david elginbrod- 第50部分

〃God　is　nearer　to　you　than　any　thought　or　feeling　of　yours；　Lady
Emily。　　Do　not　be　afraid。　　If　all　the　evil　things　in　the　universe
were　around　us；　they　could　not　come　inside　the　ring　that　he　makes
about　us。　　He　always　keeps　a　place　for　himself　and　his　child；　into
which　no　other　being　can　enter。〃

〃Oh！　how　you　must　love　God；　Margaret！〃

〃Indeed　I　do　love　him；　my　lady。　　If　ever　anything　looks　beautiful　or
lovely　to　me；　then　I　know　at　once　that　God　is　that。〃

〃But；　then；　what　right　have　we　to　take　the　good　of　that；　however
true　it　is；　when　we　are　not　beautiful　ourselves？〃

〃That　only　makes　God　the　more　beautifulin　that　he　will　pour　out
the　more　of　his　beauty　upon　us　to　make　us　beautiful。　　If　we　care　for
his　glory；　we　shall　be　glad　to　believe　all　this　about　him。　　But　we
are　too　anxious　about　feeling　good　ourselves；　to　rejoice　in　his
perfect　goodness。　　I　think　we　should　find　that　enough；　my　lady。
For；　if　he　be　good；　are　not　we　his　children；　and　sure　of　having　it；
not　merely　feeling　it；　some　day？〃

Here　Margaret　repeated　a　little　poem　of　George　Herbert's。　　She　had
found　his　poems　amongst　Mrs。　Elton's　books；　who；　coming　upon　her
absorbed　in　it　one　day；　had　made　her　a　present　of　the　volume。　　Then
indeed　Margaret　had　found　a　friend。

The　poem　is　called　Dialogue：

　　　　　〃Sweetest　Saviour；　if　my　soul
　　　　　　Were　but　worth　the　having〃

〃Oh；　what　a　comfort　you　are　to　me；　Margaret！〃　　Lady　Emily　said；
after　a　short　silence。　　Where　did　you　learn　such　things？〃

〃From　my　father；　and　from　Jesus　Christ；　and　from　God　himself；
showing　them　to　me　in　my　heart。〃

〃Ah！　that　is　why；　as　often　as　you　come　into　my　room；　even　if　I　am
very　troubled；　I　feel　as　if　the　sun　shone；　and　the　wind　blew；　and
the　birds　sang；　and　the　tree…tops　went　waving　in　the　wind；　as　they
used　to　do　before　I　was　taken　illI　mean　before　they　thought　I　must
go　abroad。　　You　seem　to　make　everything　clear；　and　right；　and　plain。
I　wish　I　were　you；　Margaret。〃

〃If　I　were　you；　my　lady；　I　would　rather　be　what　God　chose　to　make
me；　than　the　most　glorious　creature　that　I　could　think　of。　　For　to
have　been　thought　aboutborn　in　God's　thoughtsand　then　made　by
God；　is　the　dearest；　grandest；　most　precious　thing　in　all　thinking。
Is　it　not；　my　lady？〃

〃It　is；〃　said　Lady　Emily；　and　was　silent。

The　shadows　of　evening　came　on。　　As　soon　as　it　was　dark；　Margaret
took　her　place　at　one　of　the　windows　hidden　from　Lady　Emily　by　a
bed…curtain。　　She　raised　the　blind；　and　pulled　aside　one　curtain；　to
let　her　have　a　view　of　the　trees　outside。　　She　had　placed　the　one
candle　so　as　not　to　shine　either　on　the　window　or　on　her　own　eyes。
Lady　Emily　was　asleep。　　One　hour　and　another　passed；　and　still　she
sat　theremotionless；　watching。

