david elginbrod-第39章

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hardly　took　his　eyes　off　her　all　the　way；　while；　on　the　other　hand；
his　delicate　little　attentions　had　already　gained　the　heart　of　good
Mrs。　Elton；　who　from　the　first　had　remarked　and　pitied　the　sad　looks
of　the　boy。




CHAPTER　XVI。

A　NEW　VISITOR　AND　AN　OLD　ACQUAINTANCE。

　　　　　He's　enough
To　bring　a　woman　to　confusion；
More　than　a　wiser　man；　or　a　far　greater。

MIDDLETON。The　Witch。


When　they　reached　the　lodge；　Lady　Emily　expressed　a　wish　to　walk　up
the　avenue　to　the　house。　　To　this　Mr。　Arnold　gladly　consented。　　The
carriage　was　sent　round　the　back　way；　and　Hugh；　dismounting；　gave
his　horse　to　the　footman　in　attendance。　　As　they　drew　near　the
house；　the　rest　of　the　party　having　stopped　to　look　at　an　old　tree
which　was　a　favourite　with　its　owner；　Hugh　and　Harry　were　some　yards
in　advance；　when　the　former　spied；　approaching　them　from　the　house；
the　distinguished　figure　of　Herr　von　Funkelstein。　　Saluting　as　they
met；　the　visitor　informed　Hugh　that　he　had　just　been　leaving　his
card　for　him；　and　would　call　some　other　morning　soon；　for；　as　he　was
rusticating；　he　had　little　to　occupy　him。　　Hugh　turned　with　him
towards　the　rest　of　the　party；　who　were　now　close　at　hand；　when
Funkelstein　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　of　surprise；

〃What！　　Miss　Cameron　here！〃　and　advanced　with　a　profound　obeisance；
holding　his　hat　in　his　hand。

Hugh　thought　he　saw　her　look　annoyed；　but　she　held　out　her　hand　to
him；　and；　in　a　voice　indicatingstill　as　it　appeared　to　Hughsome
reluctance；　introduced　him　to　her　uncle；　with　the　words：

〃We　met　at　Sir　Edward　Laston's；　when　I　was　visiting　Mrs。　Elkingham；
two　years　ago；　uncle。〃

Mr。　Arnold　lifted　his　hat　and　bowed　politely　to　the　stranger。　　Had
Euphra　informed　him　that；　although　a　person　of　considerable
influence　in　Sir　Edward's　household；　Herr　von　Funkelstein　had　his
standing　there　only　as　Sir　Edward's　private　secretary；　Mr。　Arnold's
aversion　to　foreigners　generally　would　not　have　been　so　scrupulously
banished　into　the　background　of　his　behaviour。　　Ordinary　civilities
passed　between　them；　marked　by　an　air　of　flattering　deference　on
Funkelstein's　part；　which　might　have　been　disagreeable　to　a　man　less
uninterruptedly　conscious　of　his　own　importance　than　Mr。　Arnold；　and
the　new　visitor　turned　once　more；　as　if　forgetful　of　his　previous
direction；　and　accompanied　them　towards　the　house。　　Before　they
reached　it　he　had；　even　in　that　short　space；　ingratiated　himself　so
far　with　Mr。　Arnold；　that　he　asked　him　to　stay　and　dine　with
theman　invitation　which　was　accepted　with　manifest　pleasure。

〃Mr。　Sutherland；〃　said　Mr。　Arnold；　〃will　you　show　your　friend
anything　worth　note　about　the　place？　　He　has　kindly　consented　to
dine　with　us；　and　in　the　meantime　I　have　some　letters　to　write。〃

〃With　pleasure；〃　answered　Hugh。

But　all　this　time　he　had　been　inwardly　commenting　on　the　appearance
of　his　friend；　as　Mr。　Arnold　called　him；　with　the　jealousy　of　a
youth　in　love；　for　was　not　Funkelstein　an　old　acquaintance　of　Miss
Cameron？　　What　might　not　have　passed　between　them　in　that　old　hidden
time？for　love　is　jealous　of　the　past　as　well　as　of　the　future。
Love；　as　well　as　metaphysics；　has　a　lasting　quarrel　with　time　and
space：　the　lower　love　fears　them；　while　the　higher　defies　them。And
he　could　not　help　seeing　that　Funkelstein　was　one　to　win　favour　in
ladies'　eyes。　　Very　regular　features　and　a　dark　complexion　were
lighted　up　by　eyes　as　black　as　Euphra's；　and　capable　of　a　wonderful
play　of　light；　while　his　form　was　remarkable　for　strength　and
symmetry。　　Hugh　felt　that　in　any　company　he　would　attract　immediate
attention。　　His　long　dark　beard；　of　which　just　the　centre　was
removed　to　expose　a　finely…turned　chin；　blew　over　each　shoulder　as
often　as　they　met　the　wind　in　going　round　the　house。　　From　what　I
have　heard　of　him　from　other　deponents　besides　Hugh；　I　should　judge
that　he　did　well　to　conceal　the　lines　of　his　mouth　in　a　long
moustache；　which　flowed　into　his　bifurcated　beard。　　He　had　just
enough　of　the　foreign　in　his　dress　to　add　to　the　appearance　of
fashion　which　it　bore。

