david elginbrod-第79章

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come。

But　Hugh　was　standing　at　the　door　long　before　Irwan　got　up　to　it。
Had　Margaret　known　who　was　watching　outside；　it　would　have　been　a
wonderful　relief　to　her。

She　entered　the　dining…room；　where　the　count　stood　impatient。　　He
advanced　quickly；　acting　on　his　expectation　of　Euphra；　but　seeing
his　mistake；　stopped；　and　bowed　politely。　　Margaret　told　him　that
Miss　Cameron　was　ill；　and　gave　him　her　message；　word　for　word。　　The
count　turned　pale　with　mortification　and　rage。　　He　bit　his　lip；　made
no　reply；　and　walked　out　into　the　hall；　where　Irwan　stood　with　the
handle　of　the　door　in　his　hand；　impatient　to　open　it。　　No　sooner　was
he　out　of　the　house；　than　Hugh　sprang　upon　him；　but　the　count；　who
had　been　perfectly　upon　his　guard；　eluded　him；　and　darted　off　down
the　street。　　Hugh　pursued　at　full　speed；　mortified　at　his　escape。
He　had　no　fear　at　first　of　overtaking　him；　for　he　had　found　few　men
his　equals　in　speed　and　endurance；　but　he　soon　saw；　to　his　dismay；
that　the　count　was　increasing　the　distance　between　them；　and　feared
that；　by　a　sudden　turn　into　some　labyrinth；　he　might　escape　him
altogether。　　They　passed　the　Golden　Staff　at　full　speed；　and　at　the
next　corner　Hugh　discovered　what　gave　the　count　the　advantage：　it
was　his　agility　and　recklessness　in　turning　corners。　　But；　like　the
sorcerer's　impunity；　they　failed　him　at　last；　for；　at　the　next　turn；
he　ran　full　upon　Falconer；　who　staggered　back；　while　the　count
reeled　and　fell。　　Hugh　was　upon　him　in　a　moment。　〃Help！〃　roared　the
count；　for　a　last　chance　from　the　sympathies　of　a　gathering　crowd。

〃I've　got　him！〃　cried　Hugh。

〃Let　the　man　alone；〃　growled　a　burly　fellow　in　the　crowd；　with　his
fists　clenched　in　his　trowser…pockets。

〃Let　me　have　a　look　at　him；〃　said　Falconer；　stooping　over　him。　〃Ah！
I　don't　know　him。　　That's　as　well　for　him。　　Let　him　up；
Sutherland。〃

The　bystanders　took　Falconer　for　a　detective；　and　did　not　seem
inclined　to　interfere；　all　except　the　carman　before　mentioned。　　He
came　up；　pushing　the　crowd　right　and　left。

〃Let　the　man　alone；〃　said　he；　in　a　very　offensive　tone。

〃I　assure　you；〃　said　Falconer；　〃he's　not　worth　your　trouble；　for〃

〃None　o'　your　cursed　jaw！〃　said　the　fellow；　in　a　louder　and　deeper
growl；　approaching　Falconer　with　a　threatening　mien。

〃Well；　I　can't　help　it；〃　said　Falconer；　as　if　to　himself。

〃Sutherland；　look　after　the　count。〃

〃That　I　will；〃　said　Hugh；　confidently。

Falconer　turned　on　the　carman；　who　was　just　on　the　point　of　closing
with　him；　preferring　that　mode　of　fighting；　and　saying　only：　〃Defend
yourself；〃　retreated　a　step。　　The　man　was　good　at　his　fists　too；
and；　having　failed　in　his　first　attempt；　made　the　best　use　of　them
he　could。　　But　he　had　no　chance　with　Falconer；　whose　coolness
equalled　his　skill。

Meantime；　the　Bohemian　had　been　watching　his　chance；　and　although
the　contest　certainly　did　not　last　longer　than　one　minute；　found
opportunity；　in　the　middle　of　it；　to　wrench　himself　free　from　Hugh；
trip　him　up；　and　dart　off。　　The　crowd　gave　way　before　him。　　He
vanished　so　suddenly　and　completely；　that　it　was　evident　he　must
have　studied　the　neighbourhood　from　the　retreat　side　of　the
question。　　With　rat…like　instinct；　he　had　consulted　the　holes　and
corners　in　anticipation　of　the　necessity　of　applying　to　them。　　Hugh
got　up；　and；　directed；　or　possibly　misdirected　by　the　bystanders；
sped　away　in　pursuit；　but　he　could　hear　or　see　nothing　of　the
fugitive。

At　the　end　of　the　minute；　the　carman　lay　in　the　road。

〃Look　after　him；　somebody；〃　said　Falconer。

〃No　fear　of　him；　sir；　he's　used　to　it；〃　answered　one　of　the
bystanders；　with　the　respect　which　Falconer's　prowess　claimed。

