david elginbrod-第66章

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discover　a　trace　of　it；　but　simply　for　a　relief　to　her　own　dislike。
Now　she　would　have　written　a　plain　letter；　containing　as　brief　and
as　true　an　excuse　as　she　could　find；　had　it　not　been；　that；　inclosed
in　Mrs。　Elton's　note　she　found　another；　which　ran　thus：

〃DEAR　EUPHRA；Do　come　and　see　us。　　I　do　not　like　London　at　all
without　you。　　There　are　no　happy　days　here　like　those　we　had　at
Arnstead　with　Mr。　Sutherland。　　Mrs。　Elton　and　Margaret　are　very　kind
to　me。　　But　I　wish　you　would　come。　　Do；　do；　do。　　Please　do。

〃Your　affectionate　cousin；

〃HARRY　ARNOLD。〃

〃The　dear　boy！〃　said　Euphra；　with　a　gush　of　pure　and　grateful
affection；　〃I　will　go　and　see　him。〃

Harry　had　begun　to　work　with　his　masters；　and　was　doing　his　best；
which　was　very　good。　　If　his　heart　was　not　so　much　in　it　as　when　he
was　studying　with　his　big　brother；　he　gained　a　great　benefit　from
the　increase　of　exercise　to　his　will；　in　the　doing　of　what　was　less
pleasant。　　Ever　since　Hugh　had　given　his　faculties　a　right
direction；　and　aided　him　by　healthful　manly　sympathy；　he　had　been
making　up　for　the　period　during　which　childhood　had　been　protracted
into　boyhood；　and　now　he　was　making　rapid　progress。

When　Euphra　arrived；　Harry　rushed　to　the　hall　to　meet　her。　　She　took
him　in　her　arms；　and　burst　into　tears。　　Her　tears　drew　forth　his。
He　stroked　her　pale　face；　and　said：

〃Dear　Euphra；　how　ill　you　look！〃

〃I　shall　soon　be　better　now；　Harry。〃

〃I　was　afraid　you　did　not　love　me；　Euphra；　but　now　I　am　sure　you
do。〃

〃Indeed　I　do。　　I　am　very　sorry　for　everything　that　made　you　think　I
did　not　love　you。〃

〃No；　no。　　It　was　all　my　fancy。　　Now　we　shall　be　very　happy。〃

And　so　Harry　was。　　And　Euphra；　through　means　of　Harry；　began　to　gain
a　little　of　what　is　better　than　most　kinds　of　happiness；　because　it
is　nearest　to　the　best　happinessI　mean　peace。　　This　foretaste　of
rest　came　to　her　from　the　devotedness　with　which　she　now　applied
herself　to　aid　the　intellect；　which　she　had　unconsciously　repressed
and　stunted　before。　　She　took　Harry's　books　when　he　had　gone　to　bed；
and　read　over　all　his　lessons；　that　she　might　be　able　to　assist　him
in　preparing　them；　venturing　thus　into　some　regions　of　labour　into
which　ladies　are　too　seldom　conducted　by　those　who　instruct　them。
This　produced　in　her　quite　new　experiences。　　One　of　these　was；　that
in　proportion　as　she　laboured　for　Harry；　hope　grew　for　herself。　　It
was　likewise　of　the　greatest　immediate　benefit　that　the　intervals　of
thought；　instead　of　lying　vacant　to　melancholy；　or　the　vapours　that
sprung　from　the　foregoing　strife　of　the　spiritual　elements；　should
be　occupied　by　healthy　mental　exercise。

Still；　however；　she　was　subject　to　great　vicissitudes　of　feeling。　　A
kind　of　peevishness；　to　which　she　had　formerly　been　a　stranger；　was
but　too　ready　to　appear；　even　when　she　was　most　anxious；　in　her
converse　with　Harry；　to　behave　well　to　him。　　But　the　pure
forgiveness　of　the　boy　was　wonderful。　　Instead　of　plaguing　himself
to　find　out　the　cause　of　her　behaviour；　or　resenting　it　in　the
least；　he　only　laboured；　by　increased　attention　and　submission；　to
remove　it；　and　seemed　perfectly　satisfied　when　it　was　followed　by　a
kind　word；　which　to　him　was　repentance；　apology；　amends；　and
betterment；　all　in　one。　　When　he　had　thus　driven　away　the　evil
spirit；　there　was　Euphra　her　own　self。　　So　perfectly　did　she　see；
and　so　thoroughly　appreciate　this　kindness　and　love　of　Harry；　that
he　began　to　look　to　her　like　an　angel　of　forgiveness　come　to　live　a
boy's　life；　that　he　might　do　an　angel's　work。

Her　health　continued　very　poor。　　She　suffered　constantly　from　more
or　less　headache；　and　at　times　from　faintings。　　But　she　had　not　for
some　time　discovered　any　signs　of　somnambulism。

