david elginbrod-第91节

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At　length；　one　day；　she　came　into　the　room　where　Hugh　was　more　busy
in　teaching　than　his　pupils　were　in　learning；　and　seated　herself　by
the　fire　to　watch　for　an　opportunity。　　This　was　soon　found。　　For　the
boys；　rendered　still　more　inattentive　by　the　presence　of　their
mother；　could　not　be　induced　to　fix　the　least　thought　upon　the
matter　in　hand；　so　that　Hugh　was　compelled　to　go　over　the　same　thing
again　and　again；　without　success。　　At　last　he　said：

〃I　am　afraid；　Mrs。　Appleditch；　I　must　ask　you　to　interfere；　for　I
cannot　get　any　attention　from　the　boys　to…day。〃

〃And　how　could　it　be　otherwise；　Mr。　Sutherland；　when　you　keep
wearing　them　out　with　going　over　and　over　the　same　thing；　till　they
are　sick　of　it？　　Why　don't　you　go　on？〃

〃How　can　I　go　on　when　they　have　not　learned　the　thing　they　are　at？
That　would　be　to　build　the　chimneys　before　the　walls。〃

〃It　is　very　easy　to　be　witty；　sir；　but　I　beg　you　will　behave　more
respectfully　to　me　in　the　presence　of　my　children；　innocent　lambs！〃

Looking　round　at　the　moment；　Hugh　caught　in　his　face　what　the　elder
lamb　had　intended　for　his　back；　a　grimace　hideous　enough　to　have
procured　him　instant　promotion　in　the　kingdom　of　apes。　　The　mother
saw　it　too；　and　added：

〃You　see　you　cannot　make　them　respect　you。　　Really；　Mr。　Sutherland！〃

Hugh　was　about　to　reply；　to　the　effect　that　it　was　useless；　in　such
circumstances；　to　attempt　teaching　them　at　all；　some　utterance　of
which　sort　was　watched　for　as　the　occasion　for　his　instant
dismission；　but　at　that　very　moment　a　carriage　and　pair　pulled
sharply　up　at　the　door；　with　more　than　the　usual　amount　of
quadrupedation；　and　mother　and　sons　darted　simultaneously　to　the
window。

〃My！〃　cried　Johnnie；　〃what　a　rum　go！　　Isn't　that　a　jolly　carriage；
Peetie？〃

〃Papa's　bought　a　carriage！〃　shouted　Peetie。

〃Be　quiet；　children；〃　said　their　mother；　as　she　saw　a　footman　get
down　and　approach　the　door。

〃Look　at　that　buffer；〃　said　Johnnie。　〃Do　come　and　see　this　grand
footman；　Mr。　Sutherland。　　He's　such　a　gentleman！〃

A　box　on　the　ear　from　his　mother　silenced　him。　　The　servant　entering
with　some　perturbation　a　moment　after；　addressed　her　mistress；　for
she　dared　not　address　any　one　else　while　she　was　in　the　room：

〃Please　'm；　the　carriage　is　astin'　after　Mr。　Sutherland。〃

〃Mr。　Sutherland？〃

〃Yes　'm。〃

The　lady　turned　to　Mr。　Sutherland；　who；　although　surprised　as　well；
was　not　inclined　to　show　his　surprise　to　Mrs。　Appleditch。

〃I　did　not　know　you　had　carriage…friends；　Mr。　Sutherland；〃　said　she；
with　a　toss　of　her　head。

〃Neither　did　I；〃　answered　Hugh。　〃But　I　will　go　and　see　who　it　is。〃

When　he　reached　the　street；　he　found　Harry　on　the　pavement；　who
having　got　out　of　the　carriage；　and　not　having　been　asked　into　the
house；　was　unable　to　stand　still　for　impatience。　　As　soon　as　he　saw
his　tutor；　he　bounded　to　him；　and　threw　his　arms　round　his　neck；
standing　as　they　were　in　the　open　street。　　Tears　of　delight　filled
his　eyes。

