david elginbrod-第92节

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taking　which；　she　felt　able　to　get　up。　　She　rose　looking　more　bright
and　hopeful　than　Margaret　had　seen　her　before。

But　Margaret；　who　watched　her　intently　through　the　day；　saw　a　change
come　over　her　cheer。　　Her　face　grew　pale　and　troubled。　　Now　and　then
her　eyes　were　fixed　on　vacancy；　and　again　she　would　look　at　Margaret
with　a　woebegone　expression　of　countenance；　but　presently；　as　if
recollecting　herself；　would　smile　and　look　cheerful　for　a　moment。
Margaret　saw　that　the　conflict　was　coming　on；　if　not　already
begunthat　at　least　its　shadow　was　upon　her；　and　thinking　that　if
she　could　have　a　talk　with　Hugh　about　what　he　had　been　doing；　it
would　comfort　her　a　little；　and　divert　her　thoughts　from　herself；
even　if　no　farther　or　more　pleasantly　than　to　the　count；　she　let
Harry　know　Hugh's　address；　as　given　in　the　letter　to　her　father。
She　was　certain　that；　if　Harry　succeeded　in　finding　him；　nothing
more　was　necessary　to　insure　his　being　brought　to　Mrs。　Elton's。　　As
we　have　seen；　Harry　had　traced　him　to　Buccleuch　Terrace。

Hugh　re…entered　the　house　in　the　same　mind　in　which　he　had　gone　out；
namely；　that　after　Mrs。　Appleditch's　behaviour　to　him　before　his
pupils；　he　could　not　remain　their　tutor　any　longer；　however　great
his　need　might　be　of　the　pittance　he　received　for　his　services。

But　although　Mrs。　Appleditch's　first　feeling　had　been　jealousy　of
Hugh's　acquaintance　with　〃carriage…people；〃　the　toadyism　which　is　so
essential　an　element　of　such　jealousy；　had　by　this　time　revived；　and
when　Hugh　was　proceeding　to　finish　the　lesson　he　had　begun；
intending　it　to　be　his　last；　she　said：

〃Why　didn't　you　ask　your　friend　into　the　drawing…room；　Mr。
Sutherland？〃

〃Good　gracious！　　The　drawing…room！〃　thought　Hughbut　answered：　〃He
will　fetch　me　when　the　lesson　is　over。〃

〃I　am　sure；　sir；　any　friends　of　yours　that　like　to　call　upon　you
here；　will　be　very　welcome。　　It　will　be　more　agreeable　to　you　to
receive　them　here；　of　course；　for　your　accommodation　at　poor　Miss
Talbot's　is　hardly　suitable　for　such　visitors。〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　say；　however；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃that　after　the　way　you
have　spoken　to　me　to…day；　in　the　presence　of　my　pupils；　I　cannot
continue　my　relation　to　them　any　longer。〃

〃Ho！　ho！〃　resnorted　the　lady；　indignation　and　scorn　mingling　with
mortification；　〃our　grand　visitors　have　set　our　backs　up。　　Very
well；　Mr。　Sutherland；　you　will　oblige　me　by　leaving　the　house　at
once。　　Don't　trouble　yourself；　pray；　to　finish　the　lesson。　　I　will
pay　you　for　it　all　the　same。　　Anything　to　get　rid　of　a　man　who
insults　me　before　the　very　faces　of　my　innocent　lambs！　　And　please
to　remember；〃　she　added；　as　she　pulled　out　her　purse；　while　Hugh　was
collecting　some　books　he　had　lent　the　boys；　〃that　when　you　were
starving；　my　husband　and　I　took　you　in　and　gave　you　employment　out
of　charitypure　charity；　Mr。　Sutherland。　　Here　is　your　money。〃

〃Good　morning；　Mrs。　Appleditch；〃　said　Hugh；　and　walked　out　with　his
books　under　his　arm；　leaving　her　with　the　money　in　her　hand。

He　had　to　knock　his　feet　on　the　pavement　in　front　of　the　house；　to
keep　them　from　freezing；　for　half…an…hour；　before　the　carriage
arrived　to　take　him　away。　　As　soon　as　it　came　up；　he　jumped　into　it；
and　was　carried　off　in　triumph　by　Harry。