Falconer　walked　after　Hugh；　who　soon　returned；　looking　excessively
mortified；　and　feeling　very　small　indeed。

〃Never　mind；　Sutherland；〃　said　he。　〃The　fellow　is　up　to　a　trick　or
two；　but　we　shall　catch　him　yet。　　If　it　hadn't　been　for　that　big
fool　therebut　he's　punished　enough。〃

〃But　what　can　we　do　next？　　He　will　not　come　here　again。〃

〃Very　likely　not。　　Still　he　may　not　give　up　his　attempts　upon　Miss
Cameron。　　I　almost　wonder；　seeing　she　is　so　impressible；　that　she
can　give　no　account　of　his　whereabouts。　　But　I　presume　clairvoyance
depends　on　the　presence　of　other　qualifications　as　well。　　I　should
like　to　mesmerize　her　myself；　and　see　whether　she　could　not　help　us
then。〃

〃Well；　why　not；　if　you　have　the　power？〃

〃Because　I　have　made　up　my　mind　not　to　superinduce　any　condition　of
whose　laws　I　am　so　very　partially　informed。　　Besides；　I　consider　it
a　condition　of　disease　in　which；　as　by　sleeplessness　for　instance；
the　senses　of　the　soul；　if　you　will　allow　the　expression；　are；　for
its　present　state；　rendered　unnaturally　acute。　　To　induce　such　a
condition；　I　dare　not　exercise　a　power　which　itself　I　do　not
understand。〃




CHAPTER　XIX。

MARGARET。

For　though　that　ever　virtuous　was　she；
　　She　was　increased　in　such　excellence；
Of　thewes　good；　yset　in　high　bount？
　　And　so　discreet　and　fair　of　eloquence；
　　So　benign；　and　so　digne　of　reverence；
And　couth？so　the　poeple's　hert　embrace；
That　each　her　loveth　that　looketh　in　her　face。

CHAUCER。The　Clerk's　Tale。


Hugh　returned　to　Mrs。　Elton's；　and；　in　the　dining…room；　wrote　a　note
to　Euphra；　to　express　his　disappointment；　and　shame　that；　after　all；
the　count　had　foiled　him；　but；　at　the　same　time；　his　determination
not　to　abandon　the　quest；　till　there　was　no　room　for　hope　left。　　He
sent　this　up　to　her；　and　waited；　thinking　that　she　might　be　on　the
sofa；　and　might　send　for　him。　　A　little　weary　from　the　reaction　of
the　excitement　he　had　just　gone　through；　he　sat　down　in　the　corner
farthest　from　the　door。　　The　large　room　was　dimly　lighted　by　one
untrimmed　lamp。

He　sat　for　some　time；　thinking　that　Euphra　was　writing　him　a　note；
or　perhaps　preparing　herself　to　see　him　in　her　room。　　Involuntarily
he　looked　up；　and　a　sudden　pang；　as　at　the　vision　of　the
disembodied；　shot　through　his　heart。　　A　dim　form　stood　in　the　middle
of　the　room；　gazing　earnestly　at　him。　　He　saw　the　same　face　which　he
had　seen　for　a　moment　in　the　library　at　Arnsteadthe　glorified　face
of　Margaret　Elginbrod；　shimmering　faintly　in　the　dull　light。
Instinctively　he　pressed　his　hands　together；　palm　to　palm；　as　if　he
had　been　about　to　kneel　before　Madonna　herself。　　Delight；　mingled
with　hope；　and　tempered　by　shame；　flushed　his　face。　　Ghost　or　none；
she　brought　no　fear　with　her；　only　awe。

She　stood　still。

〃Margaret！〃　he　said；　with　trembling　voice。

〃Mr。　Sutherland！〃　she　responded；　sweetly。

〃Are　you　a　ghost；　Margaret？〃

She　smiled　as　if　she　were　all　spirit；　and；　advancing　slowly；　took
his　joined　hands　in　both　of　hers。

〃Forgive　me；　Margaret；〃　sighed　he；　as　if　with　his　last　breath；　and
burst　into　an　agony　of　tears。

She　waited　motionless；　till　his　passion　should　subside；　still
holding　his　hands。　　He　felt　that　her　hands　were　so　good。

〃He　is　dead！〃　said　Hugh；　at　last；　with　all　effort；　followed　by　a
fresh　outburst　of　weeping。

〃Yes；　he　is　dead；〃　rejoined　Margaret；　calmly。　〃You　would　not　weep　so
if　you　had　seen　him　die　as　I　diddie　with　a　smile　like　a　summer
sunset。　　Indeed；　it　was　the　sunset　to　me；　but　the　moon　has　been　up
for　a　long　time　now。〃

She　sighed　a　gentle；　painless　sigh；　and　smiled　again　like　a　saint。
She　spoke　nearly　as　Scotch　as　ever　in　tone；　though　the　words　and
pronunciation　were　almost　pure　English。This　lapse　into　so　much　of
the　old　form；　or　rather　garment；　of　speech；　constantly　recurred；　as
often　as　her　feelings　were　moved；　and　especially　when　she　talked　to
children。

