david elginbrod-第47章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


irresistibly　attracted　by　them　notwithstanding。　　Having　gone　to　see
for　Lady　Emily；　she　remained　to　see　for　herself。

After　she　had　left；　Lady　Emily　grew　more　uneasy。　　Not　even
Margaret's　presence　could　make　her　comfortable。　　Mrs。　Elton　did　not
return。　　Many　minutes　elapsed。　　Lady　Emily　said　at　last：

〃Margaret；　I　am　terrified　at　the　idea　of　being　left　alone；　I
confess；　but　not　so　terrified　as　at　the　idea　of　what　is　going　on　in
that　library。　　Mrs。　Elton　will　not　come　back。　　Would　you　mind　just
running　down　to　ask　her　to　come　to　me？〃

〃I　would　go　with　pleasure；〃　said　Margaret；　〃but　I　don't　want　to　be
seen。〃

Margaret　did　not　want　to　be　seen　by　Hugh。　Lady　Emily；　with　her
dislike　to　Funkelstein；　thought　Margaret　did　not　want　to　be　seen　by
him。

〃You　will　find　a　black　veil　of　mine；〃　she　said；　〃in　that
wardrobejust　throw　it　over　your　head；　and　hold　a　handkerchief　to
your　face。　　They　will　be　so　busy　that　they　will　never　see　you。〃

Margaret　yielded　to　the　request　of　Lady　Emily；　who　herself　arranged
her　head…dress　for　her。

Now　I　must　go　back　a　little。When　Mrs。　Elton　reached　the　room；　she
found　it　darkened；　and　the　gentlemen　seated　at　the　table。　　A　running
fire　of　knocks　was　going　on　all　around。

She　sat　down　in　a　corner。　　In　a　minute　or　two；　she　fancied　she　saw
strange　figures　moving　about；　generally　near　the　floor；　and　very
imperfectly　developed。　　Sometimes　only　a　hand；　sometimes　only　a
foot；　shadowed　itself　out　of　the　dim　obscurity。　　She　tried　to
persuade　herself　that　it　was　all　done；　somehow　or　other；　by
Funkelstein；　yet　she　could　not　help　watching　with　a　curious　dread。
She　was　not　a　very　excitable　woman；　and　her　nerves　were　safe
enough。

In　a　minute　or　two　more；　the　table　at　which　they　were　seated；　began
to　move　up　and　down　with　a　kind　of　vertical　oscillation；　and　several
things　in　the　room　began　to　slide　about；　by　short；　apparently
purposeless　jerks。　　Everything　threatened　to　assume　motion；　and　turn
the　library　into　a　domestic　chaos。　　Mrs。　Elton　declared　afterwards
that　several　books　were　thrown　about　the　room。But　suddenly
everything　was　as　still　as　the　moonlight。　　Every　chair　and　table　was
at　rest；　looking　perfectly　incapable　of　motion。　　Mrs。　Elton　felt
that　she　dared　not　say　they　had　moved　at　all；　so　utterly　ordinary
was　their　appearance。　　Not　a　sound　was　to　be　heard　from　corner　or
ceiling。　　After　a　moment's　silence；　Mrs。　Elton　was　quite　restored　to
her　sound　mind；　as　she　said；　and　left　the　room。

〃Some　adverse　influence　is　at　work；〃　said　Funkelstein；　with　some
vexation。　〃What　is　in　that　closet？〃

So　saying　he　approached　the　door　of　the　private　staircase；　and
opened　it。　　They　saw　him　start　aside；　and　a　veiled　dark　figure　pass
him；　cross　the　library；　and　go　out　by　another　door。

〃I　have　my　suspicions；〃　said　Funkelstein；　with　a　rather　tremulous
voice。

〃And　your　fears　too；　I　think。　　Grant　it　now；〃　said　Mr。　Arnold。

〃Granted；　Mr。　Arnold。　　Let　us　go　to　the　drawing…room。〃

Just　as　Margaret　had　reached　the　library　door　at　the　bottom　of　the
private　stair；　either　a　puff　of　wind　from　an　open　loophole　window；
or　some　other　cause；　destroyed　the　arrangement　of　the　veil；　and　made
it　fall　quite　over　her　face；　She　stopped　for　a　moment　to　readjust
it。　　She　had　not　quite　succeeded；　when　Funkelstein　opened　the　door。
Without　an　instant's　hesitation；　she　let　the　veil　fall；　and　walked
forward。

Mrs。　Elton　had　gone　to　her　own　room；　on　her　way　to　Lady　Emily's。
When　she　reached　the　latter；　she　found　Margaret　seated　as　she　had
left　her；　by　the　bedside。　　Lady　Emily　said：

〃I　did　not　miss　you；　Margaret；　half　so　much　as　I　expected。　　But；
indeed；　you　were　not　many　moments　gone。　　I　do　not　care　for　that　man
now。　　He　can't　hurt　me；　can　he？〃

