david elginbrod-第65部分

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something　ought　to　be　done；　but　I　presume　he　could　never　make　up　his
mind　what　that　something　ought　to　be。　　Whether　any　reasons　for　not
prosecuting　the　inquiry　had　occurred　to　him　upon　further　reflection；
I　am　unable　to　tell。　　One　thing　is　certain；　that　from　this　time　he
ceased　to　behave　to　Hugh　with　that　growing　cordiality　which　he　had
shown　him　for　weeks　past。　　It　was　no　great　loss　to　Hugh；　but　he　felt
it；　and　all　the　more；　because　he　could　not　help　associating　it　with
that　look　of　suspicion；　the　remains　of　which　were　still　discernible
on　Mr。　Arnold's　face。　　Although　he　could　not　determine　the　exact
direction　of　Mr。　Arnold's　suspicions；　he　felt　that　they　bore　upon
something　associated　with　the　crystal　ring；　and　the　story　of　the
phantom　lady。　　Consequently；　there　was　little　more　of　comfort　for
him　at　Arnstead。

Mr。　Arnold；　however；　did　not　reveal　his　change　of　feeling　so　much　by
neglect　as　by　ceremony；　which；　sooner　than　anything　else；　builds　a
wall　of　separation　between　those　who　meet　every　day。　　For　the
oftener　they　meet；　the　thicker　and　the　faster　are　the　bricks　and
mortar　of　cold　politeness；　evidently　avoided　insults；　and　subjected
manifestations　of　dislike；　laid　together。




CHAPTER　XXVIII。

A　BIRD'S…EYE　VIEW。

O；　cocks　are　crowing　a　merry　midnight；
　　I　wot　the　wild…fowls　are　boding　day；
Give　me　my　faith　and　troth　again；
　　And　let　me　fare　me　on　my　way。

Sae　painfully　she　clam　the　wa'；
　　She　clam　the　wa'　up　after　him；
Hosen　nor　shoon　upon　her　feet；
　　She　hadna　time　to　put　them　on。

Scotch　Ballad。Clerk　Saunders。


Dreary　days　passed。　　The　reports　of　Euphra　were　as　favourable　as　the
nature　of　the　injury　had　left　room　to　expect。　　Still　they　were　but
reports：　Hugh　could　not　see　her；　and　the　days　passed　drearily。　　He
heard　that　the　swelling　was　reduced；　and　that　the　ankle　was　found
not　to　be　dislocated；　but　that　the　bones　were　considerably　injured；
and　that　the　final　effect　upon　the　use　of　the　parts　was　doubtful。
The　pretty　foot　lay　aching　in　Hugh's　heart。　　When　Harry　went　to
bed；　he　used　to　walk　out　and　loiter　about　the　grounds；　full　of
anxious　fears　and　no　less　anxious　hopes。　　If　the　night　was　at　all
obscure；　he　would　pass；　as　often　as　he　dared；　under　Euphra's　window；
for　all　he　could　have　of　her　now　was　a　few　rays　from　the　same　light
that　lighted　her　chamber。　　Then　he　would　steal　away　down　the　main
avenue；　and　thence　watch　the　same　light；　whose　beams；　in　that
strange　play　which　the　intellect　will　keep　up　in　spite　ofyet　in
association　withthe　heart；　made　a　photo…materialist　of　him。　　For
he　would　now　no　longer　believe　in　the　pulsations　of　an　ethereal
medium；　butthat　the　very　material　rays　which　enlightened　Euphra's
face；　whether　she　waked　or　slept；　stole　and　filtered　through　the
blind　and　the　gathered　shadows；　and　entered　in　bodily　essence　into
the　mysterious　convolutions　of　his　brain；　where　his　soul　and　heart
sought　and　found　them。