〃Forgive　me；〃　said　Hugh；　once　more。

〃We　are　the　same　as　in　the　old　days；〃　answered　Margaret；　and　Hugh
was　satisfied。

〃How　do　you　come　to　be　here？〃　said　Hugh；　at　last；　after　a　silence。

〃I　will　tell　you　all　about　that　another　time。　　Now　I　must　give　you
Miss　Cameron's　message。　　She　is　very　sorry　she　cannot　see　you；　but
she　is　quite　unable。　　Indeed；　she　is　not　out　of　bed。　　But　if　you
could　call　to…morrow　morning；　she　hopes　to　be　better　and　to　be　able
to　see　you。　　She　says　she　can　never　thank　you　enough。〃

The　lamp　burned　yet　fainter。　　Margaret　went；　and　proceeded　to　trim
it。　　The　virgins　that　arose　must　have　looked　very　lovely；　trimming
their　lamps。　　It　is　a　deed　very　fair　and　womanlythe　best　for　a
womanto　make　the　lamp　burn。　　The　light　shone　up　in　her　face；　and
the　hands　removing　the　globe　handled　it　delicately。　　He　saw　that　the
good　hands　were　very　beautiful　hands；　not　small；　but　admirably
shaped；　and　very　pure。　　As　she　replaced　the　globe；

〃That　man；〃　she　said；　〃will　not　trouble　her　any　more。〃

〃I　hope　not；〃　said　Hugh；　〃but　you　speak　confidently：　why？〃

〃Because　she　has　behaved　gloriously。　　She　has　fought　and　conquered
him　on　his　own　ground；　and　she　is　a　free；　beautiful；　and　good
creature　of　God　for　ever。〃

〃You　delight　me；〃　rejoined　Hugh　〃Another　time；　perhaps；　you　will　be
able　to　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

〃I　hope　so。　　I　think　she　will　not　mind　my　telling　you。〃

They　bade　each　other　good　night；　and　Hugh　went　away　with　a　strange
feeling；　which　he　had　never　experienced　before。　　To　compare　great
things　with　small；　it　was　something　like　what　he　had　once　felt　in　a
dream；　in　which；　digging　in　his　father's　garden；　he　had　found　a
perfect　marble　statue；　young　as　life；　and　yet　old　as　the　hills。　　To
think　of　the　girl　he　had　first　seen　in　the　drawing…room　at
Turriepuffit；　idealizing　herself　into　such　a　creature　as　that；　so
grand；　and　yet　so　womanly！　so　lofty；　and　yet　so　lovely；　so　strong；
and　yet　so　graceful！

Would　that　every　woman　believed　in　the　ideal　of　herself；　and　hoped
for　it　as　the　will　of　God；　not　merely　as　the　goal　of　her　own　purest
ambition！　　But　even　if　the　lower　development　of　the　hope　were　all
she　possessed；　it　would　yet　be　well；　for　its　inevitable　failure
would　soon　develope　the　higher　and　triumphant　hope。

He　thought　about　her　till　he　fell　asleep；　and　dreamed　about　her　till
he　woke。　　Not　for　a　moment；　however；　did　he　fancy　he　was　in　love
with　her：　the　feeling　was　different　from　any　he　had　hitherto
recognized　as　embodying　that　passion。　　It　was　the　recognition　and
consequent　admiration　of　a　beauty　which　everyone　who　beheld　it　must
recognize　and　admire；　but　mingled；　in　his　case；　with　old　and
precious　memories；　doubly　dear　now　in　the　increased　earnestness　of
his　nature　and　aspirations；　and　with　a　deep　personal　interest　from
the　fact　that；　however　little；　he　had　yet　contributed　a　portion　of
the　vital　food　whereby　the　gracious　creature　had　become　what　she
was。

In　the　so…called　morning　he　went　to　Mrs。　Elton's。　　Euphra　was
expecting　his　visit；　and　he　was　shown　up　into　her　room；　where　she
was　lying　on　a　couch　by　the　fire。　　She　received　him　with　the　warmth
of　gratitude　added　to　that　of　friendship。　　Her　face　was　pale　and
thin；　but　her　eyes　were　brilliant。　　She　did　not　appear　at　first
sight　to　be　very　ill：　but　the　depth　and　reality　of　her　sickness　grew
upon　him。　　Behind　her　couch　stood　Margaret；　like　a　guardian　angel。
Margaret　could　bear　the　day；　for　she　belonged　to　it；　and　therefore
she　looked　more　beautiful　still　than　by　the　lamp…light。　　Euphra　held
out　a　pale　little　hand　to　Hugh；　and　before　she　withdrew　it；　led
Hugh's　towards　Margaret。　　Their　hands　joined。　　How　differen