〃Certainty　not。　　I　hope　he　will　give　you　no　more　trouble　either；
dear　Lady　Emily。　　But　if　I　might　presume　to　advise　you；　I　would
sayGet　well　as　soon　as　you　can；　and　leave　this　place。〃

〃Why　should　I？　　You　frighten　me。　　Mr。　Arnold　is　very　kind　to　me。〃

〃The　place　quite　suits　Lady　Emily；　I　am　sure；　Margaret。〃

〃But　Lady　Emily　is　not　so　well　as　when　she　came。〃

〃No；　but　that　is　not　the　fault　of　the　place；〃　said　Lady　Emily。　〃I　am
sure　it　is　all　that　horrid　man's　doing。〃

〃How　else　will　you　get　rid　of　him；　then？　　What　if　he　wants　to　get
rid　of　you？〃

〃What　harm　can　I　be　doing　hima　poor　girl　like　me？〃

〃I　don't　know。　　But　I　fear　there　is　something　not　right　going　on。〃

〃We　will　tell　Mr。　Arnold　at　once；〃　said　Mrs。　Elton。

〃But　what　could　you　tell　him；　ma'am？　　Mr。　Arnold　is　hardly　one　to
listen　to　your　maid's　suspicions。　　Dear　Lady　Emily；　you　must　get
well　and　go。〃

〃I　will　try；〃　said　Lady　Emily；　submissive　as　a　child。

〃I　think　you　will　be　able　to　get　up　for　a　little　while　tomorrow。〃

A　tap　came　to　the　door。　　It　was　Euphrasia；　inquiring　after　Lady
Emily。

〃Ask　Miss　Cameron　to　come　in；〃　said　the　invalid。

She　entered。　　Her　manner　was　much　changedwas　subdued　and
suffering。

〃Dear　Miss　Cameron；　you　and　I　ought　to　change　places。　　I　am　sorry　to
see　you　looking　so　ill；〃　said　Lady　Emily。

〃I　have　had　a　headache　all　day。　　I　shall　be　quite　well　to…morrow；
thank　you。〃

〃I　intend　to　be　so　too；〃　said　Lady　Emily；　cheerfully。

After　some　little　talk；　Euphra　went；　holding　her　hand　to　her
forehead。　　Margaret　did　not　look　up；　all　the　time　she　was　in　the
room；　but　went　on　busily　with　her　needle。

That　night　was　a　peaceful　one。




CHAPTER　XXII。

THE　RING。

　　　　　shining　crystal；　which
Out　of　her　womb　a　thousand　rayons　threw。

BELLAY：　translated　by　Spenser。


The　next　day；　Lady　Emily　was　very　nearly　as　well　as　she　had　proposed
being。　　She　did　not；　however；　make　her　appearance　below。　　Mr。
Arnold；　hearing　at　luncheon　that　she　was　out　of　bed；　immediately
sent　up　his　compliments；　with　the　request　that　he　might　be　permitted
to　see　her　on　his　return　from　the　neighbouring　village；　where　he　had
some　business。　　To　this　Lady　Emily　gladly　consented。

He　sat　with　her　a　long　time；　talking　about　various　things；　for　the
presence　of　the　girl；　reminding　him　of　his　young　wife；　brought　out
the　best　of　the　man；　lying　yet　alive　under　the　incrustation　of
self…importance；　and　its　inevitable　stupidity。　　At　length；　subject
of　further　conversation　failing；

〃I　wonder　what　we　can　do　to　amuse　you；　Lady　Emily；〃　said　he。

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Arnold；　I　am　not　at　all　dull。　　With　my　kind　friend；
Mrs。　Elton；　and〃

She　would　have　said　Margaret；　but　became　instinctively　aware　that
the　mention　of　her　would　make　Mr。　Arnold　open　his　eyes；　for　he　did
not　even　know　her　name；　and　that　he　would　stare　yet　wider　when　he
learned　that　the　valued　companion　referred　to　was　Mrs。　Elton's　maid。

Mr。　Arnold　left　the　room；　and　presently　returned　with　his　arms
filled　with　all　the　drawing…room　books　he　could　find；　with　grand
bindings　outside；　and　equally　grand　plates　inside。　　These　he　heaped
on　the　table　beside　Lady　Emily；　who　tried　to　look　interested；　but
scarcely　succeeded　to　Mr。　Arnold's　satisfaction；　for　he　presently
said：

〃You　don't　seem　to　care　much　about　these；　dear　Lady　Emily。　　I
daresay　you　have　looked　at　them　all　already；　in　this　dull　house　of
ours。〃

This　was　a　wonderful　admission　from　Mr。　Arnold。　　He　ponderedthen
exclaimed；　as　if　he　had　just　made　a　grand　discovery：

〃I　have　it！　　I　know　something　that　will　interest　you。〃

〃Do　not　trouble　yourself；　pray；　Mr。　Arnold；〃　said　Lady　Emily。　　But
he　was　already　half　way　to　the　door。

