is； to listen to what we are told by those who are educated for such
studies； whom the Church approves； and who are appointed to take
care of the souls committed to their charge； to teach them to
respect their superiors； and to lead honest； hard…working lives。〃
Much more of the same sort flowed from the oracular lips of Mr。
Arnold。 When he ceased； he found that the conversation had ceased
also。 As soon as the ladies withdrew； he said； without looking at
Hugh； as he filled his glass：
〃Mr。 Sutherland； I hate cant。〃
And so he canted against it。
But the next day； and during the whole week； he seemed to lay
himself out to make amends for the sharpness of his remarks on the
Sunday。 He was afraid he had made his guests uncomfortable； and so
sinned against his own character as a host。 Everything that he
could devise； was brought to bear for their entertainment； daily
rides in the open carriage； in which he always accompanied them； to
show his estate； and the improvements he was making upon it； visits
sometimes to the more deserving； as he called them； of the poor upon
his propertythe more deserving being the most submissive and
obedient to the wishes of their lord； inspections of the schools；
&c。； &c。； in all of which matters he took a stupid； benevolent
interest。 For if people would be content to occupy the corner in
which he chose to place them； he would throw them morsel after
morsel； as long as ever they chose to pick it up。 But woe to them
if they left this corner a single pace！
Euphra made one of the party always； and it was dreary indeed for
Hugh to be left in the desolate house without her； though but for a
few hours。 And when she was at home； she never yet permitted him to
speak to her alone。
There might have been some hope for Harry in Hugh's separation from
Euphra； but the result was； that； although he spent school…hours
more regularly with him； Hugh was yet more dull； and uninterested in
the work； than he had been before。 Instead of caring that his pupil
should understand this or that particular； he would be speculating
on Euphra's behaviour； trying to account for this or that individual
look or tone； or seeking； perhaps； a special symbolic meaning in
some general remark that she had happened to let fall。 Meanwhile；
poor Harry would be stupifying himself with work which he could not
understand for lack of some explanation or other that ought to have
been given him weeks ago。 Still； however； he clung to Hugh with a
far…off； worshipping love； never suspecting that he could be to
blame； but thinking at one time that he must be ill； at another that
he himself was really too stupid； and that his big brother could not
help getting tired of him。 When Hugh would be wandering about the
place； seeking to catch a glimpse of the skirt of Euphra's dress； as
she went about with her guests； or devising how he could procure an
interview with her alone； Harry would be following him at a
distance； like a little terrier that had lost its master； and did
not know whether this man would be friendly or not； never spying on
his actions； but merely longing to be near himfor had not Hugh set
him going in the way of life； even if he had now left him to walk in
it alone？ If Hugh could have once seen into that warm； true； pining
little heart； he would not have neglected it as he did。 He had no
eyes； however； but for Euphra。
Still； it may be that even now Harry was able to gather； though with
tears； some advantage from Hugh's neglect。 He used to wander about
alone； and it may be that the hints which his tutor had already
given him； enabled him now to find for himself the interest
belonging to many objects never before remarked。 Perhaps even now
he began to take a few steps alone； the waking independence of which
was of more value for the future growth of his nature； than a
thousand miles accomplished by the aid of the strong arm of his
tutor。 One certain advantage was； that the constitutional trouble
of the boy's nature had now assumed a definite form； by gathering
around a definite object； and blending its own shadowy being with
the sorrow he experienced from the loss of his tutor's sympathy。
Should that sorrow ever be cleared away； much besides might be
cleared away along with it。
Meantime； nature found some channels； worn by his grief； through
which her comforts； that； like waters； press on all sides； and enter
at every cranny and fissure in the house of life； might gently flow
into him with their sympathetic soothing。 Often he would creep away
to the nest which Hugh had built and then forsaken； and seated there
in the solitude of the wide…bourgeoned oak； he would sometimes feel
for a moment as if lifted up above the world and its sorrows； to be
visited by an all…healing wind from God； that came to him； through
the wilderness of leaves around him…gently； like all powerful
things。
But I am putting the boy's feelings into forms and words for him。
He had none of either for them。
CHAPTER XIII。
A STORM。
When the mind's free；
The body's delicate： the tempest in my mind
