david elginbrod-第98节

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though；　because；　of　course；　you　would　not　have　let　me　go。〃

〃I　hope　it　did　not　trouble　you　much。〃

〃No；　not　much；　for　though　I　was　with　the　count；　I　did　not　seem　to　be
there　in　the　body　at　all；　only　somehow　near　him；　and　seeing　him。　　I
can　recall　the　place　perfectly。〃

〃Do　you　think　it　really　was　the　place　he　was　in　at　the　time？〃

〃I　should　not　wonder。　　But　now　I　feel　so　free；　so　far　beyond　him　and
all　his　power；　that　I　don't　mind　where　or　when　I　see　him。　　He　cannot
hurt　me　now。〃

〃Could　you　describe　the　place　to　Mr。　Sutherland？　　It　might　help　him
to　find　the　count。〃

〃That's　a　good　idea。　　Will　you　send　for　him？〃

〃Yes；　certainly。　　May　I　tell　him　for　what？〃

〃By　all　means。〃

Margaret　wrote　to　Hugh　at　once；　and　sent　the　note　by　hand。　　He　was
at　home　when　it　arrived。　　He　hurriedly　answered　it；　and　went　to　find
Falconer。　　To　his　delight　he　was　at　homenot　out　of　bed；　in　fact。

〃Read　that。〃

〃Who　is　it　from？〃

〃Miss　Cameron's　maid。〃

〃It　does　not　look　like　a　maid's　production。〃

〃It　is　though。　　Will　you　come　with　me？　　You　know　London　ten　thousand
times　better　than　I　do。　　I　don't　think　we　ought　to　lose　a　chance。〃

〃Certainly　not。　　I　will　go　with　you。　　But　perhaps　she　will　not　see
me。〃

〃Oh！　yes；　she　will；　when　I　have　told　her　about　you。〃

〃It　will　be　rather　a　trial　to　see　a　stranger。〃

〃A　man　cannot　be　a　stranger　with　you　ten　minutes；　if　he　only　looks
at　you；still　less　a　woman。〃

Falconer　looked　pleased；　and　smiled。

〃I　am　glad　you　think　so。　　Let　us　go。〃

When　they　arrived；　Margaret　came　to　them。　　Hugh　told　her　that
Falconer　was　his　best　friend；　and　one　who　knew　London　perhaps　better
than　any　other　man　in　it。　　Margaret　looked　at　him　full　in　the　face
for　a　moment。　　Falconer　smiled　at　the　intensity　of　her　still　gaze。
Margaret　returned　the　smile；　and　said：

〃I　will　ask　Miss　Cameron　to　see　yet。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　was　all　Falconer's　reply；　but　the　tone　was　more　than
speech。

After　a　little　while；　they　were　shown　up　to　Euphra's　room。　　She　had
wanted　to　sit　up；　but　Margaret　would　not　let　her；　so　she　was　lying
on　her　couch。　　When　Falconer　was　presented　to　her；　he　took　her　hand；
and　held　it　for　a　moment。　　A　kind　of　indescribable　beam　broke　over
his　face；　as　if　his　spirit　smiled　and　the　smile　shone　through
without　moving　one　of　his　features　as　it　passed。　　The　tears　stood　in
his　eyes。　　To　understand　all　this　look；　one　would　need　to　know　his
history　as　I　do。　　He　laid　her　hand　gently　on　her　bosom；　and　said：
〃God　bless　you！〃

Euphra　felt　that　God　did　bless　her　in　the　very　words。　　She　had　been
looking　at　Falconer　all　the　time。　　It　was　only　fifteen　seconds　or
so；　but　the　outcome　of　a　life　was　crowded　into　Falconer's　side　of
it；　and　the　confidence　of　Euphra　rose　to　meet　the　faithfulness　of　a
man　of　God。What　words　those　are！A　man　of　God！　　Have　I　not
written　a　revelation？　　Yesto　him　who　can　read　ityes。

〃I　know　enough　of　your　story；　Miss　Cameron；〃　he　said；　〃to　understand
without　any　preface　what　you　choose　to　tell　me。〃

