david elginbrod-第44章

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When　the　candles　were　lighted；　there　was　no　one　to　be　seen　in　the
room　besides　themselves。　　Several；　Hugh　amongst　them；　had　observed
the　figure；　but　all　had　taken　it　for　part　of　the　illusive
phantasmagoria。　　Hugh　would　have　concluded　it　a　variety　of　his
vision　of　the　former　night；　but　others　had　seen　it　as　well　as　he。

There　was　no　renewal　of　the　experiments　that　night。　　But　all　were　in
a　very　unhealthy　state　of　excitement。　　Vague　fear；　vague　wonder；　and
a　certain　indescribable　oppression；　had　dimmed　for　the　time　all　the
clearer　vision；　and　benumbed　all　the　nobler　faculties　of　the　soul。
Lady　Emily　was　affected　the　most。　　Her　eyes　looked　scared；　there
was　a　bright　spot　on　one　cheek　amidst　deathly　paleness；　and　she
seemed　very　unhappy。　　Mrs。　Elton　became　alarmed；　and　this　brought
her　back　to　a　more　rational　condition。　　She　persuaded　Lady　Emily　to
go　to　bed。

But　the　contagion　spread；　and　indistinct　terrors　were　no　longer
confined　to　the　upper　portions　of　the　family。　　The　bruit　revived；
which　had　broken　out　a　year　beforethat　the　house　was　haunted。　　It
was　whispered　that；　the　very　night　after　these　occurrences；　the
Ghost's　Walk　had　been　in　use　as　the　name　signified：　a　figure　in
death…garments　had　been　seen　gliding　along　the　deserted　avenue；　by
one　of　the　maid…servants；　the　truth　of　whose　story　was　corroborated
by　the　fact　that；　to　support　it；　she　did　not　hesitate　to　confess
that　she　had　escaped　from　the　house；　nearly　at　midnight；　to　meet　one
of　the　grooms　in　a　part　of　the　wood　contiguous　to　the　avenue　in
question。　　Mr。　Arnold　instantly　dismissed　hernot　on　the　ground　of
the　intrigue；　he　took　care　to　let　her　know；　although　that　was　bad
enough；　but　because　she　was　a　fool；　and　spread　absurd　and　annoying
reports　about　the　house。　　Mr。　Arnold's　usual　hatred　of　what　he
called　superstition；　was　rendered　yet　more　spiteful　by　the　fact；
that　the　occurrences　of　the　week　had　had　such　an　effect　on　his　own
mind；　that　he　was　mortally　afraid　lest　he　should　himself　sink　into
the　same　limbo　of　vanity。　　The　girl；　however；　was；　or　pretended　to
be；　quite　satisfied　with　her　discharge；　protesting　she　would　not
have　staid　for　the　world；　and　as　the　groom；　whose　wages　happened　to
have　been　paid　the　day　before；　took　himself　off　the　same　evening；　it
may　be　hoped　her　satisfaction　was　not　altogether　counterfeit。

〃If　all　tales　be　true；〃　said　Mrs。　Elton；　〃Lady　Euphrasia　is　where
she　can't　get　out。〃

〃But　if　she　repented　before　she　died？〃　said　Euphra；　with　a　muffled
scorn　in　her　tone。

〃My　dear　Miss　Cameron；　do　you　call　becoming　a　nunrepentance？　　We
Protestants　know　very　well　what　that　means。　　Besides；　your　uncle
does　not　believe　it。〃

〃Haven't　you　found　out　yet；　dear　Mrs。　Elton；　what　my　uncle's
favourite　phrase　is？〃

〃No。　What　is　it？〃

〃I　don't　believe　it。〃

〃You　naughty　girl！〃

〃I'm　not　naughty；〃　answered　Euphra；　affecting　to　imitate　the
simplicity　of　a　chidden　child。　〃My　uncle　is　so　fond　of　casting　doubt
upon　everything！　　If　salvation　goes　by　quantity；　his　faith　won't
save　him。〃

Euphra　knew　well　enough　that　Mrs。　Elton　was　no　tell…tale。　　The　good
lady　had　hopes　of　her　from　this　moment；　because　she　all　but　quoted
Scripture　to　condemn　her　uncle；　the　verdict　corresponding　with　her
own　judgment　of　Mr。　Arnold；　founded　on　the　clearest　assertions　of
Scripture；　strengthened　somewhat；　it　must　be　confessed；　by　the　fact
that　the　spirits；　on　the　preceding　evening　but　one；　had　rapped　out
the　sentence：　〃Without　faith　it　is　impossible　to　please　him。〃

