Orlando。 She's an old dweller in those high countries； yet not
from me： here； she's here； a good couple are seldom parted。DEKKER。
What wonderful things letters are！ In trembling and hope the
fingers unclasp； and the folded sheet drops intono； not the
post…office letter…boxbut into space。
I have read a story somewhere of a poor child that dropped a letter
into the post…office； addressed to Jesus Christ in Heaven。 And it
reached him； and the child had her answer。 For was it not Christ
present in the good man or womanI forget the particulars of the
storywho sent the child the help she needed？ There was no
necessity for him to answer in person； as in the case of Abgarus；
king of Edessa。
Out of space from somewhere comes the answer。 Such letters as those
given in a previous chapter； are each a spirit…cry sent out； like a
Noah's dove； into the abyss； and the spirit turns its ear； where its
mouth had been turned before； and leans listening for the
spirit…echothe echo with a soul in itthe answering voice which
out of the abyss will enter by the gate now turned to receive it。
Whose will be the voice？ What will be the sense？ What chords on
the harp of life have been struck afar off by the arrow…words of the
letter？ What tones will they send back to the longing； hungering
ear？ The mouth hath spoken； that the fainting ear may be filled by
the return of its words through the alembic of another soul。
One cause of great uneasiness to Hugh was； that； for some time after
a reply might have been expected； he received no answer from David
Elginbrod。 At length； however； a letter arrived； upon the
hand…writing of which he speculated in vain； perplexed with a
resemblance in it to some writing that he knew； and when he opened
it； he found the following answer to his own：
〃DEAR MR。 SUTHERLAND；Your letter to my father has been sent to me
by my mother； for what you will feel to be the sad reason； that he
is no more in this world。 But I cannot say it is so very sad to me
to think that he is gone home； where my mother and I will soon join
him。 True love can wait well。 Nor indeed； dear Mr。 Sutherland；
must you be too much troubled that your letter never reached him。
My father was like God in this； that he always forgave anything the
moment there was anything to forgive； for when else could there be
such a good time？although； of course； the person forgiven could
not know it till he asked for forgiveness。 But； dear Mr。
Sutherland； if you could see me smiling as I write； and could yet
see how earnest my heart is in writing it； I would venture to say
that； in virtue of my knowing my father as I dofor I am sure I
know his very soul； as near as human love could know itI forgive
you； in his name； for anything and everything with which you
reproach yourself in regard to him。 Ah！ how much I owe you！ And
how much he used to say he owed you！ We shall thank you one day；
when we all meet。
〃I am； dear Mr。 Sutherland；
〃Your grateful scholar；
〃MARGARET ELGINBROD。〃
Hugh burst into tears on reading this letter；with no overpowering
sense of his own sin； for he felt that he was forgiven； but with a
sudden insight into the beauty and grandeur of the man whom he had
neglected； and the wondrous loveliness which he had transmitted from
the feminine part of his nature to the wholly feminine and therefore
delicately powerful nature of Margaret。 The vision he had beheld in
the library at Arnstead； about which； as well as about many other
things that had happened to him there； he could form no theory
capable of embracing all the factsthis vision returned to his
mind's eye； and he felt that the glorified face he had beheld must
surely have been Margaret's； whether he had seen it in the body or
out of the body： such a face alone seemed to him worthy of the
writer of this letter。 Purposely or not； there was no address given
in it； and to his surprise； when he examined the envelope with the
utmost care； he could discover no postmark but the London one。 The
date…stamp likewise showed that it must have been posted in London。
〃So；〃 said he to himself； 〃in my quest of a devil； I may cross the
track of an angel； who knows？ But how can she be here？〃
To this of course he had no answer at hand。
CHAPTER V。
BEGINNINGS。
Since a man is bound no farther to himself than to do wisely； chance
is only to trouble them that stand upon chance。SIR PHILIP
SIDNEY。The Arcadia。
Meantime a feeble star； but sparkling some rays of comfort； began to
shine upon Hugh's wintry prospects。 The star arose in a grocer's
shop。 For one day his landlady； whose grim attentions had been
increasing rather than diminishing； addressed him suddenly as she
was removing his breakfast apparatus。 This was a very extraordinary
event； for she seldom addressed him it all； and replied； when he
addressed her； only in the briefest manner possible。
〃Have you got any pupils yet； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
〃NoI am sorry to say。 But how did you come to know I wanted any；
Miss Talbot？〃
〃You shouldn't have secrets at home； Mr。 Sutherland。 I like to know