As　they　walked；　Hugh　could　not　help　observing　an　odd　peculiarity　in
the　carriage　of　his　companion。　　It　was；　that；　every　few　steps；　he
gave　a　backward　and　downward　glance　to　the　right；　with　a　sweeping
bend　of　his　body；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　get　a　view　of　the　calf　of
his　leg；　or　as　if　he　fancied　he　felt　something　trailing　at　his　foot。
So　probable；　from　his　motion；　did　the　latter　supposition　seem；　that
Hugh　changed　sides　to　satisfy　himself　whether　or　not　there　was　some
dragging　briar　or　straw　annoying　him；　but　no　follower　was　to　be
discovered。

〃You　are　a　happy　man；　Mr。　Sutherland；〃　said　the　guest；　〃to　live
under　the　same　roof　with　that　beautiful　Miss　Cameron。〃

〃Am　I？〃　thought　Hugh；　but　he　only　said；　affecting　some　surprise：

〃Do　you　think　her　so　beautiful？〃

Funkelstein's　eyes　were　fixed　upon　him；　as　if　to　see　the　effect　of
his　remark。　　Hugh　felt　them；　and　could　not　conform　his　face　to　the
indifference　of　his　words。　　But　his　companion　only　answered
indifferently：

〃Well；　I　should　say　so；　but　beauty　is　not；　that　is　not　beauty　for
us。〃

Whether　or　not　there　was　poison　in　the　fork　of　this　remark；　Hugh
could　only　conjecture。　　He　made　no　reply。

As　they　walked　about　the　precincts　of　the　house；　Funkelstein　asked
many　questions　of　Hugh；　which　his　entire　ignorance　of　domestic
architecture　made　it　impossible　for　him　to　answer。　　This　seemed　only
to　excite　the　questioner's　desire　for　information　to　a　higher　pitch；
and　as　if　the　very　stones　could　reply　to　his　demands；　he　examined
the　whole　range　of　the　various　buildings　constituting　the　house　of
Arnstead　〃as　he　would　draw　it。〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　he；　〃there　is　at　least　variety　enough　in　the　style
of　this　mass　of　material。　　There　is　enough　for　one　pyramid。〃

〃That　would　be　rather　at　the　expense　of　the　variety；　would　it　not？〃
said　Hugh；　in　spiteful　response　to　the　inconsequence　of　the　second
member　of　Funkelstein's　remark。　　But　the　latter　was　apparently　too
much　absorbed　in　his　continued　inspection　of　the　house；　from　every
attainable　point　of　near　view；　to　heed　the　comment。

〃This　they　call　the　Ghost's　Walk；〃　said　Hugh。

〃Ah！　about　these　old　houses　there　are　always　such　tales。〃

〃What　sort　of　tales　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　mean　of　particular　spots　and　their　ghosts。　　You　must　have　heard
many　such？〃

〃No；　not　I。〃

〃I　think　Germany　is　more　prolific　of　such　stories。　　I　could　tell　you
plenty。〃

〃But　you　don't　mean　you　believe　such　things？〃

〃To　me　it　is　equal。　　I　look　at　them　entirely　as　objects　of　art。〃

〃That　is　a　new　view　of　a　ghost　to　me。　　An　object　of　art？　　I　should
have　thought　them　considerably　more　suitable　objects　previous　to
their　disembodiment。〃

〃Ah！　you　do　not　understand。　　You　call　art　painting；　don't　youor
sculpture　at　most？　　I　give　up　sculpture　certainlyand　painting　too。
But　don't　you　think　a　ghost　a　very　effective　object　in　literature
now？　　Confess：　do　you　not　like　a　ghost…story　very　much？〃

〃Yes；　if　it　is　a　very　good　one。〃

〃Hamlet　now？〃

〃Ah！　we　don't　speak　of　Shakspere's　plays　as　stories。　　His　characters
are　so　real　to　us；　that；　in　thinking　of　their　development；　we　go
back　even　to　their　fathers　and　mothersand　sometimes　even　speculate
about　their　future。〃

〃You　islanders　are　always　in　earliest　somehow。　　So　are　we　Germans。
We　are　all　one。〃