Lady　Emily　was　still　in　bed；　but　apparently　more　sick　in　mind　than
in　body。　　She　said　she　had　tossed　about　all　the　previous　night
without　once　falling　asleep；　and　her　maid；　who　had　slept　in　the
dressing…room　without　waking　once；　corroborated　the　assertion。　　In
the　morning；　Mrs。　Elton；　wishing　to　relieve　the　maid；　sent　Margaret
to　Lady　Emily。　　Margaret　arranged　the　bedclothes　and　pillows；　which
were　in　a　very　uncomfortable　condition；　sat　down　behind　the　curtain；
and；　knowing　that　it　would　please　Lady　Emily；　began　to　sing；　in　what
the　French　call　a；　veiled　voice；　The　Land　o'　the　Leal。　Now　the　air
of　this　lovely　song　is　the　same　as　that　of　Scots　wha　hae；　but　it　is
the　pibroch　of　onset　changed　into　the　coronach　of　repose；　singing　of
the　land　beyond　the　battle；　of　the　entering　in　of　those　who　have
fought　the　good　fight；　and　fallen　in　the　field。　　It　is　the　silence
after　the　thunder。　　Before　she　had　finished；　Lady　Emily　was　fast
asleep。　　A　sweet　peaceful　half　smile　lighted　her　troubled　face
graciously；　like　the　sunshine　that　creeps　out　when　it　can；　amidst
the　rain　of　an　autumn　day；　saying；　〃I　am　with　you　still；　though　we
are　all　troubled。〃　　Finding　her　thus　at　rest；　Margaret　left　the　room
for　a　minute；　to　fetch　some　work。　　When　she　returned；　she　found　her
tossing；　and　moaning；　and　apparently　on　the　point　of　waking。　　As
soon　as　she　sat　down　by　her；　her　trouble　diminished　by　degrees；　till
she　lay　in　the　same　peaceful　sleep　as　before。　　In　this　state　she
continued　for　two　or　three　hours；　and　awoke　much　refreshed。　　She
held　out　her　little　hand　to　Margaret；　and　said：

〃Thank　you。　　Thank　you。　　What　a　sweet　creature　you　are！〃

And　Lady　Emily　lay　and　gazed　in　loving　admiration　at　the　face　of　the
lady's…maid。

〃Shall　I　send　Sarah　to　you　now；　my　lady？〃　said　Margaret；　〃or　would
you　like　me　to　stay　with　you？〃

〃Oh！　you；　you；　pleaseif　Mrs。　Elton　can　spare　you。〃

〃She　will　only　think　of　your　comfort；　I　know；　my　lady。〃

〃That　recalls　me　to　my　duty；　and　makes　me　think　of　her。〃

〃But　your　comfort　will　be　more　to　her　than　anything　else。〃

〃In　that　case　you　must　stay；　Margaret。〃

〃With　pleasure；　my　lady。〃

Mrs。　Elton　entered；　and　quite　confirmed　what　Margaret　had　said。

〃But；〃　she　added；　〃it　is　time　Lady　Emily　had　something　to　eat。　　Go
to　the　cook；　Margaret；　and　see　if　the　beef…tea　Miss　Cameron　ordered
is　ready。〃

Margaret　went。

〃What　a　comfort　it　is；〃　said　Mrs。　Elton；　wishing　to　interest　Lady
Emily；　〃that　now…a…days；　when　infidelity　is　so　rampant；　such
corroborations　of　Sacred　Writ　are　springing　up　on　all　sides！　　There
are　the　discoveries　at　Nineveh；　and　now　these　Spiritual
Manifestations；　which　bear　witness　so　clearly　to　another　world。〃

But　Lady　Emily　made　no　reply。　　She　began　to　toss　about　as　before；
and　show　signs　of　inexplicable　discomfort。　　Margaret　had　hardly　been
gone　two　minutes；　when　the　invalid　moaned　out：

〃What　a　time　Margaret　is　gone！when　will　she　be　back？〃

〃I　am　here；　my　love；〃　said　Mrs。　Elton。

〃Yes；　yes；　thank　you。　　But　I　want　Margaret。〃

〃She　will　be　here　presently。　　Have　patience；　my　dear。〃

〃Please；　don't　let　Miss　Cameron　come　near　me。　　I　am　afraid　I　am　very
wicked；　but　I　can't　bear　her　to　come　near　me。〃

〃No；　no；　dear；　we　will　keep　you　to　ourselves。〃

〃Is　Mr。；　the　foreign　gentleman；　I　meanbelow？〃

〃No。　He　is　gone。〃

〃Are　you　sure？　　I　can　hardly　believe　it。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　dear？　　I　am　sure　he　is　gone。〃

Lady　Emily　did　not　answer。　　Margaret　returned。　　She　took　the
beef…tea；　and　grew　quiet　again。

〃You　must　not　leave　her　ladyship；　Margaret；〃　whispered　her　mistress。
〃She　has　taken　it　into　her　head　to　like　no　one　but　you；　and　you　must
just　stay　with　her。〃

〃Very　well；　ma'am。　　I　shall　be　most　happy。〃

Mrs。　Elton　left　the　room。　　Lady　Emily　said：

〃Read　something　to　me；　Margaret。〃

〃What　shall　I　read？〃

〃Anything　you　like。〃

Margaret　got　a　Bible；　and　read　to　her　one　of　her　father's　favourite
chapters；　the　fortieth　of　Isaiah。

