david elginbrod-第84节

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larger；　that　the　pews　were　filled　with　angels；　so　crowded　together
that　they　had　to　tuck　up　their　wings　very　close　indeedand　Harry
could　not　help　wondering　what　they　wanted　them　for；　that　they　were
all　singing　psalms；　that　the　pulpit　by　a　little　change　had　been
converted　into　a　throne；　on　which　sat　God　the　Father；　looking　very
solemn　and　severe；　that　Jesus　was　seated　in　the　reading…desk；
looking　very　sad；　and　that　the　Holy　Ghost　sat　on　the　clerk's　desk；
in　the　shape　of　a　white　dove；　that　a　cherub；　whose　face　reminded　him
very　much　of　a　policeman　he　knew；　took　him　by　the　shoulder　for
trying　to　pluck　a　splendid　green　feather　out　of　an　archangel's　wing；
and　led　him　up　to　the　throne；　where　God　shook　his　head　at　him　in
such　a　dreadful　way；　that　he　was　terrified；　and　then　stretched　out
his　hand　to　lay　hold　on　him；　that　he　shrieked　with　fear；　and　that
Jesus　put　out　his　hand　and　lifted　him　into　the　reading…desk；　and　hid
him　down　below。　　And　there　Harry　lay；　feeling　so　safe；　stroking　and
kissing　the　feet　that　had　been　weary　and　wounded　for　him；　till；　in
the　growing　delight　of　the　thought　that　he　actually　held　those　feet；
he　came　awake　and　remembered　it　all。　　Truly　it　was　a　childish　dream；
but　not　without　its　own　significance。　　For　surely　the　only　refuge
from　heathenish　representations　of　God　under　Christian　forms；　the
only　refuge　from　man's　blinding　and　paralysing　theories；　from　the
dead　wooden　shapes　substituted　for　the　living　forms　of　human　love
and　hope　and　aspiration；　from　the　interpretations　which　render
scripture　as　dry　as　a　speech　in　Chancerysurely　the　one　refuge　from
all　these　awful　evils　is　the　Son　of　man；　for　no　misrepresentation
and　no　misconception　can　destroy　the　beauty　of　that　face　which　the
marring　of　sorrow　has　elevated　into　the　region　of　reality；　beyond
the　marring　of　irreverent　speculation　and　scholastic　definition。
》From　the　God　of　man's　painting；　we　turn　to　the　man　of　God's　being；
and　he　leads　us　to　the　true　God；　the　radiation　of　whose　glory　we
first　see　in　him。　　Happy　is　that　man　who　has　a　glimpse　of　this；　even
in　a　dream　such　as　Harry's！a　dream　in　other　respects　childish　and
incongruous；　but　not　more　absurd　than　the　instruction　whence　it
sprung。

But　the　troubles　returned　with　the　day。　　Prayers　revived　them。　　He
sought　Euphra　in　her　room。

〃They　say　I　must　repent　and　be　sorry　for　my　sins；〃　said　he。　〃I　have
been　trying　very　hard；　but　I　can't　think　of　any；　except　once　that　I
gave　Gog〃　（his　Welsh　pony）　〃such　a　beating　because　he　would　go　where
I　didn't　want　him。　　But　he's　forgotten　it　long　ago；　and　I　gave　him
two　feeds　of　corn　after　it；　and　so　somehow　I　can't　feel　very　sorry
now。　　What　shall　I　do？But　that's　not　what　I　mind　most。　　It　always
seems　to　me　it　would　be　so　much　grander　of　God　to　say：　'Come　along；
never　mind。　　I'll　make　you　good。　　I　can't　wait　till　you　are　good；　I
love　you　so　much。'〃

His　own　words　were　too　much　for　Harry；　and　he　burst　into　tears　at
the　thought　of　God　being　so　kind。　　Euphra；　instead　of　trying　to
comfort　him；　cried　too。　　Thus　they　continued　for　some　time；　Harry
with　his　head　on　her　knees；　and　she　kindly　fondling　it　with　her
distressed　hands。　　Harry　was　the　first　to　recover；　for　his　was　the
April　time；　when　rain　clears　the　heavens。　　All　at　once　he　sprung　to
his　feet；　and　exclaimed：

