david elginbrod-第34章

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the　room。　　She　looked　at　him　once　more；　and　kept　looking　with　a
fixed　stare。　　Gradually　her　face　became　less　rigid；　and　her　eyes
less　wild。　　She　could　move　at　last。

〃Come；　come；〃　she　said；　in　a　hurried　whisper。　〃Let　us　gono；　no；
not　that　way；〃as　Hugh　would　have　led　her　towards　the　private
stair〃let　us　go　the　front　way；　by　the　oak　staircase。〃

They　went　up　together。　　When　they　reached　the　door　of　her　room；　she
said；　〃Good　night；〃　without　even　looking　at　him；　and　passed　in。
Hugh　went　on；　in　a　state　of　utter　bewilderment；　to　his　own
apartment；　shut　the　door　and　locked　ita　thing　he　had　never　done
before；　lighted　both　the　candles　on　his　table；　and　then　walked　up
and　down　the　room；　trying；　like　one　aware　that　he　is　dreaming；　to
come　to　his　real　self。

〃Pshaw！〃　he　said　at　last。　〃It　was　only　a　little　bird；　or　a　large
moth。　　How　odd　it　is　that　darkness　can　make　a　fool　of　one！　　I　am
ashamed　of　myself。　　I　wish　I　had　gone　out　at　the　window；　if　only　to
show　Euphra　I　was　not　afraid；　though　of　course　there　was　nothing　to
be　seen。〃

As　he　said　this　in　his　mind；he　could　not　have　spoken　it　aloud；　for
fear　of　hearing　his　own　voice　in　the　solitude；he　went　to　one　of
the　windows　of　his　sitting…room；　which　was　nearly　over　the　library；
and　looked　into　the　wood。Could　it　be？Yes。He　did　see　something
white；　gliding　through　the　wood；　away　in　the　direction　of　the
Ghost's　Walk。　It　vanished；　and　he　saw　it　no　more。

The　morning　was　far　advanced　before　he　could　go　to　bed。　　When　the
first　light　of　the　aurora　broke　the　sky；　he　looked　out　again；and
the　first　glimmerings　of　the　morning　in　the　wood　were　more　dreadful
than　the　deepest　darkness　of　the　past　night。　　Possessed　by　a　new
horror；　he　thought　how　awful　it　would　be　to　see　a　belated　ghost；
hurrying　away　in　helpless　haste。　　The　spectre　would　be　yet　more
terrible　in　the　grey　light　of　the　coming　day；　and　the　azure　breezes
of　the　morning；　which　to　it　would　be　like　a　new　and　more　fearful
death；　than　amidst　its　own　homely　sepulchral　darkness；　while　the
silence　all　aroundsilence　in　lightcould　befit　only　that　dread
season　of　loneliness　when　men　are　lost　in　sleep；　and　ghosts；　if　they
walk　at　all；　walk　in　dismay。

But　at　length　fear　yielded　to　sleep；　though　still　he　troubled　her
short　reign。

When　he　awoke；　he　found　it　so　late；　that　it　was　all　he　could　do　to
get　down　in　time　for　breakfast。　　But　so　anxious　was　he　not　to　be
later　than　usual；　that　he　was　in　the　room　before　Mr。　Arnold　made　his
appearance。　　Euphra；　however；　was　there　before　him。　　She　greeted　him
in　the　usual　way；　quite　circumspectly。　　But　she　looked　troubled。
Her　face　was　very　pale；　and　her　eyes　were　red；　as　if　from
sleeplessness　or　weeping。　　When　her　uncle　entered；　she　addressed　him
with　more　gaiety　than　usual；　and　he　did　not　perceive　that　anything
was　amiss　with　her。　　But　the　whole　of　that　day　she　walked　as　in　a
reverie；　avoiding　Hugh　two　or　three　times　that　they　chanced　to　meet
without　a　third　person　in　the　neighbourhood。　　Once　in　the
forenoonwhen　she　was　generally　to　be　found　in　her　roomhe　could
not　refrain　from　trying　to　see　her。　　The　change　and　the　mystery　were
insupportable　to　him。　　But　when　he　tapped　at　her　door；　no　answer
came；　and　he　walked　back　to　Harry；　feeling；　as　if；　by　an　unknown
door　in　his　own　soul；　he　had　been　shut　out　of　the　half　of　his　being。
Or　rathera　wall　seemed　to　have　been　built　right　before　his　eyes；
which　still　was　there　wherever　he　went。

As　to　the　gliding　phantom　of　the　previous　night；　the　day　denied　it
all；　telling　him　it　was　but　the　coinage　of　his　own　over…wrought
brain；　weakened　by　prolonged　tension　of　the　intellect；　and　excited
by　the　presence　of　Euphra　at　an　hour　claimed　by　phantoms　when　not
yielded　to　sleep。　　This　was　the　easiest　and　most　natural　way　of
disposing　of　the　difficulty。　　The　cloud　around　Euphra　hid　the　ghost
in　its　skirts。

