david elginbrod-第48部分

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nothing　to　do　with　the　manifestations　of　the　previous　evening；　was
affected　by　the　condition　of　those　around　him。　　Hugh　was　still
careful　enough　of　him　to　try　to　divert　the　conversation　entirely
from　what　he　knew　would　have　a　very　injurious　effect　upon　him；　and
Mr。　Arnold；　seeing　the　anxious　way　in　which　he　glanced　now　and　then
at　his　pupil；　and　divining　the　reason；　by　the　instinct　of　his
affection；　with　far　more　than　his　usual　acuteness；　tried　likewise　to
turn　it　aside；　as　often　as　it　inclined　that　way。　　Still　a　few　words
were　let　fall　by　the　visitors；　which　made　Harry　stare。　　Hugh　took
him　away　as　soon　as　breakfast　was　over。

In　the　afternoon；　Funkelstein　called　to　inquire　after　the　ladies；
and　hoped　he　had　no　injury　to　their　health　to　lay　on　his　conscience。
Mr。　Arnold；　who　had　a　full　allowance　of　curiosity；　its　amount　being
frequently　in　an　inverse　ratio　to　that　of　higher　intellectual　gifts；
begged　him　to　spend　the　rest　of　the　day　with　them；　but　not　to　say　a
word　of　what　had　passed　the　day　before；　till　after　Harry　had　retired
for　the　night。

Renewed　conversation　led　to　renewed　experiments　in　the　library。
Hugh；　however；　refused　to　have　anything　more　to　do　with　the
plate…writing；　for　he　dreaded　its　influence　on　his　physical　nature；
attributing；　as　I　have　said；　the　vision　of　Margaret　to　a　cerebral
affection。　　And　the　plate　did　not　seem　to　work　satisfactorily　with
any　one　else；　except　Funkelstein；　who；　for　his　part；　had　no　great
wish　to　operate。　　Recourse　was　had　to　a　more　vulgar　methodthat　of
expectant　solicitation　of　those　noises　whereby　the　prisoners　in　the
a雛ial　vaults　are　supposed　capable　of　communicating　with　those　in
this　earthly　cell。　　Certainly；　raps　were　heard　from　some　quarter　or
another；　and　when　the　lights　were　extinguished；　and　the　crescent
moon　only　allowed　to　shine　in　the　room；　some　commotion　was
discernible　amongst　the　furniture。　　Several　light　articles　flew
about。　　A　pen…wiper　alighted　on　Euphra's　lap；　and　a　sofa…pillow
gently　disarranged　Mrs。　Elton's　cap。　　Most　of　the　artillery；
however；　was　directed　against　Lady　Emily；　and　she　it　was　who　saw；　in
a　faint　stream　of　moonlight；　a　female　arm　uplifted　towards　her；　from
under　a　table；　with　a　threatening　motion。　　It　was　bare　to　the　elbow；
and　draped　above。　　It　showed　first　a　clenched　fist；　and　next　an　open
hand；　palm　outwards；　making　a　repellent　gesture。　　Then　the　back　of
the　hand　was　turned；　and　it　motioned　her　away；　as　if　she　had　been　an
importunate　beggar。　　But　at　this　moment；　one　of　the　doors　opened；
and　a　dark　figure　passed　through　the　room　towards　the　opposite　door。
Everything　that　could　be　called　ghostly；　ceased　instantaneously。
The　arm　vanished。　　The　company　breathed　more　freely。

Lady　Emily；　who　had　been　on　the　point　of　going　into　hysterics；
recovered　herself；　and　overcame　the　still　lingering　impulse：　she
felt　as　if　she　had　awaked　from　a　momentary　aberration　of　the
intellect。　　Mr。　Arnold　proceeded　to　light　the　candles；　saying；　in　a
righteous　tone：

〃I　think　we　have　had　enough　of　this　nonsense。〃

When　the　candles　were　lighted；　there　was　no　one　to　be　seen　in　the
room　besides　themselves。　　Several；　Hugh　amongst　them；　had　observed
the　figure；　but　all　had　taken　it　for　part　of　the　illusive
phantasmagoria。　　Hugh　would　have　concluded　it　a　variety　of　his
vision　of　the　former　night；　but　others　had　seen　it　as　well　as　he。

