david elginbrod-第53章

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assure　you。〃

〃Of　course；　of　course。　　It　is　enough　you　say　so。　　We　must　not　keep
the　dinner　waiting　now。　　But　after　dinner　I　shall　have　all　the
servants　up；　and　investigate　the　matter　thoroughly。〃

〃So；〃　thought　Hugh　with　himself；　〃some　one　will　be　made　a　felon　of；
because　the　cursed　dead　go　stalking　about　this　infernal　house　at
midnight；　gathering　their　own　old　baubles。　　No；　that　will　not　do。　　I
must　at　least　tell　Mr。　Arnold　what　I　know　of　the　doings　of　the
night。〃

So　Mr。　Arnold　must　still　wait　for　his　dinner；　or　rather；　which　was
really　of　more　consequence　in　the　eyes　of　Mr。　Arnold；　the　dinner
must　be　kept　waiting　for　him。　　For　order　and　custom　were　two　of　Mr。
Arnold's　divinities；　and　the　economy　of　his　whole　nature　was　apt　to
be　disturbed　by　any　interruption　of　their　laws；　such　as　the
postponement　of　dinner　for　ten　minutes。　　He　was　walking　towards　the
door；　and　turned　with　some　additional　annoyance　when　Hugh　addressed
him　again：

〃One　moment；　Mr。　Arnold；　if　you　please。〃

Mr。　Arnold　merely　turned　and　waited。

〃I　fear　I　shall　in　some　degree　forfeit　your　good　opinion　by　what　I
am　about　to　say；　but　I　must　run　the　risk。〃

Mr。　Arnold　still　waited。

〃There　is　more　about　the　disappearance　of　the　ring　than　I　can
understand。〃

〃Or　I　either；　Mr。　Sutherland。〃

〃But　I　must　tell　you　what　happened　to　myself；　the　night　that　I　kept
watch　in　Lady　Euphrasia's　room。〃

〃You　said　you　slept　soundly。〃

〃So　I　did；　part　of　the　time。〃

〃Then　you　kept　back　part　of　the　truth？〃

〃I　did。〃

〃Was　that　worthy　of　you？〃

〃I　thought　it　best：　I　doubted　myself。〃

〃What　has　caused　you　to　change　your　mind　now？〃

〃This　event　about　the　ring。〃

〃What　has　that　to　do　with　it？　　How　do　you　even　know　that　it　was
taken　on　that　night？〃

〃I　do　not　know；　for　till　this　morning　I　had　not　opened　the　place
where　it　lay：　I　only　suspect。〃

〃I　am　a　magistrate；　Mr。　Sutherland：　I　would　rather　not　be　prejudiced
by　suspicions。〃

〃The　person　to　whom　my　suspicions　refer；　is　beyond　your
jurisdiction；　Mr。　Arnold。〃

〃I　do　not　understand　you。〃

〃I　will　explain　myself。〃

Hugh　gave　Mr。　Arnold　a　hurried　yet　circumstantial　sketch　of　the
apparition　he　believed　he　had　seen。

〃What　am　I　to　judge　from　all　this？〃　asked　he；　coldly；　almost
contemptuously。

〃I　have　told　you　the　facts；　of　course　I　must　leave　the　conclusions
to　yourself；　Mr。　Arnold；　but　I　confess；　for　my　part；　that　any
disbelief　I　had　in　apparitions　is　almost　entirely　removed　since〃

〃Since　you　dreamed　you　saw　one？〃

〃Since　the　disappearance　of　the　ring；〃　said　Hugh。

〃Bah！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Arnold；　with　indignation。　〃Can　a　ghost　fetch
and　carry　like　a　spaniel？　　Mr。　Sutherland；　I　am　ashamed　to　have　such
a　reasoner　for　tutor　to　my　son。　　Come　to　dinner；　and　do　not　let　me
hear　another　word　of　this　folly。　　I　beg　you　will　not　mention　it　to
any　one。〃

〃I　have　been　silent　hitherto；　Mr。　Arnold；　but　circumstances；　such　as
the　commitment　of　any　one　on　the　charge　of　stealing　the　ring；　might
compel　me　to　mention　the　matter。　　It　would　be　for　the　jury　to
determine　whether　it　was　relevant　or　not。〃

It　was　evident　that　Mr。　Arnold　was　more　annoyed　at　the　imputation
against　the　nocturnal　habits　of　his　house；　than　at　the　loss　of　the
ring；　or　even　its　possible　theft　by　one　of　his　servants。　　He　looked
at　Hugh　for　a　moment　as　if　he　would　break　into　a　furious　rage；　then
his　look　gradually　changed　into　one　of　suspicion；　and；　turning
without　another　word；　he　led　the　way　to　the　dining…room；　followed　by
Hugh。　To　have　a　ghost　held　in　his　face　in　this　fashion；　one　bred　in
his　own　house；　too；　when　he　had　positively　declared　his　absolute
contempt　for　every　legend　of　the　sort；　was　more　than　man　could　bear。
He　sat　down　to　dinner　in　gloomy　silence；　breaking　it　only　as　often
as　he　was　compelled　to　do　the　duties　of　a　host；　which　he　performed
with　a　greater　loftiness　of　ceremony　than　usual。