Mrs。　Elton　received　him　kindly。　　Euphra　held　out　her　hand　with　a
slight　blush；　and　the　quiet　familiarity　of　an　old　friend。　　Hugh
could　almost　have　fallen　in　love　with　her　again；　from　compassion　for
her　pale；　worn　face；　and　subdued　expression。

Mrs。　Elton　went　out　in　the　carriage　almost　directly；　and　Euphra
begged　Harry　to　leave　them　alone；　as　she　had　something　to　talk　to
Mr。　Sutherland　about。

〃Have　you　found　any　trace　of　Count　Halkar；　Hugh？〃　she　said；　the
moment　they　were　by　themselves。

〃I　am　very　sorry　to　say　I　have　not。　　I　have　done　my　best。〃

〃I　am　quite　sure　of　that。I　just　wanted　to　tell　you；　that；　from
certain　indications　which　no　one　could　understand　so　well　as　myself；
I　think　you　will　have　more　chance　of　finding　him　now。〃

〃I　am　delighted　to　hear　it；〃　responded　Hugh。　〃If　I　only　had　him！〃

Euphra　sighed；　paused；　and　then　said：

〃But　I　am　not　sure　of　it。　　I　think　he　is　in　London；　but　he　may　be　in
Bohemia；　for　anything　I　know。　　I　shall；　however；　in　all　probability；
know　more　about　him　within　a　few　days。〃

Hugh　resolved　to　go　at　once　to　Falconer；　and　communicate　to　him　what
Euphra　had　told　him。　　But　he　said　nothing　to　her　as　to　the　means　by
which　he　had　tried　to　discover　the　count；　for　although　he　felt　sure
that　he　had　done　right　in　telling　Falconer　all　about　it；　he　was
afraid　lest　Euphra；　not　knowing　what　sort　of　a　man　he　was；　might　not
like　it。　　Euphra；　on　her　part；　did　not　mention　Margaret's　name；　for
she　had　begged　her　not　to　do　so。

〃You　will　tell　me　when　you　know　yourself？〃

〃Perhaps。I　will；　if　I　can。　　I　do　wish　you　could　get　the　ring。　　I
have　a　painful　feeling　that　it　gives　him　power　over　me。〃

〃That　can　only　be　a　nervous　fancy；　surely；〃　Hugh　ventured　to　say。

〃Perhaps　it　is。　　I　don't　know。　　But；　still；　without　that；　there　are
plenty　of　reasons　for　wishing　to　recover　it。　　He　will　put　it　to　a
bad　use；　if　he　can。　　But　for　your　sake；　especially；　I　wish　we　could
get　it。〃

〃Thank　you。　　You　were　always　kind。〃

〃No；〃　she　replied；　without　lifting　her　eyes；　〃I　brought　it　all　upon
you。〃

〃But　you　could　not　help　it。〃

〃Not　at　the　moment。　　But　all　that　led　to　it　was　my　fault。〃

She　paused；　then　suddenly　resumed：

〃I　will　confess。Do　you　know　what　gave　rise　to　the　reports　of　the
house　being　haunted？〃

〃No。〃

〃It　was　me　wandering　about　it　at　night；　looking　for　that　very　ring；
to　give　to　the　count。　　It　was　shameful。　　But　I　did。　　Those　reports
prevented　me　from　being　found　out。　　But　I　hope　not　many　ghosts　are
so　miserable　as　I　was。You　remember　my　speaking　to　you　of　Mr。
Arnold's　jewels？〃

〃Yes；　perfectly。〃

〃I　wanted　to　find　out；　through　you；　where　the　ring　was。　　But　I　had
no　intention　of　involving　you。〃

〃I　am　sure　you　had　not。〃

〃Don't　be　too　sure　of　anything　about　me。　　I　don't　know　what　I　might
have　been　led　to　do。　　But　I　am　very　sorry。　　Do　forgive　me。〃