Of　this　peculiarity　her　friends　were　entirely　ignorant。　　The
occasions；　indeed；　on　which　it　had　manifested　itself　to　an　excessive
degree；　had　been　but　few。




CHAPTER　IX。

THE　NEW　PUPILS。

Think　you　a　little　din　can　daunt　mine　ears？
Have　I　not　in　my　time　heard　lions　roar？

And　do　you　tell　me　of　a　woman's　tongue；
That　gives　not　half　so　great　a　blow　to　hear；
As　will　a　chestnut　in　a　farmer's　fire？
Tush！　tush！　fear　boys　with　bugs。

Taming　of　the　Shrew。


During　the　whole　of　his　first　interview　with　Falconer；　which　lasted
so　long　that　he　had　been　glad　to　make　a　bed　of　Falconer's　sofa；　Hugh
never　once　referred　to　the　object　for　which　he　had　accepted
MacPherson's　proffered　introduction；　nor　did　Falconer　ask　him　any
questions。　　Hugh　was　too　much　interested　and　saddened　by　the　scenes
through　which　Falconer　led　him；　not　to　shrink　from　speaking　of
anything　less　important；　and　with　Falconer　it　was　a　rule；　a
principle　almost；　never　to　expedite　utterance　of　any　sort。

In　the　morning；　feeling　a　little　good…natured　anxiety　as　to　his
landlady's　reception　of　him；　Hugh　made　some　allusion　to　it；　as　he
sat　at　his　new　friend's　breakfast…table。

Falconer　said：

〃What　is　your　landlady's　name？〃

〃Miss　Talbot。〃

〃Oh！　little　Miss　Talbot？　　You　are　in　good　quarterstoo　good　to
lose；　I　can　tell　you。　　Just　say　to　Miss　Talbot　that　you　were　with
me。〃

〃You　know　her；　then？〃

〃Oh；　yes。〃

〃You　seem　to　know　everybody。〃

〃If　I　have　spoken　to　a　person　once；　I　never　forget　him。〃

〃That　seems　to　me　very　strange。〃

〃It　is　simple　enough。　　The　secret　of　it　is；　that；　as　far　as　I　can
help　it；　I　never　have　any　merely　business　relations　with　any　one。　　I
try　always　not　to　forget　that　there　is　a　deeper　relation　between　us。
I　commonly　succeed　worst　in　a　drawing…room；　yet　even　there；　for　the
time　we　are　together；　I　try　to　recognise　the　present　humanity；
however　much　distorted　or　concealed。　　The　consequence　is；　I　never
forget　anybody；　and　I　generally　find　that　others　remember　meat
least　those　with　whom　I　have　had　any　real　relations；　springing　from
my　need　or　from　theirs。　　The　man　who　mends　a　broken　chair　for　you；
or　a　rent　in　your　coat；　renders　you　a　human　service；　and；　in　virtue
of　that；　comes　nearer　to　your　inner　self；　than　nine…tenths　of　the
ladies　and　gentlemen　whom　you　meet　only　in　what　is　called　society；
are　likely　to　do。〃

〃But　do　you　not　find　it　awkward　sometimes？〃

〃Not　in　the　least。　　I　am　never　ashamed　of　knowing　any　one；　and　as　I
never　assume　a　familiarity　that　does　not　exist；　I　never　find　it
assumed　towards　me。〃

Hugh　found　the　advantage　of　Falconer's　sociology　when　he　mentioned
to　Miss　Talbot　that　he　had　been　his　guest　that　night。

〃You　should　have　sent　us　word；　Mr。　Sutherland；〃　was　all　Miss
Talbot's　reply。

〃I　could　not　do　so　before　you　must　have　been　all　in　bed。　　I　was
sorry；　but　I　could　hardly　help　it。〃

Miss　Talbot　turned　away　into　the　kitchen。　　The　only　other　indication
of　her　feeling　in　the　matter　was；　that　she　sent　him　up　a　cup　of
delicious　chocolate　for　his　lunch；　before　he　set　out　for　Mr。
Appleditch's；　where　she　had　heard　at　the　shop　that　he　was　going。