Margaret　did　not　know；　that　at　another　windowthe　one；　indeed；　next
to　her　ownstood　a　second　watcher。　　It　was　Hugh；　in　Harry's　room：
Harry　was　asleep　in　Hugh's。　　He　had　no　light。　　He　stood　with　his
face　close　against　the　windowpane；　on　which　the　moon　shone　brightly。
All　below　him　the　woods　were　half　dissolved　away　in　the　moonlight。
The　Ghost's　Walk　lay　full　before　him；　like　a　tunnel　through　the
trees。　　He　could　see　a　great　way　down；　by　the　light　that　fell　into
it；　at　various　intervals；　from　between　the　boughs　overhead。　　He
stood　thus　for　a　long　time；　gazing　somewhat　listlessly。　　Suddenly　he
became　all　eyes；　as　he　caught　the　white　glimmer　of　something　passing
up　the　avenue。　　He　stole　out　of　the　room；　down　to　the　library　by　the
back…stair；　and　so　through　the　library　window　into　the　wood。　　He
reached　the　avenue　sideways；　at　some　distance　from　the　house；　and
peeped　from　behind　a　tree；　up　and　down。　　At　first　he　saw　nothing。
But；　a　moment　after；　while　he　was　looking　down　the　avenue；　that　is；
away　from　the　house；　a　veiled　figure　in　white　passed　him　noiselessly
from　the　other　direction。　　From　the　way　in　which　he　was　looking　at
the　moment；　it　had　passed　him　before　he　saw　it。　　It　made　no　sound。
Only　some　early…fallen　leaves　rustled　as　they　hurried　away　in
uncertain　eddies；　startled　by　the　sweep　of　its　trailing　garments；
which　yet　were　held　up　by　hands　hidden　within　them。　　On　it　went。
Hugh's　eyes　were　fixed　on　its　course。　　He　could　not　move；　and　his
heart　laboured　so　frightfully　that　he　could　hardly　breathe。　　The
figure　had　not　advanced　far；　however；　before　he　heard　a　repressed
cry　of　agony；　and　it　sank　to　the　earth；　and　vanished；　while　from
where　it　disappeared；　down　the　path；　came；　silently　too；　turning
neither　to　the　right　nor　the　left；　a　second　figure；　veiled　in　black
from　head　to　foot。

〃It　is　the　nun　in　Lady　Euphrasia's　room；〃　said　Hugh　to　himself。

This　passed　him　too；　and；　walking　slowly　towards　the　house；
disappeared　somewhere；　near　the　end　of　the　avenue。　　Turning　once
more；　with　reviving　couragefor　his　blood　had　begun　to　flow　more
equablyHugh　ventured　to　approach　the　spot　where　the　white　figure
had　vanished。　　He　found　nothing　there　but　the　shadow　of　a　huge　tree。
He　walked　through　the　avenue　to　the　end；　and　then　back　to　the
house；　but　saw　nothing；　though　he　often　started　at　fancied
appearances。　　Sorely　bewildered；　he　returned　to　his　own　room。　　After
speculating　till　thought　was　weary；　he　lay　down　beside　Harry；　whom
he　was　thankful　to　find　in　a　still　repose；　and　fell　fast　asleep。

Margaret　lay　on　a　couch　in　Lady　Emily's　room；　and　slept　likewise；
but　she　started　wide　awake　at　every　moan　of　the　invalid；　who　often
moaned　in　her　sleep。




CHAPTER　XX。

THE　BAD　MAN。

She　kent　he　was　nae　gentle　knight；
　　That　she　had　letten　in；
For　neither　when　he　gaed　nor　cam'；
　　Kissed　he　her　cheek　or　chin。

He　neither　kissed　her　when　he　cam'
　　Nor　clappit　her　when　he　gaed；
And　in　and　out　at　her　bower　window；
　　The　moon　shone　like　the　gleed。

Glenkindie。Old　Scotch　Ballad。


When　Euphra　recovered　from　the　swoon　into　which　she　had　fallenfor
I　need　hardly　explain　to　my　readers；　that　it　was　she　who　walked　the
Ghost's　Walk　in　whiteon　seeing　Margaret；　whom；　under　the
irresistible　influences　of　the　moonlight　and　a　bad　conscience；　she
took　for　the　very　being　whom　Euphra　herself　was　personatingwhen
she　recovered；　I　say；　she　found　herself　lying　in　the　wood；　with
Funkelstein；　whom　she　had　gone　to　meet；　standing　beside　her。　　Her
first　words　were　of　anger；　as　she　tried　to　rise；　and　found　she　could
not。

〃How　long；　Count　Halkar；　am　I　to　be　your　slave？〃

〃Till　you　have　learned　to　submit。〃

〃Have　I　not　done　all　I　can？〃

〃You　have　not　found　it。　　You　are　free　from　the　moment　you　place　that
ring；　belonging　to　me；　in　right　of　my　family；　into　my　hands。〃

I　do　not　believe　that　the　man　really　was　Count　Halkar；　although　he
had　evidently　persuaded　Euphra　that　such　was　his　name　and　title。　　I
think　it　much　more　probable　that；　in　the　course　of　picking　up　a　mass
of　trifling　information　about　various　families　of　distinction；　for
which　his　position　of　secretary　in　several　of　their　houses　had
afforded　him　special　facilities；　he　had　learned　something　about　the
Halkar　family；　and　this　particular　ring；　of　which；　for　some　reason
or　other；　he　wanted　to　possess　himself。