〃I　cannot　allow　that　I　have　anything　to　forgive。　　But　tell　me；
Euphra；　were　you　the　creature；　in　white　that　I　saw　in　the　Ghost's
Walk　one　night？　　I　don't　mean　the　last　time。〃

〃Very　likely；〃　she　answered；　bending　her　head　yet　lower；　with　a
sigh。

〃Then　who　was　the　creature　in　black　that　met　you？　　And　what　became
of　you　then？〃

〃Did　you　see　her？〃　rejoined　Euphra；　turning　paler　still。　〃I　fainted
at　sight　of　her。　　I　took　her　for　the　nun　that　hangs　in　that　horrid
room。〃

〃So　did　I；〃　said　Hugh。　〃But　you　could　not　have　lain　long；　for　I　went
up　to　the　spot　where　you　vanished；　and　found　nothing。〃

〃I　suppose　I　got　into　the　shrubbery　before　I　fell。　　Or　the　count
dragged　me　in。But　was　that　really　a　ghost？　　I　feel　now　as　if　it
was　a　good　messenger；　whether　ghost　or　not；　come　to　warn　me；　if　I
had　had　the　courage　to　listen。　　I　wish　I　had　taken　the　warning。〃

They　talked　about　these　and　other　things；　till　Mrs。　Elton；　who　had
made　Hugh　promise　to　stay　to　lunch；　returned。　　When　they　were　seated
at　table；　the　kind…hearted　woman　said：

〃Now；　Mr。　Sutherland；　when　will　you　begin　again　with　Harry？〃

〃I　do　not　quite　understand　you；〃　answered　Hugh。

〃Of　course　you　will　come　and　give　him　lessons；　poor　boy。　　He　will　be
broken…hearted　if　you　don't。〃

〃I　wish　I　could。　　But　I　cannotat　least　yet；　for　I　know　his　father
was　dissatisfied　with　me。　　That　was　one　of　the　reasons　that　made　him
send　Harry　to　London。〃

Harry　looked　wretchedly　disappointed；　but　said　nothing。

〃I　never　heard　him　say　anything　of　the　sort。〃

〃I　am　sure　of　it；　though。　　I　am　very　sorry　he　has　mistaken　me；　but
he　will　know　me　better　some　day。〃

〃I　will　take　all　the　responsibility；〃　persisted　Mrs。　Elton。

〃But　unfortunately　the　responsibility　sticks　too　fast　for　you　to
take　it。　　I　cannot　get　rid　of　my　share　if　I　would。〃

〃You　are　too　particular。　　I　am　sure　Mr。　Arnold　never　could　have
meant　that。　　This　is　my　house　too。〃

〃But　Harry　is　his　boy。　　If　you　will　let　me　come　and　see　him
sometimes；　I　shall　be　very　thankful；　though。　　I　may　be　useful　to　him
without　giving　him　lessons。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Harry　with　delight。

〃Well；　well！　　I　suppose　you　are　so　much　in　request　in　London　that
you　won't　miss　him　for　a　pupil。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　I　have　not　a　single　engagement。　　If　you　could　find
me　one；　I　should　be　exceedingly　obliged　to　you。〃

〃Dear！　dear！　dear！〃　said　Mrs。　Elton。　〃Then　you　shall　have　Harry。〃

〃Oh！　yes；　please　take　me；〃　said　Harry；　beseechingly。

〃No；　I　cannot。　　I　must　not。〃

Mrs。　Elton　rang　the　bell。

〃James；　tell　the　coachman　I　want　the　carriage　in　an　hour。〃

Mrs。　Elton　was　as　submissive　to　her　coachman　as　ladies　who　have
carriages　generally　are；　and　would　not　have　dreamed　of　ordering　the
horses　out　so　soon　again　for　herself；　but　she　forgot　everything　else
when　a　friend　was　in　need　of　help；　and　became　perfectly
pachydermatous　to　the　offended　looks　or　indignant　hints　of　that
important　functionary。

Within　a　few　minutes　after　Hugh　took　his　leave；　Mrs。　Elton　was　on
her　way　to　repeat　a　visit　she　had　already　paid　the　same　morning；　and
to　make　several　other　calls；　with　t