　　　　　the　house　is　crencled　to　and　fro；
And　hath　so　queint　waies　for　to　go；
For　it　is　shapen　as　the　mase　is　wrought。

CHAUCERLegend　of　Ariadne。


Luncheon　over；　and　Harry　dismissed　as　usual　to　lie　down；　Miss
Cameron　said　to　Hugh：

〃You　have　never　been　over　the　old　house　yet；　I　believe；　Mr。
Sutherland。　　Would　you　not　like　to　see　it？〃

〃I　should　indeed；〃　said　Hugh。　〃It　is　what　I　have　long　hoped　for；　and
have　often　been　on　the　point　of　begging。〃

〃Come；　then；　I　will　be　your　guideif　you　will　trust　yourself　with　a
madcap　like　me；　in　the　solitudes　of　the　old　hive。〃

〃Lead　on　to　the　family　vaults；　if　you　will；〃　said　Hugh。

〃That　might　be　possible；　too；　from　below。　　We　are　not　so　very　far
from　them。　　Even　within　the　house　there　is　an　old　chapel；　and　some
monuments　worth　looking　at。　　Shall　we　take　it　last？〃

〃As　you　think　best；〃　answered　Hugh。

She　rose　and　rang　the　bell。　　When　it　was　answered；

〃Jacob；〃　she　said；　〃get　me　the　keys　of　the　house　from　Mrs。　Horton。〃

Jacob　vanished；　and　reappeared　with　a　huge　bunch　of　keys。　　She　took
them。

〃Thank　you。　　They　should　not　be　allowed　to　get　quite　rusty；　Jacob。〃

〃Please；　Miss；　Mrs。　Horton　desired　me　to　say；　she　would　have　seen　to
them；　if　she　had　known　you　wanted　them。〃

〃Oh！　never　mind。　　Just　tell　my　maid　to　bring　me　an　old　pair　of
gloves。〃

Jacob　went；　and　the　maid　came　with　the　required　armour。

〃Now；　Mr。　Sutherland。　　Jane；　you　will　come　with　us。　　No；　you　need
not　take　the　keys。　　I　will　find　those　I　want　as　we　go。〃

She　unlocked　a　door　in　the　corner　of　the　hall；　which　Hugh　had　never
seen　open。　　Passing　through　a　long　low　passage；　they　came　to　a
spiral　staircase　of　stone；　up　which　they　went；　arriving　at　another
wide　hall；　very　dusty；　but　in　perfect　repair。　　Hugh　asked　if　there
was　not　some　communication　between　this　hall　and　the　great　oak
staircase。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Euphra；　〃but　this　is　the　more　direct　way。〃

As　she　said　this；　he　felt　somehow　as　if　she　cast　on　him　one　of　her
keenest　glances；　but　the　place　was　very　dusky；　and　he　stood　in　a
spot　where　the　light　fell　upon　him　from　an　opening　in　a　shutter；
while　she　stood　in　deep　shadow。

〃Jane；　open　that　shutter。〃

The　girl　obeyed；　and　the　entering　light　revealed　the　walls　covered
with　paintings；　many　of　them　apparently　of　no　value；　yet　adding　much
to　the　effect　of　the　place。　　Seeing　that　Hugh　was　at　once　attracted
by　the　pictures；　Euphra　said：

〃Perhaps　you　would　like　to　see　the　picture　gallery　first？〃

Hugh　assented。　　Euphra　chose　key　after　key；　and　opened　door　after
door；　till　they　came　into　a　long　gallery；　well　lighted　from　each
end。　　The　windows　were　soon　opened。

〃Mr。　Arnold　is　very　proud　of　his　pictures；　especially　of　his　family
portraits；　but　he　is　content　with　knowing　he　has　them；　and　never
visits　them　except　to　show　them；　or　perhaps　once　or　twice　a　year；
when　something　or　other　keeps　him　at　home　for　a　day；　without
anything　particular　to　do。〃

In　glancing　over　the　portraits；　some　of　them　by　famous　masters；
Hugh's　eyes　were　arrested　by　a　blonde　beauty　in　the　dress　of　the
time　of　Charles　II。　　There　was　such　a　reality　of　self…willed
boldness　as　well　as　something　worse　in　her　face；　that；　though
arrested　by　the　picture；　Hugh　felt　ashamed　of　looking　at　it　in　the
presence　of　Euphra　and　her　maid。　　The　pictured　woman　almost　put　him
out　of　countenance；　and　yet　at　the　same　time　fascinated　him。
Dragging　his　eyes　from　it；　he　saw　that　Jane　had　turned　her　back
upon　it；　while　Euphra　regarded　it　steadily。

〃Open　that　opposite　window；　Jane；〃　said　she；　〃there　is　not　light
enough　on　this　portrait。〃

Jane　obeyed。　　While　she　did　so；　Hugh　caught　a　glimpse　of　her　face；
and　saw　that　the　formerly　rosy　girl　was　deadly　pale。　　He　said　to
Euphra：

〃Your　maid　seems　ill；　Miss　Cameron。〃

〃Jane；　what　is　the　matter　with　you？〃

She　did　not　reply；　but；　leaning　against　the　wall；　seemed　ready　to
faint。

〃The　place　is　close；〃　said　her　mistress。　〃Go　into　the　next　room
there；〃she　pointed　to　a　door〃and　open