Although　fear　in　some　measure　returned　with　the　returning　shadows；
he　yet　resolved　to　try　to　get　Euphra　to　meet　him　again　in　the
library　that　night。　　But　she　never　gave　him　a　chance　of　even
dropping　a　hint　to　that　purpose。　　She　had　not　gone　out　with　them　in
the　morning；　and　when　he　followed　her　into　the　drawing…room；　she　was
already　at　the　piano。　　He　thought　he　might　convey　his　wish　without
interrupting　the　music；　but　as　often　as　he　approached　her；　she
broke；　or　rather　glided；　out　into　song；　as　if　she　had　been　singing
in　an　undertone　all　the　while。　　He　could　not　help　seeing　she　did　not
intend　to　let　him　speak　to　her。　　But；　all　the　time；　whatever　she
sang　was　something　she　knew　he　liked；　and　as　often　as　she　spoke　to
him　in　the　hearing　of　her　uncle　or　cousin；　it　was　in　a　manner
peculiarly　graceful　and　simple。

He　could　not　understand　her；　and　was　more　bewitched；　more　fascinated
than　ever；　by　seeing　her　through　the　folds　of　the　incomprehensible；
in　which　element　she　had　wrapped　herself　from　his　nearer　vision。
She　had　always　seemed　above　himnow　she　seemed　miles　away　as　well；
a　region　of　Paradise；　into　which　he　was　forbidden　to　enter。
Everything　about　her；　to　her　handkerchief　and　her　gloves；　was
haunted　by　a　vague　mystery　of　worshipfulness；　and　drew　him　towards
it　with　wonder　and　trembling。　　When　they　parted　for　the　night；　she
shook　hands　with　him　with　a　cool　frankness；　that　put　him　nearly
beside　himself　with　despair；　and　when　he　found　himself　in　his　own
room；　it　was　some　time　before　he　could　collect　his　thoughts。　　Having
succeeded；　however；　he　resolved；　in　spite　of　growing　fears；　to　go　to
the　library；　and　see　whether　it　were　not　possible　she　might　be
there。　　He　took　up　a　candle；　and　went　down　the　back　stair。　　But　when
he　opened　the　library　door；　a　gust　of　wind　blew　his　candle　out；　all
was　darkness　within；　a　sudden　horror　seized　him；　and；　afraid　of
yielding　to　the　inclination　to　bound　up　the　stair；　lest　he　should　go
wild　with　the　terror　of　pursuit；　he　crept　slowly　back；　feeling　his
way　to　his　own　room　with　a　determined　deliberateness。Could　the
library　window　have　been　left　open？　　Else　whence　the　gust　of　wind？

Next　day；　and　the　next；　and　the　next；　he　fared　no　better：　her
behaviour　continued　the　same；　and　she　allowed　him　no　opportunity　of
requesting　an　explanation。




CHAPTER　XII。

A　SUNDAY。

A　man　may　be　a　heretic　in　the　truth；　and　if　he　believe　things　only
because　his　pastor　says　so；　or　the　assembly　so　determines；　without
knowing　other　reason；　though　his　belief　be　true；　yet　the　very　truth
he　holds　becomes　his　heresy。MILTON。Areopagitica。


At　length　the　expected　visitors　arrived。　　Hugh　saw　nothing　of　them
till　they　assembled　for　dinner。　　Mrs。　Elton　was　a　benevolent　old
ladynot　old　enough　to　give　in　to　being　oldrather　tall；　and
rather　stout；　in　rich　widow…costume；　whose　depth　had　been　moderated
by　time。　　Her　kindly　grey　eyes　looked　out　from　a　calm　face；　which
seemed　to　have　taken　comfort　from　loving　everybody　in　a　mild　and
moderate　fashion。　　Lady　Emily　was　a　slender　girl；　rather　shy；　with
fair　hair；　and　a　pale　innocent　face。　　She　wore　a　violet　dress；　which
put　out　her　blue　eyes。　　She　showed　to　no　advantage　beside　the
suppressed　glow　of　life　which　made　Euphra　look　like　a　tropical
twilightI　am　aware　there　is　no　such　thing；　but　if　there　were；　it
would　be　just　like　her。

Mrs。　Elton　seemed　to　have　concentrated　the　motherhood　of　her　nature；
which　was　her　most　prominent　characteristic；　notwithstandingor
perhaps　in　virtue　ofher　childlessness；　upon　Lady　Emily。　　To　her
Mrs。　Elton　was　solicitously　attentive；　and　she；　on　her　part；
received　it　all　sweetly　and　gratefully；　taking　no　umbrage　at　being
treated　as　more　of　an　invalid　than　she　was。

Lady　Emily　ate　nothing　but　chicken；　and　custard…pudding　or　rice；　all
the　time　she　was　at　Arnstead。