〃Only　think；　Euphra！　　What　if；　after　all；　I　should　find　out　that　God
is　as　kind　as　you　are！〃

How　Euphra's　heart　smote　her！

〃Dear　Harry；〃　answered　she；　〃God　must　be　a　great　deal　kinder　than　I
am。　　I　have　not　been　kind　to　you　at　all。〃

〃Don't　say　that；　Euphra。　　I　shall　be　quite　content　if　God　is　as　kind
as　you。〃

〃Oh；　Harry！　　I　hope　God　is　like　what　I　dreamed　about　my　mother　last
night。〃

〃Tell　me　what　you　dreamed　about　her；　dear　Euphra。〃

〃I　dreamed　that　I　was　a　little　child〃

〃Were　you　a　little　girl　when　your　mother　died？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　such　a　tiny！　　But　I　can　just　remember　her。〃

〃Tell　me　your　dream；　then。〃

〃I　dreamed　that　I　was　a　little　girl；　out　all　alone　on　a　wild
mountain…moor；　tripping　and　stumbling　on　my　night…gown。　　And　the
wind　was　so　cold！　　And；　somehow　or　other；　the　wind　was　an　enemy　to
me；　and　it　followed　and　caught　me；　and　whirled　and　tossed　me　about；
and　then　ran　away　again。　　Then　I　hastened　on；　and　the　thorns　went
into　my　feet；　and　the　stones　cut　them。　　And　I　heard　the　blood　from
them　trickling　down　the　hill…side　as　I　walked。〃

〃Then　they　would　be　like　the　feet　I　saw　in　my　dream　last　night。〃

〃Whose　feet　were　they？〃

〃Jesus'　feet。〃

〃Tell　me　about　it。〃

〃You　must　finish　yours　first；　please；　Euphra。〃

So　Euphra　went　on：

〃I　got　dreadfully　lame。　　And　the　wind　ran　after　me；　and　caught　me
again；　and　took　me　in　his　great　blue　ghostly　arms；　and　shook　me
about；　and　then　dropped　me　again　to　go　on。　　But　it　was　very　hard　to
go　on；　and　I　couldn't　stop；　and　there　was　no　use　in　stopping；　for
the　wind　was　everywhere　in　a　moment。　　Then　suddenly　I　saw　before　me
a　great　cataract；　all　in　white；　falling　flash　from　a　precipice；　and
I　thought　with　myself；　'I　will　go　into　the　cataract；　and　it　will
beat　my　life　out；　and　then　the　wind　will　not　get　me　any　more。'　　So　I
hastened　towards　it；　but　the　wind　caught　me　many　times　before　I　got
near　it。　　At　last　I　reached　it；　and　threw　myself　down　into　the　basin
it　had　hollowed　out　of　the　rocks。　　But　as　I　was　falling；　something
caught　me　gently；　and　held　me　fast；　and　it　was　not　the　wind。　　I
opened　my　eyes；　and　behold！　　I　was　in　my　mother's　arms；　and　she　was
clasping　me　to　her　breast；　for　what　I　had　taken　for　a　cataract
falling　into　a　gulf；　was　only　my　mother；　with　her　white
grave…clothes　floating　all　about　her；　standing　up　in　her　grave；　to
look　after　me。　'It　was　time　you　came　home；　my　darling；'　she　said；
and　stooped　down　into　her　grave　with　me　in　her　arms。　　And　oh！　　I　was
so　happy；　and　her　bosom　was　not　cold；　or　her　arms　hard；　and　she
carried　me　just　like　a　baby。　　And　when　she　stooped　down；　then　a　door
opened　somewhere　in　the　grave；　I　could　not　find　out　where
exactlyand　in　a　moment　after；　we　were　sitting　together　in　a　summer
grove；　with　the　tree…tops　steeped　in　sunshine；　and　waving　about　in　a
quiet　loving　windoh；　how　different　from　the　one　that　chased　me
home！and　we　underneath　in　the　shadow　of　the　trees。　　And　then　I
said；　'Mother；　I've　hurt　my　feet。'〃