what concerns my own family； and I generally find out。〃
〃You saw my advertisement； perhaps？〃
To this suggestion Miss Talbot made no other answer than the usual
compression of her lips。
〃You wouldn't be above teaching a tradesman's son to begin with？〃
〃Certainly not。 I should be very happy。 Do you know of such a
pupil？〃
〃Well； I can't exactly say I do know or I don't know； but I happened
to mention to my grocer round the corner that you wanted pupils。
Don't suppose； Mr。 Sutherland； that I'm in the way of talking about
any young men of mine； but it〃
〃Not for a moment；〃 interrupted Hugh； and Miss Talbot resumed；
evidently gratified。
〃Well； if you wouldn't mind stepping round the corner； I shouldn't
wonder if you might make an arrangement with Mr。 Appleditch。 He
said you might call upon him if you liked。〃
Hugh jumped up； and got his hat at once； received the few necessary
directions from Miss Talbot； and soon found the shop。 There were a
good many poor people in it； buying sugar； and soap； &c。； and one
lady apparently giving a large order。 A young man came to Hugh； and
bent over the counter in a recipient position； like a live point of
interrogation。 Hugh answered
〃Mr。 Appleditch。〃
〃Mr。 Appleditch will be disengaged in a few minutes。 Will you take
a seat？〃
The grocer was occupied with the lady and her order； but as soon as
she departed； he approached Hugh behind the rampart； and stood
towards him in the usual retail attitude。
〃My name is Sutherland。〃
〃Sutherland？〃 said Mr。 Appleditch； 〃I think I've 'eard the name
somewheres； but I don't know the face。〃
〃Miss Talbot mentioned me to you； I understand； Mr。 Appleditch。〃
〃Oh！ ah！ I remember。 I beg your pardon。 Will you step this way；
Mr。 Sutherland？〃
Hugh followed him through a sort of draw…bridge which he lifted in
the counter； into a little appendix at the back of the shop。 Mr。
Appleditch was a meek…looking man； with large eyes； plump pasty
cheeks； and a thin little person。
〃'Ow de do； Mr。 Sutherland？〃 said he； holding out his hand； as soon
as they had reached this retreat。
〃Thank youquite well；〃 answered Sutherland； shaking hands with him
as well as he could； the contact not being altogether pleasant。
〃So you want pupils； do you； sir？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Ah！ well you see； sir； pupils is scarce at this season。 They ain't
to be bought in every shopha！ ha！〃 （The laugh was very mild。） 〃But
I think Mrs。 Appleditch could find you one； if you could agree with
her about the charge； you know； and all that。〃
〃How old is he？ A boy； I suppose？〃
〃Well； you're right； sir。 It is a boy。 Not very old； though。 My
Samuel is just ten； but a wonderful forward boy for his yearsbless
him！〃
〃And what would you wish him to learn？〃
〃Oh！ Latin and Greek； and all that。 We intend bringing him up for
the ministry。I hope your opinions are decided； sir？〃
〃On some points； they are。 But I do not know to what you refer；
exactly。〃
〃I mean theological opinions； sir。〃
〃But I shall not have to teach your little boy theology。〃
〃Certainly not； sir。 That department belongs to his mother and I。
Unworthy vessels； sir； mere earthen vessels； but filled with the
grace of God； I hope； sir。〃
The grocer parted his hands； which he had been rubbing together
during this conversation； and lifted them upwards from the wrists；
like the fins of a seal； then； dropping them； fell to rubbing them
again。
〃I hope so。 Wellyou know the best way will be for menot knowing
your opinionsto avoid everything of a religious kind。〃
〃Ah！ but it should be line upon line； you know； here a little； and
there a little； sir。 As the bow is bent； you knowthehoop is
made； you know； sir。〃
Here Mr。 Appleditch stepped to the door suddenly； and peeped out； as
if he feared he was wanted； but presently returning； he continued：
〃But time's a precious gift； sir； and we must not waste it。 So； if
you'll do us the honour； sir； to dine with us next Lord's daywe
may call it a work of necessity； you knowyou will see the little
Samuel； andandMrs。 Appleditch。〃
〃I shall be very happy。 What is your address； Mr。 Appleditch？〃
〃You had better come to Salem Chapel； Dervish town； and we can go
home together。 Service commences at eleven。 Mrs。 Appleditch will
be glad to see you。 Ask for Mr。 Appleditch's pew。 Goo…ood morning；
sir。〃
Hugh took his leave； half inclined to send an excuse before the day
arrived； and decline the connection。 But his principle was； to take
whatever offered； and thus make way for the next thing。 Besides； he
thus avoided the responsibility of choice； from which he always
shrunk。
He returned to his novel； but； alas！ the inventive faculty
point…blank refused to work under the weight of such a Sunday in
prospect。 He wandered out； quite dispirited； but； before long； to
take his revenge upon circumstances； resolved at least to have a
dinner out of them。 So he went to a chop house； had a chop and a
glass of ale； and was astonished to find how much he enjoyed them。
In fact； abstinence gave his very plain dinner more than all th