He　went　to　his　own　room；　and　his　own　strong　closet　therein。

Returning　towards　the　invalid's　quarters　with　an　ebony　box　of
considerable　size；　he　found　it　rather　heavy；　and　meeting　Euphra　by
the　way；　requested　her　to　take　one　of　the　silver　handles；　and　help
him　to　carry　it　to　Lady　Emily's　room。　　She　started　when　she　saw　it；
but　merely　said：

〃With　pleasure；　uncle。〃

〃Now；　Lady　Emily；〃　said　he；　as；　setting　down　the　box；　he　took　out　a
curious　antique　enamelled　key；　〃we　shall　be　able　to　amuse　you　for　a
little　while。〃

He　opened　the　box；　and　displayed　such　a　glitter　and　show　as　would
have　delighted　the　eyes　of　any　lady。　　All　kinds　of　strange
ornaments；　ancient　watchesone　of　them　a　death's　head　in　gold；
cameo　necklaces；　pearls　abundant；　diamonds；　rubies；　and　all　the
colours　of　precious　stonesevery　one　of　them　having　some　history；
whether　known　to　the　owner　or　not；　gems　that　had　flashed　on　many　a
fair　finger　and　many　a　shining　necklay　before　Lady　Emily's
delighted　eyes。　　But　Euphrasia's　eyes　shone；　as　she　gazed　on　them；
with　a　very　different　expression　from　that　which　sparkled　in　Lady
Emily's。　　They　seemed　to　search　them　with　fingers　of　lightning。　　Mr。
Arnold　chose　two　or　three；　and　gave　Lady　Emily　her　choice　of　them。

〃I　could　not　think　of　depriving　you。〃

〃They　are　of　no　use　to　me；〃　said　Mr。　Arnold；　making　light　of　the
handsome　offer。

〃You　are　too　kind。I　should　like　this　ring。〃

〃Take　it　then；　dear　Lady　Emily。〃

Euphrasia's　eyes　were　not　on　the　speakers；　nor　was　any　envy　to　be
seen　in　her　face。　　She　still　gazed　at　the　jewels　in　the　box。

The　chosen　gem　was　put　aside；　and　then；　one　after　another；　the
various　articles　were　taken　out　and　examined。　　At　length；　a　large
gold　chain；　set　with　emeralds；　was　lifted　from　where　it　lay　coiled
up　in　a　corner。　　A　low　cry；　like　a　muffled　moan；　escaped　from
Euphrasia's　lips；　and　she　turned　her　head　away　from　the　box。

〃What　is　the　matter；　Euphra？〃　said　Mr。　Arnold。

〃A　sudden　shoot　of　painI　beg　your　pardon；　dear　uncle。　　I　fear　I　am
not　quite　so　well　yet　as　I　thought　I　was。　　How　stupid　of　me！〃

〃Do　sit　down。　　I　fear　the　weight　of　the　box　was　too　much　for　you。〃

〃Not　in　the　least。　　I　want　to　see　the　pretty　things。〃

〃But　you　have　seen　them　before。〃

〃No；　uncle。　　You　promised　to　show　them　to　me；　but　you　never　did。〃

〃You　see　what　I　get　by　being　ill；〃　said　Lady　Emily。

The　chain　was　examined；　admired；　and　laid　aside。

Where　it　had　lain；　they　now　observed；　in　the　corner；　a　huge　stone
like　a　diamond。

〃What　is　this？〃　said　Lady　Emily；　taking　it　up。　〃Oh！　　I　see。　　It　is　a
ring。　　But　such　a　ring　for　size；　I　never　saw。　　Do　look；　Miss
Cameron。〃

For　Miss　Cameron　was　not　looking。　　She　was　leaning　her　head　on　her
hand；　and　her　face　was　ashy　pale。　　Lady　Emily　tried　the　ring　on。
Any　two　of　her　fingers　would　go　into　the　broad　gold　circlet；　beyond
which　the　stone　projected　far　in　every　direction。　　Indeed；　the　ring
was　attached　to　the　stone；　rather　than　the　stone　set　in　the　ring。

〃That　is　a　curious　thing；　is　it　not？〃　said　Mr。　Arnold。　〃It　is　of　no
value　in　itself；　I　believe；　it　is　nothing　but　a　crystal。　　But　it
seems　to　have　been　always　thought　something　of　in　the　family；I
presume　from　its　being　evidently　the　very　ring　painted　by　Sir　Peter
Lely　in　that　portrait　of　Lady　Euphrasia　which　I　showed　you　the　other
day。　　It　is　a　clumsy　affair；　is　it　not？〃

It　might　have　occurred　to　Mr。　Arnold；　that　such　a　thing　must　have
been　thought　something　of；　before　its　owner　would　have　chosen　to
wear　it　when　sitting　for　her　portrait。

Lady　Emily　was　just　going　to　lay　it　down；　when　she　spied　something
that　made　her　look　at　it　more　closely。

〃What　curious　engraving　is　this　upon　the　gold？〃　she　asked。

〃I　do　not　know；　indeed；〃　answered　Mr。　Arnold。　〃I　have　never　observed
it。〃

〃Look　at　it；　thenall　over　the　gold。　　What　at　first　loo