When　a　week　had　passed；　she　was　so　far　recovered　as　to　be　able　to
see　Mr。　Arnold；　from　whom　Hugh　heard；　in　a　somewhat　reproachful
tone；　that　she　was　but　the　wreck　of　her　former　self。　　It　was　all
that　Hugh　could　do　to　restrain　the　natural　outbreak　of　his　feelings。
A　fortnight　passed；　and　she　saw　Mrs。　Elton　and　Lady　Emily　for　a　few
moments。　　They　would　have　left　before；　but　had　yielded　to　Mr。
Arnold's　entreaty；　and　were　staying　till　Euphra　should　be　at　least
able　to　be　carried　from　her　room。

One　day；　when　the　visitors　were　out　with　Mr。　Arnold；　Jane　brought　a
message　to　Hugh；　requesting　him　to　walk　into　Miss　Cameron's　room；
for　she　wanted　to　see　him。　　Hugh　felt　his　heart　flutter　as　if
doubting　whether　to　stop　at　once；　or　to　dash　through　its　confining
bars。　　He　rose　and　followed　the　maid。　　He　stood　over　Euphra　pale　and
speechless。　　She　lay　before　him　wasted　and　wan；　her　eyes　twice　their
former　size；　but　with　half　their　former　light；　her　fingers　long　and
transparent；　and　her　voice　low　and　feeble。　　She　had　just　raised
herself　with　difficulty　to　a　sitting　posture；　and　the　effort　had
left　her　more　weary。

〃Hugh！〃　she　said；　kindly。

〃Dear　Euphra！〃　he　answered；　kissing　the　little　hand　he　held　in　his。

She　looked　at　him　for　a　little　while；　and　the　tears　rose　in　her
eyes。

〃Hugh；　I　am　a　cripple　for　life。〃

〃God　forbid；　Euphra！〃　was　all　he　could　reply。

She　shook　her　head　mournfully。　　Then　a　strange；　wild　look　came　in
her　eyes；　and　grew　till　it　seemed　from　them　to　overflow　and　cover
her　whole　face　with　a　troubled　expression；　which　increased　to　a　look
of　dull　agony。

〃What　is　the　matter；　dear　Euphra？〃　said　Hugh；　in　alarm。　〃Is　your
foot　very　painful？〃

She　made　no　answer。　　She　was　looking　fixedly　at　his　hand。

〃Shall　I　call　Jane？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃Can　I　do　nothing　for　you？〃

〃No；〃　she　answered；　almost　angrily。

〃Shall　I　go；　Euphra？〃

〃Yesyes。　　Go。〃

He　left　the　room　instantly。　　But　a　sharp　though　stifled　cry　of
despair　drew　him　back　at　a　bound。　　Euphra　had　fainted。

He　rang　the　bell　for　Jane；　and　lingered　till　he　saw　signs　of
returning　consciousness。

What　could　this　mean？　　He　was　more　perplexed　with　her　than　ever　he
had　been。　　Cunning　love；　however；　soon　found　a　way　of　explaining
itA　way？Twenty　waysnot　one　of　them　the　way。

Next　day；　Lady　Emily　brought　him　a　message　from　Euphranot　to
distress　himself　about　her；　it　was　not　his　fault。

This　message　the　bearer　of　it　understood　to　refer　to　the　original
accident；　as　the　sender　of　it　intended　she　should：　the　receiver
interpreted　it　of　the　occurrence　of　the　day　before；　as　the　sender
likewise　intended。　　It　comforted　him。

It　had　become　almost　a　habit　with　Hugh；　to　ascend　the　oak　tree　in
the　evening；　and　sit　alone；　sometimes　for　hours；　in　the　nest　he　had
built　for　Harry。　　One　time　he　took　a　book　with　him；　another　he　went
without；　and　now　and　then　Harry　accompanied　him。　　But　I　have　already
said；　that　often　after　tea；　when　the　house　became　oppressive　to　him
from　the　longing　to　see　Euphra；　he　would　wander　out　alone；　when；
even　in　the　shadows　of　the　coming　night；　he　would　sometimes　climb
the　nest；　and　there　sit；　hearing　all　that　the　leaves　whispered　about
the　sleeping　birds；　without　listening　to　a　word　of　it；　or　trying　to
interpret　it　by　the　kindred　sounds　of　his　own　inner　world；　and　the
tree…talk　that　went　on　there　in　secret。　　For　the　divinity　of　that
inner　world　had　abandoned　it　for　the　present；　in　pursuit　of　an
earthly　maiden。　　So　its　birds　were　silent；　and　its　trees　trembled
not。