〃Did　you　call　her　mother　when　you　were　a　little　girl？〃　interposed
Harry。

〃No；〃　answered　Euphra。　〃I　called　her　mamma；　like　other　children；　but
in　my　dreams　I　always　call　her　mother。〃

〃And　what　did　she　say？〃

〃She　said'Poor　child！'and　held　my　feet　to　her　bosom；　and　after
that；　when　I　looked　at　them；　the　bleeding　was　all　gone；　and　I　was
not　lame　any　more。〃

Euphra；　paused　with　a　sigh。

〃Oh；　Harry！　　I　do　not　like　to　be　lame。〃

〃What　more？〃　said　Harry；　intent　only　on　the　dream。

〃Oh！　then　I　was　so　happy；　that　I　woke　up　directly。〃

〃What　a　pity！　　But　if　it　should　come　true？〃

〃How　could　it　come　true；　dear　Harry？〃

〃Why；　this　world　is　sometimes　cold；　and　the　road　is　hardyou　know
what　I　mean；　Euphra。〃

〃Yes；　I　do。〃

〃I　wish　I　could　dream　dreams　like　that！　　How　clever　you　must　be！〃

〃But　you　dream　dreams；　too；　Harry。　　Tell　me　yours。〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　never　dream　dreams；　the　dreams　dream　me；〃　answered　Harry；
with　a　smile。

Then　he　told　his　dream；　to　which　Euphra　listened　with　an　interest
uninjured　by　the　grotesqueness　of　its　fancy。　　Each　interpreted　the
other's　with　reverence。

They　ceased　talking；　and　sat　silent　for　a　while。　　Then　Harry；
putting　his　arms　round　Euphra's　neck；　and　his　lips　close　to　her　ear；
whispered：

〃Perhaps　God　will　say　my　darling　to　you　some　day；　Euphra；　just　as
your　mother　did　in　your　dream。〃

She　was　silent。　　Harry　looked　round　into　her　face；　and　saw　that　the
tears　were　flowing　fast。

At　that　instant；　a　gentle　knock　came　to　the　door。　　Euphra　could　not
reply　to　it。　　It　was　repeated。　　After　another　moment's　delay；　the
door　opened；　and　Margaret　walked　in。




CHAPTER　XII。

A　SUNDAY　WITH　FALCONER。

How　happy　is　he　born　and　taught；
　　That　serveth　not　another's　will；
Whose　armour　is　his　honest　thought；
　　And　simple　truth　his　utmost　skill。

This　man　is　freed　from　servile　bands
　　Of　hope　to　rise　or　fear　to　fall：
Lord　of　himself；　though　not　of　lands；
　　And；　having　nothing；　yet　hath　all。

SIR　HENRY　WOTTON。


It　was　not　often　that　Falconer　went　to　church；　but　he　seemed　to　have
some　design　in　going　oftener　than　usual　at　present。　　The　Sunday
after　the　one　last　mentioned；　he　went　as　well；　though　not　to　the
same　church；　and　calling　for　Hugh　took　him　with　him。　　What　they
found　there；　and　the　conversation　following　thereupon；　I　will　try　to
relate；　because；　although　they　do　not　immediately　affect　my　outward
story；　they　greatly　influenced　Hugh's　real　history。

They　heard　the　Morning　Service　and　the　Litany　read　in　an　ordinary
manner；　though　somewhat　more　devoutly　than　usual。　　Then；　from　the
communion…table；　rose　a　voice　vibrating　with　solemn　emotion；　like
the　voice　of　Abraham　pleading　for　Sodom。　　It　thrilled　through　Hugh's
heart。　　The　sermon　which　followed　affected　him　no　less；　although；
when　he　came　out；　he　confessed　to　Falconer　that　he　had　only　caught
flying　glimpses　of　its　meaning；　scope；　and　drift。

〃I　seldom　go　to　church；〃　said　Falconer；　〃b