david elginbrod-第95部分

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abandon　everything；　that　he　might　see　him　perfect　and　all　in　all　and
as　he　must　befor　the　sake　of　God　himself；　he　believed　in　him　as
the　Saviour　of　these　his　sinful　and　suffering　kin。

As　early　as　was　at　all　excusable；　the　following　morning；　he　called
on　Euphra。　　The　butler　said　that　she　had　not　come　down　yet；　but　he
would　send　up　his　name。　　A　message　was　brought　back　that　Miss
Cameron　was　sorry　not　to　see　him；　but　she　had　had　a　bad　night；　and
was　quite　unable　to　get　up。　　Irwan　replied　to　his　inquiry；　that　the
count　had　not　called。　　Hugh　withdrew　to　the　Golden　Staff。

A　bad　night　it　had　been　indeed。　　As　Euphra　slept　well　the　first　part
of　it；　and　had　no　attack　such　as　she　had　had　upon　both　the　preceding
nights；　Margaret　had　hoped　the　worst　was　over。　　Still　she　laid
herself　only　within　the　threshold　of　sleep　ready　to　wake　at　the
least　motion。

In　the　middle　of　the　night　she　felt　Euphra　move。　　She　lay　still　to
see　what　she　would　do。　　Euphra　slipped　out　of　bed；　and　partly
dressed　herself；　then　went　to　her　wardrobe；　and　put　on　a　cloak　with
a　large　hood；　which　she　drew　over　her　head。　　Margaret　lay　with　a
dreadful　aching　at　her　heart。　　Euphra　went　towards　the　door。
Margaret　called　her；　but　she　made　no　answer。　　Margaret　flew　to　the
door；　and　reached　it　before　her。　　Then；　to　her　intense　delight；　she
saw　that　Euphra's　eyes　were　closed。　　Just　as　she　laid　her　hand　on
the　door；　Margaret　took　her　gently　in　her　arms。

〃Let　me　go；　let　me　go！〃　　Euphra　almost　screamed。　　Then　suddenly
opening　her　eyes；　she　stared　at　Margaret　in　a　bewildered　fashion；
like　one　waking　from　the　dead。

〃Euphra！　dear　Euphra！〃　said　Margaret。

〃Oh；　Margaret！　is　it　really　you？〃　exclaimed　Euphra；　flinging　her
arms　about　her。　〃Oh；　I　am　glad。　　Ah！　you　see　what　I　must　have　been
about。　　I　suppose　I　knew　when　I　was　doing　it；　but　I　don't　know　now。
I　have　forgotten　all　about　it。　　Oh　dear！　oh　dear！　　I　thought　it
would　come　to　this。〃

〃Come　to　bed；　dear。　　You　couldn't　help　it。　　It　was　not　yourself。
There　is　not　more　than　half　of　you　awake；　when　you　walk　in　your
sleep。〃

They　went　to　bed。　　Euphra　crept　close　to　Margaret；　and　cried　herself
asleep　again。　　The　next　day　she　had　a　bad　head…ache。　　This　with　her
always　followed　somnambulation。　　She　did　not　get　up　all　that　day。
When　Hugh　called　again　in　the　evening；　he　heard　she　was　better；　but
still　in　bed。

Falconer　joined　Hugh　at　the　Golden　Staff；　at　night；　but　they　had　no
better　success　than　before。　　Falconer　went　out　alone；　for　Hugh
wanted　to　keep　himself　fresh。　　Though　very　strong；　he　was　younger
and　less　hardened　than　Falconer；　who　could　stand　an　incredible
amount　of　labour　and　lack　of　sleep。　　Hugh　would　have　given　way　under
the　half。




CHAPTER　XVIII。

VICTORY

O　my　admired　mistress；　quench　not　out
The　holy　fires　within　you；　though　temptations
Shower　down　upon　you：　clasp　thine　armour　on；
Fight　well；　and　thou　shalt　see；　after　these　wars；
Thy　head　wear　sunbeams；　and　thy　feet　touch　stars。

