david elginbrod-第67节

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comfort　her。　　Perhaps　it　was　betterhow　could　he　comfort　her？　　Some
kinds　of　comfortthe　only　kinds　which　poor　mortals　sometimes　have
to　giveare　like　the　food　on　which　the　patient　and　the　disease　live
together；　and　some　griefs　are　soonest　got　rid　of　by　letting　them
burn　out。　　All　the　fire…engines　in　creation　can　only　prolong　the
time；　and　increase　the　sense　of　burning。　　There　is　but　one　cure：　the
fellow…feeling　of　the　human　God；　which　converts　the　agony　itself
into　the　creative　fire　of　a　higher　life。

As　for　Von　Funkelstein；　Hugh　comforted　himself　with　the　conviction
that　they　were　destined　to　meet　again。

The　day　went　on；　as　days　will　go；　unstayed；　unhastened　by　the　human
souls；　through　which　they　glide　silent　and　awful。　　After　such
lessons　as　he　was　able　to　get　through　with　Harry；who；　feeling　that
his　tutor　did　not　want　him；　left　the　room　as　soon　as　they　were
overhe　threw　himself　on　the　couch；　and　tried　to　think。　　But　think
he　could　not。　　Thoughts　passed　through　him；　but　he　did　not　think
them。　　He　was　powerless　in　regard　to　them。　　They　came　and　went　of
their　own　will：　he　could　neither　say　come　nor　go。　　Tired　at　length
of　the　couch；　he　got　up　and　paced　about　the　room　for　hours。　　When　he
came　to　himself　a　little；　he　found　that　the　sun　was　nearly　setting。
Through　the　top　of　a　beech…tree　taller　than　the　rest；　it　sent　a
golden　light；　full　of　the　floating　shadows　of　leaves　and　branches；
upon　the　wall　of　his　room。　　But　there　was　no　beauty　for　him　in　the
going　down　of　the　sun；　no　glory　in　the　golden　light；　no　message　from
dream…land　in　the　flitting　and　blending　and　parting；　the　constantly
dissolving　yet　ever　remaining　play　of　the　lovely　and　wonderful
shadow…leaves。　　The　sun　sank　below　the　beech…top；　and　was　hidden
behind　a　cloud　of　green　leaves；　thick　as　the　wood　was　deep。　　A　grey
light　instead　of　a　golden　filled　the　room。　　The　change　had　no
interest　for　him。　　The　pain　of　a　lost　passion　tormented　himthe
aching　that　came　of　the　falling　together　of　the　ethereal　walls　of
his　soul；　about　the　space　where　there　had　been　and　where　there　was
no　longer　a　world。

A　young　bird　flew　against　the　window；　and　fluttered　its　wings　two　or
three　times；　vainly　seeking　to　overcome　the　unseen　obstacle　which
the　glass　presented　to　its　flight。　　Hugh　started　and　shuddered。
Then　first　he　knew；　in　the　influence　of　the　signs　of　the
approaching　darkness；　how　much　his　nerves　had　suffered　from　the
change　that　had　passed。　　He　took　refuge　with　Harry。　　His　pupil　was
now　to　be　his　consoler；　who　in　his　turn　would　fare　henceforth　the
better；　for　the　decay　of　Hugh's　pleasures。　　The　poor　boy　was　filled
with　delight　at　having　his　big　brother　all　to　himself　again；　and
worked　harder　than　ever　to　make　the　best　of　his　privileges。　　For
Hugh；　it　was　wonderful　how　soon　his　peace　of　mind　began　to　return
after　he　gave　himself　to　his　duty；　and　how　soon　the　clouds　of
disappointment　descended　below　the　far　horizon；　leaving　the　air
clear　above　and　around。　　Painful　thoughts　about　Euphra　would　still
present　themselves；　but　instead　of　becoming　more　gentle　and
sorrowful　as　the　days　went　on；　they　grew　more　and　more　severe　and
unjust　and　angry。　　He　even　entertained　doubts　whether　she　did　not
know　all　about　the　theft　of　both　rings；　for　to　her　only　had　he
discovered　the　secret　place　in　the　old　desk。　　If　she　was　capable　of
what　he　believed；　why　should　she　not　be　capable　of　anything　else？
It　seemed　to　him　most　simple　and　credible。　　An　impure　woman　might
just　as　well　be　a　thief　too。I　am　only　describing　Hugh's　feelings。