There　was　no　summoning　of　the　servants　after　dinner；　however。
Hugh's　warning　had　been　effectual。　　Nor　was　the　subject　once　more
alluded　to　in　Hugh's　hearing。　　No　doubt　Mr。　Arnold　felt　that
something　ought　to　be　done；　but　I　presume　he　could　never　make　up　his
mind　what　that　something　ought　to　be。　　Whether　any　reasons　for　not
prosecuting　the　inquiry　had　occurred　to　him　upon　further　reflection；
I　am　unable　to　tell。　　One　thing　is　certain；　that　from　this　time　he
ceased　to　behave　to　Hugh　with　that　growing　cordiality　which　he　had
shown　him　for　weeks　past。　　It　was　no　great　loss　to　Hugh；　but　he　felt
it；　and　all　the　more；　because　he　could　not　help　associating　it　with
that　look　of　suspicion；　the　remains　of　which　were　still　discernible
on　Mr。　Arnold's　face。　　Although　he　could　not　determine　the　exact
direction　of　Mr。　Arnold's　suspicions；　he　felt　that　they　bore　upon
something　associated　with　the　crystal　ring；　and　the　story　of　the
phantom　lady。　　Consequently；　there　was　little　more　of　comfort　for
him　at　Arnstead。

Mr。　Arnold；　however；　did　not　reveal　his　change　of　feeling　so　much　by
neglect　as　by　ceremony；　which；　sooner　than　anything　else；　builds　a
wall　of　separation　between　those　who　meet　every　day。　　For　the
oftener　they　meet；　the　thicker　and　the　faster　are　the　bricks　and
mortar　of　cold　politeness；　evidently　avoided　insults；　and　subjected
manifestations　of　dislike；　laid　together。




CHAPTER　XXVIII。

A　BIRD'S…EYE　VIEW。

O；　cocks　are　crowing　a　merry　midnight；
　　I　wot　the　wild…fowls　are　boding　day；
Give　me　my　faith　and　troth　again；
　　And　let　me　fare　me　on　my　way。

Sae　painfully　she　clam　the　wa'；
　　She　clam　the　wa'　up　after　him；
Hosen　nor　shoon　upon　her　feet；
　　She　hadna　time　to　put　them　on。

Scotch　Ballad。Clerk　Saunders。


Dreary　days　passed。　　The　reports　of　Euphra　were　as　favourable　as　the
nature　of　the　injury　had　left　room　to　expect。　　Still　they　were　but
reports：　Hugh　could　not　see　her；　and　the　days　passed　drearily。　　He
heard　that　the　swelling　was　reduced；　and　that　the　ankle　was　found
not　to　be　dislocated；　but　that　the　bones　were　considerably　injured；
and　that　the　final　effect　upon　the　use　of　the　parts　was　doubtful。
The　pretty　foot　lay　aching　in　Hugh's　heart。　　When　Harry　went　to
bed；　he　used　to　walk　out　and　loiter　about　the　grounds；　full　of
anxious　fears　and　no　less　anxious　hopes。　　If　the　night　was　at　all
obscure；　he　would　pass；　as　often　as　he　dared；　under　Euphra's　window；
for　all　he　could　have　of　her　now　was　a　few　rays　from　the　same　light
that　lighted　her　chamber。　　Then　he　would　steal　away　down　the　main
avenue；　and　thence　watch　the　same　light；　whose　beams；　in　that
strange　play　which　the　intellect　will　keep　up　in　spite　ofyet　in
association　withthe　heart；　made　a　photo…materialist　of　him。　　For
he　would　now　no　longer　believe　in　the　pulsations　of　an　ethereal
medium；　butthat　the　very　material　rays　which　enlightened　Euphra's
face；　whether　she　waked　or　slept；　stole　and　filtered　through　the
blind　and　the　gathered　shadows；　and　entered　in　bodily　essence　into
the　mysterious　convolutions　of　his　brain；　where　his　soul　and　heart
sought　and　found　them。

When　a　week　had　passed；　she　was　so　far　recovered　as　to　be　able　to
see　Mr。　Arnold；　from　whom　Hugh　heard；　in　a　somewhat　reproachful
tone；　that　she　was　but　the　wreck　of　her　former　self。　　It　was　all
that　Hugh　could　do　to　restrain　the　natural　outbreak　of　his　feelings。
A　fortnight　passed；　and　she　saw　Mrs。　Elton　and　Lady　Emily　for　a　few
moments。　　They　would　have　left　before；　but　had　yielded　to　Mr。
Arnold's　entreaty；　and　were　staying　till　Euphra　should　be　at　least
able　to　be　carried　from　her　room。