An　aging　moon　was　feeling　her　path　somewhere　through　the　heavens；
but　a　thin　veil　of　cloud　was　spread　like　a　tent　under　the　hyaline
dome　where　she　walked；　so　that；　instead　of　a　white　moon；　there　was　a
great　white　cloud　to　enlighten　the　earth；a　cloud　soaked　full　of
her　pale　rays。　　Hugh　sat　in　the　oak…nest。　　He　knew　not　how　long　he
had　been　there。　　Light　after　light　was　extinguished　in　the　house；
and　still　he　sat　there　brooding；　dreaming；　in　that　state　of　mind　in
which　to　the　good；　good　things　come　of　themselves；　and　to　the　evil；
evil　things。　　The　nearness　of　the　Ghost's　Walk　did　not　trouble　him；
for　he　was　too　much　concerned　about　Euphra　to　fear　ghost　or　demon。
His　mind　heeded　them　not；　and　so　was　beyond　their　influence。

But　while　he　sat；　he　became　aware　of　human　voices。　　He　looked　out
from　his　leafy　screen；　and　saw　once　more；　at　the　end　of　the　Ghost's
Walk；　a　form　clothed　in　white。　　But　there　were　voices　of　two。　　He
sent　his　soul　into　his　ears　to　listen。　　A　horrible；　incredible；
impossible　idea　forced　itself　upon　himthat　the　tones　were　those　of
Euphra　and　Funkelstein。　　The　one　voice　was　weak　and　complaining；　the
other　firm　and　strong。

〃It　must　be　some　horrible　ghost　that　imitates　her；〃　he　said　to
himself；　for　he　was　nearly　crazy　at　the　very　suggestion。

He　would　see　nearer；　if　only　to　get　rid　of　that　frightful
insinuation　of　the　tempter。　　He　descended　the　tree　noiselessly。　　He
lost　sight　of　the　figure　as　he　did　so。　　He　drew　near　the　place　where
he　had　seen　it。　　But　there　was　no　sound　of　voices　now　to　guide　him。
As　he　came　within　sight　of　the　spot；　he　saw　the　white　figure　in　the
arms　of　another；　a　man。　　Her　head　was　lying　on　his　shoulder。　　A
moment　after；　she　was　lifted　in　those　arms　and　borne　towards　the
house；down　the　Ghost's　Avenue。

A　burning　agony　to　be　satisfied　of　his　doubts　seized　on　Hugh。　He
fled　like　a　deer　to　the　house　by　another　path；　tried；　in　his
suspicion；　the　library　window；　found　it　open；　and　was　at　Euphra's
door　in　a　moment。　　Here　he　hesitated。　　She　must　be　inside。　　How　dare
he　knock　or　enter？

If　she　was　there；　she　would　be　asleep。　　He　would　not　wake　her。
There　was　no　time　to　lose。　　He　would　risk　anything；　to　be　rid　of
this　horrible　doubt。

He　gently　opened　the　door。　　The　night…light　was　burning。　　He
thought；　at　first；　that　Euphra　was　in　the　bed。　　He　felt　like　a
thief；　but　he　stole　nearer。　　She　was　not　there。　　She　was　not　on　the
couch。　　She　was　not　in　the　room。　　Jane　was　fast　asleep　in　the
dressing…room。　　It　was　enough。

He　withdrew。　　He　would　watch　at　his　door　to　see　her　return；　for　she
must　pass　his　door　to　reach　her　own。　　He　waited　a　time　that　seemed
hours。　　At　lengthhorrible；　far　more　horrible　to　him　than　the
vision　of　the　ghostEuphra　crept　past　him；　appearing　in　the
darkness