My　reader　must　not　be　left　to　fear　that　I　am　about　to　give　a
detailed　account　of　Hugh's　plans　with　these　unpleasant　little
immortals；　whose　earthly　nature　sprang　from　a　pair　whose　religion
consisted　chiefly　in　negations；　and　whose　main　duty　seemed　to　be　to
make　money　in　small　sums；　and　spend　it　in　smaller。　　When　he　arrived
at　Buccleuch　Crescent；　he　was　shown　into　the　dining…room；　into　which
the　boys　were　separately　dragged；　to　receive　the　first　instalment　of
the　mental　legacy　left　them　by　their　ancestors。　　But　the　legacy…duty
was　so　heavy　that　they　would　gladly　have　declined　paying　it；　even
with　the　loss　of　the　legacy　itself；　and　Hugh　was　dismayed　at　the
impossibility　of　interesting　them　in　anything。　　He　tried　telling
them　stories　even；　without　success。　　They　stared　at　him；　it　is　true；
but　whether　there　was　more　speculation　in　the　open　mouths；　or　in　the
fishy；　overfed　eyes；　he　found　it　impossible　to　determine。　　He　could
not　help　feeling　the　riddle　of　Providence　in　regard　to　the　birth　of
these；　much　harder　to　read　than　that　involved　in　the　case　of　some　of
the　little　thieves　whose　acquaintance　he　had　made；　when　with
Falconer；　the　evening　before。　　But　he　did　his　best；　and　before　the
time　had　expiredtwo　hours；　namely；he　had　found　out；　to　his
satisfaction；　that　the　elder　had　a　turn　for　sums；　and　the　younger
for　drawing。　　So　he　made　use　of　these　predilections　to　bribe　them　to
the　exercise　of　their　intellect　upon　less…favoured　branches　of　human
accomplishment。　　He　found　the　plan　operate　as　well　as　it　could　have
been　expected　to　operate　upon　such　material。

But　one　or　two　little　incidents；　relating　to　his　intercourse　with
Mrs。　Appleditch；　I　must　not　omit。　　Though　a　mother's　love　is　more
ready　to　purify　itself　than　most　other　lovesyet　there　is　a　class
of　mothers；　whose　love　is　only　an　extended；　scarcely　an　expanded；
selfishness。　　Mrs。　Appleditch　did　not　in　the　least　love　her　children
because　they　were　children；　and　children　committed　to　her　care　by
the　Father　of　all　children；　but　she　loved　them　dearly　because　they
were　her　children。

One　day　Hugh　gave　Master　Appleditch　a　smart　slap　across　the　fingers；
as　the　ultimate　resource。　　The　child　screamed　as　he　well　knew　how。
His　mother　burst　into　the　room。

〃Johnny；　hold　your　tongue！〃

〃Teacher's　been　and　hurt　me。〃

〃Hold　your　tongue；　I　say。　　My　head's　like　to　split。　　Get　out　of　the
room；　you　little　ruffian！〃

She　seized　him　by　the　shoulders；　and　turned　him　out；　administering　a
box　on　his　ear　that　made　the　room　ring。　　Then　turning　to　Hugh；

〃Mr。　Sutherland；　how　dare　you　strike　my　child？〃　she　demanded。

〃He　required　it；　Mrs。　Appleditch。　　I　did　him　no　harm。　　He　will　mind
what　I　say　another　time。〃

〃I　will　not　have　him　touched。　　It's　disgraceful。　　To　strike　a
child！〃

She　belonged　to　that　class　of　humane　parents　who　consider　it　cruel
to　inflict　any　corporal　suffering　upon　children；　except　they　do　it
themselves；　and　in　a　passion。　　Johnnie　behaved　better　after　this；
however；　and　the　only　revenge　Mrs。　Appleditch　took　for　this
interference　with　the　dignity　of　her　eldest　born；　and；　consequently；
with　her　own　as　his　mother；　was；　thatwith　the　view；　probably；　of
impressing　upon　Hugh　a　due　sense　of　the　menial　position　he　occupied
in　her　familyshe　always　paid　him　his　fee　of　one　shilling　and
sixpence　every　day　before　he　left　the　house。　　Once　or　twice　she
contrived　accidentally　that　the　sixpence　should　be　in　coppers。　　Hugh
was　too　much　of　a　philosopher；　however；　to　mind　this　from　such　a
woman。　　I　am　afraid　he　rather　enjoyed　her　spite；　for　he　felt　it　did
not　touch　him；　seeing　it　could　not　be　less　honourable　to　be　paid　by
the　day　than　by　the　quarter　or　by　the　year。　　Certainly　the　coppers
were　an　annoyance；　but　if　the　coppers　could　be　carried；　the
annoyance　could　be　borne。　　The　real　disgust　in　the　affair　was；　that
he　had　to　meet　and　speak　with　a　woman　every　day；　for　whom　he　could
feel　nothing　but　contempt　and　aversion。　　Hugh　was　not　yet　able　to
mingle　with　these　feelings　any　of　the　leaven　of　that　charity　which
they　need　most　of　all　who　are　contemptible　in　the　eye　of　their
fellows。　　Contempt　is　murder　committed　by　the　intellect；　as　hatred
is　murder　committed　by　the　heart。　　Charity　having　life　in　itself；　is
the　opposite　and　destroyer　of　contempt　as　well　as　of　hatred。

After　this；　nothing　went　amiss　for　some　time。　　But　it　was　very
dreary　w