adding continually to the hidden growth as they unfolded the
visible。 In this； they were like the other revelations of God the
Infinite。 All the wild lovely things were coming up for their
month's life of joy。 Orchis…harlequins； cuckoo…plants； wild arums；
more properly lords…and…ladies； were coming； and comingslowly； for
had they not a long way to come； from the valley of the shadow of
death into the land of life？ At last the wanderers came upon a
whole company of bluebellsnot what Hugh would have called
bluebells； for the bluebells of Scotland are the single…poised
harebellsbut wild hyacinths； growing in a damp and shady spot； in
wonderful luxuriance。 They were quite three feet in height； with
long； graceful； drooping heads； hanging down from them； all along
one side； the largest and loveliest of bellsone lying close above
the other； on the lower part； while they parted thinner and thinner
as they rose towards the lonely one at the top。 Miss Cameron went
into ecstasies over these； not saying much； but breaking up what she
did say with many prettily passionate pauses。
She had a very happy turn for seeing external resemblances； either
humorous or pathetic； for she had much of one element that goes to
the making of a poetnamely； surface impressibility。
〃Look； Harry； they are all sad at having to go down there again so
soon。 They are looking at their graves so ruefully。〃
Harry looked sad and rather sentimental immediately。 When Hugh
glanced at Miss Cameron； he saw tears in her eyes。
〃You have nothing like this in your country； have you； Mr。
Sutherland？〃 said she； with an apparent effort。
〃No； indeed；〃 answered Hugh。
And he said no more。 For a vision rose before him of the rugged
pine…wood and the single primrose； and of the thoughtful maiden；
with unpolished speech and rough hands； andbut this he did not
seea soul slowly refining itself to a crystalline clearness。 And
he thought of the grand old grey…haired David； and of Janet with her
quaint motherhood； and of all the blessed bareness of the ancient
timein sunlight and in snow； and he felt again that he had
forgotten and forsaken his friends。
〃How the fairies will be ringing the bells in these airy steeples in
the moonlight！〃 said Miss Cameron to Harry； who was surprised and
delighted with it all。 He could not help wondering； however； after
he went to bed that night； that Euphra had never before taken him to
see these beautiful things； and had never before said anything half
so pretty to him； as the least pretty thing she had said about the
flowers that morning when they were out with Mr。 Sutherland。 Had
Mr。 Sutherland anything to do with it？ Was he giving Euphra a
lesson in flowers such as he had given him in pigs？
Miss Cameron presently drew Hugh into conversation again； and the
old times were once more forgotten for a season。 They were worthy
of distinguishing notethat trio in those spring woods： the boy
waking up to feel that flowers and buds were lovelier in the woods
than in verses； Euphra finding everything about her sentimentally
useful； and really delighting in the prettinesses they suggested to
her； and Hugh regarding the whole chiefly as a material and means
for reproducing in verse such impressions of delight as he had
received and still received from all （but the highest） poetry about
nature。 The presence of Harry and his necessities was certainly a
saving influence upon Hugh； but； however much he sought to realize
Harry's life； he himself； at this period of his history； enjoyed
everything artistically far more than humanly。
Margaret would have walked through all this infant summer without
speaking at all； but with a deep light far back in her quiet eyes。
Perhaps she would not have had many thoughts about the flowers。
Rather she would have thought the very flowers themselves； would
have been at home with them； in a delighted oneness with their life
and expression。 Certainly she would have walked through them with
reverence； and would not have petted or patronised nature by saying
pretty things about her children。 Their life would have entered
into her； and she would have hardly known it from her own。 I
daresay Miss Cameron would have called a mountain a darling or a
beauty。 But there are other ways of showing affection than by
patting and pettingthough Margaret； for her part； would have
needed no art…expression； because she had the things themselves。 It
is not always those who utter best who feel most； and the dumb poets
are sometimes dumb because it would need the 〃large utterance of the
early gods〃 to carry their thoughts through the gates of speech。
But the fancy and skin…sympathy of Miss Cameron began already to
tell upon Hugh。 He knew very little of women； and had never heard a
woman talk as she talked。 He did not know how cheap this
accomplishment is； and took it for sensibility； imaginativeness； and
even originality。 He thought she was far more en rapport with
nature than he was。 It was much easier to make this mistake after