〃I　hope　you　can　be　in　earnest　about　dinner；　then；　for　I　hear　the
bell。〃

〃We　must　render　ourselves　in　the　drawing…room；　then？　　Yes。〃

When　they　entered　the　drawing…room；　they　found　Miss　Cameron　alone。
Funkelstein　advanced；　and　addressed　a　few　words　to　her　in　German；
which　Hugh's　limited　acquaintance　with　the　language　prevented　him
from　catching。　　At　the　same　moment；　Mr。　Arnold　entered；　and
Funkelstein；　turning　to　him　immediately；　proceeded；　as　if　by　way　of
apology　for　speaking　in　an　unknown　tongue；　to　interpret　for　Mr。
Arnold's　benefit：

〃I　have　just　been　telling　Miss　Cameron　in　the　language　of　my
country；　how　much　better　she　looks　than　when　I　saw　her　at　Sir　Edward
Lastons。〃

〃I　know　I　was　quite　a　scare…crow　then；〃　said　Euphra；　attempting　to
laugh。

〃And　now　you　are　quite　a　decoy…duck；　eh；　Euphra？〃　said　Mr。　Arnold；
laughing　in　reality　at　his　own　joke；　which　put　him　in　great
good…humour　for　the　whole　time　of　dinner　and　dessert。

〃Thank　you；　uncle；〃　said　Euphra；　with　a　prettily　pretended
affectation　of　humility。　　Then　she　added　gaily：

〃When　did　you　rise　on　our　Sussex　horizon；　Herr　von　Funkelstein？〃

〃Oh！　　I　have　been　in　the　neighbourhood　for　a　few　days；　but　I　owe　my
meeting　with　you　to　one　of　those　coincidences　which；　were　they　not
so　pleasantto　me　in　this　case；　at　leastone　would　think　could
only　result　from　the　blundering　of　old　Dame　Nature　over　her
knitting。　　If　I　had　not　had　the　good　fortune　to　meet　Mr。　Sutherland
the　other　evening；　I　should　have　remained　in　utter　ignorance　of　your
neighbourhood　and　my　own　felicity；　Miss　Cameron。　　Indeed；　I　called
now　to　see　him；　not　you。〃

Hugh　saw　Mr。　Arnold　looking　rather　doubtful　of　the　foreigner's　fine
speeches。

Dinner　was　announced。　　Funkelstein　took　Miss　Cameron；　Hugh　Mrs。
Elton；　and　Mr。　Arnold　followed　with　Lady　Emily；　who　would　never
precede　her　older　friend。　　Hugh　tried　to　talk　to　Mrs。　Elton；　but
with　meagre　success。　　He　was　suddenly　a　nobody；　and　felt　more　than
he　had　felt　for　a　long　time　what；　in　his　present　deteriorated　moral
state；　he　considered　the　degradation　of　his　position。　　A　gulf　seemed
to　have　suddenly　yawned　between　himself　and　Euphra；　and　the　loudest
voice　of　his　despairing　agony　could　not　reach　across　that　gulf。　　An
awful　conviction　awoke　within　him；　that　the　woman　he　worshipped
would　scarcely　receive　his　worship　at　the　worth　of　incense　now；　and
yet　in　spirit　he　fell　down　grovelling　before　his　idol。　　The　words
〃euphrasy　and　rue〃　kept　ringing　in　his　brain；　coming　over　and　over
with　an　awful　mingling　of　chime　and　toll。　　When　he　thought　about　it
afterwards；　he　seemed　to　have　been　a　year　in　crossing　the　hall　with
Mrs。　Elton　on　his　arm。　　But　as　if　divining　his　thoughtsjust　as
they　passed　through　the　dining…room　door；　Euphra　looked　round　at
him；　almost　over　Funkelstein's　shoulder；　and；　without　putting　into
her　face　the　least　expression　discernible　by　either　of　the　others
following；　contrived　to　banish　for　the　time　all　Hugh's　despair；　and
to　convince　him　that　he　had　nothing　to　fear　from　Funkelstein。　　How
it　was　done　Hugh　himself　could　not　tell。　　He　could　not　even　recall
the　look。　　He　only　knew　that　he　had　been　as　miserable　as　one　waking
in　his　coffin；　and　that　now　he　was　out　in　the　sunny　air。

During　dinner；　Funkelstein　paid　no　very　particular　attention　to
Euphrasia；　but　was　remarkably　polite　to　Lady　Emily。　　She　seemed
hardly　to　know　how　to　receive　his　attentions；　but　to　regard　him　as　a
strange　animal；　which　she　did　not　know　how　to　treat；　and　of　which
she　was　a　little　afraid。　　Mrs。　Elton；　on　the　contrary；　appeared　to
be　delighted　with　his　behaviour　and　conversation；　for；　without
showing　the　least　originality；　he　yet　had　seen　so　much；　and　knew　so
well　how　to　bring　out　what　he　had　seen；　that　he　was　a　most
interesting　companion。　　Hugh　took　little　share　in　the　conversation
beyond　listening　as　well　as　he　could；　to　prevent　himself　fr