MASSINGER。The　Virgin　Martyr。


But　Hugh　could　sleep　no　more　than　if　he　had　been　out　with　Falconer。
He　was　as　restless　as　a　wild　beast　in　a　cage。　　Something　would　not
let　him　be　at　peace。　　So　he　rose；　dressed；　and　went　out。　　As　soon　as
he　turned　the　corner；　he　could　see　Mrs。　Elton's　house。　　It　was
visible　both　by　intermittent　moonlight　above；　and　by　flickering
gaslight　below；　for　the　wind　blew　rather　strong。　　There　was　snow　in
the　air；　he　knew。　　The　light　they　had　observed　last　night；　was
burning　now。　　A　moment　served　to　make　these　observations；　and　then
Hugh's　eyes　were　arrested　by　the　sight　of　something　elsea　man
walking　up　and　down　the　pavement　in　front　of　Mrs。　Elton's　house。　　He
instantly　stepped　into　the　shadow　of　a　porch　to　watch　him。　　The
figure　might　be　the　count's；　it　might　not；　he　could　not　be　sure。
Every　now　and　then　the　man　looked　up　to　the　windows。　　At　length　he
stopped　right　under　the　lighted　one；　and　looked　up。　　Hugh　was　on　the
point　of　gliding　out；　that　he　might　get　as　near　him　as　possible
before　rushing　on　him；　when；　at　the　moment；　to　his　great
mortification；　a　policeman　emerged　from　some　mysterious　corner；　and
the　figure　instantly　vanished　in　another。　　Hugh　did　not　pursue　him；
because　it　would　be　to　set　all　on　a　single　chance；　and　that　a　poor
one；　for　if　the　count；　should　it　be　he；　succeeded　in　escaping；　he
would　not　return　to　a　spot　which　he　knew　to　be　watched。　　Hugh；
therefore；　withdrew　once　more　under　a　porch；　and　waited。　　But；
whatever　might　be　the　cause；　the　man　made　his　appearance　no　more。
Hugh　contrived　to　keep　watch　for　two　hours；　in　spite　of　suspicious
policemen。　　He　slept　late　into　the　following　morning。

Calling　at　Mrs。　Elton's；　he　learned　that　the　count　had　not　been
there；　that　Miss　Cameron　had　been　very　ill　all　night；　but　that　she
was　rather　better　since　the　morning。

That　night；　as　the　preceding；　Margaret　had　awaked　suddenly。　　Euphra
was　not　in　the　bed　beside　her。　　She　started　up　in　an　agony　of
terror；　but　it　was　soon　allayed；　though　not　removed。　　She　saw　Euphra
on　her　knees　at　the　foot　of　the　bed；　an　old…fashioned　four…post　one。
She　had　her　arms　twined　round　one　of　the　bed…posts；　and　her　head
thrown　back；　as　if　some　one　were　pulling　her　backwards　by　her　hair；
which　fell　over　her　night…dress　to　the　floor　in　thick；　black　masses。
Her　eyes　were　closed；　her　face　was　death…like；　almost　livid；　and
the　cold　dews　of　torture　were　rolling　down　from　brow　to　chin。　　Her
lips　were　moving　convulsively；　with　now　and　then　the　appearance　of
an　attempt　at　articulation；　as　if　they　were　set　in　motion　by　an
agony　of　inward　prayer。　　Margaret；　unable　to　move；　watched　her　with
anxious　sympathy　and　fearful　expectation。　　How　long　this　lasted　she
could　not　tell；　but　it　seemed　a　long　time。　　At　length　Margaret　rose；
and　longing　to　have　some　share　in　the　struggle；　however　small；　went
softly；　and　stood　behind　her；　shadowing　her　from　a　feeble　ray　of
moonlight　which；　through　a　wind…rent　cloud；　had　stolen　into　the
room；　and　lay　upon　her　upturned　face。　　There　she　lifted　up　her　heart
in　prayer。　　In　a　moment　after　the　tension　of　Euphra's　countenance
relaxed　a　little；　composure　slowly　followed；　her　head　gradually
rose；　so　that　Margaret　could　see　her　face　no　longer；　then；　as
gradually；　drooped　forward。　　Next　her　arms　untwined　themselves　from
the　bed…post；　and　her　hands　clasped　themselves　together。　　She　looked
like　one　praying　in　the　intense　silence　of　absorbing　devotion。
Margaret　stood　still　as　a　statue。