There　was　no　renewal　of　the　experiments　that　night。　　But　all　were　in
a　very　unhealthy　state　of　excitement。　　Vague　fear；　vague　wonder；　and
a　certain　indescribable　oppression；　had　dimmed　for　the　time　all　the
clearer　vision；　and　benumbed　all　the　nobler　faculties　of　the　soul。
Lady　Emily　was　affected　the　most。　　Her　eyes　looked　scared；　there
was　a　bright　spot　on　one　cheek　amidst　deathly　paleness；　and　she
seemed　very　unhappy。　　Mrs。　Elton　became　alarmed；　and　this　brought
her　back　to　a　more　rational　condition。　　She　persuaded　Lady　Emily　to
go　to　bed。

But　the　contagion　spread；　and　indistinct　terrors　were　no　longer
confined　to　the　upper　portions　of　the　family。　　The　bruit　revived；
which　had　broken　out　a　year　beforethat　the　house　was　haunted。　　It
was　whispered　that；　the　very　night　after　these　occurrences；　the
Ghost's　Walk　had　been　in　use　as　the　name　signified：　a　figure　in
death…garments　had　been　seen　gliding　along　the　deserted　avenue；　by
one　of　the　maid…servants；　the　truth　of　whose　story　was　corroborated
by　the　fact　that；　to　support　it；　she　did　not　hesitate　to　confess
that　she　had　escaped　from　the　house；　nearly　at　midnight；　to　meet　one
of　the　grooms　in　a　part　of　the　wood　contiguous　to　the　avenue　in
question。　　Mr。　Arnold　instantly　dismissed　hernot　on　the　ground　of
the　intrigue；　he　took　care　to　let　her　know；　although　that　was　bad
enough；　but　because　she　was　a　fool；　and　spread　absurd　and　annoying
reports　about　the　house。　　Mr。　Arnold's　usual　hatred　of　what　he
called　superstition；　was　rendered　yet　more　spiteful　by　the　fact；
that　the　occurrences　of　the　week　had　had　such　an　effect　on　his　own
mind；　that　he　was　mortally　afraid　lest　he　should　himself　sink　into
the　same　limbo　of　vanity。　　The　girl；　however；　was；　or　pretended　to
be；　quite　satisfied　with　her　discharge；　protesting　she　would　not
have　staid　for　the　world；　and　as　the　groom；　whose　wages　happened　to
have　been　paid　the　day　before；　took　himself　off　the　same　evening；　it
may　be　hoped　her　satisfaction　was　not　altogether　counterfeit。

〃If　all　tales　be　true；〃　said　Mrs。　Elton；　〃Lady　Euphrasia　is　where
she　can't　get　out。〃

〃But　if　she　repented　before　she　died？〃　said　Euphra；　with　a　muffled
scorn　in　her　tone。

〃My　dear　Miss　Cameron；　do　you　call　becoming　a　nunrepentance？　　We
Protestants　know　very　well　what　that　means。　　Besides；　your　uncle
does　not　believe　it。〃

〃Haven't　you　found　out　yet；　dear　Mrs。　Elton；　what　my　uncle's
favourite　phrase　is？〃

〃No。　What　is　it？〃

〃I　don't　believe　it。〃

〃You　naughty　girl！〃

〃I'm　not　naughty；〃　answered　Euphra；　affecting　to　imitate　the
simplicity　of　a　chidden　child。　〃My　uncle　is　so　fond　of　casting　doubt
upon　everything！　　If　salvation　goes　by　quantity；　his　faith　won't
save　him。〃

Euphra　knew　well　enough　that　Mrs。　Elton　was　no　tell…tale。　　The　good
lady　had　hopes　of　her　from　this　moment；　because　she　all　but　quoted
Scripture　to　condemn　her　uncle；　the　verdict　corresponding　with　her
own　judgment　of　Mr。　Arnold；　founded　on　the　clearest　assertions　of
Scripture；　strengthened　somewhat；　it　must　be　confessed；　by　the　fact
that　the　spirits；　on　the　preceding　evening　but　one；　had　rapped　out
the　sentence：　〃Without　faith　it　is　impossible　to　please　him。〃