Doth from my senses take all feeling else
Save what beats there。
King Lear。
While Harry took to wandering abroad in the afternoon sun； Hugh； on
the contrary； found the bright weather so distasteful to him； that
he generally trifled away his afternoons with some old romance in
the dark library； or lay on the couch in his study； listless and
suffering。 He could neither read nor write。 What he felt he must
do he did； but nothing more。
One day； about noon； the weather began to change。 In the afternoon
it grew dark； and Hugh； going to the window； perceived with
delightthe first he had experienced for many daysthat a great
thunder…storm was at hand。 Harry was rather frightened； but under
his fear； there evidently lay a deep delight。 The storm came nearer
and nearer； till at length a vivid flash broke from the mass of
darkness over the woods； lasted for one brilliant moment； and
vanished。 The thunder followed； like a pursuing wild beast； close
on the traces of the vanishing light； as if the darkness were
hunting the light from the earth； and bellowing with rage that it
could not overtake and annihilate it。 Without the usual prelude of
a few great drops； the rain poured at once； in continuous streams；
from the dense canopy overhead； and in a few moments there were six
inches of water all round the house； which the force of the falling
streams made to foam； and fume； and flash like a seething torrent。
Harry had crept close to Hugh； who stood looking out of the window；
and as if the convulsion of the elements had begun to clear the
spiritual and moral； as well as the physical atmosphere； Hugh looked
down on the boy kindly； and put his arm round his shoulders。 Harry
nestled closer； and wished it would thunder for ever。 But longing
to hear his tutor's voice； he ventured to speak； looking up to his
face：
〃Euphra says it is only electricity； Mr。 Sutherland。 What is that？〃
A common tutor would have seized the opportunity of explaining what
he knew of the laws and operations of electricity。 But Hugh had
been long enough a pupil of David to feel that to talk at such a
time of anything in nature but God； would be to do the boy a serious
wrong。 One capable of so doing would； in the presence of the
Saviour himself； speculate on the nature of his own faith； or upon
the death of his child； seize the opportunity of lecturing on
anatomy。 But before Hugh could make any reply； a flash； almost
invisible from excess of light； was accompanied rather than followed
by a roar that made the house shake； and in a moment more the room
was filled with the terrified household； which； by an unreasoning
impulse； rushed to the neighbourhood of him who was considered the
strongest。Mr。 Arnold was not at home。
〃Come from the window instantly； Mr。 Sutherland。 How can you be so
imprudent！〃 cried Mrs。 Elton； her usually calm voice elevated in
command； but tremulous with fear。
〃Why； Mrs。 Elton；〃 answered Hugh on whose temper； as well as
conduct； recent events had had their operation； 〃do you think the
devil makes the thunder？〃
Lady Emily gave a faint shriek； whether out of reverence for the
devil； or fear of God； I hesitate to decide； and flitting out of the
room； dived into her bed； and drew the clothes over her headat
least so she was found at a later period of the day。 Euphra walked
up to the window beside Hugh； as if to show her approval of his
rudeness； and stood looking out with eyes that filled their own
night with home…born flashes； though her lip was pale； and quivered
a little。 Mrs。 Elton； confounded at Hugh's reply； and perhaps
fearing the house might in consequence share the fate of Sodom；
notwithstanding the presence of a goodly proportion of the
righteous； fled； accompanied by the housekeeper； to the wine…cellar。
The rest of the household crept into corners； except the coachman；
who； retaining his composure； in virtue of a greater degree of
insensibility from his nearer approximation to the inanimate
creation； emptied the jug of ale intended for the dinner of the
company； and went out to look after his horses。
But there was one in the house who； left alone； threw the window
wide open； and； with gently clasped hands and calm countenance；
looked up into the heavens； and the clearness of whose eye seemed
the prophetic symbol of the clearness that rose all untroubled above
the turmoil of the earthly storm。 Truly God was in the storm； but
there was more of God in the clear heaven beyond； and yet more of
Him in the eye that regarded the whole with a still joy； in which
was mingled no dismay。
Euphra； Hugh； and Harry were left together； looking out upon the
storm。 Hugh could not speak in Harry's presence。 At length the boy
sat down in a dark corner on the floor； concealed from the others by
a window…curtain。 Hugh thought he had left the room。
〃Euphra；〃 he began。
Euphra looked round for Harry； and not seeing him； thought likewise
that he had left the room： she glided away without making any answer
to Hugh's invocation。
He stood for a few moments in motionless despair； then glancing
r