In　speaking　about　it　afterwards　to　Hugh；　Margaret　told　him　that　she
distinctly　remembered　hearing；　while　she　stood；　the　measured　steps
of　a　policeman　pass　the　house　on　the　pavement　below。

In　a　few　minutes　Euphra　bowed　her　head　yet　lower；　and　then　rose　to
her　feet。　　She　turned　round　towards　Margaret；　as　if　she　knew　she　was
there。　　To　Margaret's　astonishment；　her　eyes　were　wide　open。　　She
smiled　a　most　child…like；　peaceful；　happy　smile；　and　said：

〃It　is　over；　Margaret；　all　over　at　last。　　Thank　you；　with　my　whole
heart。　　God　has　helped　me。〃

At　that　moment；　the　moon　shone　out　full；　and　her　face　appeared　in
its　light　like　the　face　of　an　angel。　　Margaret　looked　on　her　with
awe。　　Fear；　distress；　and　doubt　had　vanished；　and　she　was　already
beautiful　like　the　blessed。　　Margaret　got　a　handkerchief；　and　wiped
the　cold　damps　from　her　face。　　Then　she　helped　her　into　bed；　where
she　fell　asleep　almost　instantly；　and　slept　like　a　child。　　Now　and
then　she　moaned；　but　when　Margaret　looked　at　her；　she　saw　the　smile
still　upon　her　countenance。

She　woke　weak　and　worn；　but　happy。

〃I　shall　not　trouble　you　to…day；　Margaret；　dear；〃　said　she。　〃I　shall
not　get　up　yet；　but　you　will　not　need　to　watch　me。　　A　great　change
has　passed　upon　me。　　I　am　free。　　I　have　overcome　him。　　He　may　do　as
he　pleases　now。　　I　do　not　care。　　I　defy　him。　　I　got　up　last　night　in
my　sleep；　but　I　remember　all　about　it；　and；　although　I　was　asleep；
and　felt　powerless　like　a　corpse；　I　resisted　him；　even　when　I
thought　he　was　dragging　me　away　by　bodily　force。　　And　I　resisted
him；　till　he　left　me　alone。　　Thank　God！〃

It　had　been　a　terrible　struggle；　but　she　had　overcome。　　Nor　was　this
all：　she　would　no　more　lead　two　lives；　the　waking　and　the　sleeping。
Her　waking　will　and　conscience　had　asserted　themselves　in　her
sleeping　acts；　and　the　memory　of　the　somnambulist　lived　still　in　the
waking　woman。　　Hence　her　two　lives　were　blended　into　one　life；　and
she　was　no　more　two；　but　one。　　This　indicated　a　mighty　growth　of
individual　being。

〃I　woke　without　terror；〃　she　went　on　to　say。　〃I　always　used　to　wake
from　such　a　sleep　in　an　agony　of　unknown　fear。　　I　do　not　think　I
shall　ever　walk　in　my　sleep　again。〃

Is　not　salvation　the　uniting　of　all　our　nature　into　one　harmonious
wholeGod　first　in　us；　ourselves　last；　and　all　in　due　order
between？　　Something　very　much　analogous　to　the　change　in　Euphra
takes　place　in　a　man　when　he　first　learns　that　his　beliefs　must
become　acts；　that　his　religious　life　and　his　human　life　are　one；
that　he　must　do　the　thing　that　he　admires。　　The　Ideal　is　the　only
absolute　Real；　and　it　must　become　the　Real　in　the　individual　life　as
well；　however　impossible　they　may　count　it　who　never　try　it；　or　who
do　not　trust　in　God　to　effect　it；　when