〃I　have　no　right　to　trust　in　God；　Margaret。〃

〃Why；　my　lady？〃

〃Because　I　do　not　feel　any　faith　in　him；　and　you　know　we　cannot　be
accepted　without　faith。〃

〃That　is　to　make　God　as　changeable　as　we　are；　my　lady。〃

〃But　the　Bible　says　so。〃

〃I　don't　think　it　does；　but　if　an　angel　from　heaven　said　so；　I　would
not　believe　it。〃

〃Margaret！〃

〃My　lady；　I　love　God　with　all　my　heart；　and　I　cannot　bear　you　should
think　so　of　him。　　You　might　as　well　say　that　a　mother　would　go　away
from　her　little　child；　lying　moaning　in　the　dark；　because　it　could
not　see　her；　and　was　afraid　to　put　its　hand　out　into　the　dark　to
feel　for　her。〃

〃Then　you　think　he　does　care　for　us；　even　when　we　are　very　wicked。
But　he　cannot　bear　wicked　people。〃

〃Who　dares　to　say　that？〃　cried　Margaret。　〃Has　he　not　been　making　the
world　go　on　and　on；　with　all　the　wickedness　that　is　in　it；　yes；
making　new　babies　to　be　born　of　thieves　and　murderers　and　sad　women
and　all；　for　hundreds　of　years？　　God　help　us；　Lady　Emily！　　If　he
cannot　bear　wicked　people；　then　this　world　is　hell　itself；　and　the
Bible　is　all　a　lie；　and　the　Saviour　did　never　die　for　sinners。　　It
is　only　the　holy　Pharisees　that　can't　bear　wicked　people。〃

〃Oh！　how　happy　I　should　be；　if　that　were　true！　　I　should　not　be
afraid　now。〃

〃You　are　not　wicked；　dear　Lady　Emily；　but　if　you　were；　God　would
bend　over　you；　trying　to　get　you　back；　like　a　father　over　his　sick
child。　　Will　people　never　believe　about　the　lost　sheep？〃

〃Oh！　yes；　I　believe　that。　　But　then〃

〃You　can't　trust　it　quite。　　Trust　in　God；　then；　the　very　father　of
youand　never　mind　the　words。　　You　have　been　taught　to　turn　the
very　words　of　God　against　himself。〃

Lady　Emily　was　weeping。

〃Lady　Emily；〃　Margaret　went　on；　〃if　I　felt　my　heart　as　hard　as　a
stone；　if　I　did　not　love　God；　or　man；　or　woman；　or　little　child；　I
would　yet　say　to　God　in　my　heart：　'O　God；　see　how　I　trust　thee；
because　thou　art　perfect；　and　not　changeable　like　me。　　I　do　not　love
thee。　　I　love　nobody。　　I　am　not　even　sorry　for　it。　　Thou　seest　how
much　I　need　thee　to　come　close　to　me；　to　put　thy　arm　round　me；　to
say　to　me；　my　child；　for　the　worse　my　state；　the　greater　my　need　of
my　father　who　loves　me。　　Come　to　me；　and　my　day　will　dawn。　　My
beauty　and　my　love　will　come　back；　and　oh！　how　I　shall　love　thee；　my
God！　and　know　that　my　love　is　thy　love；　my　blessedness　thy　being。'〃

As　Margaret　spoke；　she　seemed　to　have　forgotten　Lady　Emily's
presence；　and　to　be　actually　praying。　　Those　who　cannot　receive　such
words　from　the　lips　of　a　lady's…maid；　must　be　reminded　what　her
father　was；　and　that　she　had　lost　him。　　She　had　had　advantages　at
least　equal　to　those　which　David　the　Shepherd　hadand　he　wrote　the
Psalms。

She　ended　with：

〃I　do　not　even　desire　thee　to　come；　yet　come　thou。〃

She　seemed　to　pray　entirely　as　Lady　Emily；　not　as　Margaret。　　When
she　had　ceased；　Lady　Emily　said；　sobbing：

〃You　will　not　leave　me；　Margaret？　　I　will　tell　you　why　another
time。〃

〃I　will　not　leave　you；　my　dear　lady。〃

Margaret　stooped　and　kissed　her　forehead。　　Lady　Emily　threw　her　arms
round　her　neck；　and　offered　her　mouth　to　be　kissed　by　the　maid。　　In
another　minute　she　was　fast　asleep；　with　Margaret　seated　by　her
side；　every　now　and　then　glancing　up　at　her　from　her　work；　with　a
calm　face；　over　which　brooded　the　mist　of　tears。

That　night；　as　Hugh　paced　up　and　down　the　floor　of　his　study　about
midnight；　he　was　awfully　startled　by　the　sudden　opening　of　the　door
and　the　apparition　of　Harry　in　his　nightshirt；　pale　as　death；　and
scarcely　able　to　articulate　the　words：

〃The　ghost！　the　ghost！〃

He　took　the　poor　boy　in　his　arms；　held　him　fast；　and　comforted　him。
When　he　was　a　little　soothed；

〃Oh；　Harry！〃　he　said；　lightly；　〃you've　been　dreaming。　　Where's　the
ghost？〃