But　along　with　these　feelings　and　thoughts；　of　mingled　good　and　bad；
came　one　feeling　which　he　needed　more　than　anyrepentance。　　Seated
alone　upon　a　fallen　tree　one　day；　the　face　of　poor　Harry　came　back
to　him；　as　he　saw　it　first；　poring　over　Polexander　in　the　library；
and；　full　of　the　joy　of　life　himself；　notwithstanding　his　past
troubles；　strong　as　a　sunrise；　and　hopeful　as　a　Prometheus；　the
quivering　perplexity　of　that　sickly　little　face　smote　him　with　a
pang。　〃What　might　I　not　have　done　for　the　boy！　　He；　too；　was　in　the
hands　of　the　enchantress；　and；　instead　of　freeing　him；　I　became　her
slave　to　enchain　him　further。〃　　Yet；　even　in　this；　he　did　Euphra
injustice；　for　he　had　come　to　the　conclusion　that　she　had　laid　her
plans　with　the　intention　of　keeping　the　boy　a　dwarf；　by　giving　him
only　food　for　babes；　and　not　good　food　either；　withholding　from　him
every　stimulus　to　mental　digestion　and　consequent　hunger；　and　that
she　had　objects　of　her　own　in　doing　soone　perhaps；　to　keep　herself
necessary　to　the　boy　as　she　was　to　the　father；　and　so　secure　the
future。　　But　poor　Euphra's　own　nature　and　true　education　had　been
sadly　neglected。　　A　fine　knowledge　of　music　and　Italian；　and　the
development　of　a　sensuous　sympathy　with　nature；　could　hardly　be
called　education。　　It　was　not　certainly　such　a　development　of　her
own　nature　as　would　enable　her　to　sympathise　with　the　necessities　of
a　boy's　nature。　　Perhaps　the　worst　that　could　justly　be　said　of　her
behaviour　to　Harry　was；　that；　with　a　strong　inclination　to
despotism；　and　some　feeling　of　loneliness；　she　had　exercised　the　one
upon　him　in　order　to　alleviate　the　other　in　herself。　　Upon　him；
therefore；　she　expended　a　certain；　or　rather　an　uncertain　kind　of
affection；　which；　if　it　might　have　been　more　fittingly　spent　upon　a
lapdog；　and　was　worth　but　little；　might　yet　have　become　worth
everything；　had　she　been　moderately　good。

Hugh　did　not　see　Euphra　again　for　more　than　a　fortnight。




CHAPTER　XXX。

CHANGES。

Hey；　and　the　rue　grows　bonny　wi'　thyme！
And　the　thyme　it　is　withered；　and　rue　is　in　prime。

Refrain　of　an　old　Scotch　song；　altered　by　BURNS。

　　He　hath　wronged　me；　indeed　he　hath；at　a　word；　he　hath；believe
me；　Robert　Shallow；　Esquire；　saith　he　is　wronged。