〃What　more　can　I　do？〃　moaned　Euphra；　succeeding　at　length　in　raising
herself　to　a　sitting　posture；　and　leaning　thus　against　a　tree。　〃I
shall　be　found　out　some　day。　　I　have　been　already　seen　wandering
through　the　house　at　midnight；　with　the　heart　of　a　thief。　　I　hate
you；　Count　Halkar！〃

A　low　laugh　was　the　count's　only　reply。

〃And　now　Lady　Euphrasia　herself　dogs　my　steps；　to　keep　me　from　the
ring。〃　　She　gave　a　low　cry　of　agony　at　the　remembrance。

〃Miss　CameronEuphraare　you　going　to　give　way　to　such　folly？〃

〃Folly！　　Is　it　not　worse　folly　to　torture　a　poor　girl　as　you　do
meall　for　a　worthless　ring？　　What　can　you　want　with　the　ring？　　I
do　not　know　that　he　has　it　even。〃

〃You　lie。　　You　know　he　has。　　You　need　not　think　to　take　me　in。〃

〃You　base　man！　　You　dare　not　give　the　lie　to　any　but　a　woman。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　you　are　a　coward。　　You　are　afraid　of　Lady　Euphrasia
yourself。　　See　there！〃

Von　Funkelstein　glanced　round　him　uneasily。　　It　was　only　the
moonlight　on　the　bark　of　a　silver　birch。　　Conscious　of　having
betrayed　weakness；　he　grew　spiteful。

〃If　you　do　not　behave　to　me　better；　I　will　compel　you。　　Rise　up！〃

After　a　moment's　hesitation；　she　rose。

〃Put　your　arms　round　me。〃

She　seemed　to　grow　to　the　earth；　and　to　drag　herself　from　it；　one
foot　after　another。　　But　she　came　close　up　to　the　Bohemian；　and　put
one　arm　half　round　him；　looking　to　the　earth　all　the　time。

〃Kiss　me。〃

〃Count　Halkar！〃　her　voice　sounded　hollow　and　harsh；　as　if　from　a
dead　throat〃I　will　do　what　you　please。　　Only　release　me。〃

〃Go　then；　but　mind　you　resist　me　no　more。　　I　do　not　care　for　your
kisses。　　You　were　ready　enough　once。　　But　that　idiot　of　a　tutor　has
taken　my　place；　I　see。〃

〃Would　to　God　I　had　never　seen　you！never　yielded　to　your　influence
over　me！　　Swear　that　I　shall　be　free　if　I　find　you　the　ring。〃

〃You　find　the　ring　first。　　Why　should　I　swear？　　I　can　compel　you。
You　know　you　laid　yourself　out　to　entrap　me　first　with　your　arts；
and　I　only　turned　upon　you　with　mine。　　And　you　are　in　my　power。　　But
you　shall　be　free；　notwithstanding；　and　I　will　torture　you　till　you
free　yourself。　　Find　the　ring。〃

〃Cruel！　cruel！　　You　are　doing　all　you　can　to　ruin　me。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　I　am　doing　all　I　can　to　save　myself。　　If　you　had
loved　me　as　you　allowed　me　to　think　once；　I　should　never　have　made
you　my　tool。〃

〃You　would　all　the　same。〃

〃Take　care。　　I　am　irritable　to…night。〃

For　a　few　moments　Euphra　made　no　reply。

〃To　what　will　you　drive　me？〃　she　said　at　last。

〃I　will　not　go　too　far。　　I　should　lose　my　power　over　you　if　I　did。
I　prefer　to　keep　it。〃

〃Inexorable　man！〃

〃Yes。〃

Another　despairing　pause。

〃What　am　I　to　do？〃

〃Nothing。　　But　keep　yourself　ready　to　carry　out　any　plan　that　I　may
propose。　　Something　will　turn　up；　now　that　I　have　got　into　the　house
myself。　　Leave　me　to　find　out　the　means。　　I　can　expect　no　invention
from　your　brains。　　You　can　go　home。〃

Euphra　turned　without　another　word；　and　went；　murmuring；　as　if　in
excuse　to　herself：

〃It　is　for　my　freedom。　　It　is　for　my　freedom。〃

Of　course　this　account　must　have　come　originally　from　Euphra
herself；　for　there　was　no　one　el