〃Come；　come；　come；〃　said　Harry；　〃we　all　want　you。〃

〃Who　wants　me？〃

〃Mrs。　Elton　and　Euphra　and　me。　　Come；　get　in。〃

〃And　he　pulled　Hugh　towards　the　carriage。

〃I　cannot　go　with　you　now。　　I　have　pupils　here。〃

Harry's　face　fell。

〃When　will　you　come？〃

〃In　half…an…hour。〃

〃Hurrah！　　I　shall　be　back　exactly　in　half…an…hour　then。　　Do　be
ready；　please；　Mr。　Sutherland。〃

〃I　will。〃

Harry　jumped　into　the　carriage；　telling　the　coachman　to　drive　where
he　pleased；　and　be　back　at　the　same　place　in　half…an…hour。　　Hugh
returned　into　the　house。

As　may　be　supposed；　Margaret　was　the　means　of　this　happy　meeting。
Although　she　saw　plainly　enough　that　Euphra　would　like　to　see　Hugh；
she　did　not　for　some　time　make　up　her　mind　to　send　for　him。　　The
circumstances　which　made　her　resolve　to　do　so　were　these。

For　some　days　Euphra　seemed　to　be　gradually　regaining　her　health　and
composure　of　mind。　　One　evening；　after　a　longer　talk　than　usual；
Margaret　had　left　her　in　bed；　and　had　gone　to　her　own　room。　　She　was
just　preparing　to　get　into　bed　herself；　when　a　knock　at　her　door
startled　her；　and　going　to　it；　she　saw　Euphra　standing　there；　pale
as　death；　with　nothing　on　but　her　nightgown；　notwithstanding　the
bitter　cold　of　an　early　and　severe　frost。　　She　thought　at　first　she
must　be　walking　in　her　sleep；　but　the　scared　intelligence　of　her
open　eyes；　soon　satisfied　her　that　it　was　not　so。

〃What　is　the　matter；　dear　Miss　Cameron？〃　she　said；　as　calmly　as　she
could。

〃He　is　coming。　　He　wants　me。　　If　he　calls　me；　I　must　go。〃

〃No；　you　shall　not　go；〃　rejoined　Margaret；　firmly。

〃I　must；　I　must；〃　answered　Euphra；　wringing　her　hands。

〃Do　come　in；〃　said　Margaret；　〃you　must　not　stand　there　in　the　cold。〃

〃Let　me　get　into　your　bed。〃

〃Better　let　me　go　with　you　to　yours。　　That　will　be　more　comfortable
for　you。〃

〃Oh！　yes；　please　do。〃

Margaret　threw　a　shawl　round　Euphra；　and　went　back　with　her　to　her
room。

〃He　wants　me。　　He　wants　me。　　He　will　call　me　soon；〃　said　Euphra；　in
an　agonised　whisper；　as　soon　as　the　door　was　shut。　〃What　shall　I
do！〃

〃Come　to　bed　first；　and　we　will　talk　about　it　there。〃

As　soon　as　they　were　in　bed；　Margaret　put　her　arm　round　Euphra；　who
was　trembling　with　cold　and　fear；　and　said：

〃Has　this　man　any　right　to　call　you？〃

〃No；　no；〃　answered　Euphra；　vehemently。

〃Then　don't　go。〃

〃But　I　am　afraid　of　him。〃

〃Defy　him　in　God's　name。〃

〃But　besides　the　fear；　there　is　something　that　I　can't　describe；
that　always　keeps　telling　meno；　not　telling　me；　pushing　meno；
drawing　me；　as　if　I　could　not　rest　a　moment　till　I　go。　　I　cannot
describe　it。　　I　hate　to　go；　and　yet　I　feel　that　if　I　were　cold　in　my
grave；　I　must　rise　and　go　if　he　called　me。　　I　wish　I　could　tell　you
what　it　is　like。　　It　is　as　if　some　demon　were　shaking　my　soul　till　I
yielded　and　went。　　Oh！　don't　despise　me。　　I　can't　help　it。〃

〃My　darling；　I　don't；　I　can't　despise　you。　　You　shall　not　go　to
him。〃

〃But　I　must；〃　answered　she；　with　a　despairing　faintness　more
convincing　than　any　vehemence；　and　then　began　to　weep　with　a　slow；
hopeless　weeping；　like　the　rain　of　a　November　eve。

