glass of ale； and was astonished to find how much he enjoyed them。
In fact； abstinence gave his very plain dinner more than all the
charms of a feasta fact of which Hugh has not been the only
discoverer。 He studied Punch all the time he ate； and rose with his
spirits perfectly restored。
〃Now I am in for it；〃 said he； 〃I will be extravagant for once。〃 So
he went and bought a cigar； which he spun out into three miles of
smoke； as he wandered through Shoreditch； and Houndsditch； and
Petticoat…lane； gazing at the faces of his brothers and sisters；
which faces having been so many years wrapt in a fog both moral and
physical； now looked out of it as if they were only the condensed
nuclei of the same fog and filth。
As he was returning through Whitechapel； he passed a man on the
pavement； whose appearance was so remarkable that he could not help
looking back after him。 When he reflected about it； he thought that
it must have been a certain indescribable resemblance to David
Elginbrod that had so attracted him。 The man was very tall。
Six…foot。 Hugh felt dwarfed beside him； for he had to look right
up； as he passed； to see his face。 He was dressed in loose； shabby
black。 He had high and otherwise very marked features； and a dark
complexion。 A general carelessness of demeanour was strangely
combined with an expression of reposeful strength and quiet
concentration of will。 At how much of this conclusion Hugh arrived
after knowing more of him； I cannot tell； but such was the
description he gave of him as he saw him first： and it was
thoroughly correct。 His countenance always seemed to me （for I knew
him well） to represent a nature ever bent in one direction； but
never in haste； because never in doubt。
To carry his extravagance and dissipation still further； Hugh now
betook himself to the pit of the Olympic Theatre； and no one could
have laughed more heartily； or cried more helplessly； that night；
than he； for he gave himself wholly up to the influences of the
ruler of the hour； the admirable Robson。 But what was his surprise
when； standing up at the close of the first act； and looking around
and above him； he saw； unmistakeably； the same remarkable
countenance looking down upon him from the front row of the gallery。
He continued his circuit of observation； trying to discover the
face of Funkelstein in the boxes or circles； but involuntarily he
turned his gaze back to the strange countenance； which still seemed
bent towards his。 The curtain rose； and during the second act he
forgot all about everything else。 At its close he glanced up to the
gallery again； and there was the face still； and still looking at
him。 At the close of the third act it had vanished； and he saw
nothing more of it that evening。 When the after…piece was over； for
he sat it out； he walked quietly home； much refreshed。 He had
needed some relaxation； after many days of close and continuous
labour。
But awfully solemn was the face of good Miss Talbot； as she opened
the door for him at midnight。 Hugh took especial pains with his
boots and the door…mat； but it was of no use： the austerity of her
countenance would not relax in the least。 So he took his candle and
walked up…stairs to his room； saying only as he wentbeing unable
to think of anything else：
〃Good night； Miss Talbot。〃
But no response proceeded from the offended divinity of the place。
He went to bed； somewhat distressed at the behaviour of Miss Talbot；
for he had a weakness for being on good terms with everybody。 But
he resolved to have it out with her next morning； and so fell asleep
and dreamed of the strange man who had watched him at the theatre。
He rose next morning at the usual time。 But his breakfast was
delayed half an hour； and when it came； the maid waited upon him；
and not her mistress； as usual。 When he had finished； and she
returned to take away the ruins； he asked her to say to her mistress
that he wanted to speak to her。 She brought back a message； which
she delivered with some difficulty； and evidently under
compulsionthat if Mr。 Sutherland wanted to speak to her； he would
find her in the back parlour。 Hugh went down instantly； and found
Miss Talbot in a doubly frozen condition； her face absolutely blue
with physical and mental cold combined。 She waited for him to
speak。 Hugh began：
〃Miss Talbot； it seems something is wrong between you and me。〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Sutherland。〃
〃Is it because I was rather late last night。〃
〃Rather late； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
Miss Talbot showed no excitement。 With her； the thermometer； in
place of rising under the influence of irritation； steadily sank。
〃I cannot make myself a prisoner on parole； you know； Miss Talbot。
You must leave me my liberty。〃
〃Oh； yes； Mr。 Sutherland。 Take your liberty。 You'll go the way of
all the rest。 It's no use trying to save any of you。〃
〃But I'm not aware that I am in any particular want of saving； Miss
Talbot。〃
〃There it is！Well； till a sinner is called and awakened； of course