Euphra　began　at　once：

〃I　dreamed　last　night　that　I　found　myself　outside　the　street　door。
I　did　not　know　where　I　was　going；　but　my　feet　seemed　to　know。　　They
carried　me；　round　two　or　three　corners；　into　a　wide；　long　street；
which　I　think　was　Oxford…street。　　They　carried　me　on　into　London；
far　beyond　any　quarter　I　knew。　　All　I　can　tell　further　is；　that　I
turned　to　the　left　beside　a　church；　on　the　steeple　of　which　stood
what　I　took　for　a　wandering　ghost　just　lighted　there；only　I　ought
to　tell　you；　that　frequently　in　my　dreamsalways　in　my　peculiar
dreamsthe　more　material　and　solid　and　ordinary　things　are；　the
more　thin　and　ghostly　they　appear　to　me。　　Then　I　went　on　and　on；
turning　left　and　right　too　many　times　for　me　to　remember；　till　at
last　I　came　to　a　little；　old…fashioned　court；　with　two　or　three
trees　in　it。　　I　had　to　go　up　a　few　steps　to　enter　it。　　I　was　not
afraid；　because　I　knew　I　was　dreaming；　and　that　my　body　was　not
there。　　It　is　a　great　relief　to　feel　that　sometimes；　for　it　is　often
very　much　in　the　way。　　I　opened　a　door；　upon　which　the　moon　shone
very　bright；　and　walked　up　two　flights　of　stairs　into　a　back　room。
And　there　I　found　him；　doing　something　at　a　table　by　candlelight。
He　had　a　sheet　of　paper　before　him；　but　what　he　was　doing　with　it；
I　could　not　see。　　I　tried　hard；　but　it　was　of　no　use。　　The　dream
suddenly　faded；　and　I　awoke；　and　found　Margaret。Then　I　knew　I　was
safe；〃　she　added；　with　a　loving　glance　at　her　maid。

Falconer　rose。

〃I　know　the　place　you　mean　perfectly；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　too　peculiar
to　be　mistaken。　　Last　night；　let　me　see；　how　did　the　moon
shine？Yes。　I　shall　be　able　to　tell　the　very　door；　I　think；　or
almost。〃

〃How　kind　of　you　not　to　laugh　at　me！〃

〃I　might　make　a　fool　of　myself　if　I　laughed　at　any　one。　　So　I
generally　avoid　it。　　We　may　as　well　get　the　good　out　of　what　we　do
not　understandor　at　least　try　if　there　be　any　in　it。　　Will　you
come；　Sutherland？〃

Hugh　rose；　and　took　his　leave　with　Falconer。

〃How　pleased　she　seemed　with　you；　Falconer！〃　said　he；　as　they　left
the　house。

〃Yes；　she　touched　me。〃

〃Won't　you　go　and　see　her　again？〃

〃No；　there　is　no　need；　except　she　sends　for　me。〃

〃It　would　please　hercomfort　her；　I　am　sure。〃

〃She　has　got　one　of　God's　angels　beside　her；　Sutherland。　　She
doesn't　want　me。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　mean　that　maid　of　hers。〃

A　pangof　jealousy；　was　it？shot　through　Hugh's　heart。　　How　could
he　seewhat　right　had　he　to　see　anything　in　Margaret？

Hugh　might　have　kept　himself　at　peace；　even　if　he　had　loved　Margaret
as　much　as　she　deserved；　which　would　have　been　about　ten　times　as
much　as　he　did。　　Is　a　man　not　to　recognize　an　angel　when　he　sees
her；　and　to　call　her　by　her　name？　　Had　Hugh　seen　into　the　core　of
that　grand　heartwhat　form　sat　there；　and　howhe　would　have　been
at　peacewould　almost　have　fallen　down　to　do　the　man　homage。　　He
was　silent。

〃My　dear　fellow！〃　said　Falconer；　as　if　he　divined　his　feelingfor
Falconer's　power　over　men　and　women　came　all　from　sympathy　with
their　spirits；　and　not　their　nerves〃if　you　have　any　hold　of　that
woman；　do　not　lose　it；　for　as　sure　as　there's　a　sun　in　heaven；　she
is　one　of　the　winged　ones。　　Don't　I　know　a　woman　when　I　see　her！〃