The　richer　and　more　seasoned　any　dish；　the　more　grateful　it　was　to
Euphra。

Mr。　Arnold　was　a　saddle…of…mutton　man。

Hugh　preferred　roast…beef；　but　ate　anything。

〃What　sort　of　a　clergyman　have　you　now；　Mr。　Arnold？〃　asked　Mrs。
Elton；　at　the　dinner…table。

〃Oh！　a　very　respectable　young　gentleman；　brother　to　Sir　Richard；　who
has　the　gift；　you　know。　　A　very　moderate；　excellent　clergyman　he
makes；　too！〃

〃All！　but　you　know；　Lady　Emily　and　I〃here　she　looked　at　Lady
Emily；　who　smiled　and　blushed　faintly；　〃are　very　dependent　on　our
Sundays；　and〃

〃We　all　go　to　church　regularly；　I　assure　you；　Mrs。　Elton；　and　of
course　my　carriage　shall　be　always　at　your　disposal。〃

〃I　was　in　no　doubt　about　either　of　those　things；　indeed；　Mr。　Arnold。
But　what　sort　of　a　preacher　is　he？〃

〃Ah；　well！　let　me　see。What　was　the　subject　of　his　sermon　last
Sunday；　Euphra；　my　dear？〃

〃The　devil　and　all　his　angels；〃　answered　Euphra；　with　a　wicked　flash
in　her　eyes。

〃Yes；　yes；　so　it　was。　　Oh！　　I　assure　you；　Mrs。　Elton；　he　is　quite　a
respectable　preacher；　as　well　as　clergyman。　　He　is　an　honour　to　the
cloth。〃

Hugh　could　not　help　thinking　that　the　tailor　should　have　his　due；
and　that　Mr。　Arnold　gave　it　him。

〃He　is　no　Puseyite　either；〃　added　Mr。　Arnold；　seeing　but　not
understanding　Mrs。　Elton's　baffled　expression；　〃though　he　does
preach　once　a　month　in　his　surplice。〃

〃I　am　afraid　you　will　not　find　him　very　original；　though；〃　said
Hugh；　wishing　to　help　the　old　lady。

〃Original！〃　interposed　Mr。　Arnold。　〃Really；　I　am　bound　to　say　I
don't　know　how　the　remark　applies。　　How　is　a　man　to　be　original　on　a
subject　that　is　all　laid　down　in　plain　printto　use　a　vulgar
expressionand　has　been　commented　upon　for　eighteen　hundred　years
and　more？〃

〃Very　true；　Mr。　Arnold；〃　responded　Mrs。　Elton。　〃We　don't　want
originality；　do　we？　　It　is　only　the　gospel　we　want。　　Does　he　preach
the　gospel？〃

〃How　can　he　preach　anything　else？　　His　text　is　always　out　of　some
part　of　the　Bible。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　see　you　hold　by　the　Inspiration　of　the　Scriptures；　Mr。
Arnold；〃　said　Mrs。　Elton；　chaotically　bewildered。

〃Good　heavens！　　Madam；　what　do　you　mean？　　Could　you　for　a　moment
suppose　me　to　be　an　atheist？　　Surely　you　have　not　become　a　student
of　German　Neology？〃　　And　Mr。　Arnold　smiled　a　grim　smile。

〃Not　I；　indeed！〃　protested　poor　Mrs。　Elton；　moving　uneasily　in　her
seat；〃I　quite　agree　with　you；　Mr。　Arnold。〃

〃Then　you　may　take　my　word　for　it；　that　you　will　hear　nothing　but
what　is　highly　orthodox；　and　perfectly　worthy　of　a　gentleman　and　a
clergyman；　from　the　pulpit　of　Mr。　Penfold。　　He　dined　with　us　only
last　week。〃

This　last　assertion　was　made　in　an　injured　tone；　just　sufficient　to
curl　the　tail　of　the　sentence。　　After　which；　what　was　to　be　said？

Several　vain　attempts　followed；　before　a　new　subject　was　started；
sufficiently　uninteresting　to　cause；　neither　from　warmth　nor
stupidity；　any　danger　of　dissension；　and　quite　worthy　of　being　here
omitted。

Dinner　over；　and　the　ceremony　of　teain　Lady　Emily's　case；　milk　and
waterhaving　been　observed；　the　visitors　withdrew。

The　next　day　was　Sunday。　　Lady　Emily　came　down　stairs　in　black；
which　suited　her　better。　　She　was　a　pretty；　gentle　creature；
interesting　from　her　illness；　and　good；　because　she　knew　no　evil；
except　what　she　heard　of　from　the　pulpit。　　They　walked　to　church；
which　was　at　no　great　distance；　along　a　meadow…path　paved　with
flags；　some　of　them　worn　through　by　the　heavy　shoes　of　country
generations。　　The　church　was　one　of　those　which　are；　in　some
measure；　typical　of　the　Church　itself