hearing the really delightful way in which she sang。 Certainly she
could not have sung so； perhaps not even have talked so； except she
had been capable of more； but to be capable of more； and to be able
for more； are two very distinct conditions。
Many walks followed this； extending themselves farther and farther
from home； as Harry's strength gradually improved。 It was quite
remarkable how his interest in everything external increased； in
exact proportion as he learned to see into the inside or life of it。
With most children； the interest in the external comes first； and
with many ceases there。 But it is in reality only a shallower form
of the deeper sympathy； and in those cases where it does lead to a
desire after the hidden nature of things； it is perhaps the better
beginning of the two。 In such exceptional cases as Harry's； it is
of unspeakable importance that both the difference and the identity
should be recognized； and in doing so； Hugh became to Harry his big
brother indeed； for he led him where he could not go alone。
As often as Mr。 Arnold was from home； which happened not
unfrequently； Miss Cameron accompanied them in their rambles。 She
gave as her reason for doing so only on such occasions； that she
never liked to be out of the way when her uncle might want her。
Traces of an inclination to quarrel with Hugh； or even to stand
upon her dignity； had all but vanished； and as her vivacity never
failed her； as her intellect was always active； and as by the
exercise of her will she could enter sympathetically； or appear to
enter； into everything； her presence was not in the least a
restraint upon them。
On one occasion； when Harry had actually run a little way after a
butterfly； Hugh said to her：
〃What did you mean； Miss Cameron； by saying you were only a poor
relation？ You are certainly mistress of the house。〃
〃On sufferance； yes。 But I am only a poor relation。 I have no
fortune of my own。〃
〃But Mr。 Arnold does not treat you as such。〃
〃Oh！ no。 He likes me。 He is very kind to me。He gave me this ring
on my last birthday。 Is it not a beauty？〃
She pulled off her glove and showed a very fine diamond on a finger
worthy of the ornament。
〃It is more like a gentleman's； is it not？〃 she added； drawing it
off。 〃Let me see how it would look on your hand。〃
She gave the ring to Hugh； who； laughing； got it with some
difficulty just over the first joint of his little finger； and held
it up for Euphra to see。
〃Ah！ I see I cannot ask you to wear it for me；〃 said she。 〃I don't
like it myself。 I am afraid； however；〃 she added； with an arch
look； 〃my uncle would not like it eitheron your finger。 Put it on
mine again。〃
Holding her hand towards Hugh； she continued：
〃It must not be promoted just yet。 Besides； I see you have a still
better one of your own。〃
As Hugh did according to her request； the words sprang to his lips；
〃There are other ways of wearing a ring than on the finger。〃 But
they did not cross the threshold of speech。 Was it the repression
of them that caused that strange flutter and slight pain at the
heart； which he could not quite understand？
CHAPTER VI。
FATIMA。
Those lips that Love's own hand did make
Breathed forth the sound that said； 〃I hate；〃
To me that languished for her sake：
But when she saw my woeful state；
Straight in her heart did mercy come；
Chiding that tongue that； ever sweet；
Was used in giving gentle doom；
And taught it thus anew to greet：
〃I hate〃 she altered with an end；
That followed it as gentle day
Doth follow night； who； like a fiend；
》From heaven to hell is flown away。
〃I hate〃 from hate away she threw；
And saved my life； saying〃Not you。〃
SHAKSPERE。
Mr。 Arnold was busy at home for a few days after this； and Hugh and
Harry had to go out alone。 One day； when the wind was rather cold；
they took refuge in the barn； for it was part of Hugh's especial
care that Harry should be rendered hardy； by never being exposed to
more than he could bear without a sense of suffering。 As soon as
the boy began to feel fatigue； or cold； or any other discomfort； his
tutor took measures accordingly。
Harry would have crept into the straw…house； but Hugh said； pulling
a book out of his pocket；
〃I have a poem here for you； Harry。 I want to read it to you now；
and we can't see in there。〃
They threw themselves down on the straw； and Hugh； opening a volume
of Robert Browning's Poems； read the famous ride from Ghent to Aix。
He knew the poem well； and read it well。 Harry was in raptures。
〃I wish I could read that as you do；〃 said he。
〃Try；〃 said Hugh。
Harry tried the first verse； and threw the book down in disgust with
himself。
〃Why cannot I read it？〃 said he。
〃Because you can't ride。〃
〃I could ride； if I had such a horse as that to ride upon。〃
〃But you could never have such a horse as that except you could
ride； and ride well； first。 After that； there is no saying but you
might get one。 You might； in fact； train one for yourselftill
from being a little foal it became your own wonderful horse。〃
〃Oh！ that would be delightful！ Will you teach me horses as well；
Mr。 S