Lady　Emily　was　still　in　bed；　but　apparently　more　sick　in　mind　than
in　body。　　She　said　she　had　tossed　about　all　the　previous　night
without　once　falling　asleep；　and　her　maid；　who　had　slept　in　the
dressing…room　without　waking　once；　corroborated　the　assertion。　　In
the　morning；　Mrs。　Elton；　wishing　to　relieve　the　maid；　sent　Margaret
to　Lady　Emily。　　Margaret　arranged　the　bedclothes　and　pillows；　which
were　in　a　very　uncomfortable　condition；　sat　down　behind　the　curtain；
and；　knowing　that　it　would　please　Lady　Emily；　began　to　sing；　in　what
the　French　call　a；　veiled　voice；　The　Land　o'　the　Leal。　Now　the　air
of　this　lovely　song　is　the　same　as　that　of　Scots　wha　hae；　but　it　is
the　pibroch　of　onset　changed　into　the　coronach　of　repose；　singing　of
the　land　beyond　the　battle；　of　the　entering　in　of　those　who　have
fought　the　good　fight；　and　fallen　in　the　field。　　It　is　the　silence
after　the　thunder。　　Before　she　had　finished；　Lady　Emily　was　fast
asleep。　　A　sweet　peaceful　half　smile　lighted　her　troubled　face
graciously；　like　the　sunshine　that　creeps　out　when　it　can；　amidst
the　rain　of　an　autumn　day；　saying；　〃I　am　with　you　still；　though　we
are　all　troubled。〃　　Finding　her　thus　at　rest；　Margaret　left　the　room
for　a　minute；　to　fetch　some　work。　　When　she　returned；　she　found　her
tossing；　and　moaning；　and　apparently　on　the　point　of　waking。　　As
soon　as　she　sat　down　by　her；　her　trouble　diminished　by　degrees；　till
she　lay　in　the　same　peaceful　sleep　as　before。　　In　this　state　she
continued　for　two　or　three　hours；　and　awoke　much　refreshed。　　She
held　out　her　little　hand　to　Margaret；　and　said：

〃Thank　you。　　Thank　you。　　What　a　sweet　creature　you　are！〃

And　Lady　Emily　lay　and　gazed　in　loving　admiration　at　the　face　of　the
lady's…maid。

〃Shall　I　send　Sarah　to　you　now；　my　lady？〃　said　Margaret；　〃or　would
you　like　me　to　stay　with　you？〃

〃Oh！　you；　you；　pleaseif　Mrs。　Elton　can　spare　you。〃

〃She　will　only　think　of　your　comfort；　I　know；　my　lady。〃

〃That　recalls　me　to　my　duty；　and　makes　me　think　of　her。〃

〃But　your　comfort　will　be　more　to　her　than　anything　else。〃

〃In　that　case　you　must　stay；　Margaret。〃

〃With　pleasure；　my　lady。〃

Mrs。　Elton　entered；　and　quite　confirmed　what　Margaret　had　said。

〃But；〃　she　added；　〃it　is　time　Lady　Emily　had　something　to　eat。　　Go
to　the　cook；　Margaret；　and　see　if　the　beef…tea　Miss　Cameron　ordered
is　ready。〃

Margaret　went。

〃What　a　comfort　it　is；〃　said　Mrs。　Elton；　wishing　to　interest　Lady
Emily；　〃that　now…a…days；　when　infidelity　is　so　rampant；　such
corroborations　of　Sacred　Writ　are　springing　up　on　all　sides！　　There
are　the　discoveries　at　Nineveh；　and　now　these　Spiritual
Manifestations；　which　bear　witness　so　clearly　to　another　world。〃

But　Lady　Emily　made　no　reply。　　She　began　to　toss　about　as　before；
and　show　signs　of　inexplicable　discomfort。　　Margaret　had　hardly　been
gone　two　minutes；　when　the　invalid　moaned　out：

〃What　a　time　Margaret　is　gone！when　will　she　be　back？〃

〃I　am　here；　my　love；〃　said　Mrs。　Elton。

〃Yes；　yes；　thank　you。　　But　I　want　Margaret。〃

〃She　will　be　here　presently。　　Have　patience；　my　dear。〃

〃Please；　don't　let　Miss　Cameron　come　near　me。　　I　am　afraid　I　am　very
wicked；　but　I　can't　bear　her　to　come　near　me。〃

〃No；　no；　dear；　we　will　keep　you　to　ourselves。〃

〃Is　Mr。；　the　foreign　gentleman；　I　meanbelow？〃

〃No。　He　is　gone。〃

〃Are　you　sure？　　I　can　hardly　believe　it。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　dear？　　I　am　sure　he　is　gone。〃

Lady　Emily　did　not　answer。　　Margaret　returned。　　She　took　the
beef…tea；　and　grew　quiet　again。

〃You　must　not　leave　her　ladyship；　Margaret；〃　whispered　her　mistress。
〃She　has　taken　it　into　her　head　to　like　no　one　but　you；　and　you　must
just　stay　with　her。〃

〃Very　well；　ma'am。