Merry　Wives　of　Windsor。


At　length；　one　evening；　entering　the　drawing…room　before　dinner；
Hugh　found　Euphra　there　alone。　　He　bowed　with　embarrassment；　and
uttered　some　commonplace　congratulation　on　her　recovery。　　She
answered　him　gently　and　coldly。　　Her　whole　air　and　appearance　were
signs　of　acute　suffering。　　She　did　not　make　the　slightest　approach
to　their　former　familiarity；　but　she　spoke　without　any
embarrassment；　like　one　who　had　given　herself　up；　and　was；
therefore；　indifferent。　　Hugh　could　not　help　feeling　as　if　she　knew
every　thought　that　was　passing　in　his　mind；　and；　having　withdrawn
herself　from　him；　was　watching　him　with　a　cold；　ghostly　interest。
She　took　his　arm　to　go　into　the　dining…room；　and　actually　leaned
upon　it；　as；　indeed；　she　was　compelled　to　do。　　Her　uncle　was
delighted　to　see　her　once　more。　　Mrs。　Elton　addressed　her　with
kindness；　and　Lady　Emily　with　sweet　cordiality。　　She　herself　seemed
to　care　for　nobody　and　nothing。　　As　soon　as　dinner　was　over；　she
sent　for　her　maid；　and　withdrew　to　her　own　room。　　It　was　a　great
relief　to　Hugh　to　feel　that　he　was　no　longer　in　danger　of
encountering　her　eyes。

Gradually　she　recovered　strength；　though　it　was　again　some　days
before　she　appeared　at　the　dinner…table。　　The　distance　between　Hugh
and　her　seemed　to　increase　instead　of　diminish；　till　at　length　he
scarcely　dared　to　offer　her　the　smallest　civility；　lest　she　should
despise　him　as　a　hypocrite。　　The　further　she　removed　herself　from
him；　the　more　he　felt　inclined　to　respect　her。　　By　common　consent
they　avoided；　as　much　as　before；　any　behaviour　that　might　attract
attention；　though　the　effort　was　of　a　very　different　nature　now。　　It
was　wretched　enough；　no　doubt；　for　both　of　them。

The　time　drew　near　for　Lady　Emily's　departure。

〃What　are　your　plans　for　the　winter；　Mrs。　Elton？〃　said　Mr。　Arnold；
one　day。

〃I　intend　spending　the　winter　in　London；〃　she　answered。

〃Then　you　are　not　going　with　Lady　Emily　to　Madeira？〃

〃No。　Her　father　and　one　of　her　sisters　are　going　with　her。〃

〃I　have　a　great　mind　to　spend　the　winter　abroad　myself；　but　the
difficulty　is　what　to　do　with　Harry。〃

〃Could　you　not　leave　him　with　Mr。　Sutherland？〃

〃No。　I　do　not　choose　to　do　that。〃

〃Then　let　him　come　to　me。　　I　shall　have　all　my　little　establishment
up；　and　there　will　be　plenty　of　room　for　Harry。〃

〃A　very　kind　offer。　　I　may　possibly　avail　myself　of　it。〃

〃I　fear　we　could　hardly　accommodate　his　tutor；　though。　　But　that
will　be　very　easily　arranged。　　He　could　sleep　out　of　the　house；
could　he　not？〃

〃Give　yourself　no　trouble　about　that。　　I　wish　Harry　to　have　masters
for　the　various　branches　he　will　study。　　It　will　teach　him　more　of
men　and　the　world　generally；　and　prevent　his　being　too　much
influenced　by　one　style　of　thinking。〃

〃But　Mr。　Sutherland　is　a　very　good　tutor。〃

〃Yes。　Very。〃

To　this　there　could　be　no　reply　but　a　question；　and　Mr。　Arnold's
manner　not　inviting　one；　the　conversation　was　dropped。

Euphra　gradually　resumed　her　duties　in　the　house；　as　far　as　great
lameness　would　permit。　　She　continued　to　show　a　quiet　and　dignified
reserve　towards　Hugh。　She　made　no　attempts　to　fascinate　him；　and
never　avoided　his　look　when　it　chanced　to　meet　hers。　　But　although
there　was　no　reproach　any　more　than　fascination　in　her　eyes；　Hugh's
always　fell　before　hers。　　She　walked　softly　like　Ahab；　as　if；　now
that　Hugh　knew；　she；　too；　was　ever　conscious。

He