Margaret　got　out　of　bed。　　Euphra　thought　she　was　offended。　　Starting
up；　she　clasped　her　hands；　and　said：

〃Oh　Margaret！　　I　won't　cry。　　Don't　leave　me。　　Don't　leave　me。〃

She　entreated　like　a　chidden　child。

〃No；　no；　I　didn't　mean　to　leave　you　for　a　moment。　　Lie　down　again；
dear；　and　cry　as　much　as　you　like。　　I　am　going　to　read　a　little　bit
out　of　the　New　Testament　to　you。〃

〃I　am　afraid　I　can't　listen　to　it。〃

〃Never　mind。　　Don't　try。　　I　want　to　read　it。〃

Margaret　got　a　New　Testament；　and　read　part　of　that　chapter　of　St。
John's　Gospel　which　speaks　about　human　labour　and　the　bread　of　life。
She　stopped　at　these　words：

〃For　I　came　down　from　heaven；　not　to　do　mine　own　will；　but　the　will
of　him　that　sent　me。〃

Euphra's　tears　had　ceased。　　The　sound　of　Margaret's　voice；　which；　if
it　lost　in　sweetness　by　becoming　more　Scotch　when　she　read　the
Gospel；　yet　gained　thereby　in　pathos；　and　the　power　of　the　blessed
words　themselves；　had　soothed　the　troubled　spirit　a　little；　and　she
lay　quiet。

〃The　count　is　not　a　good　man；　Miss　Cameron？〃

〃You　know　he　is　not；　Margaret。　　He　is　the　worst　man　alive。〃

〃Then　it　cannot　be　God's　will　that　you　should　go　to　him。〃

〃But　one　does　many　things　that　are　not　God's　will。〃

〃But　it　is　God's　will　that　you　should　not　go　to　him。〃

Euphra　lay　silent　for　a　few　moments。　　Suddenly　she　exclaimed：

〃Then　I　must　not　go　to　him；〃got　out　of　bed；　threw　herself　on　her
knees　by　the　bedside；　and　holding　up　her　clasped　hands；　said；　in　low
tones　that　sounded　as　if　forced　from　her　by　agony：

〃I　won't！　　I　won't！　　O　God；　I　will　not。　　Help　me；　help　me！〃

Margaret　knelt　beside　her；　and　put　her　arm　round　her。　　Euphra　spoke
no　more；　but　remained　kneeling；　with　her　extended　arms　and　clasped
hands　lying　on　the　bed；　and　her　head　laid　between　them。　　At　length
Margaret　grew　alarmed；　and　looked　at　her。　　But　she　found　that　she
was　in　a　sweet　sleep。　　She　gently　disengaged　herself；　and　covering
her　up　soft　and　warm；　left　her　to　sleep　out　her　God…sent　sleep
undisturbed；　while　she　sat　beside；　and　watched　for　her　waking。

She　slept　thus　for　an　hour。　　Then　lifting　her　head；　and　seeing
Margaret；　she　rose　quietly；　as　if　from　her　prayers；　and　said　with　a
smile：

〃Margaret；　I　was　dreaming　that　I　had　a　mother。〃

〃So　you　have；　somewhere。〃

〃Yes；　so　I　have；　somewhere；〃　she　repeated；　and　crept　into　bed　like　a
child；　lay　down；　and　was　asleep　again　in　a　moment。

Margaret　watched　her　for　another　hour；　and　then　seeing　no　signs　of
restlessness；　but　that　on　the　contrary　her　sleep　was　profound；　lay
down　beside　her；　and　soon　shared　in　that　repose　which　to　weary　women
and　men　is　God's　best　gift。

She　rose　at　her　usual　hour　the　next　day；　and　was　dressed　before
Euphra　awoke。　　It　was　a　cold　grey　December　morning；　with　the
hoar…frost　lying　thick　on　the　roofs　of　the　houses。　　Euphra　opened
her　eyes　while　Margaret　was　busy　lighting　the　fire。　　Seeing　that　she
was　there；　she　closed　them　again；　and　fell　once　more　fast　asleep。
Before　she　woke　again；　Margaret　had　some　tea　ready　for　her；　after
taking　which；　she　felt　able　to　get　up。　　She　rose　looking　more　bright