it's no use。 So I'll just do the best I can for you。 Who can tell
when the Spirit may be poured from on high？ But it's very sad to
me； Mr。 Sutherland； to see an amiable young man like you going the
way of transgressors； which is hard。 I am sorry for you； Mr。
Sutherland。〃
Though the ice was not gone yet； it had begun to melt under the
influences of Hugh's good…temper； and Miss Talbot's sympathy with
his threatening fate。 Conscience； too； had something to do with the
change； for； much as one of her temperament must have disliked
making such a confession； she ended by adding； after a pause：
〃And very sorry； Mr。 Sutherland； that I showed you any bad temper
last night。〃
Poor Miss Talbot！ Hugh saw that she was genuinely troubled about
him； and resolved to offend but seldom； while he was under her roof。
〃Perhaps； when you know me longer； you will find I am steadier than
you think。〃
〃Well； it may be。 But steadiness won't make a Christian of you。〃
〃It may make a tolerable lodger of me； though；〃 answered Hugh； 〃and
you wouldn't turn me into the street because I am steady and nothing
more； would you？〃
〃I said I was sorry； Mr。 Sutherland。 Do you wish me to say more？〃
〃Bless your kind heart！〃 said Hugh。 〃I was only joking。〃
He held out his hand to Miss Talbot； and her eyes glistened as she
took it。 She pressed it kindly； and abandoned it instantly。
So all was right between them once more。
〃Who knows；〃 murmured Miss Talbot； 〃but the Lord may save him？ He's
surely not far from the kingdom of heaven。 I'll do all I can to
make him comfortable。〃
CHAPTER VI。
A SUNDAY'S DINNER。
Some books are lies frae end to end；
And some great lies were never penned：
Even ministers； they hae been kenned；
In holy rapture；
Great lies and nonsense baith to vend；
And nail't wi' Scripture。
BURNS。
To the great discomposure of Hugh； Sunday was inevitable； and he had
to set out for Salem Chapel。 He found it a neat little Noah's Ark
of a place； built in the shape of a cathedral； and consequently
sharing in the general disadvantages to which dwarfs of all kinds
are subjected； absurdity included。 He was shown to Mr。 Appleditch's
pew。 That worthy man received him in sleek black clothes； with
white neck…cloth； and Sunday face composed of an absurd mixture of
stupidity and sanctity。 He stood up； and Mrs。 Appleditch stood up；
and Master Appleditch stood up； and Hugh saw that the ceremony of
the place required that he should force his way between the front of
the pew and the person of each of the human beings occupying it；
till he reached the top； where there was room for him to sit down。
No other recognition was taken till after service。
Meantime the minister ascended the pulpit stair； with all the
solemnity of one of the self…elect； and a priest besides。 He was
just old enough for the intermittent attacks of self…importance to
which all youth is exposed； to have in his case become chronic。 He
stood up and worshipped his creator aloud； after a manner which
seemed to say in every tone： 〃Behold I am he that worshippeth Thee！
How mighty art Thou！〃 Then he read the Bible in a quarrelsome sort
of way； as if he were a bantam； and every verse were a crow of
defiance to the sinner。 Then they sang a hymn in a fashion which
brought dear old Scotland to Hugh's mind； which has the sweetest
songs in its cottages； and the worst singing in its churches； of any
country in the world。 But it was almost equalled here； the chief
cause of its badness being the absence of a modest self…restraint；
and consequent tempering of the tones； on the part of the singers；
so that the result was what Hugh could describe only as scraichin。1
I was once present at the worship of some being who is supposed by
negroes to love drums and cymbals； and all clangorous noises。 The
resemblance； according to Hugh's description； could not have been a
very distant one。 And yet I doubt not that some thoughts of
worshipping love mingled with the noise； and perhaps the harmony of
these with the spheric melodies； sounded the sweeter to the angels；
from the earthly discord in which they were lapped。
Then came the sermon。 The text was the story of the good Samaritan。
Some idea； if not of the sermon； yet of the value of it； may be
formed from the fact； that the first thing to be considered； or； in
other words； the first head was； 〃The culpable imprudence of the man
in going from Jerusalem to Jericho without an escort。〃
It was in truth a strange； grotesque； and somewhat awful medleynot
unlike a dance of death； in which the painter has given here a
lovely face； and there a beautiful arm or an exquisite foot； to the
wild…prancing and exultant skeletons。 But the parts of the sermon
corresponding to the beautiful face or arm or foot； were but the
fragments of Scripture； shining like gold amidst the worthless ore
of the man's own productionworthless； save as gravel or chaff or
husks have worth； in a world where dilution； and not always
concentration； is necessary for healthfulness。
But there are Indians who eat clay； and thrive on it more or less； I
suppose。 The power of assimilation which a