One　day；　when　the　visitors　were　out　with　Mr。　Arnold；　Jane　brought　a
message　to　Hugh；　requesting　him　to　walk　into　Miss　Cameron's　room；
for　she　wanted　to　see　him。　　Hugh　felt　his　heart　flutter　as　if
doubting　whether　to　stop　at　once；　or　to　dash　through　its　confining
bars。　　He　rose　and　followed　the　maid。　　He　stood　over　Euphra　pale　and
speechless。　　She　lay　before　him　wasted　and　wan；　her　eyes　twice　their
former　size；　but　with　half　their　former　light；　her　fingers　long　and
transparent；　and　her　voice　low　and　feeble。　　She　had　just　raised
herself　with　difficulty　to　a　sitting　posture；　and　the　effort　had
left　her　more　weary。

〃Hugh！〃　she　said；　kindly。

〃Dear　Euphra！〃　he　answered；　kissing　the　little　hand　he　held　in　his。

She　looked　at　him　for　a　little　while；　and　the　tears　rose　in　her
eyes。

〃Hugh；　I　am　a　cripple　for　life。〃

〃God　forbid；　Euphra！〃　was　all　he　could　reply。

She　shook　her　head　mournfully。　　Then　a　strange；　wild　look　came　in
her　eyes；　and　grew　till　it　seemed　from　them　to　overflow　and　cover
her　whole　face　with　a　troubled　expression；　which　increased　to　a　look
of　dull　agony。

〃What　is　the　matter；　dear　Euphra？〃　said　Hugh；　in　alarm。　〃Is　your
foot　very　painful？〃

She　made　no　answer。　　She　was　looking　fixedly　at　his　hand。

〃Shall　I　call　Jane？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃Can　I　do　nothing　for　you？〃

〃No；〃　she　answered；　almost　angrily。

〃Shall　I　go；　Euphra？〃

〃Yesyes。　　Go。〃

He　left　the　room　instantly。　　But　a　sharp　though　stifled　cry　of
despair　drew　him　back　at　a　bound。　　Euphra　had　fainted。

He　rang　the　bell　for　Jane；　and　lingered　till　he　saw　signs　of
returning　consciousness。

What　could　this　mean？　　He　was　more　perplexed　with　her　than　ever　he
had　been。　　Cunning　love；　however；　soon　found　a　way　of　explaining
itA　way？Twenty　waysnot　one　of　them　the　way。

Next　day；　Lady　Emily　brought　him　a　message　from　Euphranot　to
distress　himself　about　her；　it　was　not　his　fault。

This　message　the　bearer　of　it　understood　to　refer　to　the　original
accident；　as　the　sender　of　it　intended　she　should：　the　receiver
interpreted　it　of　the　occurrence　of　the　day　before；　as　the　sender
likewise　intended。　　It　comforted　him。

It　had　become　almost　a　habit　with　Hugh；　to　ascend　the　oak　tree　in
the　evening；　and　sit　alone；　sometimes　for　hours；　in　the　nest　he　had
built　for　Harry。　　One　time　he　took　a　book　with　him；　another　he　went
without；　and　now　and　then　Harry　accompanied　him。　　But　I　have　already
said；　that　often　after　tea；　when　the　house　became　oppressive　to　him
from　the　longing　to　see　Euphra；　he　would　wander　out　alone；　when；
even　in　the　shadows　of　the　coming　night；　he　would　sometimes　climb
the　nest；　and　there　sit；　hearing　all　that　the　leaves　whispered　about
the　sleeping　birds；　without　listening　to　a　word　of　it；　or　trying　to
interpret　it　by　the　kindred　sounds　of　his　own　inner　world；　and　the
tree…talk　that　went　on　there　in　secret。　　For　the　divinity　of　that
inner　world　had　abandoned　it　for　the　present；　in　pursuit　of　an
earthly　maiden。　　So　its　birds　were　silent；　and　its　trees　trembled
not。

An　aging　moon　was　feeling　her　path　somewhere　through　the　heavens；
but　a　thin　veil　of　cloud　was　spread　like　a　tent　under　the　hyaline
dome　where　she　walked；　so　that；　instead　of　a　white　moon；　there　was　a
great　white　cloud　to　enlighten　the　earth；a　cloud　soaked　full　of
her　pale　rays。　　Hugh　sat　in　the　oak…nest。　　He　knew　not　how　long　he
had　been　there。　　Light　after　light　was　extinguished　in　the　house；
and　still　he　sat　there　brooding；　dreaming；　in　that　state　of　mind　in
which　to　the　good；　good　things　come　of　themselves；　and　to　the　evil；
evil　things。　　The　nearness　of　the　Ghost's　Walk　did　not　trouble　him；
for　he　was　too　much　concerned　about　Euphra　to　fear　ghost　or　demon。
His　mind　heeded　them　not；　and　so　was　beyond　their　influence