He　sighed　with　a　kind　of　involuntary　sigh；　which　yet　did　not　seek　to
hide　itself　from　Hugh。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　he　added；　laying　a　stress　on　the　word；　〃I　am　nearly
twice　your　agedon't　be　jealous　of　me。〃

〃Mr。　Falconer；〃　said　Hugh　humbly；　〃forgive　me。　　The　feeling　was
involuntary；　and　if　you　have　detected　in　it　more　than　I　was　aware
of；　you　are　at　least　as　likely　to　be　right　as　I　am。　　But　you　cannot
think　more　highly　of　Margaret　than　I　do。〃

And　yet　Hugh　did　not　know　half　the　good　of　her　then；　that　the　reader
does　now。

〃Well；　we　had　better　part　now；　and　meet　again　at　night。〃

〃What　time　shall　I　come　to　you？〃

〃Oh！　about　nine　I　think　will　do。〃

So　Hugh　went　home；　and　tried　to　turn　his　thoughts　to　his　story；　but
Euphra；　Falconer；　Funkelstein；　and　Margaret　persisted　in　sitting　to
him；　the　one　after　the　other；　instead　of　the　heroes　and　heroines　of
his　tale。　　He　was　compelled　to　lay　it　aside；　and　betake　himself　to　a
stroll　and　a　pipe。

As　he　went　down　stairs；　he　met　Miss　Talbot。

〃You're　soon　tired　of　home；　Mr。　Sutherland。　　You　haven't　been　in
above　half　an　hour；　and　you're　out　again　already。〃

〃Why；　you　see；　Miss　Talbot；　I　want　a　pipe　very　much。〃

〃Well；　you　ain't　going　to　the　public　house　to　smoke　it；　are　you？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Hugh　laughing。　〃But　you　know；　Miss　Talbot；　you　made
it　part　of　the　agreement　that　I　shouldn't　smoke　indoors。　　So　I'm
going　to　smoke　in　the　street。〃

〃Now；　think　of　being　taken　that　way！〃　retorted　Miss　Talbot；　with　an
injured　air。　〃Why；　that　was　before　I　knew　anything　about　you。　　Go　up
stairs　directly；　and　smoke　your　pipe；　and　when　the　room　can't　hold
any　more；　you　can　open　the　windows。　　Your　smoke　won't　do　any　harm；
Mr。　Sutherland。　　But　I'm　very　sorry　you　quarrelled　with　Mrs。
Appleditch。　　She's　a　hard　woman；　and　over　fond　of　her　money　and　her
drawing…room；　and　for　those　boys　of　hersthe　Lord　have　mercy　on
them；　for　she　has　none！　　But　she's　a　true　Christian　for　all　that；
and　does　a　power　of　good　among　the　poor　people。〃

〃What　does　she　give　them；　Miss　Talbot？〃

〃Oh！she　gives　themhm…mtracts　and　things。　　You　know；〃　she
added；　perceiving　the　weakness　of　her　position；　〃people's　souls
should　come　first。　　And　poor　Mrs。　Appleditchyou　seesome　folks　is
made　stickier　than　others；　and　their　money　sticks　to　them；　somehow；
that　they　can't　part　with　itpoor　woman！〃

To　this　Hugh　had　no　answer　at　hand；　for　though　Miss　Talbot's　logic
was　more　than　questionable；　her　charity　was　perfectly　sound；　and
Hugh　felt　that　he　had　not　been　forbearing　enough　with　the　mother　of
the　future　pastors。　　So　he　went　back　to　his　room；　lighted　his　pipe；
and　smoked　till　he　fell　asleep　over　a　small　volume　of　morbid　modern
divinity；　which　Miss　Talbot　had　lent　him。　　I　do　not　mention　the　name
of　the　book；　lest　some　of　my　acquaintance　should　abuse　me；　and
others　it；　more　than　either　deserves。　　Hugh；　however；　found　the　best
refuge　from　the　diseased　self…consciousness　which　it　endeavoured　to
rouse；　and　which　is　a　kind　of　spiritual　somnambulis